Random set of the day: Air Tech Claw Rig
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 8868 Air Tech Claw Rig, released during 1992. It's one of 6 Technic sets produced that year. It contains 954 pieces, and its retail price was US$139, which equates to about US$324 in today's money.
It's owned by 4,190 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at Brick Owl, BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $820.60, or eBay.
69 likes
36 comments on this article
Gas Powered Brick!
One of these feels like it got lost from CyberSlam.
This marvel has got to be in the top 5 (even top 3) of every serious Lego Technic enthusiasts. Rotating the grabber cab with pneumatic was fantastic then, and is still fantastic to this day. Despite being arguably ugly, the b-model also has very cool functions. There is a good quantity and variety of parts in there to built new stuff for a very long time - all powered by electric compressor. Truly a gem, then and now. I am so very longing for a set of that caliber in 2026.
Very surprised that Brickset do not have the instructions for this set.
Just looked at the inventory on Bricklink, and found out that this set has a STAMP; I don't want it anymore.
Just kidding, I'd love to have this set. It's not the Technic set I want the most (that'd probably be 8865), but it's definitely on the shortlist.
@HOBBES said:
"Very surprised that Brickset do not have the instructions for this set."
Peeron does, though: http://peeron.com/scans/8868-1/
A legend among Technic sets! Back in '92, Technic sets prioritized function over fashion, and many were mere suggestions of the real-life vehicles that the sets represented. The Air Tech Claw Rig was relatively realistic for its era. And it had the holy grail: electric AND pneumatic parts in one set!
Lovely heavy solid tyres.
@jschwarz said:
"A legend among Technic sets! Back in '92, Technic sets prioritized function over fashion, and many were mere suggestions of the real-life vehicles that the sets represented. The Air Tech Claw Rig was relatively realistic for its era. And it had the holy grail: electric AND pneumatic parts in one set!"
Yep. It took 23 years to get the same deal again in 2015 with 42043 which is one of my favourite set of all time (the number of functions on this set is off the chart). I hope the next very good set won't be in 2038...
Superb set. 9 year old me struggled enough with getting all the hoses in and correct that making it was a big achievement.
Made even better because with the removal of a few axles and pins the cab and the crane mount come away and the crane & hoses can be unthreaded and the whole set then returned to the original box for storage and (relatively) easy reassembly.
To this day still one of the best Technic sets of all time. No color barf, no unnecessary license, no app control, no smart play, just pure functions and creativity.
@R0Sch said:
"To this day still one of the best Technic sets of all time. No color barf, no unnecessary license, no app control, no smart play, just pure functions and creativity."
Exactly.
Technic will never be this great again.
I am so happy that I managed to obtain many great Technic sets I didn't get as a kid, like this one, via ebay. Others include 8862, 8865, 8480 etc.
So what does that bottom model do with its funny little mandibles?
@R0Sch said:
"To this day still one of the best Technic sets of all time. No color barf, no unnecessary license, no app control, no smart play, just pure functions and creativity."
100%
@Brickalili said:
"So what does that bottom model do with its funny little mandibles?"
Early version of 8479.
@Brickalili said:
"So what does that bottom model do with its funny little mandibles?"
It's a garbage disposal machine with pneumatics that are fully automated. You can see it in this video best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxFBmRJP824
Very ingenious function, one that we never saw again after that.
@AustinPowers said:
" @R0Sch said:
"To this day still one of the best Technic sets of all time. No color barf, no unnecessary license, no app control, no smart play, just pure functions and creativity."
Exactly.
Technic will never be this great again.
I am so happy that I managed to obtain many great Technic sets I didn't get as a kid, like this one, via ebay. Others include 8862, 8865, 8480 etc. "
I hear you but not all that is new is bad - it's just that there are so few and so far in between. I believe 8455 is superior to 8862 (you cannot beat 10 cylinders!) 8865 must be a nostalgia thing or some sort of a collection (853, 8860, 8865, 8880) It is a nice set but nothing special now - it was indeed special when it came out as it was the first with suspension on the steering wheels. 8480 is a true gem in the same class as 8868. Unfortunately, we need to wait several years to get a decent Technic set. In the "recent" past we got 8043 (which I believe you already own) and 42043; 42128 was also highly praised. Moving forward, it is getting worse as it seems Lego has realized cars is all they need to do (the designers must be utterly bored to death) and this is probably why we have to wait 5-6 years for something decent. My last "decent" technic set was 42145 - the functions are neat but because of the new era mentality where everything has to be hidden and the model must look lifelike, it was extremely hard to understand what part was doing what and how the whole mechanism worked. Technic aficionados do not eat well but we get some crumbs here and there. What we will most likely never see again is set where the mechanisms have priority over the final look.
Now THIS is a Technic set.
I was a year old when it released, so obviously I didn't get it at the time, but I do have 42031, which was built by the same designer (Olav Krøigaard) and has the same colour scheme!
Legend
@R0Sch said:
" @Brickalili said:
"So what does that bottom model do with its funny little mandibles?"
It's a garbage disposal machine with pneumatics that are fully automated. You can see it in this video best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxFBmRJP824
Very ingenious function, one that we never saw again after that.
"
While the "programmable" pneumatic was indeed quite special, the arm geometry and the mechanism at the front was also very nice. The cylinder extends only about 4-5 studs long and yet the arm swings roughly 90 degrees - that is some clever linkage.
I got this set at around 12 years old and while it was a whole-day build, it was a very worthwhile build. Not bad for 32 steps (+ sub builds). And even then it is just below 1000 pieces, which wouldn't be seen in a Technic set for another 2 years.
Also built the B model (27 steps + sub builds), and ultimately the A model again, which I still have to this day. I did upgrade it with an air pressure tank behind the cab a few years ago.
As previous posters mentioned, this is Technic at its best: function over form, pneumatic, electric, steering and a V6 engine all visible. Never applied the stickers, though, as they spanned multiple parts.
Still own it!
I was building it last month but all the electric parts are no longer working. It's extremely hard to get replacements for it.
Just watched that video of the B-model, but wow, that automated mechanism truly is next level!
Imagine getting B-models as amazing as that nowadays.....or just getting a B-model at all....
The holy grail. The most coveted Technic set of my childhood. The legend. And yes, it is still the best Technic set to date IMO.
I received 8868 as a Christmas present on a snowy evening in 1994 thanks to my dear parents, to whom I cannot be grateful enough even today for it. I know it cost a fortune but they wanted a little child’s dream come true. My elder brother helped me in the building process and by nearly midnight it was completed. Words can't describe the feeling when we first put the set into operation. 8868 has a clear and beautiful design and you see all the functions working. The robust V6 cylinder engine in the front is driven by 2 (!) differentials from the rear wheels and it also has a rotating cooling fan. The hand of god steering works well, but the real miracle in this set is he 9V motor driven compressor and pneumatic system for the first time, which was a revolutionary thing to the Technic world. It looks like the real thing, even sounds like the real thing. Big ovation to Olav Krøigaard, Jan Hatting and Hans Madsen, the designers of this set. They paid great attention to authenticity because the compress & pneumatic design comes closest to real one's hydraulic system. The building is quite challenging and the set has outstanding playability. 8868 is highly consistent in every respect with the Technic principles laid down by Markus Kossmann later in 2007, which unfortunately are increasingly lacking in the sets released today.
I have (or had) all the Technic flagships since 1977, but 8868 is the crown jewel of my entire LEGO collection. It is more compact, more robust and more playable after several years than the mighty 42043 (and by the way 8868 also has a wonderful B model). In my opinion, this set still hasn't been surpassed.
The truck! The myth! The legend!
The set's compactness might make it seem relatively small, right? Well, at the time there weren't as many small parts, so that's usually what you'd presume. More parts needed to go into structure.
But here?
This thing's pack to the brim with features!
Not only does it have a motorized compressor pump for the pneumatics, but it does a LOT with it. Even the turning of that arm's turntable is done with pneumatics that are linked to ratchets. I don't think that's been done anywhere before or after!
Seriously. Read the section about its features here. It's quite something to see the color-coding of all those hoses:
https://www.technicopedia.com/8868.html
@R0Sch said:
" @Brickalili said:
"So what does that bottom model do with its funny little mandibles?"
It's a garbage disposal machine with pneumatics that are fully automated. You can see it in this video best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxFBmRJP824
Very ingenious function, one that we never saw again after that.
"
Oh, that’s fun! I’d confused the black lifting arms as being part of the cab chassis so didn’t realise it could hoist, I just thought it had funny little ant jaws at the front
The set that brought me out of my dark ages...
@Huw said:
"The set that brought me out of my dark ages..."
Now I'm picturing it grabbing you with that claw and carrying back into the blessed light of Lego.
@Huw said:
"The set that brought me out of my dark ages..."
Lol....ironically this came out right about when my interest in Lego started waning, at least in the sense that I had stopped buying more as other hobbies (model railways and RC cars) got much higher priority within my limited budget.
And either your dark ages came very early or were very short, or I underestimated your age quite a bit ;-)
@Huw said:
"The set that brought me out of my dark ages..."
Beams with studs, only 6 colours, mechanically interesting, and functionally impressive. What’s not to like? I’m really glad this set found you :-D
Brilliant set! Dare I say Legendary even? Really highlights what’s missing from Technic these days
I bought this set at Legoland Billund back in '95 on a trip with my dad. What an experience that was! I had saved up for a long time to able to buy something big one day, and this turned out to be it. Love it to this day. Have built it numerous times, and it stands proud in a shelf right next to me as I write this now.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Huw said:
"The set that brought me out of my dark ages..."
Lol....ironically this came out right about when my interest in Lego started waning, at least in the sense that I had stopped buying more as other hobbies (model railways and RC cars) got much higher priority within my limited budget.
And either your dark ages came very early or were very short, or I underestimated your age quite a bit ;-)"
Probably the latter!
@HOBBES said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @R0Sch said:
"To this day still one of the best Technic sets of all time. No color barf, no unnecessary license, no app control, no smart play, just pure functions and creativity."
Exactly.
Technic will never be this great again.
I am so happy that I managed to obtain many great Technic sets I didn't get as a kid, like this one, via ebay. Others include 8862, 8865, 8480 etc. "
I hear you but not all that is new is bad - it's just that there are so few and so far in between. I believe 8455 is superior to 8862 (you cannot beat 10 cylinders!) 8865 must be a nostalgia thing or some sort of a collection (853, 8860, 8865, 8880) It is a nice set but nothing special now - it was indeed special when it came out as it was the first with suspension on the steering wheels. 8480 is a true gem in the same class as 8868. Unfortunately, we need to wait several years to get a decent Technic set. In the "recent" past we got 8043 (which I believe you already own) and 42043; 42128 was also highly praised. Moving forward, it is getting worse as it seems Lego has realized cars is all they need to do (the designers must be utterly bored to death) and this is probably why we have to wait 5-6 years for something decent. My last "decent" technic set was 42145 - the functions are neat but because of the new era mentality where everything has to be hidden and the model must look lifelike, it was extremely hard to understand what part was doing what and how the whole mechanism worked. Technic aficionados do not eat well but we get some crumbs here and there. What we will most likely never see again is set where the mechanisms have priority over the final look.
"
Unfortunately I have to agree.
Funnily enough I have every set you mentioned in your post.
My favourite Technic sets of all time are also in there.
My favourite set of the classic era is 8880.
My favourite set of the modern era is 8043.
There have been lots of great sets over the years, but for me those times are over.
The last Technic set of the modern era that to me had it all, including being good value for money (and non-licensed, naturally) was 42128.
@kari said:
"The holy grail. The most coveted Technic set of my childhood. The legend. And yes, it is still the best Technic set to date IMO.
I received 8868 as a Christmas present on a snowy evening in 1994 thanks to my dear parents, to whom I cannot be grateful enough even today for it. I know it cost a fortune but they wanted a little child’s dream come true. My elder brother helped me in the building process and by nearly midnight it was completed. Words can't describe the feeling when we first put the set into operation. 8868 has a clear and beautiful design and you see all the functions working. The robust V6 cylinder engine in the front is driven by 2 (!) differentials from the rear wheels and it also has a rotating cooling fan. The hand of god steering works well, but the real miracle in this set is he 9V motor driven compressor and pneumatic system for the first time, which was a revolutionary thing to the Technic world. It looks like the real thing, even sounds like the real thing. Big ovation to Olav Krøigaard, Jan Hatting and Hans Madsen, the designers of this set. They paid great attention to authenticity because the compress & pneumatic design comes closest to real one's hydraulic system. The building is quite challenging and the set has outstanding playability. 8868 is highly consistent in every respect with the Technic principles laid down by Markus Kossmann later in 2007, which unfortunately are increasingly lacking in the sets released today.
I have (or had) all the Technic flagships since 1977, but 8868 is the crown jewel of my entire LEGO collection. It is more compact, more robust and more playable after several years than the mighty 42043 (and by the way 8868 also has a wonderful B model). In my opinion, this set still hasn't been surpassed.
"
Agreed. As much as I love 42043 (maybe because we had been starved for so long by that point), 8868 is significantly sturdier and easier to play with.
@AustinPowers said:
"The last Technic set of the modern era that to me had it all, including being good value for money (and non-licensed, naturally) was 42128. "
Great set; I'm glad I picked it up. Got some surprises building it, as the only set with pneumatics I'd built before getting it was 8250.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @AustinPowers said:
"The last Technic set of the modern era that to me had it all, including being good value for money (and non-licensed, naturally) was 42128 . "
Great set; I'm glad I picked it up. Got some surprises building it, as the only set with pneumatics I'd built before getting it was 8250."
That's another one I'm still on the lookout for.
Mainly for a second airtank to be honest. The other one I have comes from 8462 - quite a strange looking set I might add and one I only bought because it was very cheap.