Technic 2016 Discussion and Speculation

[Kman860]

An obvious thought just struck me - the red fire engine has been withdrawn to make all the necessary changes to incorporate LOTS of red #3 connectors! Why haven't we thought of that before? ;)

I think they're overhauling the design.

[Geekphysique]

Look what I spotted in the wild (Toys R Us Canada)

[Kman860]

Look what I spotted in the wild (Toys R Us Canada)

*snip*

*snip*

*snip*

Where in Canada? I've checked mine, and they don;t have them yet.

[Geekphysique]

Vancouver Island

[Kman860]

Vancouver Island

Kind of figured it would be a big city, I'm kind of in a 109k population city, but in the middle of nowhere (Thunder Bay)

P.S. Congratulations to me for 400 posts!

Edited December 1, 2015 by Kman860

[Geekphysique]

Kind of figured it would be a big city, I'm kind of in a 109k population city, but in the middle of nowhere (Thunder Bay)

P.S. Congratulations to me for 400 posts!

Victoria only has 344k people, but being the capital of the province helps sometimes. The local TRU has a habit of putting sets out early though, so I wasn't too surprised when I spotted them today.

[Kman860]

Victoria only has 344k people, but being the capital of the province helps sometimes. The local TRU has a habit of putting sets out early though, so I wasn't too surprised when I spotted them today.

That's what I meant, big city or capital, same deal with Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, etc.

[Geekphysique]

I fear we've wandered off topic, but I'm trying to kill time for a bit longer until Sariel puts his videos up (hopefully)

[Kman860]

I fear we've wandered off topic, but I'm trying to kill time for a bit longer until Sariel puts his videos up (hopefully)

Well back on topic, that should be another 1.5 hours or so, I think

[Jim]

Drum roll.....it's review time!

I've created a collection topic for all reviews:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=117796

Now I will start publishing my reviews on the line.

[Geekphysique]

Oh yes. Thank you Jim. Worth staying up for.

[Jim]

First one (Display Team Jet) is up. I won't post any further publishing information here. You know where to find it

[hsky]

Very Nice Reviews Jim :-)

Much thanks

And Sorry for posting the images in high-resolution

[Jim]

Very Nice Reviews Jim :-)

Much thanks

And Sorry for posting the images in high-resolution

Thanks!

And no worries about the pictures. Sometimes happen when you link to external sources.

(you can either simly correct it to linked images, or upload the images to an image hosting service like bricksafe or flickr and embed the smaller versions)

[allanp]

Thank you Jim and Sariel for the reviews. I am actually slightly disappointed with the go kart, dragster and helicopter.

Firstly the go kart. The steering looks really bad, especially for a go kart and there is no new clutch gear for the gearbox either, but at least it has a working speed changing gearbox, not seen in a long time and never in a set this small, so that is great. I still think I'll get one but it would have been much better with a new size of clutch gear as opposed to any of the other new parts seen so far for 2016.

The dragster, I thought this was advertised as having a gearbox also, or when they said transmission they just mean a revolving shaft. Hmmmm. Oh well. The blue colour does not match the blue from previous sets like the motorcycle or hot rod so it makes for a very limited parts pallet for that colour and for a set this size it seems lacking in something. Two wheels driving a v8, steering, a lift up body and a lever that makes the whole car lift seems like it should be a good amount of functionality but it doesn't feel like it. Steering and moving engine are a given for this set, the lift up body is just a lever and the wheelie thingy is just weird.

The helicopter. For me personally, a large number of panels is not a big selling point. Nor do I consider things that flap up and down or side to side when moved manually a technical function in a large Technic set. It's just a small detail. So take away the landing gear and moving flaps, we are left with two motorised doors, a winch and contrarotating blades. That is pretty good, but is it £100 good????? I would not call it an improvement over the previous large helicopter which had fully mechanised landing gear and tiltable rotor blades and a free wheeling mechanism which allowed the blades to free wheel to a stop rather than stopping abruptly. On the plus side, this new helicopter doesn't rely on linear actuators for it's functions which means you get a cool sliding mechanism for opening the cargo bay doors, and the mechanism for tilting the blades in the previous helicopter was inauthentic and just not very well done anyway. Hmmm, maybe this new helicopter is on a par with the previous large heli.

I think, apart from the go kart, I'll save my pennies for second half.

Edited December 1, 2015 by allanp

[Appie]

Definitely 19L!

I made this mock up just to be sure:

<image snip>

Using a white 19L axle obviously, but it fits like in the pictures, so I can't see it being any other length

That's nice to see that piece return.

I got 4 of them from 2 cheap 8450's, but I don't want to know how many people paid top dollar for these soft axles before this set

[aminnich]

Am I correct saying 41 panels for the copter?!? That's a bit excessive

[Ngoc Nguyen]

I built models for display, so I'm not very fond of those that have unsupported protruding parts, like the helicopter tail or the plane wings. If I put them on display for a long time some parts will be bent. But I may get the helicopter for the B model though.

Am I correct saying 41 panels for the copter?!? That's a bit excessive

The official number is 51.

Edited December 1, 2015 by nguyengiangoc

[Jim]

Am I correct saying 41 panels for the copter?!? That's a bit excessive

It's all in my review

[aminnich]

Oops, your right 51... Even more excessive

[Meatman]

That's nice to see that piece return.

I got 4 of them from 2 cheap 8450's, but I don't want to know how many people paid top dollar for these soft axles before this set

I've seen them sold for $50.00 each on bricklink. I know that I paid around $35.00 for just 2 of them a few years ago from a seller in Austria.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Meatman

[Babaloveslego55]

Sariel has made the reviews! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUH5uajsvjan8wE6GWOrRJg

[gmshades]

Am I the only one upset over the color vomit of axles? First we had just black. Then came light grey. Now we have red, black, light and dark grey, yellow, tan, orange. I'm sure I'm missing a couple. Looks like I better hit brick link for all the black and grey axles before they disappear.

[Zerobricks]

I have a feeling a large influx of red axles may have something to do with 2H sets... Who knows, maybe the IP car will be red?

[JJ2]

Hypothesis time on! It lego remade the 19L flex axle in black why not remake the 3# red connector everyone wants? Hypothesis time off.

In the meantime I think I might want to get the stunt plane or the hydroplane racer...... Or both