jimmythefly

Or use these wheels, they'll fit flush. http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=4624c03

Thanks for including 6077 Forestmen's River Fortress! It may not be big, but it's aces in terms of playability. A nice camouflaged fortress with a dungeon and river (lake?) flowing through it, treasure, drawbridge, protcullis, raft. Not to mention 6 minifigs! It's a small set, but is very "complete", which I like vs sets like 6080 (which I love) that are large, but feel like they aren't as detailed out as they should be. I'm not talking about detailed interiors, but on 6077 you get a great big tree with foliage, an archery target, a nice hinged access wall, just some really though-through design elements for that size of set.

I went and got the Front Loader, thanks for the advice, everybody! Last night I got through instruction book 1 of 3, I'm looking forward to finishing it up tonight. Also, I'm going to order some PF parts today, and maybe a few things from bricklink. dr_spock, thanks for the link to downloadable building instructions, that'll help with my investigations.

Ah, my sister and I got this as a "combined" christmas gift one year. Probably the only time I really didn't care that it was a "combined" gift, because we each got a side to play with and a bunch of figures for our own. Nowadays most of my figs have the decals rubbed off, and I only can locate maybe 2 of those wonderful shields. Thanks for the trip back. One thing that always bugged me, even then, was that the portcullis wasn't symmetrical and centered in the opening. as a kid I never figured a way around it, and as and adult I'll just leave it as is, wonderful in it's own time and still lots of fun today.

Yeah, you're exactly right, I meant the 8297 off roader. Got the numbers mixed up. I'll send Lego an email and see what's up. I think the crane truck looks brilliant, but I was wondering if there wasn't a way to get some of that playability and specific parts without getting that set specifically. The fact that it makes a good model of a crane truck isn't what's most important to me. Rather, I'd like to see how some of the new-to-me parts are used in a model, how things are put together. That's why I though maybe getting something smaller, like the loader, then adding PF parts and stuff from bricklink might make sense for building mocs and figuring out how the parts work together. I haven't done anything with the linear actuators, any PF stuff, and things like the drive rings for shifting gears are all new to me. So, even though off-roader might not be a great model in it's own right, I thought perhaps it had nice parts, and already came with some PF. With that in mind is the front loader (or something else) still a better way to get what I'm after? Thanks. Jimmy

edit: sorry about the title getting cut off, didn't realize that would happen. I got a nice $75 gift card for Lego shop at home, plus I've managed to put together $75 cash. I was planning on getting the Crane Truck, but it's "sold out" and I'm not sure if they'll be getting any more in stock anytime soon. So, what to do? I'm an AFOL who recently got all my Lego back out (after attending BrickCon in Seattle). The last big set I got was 8865 Test Car, from my parents on what was the most glorious Christmas to date. I've got some older pneumatics (8862 backhoe grader, 8854 power crane). I also recently picked up the 8262 Quad-Bike, 8263 snow groomer, and 8259 mini bulldozer. I'd love to mess around with power functions, the new differentials, some bigger wheels/tires, the linear actuators, the newer vehicle suspension pieces, etc. Eventually I'd like to build a remote-control vehicle moc of some sort. At this point I'm looking at the 8466 off-roader, the 8265 front loader, the tractor with trailer, the race truck, basically all the big stuff still available from TLG online. Then I'll take whatever cash is left over and get additional power functions stuff, maybe some actuators or suspension bits or whatever from bricklink. What combo of sets/parts would you get in my situation? Any hidden gems parts-wise or build-wise in the sets I could get? This is a problem, but it's a great problem to have!

Really nice! I agree with the others, I think the truck is sitting a bit low. There should be more room above the tire between the fender, for suspension movement :) Google image search for "lifted bronco" and that's what I'm talking about. http://www.azbronco.org/pics/a20720a/buck_bronco_2.jpg To minifig scale, those tires must be something like 44s! http://www.jackit.com/images/extreme_paul2.JPG I like the rescue/adventure sort of theme you've got going with this.

Thanks for the article! I had almost forgotten this line even existed. I find myself attracted to the 7726 Coast Guard Truck with Speed boat, as well as the new 7213 Fire Truck with Boat. Both of these, as well as a couple of the other coast guard sets with ATV's and the new fire helicopter, are almost ResQ style. They could come out with a great high-angle rope rescue set, both for outdoor and industrial accidents. Also maybe a nice extraction team with jaws of life and lifting bags, etc. Here in the USA many search & rescue teams are volunteer, but coordinated by the county sheriff or park ranger where the search is taking place. I might have to make a MOC with a nice police radio van, and some volunteers in 4x4 trucks, on horses, and on foot. All in all I think it's a town sub-theme that deserves reintroduction, or at least to be expanded under the coast guard/fire/police themes.