Random set of the day: Convertables
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 8244 Convertables, released during 1996. It's one of 10 Technic sets produced that year. It contains 275 pieces and 1 minifig, and its retail price was US$33.
It's owned by 824 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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18 comments on this article
One of the greatest Technic sets ever produced.
Convertables, the Transformers' sworn enemies beyond the Go-bots.
Great set. Actually, zero minifigs. One impossibly cool maxifig.
Never heard of it. Now, I will be on the lookout.
@MCLegoboy said:
"Convertables, the Transformers' sworn enemies beyond the Go-bots."
What about the Commandrons?
@anthony_davies said:
"Great set. Actually, zero minifigs. One impossibly cool maxifig. "
Weren't the maxifigs actually the ones from the 70s that you had to build yourself? Like in 215 ?
Anyway, this is an ideal Technic young beginners set. Not so interesting for older or slightly advanced Technic fans. You can swap the modules fairly quickly, but the the results are rather plain and not very interesting. Also, it's not a very good parts pack, as it lacks longer Technic bricks, beams and plates.
This set has a few good parts (compact steering system, those are good size wheels, good selection of gears and a maxifig).
Looking at it, it even shows quite a few concepts: steering, worm gear, piston engine, change in axis of transmission. So not bad.
Yet, I still cannot like that set. It is probably a perfect beginner set for someone who just starts dabbling in Technic but it has nothing that is cool and good looking that you want to show to everyone. Even the colour theme is probably the result of the left-overs available back then.
So instead of modular buildings, they had modular cars?
I see not one 4-wheeled automobile with a removable roof.
Bring back the Technic figure!!
@PurpleDave: Good grief, I was just thinking the same thing...
Also, kind looks like a really bad 'home lawn-care utility'...thing:
Customer: "Soooo...what's with the rotor blades?"
Home Depot Rep: "Well, they cut your lawn."
Customer: "Ahuh...why are they on the roof then?"
@MCLegoboy said:
"Convertables, the Transformers' sworn enemies beyond the Go-bots."
They’ve got the physical contact! They’ve got the energy!
That was a wonderful set for the young me back in '96 :)
I remember seeing this one in older catalogs when I was young. Didn't really like the way it looked.
As an adult I like the look a little better because the modularity and functions are the primary focus unlike the majority of today's technic sets. And there's a LOT of modularity and functions! It's a novel concept that's more true to technic than the modular play vehicles from 1998. I think this would be great for kids.
That said, I don't think old technic sets from the era were always that beautiful either. Especially from before 1995 when they tended to be one universal color like yellow or red. But the functions can't really be appreciated from pictures, so that's fine. And the same goes for this set.
Lots of variations, but nothing really in particular stands out, making you rather spend a bit more and obtain a dedicated model.
I really wish Lego would still make sets like this. :_(
Never seen this before, bit of a weird set and I'm not really sure if this kind of modular system really makes sense, but it does show there's a lot you can do with not even that many parts. Compare that to nowadays sets, most of which don't even have a B-model anymore. And hey, a Technic fig, how can I not love this set...
My sister had this (effectively becoming mine to play with too, all our LEGO was shared. Technic fig was the best thing.