Musikfreak

I tought the only cabin truck which also had steering in the cabin was a B-Model of one of the F1-Cars (which was nearly studless). However I know what you mean - the first studless models were often very large and offered the same functionality as the old ones did with less space (they changed in the last years imho and now the studless models offer nice functionality). But the 8463 is very well equipped for his time I think. It's from the time which belongs to my dark ages too and I quite like it (thought a lot about buing it used). Has a nice selection of parts and the modular extension on the back is nice. I think of it as a predecessor of 8258. I'm happy to see more of this set and will wait happily for the review.

Great review - thanks a lot for that! The pictures are very good and you explained the building quite nicely. (I personally would have liked one or two more pictures of the mechanism that makes 2 drifeshafts going through the turntable - although I can imagine it now) The videos are great too - thank you for that. You can really see what the model is all about. Now to the model itself: I waited for a indepth review of this to see if it's worth the money - well I'm not quite sure now. The manual lock on the outriggers doesn't really bother me that much - I could happily live with that. The manual operation on the crane-arm however is really bugging me. I think one "functioncomplex" like the crane should be operatable from the "outside" of this complex. The manual wheels on the middle of the arm itself are just wrong to me. That made the good old 8868 Airtech Claw so amazing. The gearbox itself really reminds me of the 8480 Shuttle. You also had to chose the function and then switch on the motor in one direction. However I still like the shuttlebox more because it was just one switch which you could slide to all the 4 positions. 2 switches are useful if you want to use 2 functions simultaneously but I don't think it makes sense on this model. (And the outmost function on the shuttle was done with a micromotor - just really neat compared to the handoperation on this model.) Also one thing I'm missing is the great steering of the 8460. This model again has two lights but they are just functionless and they used the standard way in the middle and not even on the opening cabin (see 8436). One last thing that's sad so see is that they continue to make the last axle functionless just like 8285 (again see 8868 with two differentials). I really like about e.g. 8421 that every axle has a function (steering / driving the engine). On the other side what I really like on this model is the look. It just looks amazing - especially the cabin is one of the best ever done in technic. Also the hidden switches behind the panels are neat (like 8285). The outriggers (also maybe weaker) just look more realistic. The two LAs controlled by one motor through the turntable really is the key function of this model to me and quite brilliantly done. I had a lot to nag but in the end this is a very nice model and well worth a flagship - but it has just that one, two bits missing which would make it outstanding.

I think the aesthetics on this model aren't as good as the old ones we've had so far but the technical aspects looks very promising. Can't wait for the review. Seems to be a promising model which I will likely add to my collection.

I've built boosters for mine back in the days when I was young and the set was new. The fuel tank was electrified with Sound & Light System to "burn" red when switched on (back then I thought that the fuel tank was a third rocketbooster ). The side ones where too small to fit an own battery box. One of the things I loved was the release mechanism. It was spring loaded and with the flick of a switch the side boosters flew off (like you see in the movies - always loved that). And with another switch you could disengage the main tank (not spring loaded) from the shuttle. Unfortunately the result, while technically interesting, wasn't all that hassle free. I wanted it to look real and made the sideboosters stick out the back just like the real one. With that structure the shuttle couldn't stand straight up without falling over or stressing the booster locks way too much. So I had to build a starting ramp which supported the shuttle. It should have looked like the 6339 but I hadn't got enought pieces and they were coloured differently and the shuttle had to be supported on many places because it is quite heavy so it just looked strange and not like a real tower - worked though. But with these giant pieces (the main tank was huge) you coudn't really play that much and because back than I mainly played with all my models I soon took it apart. Had no camera back then and so there are no pictures. But I can assure you that it looked quite bad cause I was lousy at building round structures. The boosters all looked very angled. Before I started I had also plans to build a flying carrier just like 6544 but with the "desaster" in finishing the staring ramp I finally decided against it.

Now that's something I wanted to see. I hope both sides are now more happy than before. Great step in a nice direction!

I think it says in the instructions that you should "pump" the pneumatics before you place them in a model. I always did this several times before using them and never had a problem til now.

Thats exactly the problem of the new models. In the old ones (8862 and 8854 are good examples and 8460 has the same feature with a different approach) you could just grap the the freely rotating pin on the pulley (8862 and 8854 had really big ones which were comfortable; 8460 ones were a lot smaller but still manageable) and crank infinitely and really fast. On the new ones (8294 for example) you just have a relatively small gearwheel which you have to regrab after every half turn. Thats not a good solution compared to the old one. Where the gearwheel was nice, was the steering in the 8421 were you had the huge wheel which you just had to turn from one side to the other and due to the size it was very accurate.

That would have been the perfect place to introduce the new S-Motor. Not going to happen... I'm a bit disappointed by the whole lineup for Summer'09. 8263: They are trying to push the chains a lot. The model looks good but it doesn't seem to include any nice functions. And a Technicmodel just for display is a little bit boring. 8063: Seems like a cheap crossover of 8284 and 8264 - nothing new to find here. 8265: Looks mighty fine but could be another "endless spinning" model like the 8294 Excavator. If you really want to play with it you need a motor with the LAs or it's just boring and exhausting. 8258: This is the most promising model. The stilts seem to have a new system. I'm interested to see how it works. The freedom of the crane arm seems to be nice. However there is no big white arrow next to the hook on the little pictures on the left so I think the winch is not motorpowered. A real pity. One last good thing: All the models have instructions (online or included) for secondary models. Maybe Lego included a real gem there.

On the little picture on the bottom right side of the box where the bucket is raised you can see the 2. actuator even better. Makes sense: One for raising/lowering the bucket and one for tilting it.

The 8868 site is just great - you outdid yourself with it. All the coloured hoses are perfect to understand the functions of the model. One thing I always did with the 8868 is secure the little actuator from the claw in the middle of the black triangle. The rest of the model is just perfect. One of the few models which I always keep constructed. Kudos for this update!

You really get the feeling that Lego is trying to push power functions too much. The Dozer was a gigantic introduction which really showed what the system can do but the last sets with power functions (Cherry Picker, Off-Roader and now the Hauler) are more of a disappointment.

My Keyring already arrived before christmas (one day after my bithday which was a nice surprise) but I had no Internet for the last weeks. My HarleyQuinn is grinning at me at the moment. I want to thank everyone who made this raffle possible!

Jumped in!

At least the 95 Nighthawk (8412) had the same rotormovement as the 8856, but nothing else to offer. But you are right: A combination of the 852 and 8856 movement would be great to see. I don't think technicmen will come back soon, because we don't even have the standardised chairs anymore. The idea of modular design sure sounds great but in the end technic is about the mechanics unlike the minifig series where looks are quite important. You don't really need to populate a technicmodel to make it more interesting.

A big hello to everyone in the community. I'm pretty new here an the board and technic is one of my favourite themes so I think I'm in the right subsection here. Overall I have been very pleased with the new technic sets that were released in the last few years. Lego is really trying to get back to where they were in their best time (not only with technic but also in the minifig-lines) - at least in my opinion. We have seen technic gems like the 8421 mobile crane which really brought me back to technic with nice design and fascinating mechanics, or the 8275 Bulldozer which was a totally new concept for technic. I'm still impressed with these models. There were also design marvels like the ferrari-technic models. If I try to compare the models back in time to the models today I see some similarities: I like to compare the 8275 to the 8868 Compressor Truck because both were models which introduced totally new technic functions which influenced the building afterwards a lot. On the other hand we have the obvious comparisons e.g. the 8838 Shock Cycle and the new 8291 Dirt Bike or the 8294 Excavator (with the all new linear actuators) vs. the older ones (8851, 8837) and so on. The models today are quite big compared to the older ones. And while they often have a lot of functions I would like them so stay this size or even become a little smaller. In the end it's a bigger challenge to add nice functions in a small place. However, if Lego want's to continue this promising way there will be some big shoes to fill. I think power functions are nice and make a good addition to some models, but sometimes it seems to be a bit overdone. The new 8297 Off-Roader for example is one model where PF doesn't really add value for me. The same with the 8292 Cherry-Picker. There where some really great big models without motors in the past (8460, 8862 etc.) and although there was the 8285 Tow Truck (which didn't impress me) I'm really hoping to see a new flagship model without the need of batteries. Maybe a new Supercar with some innovative ideas. I would also like it to be the same size as the last one. On the other hand it would be interesting to see something really new and totally unexpected like the 8480 Space Shuttle was in '96. New building techniques, new design and innovative use of existing parts (the gearshift in this is still getting a smile on my lips) We have already seen the new small sets for '09 but what's still to come? What do you hope for in the future of technic and what do you think about the "rising" of technic in the last years? I'm happy to read your comments!

A hello to the community. And oh yes: I'm in.