Subject:
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Re: Technic, what happened to the good old days?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.dear-lego
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Date:
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Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:05:29 GMT
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Viewed:
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7771 times
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In lugnet.dear-lego, Danny Staple wrote:
> On 19/07/06, Allan Porter <Allan.elwood@talk21.com> wrote:
> > I grew up during, what was in my opinion, the golden age of technic (1992-1996
> > was the best). I remember seeing a technic model in those square catalogues and
> > thinking WOW. So many functions and new functional pieces. I remember staring at
> > pictures of the space shuttle (8480)
>
> You know, I still have never owned that set, and would still like to
> at some point, maybe if I can buy a mint one on brickshelf or ebay I
> would. It was one of the best. You know, I always thought that a
> massive crossover between the space line and the technic line would
> make for some really, really cool wow-factor sets. I don't mean any
> Bionacle style figs either.
I agree. A space themed technic based line could really showcase some cool
stuctural building techniques and could be tied in with lego system quite
nicely. These should be completely new and not limited to designs in a movie
franchise.
>
> > and the supercar (8880) for ages trying to
> > figure out how they worked (and never really being able to until I got them for
> > christmas and built them, it was so exiting). I couldn't wait to get my hands on
> > the new peices (gearbox and 4 wheel drive components in the 8880, motor pump in
> > the airtech claw rig to name a few). I used to go toys r us and be so exited to
> > see the new sets cos I could open the lid and see all those shiney new pieces in
> > their tray just waiting to be put together. No other toy came close.
>
> Exactly. But as I have recently discussed, they have not even got the
> shiny presentation in the tray under the lid any more. The gloss has
> gone - probably due to a more difficult market with greater costs and
> more competition. I have not really seriously considered it, but how
> do Lego prices now compare with then?
I think lego prices are still pretty much the same. TLG has cheapened up on
packaging to save money but have they considered the fact that the old style
more expensive packaging may have aided the sale of the product in the first
place?
>
> > 10 years later.
> >
> > 10 years of "improvement" and "development".
>
> While I agree in almost every respect, one word, RCX. That definitely
> was the best thing recently in the technic line. I think the NXT is
> pretty cool, but the pure liftarm based kit really just does not seem
> as ready to build with as the RIS did.
I agree. The RCX and NXT are great and important additions to the lego technic
line.
>
> > The end result:
> >
> > A tow truck. One that looks kinda cool, and has some (but not much)
> > functionality, and thats it.
> >
> > Even as a kid I had the parts and knowhow to build a model equally as functional,
> > It offers no sense of "ah, so thats how it works".
>
> Did you ever remember the worm gear based transforming truck technic
> model? Or any of the crazy amazing designs in the technic idea books?
Oh yes. Happy days 8^). Do you remember the power loader like thing (like the
one from the film aliens) in one of the ideas books. That was so cool.
>
> > No new pieces to get exited about. I'm not talking about new lift arms, existing
> > pieces in new colours or a new way to connect two pneumatics end to end (from
> > 2005's XXL crane). I'm talking about those pieces that give you increased
> > functionality.
>
> Yes, especially as studless construction is still in its infant state,
> and is cause headaches with ways to connect the pieces.
Studded beams allowed fairly amature builders to build a chassis that is strong
and rigid. It is so mush more difficult to do in studless construction. Some
prefer it tho so maybe i'm just not used to it yet 8^).
>
> > The functionality of the 8880 supercar was made possible because
> > of the numerous new elements it had. Some may argue that the cost of designing
> > new elements may be prohibitive.
>
> But prototyping them and designing parts is now cheaper than ever.
> Machining new moulds is definitely expensive though. If they played it
> right, and got these parts out in the lower costing sets as well as
> the higher costing ones (which would probably sell fewer), they may
> make is all back.
Indeed. The smaller models could each showcase a new function or part with the
big modle containing many or all of them.
>
> > However TLG design and manufacture numerous new
> > parts every year (flexible axles and corrugated tubing, fairings, the whole
> > bionicle line, etc), so why don't they design some new parts that enforce the
> > idea of the technic range (the idea of technic being functionality, not just
> > looks).
>
> Exactly my sentiment. There are many people who are now drilling Lego
> and gluing stuff to get functionality, new stuff would be really well
> received.
There are others who have to resort to buying non-lego alternatives (such as
longer pneumatics) that are often difficult to incorporate into lego and usually
very expensive.
>
> > This new tow truck model would be great if it had spline shafts and a
> > differential with a crown gear on it and one or two other new elements to give
> > it live axles and suspension. Last years XXL crane was good (one of the best
> > things being the piece count) but it would be so much better with one long
> > pneumatic instead of the two short ones. And even an extra long one for
> > extending the boom and using the motor to rotate the crane instead. And those
> > new pieces described earlier being used again to give it live axles and
> > suspension too. DROOOOOOOOOOOOOL.
>
> The other thing is that the technic line is much smaller than it was.
> Don't forget that the technic line reinforces the mindstorms line too.
> You know what I would really love to see, slip ring electrical
> connectors, for both the normal Lego connectors and the new NXT ones.
> Maybe with a capacity for two/three pairs of connections. This might
> be a specialised version of a turntable, but there would be a lot I
> could do with a part like that.
That would be cool. >
> > I wonder what new technic components the people of lugnet would like to see.
> > Parts for a helicopter that enable the blades to tilt in all directions and
> > change pitch in a sleek and compact design (and with little friction to make
> > life easier for a motor) maybe.
>
> As well as some really well designed helicopter blades, which could
> actually generate lift. I would imagine that a Lego helicopter that
> could actually take off when motorised would be a massive hit. I would
> certainly happily blow my salary and bonuses on a model like that.
Cool. And a compant 4+ channel rc unit (maybe powered by a small 9V high power
lithium battery)
>
> > Or a rotary pneumatic actuator.
>
> And similarly, a rotary pneumatic valve, which when combined with a
> motor, would become a functional solenoid valve, or better still a
> true compact solenoid with the electrical connections, and
> position/state sensing for the NXT. How about pneumatic pressure
> sensors for the NXT?
This would greatly enhance the pneumatic capabilities of the NXT and in turn the
whole technic line.
>
> > Power steering parts perhaps. I would really like the syncromesh gears done in all the sizes of
> > the normal gears
>
> And how about turntables which interface better with the size ratios
> of other normal gears.
I'de also like to see a larger turntable that incorporates ball bearings.
> > and a couple of well designed components that allow you to
> > mount the gear stick anywhere and with smooth gear changes like the 8880
> > (changing gears in the super street sensation was horrible).
> > Drive/steer/suspension elements with very low friction and can take lots of
> > torque without breaking and can be packaged into a medium sized model (like the
> > dakoter wrecker) or a large one (like the 4x4 off roader).
>
> How about tread links with rubberised grip on them for building tank
> like constructions, which could double up with the right mounting
> points as parts for grippers on robots.
>
> And another great one would be plates designed for studless
> construction - with mounting holes around the outside, and a flat
> middle, with maybe a set of holes in the middle. These could be in
> squares, triangles, rectangles. Also, how about a studless beam with
> alternate studs at 90 degrees to each other.
These are all great ideas. I hope someone at lego is taking note most companies
have to pay for this kind of market research 8^). But it also proves my point.
There are so many new things they could do to make technic as good as it's ever
been. And at the end of the day it's that that sells the product.
>
> > Bring back the old box design too (with trays, I like my instructions and
> > sticker sheet intact and being able to see all the pieces by lifting the lid,
> > and all the special new pieces in a display tray) and an alternative model that
> > isn't just a variation of the first model!
>
> Yes please. Bring back idea books too.
>
> > I really think a model can be made as complex as you like. If the instructions
> > are clear then 11-16 year olds will have no problem assembling them.
>
> With studless construction, models do need to be modular to save the
> massive disassembling reassembling that I have had to do a couple of
> times when I have gotten a studless construction wrong. I have been
> building things using the Bush + pin parts to push in and link modules
> together.
Technics models real life counterparts are also built in a modular way like the
super street sensation.
>
> > Just my two cents! Any thoughts?
>
> Good stuff, this is exactly what I have been thinking for a while. I
> did take a look at those other part designs, wow, orbital gears - how
> cool would that be.
> Also, how about a variation on the 8t gear to stop it falling into the
> beam holes slightly. What about a few new gearbox parts? How about
> larger axles designed to deal with more torque?
>
> 4 stud long pins - with a solid ridge in the middle, and two minor
> ones outside of that. 3 stud long pins with 1 solid ridge, 1 minor
> ridge, and axles either side of it - both in a friction and
> frictionless mounting. A piece with a bush at one end, and simple
> frictionless pin on the other.
>
> I, for one, would welcome a new mindstorms and studless based technic
> golden age which would allow me to do things with Lego that I could
> never do before.
I second that.
>
> One idea I have would be a really serious part editor, using
> Constructive Solid Geometry technics, and that is aware of additional
> primatives like studs, technic holes, pin ends, axles, Lego gear teeth
> sizes and so on as well as working in Lego units. This could not only
> be used to export for LDraw and improve the existing database, but
> could also be used to design new pieces (much like the brickshelf link
> you provided - http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=185759),
> which could be uploaded to Lego for production at cost. I do not know
> how much it would cost for Lego to do something like that, and it
> could be prohibitive, but the ability for the community to request
> part shapes in standard Lego ABS and colours would be absolutely
> amazing.
This would be very expensive but it could still work. Imagine you could design a
new piece and it could be uploaded to a wedsite set up by lego. People then vote
on the piece(s) they like best and they then get included into future product
lines. There would be separate catagories for all the lego lines.
Allan
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Technic, what happened to the good old days?
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| (...) You know, I still have never owned that set, and would still like to at some point, maybe if I can buy a mint one on brickshelf or ebay I would. It was one of the best. You know, I always thought that a massive crossover between the space line (...) (18 years ago, 21-Jul-06, to lugnet.dear-lego)
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