DLuders

@ Lurvio: I like your use of both "studded" and "studless" Technic parts. Your pneumatics are well integrated. Do think that the 9397 Logging Truck could have had a pneumatic grappling arm like you built for your MOC?

The Lego Car Blog's predictions for prices look not as favorable to the customer: "9393 Tractor: £34.99 – £39.99 [equivalent to USD $55.21-$63.10 or €41,86-€47,84] 9396 Helicopter: £79.99 – £89.99 [equivalent to USD $126.22-$142.00 or €95,69-€107,65] 9398 Rock Crawler: £149.99 – £159.99 [equivalent to USD $236.68-$252.46 or €179,42-€191,34]

@ Builder: Welcome to Eurobricks! If you can wait until August 2012 (when the 2nd Half 2012 sets are released) and have enough money, the 9398 4x4 Crawler seems to be a fun model to drive. If you can't wait (or just have US$119.99 to spend), buy the 8070 Supercar.

Let's get back on topic -- do the proposed PRICES (in red above) for the 9398 4x4 Crawler seem OK to you? Would you buy that set at that price?

Blakbird's Technicopedia has this nice article about all of the Lego Technic Universal Sets. Here are just a few:

So, if the European price of the 9398 Lego Technic 4x4 Crawler is going to be €149,99, one could apply a ratio to this price chart in TechnicBRICKS for the 9397 Logging Truck, to come up with these potential costs: €149,99 divided by €119,99 is a ratio of 1.25. Potential Suggested Retail Price of 9398 4x4 Crawler could be: European Union countries: ~€149,99 or perhaps slightly less in some countries US Dollars (USD): ($139.99) x 1.25 = $174.99 Canadian Dollars (CAD): ($179.99) x 1.25 = $224.99 Czech Republic CZK: (2899,00) x 1.25 = 3623,75 Hungarian HUF: (35990,00) x 1.25 = 44987,50 Polish PLN: (549,99 x 1.25 = 687,49 Swiss CHF: (169,00) x 1.25 = 211,25 United Kingdom GBP: (99,99) x 1.25 = 124,99 Korean KRW: (119,99) x 1.25 = 149,99

Sheepo has added a "Double Wishbone" Front Axle design with Lego Hub 1 to his Lego Modular Platform System (MPS):

Brickset lists these nine Star Wars Technic sets -- they use Technic parts (Technic Liftarms & Technic Pins). To me, Technic is a BUILDING STYLE (open construction) using Technic parts. Look at these Star Wars Technic sets -- they are not very much different from BIONICLE and HERO FACTORY (which use Technic parts).

@ Tim S.: You could use Tore M's LDD .lxf file of the Lego Technic 8110 Unimog U400 set. He describes the missing LDD parts on this Eurobricks Forum topic.

@ le60head: Here is an example of "Rock Crawler" tires sold by the pair: http://www.amainhobbies.com/index.php/cPath/1_26_869/n/RC-Cars-Trucks-Off-Road-Tires-Wheels-Rock-Crawler-Tires-Foams . The foam inserts prevent the tires from collapsing under the weight of the truck. I bet that some Lego Technic AFOLs try them on the upcoming (2H2012) 9398 4x4 Crawler (with its smallish tires).

I'm not a Lego purist, and I love the thought of using non-Lego tires. Even though TLG is THE LARGEST TIRE MAKER in the world (by volume), it does not have a great selection of large tire sizes. One can go to a local RC shop and find lots of combinations that will fit Lego wheel rims. Bravo! Philo (Phillippe Hurbain) has this Lego "Wheels, Tyres and Traction" comparison to show the various "grip" levels of each Lego tire. Commercial, off-the-shelf RC tires would do better on most surfaces.

As a "Yank" who grew up in Connecticut, I can say that Lego Technic is more popular in the USA's Northeast than it is in the Northwest. I went to the local Wal-Mart yesterday -- there was an entire row of Lego sets but NOT ONE of them was Technic. They had lots of Ninjago, Hero Factory, Star Wars, etc. Even the local Toys-R-Us store has only a few Technic sets. How can folks get to appreciate Lego Technic if they can't even find them for sale? Even the Lego catalogs that we get in the mail have hardly any Technic offerings. Nevertheless,

@ Jetro: Thanks for your help. I find it curious that TLG releases sets to large chain stores (like Argos in the UK, and Toys-R-Us in the USA), and then doesn't tell Lego Customer Service. They need to get their act together! The set has been "out" in the public for at least 6-1/2 weeks now -- don't they KNOW?

Since TLG is a privately-owned company, it does not publicly release its sales figures by Product Line, but it did release this official article: "LEGO Group sales up by 17% in 2011": "Sales of classic lines such as LEGO City, LEGO Technic and LEGO Creator also rose sharply, while LEGO Ninjago, the Group’s major product launch in 2011 – a combination of traditional building sets and so called spinners – exceeded expectations and was the Group’s biggest product introduction ever." Yes, Lego Technic has the highest sales success in Germany.

@ Porty: This one:

It could be that the "Core" team is developing a new, Lego-compatible electronic device (like the Mindsensors and HiTechnic Lego-compatible products). To me, it doesn't matter if the product is a 100%-Lego-produced item, as long as it's Lego-CERTIFIED eventually.

I took the survey after watching the YouTube video in High Definition. The "Core" system's brick (with batteries, as shown in the video) has: * 3 connectors with proportional control * 5 connectors with non-proportional control * Fully compatible with other connectors * Reach 10 meters [33 feet] * Gyrosensor +/- 2G * Current 1A * Multifunction key * Micro-B USB {Universal Serial Bus] for repair and installation of firmware * Gray or Black version (you pick your favorite) * Fully proportional controller 360 degrees * A lot of buttons with different settings * Simple intuitive driver with multiple settings * Gyrosensor in "Core" to detect Tilt, Shock, Shot, Fall WITHOUT BATTERY BOX: 11 x 7 x 2 studs WITH BATTERY BOX (as shown in the video): 14 x 7 x 4 studs

THIS may be an alternate for someone who is having problems finding black parts too.

Elias Iten has been refining his Lego Technic "Detachable 3S Ropeway" (skilift) for public display later this month. He wrote on this : "43 Pictures are here: .Lego Technic 3S Station - first final video, new functions in [this] Part 4: - All new masts - Better programming (e.g. constant time between gondolas) - 3 gondolas Remaining things to do for Part 5: - Additional improvements in program of RCX ;) - Better video details - Come and see on March 17 & 18 in Switzerland, Sihlbrugg: http://www.steinchenwelt.ch ."

Between the 8285 Lego Technic Tow Truck and the 8421 Mobile Crane, I believe that the 8421 would be a better, long-term value.

TLG has re-posted the two-part PDF Building Instructions for the Lego Technic 9397 B-Model (Dump Truck with Plow), but the number of pages per PDF booklet has changed. All 308 pages are now there, but only on this Technic.Lego.com website (and not yet on this Lego.com Customer Service website). The kvisoft.com warning link that Blakbird noted seems to be gone. Lego Technic 9397B / 9397-2 PDF Building Instructions Part 1 of 2 (Pages 1-160) -- 18.873 MB when downloaded: http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/Technic2BuildingInstructions/otherfiles/downloadECC743C410CF275636F4F69A237EE116.pdf . Lego Technic 9397B / 9397-2 PDF Building Instructions Part 2 of 2 (Pages 161-308) -- 19.260 MB when downloaded: http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/Technic2BuildingInstructions/otherfiles/download5AF6FC028E1711E5505212EB5EF5AD85.pdf .

@ TechnicFreak: I see what you mean about the end of the Linear Actuator being just a simple Technic Pin Hole. Yes, a SHORT axle could possibly fall out but a 5L or 7L Technic Axle is long enough that the truck would have to tip over for it to fall out. As long as it is flat, the end of the Linear Actuator could remain attached to the 2L Technic Liftarms. I suppose it would be best to use two 60483 "Technic, Liftarm 1 x 2 Thick with Pin Hole and Axle Hole" parts, so that the axle won't fall out. Or, one could use two 43857 "Technic, Liftarm 1 x 2 Thick" parts and "sandwich" both ends of a 5L Technic Axle with two Technic Pins (on the same axis), so that the Technic Pin cannot fall out.

@ TechnicFreak: By looking at the end of Rodeown's (i.e., the 7:00 to 7:20 portion), one can see that the two black Technic Liftarms must be the 43857 "Technic, Liftarm 1 x 2 Thick" parts. If they were the 60483 "Technic, Liftarm 1 x 2 Thick with Pin Hole and Axle Hole" parts, the end of the Linear Actuator would not be able to rotate -- it would be fixed in place by the axle inserted onto its end.

@ Grohl: Your new alternate for the 8052 set looks great! On your Facebook page, you wrote several weeks ago that you needed to get "permission" before posting it. From whom did you need to get permission -- The Lego Group? Why?

I would suggest that this huge truck would be more suited on the Eurobricks "Technic, Mindstorms, and Model Team" Forum (rather than the "Town" Forum), because it is made like a Model Team set. There are other large, beautiful, realistic-looking trucks posted by 2LegoOrNotToLego, BricksOnWheels, and other talented builders.