This Harley Davidson Street Glide is the work the amazing Bricksonwheels, and it’s as orange as a budget airline air stewardess. It means an orange Smartie for the Elf that found it and – as any Smartie connoisseur will know – they’re the best kind. See more on Flickr.
We kick off a space-themed day today with this; David Alexander Smith’s Classic Space Command Roller. We have absolutely no idea what to say about it, other than it reminds us of a t-rex, a cat, a steamroller and this, all rolled* into one.
Available on MOCpages and Flickr, see if you can try to work it out at the links.
*Sorry.
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight is one of our very favourite movie trilogies, so wonderfully did it deconstruct the previous camp crusader’s legacy. One of our very favourite Lego builders has now completed a Batman trilogy of his own.
Sariel’s awe-inspiring remote controlled Batwing and Tumbler featured here over the past two years, and he’s finally added the last of Bruce Wayne’s wheels to his collection. Controlled by Lego’s Power Functions RC system, the Batpod is the smallest of Sariel’s three Batmobile’s, but possibly the most complex as a result.
Join the final instalment at Sariel’s MOCpage, or via his own excellent website sariel.pl.
It’s time to reveal the final new LEGO Technic sets bound for stores in 2015! Yesterday we previewed five of the eight new Technic models due at the start of next year, including the new 42037 Formula Off-Road Racer.
Today we move on to the bigger stuff, including the rather lovely looking green endurance racer above. But more on that in a bit. Firstly, let’s look at two wheels…
We start with the smallest of the more complex 2015 Technic sets, the 375 piece 9+ 42036 Street Motorcycle. 42036 looks a nice mid-range set, featuring working front and rear suspension, steering, and (we suspect) a chain driven two cylinder engine. It also comes in a rather attractive light blue hue and includes the common-for-2015 decals seen on many of the new sets that add a bit more visual interest.
Downsides are the matching tyres front and rear – which isn’t particularly realistic – and (possibly) the longevity of those aforementioned decals on the large curved Technic panels. Overall though we like the look of 42036 – a good effort from The Lego Group.
We’re now into the big sets! New for 2015 is this, the 42038 Arctic Truck, aimed at ages 10+ and containing over 900 pieces – many of which are in the ace 8110 Unimog orange. 42038 goes back to the days of good old fashioned mechanical Technic, and fits a wealth of functionality into its 40cm length, including a linear-actuator operated crane boom, suspended tracks and working steering.
As with some of the other new Technic sets for 2015, LEGO seem to have upped the detail level, possibly at the cost of robustness (how long is that communications ariel going to stay in place for example), but this does look to be a conscious effort to make Technic more visually appealing to those progressing from LEGO’s simpler product themes.
The 42038 Arctic Truck set will reach stores next year, and like most of the new LEGO Technic sets it includes a colourful sticker sheet plus instructions for a second vehicle.
And finally, the flagship new Technic set for 2015, the 1,200 piece 42039 24 Hours Race Car! We’re not sure what 42039 features in the way of technical functionality, apart from steering and an opening engine cover, but we’re hoping for pushrod suspension and a big piston engine – it’s aimed at ages 11+ after all!
However, we can tell you that 42039 does feature some as-yet unreleased parts/colour combinations that will probably get certain quarters of the online Lego Community very excited, though we’re just happy because it looks a bit like the incredible Toyota TS040, Audi R18 and Porsche 919 hybrid racers from this year’s LeMans endurance race (although LEGO have missed the regulation stabilising fin from their version).
Like the other new sets for 2015 42039 includes a colourful set of stickers as well as instructions for a second model, although perhaps more surprisingly it contains no Power Functions electric components. This means that there are no new motorised sets in the 2015 LEGO Technic line-up at all – something that we’re in no doubt change mid-way through the year.
So until then, which is your favourite? As always our resident experts may review some of these sets after their release (plus you can check out all The Lego Car Blog’s reviews of sets past in the Set Review Library), and if you missed Part 1 of our preview detailing the first five new Technic sets for 2015 you can catch up here.
The Elves know that orange Smarties are the best kind, and thus orange creations are highly sought after amongst our smelly little workforce. This find has pleased one of them greatly, as it’s now the recipient of a meal token and a coveted orange Smartie.
Hajdekr is the builder, and his bright orange super bike features a range of quality Technic functions, including suspension, steering and a four cylinder engine. You can see more of his bike – as well as a how-to instructional – over on Flickr via the link above, plus you can see a preview of LEGO’s own Technic super bike due in 2015 by clicking here.
Another day in the office and another Elf sits happily munching a yellow Smartie, whilst fending off its envious colleagues with a bit of Technic. It has just returned with this lovely, brick-built Vespa scooter by Pascal (Pasukaru76). Click this link to Flickr for a closer look.
Taking a ‘vintage’ style photo of your dinner is perhaps one of the douchiest things you can do on the internet (thanks for that one Instagram), but occasionally retro images do work. This is one such occasion, courtesy of Aaden H and his BSA based ‘Bobber’/’Rat’ motorcycle.
Aaden has captured the ethos of bobber/rat bike culture brilliantly, even including a ‘heat wrapped’ exhaust by way of (we think!) a sticky bandage! See more of the BSA on Flickr here, just don’t get any ideas about taking similar pictures of your food.
The brilliant simplicity of Stephan Jonsson‘s chopper motorbike is at odds with much of what appears here on TLCB, but it’s this that makes it one of the most beautiful Lego creations to feature here this year. A visit to Stephan’s Flickr page is highly recommended – click the link above see all of his expertly shot images.
The LEGO Company makes a perfectly good one-piece motorcycle. Here at TLCB we’re at the lazy end of the building spectrum and so we simply stick a mini-figure on it and move on. However there are builders out there with considerably more imagination than us. One such builder is Flickr’s Project Azazel, who’s gone and built his own Town scale police motorcycle from a myriad of LEGO’s most fiddly pieces. You can see more of his brilliant brick-built bike via the link above.
Splendidly-named builder Dwalin Forkbeard has constructed a sweet Victorian ride. His steampunk Henderson motorcycle (a company that actually started production very shortly after the Victorian era) can be viewed on Flickr, and we’re pleased because it’s allowed us to make a tenuous link to an underwear company that we had to Google purely in the name of research. Victorian bike > Hell’s Angels > Victoria’s Secret Angels… See, it all makes sense…
The new 2015 Technic sets are in the shops now and I’ve made my customary annual pilgrimage to the temple of Mammon…
I returned with a very nice green and white Le Mans style racer (about which more soon) and this:
Looks very racy dontchathink? It is of course set 42036, the Sports Motorbike, and it might be LEGO’s most handsome bike yet. 375 pieces of Technic goodness for 30 quid. Decent value, then, if not outstanding.
New element news! This comes with some very handy ‘technic single bush with pin’ pieces that’ll get moccers salivating. They have appeared in a few 2014 sets, including the big Tumbler, but 2015 is their first appearance in Technic sets. There’s also a piece that’s a 1L smooth sided bush – imagine half a pin joiner and you’re there. 42036 comes with just two of those, one of which is a spare.
What else have we got? Well, after you’ve destroyed the box, you’ll find two instruction books, a worryingly large sticker sheet and a few bags of bits. You’ll enjoy the build well enough over a leisurely hour or so, ten minutes of which will be c.a.r.e.f.u.l.l.y. placing stickers over curved panels.
The bike itself looks ace, in a Japanese suzhonda firebusa kind of way, while functionally it’s a mixed bag…
The engine’s pretty neat. It’s a V4 (NOT A TWIN!!) that takes its drive from the centre of the crankshaft, it’s mounted across the bike and canted forward. Not being an expert on bikes, I have no idea how realistic this is but I find it does make a nice change from the usual set-up in Technic bikes. Still turns too slowly, though…
Suspension, on the other hand, is pretty bog standard with no surprises; wobble-strut front forks and all. Because of the thicker tyres, the front one will foul the springs too easily when it’s compressed, and I really would have thought a wider rear tyre shouldn’t be too much to ask on a bike like this… maybe they can mount the primary chain inside the swingarm while they’re at it. Some things never change…
Colours change sometimes, and this time for the better. The medium blue and red combination is very attractive with the dark grey wheels. I was hoping it’d look so nice I needn’t bother with the stickers, but alas without them it does look a bit underdressed. With the stickers on it looks great, until they start to peel…
Which leads me to LEGO’s treatment of the seat. It’s a pair of stickers on the frame! This is. Just. Not. Good. Enough. At least with the exhaust underneath the rider can keep warm.
In other news, the B-model looks pretty cool:
…makes a change from the endless sea of choppers and dragsters doesn’t it? I like this drag-bike type thing very much, mostly because the front end doesn’t wobble so much. There’s an instruction book for it as well.
Overall, this is a bit style-over-substance (engine excepted) and, while it looked like it might be an outstanding bike, it’s really rather… average. It’s saved by its good looks and that B-model. 7/10
This beautiful Technic motorcycle with sidecar comes from TLCB debutant hirnlego, and it looks a fine way to reuse two of LEGO’s 42036 Sports Motorbike sets. You can see more of this creation via the first link, and you can read our review of the official Technic set on which it’s based via the second.
Two of our favourite builders are making an appearance here today; both have formed part of our ongoing interview series and their latest builds show why they were selected.
First up (above) is the most recent creation from the incredibly talented BricksonWheels, who is one of the builders in our Master MOCers series. His magnificent Harley Davidson lowrider shows what an amazing eye for detail, and access to a chroming machine, can do! You can see more of the Harley on Flickr, and you can catch up on BricksonWheels’ interview by clicking here.
Today’s second creation comes from fellow interviewee, and published author, Sariel. Sariel’s latest work is one of his smallest, yet features all the remotely controlled brilliance found in his work twice the size. You can see more of his Tiger tank on MOCpages here, and you can read his interview in our ‘Become a Pro’ series by clicking here.
There’s only been one post between Ralph Savelsberg‘s last creation to appear here and this one, but unlike the Indiana Jones movie franchise all of Ralph’s efforts continue to yield excellent results.
His latest model is the BMW R75 military motorcycle and sidecar that starred in the superb 1989 film The Last Crusade, complete with Indiana himself and his father as passenger. There’s lots more to see at Ralph’s photostream – click the link above to make the jump.
*If only. Someone please tell George Lucas to stop. Aliens? Really?!
Sariel is back, and with something that at first glance looks a bit simple when compared to his usual builds. But the beauty of his recreation of Kaneda’s Bike from AKIRA is more than its stunning appearance – remarkably this model is fully RC drivable! You can see how Sariel has done it via MOCpages, you can watch his bike in action below, and you can read our interview with man himself here.
YouTube Video:
The Elves have been making ‘bruuuming’ noises all morning and riding around the TLCB Towers on an assortment of office equipment. The cause is this, previous bloggee Henrik Jensen‘s magnificent Harley Davidson V-Rod motorcycle. There lots more to see – including his custom brake discs – on MOCpages. Bruuuum!
It’s not a car, but it is rather pretty. This vintage Triumph-esque motorcycle is the work of Joe Perez aka MortalSwordsman. See more on Flickr here.
Finally, we’re back to what we know. The Elves have been given strict instructions to stick to their brief, and the first result is this lovely Technic cafe racer motorbike. There’s a working twin-cylinder engine, front and rear suspension, steering and chain tensioner. Senpai Ragnarok is the builder making his TLCB debut, and you can see more of his excellent motorcycle at the Eurobricks discussion forum or at his Flickr photostream.
This pretty Moto Guzzi cafe racer comes from Flickr’s Senpai Ragnarok, who made his TLCB debut last week with another lovely Technic bike. His latest uses similar techniques to recreate the cafe racer flat-tank style, and includes a V-Twin engine, rear suspension and woking steering. Join Senpai for a drink at the link above.
Sometimes we could be accused of focussing only on fast, loud and exotic forms of transport here at The Lego Car Blog. So to redress the balance here’s an elderly Italian couple on a scooter.
Dario Minisini is the builder and you can see more of his charming build at his photostream here.
