Tag Archives: Lego

Iveco for Idle Thumbs

1 Reply

LEGO’s excellent Power Functions motors are found in a pretty much every Technic creation that this site features these days. There’s nothing wrong that of course, they add great play value and the Elves can use creations equipped with them to run one another over.

However we do still like good old-fashioned mechanical functions, and not just because it means we don’t have to clean TLCB Towers of squashed Elves.

This is Thirdwigg‘s Iveco skip truck, a neat mid-size Technic creation packed with working functions, all of which are powered by the human finger. Working steering, a piston engine under the tilting cab, rear stabilising legs, and a linear actuator operated skip hoist are all present, and you can see more on Flickr via the link above.

Bugatti Centodieci | Picture Special

Leave a reply

This is the Bugatti Centodieci, a nine million dollar hypercar based on the Chiron, with a planned production of just ten units. Bet those Chiron owners aren’t feeling quite as special anymore…

No matter, because car-building legend Firas Abu-Jaber has done his bit to make the Centodieci a little bit less exclusive by upping their number by 10%; this is his astonishingly accurate Model Team recreation of Bugatti’s rarest (and most expensive) modern car.

Built in 1:16 scale Firas’ Bugatti Centodieci includes a beautifully detailed interior behind some gloriously clever hinged doors (although as the public haven’t yet seen how the real car’s doors open they are admittedly a bit of a guess), and a replica of the quad-turbo W16 engine below the opening engine cover.

There are plenty more images of Firas’ incredible creation to see at his Bugatti Centodieci album on Flickr, and you can read his interview here at TLCB as part of the Master MOCers series by clicking here.

76896 Speed Champions Nissan GT-R NISMO | Set Preview

4 Replies

It’s 2020 Speed Champions reveal time! Uncovered by one of our elite Elves thrown over The LEGO Company HQ’s wall a few weeks back, this is the brand new 76896 Speed Champions Nissan GT-R NISMO!

Slotting in between the previously revealed 76895 Ferrari F8 Tributo and excellent 76897 Audi Sport quattro, 76896 brings another real-world manufacturer into the Speed Champions line-up. The new Nissan GT-R NISMO joins the range in LEGO’s new 8-wide style that has become uniform across the latest Speed Champions sets, allowing them to look (mostly) to scale side-by-side as well as being able to fit two mini-figures.

Aimed at ages 7+ 76896 includes 298 pieces, a mini-figure racing driver, and a lot of stickers, forming the racing livery, front grille, air intakes and even the headlights.

It’s not really a look to our tastes, as we much prefer the brick-built rear to the be-stickered front, but we suspect that if you’re seven you won’t mind at all (when you’re seven stickers are awesome).

We also suspect that the new 76896 Nissan GT-R NISMO will fly off the shelves, with the GT-R being one of the poster cars for the Forza generation and also becoming the first Japanese car to be recreated as an official LEGO set.

We hope that the new Nissan GT-R’s arrival heralds the possibility of further Japanese manufacturers deciding to partner with LEGO (Toyota Supra, Lexus LFA or Honda NSX anyone?), but even if not – and although this particular Speed Champions set is a bit stickery for us – the arrival of another real-world manufacturer is something to be celebrated, particularly with a car as legendary as the Nissan GT-R

The new 76896 Speed Champions Nissan GT-R NISMO set is expected to cost around $20 and is due to reach stores by the end of the year.

Swooooosh! (Again)

Leave a reply

Crap. Another spaceship. We’re no good at this. No matter, because whilst we have literally no idea what Scott Wilhelm‘s ‘Hypernova VVV’ is or what it’s for, we can say that it looks most excellent, complete with a front end that looks a bit like a cross between a Ferrari F430 and the magnificent Eagle Weslake Formula 1 car. Head into space via the link above if you like what you see.

Volvo FMX & Palfinger PK78002 | Picture Special

Leave a reply

This is a Volvo FMX with Palfinger PK78002 SH crane, which is a very long nome. But then it is a very impressive model. Taking builder Dirk Klijn four years to complete, this FMX takes Lego model making to the extreme, with a level of detail and functional realism that is second to none.

Controlled by three third-party SBricks, Dirk’s creation includes Power Functions motors, pneumatics, custom LED lighting and some off-the-charts engineering brilliance.

Firstly the truck is of course remote controlled, with steering on the front axles and drive at the rear. All are suspended, as is the cab, which also tilts to reveal a highly detailed engine underneath.

Stowed compactly between the cab and the flatbed is the Palfinger crane. A trio of Technic pneumatic cylinder unfurl it beautifully, with air pressure provided by an on-board motorised compressor. Further Power Functions motors allow it to rotate, extend and winch, to pluck the assortment of buildery equipment from the truck and lower it to the ground.

Four motorised outriggers keep the truck stable when the crane is in operation, whirring outwards in unison via remote control. It’s a seriously impressive build, and one that certainly goes to the top of the creations featured here in 2019.

There’s much more to see of Dirk’s amazing remote controlled Volvo FMX with Palfinger PK78002 at his Flickr album by clicking here, where you can also find a link to watch a video showing this magnificent model in action.

Swooooosh!

Leave a reply

NoVVember* continues apace, which is a good thing for us as it means December is nearly here and we don’t think it has a building challenge. This Vic Viper* is the work of Tino Poutianen of Flickr and it’s been built and presented to absolute perfection. See more at the link.

*You’ll have to Google these. We’re a car blog.

Minor Mechanics

Leave a reply

Children, like TLCB Elves, are just smaller stupider humanoids. However they can be very useful, what with their little arms being able to access parts of a Land Rover Defender that Dad’s are too large for.

Seriously though, is there anything cooler than a parent teaching their kids about mechanics by letting them work on an actual car? This awesome father figure scene comes from SP Design of Flickr, who has not only built a magnificent Land Rover Defender for Dad and his two kids to work on, but a range of superbly recognisable equipment too.

Head to Dad’s garage via the link above to lend a hand. If yours are small enough of course.

Big D

Leave a reply

Diesel has become a bit of a dirty word of late. We have Volkswagen to thank for that, but the fuel from the black pump was dirty anyway, they just got caught being particularly loathsome. However diesel is still useful, being much more suited to high-torque applications than petrol whilst producing less CO2 (the key driver behind climate change), and being more energy dense too, thereby making it more efficient.

We expect none of that thinking went into the D-Rod, a rat rod built for the ‘Welderup’ TV show from a 1920s Dodge that uses an enormous Cummins diesel truck engine because, well… why not? The result is, er… just watch this.

Fun as that looks we wouldn’t fancy breathing what comes out of the D-Rod, so this superb brick-built replica by Redfern 1950s will do us nicely instead. Red’s Model Team replica of the ‘Welderup’ D-Rod captures the look of the real car beautifully, yet it won’t give everyone standing near it lung cancer. Head to Red’s photostream via the link above for a closer look, and you can read his interview in TLCB’s Master MOCers series by clicking here.

Sci-Friday II

Leave a reply

LEGO’s classic space themes, including… er, Classic Space, have seen a resurgence thanks to the online Lego Community. From Ice Planet to Space Police, and M-Tron to Blacktron, each has been super-sized and – much to the Elves’ delight – appears to have become considerably more violent than when LEGO were in charge of their direction a decade or two ago. However there was one classic space theme overlooked; the short-lived robot-equipped thieves of Spyrius.

Spyrius took over the role of space villainy that became vacant following Blacktron’s demise, and lasted two years from ’94 to ’96. With a couple of mighty robots, spaceships, and even a spacebase, they were well furnished by LEGO’s designers. Not as well furnished as this though!

This enormous Spyrius spacecraft is the work of spaceruner of Flickr and it’s 155 studs long. Two hangar bays house further spacecraft whilst the highly detailed and brilliantly equipped interior serves over fifty mini-figures. Interestingly these are far from being only Spyrius agents, with a range of classic spacemen represented. Either Spyrius have cleaned up their act and space has become a more collaborative and harmonious place, or spaceruner ran out of Spyrius mini-figures…

Whatever the reason it’s a properly good build and there’s much more to see, including some excellent interior shots, at spaceruner’s photostream. Take a look via the link in the text above!

Sci-Friday I

Leave a reply

OK, this is definitely not a car, but it somehow manages to look a little bit like a vintage racer, so it’d almost be rude for us not to blog it. Edward Lawrence is the builder and there’s more to see on Flickr here.

76895 Speed Champions Ferrari F8 Tributo | Set Preview

5 Replies

No sooner had we written yesterday’s post previewing the awesome new 76897 Audi Sport quattro S1 set than another Elf stumbled back into TLCB Towers following its ‘adventure’ in LEGO’s HQ.

This is its find, the new 76895 Speed Champions Ferrari F8 Tributo.

The 2020 Speed Champions line-up wouldn’t be complete without a new Ferrari set, and this really is a new Ferrari set, being the Italian supercar manufacturer’s latest model which was only revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

Like yesterday’s Audi, the new Speed Champions Ferrari F8 Tributo set applies LEGO’s new 8-wide scale to allow for a little more realism and for two mini-figures to sit side-by-side. 76895 only includes one, and interestingly it’s a racing driver despite the F8 being a road car, but you can always add a second should you wish.

The F8’s design has been well replicated in Lego form, albeit with a few stickers helping with the shape of the cockpit, and includes 275 pieces for an anticipated $20 price tag. Aimed at ages 7+ we think 76895 looks rather good and will likely continue the success of Lego’s Ferrari Speed Champions partnership, however we’d still take the Audi…

To the Rescue

Leave a reply

Everyone likes a vehicle that goes ‘NEE NAW!’. Here are two, a fire truck and ambulance each built beautifully by Flickr’s Koala Yummies and packed with neat details, from brick-built stripes and pump controls to a fully fitted emergency bay. Head to Koala’s photostream via the link above for all the pics.

76897 Speed Champions Audi Sport quattro S1 | Set Preview

4 Replies

The elite team of Elves dispatched over The LEGO Company’s perimeter walls are one by one returning to TLCB Towers, clutching their discoveries stolen from the bowels of LEGO’s R&D department.

A couple may also carry a few bite marks (and some don’t return at all), but that’s why we employ mythical creatures, as there’s no way you’d get us to squeeze through an air-conditioning duct to escape a Danish Alsatian. We’re much too fat.

Anyway, the Elf that returned today came home clutching a new set that has got us very excited, the frankly brilliant looking 76897 Audi Sport quattro (with a little ‘q’) S1 rally car.

The quattro was not the first car to be fitted with all-wheel-drive, but it was the first to take the idea rallying, along with a unique 5-cylinder turbocharged engine that made a truly ridiculous amount of power, allowed thanks to Group B’s incredibly lax rulebook. The result was a car that won the World Rally Championship in ’82 and ’84, with every WRC manufacturer title claimed by an all-wheel-drive car thereafter.

The new 76897 set recreates the Audi Sport quattro S1 which finished second in 1985 season in the hands of Stig Blomqvist and Walter Röhrl, using LEGO’s new 8-wide template to bring more realism to the Speed Champions range. Constructed from 250 pieces, the Audi’s famous livery has been really well replicated, and for once the detail is brick-built rather than being applied by stickers. There are stickers too of course, and they look splendid, adding excellent period authenticity to the set.

Like all Speed Champions sets 76897 also includes a mini-figure driver, but annoyingly no co-driver, despite the 8-wide design allowing one to fit. This is no doubt due to cost, but is nevertheless disappointing from a realism point of view.

Despite this oversight we think the Speed Champions Audi Sport quattro S1 is one of the best products to come from the franchise yet, and – at an expected cost of around $20 when it reaches stores at then end of the year – there’s no cooler set for the money. We’ll just have to add our own second mini-figure to the model to complete it.

Lego Landies

Leave a reply

The new 42110 Technic Land Rover Defender set has got us all wishing LEGO had made the original Defender instead. Or, better yet, from before the Defender was called the Defender, and simply known as a Land Rover.

This trio of pre-Defender Land Rovers comes from previous bloggee Vibor Cavor who has constructed his models in a delightfully simple style that befits a delightfully simple vehicle. They also hark back to when LEGO sets were a whole lot more simple too, and – sometimes – all the better for it. Which reminds us of a certain new Land Rover again…

There’s more to see of Vibor’s lovely classic Land Rovers in 110 pick-up, 90 Red Cross, and expedition specifications at his photostream. Click the link above to see more.

42109 Technic Top Gear Rally Car | Set Preview

4 Replies

Our Elves are on it right now. Much as we hate to admit it, they’re doing rather well at sneaking into The LEGO Company’s headquarters, not being eaten by Danish Alsatians, and bringing back brand new sets for us to share with you. Hot the heels of the Unnecessarily-Long-Named Lamborghini set revealed here last week, this is their latest scoop; the new for 2020 Technic 42019 App-Controlled Top Gear Rally Car.

42019 is the latest in LEGO’s app-controlled line-up, utilising the new Control+ app that allows a model to be controlled via bluetooth from a mobile device (as per SBrick and BuWizz). It also adds another (slightly odd) brand to LEGO’s burgeoning roster of official partners. Yup, BBC Top Gear join such names as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Chevrolet and Jaguar in being printed on a LEGO box, although this link is perhaps a little more tenuous (and perhaps more than a little late given Top Gear’s peak was some years ago).

The new 42109 App-Controlled Top Gear Rally Car set is a fully remote controlled rally racer of a generic and non-specific design, featuring an XL motor for drive, an L motor for steering, LEGO’s new Bluetooth smart hub, and a whole load of stickers.

463 pieces make up the set, none of which look new or remarkable, but what is very cool is that 42109 isn’t just operable via a bluetooth device through the new Control+ app, it includes interactive in-built challenges, merging video game thrills with a real functioning Technic model. That sounds rather neat, and is something we think any nine year old (or TLCB staff writer, which amounts to the same thing) will absolutely love.

Of course the success of the new App-Controlled Top Gear Rally Car will depend upon the execution of those app-based challenges, but as the app could be easily updated with new challenges added over time, we see far more longevity in the Control+ platform than LEGO’s past forays into gaming achieved (we’re looking at you 8432 Technic Red Hot Machine)…

42109 is due to reach stores at the end of the year aimed at ages 9+ and is expected to cost around $129/£125. We’re cautiously excited…