• April 29, 2013

    New Mobile Crane 42009 is the biggest we've ever built!

    What did the Technic Team plan to do with the new Mobile Crane?

    With 2606 elements, the LEGO Technic Mobile Crane 42009 is the biggest, and most complex model we've built so far.

    It took a year to develop, from the first rough sketches, to the final model was approved.

    The last crane we built was in 2005 (8421 Mobile Crane). That was a very cool model, too. It had four axles, pneumatic linear actuators, manual outriggers, and it was very open.

    Our goal for the 42009 was to make the model even more sturdy, real life-like, and give it all the functions a real mobile crane has.



    The new elements and improved functions include:

    - Cross-axle with 8 tooth gearwheel without friction
    - Five axles, including four-axle steering
    - 8-cylinder engine
    - Power Functions
    - New outriggers controlled by gear box (up, down, in, out)
    - Motorized telescopic boom that extends in two stages - and it can lift heavy
    loads even when fully extended.
    - Seats and opening doors in crane and cockpit
    - Large linear actuators
    - Smooth surfaces gives it a very life-like look.

    How long does it take to build?
    I think an experienced LEGO Technic builder will probably be able to build it in 10-12 hours. So lots of building value!

    What can you tell us about the B-model?
    It's a container stacker, plus a container and a truck. The truck has four-wheel steering, and the container stacker has an extendable boom that can lift the container.

    When the grab arm is lowered onto the container and locked, it automatically centers the container into place, and you can lock the container onto the stacker arm.

    Not all the elements in the box are used in the B-model, but you actually get three models and that adds really great play value.

    We actually check the Gallery, so if you want to show off your Mobile Crane when you're done building, or if you build something else from the box, we would love to see it. So keep building, and go show off in the Gallery.

  • April 12, 2013

    Top 100 emails

    We have now sent emails to the Top 100 semi-finalists, and most of you have already sent us your contact information so we can send your prizes to the correct addresses.

    If you were among the Top 100 and haven’t seen an email from us, it may be because your model didn’t comply with the competition rules.

    We also received error messages from a few of the emails we sent out. So if you know you made it to the Top 100, haven’t heard from us, and you’re not sure why, please email us again no later than May 3, 2013 with

    - Your LEGO ID user name
    - The email address you used when you created your LEGO ID
    - A valid email address, if you think there’s a chance your LEGO ID account is not up to date
    - Your full name
    - Your postal address

    And we will get back to you as soon as we can, either with your prize, or an answer to why we couldn’t include your model.


    All the best,

    The LEGO Technic Team

  • April 9, 2013

    Exclusive Sneak Preview of the “You Design It – We Make It!” Winner!

    Egor Karshiev, the creative mastermind behind the winning “You Design It – We Make It!” model, has been working closely together with LEGO Technic’s Markus Kossmann to get everything ready for production at the LEGO factory in Denmark.

    Driven by our desire to bring you this limited edition model as quickly as possible, we have had to make a lot of very rapid design decisions … And we’re proud to say that this is what we’ve come up with:



    Being an exclusive box and a model inspired by 60’s 70’s American muscle cars, we wanted to do something really special with the colour scheme. The design team and Egor discussed several different approaches, in the end settling on the dark blue used in LEGO Star Wars models for the main colour, and adding two classic race car styled white stripes as well as a number extra silver metallic elements. The dark blue colour is a LEGO Technic first – just one of the many innovations unique to this model! To complete the overall look, we’ve also added a thin white ring on the rims to provide just the right touch of extra styling.

    Truly limited edition
    With only 20,000 available worldwide and with every model featuring an individually numbered license plate, this is a fantastic chance to own something both exclusive and unique!



    It took some effort, but we’re very pleased to say that we have managed to include Egor’s integration of Power Functions in the internal winch and in the front headlights! The final model features a motorized winch (using a medium motor) and light cable turned on and off by a switch – all adding up to a wealth of Power Functions elements!



    So, finally, it’s time to press the big green ‘Go’ button in our factory and in a few weeks the first trucks will leave our warehouse in Billund carrying a very special cargo! Wherever you are in the world, we hope that this exclusive, limited edition model will give you as much pleasure as it has given us!