Technicopedia

[legolijntje]

I made a small website (localhost) with how I think Technicopedia could look. I had nothing to do (waiting for a Bricklink order to finish my moc, finally) and I wanted to get some more experience with web-developing in aspx (I'm certainly not a professional )

I made a screencapture of it, which you can view here. Remember, I only made a few pages and I saw that I haven't linked all images correctly

(only read the following if you're interested or you have totally nothing to do ):

My design thoughts:

• I went for a black theme with red accents, but all the sets have a other color. E.g a yellow set has yellow accents, a black set has black accents, a blue set has blue accents...
  
• Every set page has a little sub-naviagation that stays on the screen when you scroll (it's not working perfect yet).
  
• This is based on a framework, so I want to edit the css some more to make it look less like other sites with the same framework.
  

My code thoughts:

• I've never used the bootstrap framework, so I thought this was a nice oppurtunity to try it out. The bootstrap framework is fluid, so the site works on all (inlcuding tablets and phones) screens, it will adapt and if neccesary, change itself to show correctly and nice.
  
• I'm not using the newest jquery, because the lightbox wasn't working with the newer one, I have to search an other lightbox plugin.
  
• I went for .aspx pages, because I really like the masterpage function, and because I can add coding in it if needed (but I have to learn it first, luckily, I have a friend who knows everything bout visual basic).
  

What do you think about it?

EDIT: it seems I forgot to say that I forgot to insert the logo...

[Alasdair Ryan]

Are you a fan of forklifts by any chance?

I think the actual models should have a bigger image at the top of that models page.

[legolijntje]

Yes, I wanted that too, a big set image at the top of the page, but I wasn't quite sure how to incorporate that

And, no I'm not a forklift fan

[Carrera124]

Found an error... set 8846 has been assigned to year 1981 in Technicopedia, but it has been released in 1982.

Most obviously, 8846 comes with the black technic friction pins, and instructions, box, databases etc. say "1982".

[Blakbird]

Found an error... set 8846 has been assigned to year 1981 in Technicopedia, but it has been released in 1982.

Most obviously, 8846 comes with the black technic friction pins, and instructions, box, databases etc. say "1982".

8846 was definitely 1981 which is clear from the catalogs at the time and from the copyright on my instructions. Like many sets, it was available for a couple of years so later versions had the newer pins. There may have been multiple versions of the instructions as well.

[Carrera124]

In this case, I'd like to see an evidence, because:

- all online databases say 1982

- no online inventory lists 16 gray pins as alternate items

- none of my 1981 catalogs (also international releases) shows set 8846

Maybe all these sources can be proven wrong, maybe they all copied wrong information from each other.

so I really would like to see an 1981 catalog that shows 8846, and building instructions that show gray pins instead of black ones.

[Interceptor]

I would like to see 1996 update as this year's Christmas present from you Blakbird.

[Carrera124]

I would like to see 1996 update as this year's Christmas present from you Blakbird.

+1

But I guess Blakbird is still digging through his 1981 catalogs and 8846 instructions

[rener]

For what it's worth: http://www.brickfactory.info/catalogi/index.html

Go to 1982, then Europe, technic, page 7.

[1974]

In this case, I'd like to see an evidence, because:

- all online databases say 1982

- no online inventory lists 16 gray pins as alternate items

- none of my 1981 catalogs (also international releases) shows set 8846

Maybe all these sources can be proven wrong, maybe they all copied wrong information from each other.

so I really would like to see an 1981 catalog that shows 8846, and building instructions that show gray pins instead of black ones.

I have the set with box at home (one of my fav Technic sets, btw) - I'll go have a look tonite

[allanp]

Looking at an actual set might not be that useful as it was produced for a number of years. Some sites say 1981 and others say 1982, so it seems to me like it had a limited release in 1981 with a wider release in 1982.

[1974]

Yes, but if I have a box/instruction manual with a 1981 copyright it might help I also have a rather large collection of 80's catalogues (including all the specific Technic ones) I can have a look at

I do remember having to choose between the 8844 and 8846 (pretty hard choice, I sorta regretted getting the 8844 for about 30 years until I got the 8846 recently), but was that 1981 or 1982? The 8846 feels very 1981 to me and fits very well with my 8844, 8848 and 8859

Blasted, work is very unimportant now .. must go home and solve great LEGO mystery Boss

[Carrera124]

Some sites say 1981 and others say 1982, so it seems to me like it had a limited release in 1981 with a wider release in 1982.

I looked around, but I cannot find a site that says "1981". The "big ones" Bricklink, Brickset, Lugnet and Peeron all say "1982".

[1974]

Allighty then ..

Box says 1982

Manual says 1982

It's not listed in my 1981 catalogues, but it's listed as *new* in my 1982s

And I can only find the 8846 in my 1982 Technic only catalogue, not in previous ones

You got something I haven't Blackbird?

Cheers,

Ole

[Carrera124]

@1974, same here.

But hey, there is a case where sets were announced twice as "new" in two subsequent years: 6450 and 6480 were listed as "new" both in 1985 and 1986 catalogs.

I guess the reason was that the Light&Sound components were delayed for whatever reasons.

So, there is a very very small chance for a 1981 edition of 8846. But I do not believe in this - because of two reasons:

1. The black pins with friction were introduced in 1981, i.e. one year earlier than known. Imho this is very unlikely.

2. The first edition of 8846 is built using the gray pins without friction. In this case, two versions of the building instruction should exist, one that shows gray pins and another one that shows black pins.

Moreover, the building style of 8846 is different from 8848 and 8859. 8846 uses less classic plates and bricks for the chassis construction, which means that a great quota of it's stiffness is based on the black pins with friction.

Maybe I'll try and build 8846 using gray pins only, I guess the car will feel notable different.

[1974]

No, the 8848 and 8846 are indeed very similar in construction

Edit : 8859 similar as well

Edited December 6, 2013 by 1974

[Carrera124]

Really? 8848 uses only 10 pins for the complete model, which is nearly half the amount of pins that 8846 uses (18b +3g). Although 8848 is quite bigger.

8859 has 51 gray pins, but only 10-15 are used for the chassis.

[1974]

Pins does not make the whole story. (Well, they sorta do with all this new fancy studless stuff, haha). I still feel they're very much similar builds. I own the lot now and I had most of it 30 years ago (or there abouts) and my opinion on this have not changed

The only significant bricks added to the 8848 cabin compared to the 8846/8859 is the 1x2 bricks holding the roof. Yes, there's a bunch for the arches, but the 8846/8859 doens't have those arches

They're all classicly build like every Technic set during the 80's. We could start counting plates'n'bricks but if we have different opions on this matter it would not get us much anywhere. We just disagree .. and that's fine with me

So how about this Technicopedia update then?

[1974]

But hey, there is a case where sets were announced twice as "new" in two subsequent years: 6450 and 6480 were listed as "new" both in 1985 and 1986 catalogs.

I guess the reason was that the Light&Sound components were delayed for whatever reasons.

That is true. They both had a yellow star in the 1985 catalogue with the note they'll be available in 'oktober/november 1985' .. but in the 1986 catalogue they had a _RED_ star along with 6750, 6780 and 6783 - Both 6750 and 6780 were released in 1985 'oktober/november' according to the catalogues. I do not actually remember if they were out in the shops at this time?

Only the spacesets had a notice at the bottom, the 6480 and 6450 had a notice right next to the red star saying 'available in july'

In the 1986 catalogue the 6750 and 6780 was to be available in 'the autumn' and the 6783 in 'september' (not much difference there?)

The 6783 was only featured in the 1986 catalogue, not in the 1985 catalogue. Brickset says this set was released in 1988, but that is not true. It was out in 1986 (but not in 1985)

None of the above sets had any star in the 1987 catalogue

So, I guess you're right, there indeed was a problem with the Light & sound parts! Does anyone remember picking up those sets in 1985?

Well, that settles a 28 year old mystery for me then about those wierd red stars Thanks Carrera124

(I'll try to ask my (former) LEGO designer friend about this, but I'm not sure he worked there in that period)

Blackbird, sorry for the OT. But this LEGO history and I know you like that

[Blakbird]

Blackbird, sorry for the OT. But this LEGO history and I know you like that

I don't think it is off-topic. The discussion is about a potential error in Technicopedia, so it makes sense to explore the solution here.

Just from a logical point of view, it makes sense for the tow truck to be part of 1981 because it goes with the buggy and was often pictured towing it. On the other hand, all of the sets from 1982 were universal sets, so it would seem out of place there. To be honest, I don't remember where I got my original information when I wrote that page. According to my revision log, I wrote those sections in December of 2009 which is before Brickset was active or the guide book was released.

[Carrera124]

Just from a logical point of view, it makes sense for the tow truck to be part of 1981 because it goes with the buggy and was often pictured towing it.

But it would also make sense of 8846 has been released in 1982, because the buggy was already available then.

Furthermore, my 8846 instructions show the motor set 8700, whic was also released in 1982. Instructions of 8845 show the older motor set 870.

On the other hand, all of the sets from 1982 were universal sets, so it would seem out of place there.

This is a VERY good hint, because the box types of the universal sets might help us to resolve this issue:

All technic sets from 1981 came in styrofoam boxes, just like the very first sets from 1977.

In 1982, the box types changed from styroform to cardboard boxes.

More interestingly, my 8090 box is still made of styrofoam, what might indicate that 8090 could be the earliest technic set of 1982 and therefore was produced still using the old styrofoam style.

8030 and 8050 were made of cardboard boxes, which also applies to 8846, what might indicate that these sets were released later than 8090 and later than all 1981 sets.

[1974]

It does not matter Blackbird, Carrea124 and I just got into a fun discssion about LEGO history/catalogues

All we want is for you to continue with Technicopedia, that's all

Cheers,

Ole

Just from a logical point of view, it makes sense for the tow truck to be part of 1981 because it goes with the buggy and was often pictured towing it.

I have no catalogues/pictures with the 8846 towing the 8845 before 1982. Do you have pics of that?

[Kumbbl]

I have made the large programmble crane from 8888 for myself, and Berndasbrot has made the plotter. I'd certainly like to do the airplane made from the Control Center.

do you still have this CAD-file of the large programmable crane? If yes, may i ask you if you could extract a part list from it?

This model is simply awesome and i would like to build it - i have the book 8888 but i would be convenient if i could check which parts i need to bricklink... thanks a lot in advance!

[aol000xw]

Lego.Wikia.com dates it to 1981 but I don't know its sources.

[Carrera124]

Lego.Wikia.com dates it to 1981 but I don't know its sources.

For strange reasons, this site dates 8030 und 8050 to 1984 instead of 1982.

While 8040 is dated to 1985 instead of 1984.

Imho, this site doesn't offer reliable information. Maybe they copied wrong information from whereever, and no one ever checked it.

@blakbird, any news regarding the 8846 mystery?