The LEGO Technic line was first released as “Expert Builder” sets in 1977, and LEGO has been producing Technic ever since, including Bionicle and MINDSTORMS. The custom Technic models featured here on The Brothers Brick include some pretty crazy and amazing mechanisms that’ll blow your mind, from self-sorting LEGO to automated Rubik’s Cube solvers.
A builder named 呱氏神 (Gū Shìshén) has constructed, in my opinion, one of the most nauseating, vomit-inducing LEGO creations ever, but not because I dislike it. Quite the contrary. The skill level and presentation are all top-notch as evidenced by the beautiful waves, palm tree and gold filigree. My younger self would have loved the chance to go on this “Viking Pirates” ride, but as I get older it seems I’d rather quietly read about vikings or pirates and leave the real adventures to you crazy kids.
Queasy old stomach aside, this indeed looks as if it would be fun to play with. There is no video presentation for this, but the backside makes it clear that the ride works in exactly the way you’d think with the help of a manual crank and Technic gears. Continue reading →
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Here is a simple truth: these days LEGO remains one of those few common activities that give you a rest from a smartphone. For me and for many of our readers, building with LEGO has always been a pastime that requires no downloads, installing or updates; you open a box and the play begins. Obviously, winning over modern-day kids who love digital entertainment and touchscreens is a tough challenge for a toy manufacturer. They say if you can’t beat them, join them, but LEGO thinks differently: if you can’t beat them, build them into the play experience. Along comes LEGO Technic Powered Up — the first generation of LEGO Technic electric elements that bring smartphones and tablets into play. With a whole lot of sensors and features, the new smart hub and motors are among the most advanced LEGO pieces ever produced. LEGO Technic 42099 4×4 X-treme Off-Roader introduces the new play system. The set includes just 958 pieces, but the new expensive electric elements are to blame for the price tag of US $249.99 | CAN $299.99 | UK £199.99. It is available starting today, so we are building and testing the model in an attempt to discover the limits of the new Powered Up system and Control+ smart app.
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The brand new LEGO Hidden Side augmented reality product line is available starting today, as well as more than 50 new sets from Architecture, Harry Potter, City, Friends, Jurassic World, Technic and more. LEGO fans in the U.S. have had to wait patiently for this new wave of sets which has been available in Europe for a few months now.
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No doubt, cars are among kids’ most favorite toys. And if you have a few toy cars the best thing you can do with them is to transport them using an even bigger car, or a car transporter. These trucks make for an excellent toy with a lot of playability, and LEGO has even released a DUPLO one, not speaking of many other sets released across various themes. This year, yet another car transporter comes as a LEGO Technic set. 42098 Car Transporter seems to be the longest LEGO vehicle ever released yet, reaching more than 3 feet/1 meter with the rear ramp lowered. The set consists of 2,493 pieces and will be available starting August 1 for US $179.99| CAN $229.99 | UK £139.99.
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Decked out in sponsor stickers, and sporting a nifty black and yellow paint job, Ian Ying‘s latest LEGO Technic vehicle is a cracker — a beefy buggy of a 4×4 off-roader. With its fat wheels, roll cage, and striking colour scheme, I can just imagine this baby roaring across the dunes in Baja, or maybe taking on the Paris-Dakar Rally.
This is one of those LEGO models which looks just as good from the rear, especially in this low-angle shot, which gives the vehicle the impression of being packed with engine grunt. That’s not too far off the mark here, as Ian has built a Technic Pull-Back motor into the heart of this model, giving it a nifty turn of speed.
(One small niggle — the spare tyre is different from the rest. But that’s nit-picking at an otherwise excellent build.)
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Today we’re pleased to welcome Caleb Watson as a guest contributor to give a special introduction to his latest creation. We’ve featured some of his amazing models in the past such as the iconic ‘I am your Father’ Scene and the opening temple from Raiders of the Lost Ark. His newest model is starkly different from his past works being a chromosomal model designed for a project in his 11th-grade genetics class. He worked on this several-thousand-piece model for about two months and he explains his processes for designing it along with the scientific background behind the project.
The Building of an NF1 Chromosomal Model
By Caleb Watson
It’s no surprise that school is one of the biggest factors in my life that dictates how much time I’m able to build my LEGO models (along with friends, family, and running). As a result of this, I’m always looking for opportunities to integrate LEGO into what I need to do for school, which is how I came to build this model.
Right now, I’m wrapping up my junior year at Ballard High School in Seattle, and along with that, the final year of the three-year Biotechnology career pathway, a set of STEM-focused classes organized in a small cohort that takes biology, chemistry, and genetics. The first-semester project for genetics this year was to write a 9-page research paper covering everything about a genetic disease. I selected the disease Neurofibromatosis because it is quite common yet not well known, and has many interesting and unique attributes. For the second semester and capstone project of the Biotechnology Career Academy, we had to use the information we’d learned in our research papers to create a science project for the Student BioExpo at Shoreline Community College. Seeing the opportunity, I chose molecular modeling with the intent of building a LEGO model for my project. Continue reading →
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Today, the first product pictures of the new LEGO Technic sets became available. Here comes 42110 Land Rover Defender, a 2573-piece LEGO Technic replica of the legendary utility vehicle. The model has no electric elements, yet the retail price of the set in the UK will be £159.99 (according to Smyths Toys). The Land Rover is equipped with a working steering mechanism (which is standard for LEGO models of its size and class) and a 4-speed sequential gearbox, which is a very pleasant surprise for all LEGO Technic fans. Besides, the chassis carries 3 differentials and an independent suspension. The final touch is a working winch at the front of the vehicle.
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Today, LEGO revealed for the first time the rest of the summer and early fall 2019 sets across a variety of themes. The sets were published in a Dutch edition of the July-December official product catalog. The newly revealed sets span Disney’s Frozen, Speed Champions, The LEGO Movie 2, Minecraft, and Technic. The standouts are the new Technic sets, including 42100 Liebherr R 9800, a model of one of the world’s largest mining excavators. The enormous set will be app controlled, and includes a whopping 7 Powered Up! motors. There’s no word on specific pricing or part counts yet, but we’ll be sure to bring you that info when it’s available. Check out the new sets below.
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Inspired. That’s all I can say about how I feel every time I see one of Jason Allemann‘s new creations. And maybe a little jealous at how talented he is. Recently, we wrote and article about his update to the LEGO Forma mechanics with a custom shark. This time he has taken a recently released official set, LEGO Creator 31088 Deep Sea Creatures, and brought it to life. It’s done so well that you would think the set was always intended for this purpose.
With the turn of the crank or an attached motor, the drive mechanism of this build gives the shark an appearance of organically gliding through water. The most impressive part (as always with Jason’s builds) is how smooth and seamless the motions are. Truly fluid! And as a bonus, this creation isn’t just for admiring from afar! He has kindly shared these (and many other) instructions on his website so that others can build it too!
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2019 has arrived and the floodgates of LEGO have opened with 112 new sets available today. Fans of Star Wars, Technic, Ninjago, City, Overwatch, Architecture and even Captain Marvel have a lot to choose from. It can be a lot to process, so we have your guide right here detailing each and every new set.
Some regions have seen these sets on shelves already. but now they are all available online. There are a few sets that really stand out to us, but you can see the complete list of all 112 sets (plus a dozen new key chains) after the jump.
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Just three years after LEGO’s premium-branded 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Billund’s designers are returning to the German marque for another shot at the iconic 911. 42096 Porsche 911 RSR will be available Jan 1, 2019, for $149.99 USD (Dec. 26 in Europe). It includes 1,580 pieces.
Ringing in at 19 inches in length, it’s the largest set of the January Technic wave, and much larger than the tiny Speed Champions 911 RSR we reviewed in February 2018. Let’s see how this newest entrant to the LEGO Technic vehicles squadron stacks up.
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LEGO Technic is a fantastic system for creating functional models with working mechanisms. However, it’s less often that we see Technic parts (particularly panels) integrated brilliantly into a “regular bricks” creation. However, this fabulous model of a Landrover Defender by ianying616 goes to show that the best builders select the best pieces for the job, regardless of which branch of the LEGO parts family they may originally come from. The shaping here is excellent — a good combination of regular System bricks and Technic axles, joints, and panels — perfectly capturing the recognisable lines of the Defender.
This thing is a BEAST — bulky and beautiful, with a striking black and red colour scheme. Beyond the overall styling, the details deserve appreciation: a rooftop lamp rack, a detailed interior, working suspension and steering, and opening doors, boot, and bonnet. And lurking beneath that bonnet? A gleaming engine block, ready to propel this bad boy through any obstacle in its path. Great stuff.
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