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.
Yellow building site stuff through the ages…
On the right, from 1989, Lego Technic’s first JCB; the 8862 Backhoe. A startlingly yellow confection and the perfect showcase for the then-new second generation pneumatic parts. On the left, 2003’s 8455, slightly less yellow, and an even better showcase for said parts – it has more than twice as many of them…
Both of these JCBs sat near the top of the range, and although the Technic range may seem incomplete without one, there has only been these two and the more recent 2011 8069. This latter model was a lot cheaper and not as accomplished as it’s predecessors. It’s a good enough substitute for less cash, although the little 42004 is as well, for a lot less cash.
Where were we ? Ah yes, 8862 and 8455. First, the builds. The early one is naturally more basic, with it’s studded Technic beams, although the bigger build steps of these older models keeps you on your toes. It was a rare pleasure to build with brand new, unopened 25 year old Technic in this case – no second hand teeth marks and dog hair to contend with, until I have to pull out those infuriating early tight fitting black pins that is… maybe I’ll get the dog to do it… Anyway, after decimating the value of this 8862, I enjoyed a couple of hours of good old fashioned building.
I then cracked open the 8455 (unopened as well!) and gave that my full attention; needed because this little machine’s many pneumatic components, especially the tubing, are VERY compactly packaged. In order to squeeze it’s 10 pistons, 7 switches, 2 pumps and several yards of tubing into a model that’s smaller than 8862, as well as being more functional; you must concentrate at every stage of the instructions on where exactly to route the various pipes and so on. The cleverness of this machine’s packaging is such that not only will it work faultlessly as long as you do this, but all of it’s pipes are very neatly routed on the finished model as well; something that can’t be said of the old stager. With that, it’s a very technical build, not to be rushed.
Both of these models came with pneumatic tubing in long lengths that you cut to size yourself. In both cases, it’s important to cut to the lengths specified; even small deviations may cause packaging and clearance problems, especially in 8455. As is often the case, follow the instructions faithfully and you’ll be alright. Round one is a draw.
To look at, these two are very different, and show the value of 14 years of progress. 8862 is a good effort but it’s oddly proportioned: too tall and under-wheeled. And very, very yellow! Even both buckets are yellow. The black contrast provided by the seat, stabilisers and grille are not enough to offset the overbearing yellowness. Perhaps if I was prepared to get it muddy, it’ll look better…. 8455, on the other hand, looks like this:
Better proportioned, right-size wheels…. and oddly, probably not yellow enough! There’s no pleasing some people… It does unquestionably look better, though. New technic wins at a canter.
As you’d hope for JCB models, both of these are fully functional. We’ll start at the front. 8862 has a system of angled levers and worm gears, manually controlled by wheels on the side, to raise/lower and tilt the front bucket. This system is not perfect. It won’t raise the bucket any higher than the level of the vehicle’s roof, although it does try to maintain the bucket’s angle as the arm is raised and lowered. It almost succeeds… 8455 has pairs of pneumatic rams to operate these functions: there’s a wide range of movement, it’s a strong system and the bucket maintains it’s angle regardless of elevation. The switches on the sides of the seat (if there was a seat) are a neat touch. This seamless operation hands new the win here.
8455 might not have a seat, but there is an engine; geared to turn quite quickly from the rear wheels; and this demonstrates yet more of that clever packaging that so characterizes this model. The steering system – via knob wheels and drag links – works around the engine, taking very little space and it works smoothly, if without quite the precision of 8862’s conventional rack and pinion. 8862 has no engine, despite it’s greater size. Another round goes to new.
The operation of their rear arms is naturally very similar: three single pneumatic rams to lift, reach and tilt the bucket each. 8862 has a manual control to rotate the arm, while 8455, in a display of wilful eccentricity, does this via another pneumatic piston. This is charming, although a lot harder to regulate… and good luck remembering which of 8455’s bank of unlabelled switches does what, as they lack the older model’s more logical arrangement. They are both very playable here, but I think the better ergonomics of 8862 hand old technic a much needed win in this round. Continue reading
A few of our Elves have been on a secret mission recently, and today we get to show you why! After revealing LEGO’s new Technic sets for the first half of 2014 we can finally review the last set to join the Technic line up in the second half of the year.
This is it, a new addition to Technic’s officially licensed range, and the new flagship at the top of the 2014 line-up. LEGO has partnered with Volvo trucks to bring us a replica of their huge L350F Front Loader and, as you can see from the slightly dodgy picture above, it’s loaded with Power Functions goodies, including two RC controls, two RC receivers and a multitude of motors.
Functions are all remotely controlled, and include a linear actuated front bucket (itself a new part, attached by two other new-for-2014 pieces), articulated steering, and drive. 42030 also includes the portal hubs first debuted on the 8110 Unimog and a rear-mounted piston engine in a new green colour, which is going to look great in classic car MOCs.
42030 includes, as always, instructions for a second vehicle. This time it’s an articulated Volvo dump truck and it’s, as B-Models go, quite a good one. The Volvo Front Loader will reach stores in the second half of 2014, priced well out of reach of most children’s allowances, and it looks like it’s going to be one of the best Technic sets of the last few years. Start saving!
This fully-studded 1984 Ford F-150 was suggested to us by a reader. Michael Janise is the builder and he’s thrown in everything a redneck ride needs; lift kit, spotlights, roll bar and an ice cooler. OK, everything bar a gun rack and a republican/confederate flag sticker on the rear bumper. See all the details on MOCpages here.
Steven Spielberg’s incredible 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park isn’t a particularly car-y movie; most of the few cars that feature are the Ford Explorers used to shuttle tourists around the theme park. These were – being an American SUV built in the early ’90s – utter garbage, but in Jurassic Park livery they suddenly became very cool. So cool that Mercedes decided to sponsor the first Jurassic Park sequel in order to get its new ML-Class SUV in the spotlight.
Back to the Explorer, and it’s ripe for recreating in LEGO; it’s blocky and wonderfully colourful. TLCB regular (and Brothers Brick writer) Ralph Savelsberg has done just this in his usual brilliant studs-up style, and completed the build with the movie’s main characters (well, apart from the dinosaurs). See all the photos at Ralph’s photostream here, whilst we give the Elves a rare afternoon off to watch giant lizards running amok.
Germany’s Messerschmitt 109 was the top World War 2 fighter until the Spitfire became the dominant force in aerial combat. Built by the same company that would later go on to manufacture weird bubble cars the 109 was hugely successful in the skies over Europe, and much of the rest of the world. Being on the losing side has meant the Messerschmitt has perhaps slipped from the public conscious when compared to its Allied rivals, but the 109’s pilots were no less skilled or brave than those flying the Allies’ Spitfires, Hurricanes or Mustangs. Daniel Siskind has built two versions of the famous German fighter (hence the title), and you can see more of them and his other military builds on Flickr.
It’s time for another trip into the online Lego community, as we resurrect the oft-forgotten ‘Group of the Month’ segment here at TLCB!
Much of the online Lego community is centred on Flickr; it’s a happy hunting ground for our Elves and is free from the ratings madness that blights MOCpages. Head Turnerz – one of Flickr’s most prolific vehicular groups – was founded there last year by a few ex-MOCpages users, and it’s rapidly grown to accommodate almost 100 members. We asked one of their admins to describe what the group is all about; “Head Turnerz is the group for LEGO car enthusiasts of all kinds, from stock standard to heavily modified and everything in between, Head Turnerz has it all!”
We’ve featured a number of creations from the Head Turnerz group here at TLCB, and both of today’s finds hail from one of the group’s monthly ‘meets’. Their February meet is all about hot rods & customs, from ’32 Ford Hi-boys all the way to slammed ’49 Mercurys, as demonstrated by Thomas Graafland‘s stunning rat rod above and Aaden H‘s slick ’30 Ford Model-A below.
LEGO today released images of the latest official set to be borne of it’s Cuusoo programme. Created by LEGO fan Brent Waller, the new Ghostbusters Ecto-1 faithfully recreates the modified Cadillac Ambulance and characters from the 1980s movie. Over to LEGO:
This fun and iconic vehicle from the blockbusting ‘80s movie is fully loaded with all the paranormal detection equipment needed to track down those ghastly ghosts. It also features cool Ghostbusters logo decoration, removable roof, tracking computer and seats for 3 mini-figures.
Ecto-1 will take the set number 21108 when it reaches stores in June, priced around $50. Read all the details on LEGO’s Cuusoo blog!
FebRovery continues apace, over on Flickr and with it has come this superb Neo-Classic Space build from Jon Blackford. Jon has updated the 6841 Mineral Detector from 1980 to include bigger sensors, two closed cockpits and that essential on an airless moon: a rear spoiler. All of this has upset the normally smiling driver of the older model, as you can see below. There are more photos on Jon’s Flickr and there are photos of the interiors of the cockpits on MOCpages.
The Lego Car Blog favourite Karwik is back, with another beautifully recreated Soviet marvel, this time a UAZ 469. The UAZ, like most Russian metal from the era, was an anonymously-named off-road military vehicle with a reputation for not working properly. Unbelievably production of the 469 only ended last year, 41 years after it started, as UAZ try to switch to manufacturing passenger vehicles following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Looking at their latest efforts, we’re not too hopeful of a bright future, but we do like an underdog. You can check out Karwik’s wonderful build on Flickr.
It’s nearly here! The 2014 Formula 1 season is almost upon us, and Nathanael L is getting is us ready with his excellent Model Team version of Ferrari’s 2014 title challenger.
Replicating the real Ferrari F14 T, Nathanael has included all of the new regulation-changed aspects of the 2014 cars;
First up is the new power-train, a 1.6 litre V6 turbo with an energy recovery system. Suddenly the Toyota Prius just got a little bit cooler eh? This we like, although we’d like it more still if Formula 1 allowed a free reign in engine capacity, induction and fuel type, much like Le Mans does. Note to Bernie Ecclestone: If you want to encourage more than three engine manufacturers into the sport you’ve got to give them freedom to work to their strengths.
Next, the exhaust must exit high and centrally, with the lower plain of the rear wing removed. This means no more ‘blown diffusers’, and a headache for Red Bull.
The last of the key changes to the regulations for this year sees the front wings narrow and the nose drop, with the aim of reducing downforce and also reducing the chances of a car riding over the top of another in an impact. This, we don’t like. Safety is a good thing, but if the result is the world’s ugliest race car (and there have been no injuries or deaths from an incident of the type aimed at being prevented for decades) perhaps there’s a better way to improve it. The Ferrari F14 T actually has a reasonably elegant solution compared to many of the other cars on the grid, but will it be quick?
Finally, there will be double points awarded in the last race of the season, because – as far as we can tell – Bernie Ecclestone has gone quite mad.
The action starts in Melbourne, Australia on the 14th of March. Will Sebastien Vettel continue his dominance? Will the new turbocharged engines blow up? Will Bernie be jailed for his fraud and corruption charges? Only one month to go!
You can see all the (brilliant) photos of Nathanael L’s Ferrari F14 T on both Flickr and MOCpages.
Can mini-figures vomit? Tim S‘ dinosaur themed roller coaster on MOCpages is going to find out! Check it out at the link.
TLCB regular Andrea Lattanzio aka Norton74 is back with another variant of his brilliant Scania 4 Series truck. His latest version is the single-axle version fitted with an inline six cylinder engine, and can be viewed on either MOCpages or Flickr.
Small, weird, and a bit ugly. No, not The Lego Car Blog Elves, but the latest creation from Karf Oohlu. Karf has a reputation for using LEGO pieces in new and strange ways, and his ‘Ol Brown Truck’ continues this trend, utilising a horse saddle of all things to fashion the cab! See ‘Ol Brown’ and Karf’s other works on Flickr here.
Flickr’s de-marco makes his second appearance here at TLCB with his wonderfully simple Town scale farm truck. See it and his other vehicles on Flickr at the link above.