Technic 2016 Discussion and Speculation

[Jockos]

...so why wouldn't make a licensed set like Liebherr, JCB or CAT? That would be a really good choice!

[Cumulonimbus]

...so why wouldn't make a licensed set like Liebherr, JCB or CAT? That would be a really good choice!

Short answer: nobody knows.

Long answer:

It is my guess that the request to develop licensed sets must come from the manufacturers of the real machines. I don't think TLG is going around all the manufacturers of heavy equipment and other vehicles asking for licenses. The Mercedes licensed sets are the best illustrations of this: both the Unimog and the Arocs sets were launched at significant times for Mercedes-Benz (respectively an anniversary and the launch of a new model).

Besides this, licensed sets require some effort of the manufactures to provide TLG with all the information they need. Because this information is of a very technical nature, I guess this must come form the engineering departments of the manufacturers. As an engineer for an agricultural equipment manufacturer, I know that engineering time is very precious for any company. A lot of companies will simply not have a lot to gain by investing time and money in an official licensed Lego set. Then there is the matter of sensitivity of that information: I know for a fact that the company I work for has turned down requests of model and game makers because we want to protect sensitive information as good as possible.

A final thought: licenses cost money, even for TLG, so any licensed set will cost more than a comparable generic set. TLG will consider the effect of a higher price on the sales with any licensed set.

[Jockos]

I ask you: based on your last sentences, that licensed sets cost more, why 42043 and 42009 have the same prices? 42043 has more pieces, and it is licensed. Can you understand what I mean?

Anyway, thank for your answer.

Edited August 13, 2015 by Jockos

[GoldVillage]

Because set number.

42056 would be the 2H flagship (200€) because it's the tallest number, so 42055 would be the second set (130€). 42054 could be like the 42041 (60€ and maybe released in 1H). That keeps the Volvo like 42040 (40€).

Aslo, i'm sure that children would want more a version of a real excavator than a fictional one for a smaller price that other licensed sets. Aslo, TLG already has the license of Volvo for a big set, so...

I see your point, indeed the last number is the flagship and the second biggest number should be the second biggest set (thats the pattern we seen over the last years) but this time we have two licensed models and those are always pretty big, and theres usually one midsize set among the big ones in 2H.

So theres a chance that the volvo excavator can be the 1H flagship, but wherever it will be or not it wont gonna cost only 40 euros (try 100+) because if you look at the real thing it has 7 cylinders, that means the lego version has to be big enough both in the digging arm but also in the structure to support 7 pneumatic cylinders and all in/out going hose wirings plus a minimum of 5 pneumatic switches, and perhaps even some air tanks or a compressor. If it also is motorized then it will be far more expensive than just 100 euros, and expect around 1000 pieces for this set so it will be more big than midsized. If one of the 2H sets will be midsized and only gonna cost around 40-60€, then the bucket wheel excavator is the best bet.

Edited August 13, 2015 by GoldVillage

[N-4K0]

The Unimog, Arocs and Volvo loader are all of a fair size. I don't see a Volvo excavator being much smaller than the 42006.

[Kaanere]

Well, maybe the order is more logical that the past year:

The race truck (42041) by price was suposed to be between the Formula OffRoader (42037) and ice truck (42038, but for some reason it was numbered above these. In this wayve they could do that by the logic way

The 60€ set of 2016 could be the airport truck , the 80€ set the helicopter, and the 100€ set the Volvo (with pneumatics!). And then 2H.

So there you have it, a theory that could put the Volvo like a 100€ set. But I still think it will be a 50€ Set.

[GoldVillage]

Well, maybe the order is more logical that the past year:

The race truck (42041) by price was suposed to be between the Formula OffRoader (42037) and ice truck (42038, but for some reason it was numbered above these. In this wayve they could do that by the logic way

The 60€ set of 2016 could be the airport truck , the 80€ set the helicopter, and the 100€ set the Volvo (with pneumatics!). And then 2H.

So there you have it, a theory that could put the Volvo like a 100€ set. But I still think it will be a 50€ Set.

The airport rescue truck and the helicopter will be the 2 big sets for 1H (if asuming the volvo excavator is a 2H set) they will probably be about in the same price range as the arctic vehicle and the lemans car.

[Emmi]

Maybe dumb question, but what is the bucket wheel excavator supposed to be based off of?

[Kaanere]

Maybe dumb question, but what is the bucket wheel excavator supposed to be based off of?

In this beauty

The airport rescue truck and the helicopter will be the 2 big sets for 1H (if asuming the volvo excavator is a 2H set) they will probably be about in the same price range as the arctic vehicle and the lemans car.

I aslo think so. The other is a theory for the Volvo as a 100€ set. Otherwise I don't think it could happen.

Edited August 13, 2015 by Kaanere

[Emmi]

erm ... but this can't be it ... it would look ugly?

[Cumulonimbus]

I ask you: based on your last sentences, that licensed sets cost more, why 42043 and 42009 have the same prices? 42043 has more pieces, and it is licensed. Can you understand what I mean?

Anyway, thank for your answer.

As I have no TLG inside information, all of my statements are my personal "guestimations". You're probably right about the 42043 and the 42009 (don't know their official prices by hard), but I imagine a deal between any owner of Intellectual Property and TLG can be really complex. Maybe Mercedes-Benz agreed on a lower (or even no) license fee and in return received some privileges concerning advertisement. Maybe the TLG marketing department decided on a lower retail price for the 42043 for strategic reasons. Selling mass produced products world wide is a very complex operation.

Again, just my opinion.

Edited August 13, 2015 by Cumulonimbus

[andythenorth]

I nearly called popcorn on the list with the Xerion, the Volvo duck and the bucket wheel excavator, but eh maybe it's plausible...

- if there is a bucket wheel, then it will use the clamshell bucket pieces from the Arocs, they are the right profile and attachment points. That will give a guide to size.

- there is now a precedent for Lego working with Volvo construction equipment division, and a mid-sized duck (wheeled excavator) set would be a perfect use for both types of the new long v2 pneumatic cylinders.

- Lego have put out a number of agricultural set (Technic and city tractors, also the combine set) in Claas green/red/white, no question they were Claas colours. Officially licensing a Xerion (Claas flagship) would make sense. For the record, I built a Xerion moc, but the green just looked vomit-coloured, so I rebuilt as a JCB fastrac. Eh well.

So the list might be too-good-to-be-true, a well-executed piece of trolling, but on the other hand there are reasons to believe it.

[Emmi]

In about 4 weeks' time we'll get our first preliminary images of the 1h 2016 LEGO Technic wave, more will become clear then. However, judging by the list alone, 2016 has the potential to become the best year in LEGO Technic to date ... easily. Just look at the list, we get a supercar (hopefully licensed), we get several construction machines (including licensed VOLVO), we get a big tractor (also licensed), we get helicopters/planes, we get pull-back cars ...

I'm excited and eagerly awaiting for the first pictures to hit eurobricks

[Jockos]

I don't want to be too much happy, because we don't know exactly the sets and the photos are not final (like last year 42039).

[bonox]

I ask you: based on your last sentences, that licensed sets cost more, why 42043 and 42009 have the same prices? 42043 has more pieces, and it is licensed. Can you understand what I mean?

Anyway, thank for your answer.

In a few places i've seen, the arocs and volvo loader were priced significantly higher than the crane. RRP here is AU$279 for the crane and AU$369 for the loader. If they are the same price for you, i'd suggest you're getting a very good deal on one or a very bad deal on the other.

[GoldVillage]

erm ... but this can't be it ... it would look ugly?

Exactly, it cant be based on that one because it would be way too big, just look at the crawler base with all those tracks. It would make more sense if it was based on one of these:

[Ondra]

That theory about volvo is 1H flagship, seems to me possible.I did some research and it looks perfect to be some kind of 100 € set.It is newest volvo machinery so they probably want some promotion , it will probably use bucket and pneumatics from arocs.

Edited August 14, 2015 by Ondra

[Alasdair Ryan]

The 8455 was 80 uk pounds and look what you got....a ton of pneumatics,athough studless was still quite new then.Now days the models are filled in a bit more so 100 pounds seams a fair price.

[Cumulonimbus]

... it will probably use bucket and pneumatics from arocs.

In the design studio presentation video of the Arocs, Markus Kossmann did say that the new "shovel element" as he calls it, could be use as the scoop of an excavator (around the 3:00 mark). Maybe he spoke with a current development in mind .

Edited August 14, 2015 by Cumulonimbus

[GoldVillage]

That theory about volvo is 1H flagship, seems to me possible.I did some research and it looks perfect to be some kind of 100 € set.It is newest volvo machinery so they probably want some promotion , it will probably use bucket and pneumatics from arocs.

It will require alot more pneumatics than the arocs, so the question is how its operated? history shows us that motorized 1H sets are extremely rare, so maybe they came up with another solution? a compressor driven through a differential could be cool, linked to a couple of air tanks. So we just have to play around with it a little first to fill up the air tanks ;)

[Kaanere]

It will require alot more pneumatics than the arocs, so the question is how its operated? history shows us that motorized 1H sets are extremely rare, so maybe they came up with another solution? a compressor driven through a differential could be cool, linked to a couple of air tanks. So we just have to play around with it a little first to fill up the air tanks ;)

It doesn't require more pneumatics than the Arocs, with 4 (one for each section of the crane + bucket) will be enought. And the rotatory buquet and front blade manual.

Maybe they will release a new airtank and manual compressor?

Edited August 14, 2015 by Kaanere

[Cumulonimbus]

It is a bit off topic, but I was curious how a toy bucket wheel excavator might look like and I found the following two examples I would like to share:

- A Mechano creation:

(source1)

- Fishertechnik version:

(source 2)

[Emmi]

Honestly, if the bucket wheel excavator looks anything like the above I won't buy it - for me a set has to be good looking - in addition to its functions of course - that's just not the case here.

I'll wait and see how it looks.

I'm most excited for 42056 Ultimate IP Car, followed by 42053 Volvo EW160E

Edited August 14, 2015 by Emmi

[Ondra]

In the design studio presentation video of the Arocs, Markus Kossmann did say that the new "shovel element" as he calls it, could be use as the scoop of an excavator (around the 3:00 mark). Maybe he spoke with a current development in mind .

He looks like , also in volvo excavator video, there so many shots of shovel that looks like from arocs set.

[Maaboo the Witch]

Some of these possibilities sound really cool, especially the Volvo EW160E excavator! I do wish that LEGO would do another combine harvester - we've only ever had one as an A-model. Also, the Airport Rescue Vehicle - could that be another fire truck - maybe one like this?

No doubt, there are some revelations sure to be afoot in the offing.