Erik Leppen

Now this is a cool theme. I'm not into aircraft, so this sounds like a fun new challenge for me. Also, I have some helicopter blades lying around (like those from 9396), which I haven't used yet. This contest looks to be the perfect opportunity to put them to use. So I think I'm going to do a helicopter of some sort. Interestingly, those blades determine a scale range right away, so my build will have to have a size similar to 9396 and other official helicopter sets. By the way, I like the mortal/immortal category idea.

I know it's a bump, but has anyone notice yellow angle connector #2 on the 2019 set The Lego Movie 2 Emmet's Thricycle? As far as I know, this is a new recolor, and personally a highly desired one :)

You are clearly not responding to the critiques actually given by the other members in this topic. It's surely rewarding for people to design a vehicle and use it in a challenge. That's why there are already many such games. Including race games. There are many race games where players can design vehicles, or where players can tinker with their vehicles and tune them. There are also brick-based games where players build vehicles with Lego-like elements - Brick Rigs comes to mind - and use them in some kind of interactive world where the bricks behave realistically. From a economic perspective, I think your idea as it stands is totally unfeasible for the following reasons: As @anothergol says, such a game is extremely hard to make. Physics simulations are hard, and physics simulations with 2000+ parts working together, working at the 60fps needed for smooth gameplay, is practically undoable with current computation power. I think the market for Lego Technic is smaller than the market for race games. I think more people like fast cars than Lego Technic. From the above two points follows that catering any racegame specifically to Lego Technic is a very bad move, because it makes the game's creation process much longer while making the market smaller. That's not to say your idea can't indeed be adapted, as you say. But adaptations to make this a feasible project would very quickly lead to things that are already there: Drop the racing and physics and Technic, and you get Lego Worlds, where you can build things and ride vehicles. Drop the Technic, and you get Brick Rigs Drop the Lego thing altogether to broaden the market, and you get into the realm of existing physics race games So yeah… I think even if this would reach TLC's highest bosses, and even if they are thrilled by the idea, and even if they would actually make it, it would take years to come to anything remotely playable. Personally, I'd rather have TLC just produce sets. That's what they do best.

I don't care for minifigs so I skip those. Best Theme: Creator. It's what I still consider Lego's core theme. If TLC had to pick just one theme, I think it should be this. Best Set: I'd say the Roller Coaster is a set we all silently wanted at some point in time, and now we have one. Worst Theme: Minecraft. I think all sets in this line look ugly. Worst Set: Well, not the set itself, but the bloated hype around the Bugatti disturbed me. Also, I think this whole supercars thing is hurting the essence of Technic. Most Anticipated for 2019: I'm always looking out for the next Creator Expert car set, but last 2 sets have been disappointing, so let's hope for a nice followup to the Mini and Beetle.

I'm especially impressed by how you managed to got 37-fold symmetry to the ring. You can't cheat there and make it another number because it fits better. Also, I'm surpriesed by how perfectly circular it looks. I'd be curious to some pictures of how the ring is built up (the studded part I mean). How is the outer brown border with the headlight bricks built? Most mechanisms are not new I think (I have seen similar ball-shooting things before), but the whole combination is superbly executed and a real eye-catcher. Even the curved entry paths to the shooters look great. I also like how the balls are in the system for quite some time. The little ratchet that pushes balls out of the numbered holes is right after the exit, and pushes out only one ball at a time, so the balls have to go a whole round again before reaching the exit, and sometimes two rounds. That way, you have more balls in the system, which makes the glow-in-the-dark effect even cooler.

Do I see heart-shaped 1x1 tiles on the dragon's body segments?

Looks like a better set than I expected from the first picture. I like the B-model. I don't think the loader has suspension though. I think the whole frame is rigid, and the springs are used as tighteners. But I hope I'm wrong :)

- those cool new tyres. They seem to be the same as in the London bus, but in a much more affordable set. I might get this one. Looks like a fun set, and a good parts pack for orange stuff. B-model also looks nice.

I just found out that the set description text mentions suspension. Apparently I missed that. That makes it less bad. On re-reading the text though, I have to say it's pretty well hidden among all the other points. What clear to me from the description text is that the whole sales approach is focused around the looks, not the functions. (now how there's much more text about the stickers, interior etc. than on the suspension), which mean I'm still in the "this should be Racers" camp. Even though there may not have been other Racers sets with suspension and working steering (except all the big F1 cars before 42000, which were more technical than this, yet still Racers). To me, Racers doesn't mean "no functions". It means "primary fucus is not on functionality". Technic, to me, should mean "primary focus is on functionality". 42096, to me, does not fit that description, so, to me, it should not be Technic. (Same goes, to me, for the pullbacks, but I can imagine that TLC uses them to lure new kids into Technic building). And 3 functions for 1600 parts is just rather poor, especially given 42037 has the same 3 functions and even a set as small as 42022 had an additional original folding-roof function. The least they could have done, IMO, is have the same functions as 42039. Additionally, a simple 4-speed gearbox would raise it above the already-poor 42077, and a 4-function gearbox like in 8070 would have made it a pretty cool set.

Is what a new color? The vehicle looks white, the top looks dark turquoise + dark azure with some details in dark purple, the lines seem to be dark pink, or magenta, and a salmon-like colour that could be new, but could also just be the existing bright pink. I do see a part that looks like a 8x8 round plate with gear teeth, in pink. Is that a new part? I also wonder whether the curves at the very front bottom are the one of the existing arch pieces, or a new piece fitting in between the existing 1x3x2 and 1x6x3 arch. I assume they're the existing pieces, since the image is skewed and hard to see.

Nice set. But not Technic. I can imagine the disappointed parents that bought their children a really cool-looking car with a Technic logo on it for their child, expecting him to really like to learn a bit on how a supercar works, and when they ask their child to show all the functions it can only say "er, it rolls and the pistons move...", that'll probably be their last Technic set for a while. I'd actually go as far to say a Technic set with no functions damages the Technic brand. I mean, if it's not functions, what else is Technic's unique selling point? I always view(ed) the Technic buliding system purely as a super efficient way to build light, strong, functional models, but apparently, studless building can be, according to TLC, a goal by itself... As for the set itself, I like the looks, it looks very agressive, which I like. I particularly like the lower rear end,. The nose seems a bit long, but I think I actually like it too. Also, the color scheme looks cool too. I would hope the wheel arches are printed, that would make them more useful. But yeah. All I wish for this set is to be rebranded as Racers. Then, it's a very nice good looking car.

Lego Technic finally had a wave with (almost) no leaks. I'm beginning to understand why... I mean, that Porsche... ehm. It looks nice, but what does it do? I was here thinking I was reading the Technic forum... Here's the wave of sets: 42088: a recolour of an old set 42089: a boat 42090: a pullback 42091: a pullback 42092: a helicopter 42093: an orange car with a licence 42094: a tracked loader 42095: a RC tracked racer 42096: a white car with a licence but no functions Rehashes don't count, so 42088 and 42095 are out. Pullbacks offer nothing in Technic-ness, so 42090 and 42091 are out. Technic sets should have functions, so 42096 is also out. Leaves us with 4 sets to discuss that are actually decent. Seeing from the first pictures, I think the best set could very well be the helicopter. The A-model seems to have a decent amount of functions in a rather small package without looking dumbed down, and has good shapes with some nice paneling and good color usage. And it has a nice original B-model model that reminds of 42066, which I like. The boat looks decent as well. It's a simple set, but I don't mind simple sets. I'm afraid the engine/propellor linked to some hidden wheels is the only function though. The orange car is nice, I like how the body is nicely filled up and the 9x3x2 wheel arches look useful, albeit too specialistic and single-use parts and an excuse for lazy design (I mean, why design a wheel arch if you can just use a single block for that). Function-wise it seems pretty standard, but it looks to have a custom (smaller) engine. I like that. Besides steering, I hope it has suspension, and what I expect is suspension only on the rear. Front suspension would be a really nice bonus that would make the set a lot better. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be openable doors. Which I find a bit strange, especially on a car. The yellow tracked loader (not sure what else to call it) looks cool too, and would go well with the pneumatic forest machine. Has the same vibe as the Zeux, I think. Expected functions: 2 degrees of freedom on the arm (I see a small LA below the arm, and the red bush probably controls the tilt of the forks and the rotation of the grabber in the middle), and a rotating cabin. Maybe there's a surprise in that large back end though. The springs on the tracks are probably just tighteners to keep the tracks taut. Looks like a nice Technic model. For the other sets, I say: thanks for the parts. Rehashing a set in another color is something Lepin would do, and calling that Porsche "Technic" is an abomination and a shame for the brand, really. It's really time to revive the Racers theme; apparently there's plenty of interest for cars.

From a looks perspective, that indeed what I think. There's a reason that all other themes use System parts (except maybe a few action figures) :) Personally, I suspect there's less cross-pollination between Technic and another theme, than between two other themes, because all other themes use the same medium. But your point about Doctor Who is valid and I hope my doubts turn out to be wrong :) You're well on your way with 1200+ supporters already, so keep going!

Which is exactly what it should be. lego Ideas is not meant to be a MOC sharing site. It's meant to be an idea generating and viability testing site for TLC. And seeing what sets have come out of it, I think it works pretty great. And the fact that Ideas is meant to generate ideas for TLC, I think the motivation to post an idea there is because you have an idea that you think would be great if Lego would do that. Personally, I think that trying to get a Technic set out there just for the sake of having a Technic Ideas set, is not the right motivation. While this Jeep looks great as a MOC and as a model, and would indeed be a very nice set, I doubt it is going to win over TLC reviewers as a viable idea, because I'm afraid it's not different enough from existing sets. It's basically a licenced 42065. I think what ideas sets have in common is that they are things that would never have happened without Ideas. I can't imagine that a Jeep or similar all-terrain car is not already on Technic designers's wish lists. I think for a Jeep to work on Ideas, it must cater to Jeep fans, not only to Technic fans (or even Lego fans). Technic is merely the medium used to express the idea. Personally, I have doubts that Jeep fans want a functional RC Technic Jeep, rather than just a good-looking Lego Jeep. By the way, I think many, of not all (I haven't seen them all), Technic Ideas submissions suffer from this. If the "Technic-ness" seems part of the idea, it reduces the potential customer base to a small fraction, because the large majority of Lego fans are not Technic fans.

Would have been a brilliant hint.

I don't, and I expect that there won't be many finished entries. How's @letsbuild's [LB-X18] build-together project going since the topic was unstickied? The problem with collaborative entries is that people are dependent of other people they have no control over. I'd understand and be fine with having an entry going and not being able to enter because I have no time because life gets in the way. I'd be much less amused with having an entry going and not being able to enter because someone else has no time because life gets in the way. Why? Because I can't see that other person's life, and I very likely do not know this person, so all I see from him is his appearance here on the forums. So I can never form a complete image, and if life gets in the way, I can only know through forum text. And if life really gets in the other person's way, the other person likely and understandably won't have the mental energy to inform his random internet Lego competition collaboration partners. The last thing such a person needs is EB teammates complaining because he just left without notice when someone dear needed his immediate attention. Arguments are bound to occur when someone with lots of time is teamed up with someone with little time. When I make an entry for a contest, I don't want to be dependent of someone else. I do this hobby to escape from the real world and have time alone. Not to have to collaborate with random strangers on the internet. So if a competition enforces working in teams, I wouldn't join. @Captainowie's idea of airport vehicles is an idea I really like. Mostly because airport vehicles in general are a rare sight here on the forums. I can remember a nice 42043-C-model catering truck and some airport firetrucks, but actually not much else. I actually fully support this theme for a competition :)

Some really nice progress! The best thing is how you managed to fit everything in. The new outriggers look very nice, I'm actually surprised it fits this way. Also, the outrigger comes really close to the front wheel. Nothing hits each other when steering? The bodywork is also nice, good useage of the dark-gray small panels from the Mack. Great so far, looking forward to more :)

I really like this idea. That way, the prizes are mostly a reward for joining, and for finishing an entry (which is an achievement by itself, so it makes sense to reward that). Also, there's much more chance of prizes going to people with smaller collections who can use them really well. I also like the idea for a flying-vehicle-based theme by the way.

If 2xN plates instead of 1xN would suffice: maybe you could use Technic tread links, wound around 11x11 quarter gear racks? So with 11x11 quarter gear racks, you build a 21x21 circle. Two of those circles create a cylinder of radius 10.5 and height 5. Between the rings you wind the large Technic tread links (these are also 5 studs long). I don't know if it fits nicely around the circle. (I hope so. Otherwise, maybe there's a trick to fill the gap some way.) Then, in the pinholes of the tread links, you put tan 3/4 pins, with beams on them. Then, in those beams you can push 2x2 plates with pins on the underside. That way you can have 2 rows of studs facing outwards, to which you can apply long 2xN plates.

The difficulty of having to invent whole new things is that it's hard to come up with something completely new. I think lots of members here are modellers, more so than inventors. Many of us like to replicate existing things, and vehicles and cars are a popular subject. At least with a supercar or C-model compo, it's relatively doable to come up with ideas. If the question is to invent something new, I'd have no idea where to start. Having said that, I agree with @Bublehead that I prefer to see a competition where we build things we don't normally build. But this is done now a few times in a row, and it's also good to cater a competition to people who are less comfortable with such unusual topics. One thing you have to consider with a supercar competition is that the entries will tend to look very similar. Especially if we all need to follow the same styling limitation. TC8 "build a crane" had more varied entries, because there are a lot of different cranes. Supercars are inherently similar. That said, you'd have that with any supercar competition, so if you want varied entries you could never do a supercar competition. C-models will at least look different, but the thing there is that there are already many good C-models on the forum, so in that sense such a competition may not bring that much new. But I don't know if that's an issue at all. One thing I like about the latest contest is the many highly original and inventive builds we have seen. But that's only one perspective. Seeing 25 people try to tackle the same challenge could bring a wholly different but equally interesting vibe through the community. In any case, as far as TC themes go, I'm fine with either theme choice.

I have the idea that connectors are getting less common, not more. Especially in bodywork. Just compare 8448, which consists of lots of connectors, with 42077, whose body consists almost entirely of beams, panels and a few studded bits. Also, I can't remember that many new pieces being connectors recently. I believe most recent new parts are in other categories: panels pins functional elements (gears, gear racks, driving rings etc.) The array of pins seems pretty complete now, with most sensible combinations of pin, axle and hole being covered, so I don't expect that many new pins to appear in 2019 and further. The "holes go in only one direction" problem is of course solved by the 5x7 and 5x11 frames, which has holes in 3 directions (where most connectors give only 2), providing a super strong frame for almost everything with lots of connectivity options. Also, connectors always have a slight spacing offset when used many together, so for gearing housings, frames are spaced exactly right where a frame made of connectors often generates much more friction. So, no, I think beams are the core of Technic (at least as far as sets go) and will stay that way.

I have also received the prize and built the model. No picture, sorry, but I think we all know what 42079 looks like, and I have no mystery MOC to show together with it ;) (wel actually, I have, but it's not very spectacular) It's a nice set, but the way it is built is a bit strange in places. But maybe this is just a 2018 Technic thing in general (hadn't built any 2018 sets before this one), or it's meant for the B-model - which I'll to find out later. Building a Technic set again feels good, I hadn't done this much lately. For the target audience I think it's a great set, for me it packs some nice parts, among which the dark blue stuff, and many other bits. Thanks again!

See also

Personally I think I prefer the biggest sets, as they tend to have the most sophisticated techniques. But I think for the general public, medium-sized sets seem to bring most of the good models. Sets like First responder 42075 or the most recent forklift are I think very nice good-looking decently-functional affordable mid-sized Technic models. Some large-ish sets were also great; I really liked 42039 for example, and also the cargo plane 42025 (but that might be considered a big set) and the medium blue jet 42066. That said, I actually buy very few sets and only build sets once and after that they are just parts packs. I believe most recent Technic set I bought was 42066... I'm still torn on the 42083 Chiron set. I'd really like it, both as a build and for the parts (and color), but upwards of 300 euros is a LOT of money for a Lego set, even one that I really like.

Congratulations on finishing the mighty 8258 and I'm curious how you will find the integration of some studded elements on 8275. From what I can remember of 8275, I found it a highly enjoyable build.