JunkstyleGio

For now i would recommend to sit back for a while and "enjoy" the discussion! (Although some would say to get the model as soon as possible before its taken of the market....)

The fun part of LEGO is that there are always ways to work around a problem. But if you have to sand off the ABS-residue....... It's sad to see/hear/read that new (updated) parts are of lower quality!

I don't want a refund; i just want a fix or MOD from TLc so my set works. If that meas that TLC recalls my set for a upgraded version, so be it... I didn't get my set from S@H but from a Dutch webstore.

My problems are: Main Boom: Slow movement up, motor is getting warm and draining battery, Right track: Slow (and out of sinc with the left track, motor is getting warm and draining battery, and pushing gears off the axles. (And so i mentioned them in my email to TLC) Made some alterations as we all did. (Idle-gear change and rubberband solution as mentioned in Blackbird review-topic). But still it's a shame because it's such a great set.......

Sent a complaint myself on the 9th of augustus. Haven't had any reply to it at all. But i think i will get an answer soon (Good thing i have a batchnumber of the set, since it came in a original transportbox..) It's a good thing TLC takes it as a serious problem.... Let's hope for the best!

@ Jonas83: Did you get any info yet from TLC? I know it's only three days.....

At the second startup of LDD i got 100kb on brick updates and LDD Crashed... . At least the pizza-decoration is correct now

Lowest price here in the Netherlands so far: € 129,95!! Got mine (of which i'm STILL ever so proud of owning one!!)for €3 more! So... Even when you consider it as a partpack: With retail price of The PF parts considerd; you get the rest of the parts for free!!! What about good value for money?

Did you check all the buildinginstructions of the sets in which the part is used?

@Blakbird: I think it IS good news; TLC is listening to its customers. And we will probably get a kind of fix. Personally I’m still convinced it is a good thing that we get these massive and very complicated models. In my opinion we all should realize that, even when Lego is “just” a toy, that some models, like the 8043 and the 8258, are definitely designed for very experienced builders. So maybe in the future this should be mentioned on the box. Sometime like: “Ultimate Builders Series” I don’t think that TLC will stop designing sets like the 8043; but I think they should test these models a little more outside the company. I do believe it was tested by many a TLC-employee. But with this kind of testing comes one problem: Company-blindness. (Employees usually look over difficulties and small design flaws because they all know how it’s supposed to work and don’t have a fresh look on the product.) When a product is tested it should be done by single testers and not in a group under heavy supervision and help. (Of course they all should sign a Non-Disclosure agreement, but I do believe you, me and many of the AFOL’s gladly would!) So keep your head up!

I do hope you got a refund or at least a new set! Hopefully TLC will come up with a solution soon!

Tonight i've been working in the 8051. In reviews on other forums and so, there was mention of chain-skipping. So i replaced the new chains by the old version. The new chain have less space between the parts. (See grey arrows) With the old parts it works like a charm! One more tip! On the B-model front "drive-belt" you should keep the open side of the chain on the outside! Strange that a update on a part became a downgrade....

Great work! Nice out of the box thinking. Wouldn't it be great if such an organic crane was doing its job on an actual worksite? It certainly would light up the workers spirit!

@ DLuders: Nice poll! But: You forgot the "rubberband sollution" Like i said before: * Moving the two idle gears in synchronised position and allingning the LA's reduces the tension on the LA's a lot. So that works for me. * The rubberband-sollution has the highest impact on the model and gives the best result. * One shall always have some minor differences in performence between motors. That shouldn't be a problem. * Due to the turntable problem you always will have some problems in that area. (Note: As you can see its always happening on the righthand side ..) And Jurgen is right. All parts should be running freely! And another tips for building: test your build during the buildingprocess!

There is one advantage in getting this set later: All the do's don't's and tips and tricks on the excavator will be to full effect!

Nice work Jurgen! The smaller bucket is definately something i would consider to put in my excavator, so could you post some more detailed pictures on this mod?

@ Conchas: Thanks for your lengthy reply. Building a big and complex model like the 8043 is a hard job. With so many parts that need to be placed just right and running freely a building mistake by the builder has major consequences. Testing the model on and on during the building-process is not only evident but highly recommended. For me most of the problems are solved now to my satisfaction. * Allingment of the 2 LA's in the arm is good now. With the two free-running-gears in the same position the tension on the LA's is almost gone. * Lowering and lifting speed is acceptable now. * Jimmy's rubberband sollution is working for me. The model keeps running at acceptable speed. Even with highly-worn batteries. * One should realise that no PF-motor is exactly the same and so some minor speed differences can hapen. * The turntable-effect is a known and almost unsolvable problem, so i can live with it! Again. This IS the best looking and complex Technic model TLC has ever designed! And i'm one of the satisfied and proud owners.

LOL! You might get to the finals if it works... then again, TLC is not knwon for its humor, you might not!

@Jimbo: This is an idea that might work. Please keep us informed and try to place some pictures of the results! EDIT: why wait while you can do it yourself! It kind of works. It stabilizes the the whole arm a bit. Raising the arm goes quite a bit faster! Even on batteriers that are not fresh! Fun detail: By adding these rubber bands (Which are actually pulling back the arm.)lowering the arm goes a lot faster.

@Grohl: And that is because?

Don't put the embedded code in the link; just the url! Should work like a charm! @DLuders: I've already written an email to the customerservice. Haven't had an answer yet. Maybe i'll give them a call when i'm at friends. (Since i don't have a landline calling them with my mobile is going to be very costly! (over € 1,30 per minute!) I've to agree with Blakbird on this model NOT being just "shelf decoration". If you build it correctly out of the box it works rather well. All of the functions work just fine except for the slow, batteryconsuming, high friction double LA'd armpart. The AFOL's here just try to find out what to do about those minor flaws. So let's get working on this problem! And remember: it's IS just a toy!

@Anio: We already came to that conclusion. Working on this problem it kind of keeps you wondering: TLC must have tested, reviewed, rebuilt and tested the model over and over. I wonder how they could have overseen these problems.

@ Blakbird: When a MOC runs all day on a show or convention some wear and tear on gears and beams is obvious. But do you think that a LA has already dust and ABS/plastic dust in it when in action for less then an hour? (Most of us may have run the LA's 40 to 50 times. That is no more then 10-15 minutes.) Further more i don't have any spare LA's. But your theory sounds plausible. @DLuders: Your heavy advertising for olive oil makes me think that your pushing "the Family Business".

@Jetro: I don't know how long you need to wait for your set, so a few tips in advance would be nice! Pictures, drawings, pre-model build-ups and test-models anything will do.

Thanks to all: it seem we're getting somewhere. @DLuders: Blakbrid did the (unfortunatelly unsuccesfull )test-rebuilding. So there is no need for me there. @Blakbird: Thanks for trying. Which trainrugulator do you meen? And how is it connected to the model? In other words: Pictures please! @Fyredog and CP5670 hope to see your proposed MODs soon. And for me: I went to bed at 05.00 GMT+1(+1DST) so i lost a lot of sleep.