Technic 2019 Set Discussion

[Seasider]

Well you can’t please everyone all the time ... especially as none of these sets are specifically designed for us lot :)

I’ll be getting the Porsche and Vette as much because I’m a car nut and I see some good parts there too

[1gor]

3 hours ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

That cherry picker is so creative I died. WTH is TLG thinking?

 

Perhaps to introduce this part in white?

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=11478#T=C

[Erik Leppen]

Lego Technic finally had a wave with (almost) no leaks. I'm beginning to understand why... I mean, that Porsche... ehm. It looks nice, but what does it do? I was here thinking I was reading the Technic forum...

Here's the wave of sets:

• 42088: a recolour of an old set
• 42089: a boat
• 42090: a pullback
• 42091: a pullback
• 42092: a helicopter
• 42093: an orange car with a licence
• 42094: a tracked loader
• 42095: a RC tracked racer
• 42096: a white car with a licence but no functions

Rehashes don't count, so 42088 and 42095 are out.
Pullbacks offer nothing in Technic-ness, so 42090 and 42091 are out.
Technic sets should have functions, so 42096 is also out.

Leaves us with 4 sets to discuss that are actually decent. Seeing from the first pictures, I think the best set could very well be the helicopter. The A-model seems to have a decent amount of functions in a rather small package without looking dumbed down, and has good shapes with some nice paneling and good color usage. And it has a nice original B-model model that reminds of 42066, which I like.

The boat looks decent as well. It's a simple set, but I don't mind simple sets. I'm afraid the engine/propellor linked to some hidden wheels is the only function though.

The orange car is nice, I like how the body is nicely filled up and the 9x3x2 wheel arches look useful, albeit too specialistic and single-use parts and an excuse for lazy design (I mean, why design a wheel arch if you can just use a single block for that). Function-wise it seems pretty standard, but it looks to have a custom (smaller) engine. I like that. Besides steering, I hope it has suspension, and what I expect is suspension only on the rear. Front suspension would be a really nice bonus that would make the set a lot better. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be openable doors. Which I find a bit strange, especially on a car.

The yellow tracked loader (not sure what else to call it) looks cool too, and would go well with the pneumatic forest machine. Has the same vibe as the Zeux, I think. Expected functions: 2 degrees of freedom on the arm (I see a small LA below the arm, and the red bush probably controls the tilt of the forks and the rotation of the grabber in the middle), and a rotating cabin. Maybe there's a surprise in that large back end though. The springs on the tracks are probably just tighteners to keep the tracks taut. Looks like a nice Technic model.

For the other sets, I say: thanks for the parts. Rehashing a set in another color is something Lepin would do, and calling that Porsche "Technic" is an abomination and a shame for the brand, really. It's really time to revive the Racers theme; apparently there's plenty of interest for cars.

[Bartybum]

Hell yes that tracked loader looks sick. Looks like it has a swivelling cab too which I like. I might actually buy that, depending on the price. 

The Corvette is again what I expected, you just cannot make a nice model at that scale using predominantly Technic panels and beams. That being said, I only really think they’ve stuffed the back up (rear quarter panels are too square); the front’s actually pretty good for a small scale Technic model. Maybe some smaller pieces will be able to cover up some of those holes.

Bummed that the cherry picker is what they chose to rehash.

Overall, too many cars in 1H. Should have had another small construction set. 2H will probs bring more construction though, so there’s my yearly eye candy quote satisfied. Regardless, I’m pretty stoked with this 1H.

Edited November 20, 2018 by Bartybum

[brunojj1]

50 minutes ago, Erik Leppen said:

Technic sets should have functions, so 42096 is also out.

...Rehashing a set in another color is something Lepin would do, and calling that Porsche "Technic" is an abomination and a shame for the brand, really. It's really time to revive the Racers theme; apparently there's plenty of interest for cars.

I totally agree, thank you for pointing it out clearly! Considering the set labeled as 10+, claiming to provide such great building experience for kids, diving into all that interesting automotive "technology" and such.. It´s ridiculous! Where is the learning factor if there is no gearbox or any other mechanisms other than a flat 6-cylinder which we are tired of for a long time? Where is the playability without HOG steering? Where is the versatility of the printed wheel arches if you can´t do anything else with them? This set rather will be bought by the UCS models collectors types - means AFOLs! So why not put in at least a battery box + 2 pairs of LEDs for display?? Even Playmobil understands that you have to go with time and delivers such little nice features in almost any sets in the meantime (for kids!), such as: motors, underwater motors, RC packs, LED kits, Light & Sound (!!) and other supplements / modules. 

Something positive to add, to be fair: this examples show how easy and straightforward bodyworking can be, maybe that will inspire some kids to build their own supercar, no matter what. And wonderfull usefull white parts package btw.   I have a dream ....

 

Edited November 20, 2018 by brunojj1

[bitbamboo]

For me it is a good year. There are a bunch of new parts and interesting recolors, even before seeing the inside of the sets. I am only mising the the new power functions but they might show up on the 2H 

Sure to get the Porsche and probably the Corvette. It looks that the Porsche has steering using the driver's wheel and an interesting interior in the box art, I do not expect a gearbox but there should be quite a lot of space in the rear area to add one or even motors. 

 

It is fun how there has been hate for the stickers and now it is for the printed parts. Let's use plain colour stickers to hide the printing! We will get the worst of both worlds :)

 

[Paul Boratko]

I am more interested in seeing the new useful or clever ideas every year in the Technic theme... As far as the Porsche goes, I think that it is just fine as stand alone Technic model as it has all of the basics(Steering, suspension, engine driven by wheels). Function wise, the only difference between this and the larger 42056 Porsche was the gearbox and center shifter, which you couldn't see anything happening anyways... I do hate the usage of the ribbed hoses for body shaping though. That was fine 10 years ago.

The lack of any (visible) Hand of God steering is quite odd for a set like this...

Edited November 20, 2018 by Paul Boratko

[Shiva]

6 hours ago, Jim said:

I am looking forward to building the sets and seeing them in real life. I love the Porsche and I do like the Corvette as well. For a car in that scale, I think it worked out nicely. Reading the comments, it's the same record over and over again....I hate it....I hate it.....I hate it....I just bought it because it was on sale and now I love it 

Best post on this thread, so far

 

Wishlist of the 2019 first half wave:

• 42093: Corvette
• 42094: Tracked loader
• 42095: RC tracked racer
• 42096: Porsche

The rest are quite nice too.

What I'll get of those, that I do not know.

Still missing from 2018 for me:

• 42079: B-model
• 42082: Waiting until it gets a bit cheaper.
• 42080: "wallet limit reached"
• 42081: "wallet limit reached"

Not made of money, not even close, sadly.

[Johnny1360]

15 minutes ago, Shiva said:

Best post on this thread, so far

 

Wishlist of the 2019 first half wave:

• 42093: Corvette
• 42094: Tracked loader
• 42095: RC tracked racer
• 42096: Porsche

The rest are quite nice too.

What I'll get of those, that I do not know.

Still missing from 2018 for me:

• 42079: B-model
• 42082: Waiting until it gets a bit cheaper.
• 42080: "wallet limit reached"
• 42081: "wallet limit reached"

Not made of money, not even close, sadly.

Sounds like we are in the same boat and think much alike, sure I would love to have all those big cool sets, just can't justify the expense. 

I do like these smaller sets though helps me build my parts inventory up as I don't have many of these colors or pieces. Actually glad the Tracked Racer isn't PU. For some reason it is a lot easier for me to buy small sets and bin the parts. I just can't make myself do that with a $300+ set, not that I have any. 

[Jurss]

11 hours ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

And what is the arrow supposed to point out?

On the edge of the sticker, I think it is not the mold surface, if it would be printed, there would be no edge.

I examined picture of the car from rear, Yes, it cam be "shadow" of the edge of the mold ... :(

[Jurss]

then it seems, that I will pass this porsche, go for some two corvettes (orange wheel arches), tracked racer (because of large sprocket wheels)

[Techfan]

Any news on 42094 B model?

[tgrbailey]

7 hours ago, bitbamboo said:

It is fun how there has been hate for the stickers and now it is for the printed parts. Let's use plain colour stickers to hide the printing! We will get the worst of both worlds :)

This is so true! And not a convo I usually Wade into, but recently building sets with my son, printed is best - the stickers don’t look great to start with - even if you can get them in straight - but when your 3 year old wants to put them on.... I generally don’t put them on the sets I build and think if they are printed they look better and you just have to work that in with any of your own design 

[Cumulonimbus]

As expected, the Porsche is not for me: Race cars don't really speak to me and this set hasn't enough redeeming features such as cool functions, new parts or creative solutions to tempt me to splash out on the money. It is a pity that the white fender piece appears to be printed, which leads for 4 versions (front and rear, left and right) of the same part and making them much less convenient for MOCs. I only hope that there might be a future set in which that same fender is used, but as an unprinted part.

I tend to agree with @Erik Leppen, there are too few Technic sets in this wave which are function driven in their design. I feel that in the last years the commercial aspects are winning over the ethos of the Technic theme. Off course TLG is a commercial company which should make a healthy profit, but at some point the commercial side can lead to detachment of the essence of a (sub)brand. TLG has seen that licensed car models sell well in the Speed Champion series and the UCS Technic cars, I assume because they appeal to Lego fans as well as to car-minded people, which make for a huge potential market. But I see it as a thread that the wishes of these car-minded people (preference for looks and cool models) might overshadow the Lego minded customer wishes (functions, “MOC-ability”, B-models, etc). To conclude:  if licensed sets are the way to go for Technic, personally I would like to see more Claas, Arocs and Volvo like sets instead of car brands, because they provide a good balance between realism and functions.

[Maaboo the Witch]

Quick question: why does the Loader come with logs built from the rounded 2x2 bricks rather than the ridged equivalent which came in 42054 and 42080?

[Bartybum]

Good question; absolutely no idea. Doesn’t really bother me too much. I do wish though that they’d start putting a tan round tile at either end of logs to imitate the inside

[Ngoc Nguyen]

 

Functions: 

- One knob lifts the arm
- One knob rotates the cab
- One knob controls the winch. There's a switch in the back that controls the speed of the winch. Two stickers on both side. The sticker in the left is a turtle, while the one in the right is a rabbit. Blue 20z clutch gear detected in the back wooohoooo. 

B model: Tracked dumper.

This thing is so fxxking cool I'm defintely gonna get two of them.

Edited November 21, 2018 by Ngoc Nguyen

[Maaboo the Witch]

Want!

[Cyclone_37]

The corvette is a mixed bag, from the side it looks great I can immediately tell what it’s supposed to be. The front is just bad I don’t what they were thinking, back is good but could’ve been better. Kinda a shame since this was my most anticipated set.

[keymaker]

The corvette isn't bad. I will probably buy it when the price drops a little.

 

[jorgeopesi]

Awesome B model.

[efferman]

Are these narrow 49.5 tires?

[1gor]

5 minutes ago, efferman said:

Are these narrow 49.5 tires?

Actually tires are from London bus (43.2 X 14)

[TechnicRCRacer]

The cherry picker seems to have the 10197 pieces in Orange for the first time.

[Magical Duck]

The 42094 B model actually looks pretty good! That's the only set on my list besides the 42096 Porsche.