Former Yugoslav Republic Of

May 10, 2015, 1:38 am

This beautiful Volvo NL12 long-nose truck comes from Master MOCer Dennis Bosman (aka Lego Trucks).

As with all Dennis’ builds the Volvo’s detailing is spectacular, but it’s the paint job that excited the Elves – yellow and red meant two Smarties for the lucky finder. To us it looks like it was inspired by the country of Macedonia*, who probably have – if you’re an Elf – the best flag of any nation.

You can see more of Dennis’ truck at his photostream via the link above, and you can read about his Lego story in TLCB’s Master MOCers series.

*If you’re an American, click here.

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Optimus Prime Jr.

May 10, 2015, 1:44 am

≫ Next: Snow Tat

≪ Previous: Former Yugoslav Republic Of

Who knew Optimus Prime could be cute? Flickr’s Moko has rebuilt the transforming truck on Flickr to toddler proportions. It transforms too – click here to make the jump.

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Snow Tat

May 10, 2015, 1:50 am

≫ Next: Convoy Picture Special

≪ Previous: Optimus Prime Jr.

It’s been a truck-heavy day at TLCB today, but no matter – we like trucks. This is one of our favourites, Tatra’s ridiculously capable Kolos 8×8. Horcik Designs of Flickr has built this one, complete with the legendary 8×8 drivetrain, in this case propelled by LEGO’s superb Power Functions motors. There’s more to see, including a video of the Tatra in action, at the link above.

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Convoy Picture Special

May 10, 2015, 2:11 am

≫ Next: Minecraft

≪ Previous: Snow Tat

A few weeks ago one of our Elves discovered a creation on Brickshelf built in a style we thought we recognised. After posting the model here the builder got in touch to confirm they were indeed who we thought they were, and that they had returned. Chris Melby might have been away for while, but he’s back with bang!

Chris then sent us images of his finished Mack RL700L truck ‘Rubber Duck’ from the movie Convoy, and it’s these that we can exclusively share with you today. Measuring over 50 inches long and containing over 8,500 bricks, Chris’ Mack with tanker trailer is one the largest trucks of the year so far.

You can see all the imagery, and read the details of the RL700L ‘Rubber Duck’ build, by visiting Chris’ excellent new website zmasterbrick.com. Many thanks to Chris for providing us with the photos for this publication.

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Minecraft

May 11, 2015, 4:08 pm

≫ Next: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

≪ Previous: Convoy Picture Special

Today a jubilant TLCB Elf set a new office record; the most colleagues squished in one event since records began. It seems that whenever an Elf finds a monster remote controlled creation its first instinct is to flatten as many of its co-workers as possible with it. One poor Elf was so ingrained into the tyre tread it was rotating with the wheel to be newly squashed every few seconds.

The tyres in question are third-party RC items, employed here because The LEGO Group simply doesn’t make any large enough. The rest of this creation is 100% authentic Lego though. It’s based on a Caterpillar 795F heavy dump truck – as found in open-cast mines all around the world – and it’s powered by two XL motors, with a further motor controlling the steering and another the lifting of the bucket.

If you’d like to see all of the images then head over to Eurobricks where builder shineyu has started a discussion topic to showcase his work. If you like this creation you might also be interested in an incredible previously blogged Terex excavator that works alongside the 795F in the real world; it’s now available on MOCpages to view, whilst we spend some time giving some lightly injured Elves a ride in the bucket of the Caterpillar.

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Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

May 14, 2015, 10:18 am

≫ Next: On Location

≪ Previous: Minecraft

We posted this utterly gorgeous classic DAF 2400 tractor unit a while back, and builder Nanko Klein Paste has now added a brilliant trailer to complete the model. You can see all of the superb images on Flickr, simply click on the link above to visit Nanko’s photostream.

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On Location

May 15, 2015, 4:29 am

≫ Next: A Mini Monster

≪ Previous: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

Lego models photographed on location look the business. This stunning Mercedes-Benz Actros with Nooteboom trailer and its Volkswagen Transporter escort vehicle have appeared here previously as part of a builder collaboration.

Flickr’s JaapTechnic has since completed his elements of that original set-up by adding fully working lights and high-quality decals to his models. The latest images place the convoy into a real world setting, and the results are spectacular. Click here to see all of the new images at Jaap’s photostream.

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A Mini Monster

May 30, 2015, 2:29 am

≫ Next: Cum On Feel the Noize

≪ Previous: On Location

Proving that you don’t need thousands of bricks to be featured on our blog is Flickr’s Amida Na, with his two new trucks. Click on this link to view the models in more detail. Can you spot the Lego samurai swords hidden in both builds?

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Cum On Feel the Noize

June 2, 2015, 8:54 am

≫ Next: More Monster Truck

≪ Previous: A Mini Monster

The Lego Car Blog Elves are – despite their small size – quite fantastically noisy creatures. Thus they were delighted to find two noisy creations today, and then almost immediately enraged to find that LEGO bricks produce no noise at all, even when they’re shaped as if they do.

The first of their finds (above) comes from Flickr’s Nik J Dort, who has recreated the iconic ex-police Dodge Monaco complete with roof-speaker from the 1980 film ‘Blues Brothers’, which until recently held the record for the highest number of vehicles destroyed in a movie. Watching this destruction has placated the Elves somewhat.

Their second find comes from a builder suggested to us by a reader, LEGO Will, but sadly from a movie the Elves are unable to watch yet as they are still banned from the local cinema. Will’s mini-figure scale recreation of the ‘Doof Wagon’ from the ridiculous (and brilliant) 2015 film ‘Mad Max – Fury Road’ can be found on Flickr too – click the link above for all the pictures.

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More Monster Truck

June 8, 2015, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Technic 42043 – Mercedes-Benz Arocs – Set Preview

≪ Previous: Cum On Feel the Noize

After removing the controls of yesterday‘s monster truck from the Elves before there could be any smushings one of our Elves got one over us today.

In the hands of a the aforementioned employee the Baja trophy truck above managed to squash most of our smelly little workforce long before we noticed anything was amiss and – thanks to the new SBrick – controlling the chaos could be done by the Elf in hiding.

Order has now been restored and the jubilant Elf responsible ejected from TLCB Towers by way of the office catapult, giving us the chance to scrape some damaged Elves out of the carpet and – more importantly – have a go at the driving ourselves.

The beast in question is the work of Egor Karshiev (aka rm8) and it’s E.P.I.C. Underneath the trophy truck bodywork are two LEGO buggy motors powered by two LiPo batteries, plus a servo motor for steering, three sets of LEDs and the SBrick control unit. All of this sits on top of some of the bounciest Technic suspension we’ve ever seen and the result is a Technic model that’s faster than anything made from Lego has a right to be.

You can read all about Egor’s creation and see the full gallery of images on MOCpages, plus you can appreciate how half our workers were squashed so thoroughly by watching the truck in action in Egor’s awesome video here.

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Technic 42043 – Mercedes-Benz Arocs – Set Preview

June 11, 2015, 8:02 am

≫ Next: MAN Wrecker

≪ Previous: More Monster Truck

There’s been much excitement here at TLCB Towers today. Following our preview of the 2015 Technic line-up some time ago, the final piece of the 2015 jigsaw has been found! We’ve had a few images of the missing 42043 set sitting in the office for a while, but unfortunately they weren’t of sufficient quality for us to share here. And we forgot. But let’s go with the quality control aspect as it makes us look more professional.

Anyway, thanks to an intrepid troop of Elves we now do have images of a high enough quality to publish! So this is it – LEGO’s new 2015 Technic flagship, building further on their partnership with Mercedes-Benz, the 2,800 piece 42043 Arcos crane truck.

Based on Mercedes’ real 4-axle tractor unit 42043 surpasses even the previous standards set by the incredible 8110 Unimog set. Featuring both Power Functions electric motors and the next generation pneumatic system (containing all-new components), 42043 features a huge range of functionality.

Three new pneumatic cylinders are used to move the crane arm and grab, with a fourth employed as a pneumatic compressor. A gearbox allows the Power Functions system to perform a variety of tasks, including powering the aforementioned compressor and tipping the bucket, whilst unpowered mechanics take care of the steering, piston engine and suspension.

We expect the new 42043 flagship set to cost upwards £165 when it arrives towards the end of the summer, and if one of TLCB Team saves really hard we’ll be able to bring you a set review. In the meantime you can read our reviews of LEGO’s previous releases, including the Arocs’ predecessor – the 8110 Unimog – by clicking here.

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MAN Wrecker

June 14, 2015, 6:15 am

≫ Next: Tilt ‘n Slide

≪ Previous: Technic 42043 – Mercedes-Benz Arocs – Set Preview

It sounds like a disgusting drink you’re likely to find in a dodgy bar in Magaluf, but it’s also this lovely Town style tow truck by previous bloggee Marin Stipkovic. You can see more of his excellent three-axle MAN truck with towing boom on Flickr.

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Tilt ‘n Slide

June 20, 2015, 4:05 pm

≫ Next: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

≪ Previous: MAN Wrecker

This magnificent Technic tilt and slide recovery truck was discovered on Eurobricks, where builder Kevin Moo has engineered a range of stunning functionality from no less than nine(!) Power Functions motors. These include remote control drive and steering, the tilting and sliding of the recovery bed, a working winch and wheel-lift and a motorised opening bonnet. There’s also a V8 piston engine up front, working suspension on all axles and operational headlights.

You can see the full gallery of images at the Eurobricks discussion forum via the link above, plus you can see Kevin’s recovery truck in action via the video below – it looks the perfect vehicle for the inevitable rescue of some of our previously blogged cars – such as this, these, and almost any Peugeot.

YouTube Video:

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Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

July 10, 2015, 4:24 am

≫ Next: Robots in Disguise

≪ Previous: Tilt ‘n Slide

There’s a happy Elf at TLCB Towers today, thanks to newcomer Damjan and his giant Technic truck. Damjan’s creation is yellow, has racing stripes (sort of), and is remotely controlled via LEGO’s Power Functions system – meaning it can be used to chase down colleagues and smush them into the office carpet.*

With this achieved the lucky discovering Elf is contentedly munching on a yellow Smartie, and we’re going to let its victims sort themselves out because it’s sunny here and we’re off for a pint of something alcoholic. You can see more of Damjan’s truck on Brickshelf, or at the Eurobricks discussion forum – click the links to take a look.

*It’s therefore quite a good shout for TLCB Summer Building Competition, in which we’ve received some excellent entries already. To read the competition details and to enter your model click the link above – and you could be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes!

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Robots in Disguise

July 13, 2015, 4:05 pm

≫ Next: Micro Machine

≪ Previous: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

The Elves are beyond excited today. This incredible recreation of Transformers’ Optimus Prime is the work of TLCB regular, TLCB Master MOCer and Brothers Bricker Ralph Savelsberg (aka Mad Physicist). As is always the case with Ralph’s creations, the detailing in his latest build is extraordinary, but what’s scarcely believable is that this incredibly life-like truck can really transform. Because Ralph is a wizard.

Much witchcraft and magic later and Ralph’s Optimus Prime truck looks a little different, to the delight of our Elvish workforce. You can see more of Optimus in both his brilliant forms, plus a few images showing a little of how the amazing transformation takes place, at Ralph’s Flickr photostream. Click the link and join us in wonder.

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Micro Machine

July 17, 2015, 9:21 am

≫ Next: Smokey and the Bandit

≪ Previous: Robots in Disguise

Following a huge (and brilliant) Optimus Prime publicised here a few days ago, here’s one much much smaller. Obedient Machine is the builder and there’s more to see on Flickr.

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Smokey and the Bandit

July 17, 2015, 9:30 am

≫ Next: Polish Colour Television – Picture Special

≪ Previous: Micro Machine

This gorgeous Model Team recreation of the famous 1975 Kenworth 900-A from the cult classic ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ has been built by the recently returned Chris Melby. Chris is working on the trailer too, so expect more in the coming weeks. There’s more to see of the superb tractor unit at Chris’ photostream on Flickr – click the link above to get Eastbound and Down.

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Polish Colour Television – Picture Special

July 22, 2015, 2:51 am

≫ Next: Chequer Plate

≪ Previous: Smokey and the Bandit

This is one of the more unusual vehicles to appear here at TLCB this year, but it’s one of our absolute favourites!

This gorgeous 1971 Jelcz Mielec television truck has been constructed by TLCB regular Karwik. At 9 studs wide it’s one of the largest mini-figure scale vehicles we’ve featured here, and it’s also one of the most intricate.

Every detail of the real truck – which you can find online by searching for ‘Jelcz Mielec’ – has been captured beautifully (unlike a 1970s Polish TV camera) and the build has been completed with the addition of some brilliant custom decals and professionally chromed pieces by Chrome Block City.

We highly recommend viewing Karwik’s excellent gallery on Flickr – click the link above to switch channels.

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Chequer Plate

August 9, 2015, 3:33 am

≫ Next: Technic Tipper

≪ Previous: Polish Colour Television – Picture Special

Chequers in Lego always seem to look the business. And never more so than when in space. We’re not sure why this is, but we don’t make the rules. The Elves found two spacey creations employing chequers this week, and both look, well – the business.

Shannon Sproule‘s survey truck (above) and David Roberts‘ GARC race team (below) both tread the black and yellow chequer plate route and you can see more of both wonderfully inventive creations on Flickr at the links above.

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Technic Tipper

August 10, 2015, 11:57 am

≫ Next: Zoooosh!

≪ Previous: Chequer Plate

This superbly neat Technic tipper truck comes from past bloggee Krzysztof Cytacki of Flickr. This truck actually appeared here a while back in a previous incarnation, and his latest version adds a linear actuated tipping bed and Power Functions motors for remote control. There’s lots more to see on Flickr – click the link above to see the full gallery.

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