Hi,

I'm pretty new to LEGO. But when my wife and I started getting our young kids LEGO sets, I started building some myself. Have really enjoyed building the large sets: Grand Carousel, Imperial Flagship, Emerald Night.

I want to next build a large Technic model. Could any of you recommend a model to get, either new or used (ie from past years)? What I'm specifically looking for are

1. Large set

2. Power functions

3. Technical build with lots of gears, etc

4. Realistic detail, such as steering, suspension, etc

I'm thinking of the Unimog, but am a bit concerned about not being able to steer using the steering wheel.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

DW

As you want a large set and seems to have the budget, then I should recommend the 8043 Motorized Excavator. It has it all and it is also a good source of parts for MOCs.

I haven't retrieved my unimog from the post office yet so I don't know how it is to build. But I can say that the 8043 will definitely satisfy your requirement of "lots of gears". Realistic steering and suspensions is not applicable to that model. It has power functions for all its things. Comparing it to the 8258 crane truck and unimog it can move itself(1) so it has greater playability. Parts count it is not as much as the unimog or crane truck but I think it can be the model that you would like the most.

Then when you're done with it and your wife has eased up to the reality of you building lego (if this is a problem) you go and by the other sets, unimog first.

(1) not considering mods that make them moveable with PF.

8258 Crane Truck.

About the same price as 8043, but 30% more parts (which is my main reason for mentioning it). The reason for this difference is that 8043 is full remote controlled and all the electrical parts required for this are quite expensive. 8258 has just one motor and one battery box, the rest is all mechanics.

It has four electric function on only one motor, the gearbox used for selecting them is one of the most complex in Technic history. Although 8043 is a technical wonder too so in that aspect they won't differ by much.

However the 8043 seems to be a bit "closer to perfection" (less little problems). For example on 8258 the crane cannot really lift heavy loads and the outriggers are mainly cosmetic.

Also note 8258 has two steering axles, but no functioning steering wheel.

For play, 8043. For sheer size and impressiveness, 8258. For technical complexity, either.

The best advice I can give is go to Brickset, open both pages and read the reviews others have given there.

http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8258-1

http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8043-1

Edited August 8, 201113 yr by Erik Leppen

4. Realistic detail, such as steering, suspension, etc

I think 8043 is not realistic in technical sense (otherwise it would be pneumatic), it is only realistic in terms of the look. Other than that, I can highly recommend it.

For play, 8043. For sheer size and impressiveness, 8258. For technical complexity, either.

My personal opinion is that 8043 is more complex technically, but it might be because I got 8043 first, and only after that I purchased 8258. I like 8043 much more, however 8258 is also a wonderful set. You should get both :)

I want to next build a large Technic model. Could any of you recommend a model to get, either new or used (ie from past years)? What I'm specifically looking for are

1. Large set

2. Power functions

3. Technical build with lots of gears, etc

4. Realistic detail, such as steering, suspension, etc

For each point one set:

1 - The new 8110 Unimog. It's the largest (most pieces) Technic set until now.

2 - 8043 The largest Teachnic set from last year. It has many power functions (eg 4 motors), and they work really wel.

3 - 8258 A big set from a few years ago. It has many, many gears. And also many good working functions.

4 - Set 8880. It's almost a legendary Technic set. Altough it's an old one, it has so many realistic functions (even moving headlights), it's almost a real car

I hope I gave some usefull information

But there are so much Technic set that have something you want, so it's hard to choose

Edited August 8, 201113 yr by legolijntje

The complexity of the 8043 comes from the gear trains only, it has nothing else, not even realism. My advice is to get the unimog. It has over 2000 pieces (way more than any other technic set, WAAAAAAYYYYY more than the excavator, lots of gears (unimog has about 60, the excavator has about 70, so nearly the same), pneumatics (excavator has non), suspention (excavator has non), realistic representation of real life functions (excavator does not), wheels (more useful for MOCing than tracks), and lots of new parts that for now can only be found in the Unimog (excavator has non). I can't see why the general concensus is that 8043 is more complex than 8110. 8110 has almost as many gears plus all wheel live axle suspension and motorised pneumatic functions. However these are only my humble opinions. If you want to make a really informed decision, you can look through the instruction manuals at www.lego.com

I own the 8043, but if I were you, I'd get the 8258 first, it'll be very rare soon...which also fits into your category, HUGE. I personally prefer the 8258 to the 8110, yikes! Which is why I just got my hands on it, despite the availability of the 8110 from the same seller at the same time.

I think 8043 is not realistic in technical sense (otherwise it would be pneumatic)' date=' it is only realistic in terms of the look. Other than that, I can highly recommend it. [/quote']

I agree, but in technical sense, the pneumatic is not realistic at all, since the real ones are hydraulic, containing almost incrompessible hydraulic fluids, so it'll move and hold with precision (dare I say this, the precision of LA's), unlike compressed air which needs to 'build up' sufficient pressure to lift a certain load, although I've seen people here with good dexterity able to operate pneumatics smoothly

Edited August 8, 201113 yr by Out of Sight

The Unimog is the largest but it is very simple, 8043 or 8258 are the best options. The 8258 may be the best choice for the wheels, sorry for my googlenglish....

8258 Crane Truck.

It has four electric function on only one motor, the gearbox used for selecting them is one of the most complex in Technic history.

I see your crane truck and raise you a space shuttle :)

Thanks so much for all the great responses. But it makes it hard to decide.

I'm leaning more towards 8110 because of the suspension, pneumatics, etc and it's so BIG! I'll update on my choice and impressions during the build.

Thank you!

Allow me to recommend my personal favorite, 8466 4 X 4 Off-Roader. I'm a big fan of mechanics (in fact my major is probably going to be mechanical engineering), and I have just got to say this car has got everything! Transmission, suspension, steering! It's very realistic.

I see your crane truck and raise you a space shuttle :)

LOL

As you want a large set and seems to have the budget, then I should recommend the 8043 Motorized Excavator. It has it all and it is also a good source of parts for MOCs.

I definitely agree with Illuwater. This set is awesome!

However, the Crane Truck is very sweet too, it has the part count and it will indeed be rare soon.

Tough choice....buy the Crane Truck now and get the Excavator as soon as you can afford it!

Tough choice....buy the Crane Truck now and get the Excavator as soon as you can afford it!

That would be my opinion. Both have brilliant gearboxes, whereas 8110 actually has a very simple gearbox. The Unimog is deceptively simple in terms of gears. It depends on whether or not you want pneumatics, and if the suspension (which really is great) is that important to you.

Or if you want a lower price point you could get the Flatbed Truck. It has a nice gearbox with a rather clever set of mechanisms.

Edited August 8, 201113 yr by Wiseman_2

I will definitely recommend the 8043 excavator! If you are looking for a high playability, completely remote controlled model, the excavator is perfect. I recently got the set my self and if you are new to technic, it definitely has enough motors and gears and linear actuators to help build your own creations. Also, if you chose to modify the excavator ( see topics: 1 and 2 ) , the playability increases even more.

tim

8258 Crane Truck.

About the same price as 8043, but 30% more parts (which is my main reason for mentioning it). The reason for this difference is that 8043 is full remote controlled and all the electrical parts required for this are quite expensive. 8258 has just one motor and one battery box, the rest is all mechanics.

It has four electric function on only one motor, the gearbox used for selecting them is one of the most complex in Technic history. Although 8043 is a technical wonder too so in that aspect they won't differ by much.

However the 8043 seems to be a bit "closer to perfection" (less little problems). For example on 8258 the crane cannot really lift heavy loads and the outriggers are mainly cosmetic.

Also note 8258 has two steering axles, but no functioning steering wheel.

For play, 8043. For sheer size and impressiveness, 8258. For technical complexity, either.

The best advice I can give is go to Brickset, open both pages and read the reviews others have given there.

http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8258-1

http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8043-1

I agree 100% with everything said in this post.

8258 has a large amount of pieces, and if I remember correctly, it has more gears than any other set. 8043 is also a great set and has a fairly complex gearbox. 8110 is also a huge set with lots of pieces and pneumatics.

Like others have said, I would buy 8258 before it gets super expensive. Then buy 8043 before production is stopped, then 8110.

Just my $.02.

8043 if you are looking for a great model,

8258 if you are looking for a good model with a nice selection of bricks for MOCs

The 8110 can wait, but the other two will get expensive as soon as they stop selling them.

Lots of advice already, for me the first two I got were the 8258 crane and 8043 excavator. Both are excellent :) When I got my 8258 I was blown away at its size and complexity. Things sure have changed since I was a kid.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful suggestions. 8466 looks great too! I'll do more research on all of these.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful suggestions. 8466 looks great too! I'll do more research on all of these.

Despite the 8466 being a great set (I have bought one second hand the other day), it is not a starter set! (IMHO)

It's rather old and lacks the technic elements you are looking for, although the wheels are awesome.

Buy it if you are looking to complete your collection, but stick with the suggested sets to start your collection. Opening a new box and looking at all these new wonderful parts is half the fun.

I am -kind of- in the same situation.

I already own a variety of sets, (where the 8043, 8297, 8285 are the bigger ones) and thus own quite a large quantity of -different- parts.

So I 've build the 8258, where I only lacked the gear racks 13L. For the steering I could overcome with other solutions, but the outriggers did not function (very well).

Well... I was not very taken by it. But maybe this is due to not perfect build?

So far I still like the 8043 best.. For its complexity, for its build, for its playability and for the way it looks and operates!

Anyway I was wondering what to get next?

The 8110 MOG springs in mind 1st, but must I get this now?

Is the 8258 the better choice?

While typing I think I worked it out:

I will get the MOG when I see it for approx. 140 euro again somewhere. And I will try to get the 8258 for about 100 euro, either new or used.

(Which can be done for that much or less even).

I am -kind of- in the same situation.

So far I still like the 8043 best.. For its complexity, for its build, for its playability and for the way it looks and operates!

I couldn't agree more! But it's probably clear by now that I am a huge 8043 fan!

And indeed, get the Crane Truck now, while you can. And get the Unimog later.

To update everyone. I went ahead and bought the Excavator, 8043!

Thanks for all your help. It was a tough decision, but I can always add the other sets later (wife willing).

To update everyone. I went ahead and bought the Excavator, 8043!

Thanks for all your help. It was a tough decision, but I can always add the other sets later (wife willing).

Wise!

Have you built it already?

Wise!

Have you built it already?

Have not built it yet. Won an auction on ebay this morning. Knock on wood, I've had good experiences on ebay.