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European passenger trainsets (electric and diesel multiple units or EMU and DMU) often use Scharfenberg automatic couplers, I think mostly because of the short time to combine two trainsets to one train. In the Netherlands there are still pulled trains with an e-loc, but these are replaced with train sets more and more. For freight trains there were already plans to switch to automatic couplings half a century ago, but as Dan-147 points out, it's not easy to make that switch. All the rolling stock has to be modified. The average (western) European freight train is much shorter than the average northern American kind, so there is no need for automatic couplers. Ore trains are heavier, and thus fitted with automatic couplers. I expect the other freight trains in western Europe will use the classic buffers-and-chain coupling for decades more.

This is the Technic, Mindstorms & Model Team subforum, so yes, you can expect people to vote for Model Team. I already own most of the TECHNIC sets I really wanted. At the moment I mainly collect Modular Houses, but I plan to stop with that for a while. The cinema was a big disappointment, it depends on the next set. For the rest I mainly collect older sets from the '80s and '90s, mainly Town and (9V) trains, but sometimes Model Team as well. I plan to collect Res-Q and Western (the original kind, not The Lone Ranger) and sometimes I buy Creator sets for parts. Too many interesting themes, too small budget.

Maybe here you can find what you want.

Congratulations Sheepo! @JunkstyleGio: the next deadline is March 4th.

@Klaus-Dieter: I partly agree with you. I don't like this theme either, mostly because the Cuusoo project had to be sacrificed for this (the same with Pirates when the POTC sets were released). There might be some interesting parts though. If I remember correct the text on the tiles and bricks in the Toy Story train set were printed. The cancellation of the Cuusoo project makes me want to collect the classic Western sets once more. I prefer spending the extra bucks to some more rare well-designed sets than to this.

8880, hands down. The best supercar ever made (IMHO) and one of the greatest sets of all time. It's one of my top 5 TECHNIC sets. Some other great sets are 8459 and it's re-releases, and 8460 and it's re-releases.

The first Bionicle sets felt under the TECHNIC brand, I think that's why they are compared among other TECHNIC sets. I think a verdict is very personal indeed. I see complaints about 8479 and 8868, and these two are steady among my TECHNIC top 5. Besides the Bionicle, Slizers and Roboriders and the weird sets Blakbird mentioned, I don't really like the new 2013 pullback racers. It looks like they are just called TECHNIC because Racers don't excist anymore.

Thanks for the review! I got this for my ninth birthday, and I really enjoyed the model. The red colour helped a lot, back then I was a huge Ferrari fan. The overall shape is good, and the use of pneumatics as exhaust system is great. However, as you pointed, the use of STAMPs is a major disappointment. More printed pieces would be welcome (the "Octan" stickers at the front wing, back then the (white) patterned version was already available) and maybe the STAMPs could be avoided with tiles 4 x 4 in a SNOT way. Maybe like the rear wing. Last year I saw a used set for sale, and while the stickers were all in place, I could clearly see the started to peel.

Fantastic work as always. Nice work on the pictures with the engine and air tanks etc. visible, they look like they come straight out of a brochure. :thumbup: One question though: the grooves on the sides, are they a half stud deep? They look too deep in my opinion, is there any way to make the doors more flat?

Thanks for the review! This set is on my top 5 of TECHNIC sets. The looks might look dated, but remember this set dates back to 1992. Compared with some other sets from that age, it doesn't look too bad at all. I only miss a steering wheel, even if it was a dummy. I think this set has to score on functionality anyway, and it succeeds in that. It's a lot of fun to control the crane with the four levers. Unfortunately, my copy had the older rubber belts, and they are prone to break. The newer rubber belts are more elastic, but I don't know when they first appeared in this set (my copy was a 1994 one).

I have to admit I prefer the Biber one. It looks the most like the thing I'm known to, both in looks and functions (although I know Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridges excist using the way Mahjqa did).

I've designed most of my Model Team MOC at MLCad. One of the main advantages of computer designing is that you get an indication of which parts you need. However, I've thought the final bits out with real bricks.

Then you can just search on the official LEGO site, for the original 8273 model.

Nice work on the crossing! I would love to see a modern update of the legendary 6399. I tried to build a monorail as well (also inspired and based on Hidaka's one) but failed and haven't made a new attempt yet.

Toyota? Are you sure you didn't confuse it with the Land Cruiser or do I miss something? I think if this idea is rejected, it will be because of it's complexity. I hope it doesn't, that would be the second project I supported that's cancelled (although the first one (Western Town) with a different reason)...

This year I started to buy some TECHNIC instructions from various people, but most were of the modern kind. As a fan of the good old studded approach, I had to buy this. The instructions themselves look very professional, and the background information make it even better. This makes the spending for my LEGO budget even harder: another way to spend my budget, and I don't have enough to build all those fantastic MOCs... Many thanks and compliments Jennifer and Eric!

^I agree. The first idea which didn't reach the votes based on an online community (well, except the AFOL community), but because it was a great idea. And now it's sacrificed for anóther license. It reminds me of Pirates II, sacrificed because of the PotC license. But I think the Cuusoo staff (or LEGO, whoever decides) should be ashamed for their very late decision. The release of The Lone Ranger-sets was known when it reached 10,000 votes.

Thanks for the review! While I think 8880 is still the best supercar ever released, this 8865 Test Car was important for the evolution of the TECHNIC supercars in general, with possibly the most important feature being front suspension. I don't like the alternate model though. It should at least feature a working cylinder engine.

I think the finger-hing variation of the 9V era (in 4558 for example) is the most realistic solution that's been released in an official set so far. For non-official solutions Steinkopf has some great solutions, but I like Sérgio's pantograph as well. Now it's waiting for the first MOC with remote-controlled pantographs!

I've seen a lot of Tumblers before, but this is the one with the most features for sure!

^If you don't look to just the sets themselves, then it will get better every year, with new parts released, while old parts are still available at Bricklink (although some older ones getting rare). I don't think that's a fair comparison, and I have the same with Allanp adding a motor to a helicopter. Your opinions of course, but then it's obvious the '80s and '90s don't make any chance. Back then internet was in it's beginning, and I doubt there was any kind of AFOL community. But sure, I'm glad we have internet now. And even I want to design some PF-powered vehicle. Well, that Technicopedia logo reminds me: it has been two and a half years since the last update! Blakbird?

I agree for the most part with this. LEGO should contain studs. For studless beams we have Meccano. Although I have to admit there are very great studless MOCs, and combining the two can result in great sets (like 8275) and MOCs (like Designer Han's creations) as well. It's not that for example the Unimog isn't a great set, but I think the sets in general look sometimes "unfinished". Like set 8049, the claw is operated by a wheel at the claw itself. This is something that should have been pneumatic, and I think they would have done in the '90s. Another thing I don't like about the new sets are the same PF elements everybody seems to like. It looks like every tipper or dump truck needs a motor. And the biggest sets have to be full RC, according to the opinion of many. I think a well-designed set should be great even if it didn't contain a motor. I think the PF-less 8880 will be an all-time classic, but I think the newer Super Car will become one of the many casual sets. For me the old sets were better designed, according to the parts available at the time. The 8868 Air Tech Claw Rig was very blocky, had no suspension and was much smaller than the 8110 Unimog, but it was ahead of it's time, while the Unimog is more difficult to operate (for me), and much bigger while there are not thát much new features. I think the 8480 Space Shuttle is still the best TECHNIC set ever made.

In Europe, the buggy was the alternate model which makes much more sense to me. I don't own the set, but for what I know (instructions, reviews) the tractor is better in every way.

Strange that 8460 hasn't been mentioned yet. I think it's a great set, and possibly even better than 8421. Like 8459, it has been with a reason the set was re-released twice.

Thanks for the review! I haven't read the book myself, but I was hoping for some crane stuff as well. Sure, there are some crane instructions/MLCad files online where I can find working booms and outriggers, but it would be nice if it was featured in this book as well. That being said, the example pages look promising and I'm curious about the CVT. Technic for teh win!