phool

I can see 8 studs :p The look of this machine is amazing, I look forward to checking out the video when I get home

Also by step 3 it basically says "motorised spoiler" :)

Hmm, cant quite decide whether I'm impressed with these models or not. The "supercar" looks quite interesting, otherwise the others give me a "meh" kind of feeling. I guess I'll have to wait and see the final packaging and/or reviews on here before I make up my mind. I also noticed that the helicopter is using the Ferrari wheel-covers which technicbricks was hinting at a while back, for the rear-propeller.

IMHO we are already paying a premium for these products. Accordingly we should get a premium experience, including printed b-model instructions, without having to pay extra.

Nah those look like Metallic Silver 1 x 1 Round Plates

Well I think the general consensus here was that there should be a happy medium between the old-style and new-style. I for one am not advocating that we have more of this sort of thing: I also don't want to have a single step for just placing a pin.

Hard copies even have less of these annoyances

Calling the kids of today idiots is a bit extreme However it does seem that the consensus between AFOLS is that the steps of the instructions should be reduced a bit and that the B-Model instructions should be provided. I believe that Lego is a premium product and accordingly we are being charged premium prices. My gripe is that having to download B-model instructions to either print or use from a PC is not a premium experience. Has a petition or some such request been sent to TLG regarding providing hard-copy B-model instructions?

Having recently come out of my dark ages, I've been enjoying building most of the more recent technic sets. Aside from the obvious studless difference I noticed that the instructions have become much more lengthy but much easier to use (aside from the colour differentiation between dark grey and black). However at times the new-style instructions can get pretty silly, for example having one step for just placing one part. Presently I'm building the 8043 and have concluded that the spoon feeding in the new style instructions have made me weak! Man, those instructions can get pretty wild at times and just collecting all the pieces for one step takes some time. All of this lead me to think about which style do I prefer? And after some pondering I think that something half-way between the current and the old style would be better. Maybe reducing the amount of steps slightly so that TLG could at least provide instructions for both models over 4 booklets (say 2 books each for a large model). An aside rant: The TLG policy of providing only the A-model instructions now has me really annoyed. Whats worse is trying to play it off as a reduction in my carbon foot print when it's obviously a cost cutting exercise

Indeed, when it comes to rumours of new sets I am reminded of the crude but rather apt internet-phrase: pics or gt*o Edit: lol, word filters

Heathen, Half-Life is one of the best games ever made. Really fond memories with that one. I'm seriously getting annoyed with Valve's secrecy over episode 3. They could at least confirm that they are working on it. Portal 2 is looking amazing as well.

Devised several years ago because I thought it was cool. Now used simply to remain consistent with my online identity over various other forums.

I basically only collect technic and my collection has expanded considerably over the last two or so years. My wife and I also collected Thomas Duplo for our son and I have a few smaller lego sets which managed to survive my childhood.

SUV sounds relatively interesting. Has there ever been a smaller/medium-sized SUV? (I consider 8297 a SUV)

OMG, that is one sexy final render Edit: May as well mention that this black & green colour scheme is one of my favorites. In fact I just picked up a copy of the fibre-optics multi-set just because I liked the look of the hovercraft-boat-thingy with this colour scheme so much.

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=46031

I quite liked the telehandler, actually there are plenty of really awful technic sets out there which lead me into my dark ages (from around 1998). I gues everything in the competition range is awful and really was not what technic is all about.

Well aside from the classics (8880, 8868, 8480, et al.) I'd have to go with 8858 - Rebel Wrecker: It's packed with functions for it's size, looks awesome and the front suspension is full of win.

I quite liked the helicopter. Anybody got other links to similarly functional helicopter MOCs?

I haven't had a chance to check out the video but this MOC really captures the look of the machine perfectly And the location of the PF receivers really integrates them well.

Super sexy 4x4 Just needs some instructions

All I can say is that this looks hawt I wonder if it would look even better if the stripes carried over onto the roof as well. A extremely minor critique I have with Paul's style is the "stacking" of beams (see for example the bottom of the door of the camero), TLG would generally have these areas open, with the body of the door implied. Not sure if that makes any sense or if it's all in my head though In any event, he is certainly one of my favorite builders and I simply love the fact that his focus is on supercars.

My second 8480 Space Shuttle arrived yesterday. It included the box and is in immaculate condition and only cost R700 which is about 70 euro

Isn't possible to merge all of these 8043 price/availability topics into one thread. It seems quite pointless and cluttered to have 10 different threads about pretty much the same thing. Meh, maybe I'm just jealous that it's not available in South Africa yet :/