Random set of the day: Fire Engine
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 8280 Fire Engine, released during 1995. It's one of 9 Technic sets produced that year. It contains 424 pieces and 2 minifigs, and its retail price was US$55.
It's owned by 1,093 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $139.10, or eBay.
65 likes
31 comments on this article
Water Blaster
Woah. I've never seen those figures before. Those are...interesting.
They need to bring those Technic figures back.
@BabuBrick said:
"Woah. I've never seen those figures before. Those are...interesting."
Technic figs in general, or just these firefighters?
@PurpleDave said:
" @BabuBrick said:
"Woah. I've never seen those figures before. Those are...interesting."
Technic figs in general, or just these firefighters?"
The Technic figs; I'm not familiar with a lot of 90's-era LEGO sets.
I must not have seen this one before, or I would have added it to my wanted list.
@PurpleDave said:" @BabuBrick said:"Woah. I've never seen those figures before. Those are...interesting."
Technic figs in general, or just these firefighters?"
If they mean Technic figures in general, they've been sadly deprived. Those guys were awesome!
Those figures were so articulate. It's too bad that Lego discontinued Technic figures. I had a few of them but lost a couple over the years.
What space theme is this again?
RIP Technic B-models. :((
LEGO, please bring back Technic figures! We can connect the limbs ourselves if that solves the problem.
The implication seems to be that that one guy can never ever let go of the end of that hose
Apparently, the complete collection of Technic figs includes:
30-ish figs in total of which:
2 police, 1 fire and 1 rescue, 2 cyborgs, 1 scuba-diver(with mask, tank, thins)
2 types of helmets: with or without visors
visors: black or clear
helmets: teal(2), red(4), blue(3), black(1), white(9), yellow(1), green(1)
Body armours in purple, teal, blue and red
Accessories: wrench, skis, ski poles
Seats come in yellow, red, blue, white.
hair comes in black or brown
8 different 'type' of faces
This info is not authoritative but 'reasonably' complete
@Lego_lord said:
"Those figures were so articulate. It's too bad that Lego discontinued Technic figures. I had a few of them but lost a couple over the years."
They used them when all their Technic vehicles were the same size. LEGO stopped doing that for a while now. IIRC their current statement is: "We try to find a matching size for the model and its features, we don't try to force something into an aspect ratio that doesn't fit the model"
Or something along those lines.
Of course their current 1:8 scale models are an exception to that rule.
I have this set and also 8830, which includes another figure.
@Maxbricks14 said:
"They need to bring those Technic figures back."
They would look awesome next to creator expert cars. So much potential for unique torso prints.
@BabuBrick said:
"Woah. I've never seen those figures before. Those are...interesting."
There is even a "Borg" version of them (tech007/tech035a).
They were pretty and cool and highly articulated for their time, but seemingly too costly to produce. They also had a bit a tendency to become loose.
The set itself is interesting, I guess this was the first Technic fire truck? Funny how they made that hose from a new type of string. Also the trans-blue slopes were likely new for this set.
Curiously this set was released in 1995 but it's sticker sheet has (c)1993 on it. Nice looking set, studded technic ftw!
This was from an interesting time. Technic was in the middle of a transition to studless with flex hoses for shaping but still had a lot of the classic brick beam building charm. It also had a lot of functions!
Technicopedia on the set: http://www.technicopedia.com/8280.html
Fun fact: part 2714 is a ski pole first developed for the technic figs
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=2714a&name=Bar%20%20%208L%20with%20Stop%20Rings%20and%20Pin%20(Technic,%20Figure%20Accessory%20Ski%20Pole)%20-%20Rounded%20End&category=%5BBar%5DT=C
And the large skis seen on Ice Planet vehicles were also first developed for the figs. They can be easily seen on sets like 6973 Deep Freeze Defender
5974 Galactic Enforcer also uses scuba diving fins from the figs, 8 years after the last technic fig was seen in a 2001 set.
As an owner of this set, I can say it was really awesome back in the 90s with the functionality etc.
@zyberteq said:
" @Lego_lord said:
"Those figures were so articulate. It's too bad that Lego discontinued Technic figures. I had a few of them but lost a couple over the years."
They used them when all their Technic vehicles were the same size. LEGO stopped doing that for a while now. IIRC their current statement is: "We try to find a matching size for the model and its features, we don't try to force something into an aspect ratio that doesn't fit the model"
Or something along those lines.
Of course their current 1:8 scale models are an exception to that rule."
Even back then there was quite a bit of variation. So only select sets got those figs. Unfortunately I only ever got a set with a Technic fig compatible seat (in 8832), but never got a figure :-(
Looking at nowadays sets, how many sports cars in the same scale have we had over the years? Wouldn't those be pretty close to the Technic fig scale?
It was already in my wanted list. Looks fun!
After receiving a little Technic set and enjoying, I bought this as the second LEGO set after my dark ages. It was on sale, for 20 guilders (9 euro, before inflation).
This made me eager for the 8462 pneumatic Tow Truck https://brickset.com/sets/8462-1/Tow-Truck, RCX, and from there it went out of hand :-)
Wow that was my favourite set as a kid. I still remember the day I got it as a birthday present, and I still have it complete with box and instructions. I loved fire trucks, with my second favourite toy being the great 6440.
@WizardOfOss said:
"Even back then there was quite a bit of variation. So only select sets got those figs. Unfortunately I only ever got a set with a Technic fig compatible seat (in 8832), but never got a figure :-("
I bought 8824 for the model, and I think 8225 solely because it was the cheapest way to get a pilot for the hovercraft. Then 7191 turned out to be built to the right scale for Technic figs, so he upgraded his ride.
@Wrecknbuild said:
"I bought this as the second LEGO set after my dark ages. It was on sale, for 20 guilders."
Inconceivable!
@PurpleDave said:
"I bought 8824 for the model, and I think 8225 solely because it was the cheapest way to get a pilot for the hovercraft. Then 7191 turned out to be built to the right scale for Technic figs, so he upgraded his ride."
Fancy ride! That figure boldy went where no Technic figure had gone before!
@PurpleDave said:
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
@Lego_lord said:
"Those figures were so articulate. It's too bad that Lego discontinued Technic figures. I had a few of them but lost a couple over the years."
My brother broke my first Technic fig (https://brickset.com/minifigs/tech040a/technic-figure-blue-legs-red-top-with-zipper-blue-arms-black-hair-white-helmet), because he thought the arms raised higher and pushed to hard on it. I ordered 8712 so 8640 would have a pilot.
@WizardOfOss said:"Even back then there was quite a bit of variation. So only select sets got those figs. Unfortunately I only ever got a set with a Technic fig compatible seat (in 8832), but never got a figure :-("
8832 was my first Technic set! So I was glad when I later got a fig to drive it.
"Looking at nowadays sets, how many sports cars in the same scale have we had over the years? Wouldn't those be pretty close to the Technic fig scale?"
I used to put a Technic fig in the driver's seat of 5510 all the time. Worked pretty well, too.
@johnnytifosi said:"Wow that was my favourite set as a kid. I still remember the day I got it as a birthday present, and I still have it complete with box and instructions. I loved fire trucks, with my second favourite toy being the great 6440."
I had 6440, too. That was my first fire truck, and nostalgia for it is the reason I got 60061.
@TheOtherMike said:
"My brother broke my first Technic fig (https://brickset.com/minifigs/tech040a/technic-figure-blue-legs-red-top-with-zipper-blue-arms-black-hair-white-helmet), because he thought the arms raised higher and pushed to hard on it."
My mom (in her 70’s) did that to a car key because she thought (200% wrongly) that it was one of those keys where the metal part folds into the plastic part.
@TheOtherMike said:
"I must not have seen this one before, or I would have added it to my wanted list.
@PurpleDave said:" @BabuBrick said:"Woah. I've never seen those figures before. Those are...interesting."
Technic figs in general, or just these firefighters?"
If they mean Technic figures in general, they've been sadly deprived. Those guys were awesome!"
I guess I’ve been sadly deprived, lol.
@Atuin said:
" @BabuBrick said:
"Woah. I've never seen those figures before. Those are...interesting."
There is even a "Borg" version of them (tech007/tech035a).
They were pretty and cool and highly articulated for their time, but seemingly too costly to produce. They also had a bit a tendency to become loose.
The set itself is interesting, I guess this was the first Technic fire truck? Funny how they made that hose from a new type of string. Also the trans-blue slopes were likely new for this set."
Very cool — thanks for the info!
Bring. Back. Technic. Figures.
@Pitmonster said:
"Bring. Back. Technic. Figures."
Or at least let Huwbot pick one for RMotD!
@BabuBrick said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @BabuBrick said:
"Woah. I've never seen those figures before. Those are...interesting."
Technic figs in general, or just these firefighters?"
The Technic figs; I'm not familiar with a lot of 90's-era LEGO sets."
I figured it was these firefighters- one has a big beard with what appear to be the "feminine eyelashes" usually appearing on female figures. The other has lines under his eyes. Both are relatively uncanny because I can't think of other Lego figures doing this.