8110 Unimog parts list!

Hello everybody!

TechnicBRICKS just got a hold of the 8110 parts list!  Check them out!YAY!  More new parts and they're bringing back the pneumatics system!  I can't wait for this to come out!

jojoguy10

New set! 8110 Unimog U400!!!!

YAY!  Coming soon form Technic is the new Unimog U400!



Said to cost around $275 ( :-( ), the U400 will have over 2000 pieces including:

• Pneumatics


• New HUGE tires ("94.3 x 38R")


• Looks to be about 12 Technic Panels (5x11)


• And MUCH more!

This Technic model is a 1:12 scale of the original U400.  It also is going to have at least 1 motor and 1 battery box.

The U4oo also supports 4-wheel drive and coil-spring articulating solid axles, plus a powered winch on the front of this beast!

TechnicBRICKS gives us some pictures with drawings to give us a better idea:

 

 

"

• Green: I had this suspicion before, but not I'm pretty sure it is confirmed. With 2.048 parts the Unimog should be quite heavy and thus requiring stronger suspension or shock absorbers.
  The spring coils used on the Unimog look different from all those ever released in the previous LEGO Technic models. The coil pitch looks quite larger than usual, likely meaning stronger springs and consequently heavier suspensions.
  Bet it might open some new possibilities (e.g. for the heavier TrTr vehicles).


• Red: This doesn't seem to match with anything known to date. Maybe a new kind of frame similar to 64178 or 64179. A new C-Shape frame would be highly appreciated and it seems to fit nicely in this application (an articulated solid axle).


• Yellow: Still quite fuzzy but the hub gearboxes behind the portal axles might be here...


• Blue: It looks the PF M-motor with its multiple functions. The pneumatic pump seems running from a single pump cylinder!? The only strange thing it is the way it looks positioned. Just behind the motor, i.e. in the opposite direction to the motor shat output...Or is it another cylinder for the pneumatic "dump" bed!? Don't think so...
  Also this pneumatic dump bed feature, came to puzzle the way I have imagined the Unimog controls should work. 
  
  Somehow I still doubt on this information about a pneumatic dump bed.

"

Well...I don't know about you, but I'm going to start saving NOW!  I will (hopefully) buy it and give an X-view on it!

Stay tuned!

jojoguy10

[via TechnicBRICKS and Brickset]

Technic Challenge-March 2011

Take the Technic Challenge!  The challenge is starting once again!  Don't know what it is?

The competition is very simple
1. Build a model out of primarily LEGO Technic elements.
2. Take a picture of the model
3. Press the button below to Enter the competition
4. Enter your contact information
5. Upload your image

What to build?
This month (March) the competition focuses on Linear movement.
Build a cool model with nice functions based on linear movement – with or without the linear actuator!

Read a Designer's Blog entry explaining more about Linear Actuators.

How does it work?
Right now you can submit models - On the 15th of March - a panel of judges consisting of designers, marketing managers, building instruction artists and more will pick out (of all submissions) 10 finalists that will then be put up for voting here on the site. Considerations for the Nominees will be based on Model, Design, build to theme and age.

The winner will receive a prize and also continue to the Big Finale in October.

Cool!  Are you going to try it?  I think I will...I think I'll make a motion simulator!  :-O

jojoguy10

Good Luck!

How do the Linear Actuators work (both new and old)?

Hello everyone!  The Techinc designers have posted something new on the Technic blog!  You can see it HERE(link).  I will write a quick summery for you!

This is the old fashion way of doing a Linear Actuator: (1) You would turn the worm gear which would rotate the (2) 8t gear and moving the (3) gear rack back and forth.

The old LA (the longer one), for me, worked pretty well.  But it wasn't able to lift heavy loads without the clutch engaging.  Here's how it works: The user puts an axle in the orange clutch mechanism (1) and the turns the white threaded tube (kind of like the worm gear up above)(3) and that pushes the threaded piston in and out (4).

The new LA (I don't have yet :( ) looks really nice!  Here's how it works: The user attaches an axle on the orange axle end which is also the "worm gear" in this example (1).  Then, the piston goes in and out (2).  This LA has a clutch system as well (3).

Thanks for reading!

jojoguy10

P.S.  I'm thinking of some more ideas for the 7th LEGO-X podcast!  So, if you haven't already, fill out this quick poll to see what I should keep from podcast 6 and what I shouldn't keep.  Also, who should i interview?  Fill it out HERE(link)!  If you don't...I won't have another podcast!  (just kidding :) )

2H2011 Sets announced! WOO HOO!

WOO HOO!  The 2H2011 Sets are already known!  It looks like the Unimog U400 is going to be the biggest one, but the others are still great!  I will post more updates as they come!

jojoguy10

New rumors for the 1H2011 Technic sets!

Woo Hoo!!!  I think it's time for some new LEGO sets, don't you?  While the 8043 Excavator was "The Big One!", these other sets may "trump" that.  Check 'em out:

January:
#8065 - Mini Dump Truck
#8066 - SUV
#8067 - Mobile Mini Crane - Edit: Thanks Bazmarc!
#8068 - Rescue Helicopter
#8069 - Backhoe

March:
#8070 - Super Car

YAY! I can't wait!  What set are you looking most forward to?  For me, it's the 8069 Backhoe!  But, I think the 8070 Super Car may be 1H2011's "Big One!".

jojoguy10

Service pack for the 8043 Excavator!

YAY!  For those of you who bought the 8043 Excavator before they took it off S@H, they now have a number you can call to get a service pack for that set!  WOO HOO!  The number is: 1-800-838-9647.  Call now!

jojoguy10

Excavator is BACK!! And, crane truck?

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="178" caption="Crane truck is back?"][/caption]

Wow!  This has been a weird year for LEGO.  First, the Crane Truck went "Out of stock", then the Excavator went "missing", then it came back...and now, the crane truck is back too!?!  WOW!  Well...you can see the product pages by clicking on their pictures.  What do you think of all this?  Maybe they'll bring back the 888O Super Car!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="178" caption="Excavator is back too!"][/caption]

*Update!* Excavator coming back from vacation

*This is an update to the previous post about the 8043 Excavator*

We now know the piece that was faulty: the boom Linear Actuator.  Apparently, there was too much strain on it, so that's why it didn't function properly.

"Our Quality team have investigated and it appears that the digging arm itself (specifically the ‘linear actuator’), which works perfectly well in our other sets, is not strong enough to lift the arm of our Motorized Excavator 8043. The piece itself is not faulty or unsafe, but gets too strained in combination with all the gear-wheels used in this particular set."

-LEGO

For the people that have already bought this set, you have two options:

"you have the option of returning the set for a full refund or credit with Shop @ Home. If you’d like to do that, please get in touch with us and let us know."


"However, we also realize that this is a unique set and so you might not want to return it, you just want it to work properly. Because of this, we have created a second option: We are having a new replacement part made which we will send to you as soon as it’s ready. We’ve only just started the design and production of this new piece, so it may not be available until early October. "

"In the meantime, if you choose not to return your set but to wait for the replacement piece, we'd like to offer you a GBP 10.00 credit with our apologies and we will send the new part as soon as possible."

-LEGO

This has been an update for the missing Excavator.  This is jojoguy10, signing off.

[via Brickset]

Excavator coming back from vacation!

YAY!  The 8043 Excavator decided he was gone long enough, and wants to come home.  There was a new official communication to the LEGO Ambassadors saying

"The LEGO group and the LEGO Technic product team are aware that a number of consumers have been experiencing problems with the recently launched 8043 motorized excavator, which was not identified during the intensive testing of the product before launch. Consequently, we have been testing this model over again and learned that a specific element is causing the error. The LEGO Technic team has corrected the error and is now in the stage of producing a replacement part which will be distributed to those consumers, who experienced the fault with the model they have purchased.

There is no safety concern regarding the faulty element!

It's really important to us that our products are of the highest quality and we sincerely apologize to consumers who have had an experience with this product that does not live up to their or our expectations.

We are currently doing everything we can to solve this issue as quickly as possible. As soon as new replacement parts are available, our Consumer Service will distribute a Service Bag with instructions and new elements to those consumers who experienced the problems."

I hope it comes back soon!  And, it appears that they ARE in fact going to send a service pack to all the consumers.  Also, it is unknown at this point what that faulty piece is.  Welcome back Excavator!

jojoguy10

[via TechnicBRICKS]

8043 Excavator away for vacation???

If you haven't noticed yet, the new 8043 Excavator has "gone fishing".  It's out of the S@H website!  According to LEGO, there was a design flaw in it.  They think it might be the transmission, so they built 50 of them, and tried them out, and after that, they said that after time, ALL 50 of them were becoming slower and less efficient.  So, they took them out of S@H to make them better!  Will they bring it back?  I sure hope so!  This is bad for LEGO's reputation!  We'll see what happens.

jojoguy10

2 new Technic sets added to S@H (still no excavator)

[caption id="attachment_344" align="alignleft" width="188" caption="New crane, Blue Truck, and Motorbike added"][/caption]

As you can see...LEGO added the 8052 Container Truck, the 8053 Mobile Crane, and the 8051 Moterbike.  But, sadly, there is STILL no sign of the big yellow Excavator :-(  You can check out the Technic S@H page HERE(link).

jojoguy10

Update: Excavator added!  Check it out HERE(link)