Technicopedia

[Blakbird]

Update:

All of the sets from 1984 and 1985 have now been added, including the first pneumatics!

[Blakbird]

All of the remaining categories and comparisons have now been added including:

Excavators

Backhoes

4x4's

Fire Trucks

Big Rigs

Combines

Airplanes

Watercraft

Arctic Action

[Iced]

HAVING A LIST ,THAT WILL HELP ME OUT TO FIND WHAT I NEED YET

[xenologer]

Cool Site

One suggestion:

when looking at a given category, at the bottom you have the nice Feature Comparison section: It would be useful to have the set numbers in this area link back up to the actual images(anchor tag?). Then for a given feature of interest you could easily see the visual without having to remember the set number and search for it.

How are you making these pages? Consider using a database and some dynamic pages if you arent already?

[zero1312]

Hey, a cool site. :-)

How often do you update it? :-)

[Blakbird]

One suggestion:

when looking at a given category, at the bottom you have the nice Feature Comparison section: It would be useful to have the set numbers in this area link back up to the actual images(anchor tag?). Then for a given feature of interest you could easily see the visual without having to remember the set number and search for it.

Yes, that sounds like a pretty good idea. I'll put it on my list of improvements to make. It might take me quite a while to get to it since I am more concerned with just getting all the sets listed first.

How are you making these pages? Consider using a database and some dynamic pages if you arent already?

I am an old fashioned HTML author, so I really only know how to make pages the old way, with a text editor. Sometimes I use a simple tool to speed things up like SeaMonkey. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to make dynamic pages or how to integrate a database. It would be cool to have the whole thing be searchable, for instance. It would be especially nice to be able to search by function. However, I don't have any database to start with so I'd have to create one before such an idea would be feasible. At the moment I am just filling out the information for each set as I go along.

Hey, a cool site. :-)

How often do you update it? :-)

Take a look at the revision history to see how often it is updated. So far, I try to add things every week or two, usually one model year at a time. Not sure how long I will be able to keep this up though.

[Blakbird]

At long last, I have completed 1986 and all 8 sets which showed up that year. This is the longest I have taken to complete a year of set documentation, so I hope it is worth it!

Enjoy.

[CP5670]

I like the idea behind this site a lot. *y* I've always been interested in Technic history and how the line has evolved over the years.

I can add a few things on the issue of multiple editions of sets. Several 1988 and 1989 sets had new versions released in 1990, containing motorizing instructions for 8720 Power Pack instead of the older 8700 set. These newer sets also contained the modern black friction pins which were introduced that year, replacing those extremely annoying old versions.

Another possible case is with the Airtech Claw Rig (8868), which has a slightly different compressor design shown on the box than what's actually used on the model. The box shows two medium pulleys running from the motor instead of a single large one (which would make the compressor run faster but also stall more quickly). I've never actually seen a set with the medium pulleys though, so those pictures may just be from a preproduction version.

That set was also strangely never advertised in the US Lego catalogs. It doesn't appear in anything I have from that time period, although it's in the European ones. I didn't know about it at all until many years later.

[Gallop]

Love your site, very helpful and informative. Have you thought about abbing links for instructions for each set?

This would be a handy featchure for people who dont have all sets but would like to try and build ones they dont have.

I know there are sites out there where you can already get instructions for each set but you have to look for that set. With your site the way it is some one might have a spear of the moment decision to try and build 1 while viewing your site and would be handy to click a link there to dl the instructions.

Just a thought

Keep up the good work.

P.S. I have nearly all instructions in pdf format if you needed any.

Gallop *sweet*

[Blakbird]

Love your site, very helpful and informative. Have you thought about abbing links for instructions for each set?

This would be a handy featchure for people who dont have all sets but would like to try and build ones they dont have.

I know there are sites out there where you can already get instructions for each set but you have to look for that set. With your site the way it is some one might have a spear of the moment decision to try and build 1 while viewing your site and would be handy to click a link there to dl the instructions.

There are quite a few things I would like to add someday including box photos and instructions. Instructions are available at Peeron already, but I have been trying not to link to any other sites. I host and develop all my own data. If I link to someone else and then they change their domain, URLs, or close their site, then all my links are wrong and I'd have to update them. I don't want it to get out of date like that.

The other reason I haven't done that so far is that, for the moment, I don't have ANY copyright LEGO material. Every picture on the site I took myself and every word I wrote myself, so there is no possibility of violating the "fair play" policy. Once I start posting things like instructions I will have to start adding unpleasant legal disclaimers everywhere.

An alternative to adding instructions would be adding Ldraw files instead. You could still see how to build the set but without any copyrighted info. This would be quite useful since I haven't found any repository of Technic Ldraw files.

Update

I have added the sets from 1987 and 1988 including 8832, 8852, 8853, 8855, and 8865.

Enjoy.

[Conchas]

An alternative to adding instructions would be adding Ldraw files instead. You could still see how to build the set but without any copyrighted info. This would be quite useful since I haven't found any repository of Technic Ldraw files.

A repository for TECHNIC Ldraw files, would be great! *sweet*

Some can be found at Brickshelf, but not so much. Fortunately the bigest and most emblematic ones. :-)

[Blakbird]

Update

I have added the sets from 1987 and 1988 including 8832, 8852, 8853, 8855, and 8865.

Enjoy.

A repository for TECHNIC Ldraw files, would be great! *sweet*

Some can be found at Brickshelf, but not so much. Fortunately the bigest and most emblematic ones. :-)

I agree. I spend more time making the computer images for my site than any other portion. In a few cases I can find an Ldraw file posted somewhere, but not usually. In the cases when I make my own, I usually don't make the entire model, but only the portions I want to show. I would love to have models of entire sets. The beauty of hosting a Ldraw file library is that they are really small files!

Anyone who wants to send me Ldraw files is most welcome. I haven't created a place to host them yet, but I could add least use them to create the computer images and would be happy to provide credit. You will notice in the latest 1988 update that someone has already started doing this and it saved me at least a week of work.

[Blakbird]

UPDATE

All of the sets from 1989 are now added, including 8024, 8034, 8044, 8054, 8835, 8854, and the venerable 8862. Over 500 photographs were taken to cover this year, including the animations.

[Conchas]

Good work, once more!

Loved to see the Back-hoe animations.

Can't wait to see the 8455 :-D

[pellevin]

Your Technicoedia is truly marvellous, Erich! Thanx a lot for your time and effort! I spent hours upon hours in there digesting what you've written so far, rediscovering lots of childhood loves. Good thing you're not done yet, or I would still be lost in there... :-)

[BerndDasBrot]

awesome!

(i just received the 8862 today!)

[Blakbird]

awesome!

(i just received the 8862 today!)

Excellent! We will finally see a yellow review (unless you change it to red). I'm am looking forward to seeing it since, even though I have two copies of 8862, I don't have the box.

[BerndDasBrot]

sorry, no box. (like on bricklink)

I'm done with the photos, I'll upload and write it soon.

(sadly the lightning in my room was not the best and so the pictures got a little red-warmish touch... >:-) )

I also tried something new! Beware!

[Blakbird]

At long last, I have completed the year 1990 and added it to Technicopedia. Sets 8064, 8094, 8825, 8830, 8840, and 8850 have been added. It has been 7 months since the last update.

Those with a weak stomach should read no further. So why has it been so long since my last update when previously I was adding sets every few weeks? Well, it has been a very bad summer. In April my wife unexpectedly left me to move in with her boyfriend. Since then, she has returned to take my house, my children, and has been awarded 100% of my income. So I am currently homeless and have only my car, my computer, and my boxes and boxes of Technic. Have you heard how Richard Hammond of "Top Gear" said his life was saved by Lego? Well, I think the same thing is happening to me. Lego has kept me sane by giving me something to think about. If Technicopedia can mean even a fraction as much to someone else as it has meant to me, then I have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.

[Conchas]

Hi Eric,

it is difficult to say something helpful, after your words about your faith.

Myself had realized about the unusual long period with no updates, but though you were getting borrowed of doing this...

Keep the good work, because we are here to appreciate!!

[Siegfried]

At long last, I have completed the year 1990 and added it to Technicopedia. Sets 8064, 8094, 8825, 8830, 8840, and 8850 have been added. It has been 7 months since the last update.

Thanks for the update on the update! I'll give it a look later. It's a very good reference.

Those with a weak stomach should read no further.

Hmm. Bad summer indeed. Like Conchas I don't know what to say. I hope things improve for you.

[CP5670]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. As always though, your newest articles were a pleasure to read. 1990 was a fairly major year for Technic and brought in numerous changes to the line.

One minor correction: I'm not sure if the newer rubber belts were released that year. I got copies of 8094 (MISB) and 8868 (display model) a few years ago and they both contained the older, less elastic white belts. On the other hand, the 8082 set from 1993 had the newer, colored bands, which leads me to think that this is when they came out.

I also have an 8720 Power Pack that I got at some point in the 90s, which also included the new types of bands, but I don't remember exactly what year it was. That set was in production for a long time and it's quite possible that they had multiple versions of it over the years. The box for it shows some sort of black bands that I don't recognize.

Also, the Technic pen in 8094 was sold separately through the Lego Education/Dacta website many years later, even though it didn't appear in any other set. That set also included a small pad of paper (which was actually pretty high quality, thicker and glossier than standard printer paper). The crane is my personal favorite model in that set due to its clever switching system for the crane arm functions.

Edited October 17, 2008 by CP5670

[Blakbird]

One minor correction: I'm not sure if the newer rubber belts were released that year. I got copies of 8094 (MISB) and 8868 (display model) a few years ago and they both contained the older, less elastic white belts. On the other hand, the 8082 set from 1993 had the newer, colored bands, which leads me to think that this is when they came out.

Good point, I'll have to look into this further. The Peeron inventory shows pictures of red and blue belts for 8094, but then lists them as white. The belts in my copy of 8094 are indeed white, but they are the new round elastic material, not the old square section rubber bands.

Also, the Technic pen in 8094 was sold separately through the Lego Education/Dacta website many years later, even though it didn't appear in any other set. That set also included a small pad of paper (which was actually pretty high quality, thicker and glossier than standard printer paper). The crane is my personal favorite model in that set due to its clever switching system for the crane arm functions.

I'm aware of the Dacta pen, but since that set is not technically Technic, I didn't reference it.

It was a tough call picking either the crane or the robotic arm as my favorite. I chose the robotic arm mostly because there are lots of other cranes but there are no other robotic arms.

[Holodoc]

Well, it has been a very bad summer...

I´m very sorry to read about you current problems.

Europe is far from where you live, but if I can do something (may it be to chear you up) for you, let me know.

At least it´s good to see you keep on playing/working with your Lego.

With all your troubles we can´t appreciate it more what you are doing with your outstanding Technicopedia.

Thank you so much!

I will never understand how someone can be awarded 100% of another ones income. I hope this stays a "U.S.-exclusive"!

[CP5670]

Good point, I'll have to look into this further. The Peeron inventory shows pictures of red and blue belts for 8094, but then lists them as white. The belts in my copy of 8094 are indeed white, but they are the new round elastic material, not the old square section rubber bands.

It sounds like you have the same kind that I'm referring to. These belts do have round cross sections, but the material is different from the modern, colored bands. They are slightly thinner and harder than the newer type and don't stretch quite as well. They also become deformed more easily if you leave them stretched for a long period of time, and can become brittle and break up if left like that for many years.

From what you're saying, there were apparently three kinds of bands used in total: the black and square type, the white and round type, and the colored and round type.