Interview with Milan Reindl, Technic Land Rover designer
Posted by Huw,.png)
A few weeks ago we had an opportunity to interview Milan Reindl, designer of 42110 Land Rover Defender, via Skype, to ask him about working on the model and also about other Technic sets that he's designed since joining LEGO as a Technic designer in 2012.
It's a fascinating interview: Find out how LEGO worked with Jaguar Land Rover to bring the model to fruition, how the scale and colour of it was chosen, and how he managed to squeeze the gear box in.
Brickset: In your Bricklist you state that the Land Rover is the most complicated set you have designed. How do you approach something as complex as that?
First of all, we need to get into relationship with the IP partner if we want to do anything licensed so we approached Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to find out if they were interested.
We had several meetings with JLR where we discussed what we could potentially do. We suggested the old defender but they said they are getting ready to launch the new one which nobody knew about at the time. So, we sent my colleague to Gaydon, to their factory and design studio, where he saw the first clay models of the new Land Rover Defenders.
He wasn’t allowed to take any photos or make any sketches, and we were not allowed to get any reference material at that early stage, so when he returned to Billund he just built something from memory. When we received the first reference material we then tried to build the overall shape of the new defender the way we understood it from the 2D wire frame renders.
However, when we took our early models to JLR in the UK we saw how bad they were and we had to apologise to their design team! We came back with feedback and more data so we could start improving it.
So, basically, we started with the overall shape of the vehicle first, because we didn’t know what was going inside.
So you start with the outside and then try and fit in what you can?
Yes, as soon as we got more information, we knew it has certain type of gearbox and an engine of this type so we tried to incorporate as much as we could inside the vehicle. But the first sketch was really a rough skeletal study of the exterior without any functions: basically it just had steering and suspension as far as I remember.
How did you decide on the scale that you’re going to build the model at?
One of my colleagues did a few experiments at different scales, using different types and sizes of wheels to find out which could work. We ended up somewhere in the middle, and opted for the 81.6 mm tyres, which just worked perfectly and fitted our panel platform.
It's good if you can utilise the length of the panels that you already have without needing to build on the ends to extend them, and this worked pretty well for the door length and around the wheels.
We tried building different types of wheel arches with elements we have, both brick built ones and Technic built ones, but we decided to create new elements in the end.
Essentially, the wheel size dictated everything else around the model.
You mentioned you’ve been working closely with JLR. How much input did they have in the design process?
Yes, we had regular Skype calls. We'd send them images as well as asking for more reference material. The further you get in the development process the more details about the real car you need, for example, about the engine, how the rear view mirrors look, how does the panel on the side of the storage box open, and so on.
As we added more and more functions and details we'd get feedback from specific departments within JLR. Their exterior designers provided feedback on the bodywork, those that designed the drive train would help with the transmission and 4-wheel drive and so on.
Presumably it was fairly late in the day then when you actually saw the real vehicle to see how your model compared?
We saw it once in real life approximately a year and a half ago so it wasn’t too late in the process to make changes if we needed to.
Was it always going to be Olive Green, which is new for Technic, or did you consider other colours?
We considered other shades of green, and we also considered the other colours that JLR were making the vehicle in at launch. We built sketch models in different colours, however the green version was the the main launch colour and the one they wanted to promote, so we looked at what we had available that might match.
The closest we had was sand green and olive green but the sand green was too reminiscent of the old Defender, and they wanted to emphasise that this is a totally new Defender, so we went for olive green, which, as you say, it's the first time we use it in a LEGO Technic model.
The model is said to have the most sophisticated LEGO gear box ever. That must’ve caused you a few challenges to squeeze it in!
Yes -- particularly as we needed to fit it around a decent looking interior, with front and rear seats!
So, we had to split it in two, with part of it at the front and another part underneath the rear seats, with just a 5 module wide tunnel between the front seats to connect them.
This was the most compact way I was able to build it, given the time and the elements that we had available. Of course the wish was to make it as realistic as possible, with both a gear shifter and something that engages the high and low gearing.
We wanted to build as much of the sequential gear box into the model as possible. We managed to squeeze in a 4 speed sequential gear box. It was as a bit of a nightmare fitting it all in but eventually we did it.
When I first assembled the gearbox I had the 'clicking problem' that you might have heard people mention in their reviews. It turned out to be down to the alignment of the universal joints in the connections between front and rear gearboxes.
I can’t say I’m an expert on mechanics, and the basics of the mechanics is quite new to me, but the universal joints should be always aligned, so I never had issues with that and it was quite surprising to me to read afterwards that some people unfortunately had the issues if you just turned them 90 degrees.
Do you think LEGO Technic gear boxes can get any more complicated than they are then now?
I hope not! I think we have reached the limit where it kind of makes sense in the car, so I don’t think we’ll see anything anymore complex than this other than perhaps a sequential 8 speed gearbox.
But you know, never say never, new elements might come in the future and with new technology we might be able to get even further.
Like other licensed Technic models this one uses quite a few System parts to improve aesthetics and to get it looking like the real vehicle. Do you think there’s a point you could use too many system parts that it might not therefore be recognisable as a Technic model?
(laughs) Well, there’s always people who like the addition of the system pieces as well people who hate it. To some, it brings back the feel of the old Model Team models, which were combined System and Technic to create 'nice and smooth' models,
Personally, I think it should be recognisable as a Technic model. Some people might look at this model and at first glance it might not seem like LEGO Technic, but when they get to build it they definitely know what they are dealing with.
On this model, if you look at the shoulder line along the side, that’s something that was very distinctive on the new Defender and something the JLR design team really wanted to have there. We could have designed a Technic piece that couldn’t be used anywhere else afterwards, or we could use System parts. That was the easiest and the best working solution.
Were there any features you wanted to add to the set that you couldn’t fit in?
I don’t think so, other than perhaps more gears in the sequential gear box. But four was the most we could squeeze in due to the size of the vehicle.
I think it pretty much ticks all the boxes for an off-roader: it has very nice bouncy suspension, steering from the rooftop and inside the cab, a very complex gearbox, a cool the locking mechanism for the rear doors, and also extra play features like the luggage and storage space on the roof rack. I’m really happy with how it turned out!
Did you find that when the building instructions were produced modifications to the design were required so it could actually be built?
We always have a discussion with the building instruction people, of course, and when we've finalised the model we need to show them that the target age range can build it.
It’s up to them, then, which building sequence they choose. There should be challenges during the build because without them, it wouldn’t be Technic, but ultimately it shouldn't be so hard that you can't complete the model.
How is it decided which section of the model should be built from each of the numbered bags?
I suggested what, to me, would be the optimal way of building it and it actually came very close to that.
I wanted to start with either the rear or the front section: we decided that the rear with the 4 speed gearbox would be more interesting for the beginning and afterwards joining the front to it would be the next logical step so you’d join it from the back to the front, and then you start putting the exterior on the car.
Looking at your BrickList, I notice you’ve worked on quite a few alternative models over the years. I guess they must present different challenges to building a set from scratch, when you have a limited number of pieces.
It’s actually one of the skills that got me here [as a LEGO designer] because I was building quite a few alternate models prior to joining the company, something over 100 of them just for Technic.
It feels natural to me to be building with limited resources because as a kid I didn’t have much LEGO so I always utilised the few bricks that I had in the best way, and that’s what we’re trying to do with alternate models, as well as creating something new from the defined selection of bricks, without the need to add anything else
42053 Volvo EW160E 'B' model, designed by Milan
In some ways, that’s also how we design the A models because we have a limited assortment of Technic parts and we can’t just say ‘I need 50 different new moulds for a new model’ to get it right, so in effect, we’re just reusing what we already have in our existing parts assortment.
What's your favourite model (other than the Land Rover) that you've worked on?
Right now the Land Rover definitely takes the lead, but other than that it would be 42040 Fire Plane from 2015. I still think it’s a fantastic model for the price and the size. It ticks all the boxes that in my eyes makes Technic -- in my opinion of course -- the most interesting part of LEGO.
Thank you, Milan, and thank you for maintaining your BrickList: I know a lot of people find them very interesting. It's always insightful to read the extra information about the models from the designers themselves.
You are welcome, it’s been a pleasure!
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12 comments on this article
Fascinating read!
Interesting that some people have trouble with the universal joints. They are not constant-velocity, meaning that if the input axle spins at a fixed speed, then the speed of the output axle will pulse slightly, like a sine wave. When you connect two universal joints together (input -> linking axle -> output), they both move at different pulsing speeds. If the slots in the universal joints on the linking axle are lined up, the pulsating speeds completely cancel out, meaning the input and output axles rotate at the same speed. If the slots do not line up, then the pulsations in speed are amplified, which can cause problems for the smooth running of the mechanism.
Truly interesting insights. Sad to see though how much he had to do because JLR "wanted" it like that. Imho JLR should be happy that LEGO chose one of their vehicles to be represented at all. It's not like LEGO designers (especially ones as talented as Milan) need companies that have no idea of set design telling them what to do.
Honestly, I would have rather had a generic off-road vehicle that was more "proper" Technic than this which is just for looks. I mean, what's the use of the overly complex (yet still simplified) gearbox if you don't even see it in the finished product and if it doesn't even affect the car in any meaningful way?
As a Technic set this is so annoyingly useless. Perhaps LEGO should reintroduce the Model Team theme. Vehicles like this one would be perfect for that. And by skipping the useless gearbox those pieces could have been used to improve the look even more, especially on the interior.
Plus, they wouldn't need to pretend that it is a Technic set in the first place.
I think it's perfectly reasonable for the licence holder to define how products based on its IP should be.
I think you'll find Disney does it all the time...
Super interview @Huw & big thank you to Milan for his work on this new set, AND as Huw says, for the Bricklist. It’s great to see which sets have had the designers input; coincidentally Fire Plane
42040 is a great design, reminding me of my so-called “one that got away”, Prop Plane 8855.
It's a beautiful model. It really is.
An instant classic for me.
I like it that is has the gearbox. We finally have something in models that actual cars also have apart from steering and suspension. Let's not give LEGO ideas to start simplifying cars!
We still need lockable differentials, Ackermann steering, kingpin inclination, real boxer engine configuration where applicable, brakes, maybe pneumatic suspension etc. ;)
Let's go even more wild, not less complex. I don't care if this is not visible in the final model that much, I was building it after all, so there is some education to be had there :D
I just love that Land Rover. Best Technic set in 2019.
I think Model Team has already been resurrected; it is called Creator Expert now. It has models like a Mini Cooper, a Ferrari, a doubledecker bus, an Aston martin DB5 and a Mustang. ;-)
Be sure to check out this guy's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/grohl666/ He post a lot of videos of alternate models of Lego sets. They're pretty cool!
@Huw : I know. That's precisely why I think LEGO should have gone with a generic design. It's not as if the set was any better for being modelled after a specific car.
All the best Technic Supercars were just generic cars.
The first that threw the basic Technic principles overboard was the Porsche, followed by the Bugatti, and now the Land Rover. See a connection?
And all the coveted Model Team sets of old were also just generic vehicles. I can't remember anyone critisizing sets like 5571 or 5580 for not being a "Freightliner", "Kenworth" or whatever instead of just a generic "Giant Truck" or "Highway Rig".
This obsession with IPs nowadays is so annoying.
Why on earth TLG call these sets "Technic" is beyond me. It would have been a perfect opportunity to revive the "Model Team" name.
But then go all the way, leave out those overly complex yet finally totally useless gearboxes, use the parts budget of those to perfect the looks, and voilà, you got sets that are really desirable, not something like the three mentioned above that are neither one nor the other.
And @Mestari : do you really mean that? What kind of education do you mean? Did you really understand what was what und what for while building the gearbox? If so, congratulations. Plus, as Milan himself mentioned, the final gearbox, while so complex that many people can't even build it properly using the official instructions (I mean the "clicking" problem), still isn't even a true recreation of the real thing but a highly simplified version.
Funny you should call it the best Technic set of 2019. Of all the AFOLs I know, no one calls this a Technic set at all. It's just a Creator Expert wannabe set built mostly with Technic parts.
@HOBBES : you are right that some of the Creator Expert vehicles seem like the spiritual successors of the former Model Team range. But I think something like the Mustang with its steering mechanism or the DB5 with its Bond-features are more akin to those old sets than say the Mini or the F40, which are basically just display models.
And don't get me wrong, the final model is quite an achievement and certainly a worthy LEGO set. It's just not a worthy "Technic" set imho. Just look at the Fire Plane Milan also designed. THAT is a true Technic set in every sense of the word.
OMG *_* This Fire Plane looks absolutely stunning!
This is a good interview, thanks for posting. I continue to wonder what makes a "true" Technic set, if this doesn't count. Saying the Land Rover isn't a true Technic set because it uses some System for surface detail is like saying the Mustang or the Batmobile aren't true System sets because they use some Technic for steering.
I personally don’t see the need to have pure system pure technic. For me, it is all lego that connects in the same universe. So mixing them leads to great results and should happen more often. For example, how cool would the UCS Tumbler have been with a Technic frame and operation and a system body. Now it just sits looking pretty on the shelf without any good functionality. So TLG, please mix system and technic more!