Flagships 1990-1999

[SheepEater]

I insisted on including the 2nd biggest set for some years, because otherwise the fantastic 8460 mobile crane and 8459 Front loader wouldn't have made it.

Edited August 19, 2012 by SheepEater

[allanp]

This is a much harder poll. Like the last one I wanted to vote for as few as possible (I only voted for two in the last one) but this one was very hard to not vote for all but a couple. I managed to get it down to 4 or 5 tho!

[SheepEater]

This is a much harder poll. Like the last one I wanted to vote for as few as possible (I only voted for two in the last one) but this one was very hard to not vote for all but a couple. I managed to get it down to 4 or 5 tho!

You have better self-control than I do. I voted for all but 3.

But them again when it comes to Lego, 90s is the decade for me, when it comes to Technic/Town/Trains :wub:

Edited August 19, 2012 by SheepEater

[rm8]

My choice is 8858. That was my first and only big technic set when I was a kid.

[Cwetqo]

That was easy:

8868: one of best sets ever, way ahead of its time

8880: giant leap in supercar design, function wise unsurpassed till today

8480: very complex build, clever use of gearbox, fiber optics, micro motor

8448: design wise this is for me still most beautifuly done supercar, even if it has fewer function as 8880

Of the rest I would choose both control centers and 8459, but not in the same league as above mentioned.

[SheepEater]

Guys, I'm looking at the results and I think the 8479 badly need more love. I'm guessing it's unpopular on this poll only because few people own it - believe me, it's far more than just a simple dump truck; the mechanisms inside are terrific and the automatic grabber arm works great.

Consider this: Our own EB member blakbird, who AFAIK owns every single technic set in existence, has chosen this as his avatar.

My choice is 8858. That was my first and only big technic set when I was a kid.

Good set, love the alternate ATV model.

[rumpletump]

As a young boy I was very lucky to get the 8868 claw rig and 8880 super car they were my prize Lego possessions and I still have them to this day.

8880 for me has always been one of the best cos it also has an exceptional looking B model.

[Rijkvv]

8868, 8880, 8485, 8480 and 8479. With the 2000-2012 poll there were few sets that I really like, but the 1990s were the golden age of TECHNIC, at least for me. The five sets I choosed, are my personal TECHNIC top 5 ever, and among my favourite LEGO sets in general. Each is complicated both in building as in function and ahead of it's time, each has many pieces (today sets consist for a large part of pins) and especially 8880, 8480 and 8479 look great as well. For me 8480 is the best, but I can't decide between the other four.

While I think 8459 and 8460 would be great flagships themselves if 8485 and 8479 would not be released, I think 8858 is not interesting enough to include in this list. 1993 was a year with not a single set that really stood out. 8857 was possibly the largest single vehicle, but 8082 had more pieces. 8872 was the largest set, both in piece count as in size, but consisted of two vehicles and a trailer, each not very complicated. While I like the idea, and this set itself, I doubt if 1993 really had a flagship.

8094 looks like a great set to me, but to me 8485 is better in every way (more motors, more reliable rubber belts, you don't need to change batteries, the looks of the designs are better). 8856 is a great set, the best TECHNIC helicopter ever released. Only the looks are not that great, in 1995 it has been done better with 8412. I think it's just not great enough to be added to my favourites' list.

And then, well, 8462 and 8448. I think 8448 is great in functions, but the design doesn't look like LEGO to me (for me the same with studless sets). Otherwise it might have outranked the 8880 for me. 8462 looks way too futuristic. If it had the 8479 wheels, and a more traditional cab it would be as good as 8460 and 8459. THere's nothing wrong with functions in that set.

Edited August 20, 2012 by Richie

[SheepEater]

Richie, I agree with everything you said.

Yeah, maybe 8858 shouldn't have been included.

8462 does look too futuristic. But look at it this way, it's wheels are rare now. And it's a blue set. With TWO air tanks. That's enough to make it worth owning.

[Meatman]

I actually like the B-Model of the 8880 rather than the actual main Model. The main model was packed with some great functions, but really didn't resemble a car very well. The steering also seemed a bit rough due to the weight of the car. At least mine does.

[allanp]

I guess i'm a little surprised that the barcode truck is not getting that much love. I didn't vote for it myself tho because I wanted to vote for my favorites out of those selected. If I voted for all of them then it's not really picking my favorites even tho they are all favorites of mine. So I guess it's because it is up against near perfection in it's competition. If it was in the other poll I think it would have done better.

[Erik Leppen]

I guess i'm a little surprised that the barcode truck is not getting that much love. I didn't vote for it myself tho

Well, that's why Really, I have never understood why people go "I don't understand why X has so few votes. I didn't vote for X though". How can you not understand why X has few votes, if you yourself are not voting on X, even though you could? Just assume people follow the same reasoning as you.

First of all, I only voted for sets I own, because I can't really form an opinion from a set I have never actually built and played with. The cool thing about the 1990-1999 era is that I was a kid - so I actually played with the sets. Nowadays, I just build them and that's the play in itself. I think that plays part of the role of why many of the sets of this era are so amazing.

My all time favorite of those, I think, is 8460, the mobile crane. It's such a complete set with many functions that work so well. Also it's one of the first mobile cranes that actually looked like a real mobile crane that you actually saw on the road (in terms of proportions). The earlier 8854 just didn't do it for me (it looks clumsy, to be honest).

Anyhow:

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No: 1990: 8094: don't own.

Yes: 1991: 8856: the best helicopter set (with the possible exception of the new 9396), and as a kid I had unlimited fun swooshing around the alternative model over the floor.

Yes: 1992: 8868: the main model is great and looks great, but what really adds to the set is that the alternative model is also great. It's not the best looking, but the automatic pneumatic circuitry is beyond amazing.

No: 1993: 8082: don't own.

No: 1993: 8872: don't own. I have never been a fan of models that consist of smaller models. It always feels like a missed opportunity. The opportunity being that having a big set means one can build a big model. Having a result that could also have done with two smaller sets, feels like a "waste" of the "big set slot" for that year.

No: 1994: 8858: don't own. Would have voted though, I think it's a very cool model.

Yes: 1994: 8880: What I like most about the supercar is the rounded shapes of the body. It's surprisingly sturdy (allowing to lift the car by the roof, for example). And of course the 4x4x4 with steering wheel and HOG is a great achievement. The set had one huge disadvantage for me: it's not very playable. It's a car, and that's it, kind of. I think this was very much an AFOL set in that respect.

Yes: 1995: 8460: My favorite, because it combines everything so well, and the crane is actually very strong, and the outriggers really work. I have had so much play fun with this set as a kid. Also the tiny turning radius fascinated me at the time. It's just a very good set. I'm surprised it's not very popular in the vote.

No: 1995: 8485: don't own.

Yes: 1996: 8480: This set is technically very complex, lots of functions in a small space, and has an unusual subject matter. And it's white - lots of white. The alternative model was not so interesting though - it has the same "empty space" problem as 8285.

No: 1997: 8459: don't own.

Yes: 1997: 8479: The code pilot idea is unique, but that aside, the main model is just a very solid truck with good proportions and nice functionality (the working steering wheel!). The alternative buggy model was ingenious as well. And it's green.

Yes: 1998: 8462: I have doubted whether I should vote, but in the end I did vote, because I still think this is a very nice set. I like the open frame structure used in this set, and I think the functionality is OK. The blue color and air tanks add to the set. The alternative model is lacking though.

Yes: 1999: 8448: What I liked here most was the modular build-up. Building this set from its original package felt most like constructing a real car. Building a module, and attaching the module to the frame. I liked that design feature a lot (also because of the huge contrast with 8880 which had a "continuous" build). Also, compared to 8880, I liked how the design of the chassis was very minimalistic (contrast to 8880 which has a much more "bulky" frame). And the body is very sleek (I particularly loved the wing doors). The 5+R is a great piece of Lego engineering as well. The lack of four-wheel stuff makes it less "special" among AFOLs, or so it seems, but to me, 8448 is "on par" with 8880.

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By the way, it's great fun reading all those opinions here. Just to let you know you aren't all writing just for nothing ;)

[jorgeopesi]

I agree with Erik Leppen, 8880 is not very playable but anyway is my number one flagship, maybe because I only like the construction part. When I was a boy I didn´t like to play with sets or my MOCs and now is the same.

[Foggy]

Hi, voted for 3,didn't want more :)

8856, really great copter,like the all red color and the flex system as welll! So few votes here :( seems like this copter (even reading other posts) isn't so loved here :(

8868 one of the best sets ever,bought it just a couple of months ago at a good price in Germany and desperatly wanted it from the early 90's when was young. Like so much compressor and all the construction!

8859 haven't it yet (i'm looking for a good price) but saw booklet and many reviews and for all what it has is a very good set,tank and 2 differentials and fake engine..

P.s. Can't wait for the 1980-1989 flagships ;)

ciao

Edited August 21, 2012 by Foggy

[SheepEater]

8859 haven't it yet (i'm looking for a good price) but saw booklet and many reviews and for all what it has is a very good set,tank and 2 differentials and fake engine..

You probably mistyped and meant 8459. You can try tracking down the re-releases, as well. I recommend 8464. That's the one I have.

P.s. Can't wait for the 1980-1989 flagships ;)

It will probably end up being 1977-1989 since for quite a few years, there were just not many sets, and not that many large sets overall. We'll see.

[Foggy]

Yep was 8459 :(

nevermind even before the 80's is fine for me :)