Speculations about 2h 2012 sets

[matias bendtsen]

any ideas on rock crawler b-model?

Edited December 22, 2011 by matias bendtsen

[CP5670]

I think it would be unlikely that the new chopper will have motorised blades. On 8485, the chopper was on a deck, arms length from where it was being operated. Due to torque on blades, unless there was a proper clutch mechanism, you could do some damage to parts if rotating blades collided with a foreign object.

By the way, 8485 was an awesome chopper, especially as it was part of a multiset. I added extra degrees of freedom, which added more playability to the model.

There were quite a few other motorized helicopters in the past. Several universal sets had them, and many others like 8412 could be motorized using the addon motor sets. They used ungeared motors back then and typically had belts somewhere in the geartrain, which would automatically slip if the rotors got stuck, but that can also be done with the usual clutch gears.

[davidmull]

It's really going to be a strange year for technic ,Lego usually make construction / cranes / actual model that works like real life but now were looking at a jeep and helicopter for a change,I'm not sure this is a good thing for sales if u ask me,for me a flagship is a big model with lots of gears and moving parts like arms,outriggers,cranes,pneumatics and so on,

For me the last 3 flagships were great sets 8258,8043 and 8110, but this year were not getting any exciting models,this crawler has a lot to live up to I think to be anything like our last few flagships.

I'm just not convinced that this will be a good year for technic and as for the helicopter it's not everyone liking and not at all exciting unless we can actually really fly it ha ha

[timslegos]

Why are we not allowed to post prelim pics? Doesn't it help TLG, not hurt?

tim

[Cwetqo]

TLG wants to present each set properly, with hi-res pics, press release, price and technical details. Those prelim pics can make set look worse than it really is and take away "I want this" feeling. Plus, as you can see, those pics are preliminary and finished set and/or box could be different (batteries included sign could be example of this).

Another thing is that TLG wants the set to be available soon after its presentation, so people could buy it. Presentig it now (or allowing prelim pics to remain on internet) would just lower the sales of existing sets (someone would say: I would rather not buy toww truck and save for rock crawler).

Thats TLG-s point of view and I can understand it, but as an enthusiast I will be still looking for info and pics and as we can see those aventualy do get out, but at lest not to "general public". We "enthusiast" will anyway buy all those "flagships"

[Anio]

TLG wants to present each set properly, with hi-res pics, press release, price and technical details. Those prelim pics can make set look worse than it really is and take away "I want this" feeling. Plus, as you can see, those pics are preliminary and finished set and/or box could be different (batteries included sign could be example of this).

Another thing is that TLG wants the set to be available soon after its presentation, so people could buy it. Presentig it now (or allowing prelim pics to remain on internet) would just lower the sales of existing sets (someone would say: I would rather not buy toww truck and save for rock crawler).

Thats TLG-s point of view and I can understand it, but as an enthusiast I will be still looking for info and pics and as we can see those aventualy do get out, but at lest not to "general public". We "enthusiast" will anyway buy all those "flagships"

Agreed.

And I add that TLG do not care of what we can comment just with these tiny and blurry pics.

If with these pics we can make observations that a Lego product designer can not do with the model in his own hand, I think there is a serious problem. O_o

We may like or not the models they do. But no doubt they do know how to deal with the specifications they have to respect.

The thing we may discuss is the specifications (example : the helicopter 9396 has no motor and it's cool, or, another model has a gearbox and it's pointless). But the designers will very hardly change these specifications after reading our comments. These specifications were set a while ago.

What they may do now till the release is optimising the model (few parts added/removed/changed (the bucket on 8043), or a mechanism redesigned). That's all. And they do not need our help for that.

Edit : back to topic.

I think the models are great. I really like the helicopter. Nice colors, great parts, and very nice features.

I do not appreciate the trial truck very much. But I still think it is a well designed model that kids will really enjoy.

Edited December 23, 2011 by Anio

[Erik Leppen]

Presentig it now (or allowing prelim pics to remain on internet) would just lower the sales of existing sets

If this is so, then why are these pictures even there?

I believe there has to be a reason for all those leaking pictures. Maybe the want AFOLs to get to know them (might raise sales rather than lower), just not the general public (because then it may lower sales. AFOLs and the general public think differently).

[Meatman]

I still think that Lego purposely leaks these early photos just to create discussion and hype... Then they "claim" to get mad when people post the pictures everywhere... If they didn't want photos to leak out, they could prevent it from happening... There are many companies that use this similar tactic..

You are probably right. Pics get posted, talked about and then get taken down and it creates even more speculation and excitement to those who didn't get to see them yet.

[CP5670]

I still think that Lego purposely leaks these early photos just to create discussion and hype... Then they "claim" to get mad when people post the pictures everywhere... If they didn't want photos to leak out, they could prevent it from happening... There are many companies that use this similar tactic..

You might be right. Either TLG's marketing department is hopelessly out of touch with how the internet works, or they see the benefits in these pictures going viral and have noticed that people's interest in them increases when they are not "supposed" to be seen.

In any case, it's utterly trivial to find them. It took me less than 10 seconds (two Google searches) to find them after I first saw this thread.

[jadedomg]

Unless the product is really poor leaks do not do damage, most companies just don't want to have to explain to people the difference between the first concept and final product. If the concept shoes chrome parts, but then the final product substitued gray people will be disapointed and might call in. A few POTC sets had issues with chrome gold and the unshiny gold but lego set out the parts shown on the box.

I really do want to know more about the helicopter.

[Cwetqo]

I think that TLG keeps its secrets pretty well. 1H AND 2H 2013 sets will be known soon (in 2-3 months), but we will have to wait another year to see them.

But enough of that, lets focus on sets which are coming next: I also like helicopter more than crawler (for which I was somehow dissapointed when I saw it). I hope it will have interesting gear transmissions, like lets say 8480 (it reminds me of this set, even if its not as big)

[davidmull]

I really think the rock crawler is not going to sell as much as previous flagships but I could be wrong,I wonder how is the unimog sales going!

[merman]

I think that TLG keeps its secrets pretty well. 1H AND 2H 2013 sets will be known soon (in 2-3 months), but we will have to wait another year to see them.

But enough of that, lets focus on sets which are coming next: I also like helicopter more than crawler (for which I was somehow dissapointed when I saw it). I hope it will have interesting gear transmissions, like lets say 8480 (it reminds me of this set, even if its not as big)

Usually the 1H sets are known in the fall of the previous year and the 2H sets in Decemeber

So how come we get to know more of 2013 in a few months time?

[jadedomg]

I really think the rock crawler is not going to sell as much as previous flagships but I could be wrong

Depends on the price and parts included, if it is cheap enough parents will buy it for the kids and for everyone else it may include a good set of base parts to go crazy with your own creations if you dont have them yet

[timslegos]

I am actually kind of disappointed with the helicopter. I like sets of construction machines more than other types.

tim

[efferman]

i like construction equipment, but i like flying vehicles too. So i am happy about every helicopter which is released by tlg. but this RC offroader, hm, i need more informations. actually i think its only a simple offroader and not an Rock crawler.

[LEGOMAN132]

any ideas on rock crawler b-model?

A dune buggy maybe ofva different rock crawler.

[davidmull]

i like construction equipment, but i like flying vehicles too. So i am happy about every helicopter which is released by tlg. but this RC offroader, hm, i need more informations. actually i think its only a simple offroader and not an Rock crawler.

I wonder is Lego actually calling it a rock crawler or is this something that was just made up?

[davidmull]

Any more news on these sets,this time last year we knew more about 2h sets :)

[Meatman]

You are right. I believe shortly after Christmas we had some detailed photos of the new sets. Except for the Extreme Cruiser.

[sama]

About 9396, I found something new about it. On the bottom right corner of its box, there is a little picture showing its functions. There is an arrow showing that the main rotors could spin, there is another arrow showing that the rear rotors could spin, an arrow showing that the cargo door could open, an arrow showing that the doors on the side could slide open, another arrow directing that you could turn a 12t, and another arrow I just discovered. There is an arrow on the left side of the helicopter close to the 12t directing that there is a switch there, maybe a switch to pick between two functions (winch and cargo door). I'll see if I could post pictures on my BS later.

Edited December 29, 2011 by sama

[zewy623]

9393 is still missing, and it's supposed to be a "tractor". The last two we've had were the exact same vehicle with different attatchments. maybe this one too?

[allanp]

Maybe it comes with an attatchment that fits the unimog?

[davidmull]

Maybe it comes with an attatchment that fits the unimog?

A new attachment for the mog would be great next year,I wonder why Lego don't do add on sets for 8110 :(

Anyway roll on more pics and info on this rock crawler :)

[Saberwing40k]

man oh man, i like that helicopter. even judging by the crappy, crappy pics, it looks like we've got a new swash plate, and new rotors. i may just buy that, and make it fly for real. i dunno about the crawler. i would rather it be something like 8466, except with adjustable suspension, and lockable diffs. as it stands the offroader is not that good, especially if it has only two medium motors for propulsion