There is no consistency of size/scale in Technic sets.

Unimog 8110 is too big. The 8258 crane truck is smaller. The 9397 log truck is even smaller. The 9398 has a scale of its own and so on.

On other hand, the minifig scale items are fairly consistent. So why Technic is an exception?

It severly limits the possible models, as well as variety..

If one was to have just ONE scale, say, the scale of the 8258 Crane Truck, models like the 8110 Unimog and 4x4 Crawler would be a lot smaller and have less functions. We would never see accurate Formula One style cars, as they would become too small to put in exciting functions, and models like the 9396, not to mention the upcoming Cargo Plane, or the Crawler Crane from a few years back, would be unrealistically HUGE for LEGO to produce sets of them. Same goes for this years 42009 Mobile Crane Mk 2, as five axle mobile cranes usually are positively huge vehicles!

Imagine the Space Shuttle from the nineties in the same scale as the 8258!

While it does sound like a plausible explanation it still leaves a lot to be desired.

The 8880 had even more functions than 8110 yet it was in Technic Figure scale.

Lots of functionality can be achieved in Technic figure scale. Some extreme models (like aircraft, large cranes etc.) can be off the scale but others should be easy to manage in a consistent fashion IMHO.

I wouldn't say the 8880 is techfig scale though. Rather large seats/wheels for such a little dude

There are many scales as TLG designs many different sets at different pricepoints

If they kept he same scale, we would not have seen the Technic Space Shuttle nor the 8110 unimog, or the two different-scale Ferrari F1 cars ... The Space Shuttle scale was that of the City minifig (based on seats installed in there) ... and those same minifigs would feel rather 'small' in the seats of other sets I mentioned above.

Edited October 22, 201311 yr by DrJB

There is no consistency of size/scale in Technic sets.

Although you are right, one might pose the question....is this really a problem?

If I must criticize the scale thing; I would like to see some more tire and rim options, since most of the time that combination determines the scale of the model.

(new tires are coming in the 2014 sets, if I am not mistaken)

While it does sound like a plausible explanation it still leaves a lot to be desired.

The 8880 had even more functions than 8110 yet it was in Technic Figure scale.

Lots of functionality can be achieved in Technic figure scale. Some extreme models (like aircraft, large cranes etc.) can be off the scale but others should be easy to manage in a consistent fashion IMHO.

8880 is nowhere near technic figure scale. It's like double the scale.

Anyways, remember that TLG is a company that needs its profit so they can't just pump out large scale super-functional models.

There needs to be "entry sized" models, something pretty much anyone can afford. Yong kids lack the skill/patience to build

the bigger ones too. Try making a pull-back car in 8110 scale, it won't be really playable.

Minifig scale stays the same because it is, well, minifig scale. Those models are designed to work together. Technic models

tend to be more stand-alone (Not saying it's better).

And personally I'd find it utterly boring if all the models were the same size, some things work better small, some big.

Technic models tend to be more stand-alone (Not saying it's better).

That's are very simple, yet very legit, answer!

Lego thats half size or even quarter size might be possibe in the future with 3d printers making carbon fibre lego or something like that, this should help scaling, will need small fingers though :P

... will need small fingers though :P

Some AFOLs (me one of them) are already very unhappy with the plethora of 'small' parts prervalent in so many of the recent-years sets ...

Edited October 21, 201311 yr by DrJB

If Lego made all of their Technic models to the same scale, no one would be able to afford ones like an excavator or planes. There would also be no small affordable models.

The scale of the sets mainly depends of the functions. Of course, Lego have to sell different priced sets, but if the big ones have different scales, it's because they don't need to be any bigger or smaller, for most of them.

I think the scale mainly has to do with the size of the tracks or wheels that the designer chooses to use.

I must disagree - there are like 5 common scales in technic. Besides comparing the scales of different models is like comparing building sizes. Each has it's own purpose and the scale is just 1 of the factors. TLG must plan the variety of sets, their functionality, prices, scales, box sizes, logistics etc. And there is no problem with that. Such policy provides better choice.

Look for Apple for example. If you want to buy a monitor - there's like 2 models. If you need small monitor Apple doesn't have it. If you need really big monitor like a tv panel - yet againt there is no such thing in their store.

But lets look at Samsung, Lg, Panasonic etc - they have small, medium, big, huge panels! So everybody can find something that fits.

Besides, the variety of parts allows you to create your own scale. I was facing the problem of making rather big propeller, but there was no blades of the size I required. They were either too small or too big. So I just made my own.

Edited October 21, 201311 yr by Omikron

Costs and limitations of the available parts. Since Lego is a kids toy, I don't think consistent scale is that important in that target market audience. Technics is more function over form (size). Lego is not like HO scale model railroading. You could build everything to the same scale but then you're MOCing and not buying official sets.

I don't see a problem with scale but I get your point...a bit. Town/city, castle lego is a like a fictional city and the buildings vehicles and mini figs are to the same scale, as a real city. Technic is, as previous posters have said, about functions, playability and probably size. In the nineties there were sets with technic men, I think they (lego) were maybe trying to create a technic city thing as a lot of the sets had technic men and were the same scale.

Scale of models is done also to catch the eye and maybe add a WOW factor. I was in a comic shop last week and they had a four foot batman figure for sale, i've also seen a two foot Ironman and my nephew has about 10 spiderman figues of different sizes and manages to have adventures with all.

When I read some of the posts here I sense a wow factor about the upcoming sets and parts that will be available and the difference in scale of tyres etc allows our fellow builders to treat us to some great ideas.

H

Having all models the same scale would be boring.

Actually i think there are lots of models in the same scale just looking at my display case. All the big trucks (over 1100 pieces +) from he last years are in the same scale. 8258, 9397 are in the same scale, i think 8285 is the same with these too. But the list can go on: 8043, 8265, 8069, 8258, 9397, 42006 are in the same scale, IMHO.

Actually i think there are lots of models in the same scale just looking at my display case. All the big trucks (over 1100 pieces +) from he last years are in the same scale. 8258, 9397 are in the same scale, i think 8285 is the same with these too. But the list can go on: 8043, 8265, 8069, 8258, 9397, 42006 are in the same scale, IMHO.

The limited amount of wheel sizes is propably the cause here.

For sure, because 8110 has bigger wheels.

Boring boring boring.

When I used to have Technic there was much more consistency of size and scale because you had the Technic seats and figs that were a set size and although you didn't get many sets with Technic figs in you did get them all with the same size seats. I do miss the Technic figs

Edited October 21, 201311 yr by SMC

Actually, sets 42009, 8043 and 8265 are the same scale.

The blue seats used in all three models are the same size and being the numbers geek that I am I figured out what the dimensions would be if scaled down from their real life counterparts. These three models(and possibly more, I just don't own them to find out) are 1:24 scale.

Not much to add here. I think whatever scale them make each model is fine. They quite often make a model in multiple scales over several years. We have had numerous different front-end loaders and excavators in the last 10years. Some have 200 parts and others have 1500+ parts. That is great in my eyes. I wouldn't want them to limit the type of models or functions based on an arbitrary scale.

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