what is "technic"?

[KEvron]

since the discussion has arisen, what constitutes "technic" and what falls short? even lego's own definition has been altered over the years (bionicle, anyone?).

as we discuss (should that occur), let's try to keep the gang wars and the pogroms to a minimum, shall we? honestly, technic/model team has got to be the most opinionated forum on EB's! can't spell lego without ego, i guess....

KEvron

[mobi]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Technic

[KEvron]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Technic

sure, up until the moment i hop in there and edit the entry.

KEvron

[mobi]

Yes, you can change the definition but here is the important bit The style of technic sets has been changing over time

So there is no strict rule of what is Technic. To me, anything with cogs and wheels is Technic.

Ultimately it is Lego who decides which sets are Technic and which are not.

[bb15080]

yes and no

if you look at the racers there are models build mostly of technic

oke there are changes made by Lego in the range of technic but still compatible with the studded beams so

Kevron is right with his question what is technic!!!

for me: the possibility to make models with multifunction capabilities

Edited March 8, 2012 by bb15080

[KEvron]

Ultimately it is Lego who decides which sets are Technic and which are not.

despite their vacillating? and what about mocs?

KEvron

Edited March 8, 2012 by KEvron

[Blakbird]

despite their vacillating? and what about mocs?

There is only one way to know for certain whether or not any given set or MOC can be considered Technic: ask me.

[Paul Boratko]

If a model is constructed of Technic parts, I would associate that with Technic building.... The actual build of a Technic model is what makes it Technic or not... Using Technic pieces is a more advanced or "Technical" way of building... If it is comprised mainly of Technic parts, then what else would it be classified as...?

Look back when Technic first started, Technic sets didn't have many functions at all...

As far as the "Racers" theme goes, I think that was a name slapped on to make the sets sound more appealing to the consumer...

As someone stated in another thread here, what is the difference between the 2000 8458 "Technic" Silver Champion and the 2002 8461 Willaims F1 "Racer" as they are almost identical... What makes one a "Racer" over the other one except for the fact that the "Racer" idea had not come about yet..?

And Nathanael's 8674 is also considered a "Racer" (actually all of the Ferrari sets Lego released were called Racers, regardless of how they were constructed. I assume that they did this to keep all of the Ferrari sets in their own sub category)

I don't think that anyone could convince me that this set above isn't Technic... I don't care what it says on the box...

These other 3 sets while somewhat uninteresting are also called "Racers" but the building style is Technic...

I would think of anyone who builds with primarily only Technic parts as a Technic Builder and their models as Technic Models...

Does anyone know if any of the "Racer" titled models 8653, 8145, 8674, 8461, 8682, 8649, 8146 were designed by anyone outside of the Technic Team of designers at Lego...?

Edited March 8, 2012 by Paul Boratko

[skylinedan]

I would say Technic is about machines as a whole, we do use blocks, but the big picture is a machine. I would,nt say it has to be complex either, a simple machine versus a complex one is still a machine in my book.

[Paul Boratko]

Here is a set labeled as "Technic" by Lego that as far as I know has no Functions what so ever...

Unless posable arms, legs, and feet are considered functions..

[KEvron]

a simple machine versus a complex one is still a machine in my book.

absolutely. all machines are derived from the Six Simple Machines.

KEvron

[skylinedan]

Here is a set labeled as "Technic" by Lego that as far as I know has no Functions what so ever...

Unless posable arms, legs, and feet are considered functions..

I would agree with you on this one, This would be more a case of representation of a machine. We on the other hand would make the damn thing move with PF, then it would fit in the Technic sceam of things, LOL.

Dan

[Saberwing40k]

i think technic is about:

• aesthetic
  
• function
  
• technique
  
• authenticity
  

these guys are not in any particular order, but rather exist as a 4 way balance. most racers sets are about aesthetic now, but once they were a lot closer to Technic, because some had motors and radio control, and used primarily Technic elements. i hate the new racers, which are stupidly simple, and not all that diverse.

but anyway, Technic models have that sort of aesthetic, at least now. i kinda miss the really stylized nature of some of the older models have.

they also have real functions, like what you would see on a real version of that vehicle. (mostly)

they are made primarily out of technic parts, which contributes to the aesthetic.

and finally, the look real, or at least plausible. (at least now. back in the late 90's early 00's, they looked really futuristic.)

hope it helps, a little.

[KEvron]

There is only one way to know for certain whether or not any given set or MOC can be considered Technic: ask me.

is that you, potter stewart?!

KEvron

[timslegos]

What technic is for me is building very functional machines with gears and motors and beams.

tim

[DLuders]

Brickset lists these nine Star Wars Technic sets -- they use Technic parts (Technic Liftarms & Technic Pins). To me, Technic is a BUILDING STYLE (open construction) using Technic parts. Look at these Star Wars Technic sets -- they are not very much different from BIONICLE and HERO FACTORY (which use Technic parts).

[Blakbird]

Brickset lists these nine Star Wars Technic sets -- they use Technic parts (Technic Liftarms & Technic Pins). To me, Technic is a BUILDING STYLE (open construction) using Technic parts. Look at these Star Wars Technic sets -- they are not very much different from BIONICLE and HERO FACTORY (which use Technic parts).

I own all of those Star Wars Technic sets, and I would generally agree that they don't match the spirit of Technic. The exception, though, is the Destroyer Droid. The rolling mechanism of that cool little thing puts it easily on the list of genuine Technic sets in my book, and it has the extra advantage of being totally unique.

[skylinedan]

I own all of those Star Wars Technic sets, and I would generally agree that they don't match the spirit of Technic. The exception, though, is the Destroyer Droid. The rolling mechanism of that cool little thing puts it easily on the list of genuine Technic sets in my book, and it has the extra advantage of being totally unique.

Does it roll up in a ball like in the movie, LOL ? I think that was my favorite one out of all the droids, thing is just sinister, lol.

Dan

[Slick Willie]

Eh, I find it hard to get excited about technic.

[Zerobricks]

Thing that is mechaniclly exciting

[Lyichir]

I think that functions play a big role in what is considered Technic, but are not essential. For instance, I would totally agree that Throwbots/Slizers, Roboriders, and early BIONICLE qualified as Technic. Particularly in the largest early BIONICLE sets, the functions rivaled those of smaller "traditional" Technic sets. BIONICLE drifted away from the standard Technic description later on, when the technic elements became more vital to a set's form than its function (although the 2008-2009 BIONICLE vehicles began to drift closer to conventional Technic builds once again). Hero Factory has largely done away with Technic builds altogether since the new building system debuted, and now Technic makes up no greater proportion of the majority of models than it does in System themes like Exo-Force.

I think the biggest qualifier for what is Technic is the proportion of Technic building to System or other styles of building. Under this definition the posted ASIMO model would be considered a true Technic set, even if its functionality is underwhelming. Meanwhile, Mindstorms NXT would stay a separate category thanks to the robotic elements that are integral to the theme (for instance, the Mindstorms motors differ from Power Functions motors because they give digital feedback). Early BIONICLE would fall under Technic thanks to the Technic-dependent builds and functions, but later BIONICLE that used technic elements only for building a figure's substructure or attaching armor would not.

This is not a perfect definition, but keep in mind that the meaning of Technic has changed over time. In the "studded era", system connections were more vital even to Technic builds, whereas now sets like the Unimog use System connections only for details. Throwbots and RoboRiders were considered Technic largely because LEGO had not at the time considered divorcing the new ball-joint building style from the Technic label (and indeed, I wouldn't consider it a separate system if not for the introduction of system elements that connect to ball joints without Technic, and the eventual introduction of the Hero Factory building system that no longer required Technic parts to build a set's framework).

[Meatman]

Here is a set labeled as "Technic" by Lego that as far as I know has no Functions what so ever...

Unless posable arms, legs, and feet are considered functions..

Interesting. I have never seen that before. Is it some sort of promo set? I suppose that shows right there that in Lego's eyes that Technic isn't always about functions.

[Blakbird]

Does it roll up in a ball like in the movie, LOL ? I think that was my favorite one out of all the droids, thing is just sinister, lol.

Yes, it does roll up in a ball like the movie. That's what makes it so great. It rolls up in a ball and when you roll in on the ground it pops open and stands up all by itself!

Interesting. I have never seen that before. Is it some sort of promo set? I suppose that shows right there that in Lego's eyes that Technic isn't always about functions.

Yes, it is a promotional set. I have it, and I can confirm that it is underwhelming. It does have some very rare white parts though, including the worlds only white 3L friction pin.

[allanp]

For me, technic puts functionality as it's top priority. This then would exclude most racers sets as well as bionicle, slizers and so on as they obviously have form as their top priority.

[Meatman]

For me, technic puts functionality as it's top priority. This then would exclude most racers sets as well as bionicle, slizers and so on as they obviously have form as their top priority.

So then how many functions should a set have for it in your mind to be considered technic? I consider bionicle and mindstorms to be sort of spinoffs that are heavily technic based. it's hard to not consider a car or truck that is made out of technic parts to not be technic even if it just steers and pistons move. I mean those are 2 functions right?