FebRovery might be finished for another year, but there are still a few Rovers appearing over on Flickr. Classic Spaceman Crimso Giger recently uploaded his cache of Rovery goodness. Here are four of his best, and you can see more of them and his other Spacey MOCs at his photostream via the link above.
Big points to anyone who can decode our (slightly nerdy) Rover-related title!**
**Not redeemable for anything useful.
Not just an excuse for a slightly rude title, but a comparison of Technic fork lift trucks….
We’ll start with set 850, just as Technic itself did, way back when the summers were warm and everybody was on strike. In 1977, this was the very first ‘Expert Builder’ set. In common with the other early sets, there were instructions for 3 models and a wealth of further ideas on the box. The model itself is very cute, if somewhat basic. A quick build, it uses the limited palette of pieces then available to good effect. The first technic model is still the one with the best steering system, for instance. Exceptionally smooth in operation, sensibly geared and with a generous lock; a system that simply hasn’t been bettered since. Ally that to the very short wheelbase and you have an amazingly manoevreable model.
Moving frontwards, things are less happy. The forks are too long and too close together, they don’t rise very far and the system to move them is very basic. Tilting them is but the fevered dream of a madman… as for loading them – you’ll need to put something heavy under the seat first. So, 850 the model is probably a 5/10. 850 the set is more like a 9. There’s a perfect mix of bricks and the new technic parts here to make all kinds of yellow building site stuff. The perfect starter kit.
Moving on to 1984, and a demonstration that original style pneumatics can actually work, in the form of the slightly unhappy looking 8843. Maybe it should just be red or yellow, rather than both… This time at least, the forks will tilt, and there’s even an additional hand-of-god steering control to supplement the one in the cab, which (praise be!) is still connected. It’s rather a pity, therefore, that the steering feels very stiff, because the system incorporates 8 bevel gears (4 of which are in the roof!) and these are the older, flat 14 tooth gears which seem to have more friction than the newer design. It doesn’t help that the cab’s wheel rubs against some of the pneumatic tubing as it turns.
Whilst it does feel somewhat churlish to criticize a feature that I’m always begging to see brought back, this would actually be better without it. Don’t think for a moment that this will stop me nagging to see its return on new models…. capricious, moi?
At the front, things are better. The pneumatic installation is quite neat, there’s an extra long piston (not as illustrated; the one pictured is assembled from my collection, with period pneumatics from 8040) to facilitate a good range of movement, and the forks are linked to it via short lengths of chain. Operate the pump and they whizz up and down very happily, and will do so with a reasonable load, as well. To achieve this, millimetre perfect lining up of the chain is necessary – it uses tread link pieces wedged in holes and some of the clearances are very tight – but do that and it’ll work fine.
8843 is a good effort; in some ways a useful improvement on 850, but it’s lost that model’s best features – the B model here is a sketchy looking tow truck and the varied colour palette means there’s not enough pieces of one colour in this small set to make convincing alternatives. 6/10.
Fast forward to 1989; it’s goodbye Berlin Wall and, somewhat less momentously, hello 8835. Much better looking than its predecessor, it also benefits from a lifting mechanism that closely mirrors the solution on real forklifts. Smoother steering too, although wouldn’t it be nice if there was a wheel in the cab….? (yes, yes, I know…)
The only demerit with this model concerns the jerky movement of the forks. The brick-built carrier that wraps around the spars is too tight-fitting to move smoothly, as if the designers had forgotten the far more elegant solution to this problem found on 8843. At least they hadn’t forgotten about the tilt function.
Although 8835 is just as multi-coloured as its predecessor, the colours are much more harmonious and this is a handsome model. The B model suffers in the same way as 8843’s, though. It’s a less-than-convincing tractor. Stick to the forklift though and this is a good set, with only one major flaw. 8/10
Still with me? You’re doing well, don’t give up now… Continue reading
‘What’s going on ‘ere then?’*. Feast your pork pies* on Mijasper’s Bobby-Car vs. bobby* encounter! See if it’s all a giraffe* on Flickr here. Our money’s on the copper*.
*Apologies to non-British readers of this post. None of this will make any sense!
One of the defining coming-of-age films of the 1980s, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off told the story of one young man’s quest to have a day of extraordinary leisure. It starred Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Grey, Mia Sara, and even (briefly) Charlie Sheen, but the real star of the movie is of course the gorgeous 1961 Ferrari GT California.
TLCB favourite Ralph Savelsberg (aka Mad Physicist) has recreated the beautiful classic from the film (complete with Ferris figure) in his un-mistakable building style, and you can see all the photos at Ralph’s photostream here.
Apologies for the unimaginative title but we’ve been a bit pre-occupied dealing with a combined Elf and Mini-Fig uprising here at TLCB Towers. Now the that airhorn is recharged, we’ve time to bring you this rather charming creation from Miro Dudas, on Flickr. Possibly the most normal looking car in the FebRovery group, the Lunar Rover 90 is standard Land Rover, which has been modified for use in space. Apparently this was done to save money on developing a new moon buggy. You can see the complete range of weird and wonderful vehicles which were created last month by following this link to the FebRovery Group.
It’s 40 years since LEGO introduced people into their products, with what is now affectionately known as the ‘Maxi-Fig’. Long since replaced by the ‘Mini-Fig’ (which are now so numerous if they were to rise up against humanity we’d be in big trouble), the ‘Maxi-Fig’ was a sort of immovable Technic figure, permanently happy and with two elbows on each arm. Brickbaron pays homage to 1970s LEGO with his lovely B-Type bus populated with smiling ‘Maxi-Fig’ patrons. Brought to our attention by The Brothers Brick, you can see more of Brickbaron’s commemorative creation here.
The Elf that discovered the content of this post was fully expecting three meal tokens upon its return to TLCB Towers. No chance, as Hot Rod Vince included all three of these hot rods in one upload on MOCpages. Don’t feel sorry for the Elf in question though; it wouldn’t have saved the extra meal tokens for leaner times, but rather gorged itself on all three meals in one go, and then very probably vomited all over the cafeteria.
So, one meal token for a slightly disgruntled Elf, but three models for you guys to view. You can see all of the hot rods together at Vince’s MOCpage via the link above, or you can view them individually on Flickr here, here and here.
This gorgeous 1953 coachbuilt Ghia Cadillac Series 62 is the work of famed Flickr car-builder Tim Inman, and it displays some truly outstanding brickmanship.
The real Ghia Coupe was just as special. Given to movie star Rita Hayworth by her third husband Prince Aly Khan (then the world’s richest man) during their brief marriage, the Cadillac was one of only two bodied in Italy by coach-builders Ghia using a DeVille V8 as a base.
The car now resides in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, the city where Rita too now rests. Following several more short marriages and a battle with alcoholism, Rita succumbed to Alzheimers disease aged just 68. One of the world’s biggest movie stars Rita Heyworth’s legacy remains as one of the American Film Institutes ‘100 Greatest Stars of All Time’.
This marvellous mini-figure biplane was unearthed by one of our Elves today on Flickr. It’s the work of Luis Baixinho and you can see more here.
Today’s double-post takes The Lego Car Blog back to its roots, with two brilliant fully functional large scale vehicles.
First up is Srecko Mimica‘s hot rod pick-up. Under the minimalist Technic bodywork sits a highly detailed V8 engine, working gearbox, steering and suspension, plus a list of Power Functions goodies including RC drive and steering and working turn signals. You can see all the photos on Flickr via the link.
Our second Technic model was brought to our attention via the Feedback page and can be found on Eurobricks. Built by desert752 it features slightly odd Ferrari-ish ‘System’ bodywork over a Technic chassis, but what a chassis it is! Contained within are eight Power Functions motors that power the drive, steering, pneumatic gearbox, air-suspension and a weird ‘acceleration boost’ function that we really can’t figure out. See all the details at the Eurobricks forum by clicking the link above.
We have no idea how to pronounce today’s title, so instead we’ll go with the description that František Hajdekr has used on his Flickr photo, of ‘Massive Soviet Tractor’. Because it is a massive soviet tractor. See more at the link.
Hot and rad rod building continues apace over on Flickr, thanks to our recent Group of the Month and their current ‘Rods and Customs’ challenge. This one is by Lego Junkie and you can see more at his photostream here.
It’s green Smarties all around today at TLCB. First up, Flickr’s Nannan Zhang shows us what it’ll be like to drive in the future if you’ve got no friends or family. See his single-seat ‘Izara Roadrunner’ here.
Our second of today’s double comes from car-building extraordinaire Lino M, with his Bugster concept. See it and his other cars via his photostream here.
The Lego Car Blog Elves are spectacularly sulky today. The office went to the cinema to see The LEGO Movie and, sadly, we couldn’t take them.
Don’t feel sorry for the Elves though as it’s entirely of their own making. We’ve been banned from several cinemas and possibly still have an outstanding lawsuit from a particularly disastrous previous cinematic trip, so they’ll just have to wait for the DVD. However, you dear Readers, can go to see The LEGO Movie at the cinema. But should you? Read on to find out!
Synopsis:
The LEGO Movie was previewed here last June, and has been in development by Warner Brothers for the past six years. Set in a bustling and beautifully animated LEGO metropolis where ‘Everything is Awesome!’, The LEGO Movie is the tale of one mini-figure’s quest to save the world as he knows it. Emmet Brickowski (voiced by Chris Pratt of ‘The O.C’ and ‘Parks and Recreation’ fame) is an ordinary construction worker following the instructions available for every aspect of life in the city in the vain hope of becoming a ‘somebody’. Success and popularity eludes him until, one day, his life changes forever.
Unbeknownst to Emmet, the World is under threat from the evil Lord Business (voiced by a wonderfully on-form Will Ferrell), whilst a secret society of Master Builders attempts to stop him. Emmet accidentally stumbles across the long-lost ‘Piece of Resistance’, fulfilling the Master Builders’ prophesy of a saviour, and is thrust into the apocalyptic struggle between good and evil.
Mentored by the beautiful Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and wise Master Builder Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), Emmet must defeat Lord Business’ plans to create his ‘perfect’ world at the expense of everyone that lives within it. Adults will find the plot faintly Orwellian and actually quite dark, but it’s punctuated with such humour and so many pop-culture references that you may not realise until the end the intelligence that lies within.
The stellar lead cast is backed up by an impressive roster of supporting voice-actors, including a brilliant Liam Neeson as ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’, Channing Tatum as ‘Superman’, Will Arnett as ‘Batman’ and the delightful Alison Brie as ‘Uni-Kitty’.
TLCB Verdict:
The LEGO Movie looks like a stop-motion animation, though it’s really computer animated, and it is at times quite busy. However it’s created in a beautifully bright way that only LEGO as a subject matter could inspire. It’s also available in 3D, but to be honest the movie doesn’t really need it and we suspect it will be just as enjoyable in only two dimensions.
A sort of Toy Story meets The Matrix, The LEGO Movie is a superbly animated film that both children and – more surprisingly – adults will enjoy. It’s also a children’s film that is quite rare in today’s cinema, in that the key message isn’t just aimed at the children viewing it, but perhaps more at their parents in attendance. We certainly hope it’ll give a few LEGO collectors within the online community something worth thinking about. The live-action finale is undoubtedly one of the sweetest movie moments of 2014, especially when you realise who is really the author of the enthralling story just witnessed.
So is ‘Everything Awesome’?
We’d have to say yes. The LEGO Movie might just be the animated movie of the year, and thus gets a TLCB rating of 4 Stars.
The LEGO Movie is in cinemas worldwide now, and success at the Box Office also means we can look out for a sequel following sometime in 2017. We can’t wait!
After a pair of posts featuring giant yellow machines, today we’re featuring something a bit smaller. This crane is ideally sized for removing errant Elves from our desks at The Lego Car Blog. Sylvain Ballivet’s micro-build is part of a bigger, ongoing sci-fi project. You can see more photos of the LTN-201 Mobile Crane and Sylvain’s other micro-vehicles by clicking this link to MOCpages.
