Siegfried

I don't recall this... But.... If it was someone who got hold of a bag-o-goats it would be CopMike. I certainly didn't get them. I've only got 4...

Tone down on the self promotion please....

...I've supported it. I actually surprised you're finding it hard to get over the line. I'll see if I can get some friends on board...

You're a legend. Thanks very much. I'll have to see how close I am to making this....

I'll get around to it eventually. I've got all the backups here. It's a bit of bother doing it though.... I didn't always archive these, and when this whole thing started I didn't expect for it to keep going! Looking at the code you were in section "C" so I think it was; On other issues, the Calendar should now be correct and complete...

...but I'm in the process of adding those...

The calendar images will be delayed a few days... Bit preoccupied.

Voltron Santa by Siegfried, on Flickr

Ha! This is an old topic. Thanks for the info! I still want to buy one...

I'll add that to the calendar page.

Well it's a bit late now...

DSC05417 by Siegfried Glina, on Flickr

Well... personally I think it's a unique enough system and it really only resembles one aircraft. To my knowledge all other similar aircraft used engines, not fans.

100% agree. I've read so many complaints about 8455, but the issue is that people cut the tubes wrong and blamed TLG. I had spare.

Yeah, I saw that, but it'd be more fun to go for my own take. After all; I don't even like the F-35....!

I must admit I didn't think you could do that without having droop on the wings and thus making the axle too stiff to turn. Looks nice. I'm tempted to give it a go myself....

That's odd. Really odd. I haven't had a missing part for years; my last was EV3. I'm assuming you've asked for the parts from TLG....?

Well I do agree that flight controls do make things better, but I think the wings would have become too thick.... I'll have to dig around and see if there's a MOC to prove me wrong on that though! My rating of "Functionality" is more based though on what has been done taking into account difficulty and interestingness, and the accuracy is more about how close to reality the existing features are. For example the VTOL mechanism is a good emulation of a F-35. But I think I'll save this rant for another day... Indeed it is! My preference is consistently achieving one or the other! For example the 9396 helicopter is too in the middle for my liking. Yeah, I was too. Obviously the designers really wanted to do a VTOL aircraft and fit in a fair few functions all based off one drive line... and it works really well. I do agree the price is a bit high. Ooops! Fixed. Thanks. Thanks!

Review: 42066 Air Race Jet Name: Air Race Jet Number: 42066 Theme: Technic Year: 2017 Pieces: 1327 Price: USD $159.99€, Euro 119.99€, AUD $219.99 Brickset: Extra Info Technic Early 2017 Review Series Welcome to the tenth and final (yes, final!) in my batch of 2017 Technic reviews! I was offered all the small early 2017 sets for review late last year... but I ended up getting the bigger ones too! Thus I have a lot to review. I've been doing them in parallel and changing my process as I go so hopefully the latter ones will end up being the best. On that angle I'll probably retcon some of the earlier reviews if I improve my process. Due to this remember that I'm happy to take extra photos or provide extra info on request, and anything especially good will be added to the main body of the review. Do note though that sometimes the model may no longer exist if I have have made an alternate. On the subject of alternates, I will be making the alt model, if I have the instructions, think the model is worth making, and I have the time. Also I'll show mid stage construction only if I think it's relevant. Thus don't ask for construction photos or alt models if they aren't part of the review.... I am prepared to extract parts for detail photos though. Photos will all be hosted on Flickr so larger versions are available, and relevant videos will be on YouTube and linked to from here. I don't edit photos much; very rarely I'll crop one and almost never will "correct" them so the photos should be as natural as possible. I will try to not be repetitive; thus it's worth reading my other reviews. For example I'm not going to complain too much about the digital instructions; I'll try to complain about new things, or maybe not complain at all! Other reviews of 2017 Technic so far... 42057 Ultralight Helicopter 42058 Stunt Bike 42059 Stunt Truck (and 45058/42059 Combiner) 42060 Roadwork Crew 42061 Telehandler 42062 Container Yard 42063 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 42064 Ocean Explorer 42065 Tracked Racer Mucho multi thanks to the EB LUG Ambassador CopMike and the LEGO CEE Team and Designers for allowing me to review these sets for Eurobricks. So onto the review! Packaging Post-damaged front (pylon racing?).... ...back. I don't plan to do the alternate. I was very tempted, but looking at the instructions it seems to be a poor-mans Air Race Jet, offering nothing really special. And I don't have the time. I will say though that the alt mode at least has a semi-believe-able wing size! Here's the top. Unboxing Hurrah! Not a punch box! Instructions were bagged, and the set is not segmented. No unique new parts; the double cross connector and the anniversary part is here, but the rest is "just" recolours. There's only the main instruction included, with the cover being better stock than the main. By the end of the assembly mine was a bit ratty really... We're into the big boys now! Parts list page 1.... ...and page 2. (No instruction pages this time.) Build And what a haul of parts! Since this is the first set from this year with substantial hidden mechanics I'll be covering the assembly this time. Starting with... ...this! This is an excellent start; deeply embedded motor, use of thin beams to save room, use of the many different axles that LEGO have to increase density. Excellent. Here the parts left so far. (I'm moving some of the big bits to the box to the left and the small bits to the box to the right.) The density continues! I didn't experiment much, but I suspect this set would be very easy to build wrong. There's lots of times that alignment is needed and parts must be in the right spot or things just won't work. Not sure if I'm right though; it could just be impossible to go wrong. Same, from the top. Undercarriage! Yeah, it's supposed to be folded in, but I like it better this way. It's stable like this for the most part. Excellent use of parts to find space for the folded wheel. Finished! OK, obviously not. Many of the panels are structural and make full use of the newer corner piece. A lot of the functions are coming together now. Opening the top directly opens the bottom. This currently free space will end up being used by the gearbox at the top and the battery box at the bottom. The pile is somewhat diminished. Gearbox time. This is another of the reversing style ones that have become common. Installed. This is the major components. Ultimately in the back with the yellow beams two worm gears are installed. But you can't see that now. Spares. Rather low IMHO. Thankfully the sticker is not as essential as some, and some stickers, such as the ones on the nose, I don't think they are needed at all. They do help break up the colour slabs though. The cockpit is nice as well. Here's a video showing the functions. I've started mumbling in the videos which is useful if you can decipher it. Sorry if you can't. I've changed the camera as well. From the front you can see where the anniversary part is used. The other F-35 Ratings: Function: A VTOL change like this hasn't been done before to my knowledge (swiveling engines have been) and it all fits in a relatively narrow fuselage. I would have preferred more however, such as ailerons. 7/10 Parts: Excellent if you want the blue. It's mostly structural and panel, but there's still enough mechanical parts too. 10/10 Price: LEGO seem to use motor sets as an excuse to up prices IMHO. 8/10 Accuracy: The lift fan in particular is very close to reality. The wing size is stupidly small, but it could be argued that this is an air race jet and the body provides most of the lift... Yeah, it's a stretch. 7/10 Fudge: I'm not really sure why a VTOL plane is racing, but I'll try to accept it. This is a very nice looking plane model, even for those who don't appreciate the mechanicals. 8/10 Overall: Take a VTOL race to the shops now! 8/10

Actually they are a favorite part of mine.

Wrong part. Yeah I know, that part is 10 years old.. and I did say "double", not "triple". To avoid future confusion I've added this to the review; That's what I get for trying to avoid posting the same photos over and over again... Hmmm, yeah, the Baywatch floats are a great idea! I'm just going to use it as a Build-Your-Own-Boat kit...

Review: 42064 Ocean Explorer Name: Ocean Explorer Number: 42064 Theme: Technic Year: 2017 Pieces: 1327 Price: Euro 89.99€, AUD $169.99 Brickset: Extra Info Technic Early 2017 Review Series Welcome to the ninth in my batch of 2017 Technic reviews! I was offered all the small early 2017 sets for review late last year... but I ended up getting the bigger ones too! Thus I have a lot to review. I've been doing them in parallel and changing my process as I go so hopefully the latter ones will end up being the best. On that angle I'll probably retcon some of the earlier reviews if I improve my process. Due to this remember that I'm happy to take extra photos or provide extra info on request, and anything especially good will be added to the main body of the review. Do note though that sometimes the model may no longer exist if I have have made an alternate. On the subject of alternates, I will be making the alt model, if I have the instructions, think the model is worth making, and I have the time. Also I'll show mid stage construction only if I think it's relevant. Thus don't ask for construction photos or alt models if they aren't part of the review.... I am prepared to extract parts for detail photos though. Photos will all be hosted on Flickr so larger versions are available, and relevant videos will be on YouTube and linked to from here. I don't edit photos much; very rarely I'll crop one and almost never will "correct" them so the photos should be as natural as possible. I will try to not be repetitive; thus it's worth reading my other reviews. For example I'm not going to complain too much about the digital instructions; I'll try to complain about new things, or maybe not complain at all! Here's all the other reviews of H1 2017 Technic... 42057 Ultralight Helicopter 42058 Stunt Bike 42059 Stunt Truck (and 45058/42059 Combiner) 42060 Roadwork Crew 42061 Telehandler 42062 Container Yard 42063 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 42064 Ocean Explorer 42065 Tracked Racer Mucho multi thanks to the EB LUG Ambassador CopMike and the LEGO CEE Team and Designers for allowing me to review these sets for Eurobricks. So onto the review! Packaging Front.... ...back. I don't plan to do the alternate. Mostly due to time, but also as I wasn't too inspired by this model. Here's the top. The scale pic is an interesting choice as it's the first time I know of in a Technic set where the picture has no visible Technic. (There's an axle inside.) Unboxing Standard punch box. Instructions were bagged, and the set is segmented. There's only the main instruction, with the cover being better stock than the main. We're into the big boys now! Parts list page 1.... ...and page 2. Semi random instruction page. Build One bags open! From these you make the accessory vehicles. First up is the little chopper. This has functioning main and tail rotors spun by a gear at the bottom and uses the new double cross-connector piece for the rotor shaft which helps make this remarkable small creation. <RETCON> No! not that piece, this piece! </RETCON> Also is the submersible. It has geared rotating props (not counter rotating though) and worm gear driven claws. These are the spares for the One bags. The rope surprised me. This is all of the Two bags... ...actually it not. I was part though assembling when I realised I was missing parts. Rechecked and found another bag.... ...and by the end we had this! There's a few features that become hard to see later so I'll highlight them now. First off there's the odd part here, the "5" print. It's actually stupidly common part so it's not special in itself, but it's a ship building tradition to do this. Keep this in mind for later! Here you can see the where the crane control shafts are geared up. The red gear is there simply because it's easier alignment than a 3 axle. Two Bag spare parts. I think this is the first time there's been a metallic one of these 1 high pin parts, but I suspect you'll be seeing them a lot more. Cosmetically the 2 long version was ruined (IMHO) by the slits and this solves the problem... Three bags! (Yes, I'm sure this time.) That finishes the model.... but the superstructure.... it's so... white... ...but before I rant about that here's the complete spare parts. (I forgot to take this photo; I'll take a better one in a few days.) While it's not featureless, the lack of colour make it look pretty close to it. Fear not! We have a vast sticker sheet! This adds loads of detail to the bridge mostly. Plus the chopper. (Nothing for the sub.) The ship gets a load line, which while arguably silly is educational (more on that later) and it tells the builder the intended waterline. The life boats are not improved much by the stickers though. But that's enough on stickers. For the sticker fans there's more photos in my Flickr page. The gear near the life boats controls the rudder. Here's the rudders and at full deflection. The mechanism is very similar to the steering in the 42062 Container Stacker set. It's more snappy than smooth. The steering circle is large, but that's arguably accurate. To the front is a set of three wheels to take the weight. The anniversary part is used to lock in the sub. Here's a video showing the functions. I've started mumbling in the videos which is useful if you can decipher it. Sorry if you can't. Most of my points I should re-iterate on in a bit. Size wise here's it on the largest LEGO hull; it's about the same size! (Stickers are old and self-disintegrating.) Didn't test if it'll float like this yet.... Ratings: Function: For a model of this size the functions are minimal. None are particularly impressive either. Showing the props would have helped, but arguably you can't see them in this quasi-waterline model. 3/10 Parts: Excellent really. Mostly structural, but there's still enough mechanical parts too. Oddly there's also some rare-ish System parts too. 10/10 Price: Considering parts only, it's probably the best value set of this wave. 10/10 Accuracy: The small models are very accurate considering the sizes. The chopper is probably too big for that kind of canopy though, but that's just being picky. 8/10 Fudge: This set does raise the question of what makes a Technic set Technic, and I think this one is a bridge too far. It's a shame too as some might recall that I have a thing for water based Technic, partially as there has been so little. But this is not what I had in mind. The focus is weird, even with the choice of using System as the scale display on the box. It's clearly form over function; the coin that is not easily seen in the final model, the fact that the helo-deck has cosmetic structure, the use of system to achieve what does not need to be achieved, such as hand rails and a mast, even the sticker load line. But the vision is inconsistent; the life rafts are an area where some system was needed, yet stickers were all that were offered, the bridge uses stickers to achieve windows when System would have done it better. When I first saw this set I was really looking forward to it, but now it just looks like spare parts. 0/10 Overall: My negativity aside, this is an excellent set for builders. Displayers... well it depends on if you like your Technic to be Technic. It does look pretty good, arguably better than the last ship. But to me it's in the group of "is the really Technic"? 6/10

Review: 42062 Container Yard Name: Container Yard Number: 42062 Theme: Technic Year: 2017 Pieces: 631 Price: Euro 49.99€, AUD $89.99 Brickset: Extra Info Technic Early 2017 Review Series Welcome to the eighth in my batch of 2017 Technic reviews! I was offered all the small early 2017 sets for review late last year... but I ended up getting the bigger ones too! Thus I have a lot to review. I've been doing them in parallel and changing my process as I go so hopefully the latter ones will end up being the best. On that angle I'll probably retcon some of the earlier reviews if I improve my process. Due to this remember that I'm happy to take extra photos or provide extra info on request, and anything especially good will be added to the main body of the review. Do note though that sometimes the model may no longer exist if I have have made an alternate. On the subject of alternates, I will be making the alt model, if I have the instructions, think the model is worth making, and I have the time. Also I'll show mid stage construction only if I think it's relevant. Thus don't ask for construction photos or alt models if they aren't part of the review.... I am prepared to extract parts for detail photos though. Photos will all be hosted on Flickr so larger versions are available, and relevant videos will be on YouTube and linked to from here. I don't edit photos much; very rarely I'll crop one and almost never will "correct" them so the photos should be as natural as possible. I will try to not be repetitive; thus it's worth reading my other reviews. For example I'm not going to complain too much about the digital instructions; I'll try to complain about new things, or maybe not complain at all! Here's all the other reviews of H1 2017 Technic... 42057 Ultralight Helicopter 42058 Stunt Bike 42059 Stunt Truck (and 45058/42059 Combiner) 42060 Roadwork Crew 42061 Telehandler 42062 Container Yard 42063 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 42064 Ocean Explorer 42065 Tracked Racer Mucho multi thanks to the EB LUG Ambassador CopMike and the LEGO CEE Team and Designers for allowing me to review these sets for Eurobricks. So onto the review! Packaging Front.... ...back.... ...top. Unboxing Standard punch box. Instructions were loose, and the set is very well segmented. Both models have included instructions, covers are of slightly better quality to the pages themselves. On the subject of instructions here's the parts list... ...and here's the (selected) instruction page showing the stacker steering. More on that later. Build Off we go! Here's Bag One in a container... ...which ends up making the truck. The part that holds on the headlights is a new re-colour... ...and the anniversary part unique to this wave is used on the bottom. The steering has rather bad limits (pretty much what you see) but it does the job. These are the Bag One spares. On to Bag Two! Shouldn't be too hard to work out what's being made here. Hopefully you expected this. Bag Two spares. Bag Three! Note the new re-colour of the gear rack. I'm glad this part is back. Also worth noting are the... ...new worm gear and connector, in many of the other 2017 sets and shamelessly taken from another review. Obviously this builds the stacker. Which means we're done! Bag Three spares.... ...and total spares... but in hindsight I think there's an extra pin in there that I was using to join the containers together with. Here's a quick video showing the functions. The stickers aren't really needed in this set, they just add a bit of colour. Really I think the containers need the detail most. Does this mean Danish trucks share plates with their trailers? Note that the containers really are too thin. So let's demonstrate the primary function; lifting and stacking! Broom, broom, the stacker approaches... ...opens the grabber... ...finds the convenient pickup holes... ...latches shut the jaws (using the lever on top)... ...and lifts the Bricks and Beams. I failed to make this clear in the video, but the extension mechanism is quite capable of stopping halfway, even with a load. I think it's mostly because of the friction in the gear rack Also, it can reach high enough to "stack". As I highlight in the video, the load capacity of the stacker is a bit above an empty container; some sort of counterweight is needed. The set doesn't have much other features; the trailer has no function, not even a support leg... ...and the truck has weak steering, opening door and reclining seats. On a positive note, the steering control is via a universal joint. The trailer connection is extremely simple as well. Most of the set detail and function is in the stacker. Like the truck, it's roughly minifig scale, and it's got some interesting techniques. The steering is controlled from the back and it is very simple but still interesting as (looking at the instructions at the top) it uses a joint ball to push the steering arm from side to side. I haven't seen that done before in Technic. (I didn't make the B model; its a straddle loader with a different truck.) Ratings Function: The functions are all there to enable you to play/test out the concept. Since it's a small model many of the functions are not remotely controlled which I tend to feel a bit disappointed by... but having a remote grabber release for example is generally not done even on larger models. 8/10 Parts: Another good orange part pack, and a very good blend of parts too. 9/10 Price: Considering the prices I'm seeing this year this is pretty standard. 9/10 Accuracy: Sadly I think the truck lets down the whole set. Four wheels not six? Sure, that's kinda common. The trailer though is too simple; not enough wheels, no support, and it's thinner than the containers. The stacker on the other hand is excellent. 6/10 Fudge: As I keep saying, the stacker is the highlight. Oddly I wish they went for a lower price point and skipped the truck. Or perhaps a higher? In any case it does seem this set is designed for minifigs. Don't really like that either... 6/10 Overall: Build the stacker and containers and use the rest as spare parts! 7/10

Yeah, I've got a decent amount of orange Technic now.... I had one that size in my backyard last month! Came in the back of the truck, not a trailer... I'm seeing a pattern here. Yeah, TLG do seem to like the micro models thing this year. I think that is the summary sad to say.

Review: 42061 Telehandler Name: Telehandler Number: 42061 Theme: Technic Year: 2017 Pieces: 260 Price: $39.99 USD, Euro 29.99€, AUD $49.99 Brickset: Extra Info Technic Early 2017 Review Series Welcome to the seventh in my batch of 2017 Technic reviews! I was offered all the small sets early 2017 for review late last year... but I ended up getting them all! Thus I have a lot to review. I've been doing them in parallel and changing my process as I go so hopefully the latter ones will end up being the best. On that angle I'll probably retcon some of the earlier reviews if I improve my process. Due to this remember that I'm happy to take extra photos or provide extra info on request, and anything especially good will be added to the main body of the review. Do note though that sometimes the model may no longer exist if I have have made an alternate. On the subject of alternates, I will be making the alt model, if I have the instructions, think the model is worth making, and I have the time. Also I'll show mid stage construction only if I think it's relevant. Thus don't ask for construction photos or alt models if they aren't part of the review.... I am prepared to extract parts for detail photos though. Photos will all be hosted on Flickr so larger versions are available, and relevant videos will be on YouTube and linked to from here. I don't edit photos much; very rarely I'll crop one and almost never will "correct" them so the photos should be as natural as possible. I will try to not be repetitive; thus it's worth reading my other reviews. For example I'm not going to complain too much about the digital instructions; I'll try to complain about new things, or maybe not complain at all! Here's all the other reviews of H1 2017 Technic... 42057 Ultralight Helicopter 42058 Stunt Bike 42059 Stunt Truck (and 45058/42059 Combiner) 42060 Roadwork Crew 42061 Telehandler 42062 Container Yard 42063 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 42064 Ocean Explorer 42065 Tracked Racer Mucho multi thanks to the EB LUG Ambassador CopMike and the LEGO CEE Team and Designers for allowing me to review these sets for Eurobricks. So onto the review! Packaging Front.... ...back.... ...top. Unboxing Standard punch box. Instructions were loose, as was the bucket, and the bags have no numbers. Both models have included instructions, covers are of slightly better quality to the pages themselves. Excellent mixture of parts. Interestingly I was starting to think last year that the Arocs gear rack was to be a one off, but nope it's here in red. (And in grey in another set.) I love those wheels too. The arc piece is rare as well. Other than those the new parts are the worm gear and this new connector... Plus a new bucket. The bucket itself doesn't seem special, but it does connect via a full width peg, which matches the recent buckets, since this one I believe. Yes, this set has an anniversary element. Parts list. Not so Random instruction page. I've been seeing this kind of assembly more often these days; you can't get this in without bending the axle. Sure it can take it, but it does surprise me. Build It's done! Spares. Anniversary part location. It's only held in from the top by one pin... which is on a 2 long beam held on by one pin. Not very integrated, so if you want a set that has the part but it can be easily removed this is an option! The stacker from 42062 is a similar concept, but is clearly a different scale. It's interesting to compare the design, this model has superior steering, more correct height adjust, less inaccurate boom extension... but even so due to the usage of a mini-linear actuator the actual lift capability is low. Not really an issue IMHO, but worth noting. It is still very functional though, as this video shows. I've had a problem with this kind of steering for a while (I think I first saw it in a large model with 8295), as it's not very realistic and often is imprecise. But realism objections aside, it works very well, and the usage of the cam parts is smart. Stickers are subtle in this set, probably mostly because of the lack of panels. Tow Truck (B Model) In this case I did make the B model. Due to the available parts the set has to be creative with the steering. The turning circle isn't too good... It's quite capable of doing it's job; here's it being demonstrated. For example, here's a racing truck in need of a tow. All you need to do is get under the front... ...lift... ...retract (noting the anniversary piece)... ...and you're ready to roll! Note though that the frame is bending a bit under the load, but since it's all rather thin it's hardly surprising. Ratings Function: The A model really is only missing stabilizers, other than that it's a good representative of a telehandler. The tow-truck is probably too simplistic, but it does do the job. 9/10 Parts: Colours aren't very exciting, but there's a lot of MOCing potential here. 9/10 Price: Considering the prices I'm seeing this year this is pretty standard. 9/10 Accuracy: Well obviously I'd prefer more pneumatics or linear actuators, but it's a small model. Similar story with the tow truck. 8/10 Fudge: Probably my favorite of the cheaper sets with two very functional vehicles to experiment with. The Telehandler aesthetically is nice too. 8/10 Overall: Lift and tow today! 8/10