Erik Leppen

42020 Twin-Rotor Helicopter With the lowest number, this might be the smallest set, as such I think it will be about 150 parts with the twin rotors being the only function. It will probably be an unusual color like orange or white. 42021 Snowmobile Sounds nice, I hope it is different from the previous snowmobile. I envision it being yellow :) 42022 Hot Rod Sounds like a model similar to that early small blue Model Team vehicle. I expect it to be red. 42023 Construction Crew Sounds like a set similar to 42009's B-model with various vehicles working together. I expect it to be yellow. 42024 Container Truck Sounds similar to 8052, the blue truck, or 8065, its mini-version. I hope it is an unusual color. Probably not green because of 42008. I'm guessing white. 42026 Black Champion Racer 42027 Desert Racer I was getting excited with a desert racer as largest numbe, but as said these are probably the pull-back models...

While I understand the worry, maybe it is wise to await the pictures before judging :)

Why are instructions for 2014 sets already available?

Of course you can build LEGO instructions - if you're handy with computers. Use the MLCAD - LDView - LPub combination of software packages. MLCAD to build your model and add the steps, LPub to align the steps, create and combine piece callouts and generate the bill of materials, and LDView to render the nice images (LPub will do this for you). Creating instructions is a work of art in itself, so prepare for some work for it to become something nice.

That's a wonderful monkey. I want it (also for the parts). Let's hope tan arches 1 x 3 x 2 are returning :) The car is nothing we haven't seen before.

It is admirable how, in the information age of 2013, you did something noone ever did before. Truly unique. Well done.

Meet Edward! (more pictures here) With full building instructions (available from my website page for Edward, for the curious-of-mind - and aren't we all? :) It's in Dutch, but I'm quite sure you'll manage to find the link to the PDF instructions ;) Instructions are created using MLCAD, LDView and LPub. This model has over 1200 parts, with only a small minority having the studs pointing upwards, so it contains a lot of nice examples of SNOT building. In case you're wondering, this is not an existing person, even though I used photos to get the proportions right.

My first thought was 8265 Front Loader. I think that one is particularly good. Also, 8458 Silver Champion, which I think is the best looking studded set. I agree with the previously mentioned 8258 Crane Truck, 8880 Super Car, 8480 Space Shuttle. Oh, and of course the Command Center dinosaur :D

Cool that you're doing a review so quick, with all the pictures :D I'm very curious how this set will turn out and what building techniques are used.

You are certainly correct nychase, in a way. We cannot make the choice. I just want to make sure the original poster does nothing he might regret (which, of course, works both ways).

Lovely model, it looks good and does a lot in the functional aspect. Great job on it! Reminds of 8109.

LEGO's target age group is not educated in engineering drivetrains.

My advice on selling is, don't. If there's any other way to get by without selling, it's always better than giving up a passion. Even if it means getting a loan. Of course I don't know the situation or the circumstances, but my uninformed guess is that the financial benefit of selling is less than the emotional loss of selling.

I think my vote goes to white too, with orange and then lime being very close runners up. I think white is a nice and undervalued color for Technic, would like to see a white excavator or loader something. :) Also, why not reintroduce tan! :) For some reason I don't like blue. Don't know why.

For me, oddly, it was 8446. This one: I wanted it because it was green, and I kind of liked the futuristic look (alongside 8462, which I got). Looking back on it now, I'm actually glad I didn't get it, because they changed the grays and I would have had the old gray parts I wouldn't use anymore. Also it doesn't have much to it except the green parts. I can also remember I always wanted 8880, but I finally got it in the end. :D One other set that intrigued me was 8865, the test car, but that was only after 8880 out of curiosity. I solved that by borrowing the instructions from someone and build most of it from that. :) I believe that was it :)

I wouldn't go for old sets if you're building a new collection - you'll deliberately put yourself in the situation where you'll have new and old gray, and studded and studless models. The two systems are harder to combine that one single system is to learn. I'd advise to get a few studless sets right now, try the system, and move to studded sets only if you don't like the studless system. The main reason for this advice is that sets within the studless system are currently widely available. I'd say Get 42009 if you want a large amount of generic parts at once - it's so large you can do some MOCing with just this one set. Get 8043 if you want all the PF elements you probably need at once. Get 8110 if you want pneumatics (including compressor) and the necessary elements for building off-roaders. Get 42008 if you want small pneumatics (including compressor) or rare green Technic parts. Get 8070 if you want all the necessary elements for building cars, including gearbox elements. Even though the gearbox in the set is used for something else, it has the necessary elements. Get 8069 if you want to start smaller. Get 8265 if you can, because it's awesome :) Don't get 9398 if you own 41999 unless you really badly want the white and orange parts. And last but not least, check the inventories of all sets that interest you on Bricklink, to get an idea of the parts that's actually in them. bricklink.com -> Catalog -> Sets -> Technic -> the rest follows itself Any of the above will give you a lot of generic elements, beams, axles, gears, whatnot, in the basic Technic colors. As a bonus, 8110 has some rare orange parts. In any case, if you want to collect PF, take one set that has many PF elements (8043 is best, optionally 8275 if you want XL motors), above many sets that have one motor each, or you'll end up with a large amount of battery boxes ;) All of the above sets are, or look to be, great (I do not own 42008, 42009 and 8070, but I have seen 8070 in person).

It can never hurt to try and evaluate :)

If you need the central axle, you could do it like so:

If you add a counterweight, the superstructure (everything above the turntable) will be better balanced, meaning the center of gravity will be closer to the turntable center, and that will put a lot less strain on the turntable. So, as soon as you'll drive the functions with motors, try putting as many motors as you can and the battery box in the back (like 8043 has done). For example you could take the M motor used for extension, out of the arm and replace it by a drive train all the way to the back and put the motor there. The motor for the gripper will be a lot harder to move, this will only be possible wih the new red 8t gears found in 42009. You could replace it with a micromotor if you own the correct conversion cables (but I have no experience with this). But to answer the original question, maybe this is an idea: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=3062478 Edit: also I have the feeling the newer studless turntables do not snap as easily. I never had any turntable snapped, but they feel as having less "play" between the two halves. Also, unlike studded turntables, they come assembled in sets, I assume that is done for a reason.

Don't count on it. rm8, the creator, stated the opposite in his review. Anyhow. The only reason not to get 41999 is because you can't afford it, or the value it has to you is less than the value of the money you need to pay to get it. It's that simple, and in fact it's that simple with anything you want. You only buy things you deem more valuable than the money you pay for it. I probably won't be getting 41999 as well, because I don't want to spend too much on Technic anymore because most parts I already own. That will mean I'll miss out on the dark blue, which is really a pity. But in the end, it's only a color :) If I get one 2013 Technic set it'll probably be 42008, the green tow truck. I think it is technically more interesting, and trucks interest me more than RC cars, and while I'll then be missing out on dark blue, I'll have green instead which I would find fine too. Also I think the crane 42009 is too big and is too similar to 8421, even with the awesome outriggers, and even though I'm kind of a mobile crane person. But that's just my own way of looking at it, and everyone will have to decide and balance for themselves.

The problem is not that it wouldn't be doable. The problem is that it wouldn't be very interesting. Anyhow. A lot will depend on the sales of the mobile crane. If they go though the roof, that would be a message for TLC that large Technic models are in demand. If they stagnate, that would be a message for TLC that the size limit for Technic models has been reached. So, vote with your wallet :) Want big models? Buy 42009. Want smaller models? Don't buy 42009 :)

Count 50 parts, weigh them. Weigh everything, divide by weight of 50 parts, multiply by 50. That will be the approximate part count.

Of course it's possible to create a studles model of 7500 pieces. The main question is, what subject matter would be interesting enough to spend 7500 pieces on. How to keep a set of that size interesting. And, also, why have such a set at all. Such a set has to contain something that cannot be done (or, at the very least, hasn't been done before) with 2500 pieces, otherwise there would be no reason to buy a 7500 piece - and, of course, €750 - set. :) And this is different from, say, an Architecture set. One can have a building with 30 floors which won't be the same with just 3 floors, and one can add endless variation to a building. A truck with 12 axles doesn't have to be more interesting than a truck with 3 axles, at least as a set. It may be impressive, but a set has to do more than be impressive. It has to be interesting and enjoyable to build as well, and have some play features. Edit: some Technic sets are interesting for the very reason they are not so big.

I knew someone was going to come with something better than the official alternate. I didn't expect it to be as good as this :) Smart idea to use the black panels as seat backrests. Also I like the color scheme. The white and red are not "clashing" like in the official alternate.

A 45 degree angle often includes the number sqrt(2) (square root of 2) which is approximately 1.41421 and is not close to a nice fraction (7/5 and 10/7 are best estimates) so when using these angles things often do not line up. I noticed immediately in your first drawing hat the diagonal 2-stud distance between the hinge-points of the produce a 1.414 stud offset in both directions. To circumvent this, "merge" the two hinges so they have the same point of rotation (meaning in this case, the two straight walls are simply connected, and the diagonal section is hinged from the exact corner). In any case, having the diagonal sections be separate from the rest, means the problem of things not aligning will concentrate on the diagonal sections and not "contaminate" the entire structure. Either that, or prepare to do some math beforehand ;) Or use tiles ;)