Is Technic relying too much on panels?

[Richard Dower]

Upon seeing the images of the 1H 2016 sets it is clear there is an ongoing trend, for several years now, that we are seeing more and more use of panels. Its shocking to see the cargo helicopter uses over 30 panels!

While paneling can look good and give shape and design features, one wonders if this heavy use of panels is a cost reduction exercise, moreover if it is lazy designing?

Forget functions and building complexity....just throw on a buch of panels, sure it'll look cool..........

....what do you think?

Edited October 26, 2015 by Richard Dower

[Freekysch]

Pannels are only used on the body of the models, so I am ok with that. As long as the set is complex and technic enough I appreciate a good design and a good looking body.

[aminnich]

I had to double check the helicopter, but I think t looks great. It is really clean looking and still has functionality. I bet the panels are a cheaper alternative, but I'm fine with it as long as LEGO doesn't skip out of the functions

[zux]

Helicopter has just 30 panels. Recent plane - 42025 - has 50 panels.

[knotian]

The panels serve a good purpose. The Technic beams do not present a good visual impact, while they are excellent for structures.

What I would like to see are tiles, similar to the flat tile bricks, but dimensions to fit the Technic spacing. Even if it were just a few sizes with some flat, some with one curved edge and a 'standard' corner, they could be used universally to really clean up the Technic models.

I have used 1 x N blocks stacked vertically to incorporate smooth surfaces in Technic models.

[dr_spock]

Panels can also save weight and pins. Builds can get pretty repetitive if you have to fill in with liftarms and pins.

[Erik Leppen]

I kind of like how Technic models are now becoming more "closed". So I think the current focus on panels is a good thing.

What I don't like though is all those stickers. That's what I think Technic is currently relying too much on. I don't like how stickers are custom-designed per model, whereas panels are generic parts that are re-used in other sets (just notice the new angled panel that's already available in three colors).

Also, I think that, with panels, models are actually harder to design well. So it's surely not laziness, IMO.

Also, Technic models are having more parts than ever before, on average. So I doubt it's cost-saving. A panel needs all kinds of pins and connectors to connect to a model, maybe more so than beams. I think it simply allows for nicer flowing designs that the target audience is more drawn to.

But I like it. Besides, I have plenty of liftarms already :)

[plethorabricks]

Panels, when used well, aid in the structural integrity of the model - particularly when they double as the "lines" of a model when viewed from certain angles. Check out the new curved green panels used in 42039 for an example.

[Samer]

Oh, i saw this just now and I made a lot of arguments not liking this trend in the 2016 sets thread.

In general, Panels are nice to close the gaps and adding finish touch but if the outer shell is only panels like the trend shows in the 2016 sets, this is really ugly, why I think so:

1- It means they want to make sets thinner and lower cost.

2- Liftarms will be less abundant in sets while they are the fundamental building block in Technic. When you build any simple thing, you use them.

3- I think if you ask most MoC-ers when they build which category they run out of 1st, the will say 1- thin beams 2- thick beams.

4- The shape of the build may get very closed and precisely curved but looks very thin and to an extent childish.

5- The building experience will be less chalenging and boring and getting closer to LEGO clone brands. It will be more like solving a jigsaw puzzle.

6- Liftarms will be mostly gray and black as they will be only for the inner structure

Just my thoughts of course.

Edit: 7- Art vs Engineering. Maybe because I'm an engineering guy I see it this way.

Edited October 26, 2015 by Samer

[bonox]

In some ways it's like a return to model team. Not the same extent, but an effort to put some more polish on the top. Hopefully it doesn't come at the 'model-team' cost of limited function.

[Samer]

Also, Technic models are having more parts than ever before, on average. So I doubt it's cost-saving. A panel needs all kinds of pins and connectors to connect to a model, maybe more so than beams.

That's what scares me. This sounds to me what may make the cost saving. If your 1000 piece set weighs 1.3Kg and made up of panels and many connectors and pins and few liftarms for making the gearbox and the base (in grey and/or black).

[bonox]

There are lots of MOC examples of model team style finishes - jeroens mistress uses something lke 50 panels very carefully and creates a fabulous car that doesn't given anything away to a factory supercar. Grazi's tow truck won't appear as a factory set (4000 parts!!) but is a great example of what can be achieved in terms of function (ie technic) plus finish.

[SevenStuds]

I personally don't mind the panels conpared to the skeletal look of the old studded frames. Yes, the curved panels in the 42039 are nice, but bright green, blue and purple (from the 2016 sets) are not that usefull, colour wise. If I could invent new panels, they would all be flexible, like the soft axles, so that curved body parts could be custom formed and each set could look slightly different.

[Paul Boratko]

I kind of like how Technic models are now becoming more "closed". So I think the current focus on panels is a good thing.

What I don't like though is all those stickers. That's what I think Technic is currently relying too much on. I don't like how stickers are custom-designed per model, whereas panels are generic parts that are re-used in other sets (just notice the new angled panel that's already available in three colors).

Also, I think that, with panels, models are actually harder to design well. So it's surely not laziness, IMO.

Also, Technic models are having more parts than ever before, on average. So I doubt it's cost-saving. A panel needs all kinds of pins and connectors to connect to a model, maybe more so than beams. I think it simply allows for nicer flowing designs that the target audience is more drawn to.

But I like it. Besides, I have plenty of liftarms already :)

[Lipko]

Yes, they are harder to work with, even though there are many types of panels, they are very limiting (especially if you are making model of a specific thing).

[GoldVillage]

Upon seeing the images of the 1H 2016 sets it is clear there is an ongoing trend, for several years now, that we are seeing more and more use of panels. Its shocking to see the cargo helicopter uses over 30 panels!

While paneling can look good and give shape and design features, one wonders if this heavy use of panels is a cost reduction exercise, moreover if it is lazy designing?

Forget functions and building complexity....just throw on a buch of panels, sure it'll look cool..........

....what do you think?

I think the helicopter looks good! sure it has ALOT of panels (more like 40+...) but whats the alternative? using 100's of 15l beams and 1000 pins to cover it up?

[Samer]

I think the helicopter looks good! sure it has ALOT of panels (more like 40+...) but whats the alternative? using 100's of 15l beams and 1000 pins to cover it up?

Its not this way, panels are fine if moderately used.

[andrewganschow]

IMHO panels wonderful in moderation. They look cleaner then 5 1x11 lift arms stacked on top of each other. Its a win win really. Keep the model looking clean, but also keep the build process interesting. They're is no way I would've built 42043 if the bed was all lift arms.

[Lyichir]

I for one am all for the newer Technic panels. Older Technic sets tended to look like cross-sections, with unsightly gaps all over the place. Even most of the older style of panels had holes in them (in addition to textures that looked too futuristic and weird for most models). The new panels, on the other hand, produce smooth, clean surfaces that help to hide the functional elements of sets in a solid, durable shell.

[Samer]

I for one am all for the newer Technic panels. Older Technic sets tended to look like cross-sections, with unsightly gaps all over the place. Even most of the older style of panels had holes in them (in addition to textures that looked too futuristic and weird for most models). The new panels, on the other hand, produce smooth, clean surfaces that help to hide the functional elements of sets in a solid, durable shell.

Panels are necessary and cool to include in any build. The concern is if we will miss such builds in favor of Panel-only body:

link to image

Edited October 29, 2015 by Jim
Image size too big

[Gingerdave]

I had a long break from lego - the last kit I got was the first control centre (8094) in 1990 or so, until I got 42009 in 2014.

So the studless was a shock, and the panels even more so. I didn't like either at first, but I realised just how useful they are. Studless is amazing. When panels are used the models do look better than the old frameworks, and the panels can be pretty strong as well. With studless, even if you could use plates they couldn't take any weight.

Now, stickers are another matter . . . having recently built 42025, the stickers make up too much of the look of the model. I may leave the stickers off in future, unless you're careful they make MOC's look a bit odd.

[Lakop]

I would like to see more flexible axles. I also want to see studded plates and studded beams remain part of the technic range. I don't mind the panels, they're good for doors and the front end of trucks, rectangle panels are of course great for bases and boxes etc but my personal opinion is the full mix.

H

[Freekysch]

Flexible axles are so cool, the only set that I have that uses them is the F1 William Racer and it look waaaay better then 42000.

[JamesJT]

I do rely on panels; I built a shell from panels and then see what I can fit inside. The panels become structural; when I removed a few panels to show the insides of my TC7 it just fell apart.

I probably wouldn't build without panels as I like to hide all the stuff that goes on inside. Most of my TC8 is panels too.

[Kelkschiz]

Panels are cool, they are another interesting tool to make great MOCs. Nobody likes a MOC looking like a skeleton. My only gripe with them is that they are so darn expensive on BL.