LEGO Technik fans - seen this?

GeezerButler

GeezerButler

GeezerButler

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Wasn't sure where to put this but have seen some LEGO threads on here, so thought someone might be interested:



Press Release:

Mercedes-Benz Unimog celebrates 60th Jubilee - Mercedes-Benz and LEGO® - first time cooperation: Unimog the biggest Technic model of all time

• Design true to the original and just like the real thing
• real functions reproduced in LEGO format
• 2048 modules thrill adult LEGO fans

Anyone who always dreamed of owning his own Unimog now has the chance to put one in his garage: The first do-it-yourself Unimog U 400 (1:12,5) will be on offer from August on: The LEGO Group, the world’s third largest toy manufacturer, has created a model with 2048 elements – up to now the largest LEGO Technic model in the company’s history. The impressive vehicle which links a combination of electric drive and pneumatics has been produced in exlusive cooperation with Mercedes-Benz as a true adaptation of the original down to the smallest details. As the world's most versatile workhorse, the Unimog pushes snow away in winter, mows motorway embankments in summer or helps to construct new roads. The so-called " Power Functions " run the pump of a pneumatically operated crane with a gripper arm that can rotate almost 360 degrees. With its gripper and the front winch, the Unimog can move any load out of the way. In addition it also has a serviceable control system and an engine which is accurate in every detail right down to the pistons. The gear unit provides good ground clearance just like the portal axles in the orginal, an individual suspension deadens jolts and the four-wheel drive guarantees mobility off-road as well. For winter use, the crane and winch can be converted into a huge snow plough. The LEGO Technic Unimog U 400 will be available from toy retailers from August on as well as from Mercedes- Benz and it costs about 190 Euros.

More images here:

http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/2011/top-2011-LEGO-Technik-Mercedes-Benz-Unimog-U-400.htm

Haven't bought a LEGO product since I was a kid, but I love the Unimog so quite tempted by this. Anyone else fancy a go at this?
 
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I know LEGO is nothing short of awesome in brick form, but is it worth the price tag? Or do they bump it up due to its popularity?

(I'm not asking whether it's worth it because you can play with it for years)
 
PhillyDee said:
I would hate to see the price. Hundreds I am guessing.
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probably its ridiculous how over priced lego is i mean it cant cost that much money to make..

once they started using custom peices for each set it lost its charm for me though they should get back to how it used to be where most sets used the same normal lego peices some of the ferrari cars for example are a joke
 
Actually, it does. Have you ever seen a faulty lego brick? Their quality control is awesome. Every piece is inspected. That adds cost. Though for that price, I must admit I would be tempted :D
 
It's a business not a charity, they'll sell the product for what people are willing to pay, not what it's cost to make ;)
 
PhillyDee said:
Actually, it does. Have you ever seen a faulty lego brick? Their quality control is awesome. Every piece is inspected. That adds cost. Though for that price, I must admit I would be tempted :D
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The bricks are built to a tolerance measured in tens of microns. Quality control only finds about 16 faulty bricks in every million.
 
PhillyDee said:
Actually, it does. Have you ever seen a faulty lego brick? Their quality control is awesome. Every piece is inspected. That adds cost. Though for that price, I must admit I would be tempted :D
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vonhelmet said:
The bricks are built to a tolerance measured in tens of microns. Quality control only finds about 16 faulty bricks in every million.
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Have you two just watched the Lego edition of Megafactories?
Lego are also the biggest tyre manufafturer in the world.
 
arknor said:
once they started using custom peices for each set it lost its charm for me though they should get back to how it used to be where most sets used the same normal lego peices some of the ferrari cars for example are a joke
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the current CEO of lego has gone on record saying that the previous tenure of sets using POOPs (Piece out of other pieces) has come to an end.

all new lego sets for quite some time now have sought to minimise the use of POOPs wherever possible.
 
Aod said:
the current CEO of lego has gone on record saying that the previous tenure of sets using POOPs (Piece out of other pieces) has come to an end.

all new lego sets for quite some time now have sought to minimise the use of POOPs wherever possible.
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That's good to hear. Lego (especially Lego City) had started using a lot of the large, custom pieces just as I was starting to 'grow out' of it, which was a disappointing way to end my time with Lego. I had loads...it's probably all in my parent's loft still.
 
dmpoole said:
Have you two just watched the Lego edition of Megafactories?
Lego are also the biggest tyre manufafturer in the world.
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I've it seen it, but I have heard that tyre fact as well!

One which I liked is that they are so secretive that old moulds are buried in the foundations of their buildings, so no one can pinch their ideas.

It's actually hard to judge just how good Lego bricks are until you use some of their competitors' stuff. Mega Bloks stuff is hideously poor. If my child was ever given any as a gift any I'd be asking for the receipt.
 
That makes me want to buy lego again...
I've still got a few of the old technic sets lying around :)

The price isn't that bad given that 16+ years ago top end Technic sets were costing £80-100 (I got the original technic control centre for a present which was from memory about that price), so 15+ years of inflation and this set is probably costing about about the same in real terms.

Re the quality - aye Lego always seemed to be of a much higher precision than their competitors, I never found two bricks that didn't fit together unless they'd been damaged/exposed to excessive heat and warped (hint don't leave them near the fire:p), even most of the lego pnuematic pipes that I've got are still good.
Megablocks etc on the ohter hand always seem to be more hit and miss about QC.
 
Werewolf said:
The price isn't that bad given that 16+ years ago top end Technic sets were costing £80-100 (I got the original technic control centre for a present which was from memory about that price), so 15+ years of inflation and this set is probably costing about about the same in real terms.
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bet manufacturing costs have fallen massively though
 
This was posted in the generic video hosting thread but any Lego Technic fan will love this:

 
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