Alongside civilian versions of the Hummer, AMG’s G63 version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon is surely one of the most pointless vehicles ever created. Transforming a hardcore off-road workhorse into an immensely powerful on-road racer results in a car that can do neither of those things, and that costs a fortune to do absolutely nothing well at all. In short, the G63 AMG’s only purpose is to be a rolling pile of banknotes proclaiming the wealth of the occupant inside it. Rant over, on to the model…

This impressive recreation of the World’s Most Pointless Car comes from previous bloggee damianple, making his fifth appearance on TLCB. Damian’s G63 AMG is a fully functioning Technic Supercar with some seriously impressive engineering inside. A working V8 engine, all-wheel-suspension, all-wheel-drive, steering and Power Functions remote control are included, amongst a host of other features.

There’s an extensive gallery of photos available to view via Brickshelf, including detailed chassis imagery and interior shots. Click the link above to make the jump.

This is a real off-roader! Previous bloggee Pipasseyoyo has miniaturised one of the most accomplished all-terrain-vehicles, and his remote controlled Technic 6×6 ATV is every bit as capable as the real thing. With 6-wheel-drive powered by two XL Motors, locking differentials, a two-speed gearbox and working steering powered by a Medium Motor each, plus suspension on all three axles, Pipasseyoyo’s creation can climb like an ant. There’s lots more detail available on Brickshelf, including a rendering of the awesome 6×6 drivetrain and a video link to see the model in action – click the link above to make the jump.

When the previews for the ‘Ultimate’ Technic 42056 Porsche were circulating, I was certain that I’d buy one, as a Lego fan and petrolhead; even though I’m not overly fond of the Volkswagen Beetle Sport…. a review was promised in short order.

Well, here it isn’t – for a couple of reasons.

First, LEGO pulled it from sale before it was even offered, to fix a packaging problem we were told. If by packaging problem they mean packaging an errata sheet in the instructions… We will see. It seems the massive weight of that doorstop  sized coffee table book was crushing the boxes around it.

Second, early reviews were not encouraging, highlighting a number of reasons why this isn’t really ‘Ultimate’ in anything but price.

Technically, the steering and suspension are identical to the 42039 Le Mans car. No fancy tricks, just the basics. I don’t really care about the colour of the springs if the geometry is nothing like the real car… The flat six engine is bog standard and completely hidden. There’s plenty of space back there to have a go at modelling camshafts, say, but no attempt was made at anything above the ordinary.

Likewise, no attempt was made at any kind of rear wheel steering, a notable feature of the real 911 GT3RS. The only technical aspect that shows any ambition is the gearbox, more on which in a bit… So, if you want the ultimate Lego Technic car, stick to your 8880.

What about that much heralded build experience? It’s an idea that’s appeared before, in the 8448, which does the modularity thing a whole lot better. Since I haven’t (and probably won’t unless 42056 appears at a steep discount) built the Porsche, the jury will have to stay out on that one.

Ultimate packaging maybe? It would be if the box had a strong plastic insert to sort the pieces into and lots of pictures of alternate builds. For that, you’ll need an 853. I do understand what they mean by the ‘premium experience’ of the Porsche but like a lot of things, the word ‘premium’ just means you pay more.

Ultimate looks?

It is pretty, and the orange (close-but-no-cigar to the real Porsche’s ‘lava orange’ colour) does look good. But with its awkward gaps around the headlights and taillights, messy interior and clumsy rear end is it as pretty as the Creator Ferrari F40? Not to these eyes.

Now then, that gearbox, surely that must be the most impressive such thing in a Lego car?

If you like your changing up sequence to be 1-3-2-4 and lots of friction, then yes. A lot of said friction can apparently be blamed on this little fella:

It’s a small bevel gear assembly built in the very early stages, and the problem is that pin joiner, used as a spacer. Change it for a couple of bushes and it’s fine. Expect that to be instruction errata number 1. According to Sariel’s review on Eurobricks, there are twenty gears engaged in first gear; so don’t expect that to completely solve the friction problem. Now we know why the white clutch gear was included in the powertrain…

As for the shift sequence, this can be corrected by swapping a 12T double bevel and a 16T spur gear on the back of the gearbox, which suggests a simple error in the instructions. Or it would if LEGO hadn’t tried to tell us it was ‘to reduce friction and enhance the premium experience’ or some such tosh. According to everyone who’s built one, the positions of these gears makes no difference to the friction. That’ll be errata number 2.

If these two problems are solved – and they should be when it becomes available again – this gearbox will be an impressive feat, for all that you can still change up from 4 back to 1 and have four reverse gears. That sounds like fun. Finally, it’s possible to drive a 911 as if its engine is in the right place. Backwards…

So it might actually be the ultimate gearbox. £250 is a lot to pay for a gearbox.

Hang on a sec, it’s got a handbag as well, so there’s that… it’d better be a Hermes…

Sorry LEGO. I know you tried. The idea for an ‘Ultimate’ series of Technic models is a great one which should produce something fantastic that we’ll all love. It’s just that 42056 isn’t it. It feels like the product of two partners with conflicting priorities, rather like the McLaren-Mercedes SLR; when the 8880 felt like LEGO’s McLaren F1

An enjoyable afternoon perusing the office intern’s Facebook holiday pictures seemed like a good use of this TLCB writer’s time today. Sadly the importance of this task was lost on the Elves, who decided to shatter the peace of the office by feeding one of their number into a desk fan. Sigh.

It turns out that this particular act of violence was the culmination of an Elf-fight, which started when a two of our Elves simultaneously returned to TLCB Towers with this remote control UAZ-452 gas-service van, found on both MOCpages and Eurobricks. Seeing as we’re feeling generous today (and we’re bored of the fights) we’ll let them each have a meal token. On to the model!

It’s a Soviet-issue UAZ gas-service van, used for… er, servicing gas. Underneath the Technic lift-arm body is one of the most compact 4×4 drive-trains that we’ve seen yet. An XL motor powers all four wheels, suspended by live axles, plus there’s a Servo motor steering the front axle, opening (and locking) doors, an on board LiPo battery, and a telescopic ladder.

Previous bloggee Paave is the builder and you can see lots more, including a video of the UAZ in action, via the two links in the text above.

*Insert your own ‘Your Mom’ joke!

“Well Groomed” is an epithet hardly ever applied to The Lego Car Blog Elves. Bickering, fighting and speaking a strange guttural Elvish language often leaves our workforce looking as though they’ve been asking for directions in Wales.

However, Samuel Wharfe has produced this very nicely turned out Snow Groomer (Piste Basher if you’re British) using just the parts from the 42038 Arctic Truck. Samuel has produced a neat, good looking vehicle from possibly one of the strangest and ugliest Technic sets of all time. He has also included several of the most important working functions.

There’s a raising & lowering tail, to produce the smooth “corduroy” lines in the snow that early bird skiers enjoy. There’s a lifting & lowering bulldozer blade, which can also be swivelled in order to sculpt the features in the snowpark. Lastly, there’s a winch to enable the machine to wind itself up the steepest of slopes. In reality, the cables on these winches can be over 1.5km long and swing about a lot. Piste bashing is done at night (when nobody is supposed to be skiing) and the cables make moonlight skiing in modern resorts a high risk sport.

Click these links to see more photos and details on Flickr or to join in the discussion on Eurobricks.

We’re not really sure why hoist platforms are called ‘cherry pickers’. They must be useful for picking cherries, but other tasty fruits are equally pickable. In fact, we’ve only ever seen these things in operation fixing street lights or telephone cables, with no fruit of any kind involved at all. Anyway, whatever they should be called, this Technic version by Eurobricks’ TomasHubik is a nifty bit of kit.

Underneath the slightly bland (but therefore pretty realistic) bodywork there’s a fully remote controlled 4×4 drive-train complete with front and rear differentials and rear-axle suspension. But can you pick cherries (or other fruits) with it? Yup, because that complicated-looking lift-arm arrangement on the back is remotely controlled too, with two Medium Power Functions motors propelling the platform skywards and rotating it towards the tastiest plunder. You can even use it for marooning Elves in high places. Not that we’d do that.

There’s lots more to see at the Eurobricks discussion forum, where there’s also a link to a video the cherry picker in action. Click the link above to get picking.

The key ingredient to how fast a motorbike can go isn’t the engine, or the brakes, or the suspension. It’s the bag of meat in the middle, far more so than in a car. Unfortunately it’s usually this component that lets the bike down, often with tragic consequences. Still, if you or someone you love needs a new kidney, an ambitious biker could be just the ticket…

Most Technic motorbikes ignore the crucial component that is the rider, however newcomer Nikolay has built something quite remarkable – because his stunning Technic motorbike works. And not just in the usual way (piston engine, steering and suspension), but in that it features actual functioning controls for the throttle, brakes, clutch and gearbox – all as you would find them on a real bike. If you could find a rider small enough this incredible model really could be ridden…

Well, it could if it had a motor on board. Luckily for our Elves – who would have been used as guinea pigs if a motor were present – Nikolay’s bike is much too small to contain one. Nevertheless, this superb creation features some spectacular and highly original engineering (unlike a recently launched official LEGO Technic set). The best way to see how it works is by video, and fortunately Nikolay has produced an excellent one to accompany his build. See what this bike can do below, plus you can see all the images on Flickr here and you can join the discussion at the Eurobricks forum here.

YouTube Video:

This magnificently tough looking off-road truck comes from previous bloggee filsawgood, and it smashed its way though the office today. As is usual, a deliriously happy (and spectacularly vengeful) Elf was at the controls, using the model’s twin L Motors to smush as many of its colleagues as it could before it was discovered and ejected from the office. We counted four victims, which was a reasonable total but some way off the office best. Anyway, the model – entitled ‘Rancher’ – is a neat bit of kit, featuring 4-wheel-drive, portal axles, trick suspension, and LED lights. You can see more images read the full spec via Eurobricks at the link above, where you can also watch a video showing what it can do to a prancing horse…

This brilliant blue beauty comes from James Tillson of Flickr and Eurobricks. It is of course a C2 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, which James has recreated superbly in Technic form. He’s built both the convertible and the coupe versions, but it’s the coupe that we’re concentrating on here, because it’s probably the most beautiful American car ever designed.

And this is why – what a rear window! The C2’s split rear screen only lasted for one year (1963) because – with a massive blind-spot right in the middle – it wasn’t the safest design. But it did look gorgeous.

James’ Sting Ray coupe is the 1963 version and thus includes that wonderful rear, and there’s a lots going on underneath too. With working steering, a miniature functioning V8 engine, semi-independent front and trailing-arm rear suspension with floating differential, opening doors and hood and the Corvette’s neat rotating pop-up lights all included, James’ build fully qualifies as Technic Supercar. There’s lots more to see on both Flickr and Eurobricks – click the links above to make like a banana and split.

In the Green Corner, representing Technic and John Deere tractors, and controlled by Elf no. 17; Deseeeert Kiriiiill! Aaand in the Yellow Corner, representing Model Team and Leibherr construction equipment, and controlled by Elf. no. 42; Saaaarieeeeel!

Why do boxing introducers always add extra vowels? That’s probably not really a question for a Lego car blog, so on to the models!..

This is the latest build from previous bloggee Desert752 Kirill. It’s a John Deere 648L skid-steer logging tractor, and it’s packed with Technic functionality. With all-wheel-drive, an articulated chassis for steering, a two stage crane with rotating claw, and a front-mounted blade – all of which are individually remote controlled – Desert’s build has got more squeezed inside it than your Mom’s corset.

TLCB Lego Professional Sariel has been just as ambitious. His Liebherr R974 also features a plethora of Power Functions goodies, this time employed to drive LEGO’s pneumatics system, which is all controlled by a third party SBrick bluetooth device.

These two models have seventeen motors in all, so the only way we can see of picking the best build is via an unnecessarily violent duel between them in the office. Whilst we commence this ‘research’ you can see more of what each creation can do via the following links, where there are also videos of each model in action. Let’s get ready to ruuuuumble!

Desert752 Kirill’s John Deere 648L Skid-Steer: MOCpages  | Eurobricks

Sariel’s Liebherr R974 Excavator: MOCpages | Brickshelf  |  Eurobricks

‘Uh oh…’ thought this TLCB writer upon entering the office today. It wasn’t a particularly big or eloquent thought, but it summed up the situation that lay before him rather well.

The keys to the various rooms within TLCB Towers, (including to the Executive Washroom and Sauna, the Archive Halls and to the Smarties Cupboard) hang on a hook, high above the floor and out of reach of the Elves, even if several stand atop one another to form a wobbly tower.

Said hook only had this one purpose, and it had fulfilled its brief flawlessly. It may simply be an inch of curved metal, but the safety and security of TLCB rested entirely in its brassy embrace. Today though this hook was missing something. It stood naked… unadorned… keyless. This was not good.

A panicked run down the corridor revealed several usually-locked doors ajar, and the sound of a jacuzzi water jet on full thrust. Not the washroom….

Sadly our worst fears were realised, and every single TLCB Elf that was indoors when we left last night was found in our place of peace and serenity, defiling it. We won’t go into any details here, but the pool cleaner has got one hell of a job.

The all-night Smarties bender that preceded the defiling was facilitated by a remarkably rare event of Eleven teamwork and this; Máté Lipkovics aka Lipko’s spectacular remote control Technic telehandler. Powered by three L Motors Mate’s model can raise, lower and extend the boom (which includes automatic fork levelling) and can extend and retract its stabilising outriggers remotely.

Mate’s creation also includes several mechanical features, such as a gearbox to allow the motors to perform multiple functions, rear pendular suspension, and some trick three-mode steering (4-wheel, normal and crab).

Unfortunately all of this technological cleverness meant that Mate’s telehandler was the perfect tool for sending an Elf skywards on a key-thieving mission, and that the office’s previously unreachable door handles suddenly became portals to Elven debauchery.

We now have a morning of mopping, vacuuming and disinfecting ahead of us (and we also need to come up with a new key storage protocol) so we recommend that you come back later. In the meantime you can check out Mate’s brilliant, but immensely costly for us, Technic telehandler via MOCpages and the Eurobricks forum by clicking the links.

The washroom may never be the same again.

Our set review of LEGO’s 1980 Technic 8860 Car Chassis is one of the site’s most popular pages of all time. And for good reason. 8860 is the genesis of Technic Supercars and took the whole concept of large LEGO sets in an entirely new (and brilliant) direction, without which we probably wouldn’t have 2016’s Technic Porsche 911 GT3. OK, perhaps that’s not a great example, but we’d certainly miss 8880, 8448 and many of the sets that followed.

Just thinking about 8860 gets much of TLCB office so wistful and nostalgic it’s like mentioning food rationing to your grandparents. Paul Boratko (aka Crowkillers) hasn’t helped productivity here today then with his wonderful modern interpretation of LEGO’s 1980 icon.

Built using the latest studless Technic parts Paul’s 8860 redux is instantly recognisable, yet upgrades the venerable old set in every key area. Working steering, all-wheel suspension, adjustable seats, and a functioning gearbox hooked up to a flat-6 engine all feature, alongside modern tyres and LEGO’s latest parts designs.

It’s a creation that’s well worth further investigation, and you can do so at Paul’s MOCpage or via the Eurobricks discussion forum here. You can also read our interview with Paul in Master MOCers Series 1 here, and you can check out our review of the original 8860 Technic set from 1980 via the Set Review Library.

This interesting looking Technic Supercar comes from Eurobrick’s Anto. Taking inspiration from LEGO’s official Supercars from the ’90s there’s not a Power Functions motor in (or out of) sight, and instead old-fashioned mechanical goodness abounds. Working steering, independent suspension, opening doors, hood and trunk and a V10 engine and gearbox are all included, and you can read the full details at the link above.

TLCB favourite, Master MOCer and Technic-building legend Sheepo is back! This is his latest creation, a near-perfect working replica of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

Powered by two XL motors plus a Medium motor for steering Sheepo’s Wrangler is a serious bit of off-road kit. In addition to the three RC drive motors are a further two, one controlling a 5+R gearbox and another the high/low range gearbox and two and four wheel drive selection with the option of locking differentials.

Such clever engineering gives Sheepo’s Wrangler some pretty decent miniaturised off-road hardware, meaning it’s probably nearly as fun to drive as the real thing. And it’ll get better gas mileage. There’s lots more to see at the Eurobricks forum and on Sheepo’s excellent website, plus you can see the Rubicon in action via the video below.

YouTube Video:

Today is America’s Independence Day, when – if our memory serves us correctly – Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum saved Earth from an Alien invasion. In celebration, here’s a pig on a motorbike! Sorry America, we’ve had a lot of sugar today.

If you’d like to learn more about Independence Day visit your local library,* and if you’d like to see more of the motorcycle-riding hog, courtesy of Brickshelf’s icemonster, click this link.

*Or use the internet. It’s 2016.

Nope, us neither – but apparently the Avtoros Wamah Shaman 8×8 is a Russian amphibious all-terrain vehicle presumably designed to get teams of engineers to remote pipelines and suchlike, but which will probably end up with diamante paint-job parked outside an exclusive Moscow nightclub.

Which is a shame, as the Shaman is quite a vehicle; able to climb 45 degrees, crab steer, and propel itself across open water. This incredible Technic recreation of the Russian ATV is the work of previous bloggee Madoca 1977, and it can do most of that lot too.

With each axle powered by a separate L motor and two servo motors for steering, Madoca’s Shaman has both 8-wheel drive and 8-wheel steering. Just like the real vehicle it’s able to crab steer too, which is remotely selectable by a M motor. Another M motor powers the winch, there’s 3 sets of LEDs, all-wheel independent suspension, and opening doors, hood and roof hatch.

Power is provided by twin on-board rechargeable batteries and is distributed to the eight Power Functions motors by two third-party SBrick bluetooth controllers. It’s one of the most impressively engineered creations of the year and there’s a whole lot more to see, including a video of it in action, at the Eurobricks discussion forum – click this link to check it out.

This stunning 1:8 scale Lancia Stratos HF world rally car was found by a reader on Lego Ideas, and it’s the work of newcomer Peter Vercoelen. As you can see from these images it’s a spectacularly realistic looking model, made all the more impressive by wearing Lancia motorsport’s iconic Alitalia paintwork.

Underneath those famous Alitalia colours is a full Technic Supercar chassis which replicates the real Stratos’ drivetrain. Beneath the lift-up clamshell rear cover is a working mid-transversely-mounted V6 engine connected to a four-speed transmission, all four wheels are independently suspended, and there’s working steering and pop-up headlights controllable from the cabin.

You can see more of Peter’s masterpiece via the Lego Ideas platform, where you can also vote for it to become an official LEGO set. Looking at the part count and the two sets of licensing required to produce this model we’d say it’s a long shot, but with LEGO partnering with new companies all the time, and considering their existing relationship with Lancia’s parent company, you never know…

It’s been a while since the last Elf Squashing (at the hands of a remote control Lego creation anyway – we may have stepped on a few…). Today though normal service was resumed as several of our Elven workforce were mown down in the corridors of TLCB Towers by this; paave‘s brilliant remote control trophy truck.

With front and rear suspension, steering by M motor and power delivered to the rear wheels by a LEGO Buggy Motor, paave’s lightweight racer is a properly quick bit of kit. See just how quick via the video below, and you can see more images on MOCpages at the link above or at the Eurobricks forum here.

YouTube Video:

…but so is this one. Like Lamborghini, Porsche started from very humble beginnings. This is their 1950s Super tractor and it’s been recreated beautifully by Flickr’s DB_Kit Fisto. There’s an accurate three-cylinder engine, a two-speed gearbox, working steering with positive caster angle, and a functioning rear power-take-off. There’s more to see at Kit’s photostream – click the link above to make the jump.

This mighty remote control MAN TGS Dakar Rally truck was found on Eurobricks today. It’s the work of Teo and it features twin Buggy Motor drive, Servo steering, live axle suspension front and rear, and working lights. Teo’s truck also looks the part with some beautifully accurate custom stickerage. There’s lots more to see at the Eurobricks forum – click here to take part.