Random set of the day: Whirlwind Rescue
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 8856 Whirlwind Rescue, released in 1991. It's one of 6 Technic sets produced that year. It contains 517 pieces.
It's owned by 1784 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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14 comments on this article
Huwbot is on a classic technic spree lately. All hail our new studded mechanical overlords!
Beautiful exposed functionality.
That style of tech drawing backgrounds for Technic sets in this era was so well done.
This is the biggest and last set before my Dark Age, and certainly by no fault of this awesome design. The tilt-rotor linkage to the cockpit joystick was an excellent use of the Flex System. My only quibble was that it had no Technic figs despite including seats that fit them.
It seems the model has excellent functions but cockpit area could have benefited from a bit more design work.
I bought this set used a couple of years ago. All flex cables were broken. Is that a common issue with those parts?
Such an awesome set! I haven't built mine in quite a while- maybe it's time to do so.
@Reinier said:
"I bought this set used a couple of years ago. All flex cables were broken. Is that a common issue with those parts?"
Yeah, I have many of those flex system pieces, most of them are broken, sadly.
I couldn't afford this set at that time, but I got the Universal Set 8074 to my birthday instead. Is this one of the helicopter's with the most authentic handling?
I love Huwbot when he picks some of my childhood favorites.
Too bad it seems to prefer Clickits...
@Reinier yes, the cables are very delicate, they don't withstand rough handling at all. I didn't break any of mine until I got a cat...
@Lego_lord said:
"It seems the model has excellent functions but cockpit area could have benefited from a bit more design work."
Since you had to reach your fingers into to cockpit and use the joystick to operate the tilt rotor, they likely couldn't have added a lot more aesthetic detail to that area.
It was not unusual for function to prevailed over form in Technic sets of that era. Didn't make for the best display models compared to Technic of later eras, but I appreciate how the open designs let you better see how the motion features actually worked and didn't hide them in a "black box".
One of my all-time favorite Technic sets. We went on holiday to Austria with friends back in the day, visiting their Austrian relatives on the way. Our friends took along this set as a birthday present for one of their nephews and at the time I was so envious. I put the set on my Christmas wish-list that year and lo and behold, got it as my main Christmas present.
I have still got it assembled at my parents' house in the same display cabinet that houses one of my Classic Space layouts (894, 891, 918, 920, 928) as well as my treasured 8880 (plus some of my early Star Trek ship MOCs).
Fond memories indeed.
@Reinier said:
"I bought this set used a couple of years ago. All flex cables were broken. Is that a common issue with those parts?"
Yeah I feel you.
I have this set since I was a kid. Recently I started fiddling with it again and promptly two flex cables snapped. Either I became clumsy with age, or the plastic became brittle with age (or both).
Flex cables are available on BrickLink but relatively expensive: 3-4 eur for a 4L, and a more reasonable 2 eur for a 20L. I wonder if they also snap quickly though.
Old school Technic, gotta love it!
Start the new rescue helicopter! HeY!
This is no fun. Huwbot, bring me some Jack Stone garbage!!