rener

Truly impressive works, big AND beautiful! And funny too... Please keep on going, I admire your creativity!

IMHO it looks more dangerous than 9398's alternative truck...

I think you did a wonderful job with this one set moc, great looks and functionality! The steering looks particularly impressive, reminds me of an oldie: http://www.peeron.com/scans/8889-1/82 . Possibly the first technic design with articulated steering?

Thanks! Before the main model, I modded steering in the alternative hot rod. This was a bit harder and didn't work as smoothly, but maybe can be improved upon.

I really enjoy the new supercar 8070, both the main model en alternative model, as well as the multitude of useful parts which helped me recreating several existing sets in red (see my brickshelf: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=rener). The one thing I found missing in 8070 is a working steering wheel, which in my opinion is more or less mandatory for a real supercar. I don't consider myself a very good MOD-maker (let alone creating MOCs), but with this result I'm satisfied. Adding gears and universal joints was not very hard, but making the steering axle running the right way without compromising the structure was. This is because the axle has to run through a vertically placed black beam (L9), which thus has to be replaced by a beam (L7). When this is done, the steering axle is easy to add, but the structure that holds the "dashboard" and windshield needs to be repaird. I'm sure this could be done in a more economic way, but with some trial and error it fits fine now. Anyway, here are the pics (link to my BS-folder, because I can't seem to resize my pictures...): http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=513354 I hope you like it, thanks for looking! René

I guess. This little mod only requires a few very common pieces, and after putting the black liftarms into place it's nicely hidden. The black pin above the big red panel needs to be moved 1 hole back (or removed, as it is replaced by an axle 5L) EDIT: since I couldn't resize my pic to a proper size, here's the direct link to the brickshelf page: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=5586721 Some more pics: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=510970

Looks very nice! A bit Blue Thunder-like, although I'm not sure if that was black of blue... Also you found a nice place to put lights on it, something I was struggling with for a while. I think I've found a way to implement the PF-switch a little more efficient and less visible. I'll try to make a picture soon...

Exactly! And with a nice alternative model too...

Nice review of a (IMHO) not so nice plane. Thanks to your pictures I now more appreciate the looks of the model, and it also seems to contain quite a lot rare parts. Functionality however looks to be very minimal. I do own 8425 and this model seems to be its successor. 8425 however has more functions and way more (functional!) gears. I don't like it that you have to push the landing wheels manually to retract them, but as this is done via an air cilinder that is acceptable. Manually pushing the propellors is not. Especially since there are two of them, a single mechanism to drive them both at the same time would have been mandatory. Thanks again for your review and very nice pics though! Keep on going! René

I haven't really got the time to do a proper review, but for those who are interested I made some pictures of the building process: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=505274 One of the most enjoyable building experiences I have had. Almost no repetition, interesting parts and a really nice mechanism for the flaps, although I agree with opinions above about the rear flaps. In the end you get a very big and impressive model, also because of the beautiful colour scheme. The silver parts used for the propellor housing really make the plane stand out!

I saw your edit. Of course I meant the 20t double bevel gears as wel as the 12t ones. I just rechecked my own model and it works very fine!

What seemed to work for me (haven't tried it recently...) is inverting the 20t and 12t double bevel gears of the drive shafts. The 20t gears were added on step 39 (book 1, p47), the 12t on step 44 (book 2, p12). As I remember the model moves not jerky anymore, and of course also a bit faster.

OK, a little misunderstanding there... You are right, for these old big sets you sometimes need a lot of pieces per step. Especially with a complex model like the space shuttle, the placement of every piece is important. Not to mention to repeatedly check if the moving parts turn smoothly, because the many rubber belts make the mechanisms a bit vulnerable for jamming.

Though I'm very looking forward to your review, your last statement isn't entirely true. In fact, the alternate submarine uses quite some parts that the space shuttle doesn't. This could be handy to know if you are considering buying a used set...

Below/between the panels which are behind the rotor output there seems to be some kind of metal spring. Could this be a suspension spring, pneumatic pump, or are my eyes just deceiving me?

mmm, I can't help but looking at this set seeing it as a bunch of beams and panels with just a few (indeed interesting) new PF-options. But I remember that, as a kid, RC-cars bored me after about 5 mins, and the building process doesn't seem quite appealing too. So this one I'm gonna pass...

Maybe for a transmission system? I certainly hope so, otherwise my interest in "just a remote controlled car" is not so big. Technic for me is mostly about techniques (if you get my drift...), and 9398 seems to be lacking somewhat in that area... But, with so little info, we have to wait and see.

Nice review! Normally I'm not even thinking about getting the "littluns", but this one is now on my shortlist.

No, you're not. I really like 8043 because of the multitude of functions en intricate gear mechanisms, but I got rid of the 8275 Bulldozer for exactly the reasons you mention. In my opinion, most models lose in playability when RC-'d, although it really can be fun to build/MOD these. That helicopter should have PF, as "batteries not included" is mentioned on the pics, which makes me very curious about which functions are electric. I suppose winch and landing gear are the most suitable candidates. Motorized propellors would be nice too, since rotating them manually and simultaneously using the control stick in 8856 and 8412 was a bit of a pain...

It may not be the place, nor the time for me to react, but as a fellow dutchman I have to say I'm a bit embarrassed by seeing this attempt at breaking the world record of making as many errors as possible in one sentence. Phonetically it's pretty good though, at least in standard Dutch-English speak...

Listening to metal, mostly via youtube. drinking coffee. watching football on tv. Or none of the above, if I really don't want to be distracted. Although somehow listening to music speeds up my building...;)

LOL, that sounds very plausible indeed...

Well, according to bricklink most technic models of the years 1977-1978 were also released with black crown gears, see http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=3650a&colorID=11&in=A . And, 853 also had some re-designing, at least my (second hand) version contains an extra sheet with some modifications of the steering area. Mainly reinforcements of the steering column with bricks, no real technical redesigning.

Excellent review of a great set. Luckily enough I managed to get a MISB 5541 about a year ago, your review quite well corresponds with the feeling I had when I built the model. Too bad that some of the stickers are across multiple pieces, and that some of these pieces are necessary for the alternate model..