Gee's General Newbie Topic

[Gee]

Hi folks, just registered, couldn't see an intro thread and since I'm only interesrted in Technic, thought I'd post up here. I've been lurking for a while and must say tat some of the stuff on thhis forum is phenomenal!

I have just come out of my Dark Age and am getting back into my LEGO (I'm 31). Luckily I've got lots of good sets from before this new fangled studless stuff. My Son (4) got me back into it when I unearthed a load of old LEGO bricks, which lead on to building my old sets again and then the Mrs buying me the 9391 for my birthday.

The sets I have are:

8810 Cafe Racer

8815 Speedway Bandit

8820 Mountain Rambler

8835 Forklift

8838 Shock Cycle

8840 Rally Racer

8865 Test Car

8868 Air Tech Claw Rig

9391 Tracked Crane

I've also got Model Team 5590 which I'm considering eBaying before Xmas to fund new Technic purchses.

I'd really like to get into buiding MOCs and have had a go with some of the spare pieces I have with good results. My interest lies in Power Functions and to this end I've just bought an XL and M Motor, IR Receiver, Remote and AA Battery Pack. I also bought 2x 24 tooth clutch gears off Brick Link.

I intend to try and motorise the B Model of the Test Car when it arrives, but I'll be starting from the bottom and so have no idea of what works or not.

I'll like to invest in a good set that can be used for parts (there's loads of parts that I'm not familiar with from the studless to the massive wheels and the new axle and gear shapes).

Your thoughts will be very greatfully received.

Go easy on me, I've got a lot to learn! It really does look quite daunting at the mo!

[Jim]

Hi Gee,

Welcome to EB!! Nice to see you've upgraded from lurker

Here's a general Welcome Topic, in which you could introduce yourself.

Furthermore, there are some Member Guidelines which you need to know.

You can check the Technic Index to see some useful topics, like the Technic General Discussion, where you can post general questions, which don't need their own topic.

Feel free to ask if you want to know more!

This topic is very useful as well:

Which Technic set should I buy?

[Gee]

Thanks Jim,

I read the guidelines and have been making my way through some of the other topics! There's just so much info out there!

I see that "studful" vs "studless" is a pretty big area of debate. As I'm sure is true of most guys who get back into Technic after years away, I'm pretty clueless about studless, whereas Technic bricks are fairly easy for me.

I'll say again, some of the MOCs that are on these pages are out of this world. Guys like Sariel and 2LEGOornottoLEGO, just to pick 2 that I've seen in the last few hours, are out of this world, and there's plenty more inspiration.

[Jim]

I read the guidelines and have been making my way through some of the other topics! There's just so much info out there!

Take your time! We're not going anywhere

[Gee]

Haha! Yeah, I know!

I've just been going through Nico's MOC thread. His Morgan 3 wheeler is awesome!

Technic has come a long way since I was last into it!

[Balrog]

Hi Gee, welcome to the forum.

I fully understand how hard it is to get back into Technic. I got back just something over a year past. Before that I mostly bought regular Lego, but since then I am totally hooked to Technic. So far, to get back and learn the techniques, I have mostly kept to building other peoples MOCs from instructions and normal sets. To supplement my parts I have used Bricklink.

Up until now, I have completed a series of models and some directly got minor changes from me, mostly cosmetic. I have not created something entirely myself, but I have made some bigger modifications on the MB Trac I build, converting it to have power functions and just now I am making Nico's Trophy Truck with CVT to be a manual MOC. Until now, my progress was rather satisfying to me.

[dhc6twinotter]

Welcome, Gee! My story is similar to yours, and I just got back to LEGO about 5 years ago. Nice to have you here!

As far as good parts pack goes, I would say 42009 crane is probably the best one currently out. 9397 Logging Truck is also fairly good. 8258 Crane Truck from a few years ago is an excellent parts pack, but only if you can find one for a reasonable price.

[Gee]

Thanks guys!

I keep saying it, but things really have moved on. The most complex sets I have are the Test Car and the Air Tech Rig. These look fairly dated when compared to things like the Crawler, Unimog and various trucks that have been out in the last few years. Even most of the basic gears, axles and studs have changed.

I'm hoping that I can ease back in slowly by using the PF stuff I've recently ordered to motorize some old sets and also to build MOCs around. Things I have in mind are a crawler, drift car and a 3 wheeler. It remains to be seen how these new PF motors match up with my older wheels and gears, not to mention my studded technic bricks.

One other thing that I have to get out of the mindset of is making the models and then being afraid to mix all the parts up. I've always been reluctant to merge parts. May be a product of my OCD!

[JGW3000]

Gee, not sure where you are located - Toys R Us in the US is offering $50 discount on the 41009 Mobile Crane MK II, with free shipping, so the cost is $180 (plus sales tax) - I would get one if I hadn't spent so much on BL this month. Usually these are $220 or more.

[Gee]

Thanks for the tip off. Alas, I'm located in the UK! I'll have to get an avatar up and update my pofile.

[gazumpty]

Welcome to the show that never ends :D

[Gee]

Cheers man!

[Alasdair Ryan]

Welcome Gee to Eurobrcks.

[Gee]

Cheers dude!

[Lakop]

Welcome to Eurobricks Gee.

Get yourself a nice mid range set, 9394, 9395, 42005 is a good set as is 42006. Not too complicated with a good selection of parts to get used to. They are recent and still around at their normal prices (for now).

I'm also adapting to the studless after neglecting my lego for years due to work, studying and an attempt at growing up. I am still working and learning but i've given up on the growing up bit.

H

Edited December 9, 2013 by Horace T

[Gee]

Good to know Horace! Growing up is optional, it's getting old that we can't do anything about!

I'll look up those sets, thanks fo the tips.

I've got some photos of very simple MOCs that I've made recently, I'll have to get a thread going for my MOCs. It'll give me something to aim for and also an idea of if I am progressing or not.

[D3K]

Hi Gee, and welcome to the forums!

A little over a year ago I was in your shoes (even the Technic sets I had from my childhood are pretty much the same models you have), and studless was new for me too! I now love it however, and learned a lot from building some of the official sets.

I made a topic earlier that shows where I was last year, and where I am now, but couldn't seem to find it when I looked for it now

[skriblez]

Hi and welcome :)

PST took your thread D3K! :P

[Paul B Technic]

Hi and welcome to the forum (and back to the hoby).

[Rishab N]

Welcome to the forum! I'd reccommend the 8258 too as it is definitley worth the price. The 8043 is also good as it is RC

[aol000xw]

Welcome and enjoy your awakening out of the dark age.

[Freekysch]

I'd say 8258 is a must for every technic collector, and is worth much more than a parts-pack (if you can get it at a decent price). 8285 is a great looking set too, but does not come with a lot of functions, but comes with lots of useful parts and nice silver wheels. Another VERY good model is 8265 Front Loader.

[D3K]

PST took your thread D3K! :P

On orders from the NSA maybe..

Anyway, I found the topic, here, if you want to see my progress over a year, Gee

[Gee]

Awesome, I'll have a read of that D3K, ta.

Thanks for the welcomes guys! This is certainly a pretty cool place to hang out, lots of knowledge and some friendly locals!

[Lakop]

8258 is a great model and would make a good re-introduction to technic. I still dream about it.

H