LEGO Technic: Engineering Fun with Detailed Building Sets

While the classic building bricks are primarily aimed at children, the target group for LEGO Technik is broader. In addition to slightly older children and young adults, many fans and collectors are already waiting for new products, as Klas Bömecke found out for Messe.TV.

LEGO Technik Bucket wheel excavator + dump truck

Klas Bömecke: Lego Technik is the party for the big boys (smiles at the Lego trade fair supervisor). Lego employee: Yes, from that point of view it is (smiles). Our primary target group is between the ages of 7 and 16. Secondarily, we want to appeal to people who are older than 16. These are also collectors or people who buy presents. Klas Bömecke: It's very complex, of course. That's a brown coal excavator, isn't it? Lego employee: Yes, that's our shovel excavator. It will be out in August. It's an extremely sophisticated model. It's the biggest model we've ever brought out as Lego technology. Klas Bömecke: How many parts does it have? Lego employee: 3927.

Klas Bömecke: Wow (amazed), you didn't build that in an afternoon. Lego employee: No, I don't think so. I have to say, I didn't put it together. I honestly don't know exactly how long it takes, but it keeps you busy for quite a while. Klas Bömecke: What can it do anyway? Lego employee: It has electrical functions as well as manual ones. I would start with the electric ones now because they are the most impressive. When I turn on the motor by flipping the middle switch, it starts digging normally - just like it does in real life. The stones come onto the conveyor belt and land down here on the rear boom and come out at the back in the dump truck. The dump truck is of course also included in the set. Everything you see here is included in the set, including the motor. It's a complete set, as you can see here. Klas Bömecke: And can it also move, for example drive? Lego employee: Yes, it can also turn. In order to cover as much area as possible, it is possible for it to turn 360 degrees sideways in both directions in real time. The original is not much faster. After all, it is a huge structure. It can move forwards and backwards, provided that the dismantling mechanism is switched off due to safety precautions.

LEGO Technik with manual and electrical functions

Klas Bömecke: Just like in real life. Lego employee: Just like in real life, actually. Klas Bömecke: Now, of course, it's so complicated that anyone who owns it will handle it as if it were a raw egg - in theory, is it suitable for a sandpit? Lego employee: The only problem is that the conveyor belts have small holes, the sand could get caught in them. But it would be suitable for gravel pits. Klas Bömecke: Of course, something like this comes at a price. How deep do I have to dig into my pocket for it? Lego employee: The RRP here is €229.99. Klas Bömecke: Okay. You get almost 4000 pieces for that, but it's also a price. Lego employee: You also have to say that it's a 2-in-1 set. As is usually the case with Lego technology. You can see it on the back of the packaging: the whole product can be converted into a mobile preparation plant. Once you've had your fill of the actual product, you can convert it. As a processing plant, it sorts parts. Separates the big ones from the small ones. Klas Bömecke: That means I have many hours of fun with it twice. Lego employee: Yes, it means twice as many hours of building fun and twice as many hours of functional fun - both separately. Klas Bömecke: Super is a great device. Lego employee: Definitely, I think it will be a big hit.

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