Tag Archives: Technic

Cowdi

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We shouldn’t like the Audi RS7. Driven by douchebags and often poorly modified, they’re usually found an inch from the rear bumper of the car in front wearing stupid blacked-out lights and a blackboard wrap. But, as Audi RS models go, the RS7 is actually quite subtle. OK, not subtle, but it’s not the bloody SQ7 and for that it should be celebrated.

This Technic example wearing RS7-appropriate mods has been built by terryli of Eurobricks and comes wrapped in a cow-esque paint job with chrome-red rims. Whilst not exactly to our tastes (although the Elves love it…), terryli’s RS7 is superbly accurate underneath, with the Audi’s swooping outline very well replicated in Technic form.

There’s a lot going under under that cowhide too, as the model is equipped with remote control drive and steering, LED lights, opening doors, hood and tailgate, independent and remotely adjustable suspension, and a brilliant motorised deployable rear spoiler.

There’s more to see of terryli’s Cowdi RS7 at the Eurobricks forum – click the link above to take a closer look.

Blow Me

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Mixing Technic, Model Team, and a little bit of spray paint, this gorgeous Bentley 4.5 litre ‘Blower’ was found by one of our Elves on Eurobricks today. Built by newcomer BC Lego it includes working ‘worm gear’ steering, an opening bonnet under which lives a brick-built replica of the 4-cylinder supercharged engine, and one of the most detailed chassis we’ve seen in some time. See more at the Eurobricks forum via the link above where you can find a link to the full gallery and build details.

LEGO Technic 42100 Liebherr R 9800 Excavator | Set Preview

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There’s been one hole remaining in our reveal of the H2 2019 LEGO Technic line-up. It turns out it was a very big hole indeed. This is the 42100 Liebherr R 9800 Excavator, the largest and most expensive Technic model ever released.

With over 4,100 pieces, seven electric motors, and two of LEGO’s new ‘Smart Hubs’ which allow for remote control via Bluetooth thanks to the recently released LEGO Control+ App, the 42100 set is the most advanced Technic set yet, and it has a price tag to match, costing $450/£400.

That is seriously expensive for a toy, but LEGO are hoping that the set’s enormous array of programmable functionality will make it an attractive purchase. The officially-licensed Liebherr (joining such sets as the Volvo L350F, Mack Anthem and Claas Xerion 5000) can drive, skid-steer, rotate the superstructure, extend and raise the boom, and open and tilt the bucket, all remotely via a phone.

Those functions can be programmed too, thanks to the new Control+ App, with realistic sound effects and real-time feedback available. It’s a modern interpretation of the brilliant plug-and-play 8479 Barcode Truck from twenty-two years ago, only with the up-to-date control programmability afforded by today’s intuitive touch devices.

The new LEGO Technic 42100 Liebherr R 9800 Excavator set will reach stores in October of this year, instantly becoming the flagship of the Technic range. Will the intuitive control, easy programmability and amazing multiple motorised functions offset that huge price? We’re willing to bet that if it does then a $500+ Technic set isn’t too far away…

Get Fork-D

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The LEGO Technic 42082 Rough Terrain Crane has the highest piece count of any Technic model so far (although check back here later to see what’s about to eclipse it…) including multiple motors, linear actuators and gearbox parts, making it the perfect set for repurposing into something new. LEGO offer this themselves via the ‘B-Models’ that can be built from most Technic sets, and TLCB Master MOCer Nico71 has gone two steps further by designing both ‘C’ and ‘D’ Models from the parts found within the 42082 inventory.

Nico’s 42082 ‘C-Model’ appeared here last year and he’s now designed a further ‘D-Model’ that can be built solely from the parts found within the Rough Terrain Crane set.

Nico’s heavy duty forklift includes as many functions as the set from which its parts are taken, including a motorised tilting and raising/lowering fork, powered adjustable fork width, a tilting cabin, V6 piston engine, pendular suspension and working steering.

It’s a brilliant build, made even more so by the parts restriction inherent with being built from an existing set, and you can see full details, the complete gallery of images, and find building instructions at Nico71’s website by clicking here.

YouTube Video

Cable Container

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The TLCB Elves are excited today. Not only is this find bright orange, it’s also remote control and large enough for a several to ride in it at once whilst being too slow to run them over.

It comes from designer-han who has a doctorate in advanced mechanical engineering. OK, we don’t know that for sure, but we assume he does because his latest creation is so complicated it makes our brains hurt.

An SBrick provides bluetooth control to the drive and four-wheel-steering, plus a motorised tilting cabin (under which sits a V8 piston engine), twin cable winches, a tilting container platform, and front and rear power-take-offs onto which a snowplow and salt-spreader can be attached.

There’s more to see of designer-han’s orange masterpiece at Eurobricks via the link above where a link to the full image gallery, building instructions and a video can be found.

Build Your Own LaFerrari

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It might be the most stupidly named car of all time (OK, apart from the Mazda Bongo Friendee), but the Ferrari La Ferrari is a properly impressive machine. A V12 engine and a KERS hybrid system deliver 950bhp, whilst active aerodynamics aim to allow the driver to use at least some of that without ending up as a red smear on a barrier somewhere.

Costing over $1 million new and with only 499 made, most of us will never even see a Ferrari LaFerrari, let alone drive one, but thanks to T Lego of Eurobricks you can now build your very own! T Lego first designed his brilliant Technic recreation of the ultra-rate Italian hypercar digitally using Master MOCer Sariel‘s ‘Model Scaler’ software, before creating the model for real.

Packed with functionality, the car features front and rear suspension, working steering with positive caster angle, opening butterfly doors and engine cover, a miniature V12 piston engine (designed by another Master MOCer Crowkillers), and mechanically operated ‘active’ aerodynamics.

There’s a whole lot more to see of T Lego’s Ferrari LaFerrari at the Eurobricks discussion via the link above, where you can also find a video demonstrating the model’s features and the all-important link to building instructions.

Electric Dreams

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The electric transportation revolution is well underway, and is something we’re all for here at TLCB. Not that electric transport is new; it’s been around for as long as the car has and we were actually far better at it in the past (trolleybuses and trams are mostly gone now, but were commonplace in the 1920s to 1970s). This Polaris GEM EM-1400 is therefore not a revolutionary vehicle, like at all, but at least it’s another company realising that electric power is a decent option. This neat Technic version of the electric utility vehicle comes from previous bloggee damianple aka (damjan97PL) and features bluetooth remote control drive and steering via an SBrick and front and rear suspension. See more at both Brickshelf and Eurobricks via the links.

Piëch’s Peak

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Earlier this week one of the automotive industry’s greatest talents passed away. Ferdinand Piech, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, ex-chairman of the Volkswagen Group, and the man behind some of the most iconic cars ever made, collapsed in a restaurant in Germany. He was 82.

Sometimes controversial, there was considerable hostility between Piech and Porsche – the company founded by his grandfather – during his tenure at the top of Volkswagen, eventually resulting in Piech buying Porsche to oust their chairman. The Volkswagen Group has since faced the biggest scandal in its history (dragging Porsche into it the mire too), yet has also become the world’s largest automotive manufacturer by volume, with much of that down to Piech’s reign at the top.

Piech’s legacy is as astonishing one, including diesel engines for Mercedes-Benz, the amazing Porsche 917, the Bugatti Veyron, and this, the original Audi ‘UR’ quattro – the car that, whilst not the first, popularised the advantages of all-wheel-drive beyond off-roaders.

This cartoon-like Technic recreation of the legendary Audi quattro Group B rally car comes from Teo Technic and features remote control drive and steering, independent suspension, working headlights and – of course – all-wheel-drive.

There’s more to see of Teo’s Audi quattro at both Flickr and the Eurobricks discussion forum. Click the links to make the jump – and tip your hat to the man behind it and some of the other greatest cars in modern history.

Ferdinand Karl Piëch, 1937 – 2019

Dumping Cat

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As has been documented here before, TLCB Team – as a rule – dislike cats. We appreciate that’s a controversial thing to say on the internet, which is very possibly ruled by cats, so prevalent is their content, but we’ve probably said worse.

We do like this cat though, Sariel’s huge Caterpillar 797F dump truck – which is currently filled with Elves riding it up and down the corridor here at TLCB Towers – and it’s packed with functions.

Firstly, that enormous bucket they’re piled into features a remotely operable dumping mechanism thanks to a Mindstorms EV3 IR sensor, which we’ll test out on our unsuspecting workers shortly. The choice of a Mindstorms control unit is an usual one, as they don’t often feature in models here at TLCB, but Sariel’s decision to use one is rather cunning…

The Mindstorms EV3 not only controls the tipping bucket, it also measures the suspension tilt and applies an automatic motorised correction to keep the Caterpillar level. Self-levelling suspension is a system relatively common on SUVs (as well as mining trucks), but it’s one that requires such ridiculous ingenuity in Lego form that we don’t even know how Sariel began. But then our cleverness peaked with the title on today’s other post, so it’s no surprise that this is way over our heads.

Sariel’s Caterpillar also features remote control drive and steering via LEGO’s Power Functions system, non-LEGO ‘Baja Claw’ RC tyres fitted to standard LEGO wheels, and a host of accurate details and decals to replicate the real 797F.

A complete gallery of imagery is available to view at Sariel’s Caterpillar 797F Flickr album by clicking here and you can join the discussion plus watch a video the the model in action (including a demonstration of the clever suspension) by visiting the Eurobricks forum here.

How I Met Your Mother

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It’s the late 1970s. Your Dad is on vacation with his mates at the lake, and he’s just been rumbled watching the girl from the Winnebago in plot 44 getting changed. She knew exactly what she was doing though, starting the chain of events that led to a drunken night out, shotgun marriage, and you. Followed by years of regret, but hey, that’s not the Winnebago’s fault.

This brilliant ’72 Winnebago Brave D20 is just the thing for making mistakes at the lake and comes from JLiu15’s Lego Studio of Flickr. Featuring a detailed interior, opening doors, and no curtains at all there’s more to see at JLui’s Winnebago D20 photo album. Click the link above to join your Dad at the lake. Just don’t distract him or you might start Back to the Futuring…

Green Machine

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We like a good tractor here at The Lego Car Blog. After all, they’re responsible for the production of the tasty vegetables and even tastier meats that reside in TLCB Fridge. This excellent Technic tractor comes from previous bloggee Thirdwigg and it’s a John Deere 6130R, complete with a working piston engine, front and rear power take-offs, steering and drawbars. There’s more to see of Thirdwigg’s build on Flickr, Brickshelf, and at the Eurobricks discussion forum – head to the farm via the links above.

Head Scratcher

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We don’t know who Poe Dameron is, what a Head Starter is, or even where the head in this model by Flickr’s ianying616 has come from (is it LEGO?). However we do know it’s shiny, has a racing stripe, and an implausibly enormous engine, which means had we not have featured it the Elves would’ve started a riot. There’s more to see at ianying’s photostream via the link above where you can try to work it out.

Creamsicle

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Porsche and Volkswagen have history as long as the two companies’ existence. A shared dark past links the Beetle and the 911, the 1980s 924 was powered by a VW van engine, and more recently Volkswagen have bought Porsche outright, adding the brand to their ever-increasing and possibly slightly evil empire.

But before ‘dieselgate’, some of the largest fines and lawsuits in corporate history, and an ongoing criminal investigation, Volkswagen and Porsche collaborated to create something rather more charming than breathing difficulties and lung cancer. This is that collaboration, the slightly odd but utterly wonderful VW-Porsche 914/916.

Launched in 1969 the VW-Porsche 914 was produced until 1976, with 120,000 made during that run. A flat-4 engine powered the Volkswagen version, whilst it was joined by an optional flat-6 in the Porsche, giving the two ‘914/4’ and ‘914/6’ names depending upon the engine specified, with power ranging from 75 to 110bhp.

This gorgeous Technic recreation of the Porsche 914 comes from newcomer Wilbert Engels who has built the ’70s oddity beautifully in Lego form. Wilbert’s model includes working suspension, steering with Ackermann geometry, pop-up head-lights, a removable roof, adjustable seats, a gearbox, and a choice of both the flat-4 and flat-6 engines that powered the real cars.

There’s much more to see of Wilbert’s brilliant Porsche 914 at both his Flickr album and at the Eurobricks discussion forum, including a full gallery of images and build specifications.

Take a look via the links in the text above, and cross your fingers that Volkswagen and Porsche can return to making cars like this, rather than an ever expanding range of depressingly identikit SUVs.

Game of Bricks – Light Kit (42078 Mack Anthem) | Review

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The Lego Fan Community is a marvellous thing. Like all the best products, LEGO has the scope – and the adaptability – to allow for improvement, with bluetooth remote control, custom decals, and even bespoke mini-figures available through third party providers to help builders to personalise their own creations and official sets.

One area that LEGO themselves dabble in is LED lights, with a pair available through their Power Functions range. But what if you want more? Like, lots more?

That’s where Game of Bricks come in, a new start-up offering tailored lighting kits for existing LEGO sets. The guys at GoB contacted us to see if we’d like an early test of a one of their kits, and a box for the huge 42078 LEGO Technic Mack Anthem set duly arrived here at TLCB Towers. So how did it fair? Read on to find out!

Packaging & Product

First impressions were excellent, with the Game of Bricks Mack Anthem kit arriving in a secure and rather nice box, with a mass of wires and lights neatly packaged within it. Unpackaging it undoes much of that neatness unfortunately, as a lot of lights means a lot of wires, but more on that in a bit.

The wires themselves are extraordinarily thin, so much so we feared breaking them, but it turns out they’re remarkably robust, and their slim profile allows them to (mostly) fit between bricks without issue. Attached to these are the lights themselves, each glued inside a non-Lego brick that replaces the non-functional light pieces on the model. These non-LEGO replacements are a good match, although their clutch power is slightly variable, and each has a hole drilled through it to allow the ultra-thin wires to pass through.

Power comes from a battery box (or two in the case of our kit) that takes AAA batteries and plugs into the wires via a USB connection. This makes disconnecting the battery boxes to change them an easy process, plus you can plug your lights into a USB port should you wish. So far, so good.

And then we got to the instructions… Continue reading →

Indian Summer

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This beautiful motorcycle is a JAWA 350, built by the historic bike company founded in Czechoslovakia in way back in 1929. After the Second World War JAWA became one of the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturers of the time (even inventing the automatic centrifugal clutch that Honda copied for its world-conquering Cub), exporting their bikes to over 120 countries by the 1950s. India was one such country, where JAWA motorcycles quickly gaining a cult following the bike-loving country.

Gradually JAWA’s home markets shrank, but the brand lives on in India where it was bought by Mahindra and continues to produce its classic designs to this day. This gorgeous recreation of the marque’s most famous product comes from Flickr’s _spacehopper_ who has recreated the iconic motorcycle in wonderful detail, mixing both Technic and Model Team techniques to great effect. There’s lots more to see of _spacehopper_’s brilliant model at his JAWA 350 album on Flickr – click the link above to go for a ride.