Maaboo the Witch

Of course, if you already have a clock, I think a Technic version would have limited appeal. Like actually send it to Mars?

Oh man, why did I not put Case down in my "new brand" list?

1: JCB, John Deere, Terex 2: Backhoe loaders, combine harvesters, scrapers 3: JCB backhoe, £89.99 (something on the level of 42053) 4: No answer 5/6: Subject matter/construction machinery, off-road vehicles 7/8: No/I prefer manual sets, but I'm okay with some motorization if necessary 9: More flexibility 10: Something akin to Power Functions 11: Yes

Somebody needs a nice strong coffee...

Sure, 'cos that colour scheme doesn't seem military in any way...

That's the part I'd go for! For the Wirtgen 240i, I'd use some Bohrok plates to build the drum cover. I'd use white since they don't come in DBG.

Fresh from the set of Alien: Covenant. Cool idea! I've been dancing around the idea of a Wirtgen planer or 240i soil stabilizer (with Jeep tyres, of course) but I'm not sure how to make it functionally realistic other than having the milling drum spin. What are you thinking of for your solution?

That was @nerdsforprez, not me. And once again, I'm out.

Me too. I'm out.

@allanp - "Accessibility" is misspelled in the relevant title. You might want to fix that.

Definitely my favourite set of the year so far.

Is there seriously an interrobang in the title of this thread?

I'll second that. I'm fascinated with the design process and what goes into creating a set.

Reading your post, I don't think that'll be the case.

For anyone affected by my "specialized parts" post, be advised that it was more of a reflective question than an actual statement. I probably should have qualified it as such earlier. And hey, I'm not here to blast TLG into the ground either. I do have problems with some of the trends that have emerged recently, but luckily there's still loads to be excited about too. There's been some cool stuff this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing the upcoming sets as well. And @NKubate - love hearing the insights from a pro! Makes me wish more designers were on this forum.

I can imagine this puppy with CLAAS tyres...

Hey, I'm willing to be flexible on that point. And it does get me thinking just what the set's gonna include. The article I linked to says that the Zetros 4x4 is used as a fertilizer sprayer in Australia, so it could possibly be something agricultural.

I'm not against the Zetros being a set, believe me. It looks like a seriously cool truck and I'm interested in seeing what TLG has stuck on the back. I'm just concerned that people might start boycotting it like the Osprey. You never know with some people!

True. But one could say the same about the Osprey. That would have great non-military applications as well, but the fact remains that it's a vehicle built for the military first and foremost. As is the Zetros. I'm surprised TLG have chosen that particular model after the Osprey incident.

I've been researchifying, and apparently the Zetros was initially designed specifically for the defence industry. Sure, in some isolated markets the Zetros is used as a tractor unit and fertilizer spreader (the Middle East, for example), but in the majority of places it's used by the respective military as a mobile artillery unit and/or gun platform. It's definitely not a commercial truck like the Unimog...

You've completely missed the point of what I'm saying.

Sorry mate, I was born in the 90s and so to me there's a clear division between general parts (axles, pins, beams studded and studless, liftarms and so on) and purpose-built parts (buckets, shovels, concrete mixer drum halves, Arocs gear rack, etc.). Heck, my mileage even varies on some panels, like mudguards.

Compare 8283 and 42061. Aside from the bucket, 8283 contains no specialized parts, whereas 42061 has the mini LA and rack components (and yes, for argument's sake I've omitted its own bucket) for a much simpler boom lift in comparison to the relative welter of parts used for 8283's boom. And it does nothing new in comparison to the earlier set! Yes, it's smoother to operate, but also limits the parts for a better B-model. Now compare those! I apologize to the designer (I am so sorry, Michael. You are still one of my faves!), but 42061's alternate sucks. Then look at 8283's B-model. No contest there - it's unquestionably better! Now I'm not bashing 42061. I like the main model. More specialized parts can be a good thing in relation to ease of operation, and can form the basis for more advanced mechanisms. But in a lot of cases it's a shortcut, and not a good one either.

Something else that I've been mulling over. Was Technic not better when there were less specialized elements available, and designers had to be more creative while relying on what was at their disposal?

I have noticed a big shift in Technic in the last few years. I got back into it in 2013, and even since then (let alone over the last decade and a half or so) things have changed. And not necessarily for the better. Back in 2013, every single set bar the exclusive 42999 had a B-model, even the big stuff. And with the exception of the supercars, every set from then to 2019 had an alternate build, some with instructions right out of the box (what a novelty, now!) License or no, by the way, so I don't see "it's licensed" as an excuse. Now it seems to be only the small stuff with B-models, and even those instructions are now strictly digital. How long, I wonder, until even those B-models disappear from the box? Not to mention the excellent points @NKubate (it's worrying when an actual designer has issues with TLG's practices) and @Cumulonimbus raised. Couldn't have put it better myself, guys.