Looking a bit like Postman Pat’s ride from a post apocalyptic future and named after a small-ish lizard we’re not really sure what to make of Horcik Designs‘ ‘Salamander’. However our workforce of annoying little Elves love it. There’s more to see of Horcik’s remotely controlled hot rod van at the link above.
This might be the best Technic creation we’ve seen so far this year. It’s a Hyster forklift truck and it’s been built by friend of TLCB, published author, and Technic genius Paul Kmiec – better known as Sariel.
Sariel is famous for his functioning Technic models and his latest takes the genre to a new level of engineering accuracy. Underneath the smooth yellow bodywork there are several Power Functions motors powering the drive, steering, and raising, lowering and tilting of the front-mounted lift.
Sariel has then incorporated the newly-designed ‘SBrick‘ into the build, meaning that all the functions can be controlled via Bluetooth through a mobile device. It’s a very clever piece of kit and something we’d love to explore further here at TLCB Towers.
The forklift can also be fitted with a range of interchangeable attachments, some of which feature pneumatics controlled by an in-built compressor, including a grab and an excavating bucket. LEGO, hire this man please!
You can see more of Sariel’s incredible creation on MOCpages and via the excellent video below, and if you’d like to understand how creations such as this are designed and built we highly recommend Sariel’s ‘Incredible Lego Technic’ book – click this link for a preview.
YouTube Video:
This impressive American rig is the work of Ingmar Spijkhoven of MOCpages and Brickshelf fame. Ingmar has packed his model with LEGO’s Power Functions components so that his truck can drive, steer and light the road ahead remotely. It’s also got solid axel suspension, a working fifth wheel and a detailed cabin and engine bay. There’s lots more to see at the links above – click to make the jump.
Two of our favourite builders are making an appearance here today; both have formed part of our ongoing interview series and their latest builds show why they were selected.
First up (above) is the most recent creation from the incredibly talented BricksonWheels, who is one of the builders in our Master MOCers series. His magnificent Harley Davidson lowrider shows what an amazing eye for detail, and access to a chroming machine, can do! You can see more of the Harley on Flickr, and you can catch up on BricksonWheels’ interview by clicking here.
Today’s second creation comes from fellow interviewee, and published author, Sariel. Sariel’s latest work is one of his smallest, yet features all the remotely controlled brilliance found in his work twice the size. You can see more of his Tiger tank on MOCpages here, and you can read his interview in our ‘Become a Pro’ series by clicking here.
LEGO’s Power Functions are an excellent way to add play value to your models. Cheaper than the previous 9V motors, more powerful, and with the added benefit of being remotely controlled if desired, they have quickly become the electronics of choice amongst Lego builders.
MOCpages’ Mate Lipkovics shows how versatile the Power Functions system can be with an installation in his fantastic hot rod wrecker. The remotely controlled functions include steering and drive, a two speed gearbox and the crane winch. You can see all the detailed photos of how Mate has squeezed that lot in via his MOCpage – click the link above to make the jump.
Our smelly little workforce has a history with remotely controlled construction machinery. It has in the past been used by individual Elves to exact revenge on colleagues, pre-emptively attack colleagues, and smush other colleagues into the carpet for – as the kids would say, ‘lols‘.
Today’s calm was shattered by the arrival of the creation above, a huge remote controlled Komatsu WA 600 wheeled loader by MOCpages’ Jorge Garcia. And then things got much worse.
Another Elf, successful after a day’s MOC hunting, returned with the MOC below, Limitless Bricks‘ (previously Ultimate Design Bricks) remote controlled Liebherr LR 634 tracked loader, and thus a sort of Lego Robot Wars ensued.
Things are mostly back to normal now, and the two creations have been placed in the care of TLCB office – much to the annoyance of the Elves. Still, we wouldn’t dream of using such brilliant machines in a battle to the death. But nevertheless we do have a very busy afternoon of remote controlled ‘evaluation’ planned, so we’ll sign off now…
Crowkillers is back!
The Technic master builder’s latest work – entitled ‘Assassin’ – is a mid-engined V10 supercar, with a remote linkage four-speed gearbox, independent suspension, working steering, opening doors and engine cover and, more unusually, the option to come in blue and white with some flashing lights on the roof…
You can view all the photos of the new Supercar on Brickshelf, all of Crowkillers’ previous vehicles on his website, and you can read our interview with the man himself here.
This enormous chunk of Blue is the work of TLCB favourite Nick Barrett, and it’s mini-figure scale. Yup, that’s just how big a Liebherr LTM mobile crane is – even in mini-fig form it’s 10 studs wide and very very long. Nick has used the size well, engineering in all the working functions you’d expect to find on a model of a much larger scale, including progressive rate steering, working stabilisers, and of course a fully extending, raising and lowering boom. Nick’s Liebherr crane was suggested to us by a reader, and you can see more on both MOCpages and Flickr.
One of The Lego Car Blog Elves has just staggered back into the office, having been lost in the Hardnuary group on Flickr for a while. It’s demanding a blue Smartie as a reward but as this build isn’t a vehicle of any kind (and Hardnuary finished 5 days ago), we’re saying, “No”. However we are blogging this model by Dicky Laban because we think it’s a neat bit of work, it’s car related and it also gives us an excuse to post a link to this classic tune from 1987.
One of the reasons that we originally created The Lego Car Blog and unleashed the Elves on an unsuspecting world, was our belief that quality vehicle builds were being neglected by Lego bloggers. It is therefore with some pride* that we can announce that one of the “proper Lego blogs” beat us to this beautiful Technic sports car by quite a few days.
Jeroen Ottens has skilfully used Technic panels and flex rods to produce a mid-engine machine with a smooth, curved body. He has based the car around the look of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and included some built-in Italian stripes to emphasise this. The car also has full Power Functions features, including a working gear box. Click this link to Jeroen’s Photostream see more.
*This is our excuse and we’re sticking to it.
…Or according to the picture below, just red and blue ones; but as everyone knows, they’re the best Smarties….
Under Starter’s Orders…
The Technic Go-Kart. These have been delighting lovers of oversteer and leaving tyre marks on kitchen floors since 1978. Time to see what’s what.
First up, the dear old 854, whose under-tyred front wheels and odd-sized seat mattered not a jot when it came to whizzing it along the carpet, engine singing away as it zoomed around in ever decreasing circles. It was strong enough to handle it too (not always the case with the early efforts..) so long as those grey toggle joints around the steering column haven’t cracked. Did someone say kragle? Banish them! This set is a little blue bundle of fun, there’s the usual early set selection of alternate models on the box, it was wildly popular when new and therefore cheap and numerous now. If you haven’t already, get one; TLCB will give you your money back if you don’t love it* 10/10.
A great score, but how does it do in the handling test? In the interest of consumer research (nothing to do with playing with toys, you understand..) this and 5 other Technic Go-Karts have been subjected to an exhaustive analysis of their handling. This encompasses such vital aspects as controlability, grip, weight distribution, sound effects, strength and breakaway characteristics. A go-kart is not a Go-Kart if it isn’t fun to fling around…
Technic Lewis Gets A Wiggle On…
First up, the 854. Flinging it around holding on to the steering wheel is possible (provided it’s assembled carefully and the joints aren’t cracked), the single cylinder engine clatters away at 3x wheel speed nice and smoothly, the hard tyres lack grip. This is excellent. Thanks to it’s relatively long wheelbase and slight rearward weight bias, it can be persuaded to perform graceful drifts at any angle you like. Too slow, though, and it’ll understeer. Overall, a very respectable 8 on the oversteer-ometer.
Next, the tiny 98 piece 1972 from ’85. A larger gear acting on the steering rack makes this exceptionally flickable; its short wheelbase makes it very tail-happy and grip of the softish tyres is easily overcome. A winner. It’s strong enough thanks to it’s lightness and the only thing really lacking is noise – the engine’s a dummy. 8.
The largest of these sets, at 281 pieces, is 8842 from 1986. It took Lego 8 years to dare to replace 854! They used the time well. This machine’s Model Team tyres afford an amusing lack of grip, the overall design is interesting and unusual, it repeats 1972’s trick of a very flickable steering rack and it’s long wheelbase makes it effortlessly controllable. This machine is king of the high-speed J-turn. The engine could be louder (it runs at wheel speed) but that’s easy to modify. Overall, a successful model and a fun steer. 9.
The 8815 ‘Speedway Bandit’ promises much. It looks like a 1972 with the bonus of an engine. At 78 pieces it should have been the ultimate in cheap thrills in 1991. However, it’s handling was hobbled by new steering parts that include that awful flexible rack that Lego foisted on us for a few years; this makes the steering wheel feel far too flimsy in your hand as it has no other support. The engine’s nice, if a bit quiet, and not at all smooth thanks to the crank only being supported at one end! It’ll oversteer nicely though, if you’re gentle. 5.
Next up, the 8219 ‘Racer’ from 1998. This is definitely one of the better efforts from that year… At 103 pieces it’s still small and cheap, it looks good and, despite using the same steering rack piece as its predecessor, it feels sturdier thanks to a little extra support. Its longish wheelbase, slow steering and soft, grippy tyres curtail the oversteer fun somewhat, but it’ll do it on a smooth surface. Its engine runs at 3x wheel speed and provides a chattery soundtrack. 7.
The most recent go-kart is 8256 from 2009. Since I don’t have this, I made one up from my collection, minus the lime green panels but in all other respects the same. It’s certainly the most realistic looking of these (even without the panels) and it’s plenty strong enough, but the steering system kills it. Instead of a rack, you have a pole reverser handle flailing about in a gap along the track rod and, while quick-acting, it feels loose and there’s not enough lock. With that and the long wheelbase and grippy tyres, oversteer is pretty much off the table. Boo. The ride-on lawnmower B-model looks more fun. 4.
Speaking of B-models…
The big red one is from the 853 car chassis set, and the blue comes from the 5541 ‘Blue Fury’ Model Team set, reviewed not long ago by m’learned colleague. Continue reading
Today we saw the return of two Elves, both clutching things of much redness. The first red thing turned out to be this, Rabbitdesign‘s superb Technic Land Rover Defender 110, which has one of the most thoroughly engineered chassis we’ve ever seen (a trip to MOCpages via the link above is highly recommended to see how he’s done it).
Coincidentally this year will be the Defender’s last. Emissions and safety laws have finally caught up with the 1940s design, signalling an end to more than 60 years of continual production.
Elf No.2’s red thing was discovered on Flickr. It’s a German target tug by Sydag, used for towing things into the sky to be shot at, and it’s a wonderfully smooth build. There’s more to see at the link above.
This Lexus-LFA-like Technic supercar was suggested to us by a reader. As with many recent creations this model includes LEGO’s Power Functions parts to provide remote control drive and steering, plus it adds a working V8, 4-speed gearbox with auto-clutch, and all-wheel-drive to an impressive list of functions. MOCpages’ Rage Hobbit is the builder, and you can see all the photos, including detailed chassis images, via the link above.
Flickr’s Lego Tobi bulldozes his way onto The Lego Car Blog with this, er, bulldozer. It’s a Liebherr PR764 and it’s loaded with Power Functions goodies. You can see more via the link above.
Well this is something we never imagined we’d be posting… Sariel has, er… ‘modified’ LEGO’s official Mini Cooper set and given it legs! Creepy spidery moving legs.
You can see the Walking Mini in action on MOCpages, plus you read Sariel’s interview with TLCB here, and you can read our review of the official (wheeled) 10242 Mini Cooper set by clicking here.
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