Lego is designed to be used. Chewed. Dropped down the stairs. And, in this case, rally-driven through autumnal woods. VKTechnic is the builder, the 1970 Safari Rally winning Datsun 1600 is the car, and Power Functions motors are the propulsion. See more of Lego being used as it should be on Flickr or Brickshelf.
This may look like a tenuous attempt to link today’s post to the spooky festival in which we’re blogging it, but it was planned all along. Definitely.
Anyway, this gorgeous Type 2 Volkswagen Transporter Bus is the work of Master MOCer Sheepo, who has (much like Volkswagen themselves) repurposed his previous Beetle chassis for a whole new job. Underneath the wonderfully recreated Technic bodywork there’s a choice of remote control drive or a ‘manual’ variation with working drum brakes, steering, 4+R gearbox, suspension and the famous flat-4 engine.
So what’s so spooky about it? Well firstly, any car that can drive itself is up to no good, and secondly, would you ever get in one of these if it stopped to pick you up after your car had broken down at the side of the road? Exactly. Sheepo’s Lego version even has doors that lock too…
You can see more of the Volkswagen Bus on Eurobricks, at Sheepo’s own website, or via the YouTube video below.
LEGO’s 42024 Technic Container Truck set received a fairly average review from our experts earlier in the year. Plenty of scope for improvement then. One builder to give improving the model a go is TLCB debutant Henry Quarmby, who has repurposed the pieces found within the official set for his excellent truck and trailer combo.
Featuring working steering, a linear-actuator operated load bed, a working crane, plus a tilting cab with opening doors, Henry’s 42024 alternative has play value galore. The trailer doesn’t miss out either, with a folding jockey wheel and an opening cover.
All the photos of Henry’s 42024 ‘C-Model’ can be found on MOCpages, plus you can read the aforementioned review of the original Technic Container Truck (or Skip Lorry as decreed by our reviewer) set by clicking on the link above. Which model do you prefer?
The RAF like aircraft named after tropical storms and their current BAE Systems Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the world’s finest fighter planes. 70 years earlier the Eurofighter’s grandfather was too. The Hawker Typhoon evolved from the Hurricane as a high altitude fighter, but teething problems meant it never fulfilled this role quite as was intended.
However, the monstrous 2000bhp engine meant that the Typhoon found a new role as a ground attack aircraft (in addition to its job shooting down the BMW-engined Focke-Wulf Fw 190), and it could carry a payload close to that of a dedicated light bomber.
Sadly only one Hawker Typhoon survives today, but K Wigboldy aka Thirdwigg has recreated the legendary World War 2 aircraft so well there might as well be two. His 1:13 Lego replica features the huge 24 cylinder engine that made the Typhoon such an effective weapon, plus an electrically powered variable pitch propellor, working landing gear, flaps, ailerons, elevator and rudder.
More photos can be found on MOCpages via the link above, and you can see all the details plus a video of the working functions by visiting Thirdwigg’s excellent website – find it in the Directory in the main menu.
The Elves know that orange Smarties are the best kind, and thus orange creations are highly sought after amongst our smelly little workforce. This find has pleased one of them greatly, as it’s now the recipient of a meal token and a coveted orange Smartie.
Hajdekr is the builder, and his bright orange super bike features a range of quality Technic functions, including suspension, steering and a four cylinder engine. You can see more of his bike – as well as a how-to instructional – over on Flickr via the link above, plus you can see a preview of LEGO’s own Technic super bike due in 2015 by clicking here.
This spectacular Technic pick-up truck is the work of previous bloggee Madoca1977, and unusually for a TLCB post we can’t tell you much about it. That’s because Madoca has so far released only a single teaser image without accompanying details, but his latest creation looks so damn cool we couldn’t wait to post it.
Madoca will release details and further images of the Ford-esque pick-up truck (or is it a Toyota HiLux?) in due course, but until then you can see more of the image above by visiting his Google Plus account here. There might only be one picture, but it’s our favourite truck of the year!
Well, parts of one…
We usually only publish posts that feature genuine LEGO pieces here at TLCB (in fact it’s one of our submission criteria), however today’s creation warranted a closer look.
Built by TLCB regular Sariel, this Technic dune buggy features a few parts that you won’t find with an official LEGO logo on. That’s because they’ve been created using the relatively new phenomenon of 3D printing, which enables a Computer Aided Design (CAD) to be realised for real via plastic moulding.
Over the past few years the price of 3D printing has tumbled, meaning unique parts production is now within reach of many amateur designers and engineers (or morally-bankrupt individuals who think that the ability to print-your-own firearm is something the world needs…).
Fellow previous TLCB bloggee Efferman has put his design skills to use and created a range of custom components that LEGO themselves have yet to officially produce. These include a 5 stud long steering arm (vs. LEGO’s 6 stud long version), a heavy-duty differential, and some wonderfully bouncy suspension springs, all of which Sariel has fitted to his excellent remote controlled dune buggy.
The custom components appear to work beautifully with the standard LEGO Technic used in the rest of Sariel’s creation – especially the springs, which we’d love to test out ourselves (hint!) – and Efferman has designed a wide variety of other custom LEGO-compatible components that are available to purchase online. These include suspension and steering parts, pneumatic tanks, custom wheels, excavator buckets, plus a lot more that we’re not clever enough to understand.
You can view Efferman’s extensive range of unofficial 3D printed Lego components by visiting the Shapeways Store, plus you can see more of Sariel’s dune buggy demonstrating some of these parts in action via MOCpages at the link above, or by watching the ace video below.
YouTube Video:
Newcomer Paul Kim makes his TLCB debut with his wonderful replica of Icon’s Ford Bronco. The geniuses at the Icon resto-modifying company take classic American 4x4s and refit them for the modern world, with the latest engines, suspension, brakes, electrics and interior components. Classic looks + modern engineering = win.
Paul’s Lego version is built in the same spirit, with a gorgeous Model Team style body mounted over some proper Technic hardware. You can check out all the images of the Bronco on both MOCpages and Flickr.
This is one of the greatest rally cars ever made. It won the World Rally Championship in 1974, ’75 and ’76 – dominating the sport before the arrival of all-wheel-drive – and it featured an engine built by Ferrari. It is of course the bewitching Lancia Stratos.
Fewer than 500 original Stratos’ were built, and rumour has it that the first was built by the legendary coach-builder Bertone using a friend’s Lancia Fulvia as a base, in which he simply turned up at the Lancia factory one day to rapturous applause.
This lovely remote controlled Technic version of the Stratos was designed and built by TLCB favourite Piterx. It looks the business, which of course all Lancias should*, but the real question is can it rally? Watch the video below to find out!
YouTube Video:
*Apart from the modern ones it seems, which are either amongst the ugliest cars ever conceived, or are Chryslers with Lancia badges stuck on. Come on Fiat, you know you can do better.
As regular readers of TLCB will know, we’re not a fan of a particular American ‘SUV’. But we are fans of SUVs that do it right, and the tiny Suzuki Samurai is one such vehicle.
Powered by a dinky 1300cc engine the little Suzuki is not going to win any tug-of-war competitions. Or drag races. Or towing challenges. But what it will do is climb up a trail that a will leave a Hummer far below looking very fat and just a bit ridiculous*.
TLCB favourite piterx‘s fantastic Technic recreation of the little Japanese off-roader is packed full of Power Functions goodness to ensure it can do the same to plenty of overweight Lego Truck Trial creations. Inside are two L motors, a servo for steering, and all-wheel-drive with live axel suspension.
Best of all piterx has created his Samurai from the dark blue parts (and the off-road components) found in LEGO’s 41999 RC Crawler set, of which many examples are sitting unopened in the lofts of speculators. For that, we salute you piterx – you’re welcome here any time!
You can see all the details of piterx’s Technic Suzuki Samurai, including the all-important chassis images, via the Eurobricks forum; click the second link in this post to join the discussion.
*Like your Mom
If there’s something more painfully hipster than this Camper Bike, we’re yet to see it. We’re not sure whether owning this pedal-powered home would make you look; a) very cool, b) like a failing meth cook, or c) like some kind of human snail. Whichever it is, Ultimate Design Bricks is the builder of this whimsical contraption, and you can see more of his creation on MOCpages here, or on Flickr here.
It’s time to reveal the final new LEGO Technic sets bound for stores in 2015! Yesterday we previewed five of the eight new Technic models due at the start of next year, including the new 42037 Formula Off-Road Racer.
Today we move on to the bigger stuff, including the rather lovely looking green endurance racer above. But more on that in a bit. Firstly, let’s look at two wheels…
We start with the smallest of the more complex 2015 Technic sets, the 375 piece 9+ 42036 Street Motorcycle. 42036 looks a nice mid-range set, featuring working front and rear suspension, steering, and (we suspect) a chain driven two cylinder engine. It also comes in a rather attractive light blue hue and includes the common-for-2015 decals seen on many of the new sets that add a bit more visual interest.
Downsides are the matching tyres front and rear – which isn’t particularly realistic – and (possibly) the longevity of those aforementioned decals on the large curved Technic panels. Overall though we like the look of 42036 – a good effort from The Lego Group.
We’re now into the big sets! New for 2015 is this, the 42038 Arctic Truck, aimed at ages 10+ and containing over 900 pieces – many of which are in the ace 8110 Unimog orange. 42038 goes back to the days of good old fashioned mechanical Technic, and fits a wealth of functionality into its 40cm length, including a linear-actuator operated crane boom, suspended tracks and working steering.
As with some of the other new Technic sets for 2015, LEGO seem to have upped the detail level, possibly at the cost of robustness (how long is that communications ariel going to stay in place for example), but this does look to be a conscious effort to make Technic more visually appealing to those progressing from LEGO’s simpler product themes.
The 42038 Arctic Truck set will reach stores next year, and like most of the new LEGO Technic sets it includes a colourful sticker sheet plus instructions for a second vehicle.
And finally, the flagship new Technic set for 2015, the 1,200 piece 42039 24 Hours Race Car! We’re not sure what 42039 features in the way of technical functionality, apart from steering and an opening engine cover, but we’re hoping for pushrod suspension and a big piston engine – it’s aimed at ages 11+ after all!
However, we can tell you that 42039 does feature some as-yet unreleased parts/colour combinations that will probably get certain quarters of the online Lego Community very excited, though we’re just happy because it looks a bit like the incredible Toyota TS040, Audi R18 and Porsche 919 hybrid racers from this year’s LeMans endurance race (although LEGO have missed the regulation stabilising fin from their version).
Like the other new sets for 2015 42039 includes a colourful set of stickers as well as instructions for a second model, although perhaps more surprisingly it contains no Power Functions electric components. This means that there are no new motorised sets in the 2015 LEGO Technic line-up at all – something that we’re in no doubt change mid-way through the year.
So until then, which is your favourite? As always our resident experts may review some of these sets after their release (plus you can check out all The Lego Car Blog’s reviews of sets past in the Set Review Library), and if you missed Part 1 of our preview detailing the first five new Technic sets for 2015 you can catch up here.
HorcikDesigns‘ likes to get his Lego dirty. Truck Trial is his chosen method, and the Tatra T148 is his chosen vehicle. Featuring two Lego Buggy Motors for drive, a Power Functions M Motor for steering, and fully independent half-axel suspension Horcik’s recreation of the famous off-road truck is perfectly equipped to tackle the rough stuff. You can see more of the T148 on Flickr at the link above.
It’s time! As is customary at this time of year we recently launched several randomly chosen Elv… er, we mean ‘brave volunteers’, over The LEGO Group’s perimeter wall by way of the office slingshot. Their job; to dodge the guard dogs and return with images of next year’s brand new Lego Technic sets.
Most of this crack team returned a week or so ago, and we’ve been sitting on their scooped images until now. Today though, we can bring you Part 1 of the 2015 LEGO Technic line-up!
First up is LEGO’s yearly default in the range; construction equipment. Pictured above is the new 42035 Mining Truck, aimed at ages 9+ and featuring 362 pieces, whilst pictured below is the smallest and simplest new set for 2015, 42031 Mini-Cherry-Picker for ages 7+.
42035 features steering and a tipping bucket, whilst 42031 doesn’t really feature anything at all, save for some mechanical movement of the crane boom.
What is a little surprising is just how ‘Town’-orientated these two sets look, with studded parts, lights and even twelve grill tiles on the front of 42035. We’re not particularly excited by this development, as for us Technic should be about technicality, but we’re sure that The LEGO Group knows what appeals most to their younger audience.
Onwards to the second Technic category guaranteed to be included each year, the racing…
We remain at the ‘starter’ end of the 2015 LEGO Technic range with the two new racing-related sets. Above is the set with the lowest part count of the 2015 Technic line-up, the 148 piece 42034 Pull-Back Quad Bike. As you probably deduced, this LEGO set includes a pull-back motor for added zoominess, and it looks quite a fun toy for younger Technic fans and Elves alike.
This though, is a model more to our tastes, the wonderfully garish 500 piece 42037 Formula Off-Roader. Underneath the bright green bodywork 42037 features the first proper Technic functionality in the 2015 range, with working steering, suspension and a 4-cylinder engine up front. That engine is perhaps a little small for a Formula Off-Road racer, as they are usually fitted with nitrous-equipped 900hp V8s, but it works so we’ll take it! Both sets include some nice bright stickers and squishy tyres, and look robust enough for some stacked-book living room jumping.
The final set in LEGO’s 2015 Starter Technic range is this, the 252 piece Compact Tracked Loader. Like the other small sets in the 2015 line-up, 42032 appears a little more ‘Town’-orientated than past Technic offerings, but it does look quite refreshing in white rather than the usual yellow.
With many of the loader’s 252 parts used to create the two tracks upon which it rolls there probably weren’t many left for LEGO to work with, but nevertheless 42032 does feature a mechanically operated bucket and compacter, which seems about right for the 8+ target.
Like all-but-one of the other new Technic sets previewed here, 42032 includes instructions for a second model, and will reach a store near you in early 2015.
So that’s the small sets out of the way;
You might have noticed that we haven’t been posting as frequently as we normally do at The Lego Car Blog. The Elves have been struggling to find suitable MOCs and have started to look a bit hungry. Fortunately we’ve been able to give out a shiny yellow Smartie today, thanks to this yellow monster from Marek Markiewicz. The lucky Elf has kindly split his reward with his colleagues but a single Smartie will only go so far between 213 Elves. Hopefully they’ll find more MOCs in the next few days, or we might have to actually feed our workforce for free.
Marek’s Volvo L250G is built at 1:20 scale, using the bucket from the 42030 Wheel Loader and is even more impressive than his previous Liebherr L580. It’s beautifully detailed, including fully glazed instead of implied windows on the driver’s cab. The loader is also fully remote controlled, via two IR receivers with an L motor for traction, an M motor for steering and L & M motors to control the bucket. You can see full diagrams of the internal working of Marek’s loader by clicking this link to its MOCpages listing. Marek also has an impressive back catalogue on his Flickr Photostream.
N.B. In an attempt to be more environmentally friendly, TLCB has started recycling. We’ve already used this title twice before. Cut and paste it into the “Search” box, at the bottom of the page, to find out where.