Random set of the day: Pneumatic Front-End Loader
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 8459 Pneumatic Front-End Loader, released during 1997. It's one of 15 Technic sets produced that year. It contains 591 pieces, and its retail price was US$82.
It's owned by 1,696 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 $285.70, or eBay.
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17 comments on this article
This LEGO set is gas powered!
90s Technic was peak.
Nice set. My son got it , I build it several times.
If you guys really want to see what’s possible with LEGO pneumatics, you should look up the work of Kevin Clague.
Logically if the main model is a front-end loader then that alt build is a back-end grabber.
…yeah I can’t see anyone calling it that
It is made from (only) 591 pieces
- all four wheels connected to 6-cylinder fake engine
- steering wheel in cabin is connected to HOG steering control
Is theree any Technic set with lesser piece count that has same features?
The set has Pneumatics. Of course it's awesome!
Lego must've known how awesome this set is, considering they've rereleased it twice :p
What do you mean, it’s not a licensed supercar? But it’s Technic!
@WizardOfOss said:
"The set has Pneumatics. Of course it's awesome!"
By the time I finally got 8250, I'd wanted a pneumatic set for years. I had a lot of fun with that thing. Unfortunately, the only other one in my collection is 42128.
This one's just an all-around great set. It does everything very true to a real-life front-end loader, has great functions and it even has a pneumatic air tank! And every part is put to good use here. No unneccesary fiddly bits.
Because technic can be a bit opaque about what actually is there, you can see an in-depth look of the set here:
http://www.technicopedia.com/8459.html
I have 8439, the 2004 re-release with all the rare/unique bluish-grey parts. It was one of the first Technic sets I bought after getting back to the theme in 2013, and it was quite an experience seeing as I'd never built a pneumatic model before!
It was massively satisfying getting the loader to work, though, and the forest tractor B-model is also well worth putting together. Still one of the best pneumatic sets ever, and easily among the best of Technic.
Received this as a gift on christmas eve 1997.
Started building as soon as the wrapping was discarded.
I still own it today, 100% complete and everything still works as advertised.
All the hoses are in excellent condition even to this day, not dried out as you would expect with this kind of material.
THIS is true LEGO Technic IMHO!
I'll take functions over style any day of the week.
Now this is a classic and superb set! 2025's 42209 is comparable, but not as playable in my opinion. This original from the 90's is so much more fun to play around with, with faster operating action.
Bought each of those that showed up in our local 2ndhand store ... My main source for air tanks, for that alone it's to be loved.
One of the all time greats from Technic, and currently sitting proudly next to my 8460.
We didn't know how good it was in the 90s, looking at the current releases. Not that cars are inherently bad of course, but there are interesting things to make that aren't cars..
@danishbricklayer said:
"One of the all time greats from Technic, and currently sitting proudly next to my 8460.
We didn't know how good it was in the 90s, looking at the current releases. Not that cars are inherently bad of course, but there are interesting things to make that aren't cars.."
That's why, other than the 42128 that I mentioned earlier, the only Technic sets (with the exception of 42122) that I've bought in the last several years have been the small sets, since those are about the function. In fact, the only licensed Technic sets I own are the Jeep and two polybags, 30433 (which I only ended up with because it was a GWP, although it *is* a nice little set) and 30682.