Technic Bucket list - which sets should you definetely build at least once

[allanp]

It's true, I'd say 2015 second half (the blue crawler crane was also pretty good) and 2016 second half was a great back to back combo of sets. I remember the Porsche at the time got a few critisisms due to the gearbox and steering, and also probably because of our own high expectations of an 8880 killer, but those two years overall were the best of the studless era. Some might say the crane truck followed by 8043 was the best one two combo (unbrickme perhaps?) but it's not even close for me.

The Arocs destroys the crane truck with its full suspension, dually wheels on the rear axle, more realistic steering linkage, addition of a tipper bed and of course the far more mechanically realistic and far more powerful 4 function pneumatic crane, as opposed to the very weak, mechanically unrealistic 2 function crane of the crane truck.

As for 8043, I never got the love for it. I know many many people rate it highly and I certainly don't want to imply those people are "wrong" in any way, and I also never want to ruin anyone's enjoyment or delight for it. But for me, it didn't give us any new pieces and it had a very weak, much too fat and inauthentic slow moving digging arm filled with drive shafts and UJs that could barely lift its own weight (they did upgrade the LAs but it was still very slow and not that strong compared to the Volvo excavator), and you couldn't operate all functions simultaneously without switching the gearbox, which also just stalled the motor. Two functions through a turntable had also been done the year before. Maybe it's the complexity or the novelty of a fully RC excavator which hadn't been done before, it's not the worst set. I can see why people like it. Its really quite similar to 42070. With so much complexity from not that many pieces, it could rival 8480 in that respect and be a great building experience. It has a very high concentration of gears and....gears and....more gears, so there's always something mechanical to build throughout, it never feels like endless beam stacking or hours of static bodywork. I could certainly see fans of 8043 building it many times, as well as 42070.* And with full RC it can be lots of fun to play with if you're only moving the model itself. But the fun stops for me when it doesn't have the power to move more that just itself and as a mechanical model, it's lack of realism doesn't do it for me. 

*Just as a little side question, as you think of your own list of top ten sets everyone should own and build, how many times have you built them? While 42043 is my number one, the model I've built the most times (likely because I've owned it since I was 7 or 8 years old) is probably 8868, once every couple years. I still use the instructions but has anyone built a model so many times they don't really need the instructions anymore?!

[thekoRngear]

After coming out of my dark age (in 2019, back then I was 35) I have started my journey with Lego only with Technic (I have plans to do some retro Lego system and Model Team sets later) theme. Since then I have managed to have 9 sets in my collection. The first being the Lego 42110. Howevr, I always kept an eye on the newest reviews by Sariel and speed build of brickbuilder and also, would visit the EB forums regularly (without registering as a member) for the most part of 2010's. I miss some EB veterans like Blackbird and also @Vectormatic (where is this guy these days?). As AllanP has said 2015-2016 indeed were warm days for the last decade. Oh, I will never forget the discussions that was held for pages here in the EB for the 42056 which although had its initial quirks but steadily became an iconic 1/8 scale car after getting loves (otherwise known as Mods) from the AFOL community. I also want to add that 2018 was also a solid year mainly for the initial release of the 42078 and 42077 (the latter got huge love too) and in the middle the Big Red crane. Those non-licensed non-branded sets were very solid performer.
The above was like a reintroduction of myself to the EB forums. Now, to answer the questions:
1. I do not get tired of the same "slots/vehicle types" because from my experience Lego do bring something new/improvement to the vehicle (although not always in the way we want). It is a bit clumsy, that's to say the most.
2. These are my top sets that I honestly think everyone (includes me) should build at least once in their lifetime:

• 8868 (Air Tech Claw Rig)
• 8880 (recently built this, the gearbox, the engine, the very well thought well designed suspensions system, the mesmerising experience building the back structure and all the studded beam based body parts- all are awesome)
• 42043 (just for the sake of building experience)
• 8480 (Space Shuttle)
• 42056 (with all the mods)
• 42110 (again, the building experience is amazing although the gearbox and some body modules are temperamental) 
• 8043 (from function and looks wise it does not look to me like it was released little more than a decade ago)

With my phase one complete (2019-2021) I am now looking forward to build some more retro and most loved studded/studless builds hopefully.

[anyUser]

9 hours ago, allanp said:

Just as a little side question, as you think of your own list of top ten sets everyone should own and build, how many times have you built them?

That would change my initial list considerable:

- I started with studless technic by slowing turning the 8436 truck into a tipper lorry.
- I spent quite some time modding 8462.
- I enjoyed building 42079 forklift from first released pictures and then improving it.
- I had to construct a better chassis for 42108 crane.
- I build a studless bulldozer similar to 856 (cf. avatar picture)
- It took quite a while to get the 42112 cement mixer truck working as I would like.

But then again, these models aren't the original sets any more...

 

Edited February 3, 2022 by anyUser

[DrJimbo]

4 hours ago, thekoRngear said:

 I will never forget the discussions that was held for pages here in the EB for the 42056 which although had its initial quirks but steadily became an iconic 1/8 scale car after getting loves (otherwise known as Mods) from the AFOL community. 

...
2. These are my top sets that I honestly think everyone (includes me) should build at least once in their lifetime:

...

• 42056 (with all the mods)

Mods may well impact the rebuildability. @jb70's pimp up my Porsche mods definitely made it more attractive to rebuild 42056, and did not disappoint (gear indicator a particular highlight). On the other hand, I built the Bugatti and the LandRover fully pimped from the start (and will do with the Sian shortly). Meaning there is less incentive to tear down and rebuild, since I know the brains trust here has already made them as good as they can realistically be. 

[KrasiniArithmetic]

I do get tired of the sameness in Technic. Not because I feel like there's anything lacking in my modern Technic, necessarily, because for me, evolution in the purpose of the line is no less valid than evolution of the parts used. No, I think there is a world of cool engineering out there that could be replicated but is ignored. Like - and this will sound really weird - but, let's see Technic do a building with an escalator, or an ornamental tree with no functions, just an exploration of the versatility of the medium. Maybe a mechanical coin sorter or a production line - that might turn out like a GBC moc, but with a theme. How about a drill rig with all the functions? Elevation, stem rotation and advance, outriggers, caterpillar tracks or wheels, maybe including steering, and maybe even stem clamps...

 

I think every true Technic fan should build their way through the history of the line, starting with the first glimmer of the ideas at the introduction of gears by Samsonite. But narrowing it down a bit, I think the following should be bucket list builds for all:

853 Auto Chassis. The first flagship set and really rather ambitious given the limited variety of new parts. Built modularly like a real chassis would be, with frame, steering, engine+transmission, and seats all built separately and assembled at the end. I really really like 851, too, but not enough to list it as a bucket list build.

8865 Test Car. This is a refinement and development of 8860, which in turn is a refinement and development on 853. This displays how the system and design has developed in its first 10 years.

8862 Backhoe. Introducing pneumatics! There's been cosmetic piping before, but now it's functional! It is, however, an early implementation, and most functions remain unpowered.

8880 Super Car. I mean, of course. It's excellent. A classic for a reason. I don't think I need to say more. However, many of the innovations of this set are unique and never repeated. Many of the things it innovates use highly specialized parts that will never be used again. These things will be executed very differently in the future. Therefore, this is bucket list because it's great, not because it really has much bearing on the development of the Technic system.

8480 Space Shuttle. One of the most complex and challenging builds in a Technic set EVER. Also the introduction of the first studless parts, an era-defining extravagance in the excess that is fiber optics, and an iconic model.

8448 Super Street Sensation OR 8466 4X4 Off-Roader. This might be a little controversial, as 8448 is better loved by most. I prefer 8466, though, as it's a refined version of the 8448 mechanisms with an improved and extended door function. However, 8448 does have much more flexibility and builds in modules like 853... Choose one. You don't need both.

8461 Williams F1 Team Racer. Kinda the last hurrah of studded Technic. Not the best designed as a set, perhaps, but cleverly engineered as a model nonetheless. Useful as a direct comparison with

8674 Ferrari F1 Racer 1:8, which is pretty much exactly the same model, but built studless. Very interesting to see how the change in system forced a completely different build method to achieve similar results.

42043 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245. Still considered by many to be the best Technic set ever released. It's got it all - a technical build, power functions, pneumatics, and a great looking model.

42083 Bugatti Chiron. A truly revolutionary set, introducing modern gearbox parts and techniques. However, it is flawed, which also seems to be pretty representative of modern Technic sets. I prefer either the Porsche before it or the Lamborghini after it, but this is a good set for understanding the state of Technic as it now is.

This is a highly unique list, I think. But again, my interest is in the evolution of the system. I think this list would be interesting and instructive for anyone who has an interest in such things.

Edited February 3, 2022 by KrasiniArithmetic