also surprises me is how many people love retro 'studded' sets, I'm not a fan of them personally ;)

maybe it depends a little bit with which Lego technic one grew up... ;-)

Apart from this it is simply a fact that still some of the best technic sets ever are born in the studded area... the building technic is more or less irrelevant for the question if a set is good or not...

Edited April 13, 201311 yr by Kumbbl

Completely agree, but, again, the overall design and appeal of the set is much more important for me then the 'functions' )

For me it's the opposite

It has been with good reason these two sets were re-released twice.

I think Lego Technic Designers were developing and learning the studless system, and how to use it at its best. This is why there is no new Lego Technic model this year IMO.

At the same time, TLG did not want to let the Technic line with no model in one year.

So, they choose to release "old" sets.

Edited April 13, 201311 yr by Anio

For me it's the opposite

It is so great and important that we all love different things in life :)

Edited April 13, 201311 yr by AKM_76

All about your personal taste, I grew up with studfull. 851, 855. Got back into it in 09 and was amazed at how things changed, and for the better I think.

Dan

Interesting question, but I'm seeing a lot of sets I would consider flagship or high-range sets.

8109, the flatbed truck, might not be the biggest set of the year, but I consider it a high-range set.

8460, the crane, might not be the biggest set of the year, but I consider it a high-range set. And a very good one at that, it might just be my favorite studded set.

8265 is very good as well, but I consider it a high-range set as well.

I'd go for 8069. It's only 600 or so pieces, but very versatile, masses of functionality and great parts selection.

Other mid-range sets I really like, are

8263 http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=8263-1 for originality in subject and functionality

8294 http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=8294-1

Of sets I do not own, I guess

8067 http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=8067-1

8071 http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=8071-1

8048 http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=8048-1

8420 http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=8420-1

8453 http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=8453-2

are also all very good.

My vote goes to 8265 front loader, 9398 log truck, and perhaps 8069 backhoe too.

8109 roll-back truck and 8053 crane were also surprisingly good sets. 8109 surprised me with some unique features, and 8053 used some interesting build techniques.

The new service truck coming out looks pretty good as well, although I'm not sure that would be considered a mid-range set.

There are a lots of good sets named in this topic, but there is one I disagree with, 8053.

8053's mobile crane main model has outriggers that are a complete farce. Fragile, wiggly and fail in their sole purpose which is to solidify the crane on the ground. I built it from parts from my collection to convince myself that I was right in not actually buying the set.

I also built 8053's harbor crane B Model. It's OK, and gets a thumbs up for originality, but it sorely lacks in functions.

8460 aka 8431 aka 8438, however, is top notch. And is the set that brought me out of the dark ages in 2002.

Here are my picks for great middle-range Lego Technic sets that haven't been mentioned yet (or hardly mentioned, if I missed them buried in someone's post):

Edited April 13, 201311 yr by SheepEater

8053's mobile crane main model has outriggers that are a complete farce. Fragile, wiggly and fail in their sole purpose which is to solidify the crane on the ground. I built it from parts from my collection to convince myself that I was right in not actually buying the set.

I also built 8053's harbor crane B Model. It's OK, and gets a thumbs up for originality, but it sorely lacks in functions.

8460 aka 8431 aka 8438, however, is top notch. And is the set that brought me out of the dark ages in 2002.

Here are my picks for great middle-range Lego Technic sets that haven't been mentioned yet (or hardly mentioned, if I missed them buried in someone's post):

more or less agree for 8053 - i own this only for this unique b-model - 8431 and 8421 are way better cranes....

Also completely agree for the sets 851, 856, 8846 and 8848 (this and 8846 are one of my all time favorites): these are wonderful sets but i would have categorized them as small sets

This airplane is a good mid-range, right:

what is the setnumber of this racer?

I would like to add this one:

Not completely as good as the (high range) 8485 but has also its merits and provides a lot of fun...

One remark to the praised flat bed truck 8109: i like this model a lot but for me it is not really midrange (e.g. compared to something like 8459) - at least if you count this truck mid-range than i would also vote for the great heli set 9396:

Mine would have to be 8069 backhoe loader, and 8836 sky ranger.

8069 backhoe loader since it was my reintroduction into lego

8836 sky ranger because it was my very first technic set

what is the setnumber of this racer?

8366 Supersonic RC, from 2003. Actually a racer set , but made from Technic parts. It, and its smaller brother 8475 from 2002 are very, VERY fast and fun to play with, unlike 9398.

http://www.brickset....ail/?set=8366-1

Agreed about the 8094 control center 1 being a very good set. It's actually the flagship set of 1990, hence it somewhat disqualifies from middle-range set, imho.

Here's the plotter model with the pencil arm holder modded with a 3rd 9V motor (Made this in 2007)

Also completely agreed about the 9396 helicopter. Bought it recently was very pleased with it. Probably the best Lego helicopter of all time! (8485's heli is also very nice)

Edited April 14, 201311 yr by SheepEater

The first expert builder set I got was the 851, had the box up until 09, still had the original price tag on it, LOL 19.99, got the 856 later and the 851 I believe the number is. The yellow n red crane, that was a fun set for being simple as it was.

Dan

Like SheepEater I'm with Kumbble on the 9396 heli too. It really is a great set. One of my all time favorites.

8851: looks good, works fine, nice features, good playability

8846: really compact, lots of features, perfect partner for 8845

I just finished building 8294 and it's really excellent, especially when motorized.

So far my favorite middle-range sets: 9396, 8294, 8109, 42006.

Just a question- why does everyone love 8069? It's my only technic set, and it sucks. Manually operated LA's are a major turnoff, and the bucket tilting mechanism is way to complicated and hardly works. The only good thing about that set is the parts IMHO.

TLH

The building experience is good - some clever techniques used - and the end result looks good. The operation is kinda iffy though, I agree with that.

Just a question- why does everyone love 8069? It's my only technic set, and it sucks. Manually operated LA's are a major turnoff, and the bucket tilting mechanism is way to complicated and hardly works. The only good thing about that set is the parts IMHO.

TLH

8069 was the first technic set I bought, and it brought me out of my "dark age". As jantjeuh stated, good building experience, and techniques. I was totally enthralled by the technicallity and the end result. I will admit it's not the "greatest of all time" and has since been sacrificed to the parts bins, but it's my favorite mid-range set.

Mike

but it's my favorite mid-range set.

Mike

Just wondering: have you tried 8294, 9396 and 42006?

Edited January 5, 201411 yr by jantjeuh

Just wondering: have you tried 8294, 9396 and 42006?

I own 9396 and 42006. I like them both a lot. Only slightly less than 8069. I don't own 8294 and haven't built it either. Looks good. How does it compare to 42006?

Mike

42006 has slightly more functionality with its grabber, as opposed to 8294 'auto-rotating' bucket, so I'd rate 42006 slightly above 8294. Both are very good though. I assume you'd motorize them both.

Edited January 5, 201411 yr by jantjeuh

Just a question- why does everyone love 8069? It's my only technic set, and it sucks. Manually operated LA's are a major turnoff, and the bucket tilting mechanism is way to complicated and hardly works. The only good thing about that set is the parts IMHO.

agreed with all... but 8069 is very clever and well designed - good building experience and also well done look... but playability is indeed lousy (yes, manually operated LAs are a no go) - IMHO all sets containing LAs need essentially a motor, so e.g. 9396, 8265 - both of them can be motorized very well but the 8069 backhoe can't be motorized without completely making it an ugly model

I would say 9395 and 8858 would be mine.

8250/8299 is probably my favorite of the older studded stuff. I don't own one, but I've pined for one since I was a kid (and still do). It's got everything - it's a watercraft, pneumatics, air tank, and minifig.

Of the newer studless stuff, I'm not sure yet. I just don't know them well enough. :)