New Technic parts for 2016
Posted by Huw,
LEGO has just published inventories for eight new sets including the summer Technic releases. In those sets are 98 new parts, most of them re-colours or new prints.
Now that we have inventories for all of the year's Technic sets we can take a comprehensive look at the parts that have been introduced in them this year.
There are twelve in total. I will go into them in depth after the break.
General purpose parts
The 'functionality density' of Technic sets has increased considerably over the last few years and small connectors like this one have been an enabler.
We have already seen what is effectively a 1x1 beam with two cross axles at right angles (10197, introduced 2015) and one with a single pin (15100, introduced 2014) so I guess it was logical to follow with a 1x1 beam with single cross axle. I predict we will see one with two cross axles at 180 degrees at some point.
It has found its way into all manner of this year's sets in grey and also in brown.
24316 Cross Axle 3M W/End Stop
The first axle with end stop, length 8, was introduced in 2006. With the addition of this 3L version, the assortment now includes 3L, 4L, 5L and 8L. I suspect, like the others, this one will be colour locked to brown to aid differentiation. Like the connector above, this can be found in a large variety of sets already.
An 11L axle joins the 3, 5, 7 and 9 to complete the set of odd-length ones.There has been a shift to red and yellow axles to help identify certain lengths recently so it will be interesting to see whether this one is colour locked to yellow.
26287 Cross Axle, Extension, 3M
This part appears only in the Porsche 911. There are eleven, used in the gearbox and as a general purpose axle joiner. A 18948 Gear Shifter Connector 3M has been used in recent Technic gearboxes but this one does not have a central locking position, which presumably was undesirable for the PDK gear shift mechanism of the Porsche.
24121 1/4 Circle Gear Rack 11X11
The BWE contains fourteen of these new ring gear pieces. It will be interesting to see what use they are put to in the future.
26288 Pneumatic Pump 2X3X11 No.1
The 'Pnueumatics V2' system (which is actually the 4th generation of pneumatic system) was introduced last year for 42043 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245. Three new pneumatic parts appeared in the set but not a hand pump, because it has a motorised pump. This new hand pump makes its debut in the Volvo EW160E.
Decorative elements
24118: Panel Wheel Arch 5X15X2 W/ 4.85 Hole (and 26530/26531)
Wheel arches have always been difficult to perfect in large Technic cars so it's great that the Porsche provided us with a dedicated part that will no doubt find its way into other cars in the future. Printed parts are given different design numbers so those used on the front wings with printed air grilles are numbered 26530 and 26531.
Functional elements
24120 Shovel 4X5X7 W/ 4.85 Hole
Previous shovel pieces like this were designed for use with the studded beam system and have an even width. This new one used in the BWE is 3-wide so works better with the studless system.
23801 Wheel Bearing Back W/ Cross Hole
This steering element is used in the Porsche and the Claas and is the latest in a long line of such parts. We seem to get a new one every couple of years!
Wheels and tyres
23798 Tyre Tractor DiA. 107X44
The treads on these massive balloon tyres are an exact replica of those on the real ones fitted to Claas tractors and are one of the largest tyres LEGO has produced.
I am sure you have already heard that LEGO is the largest tyre manufacturer in the world... :)
23800 Rim Wide DiA 62.3X42 W/ 4.85 Hole
These Porsche 911-specific wheel rims will probably never be used again...
23799 Tyre Low Wide Dia. 81.6X44
However the accompanying tyres probably will as they are far more generic.
The evolution of the Technic system is something that fascinates me immensely. Hopefully you found this article interesting, too.
If you would like to write a similar article about a different type of part, get in touch!
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20 comments on this article
While I am not a big fan of Technic it is interesting to see the GP parts and how they are used in the traditional sets.
I've considered the possibility that the quarter-circle piece from the BWE could potentially form the basis for a new monorail system. Probably not likely, but perhaps moreso than the introduction of an entirely new track system designed from scratch...
I love technic, but sadly I cannot afford it. The new prices will be useful for Mocs though. Great article
I think the new coloured axles will probably have yellow for odd lengths with red for even lengths. Maybe this has already been highlighted elsewhere, I don't know.
^ Maybe, but in some models they'd stand out like a sore thumb if they are only available in those colours, which isn't the case yet.
"The first axle with end stop was introduced in 2010"
"Friction Element, Cross Axle":http://brickset.com/sets/containing-part-4288089 was introduced in 2006, four years earlier.
There are some nice parts. I would love to see LEGO try and get really creative with 24121 1/4 Circle Gear Rack 11X11, but with Bionicle gone, Technic mostly based on real world vehicles, and most other themes largely composed of system brick, I'm doubtful we'll see it too many other places.
^^ Actually 2004, http://brickset.com/sets/containing-part-4499858 . I thought the 4l was first but it seems I was mistaken.
Interestingly that particular one you link to never appeared in Technic sets. Presumably it's slightly different.
Thank you.
"...LEGO is the largest tyre manufacturer in the world..."
Hahaha, that's awesome. Is that in terms of volume or number or something else?
Number I think.
I'm a little skeptical about the axle rod with end stop being introduced in 2004. The only set claiming to have that part that year is a CLIKITS McDonald's set http://brickset.com/sets/containing-part-4499858/year-2004 which claims to have two, but the set does not have an on-site inventory. The part does not show up again in the Brickset database until 2007. While I don't personally own any Clikits sets, the Bricklink page seems to suggest that the set actually has only one part to begin with which is certainly not a Technic rod http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?G=7930
Great article. I appreciate LEGO for the new parts, especially from an engineering perspective as I've tried to build some engineered components and didn't have ideal parts.
Technic history and Technic-oriented function history (i.e. pneumatics, advanced gearing) would make great articles. I didn't like the Technic studded system as a kid, but now I like it more since they added panels, flex tube, and studless parts (I now like studded beams however). I even like the Constraction system! Glad they more-or-less work together.
^^ There are two sets numbered 7930 and clearly the Clikits one has inherited the Star Wars one's inventory. I'll get that sorted.
I never had any Technic sets as a kid, but I had several gears, axles, etc, and bricks with Technic holes in them, and I loved putting them together and spinning all the gears.
As an AFOL, I do like both Technic and System sets. I really like that they can be used together. Technic can make some really strong skeletons/joints to support system bricks!
Whats the diameter of the Circle Gear Rack when 4 are joined?
Ive got a carousel idea ive been bouncing around for a while, this might be the bit i need.
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Great write-up. Funny how we finally get the 11L axle, but we may never see one in gray to match the huge supply of 3/5/7/9 built up over the last few years.
Is the "half-length" 3x2-profile curved panel seen on the upper front of the door of the 911 GT3 RS (the part of the door that the rear-view mirror is mounted to) not new this year? I am Technic complete through to this year's summer sets (don't have the GT3 yet either) and don't recall having seen this one before. Perhaps it debuted previously in non-technic sets?
It is. I missed it. Comes in orange and black in the Porsche: http://brickset.com/parts/design-24119
thanks Huw, I'm assuming centimetres.
Wasn't "too many different pieces" one of the reasons Lego nearly went bankrupt ?
I don't know if Lego every checks these articles out or reads comments. The one part I want to see out of Technic is some kind of trans clear flexible part that can be used as an actual wind shield. Technic cars never ever have windshields and with the array of large parts Lego is producing for Technic these days, they could easily include one in it's own little bag. It could be made thinly enough to that it can be bent to fit different vehicles with a few subtle attachement points. Its really the one thing I would like to see on sets and it's the one thing I'm still trying to figure out how to actually do on a MOC if I did tackle more traditional Technic MOCs.