Lego Technic Deals & Offers

LEGO Technic: Get LEGO’s Motorised Sets For Less

LEGO Technic is a more advanced part of the LEGO product range. Its collection stretches from models of real-life racings cars to lorries and mining trucks, all of which feature electronic components. Generally pitched at kids aged above 10 years old, Technic is a great toy for parents to enjoy with their children, with its blend of precision engineering and sheer fun.

This buyer's guide will have a quick look at the most popular LEGO Technic products, help buyers find instructions to assemble their kits, and offer some handy suggestions about finding cheap LEGO Technic deals.

The History of LEGO Technic

LEGO was founded in Denmark in the 1930s but started producing its famous toy brick products in 1949. After that, their kits became one of the post-war era's most popular toys, captivating kids across the world with their blend of colour, accessibility and creativity.

However, in the 1970s, the company sought to achieve more. They saw that their simple block sets were a huge hit but noted an appetite among young people for electronics as well. The result of their research was LEGO Technic, which debuted as “Technical Sets” in 1977, and was rebranded as Technic in 1984.

Technic sets featured the customary LEGO style, with studded bricks and colourful, cartoonish designs, but introduced much more complex features, including motors and lights. Now, users would have to contend with elements like gears and axles if they wanted their vehicles to move properly, adding a touch of expertise and precision to the building process.

The range was a big success, capitalising on the development of computing and video games at around about the same time. Until around 2000, Technic sets continued to be based around studded components, in the standard LEGO form. However, at the turn of the century, the company made a major shift, turning to studless components, which allow for more dynamic, complex designs. You can still pick up classic Technic models (and they are a good choice for learners), but these days, Technic vehicles have moved onto another level of realism thanks to the architectural shift.

More recently, LEGO also introduced what they call ‘Power Functions’. These are a suite of technologies which make it far easier to turn LEGO Technic creations into remote-controlled, mobile vehicles. New developments are appearing all the time, such as app-based controllers. So keep your eyes peeled, as there are more exciting things to come for LEGO Technic.

What Makes LEGO Technic Different From Ordinary LEGO?

LEGO Technic is, as the name suggests, a more technical and complex version of conventional LEGO. While ordinary LEGO might just include a set of interlocking bricks and slabs, a LEGO Technic set could feature a much wider range of components, from springs and pulleys to electric motors, allowing users to create some pretty impressive constructions.

Another thing which sets LEGO Technic apart from ordinary LEGO is the age range that it is pitched for. While normal LEGO is fine for kids aged 5 and above (and products are available for pre-schoolers too), Technic is generally aimed at older children and teenagers who are learning about physics and engineering. It's a great educational tool, but younger kids won't really enjoy the same benefits as older users.

A Look at Some of the Most Popular LEGO Technic Sets

These days, the LEGO Technic range is vast, allowing budding engineers to get really creative. Here's a snapshot of some of the most popular and enjoyable sets for buyers to think about:

• Bugatti Cheron – This is the Lego Technic set that everyone wants to get their hands on right now. Built in 1:8 scale and featuring over 3,500 individual pieces, building this Bugatti Cheron represents a real challenge. It has an RPP of £330, so if you’re looking to get your hands on this, make sure to wait until you’ve found a good deal.

• Porsche 911 – One of the most impressive LEGO Technic sets of all is their replica of the Porsche 911 RSR. Featuring an authentic white, black and red colour scheme, it has features like a rear wing with ‘swan neck’ mounts, side mirrors that move aerodynamically, and a six-cylinder boxer engine that features moving pistons. Making this will give motoring fans a unique perspective on how supercars are put together, and delight young LEGO fans too.

• Rally Car – A 2-in-1 model that can also be transformed into a dune buggy, the rally car features a large rear spoiler, 4 spot lamps and 6-spoke red rims with low-profile tires. On the mechanical side of things, it has a V6 engine with moving pistons, and a 2-fan engine cooling system. With an RRP of £90, finding a good deal on this will give you the ideal entry point into the world LEGO Technic.

• Crane – This model lets you build a toy crane built for rough terrain and heavy-duty action. It features a motorised superstructure, a 1m extendable boom and 4-wheel steering. It also doubles up as a mobile pile driver, giving you another 2-for-1 model that makes for two fun building projects.

• Lorry – With a product piece count of 2595, the Mack Anthem Toy Truck Replica is easily one of the most challenging Technics products available. Completing this model gives you a 10-wheel lorry with a 6 cylinder straight engine (with moving pistons and a spinning radiator fan). It’s the 3rd model on this buyer’s guide to have a 2-in-1 component ¬– you can also rebuild the lorry into a Mack LR rubbish truck.

Video: LEGO Technic Porsche 911 RSE

How to Find Advice About Building LEGO Technic Sets

While all LEGO Technic sets come with full assembly instructions, they can be a challenging toy to really get to grips with, so how can you access expert advice about techniques and tools? Well, there's a number of ways, actually.

Firstly, and most importantly, LEGO's website includes plenty of advice to help customers make the most of their Technic products, so be sure to take advantage of everything they have to offer. If you go to the Building Instructions Database, you can just enter the product code of your kit and call up detailed information about which steps to take (and which components are needed if you think you might be short.).

Along with LEGO's online help services, many Technic enthusiasts have written their own webpages and guidebooks to the collection. For example, Pawel “Sariel” Kmiec has written a number of unofficial LEGO Technic Builders Guides, which you can purchase cheaply via Amazon or the publisher No Starch Press.

Aside from that, you might also try specialist websites and forums like Brickset, which brings together Technic fans from all over the world. If you're struggling to find a building solution, the members there will surely have an answer.

Are There Any LEGO Technic Apps Available?

In recent years, LEGO have become much more than a manufacturer of plastic bricks and Technic sets. They have branched out into computer games, movies and apps in a big way, and the Technic range has been well catered for in this regard.

In terms of Apps, the star of the show is the unofficial Technic Instructions Guide from ROXU Tech. It has a database of over 200 LEGO Technic sets, with newly released sets being added in shortly after their release. You’ll find a full parts inventory for each set, as well as a 3D model for selected sets. There are also quirky online videos posted regularly on the LEGO Technics website, including posts about brand new Technics products and instructional videos.

Finally, although it's not an official LEGO product, the Technic controller tools from SBrick provide a way for Technic owners to use their creations in totally new ways. Designed in the trademark LEGO style, their receiver links up smartphones and LEGO Technic creations, enabling you to move them around from long distance – a very cool piece of technology if you want to build your own remote controlled vehicle, for example.

How to Find Replacement LEGO Technic Components

One of the challenges of being a Technic fanatic is finding out that your sets are missing a piece or two. This can be a particular problem if you buy Technic sets second hand, although it's also an issue if you've had vehicles or sets for years and find that they aren't complete when you want to remodel them.

If you find you're short, what are your options? The best course of action is to contact LEGO's Bricks and Pieces Service, which works to provide all of the company's customers with the components they need – all Technic products should be included.

If that doesn't work, there are specialist Technic marketplaces on the web like Brick Owl, which supply fans with everything they could ever need, and eBay is a low-cost alternative, much of the time.

Accessories for Lego Technic

While LEGO mostly sells its Technic series in sets, there are some accessories available which can help bring your creations to life:

• Power Functions Motor Set – This is an additional power set that comes with a medium motor, battery box, switch and a light cable featuring 2 bright LEDs. You can use this to power up any Technic creation designed for mechanical movement (so most sets available).

• Power Functions Servo Motor – If you’re looking to get 4-wheel steering for your Technics car model, then looking no further than the Servo Motor. It lets you rotate your model 90 degrees to the left or right through both wheels. Be aware that you’ll need a Power Functions Battery Box to use it (sold separately).

• Power Functions L-Motor – Looking to simply add movements to your models? The L-Motor has 380 rpm speed and will get the wheels and gears of your models moving. It also needs a Power Functions Battery Box to work.

How and When to Purchase Cheap LEGO Technic Products

LEGO Technic is one of the most educational, challenging and satisfying toys around, but it doesn't always come cheap. With sophisticated motors, precision engineered components and the talents of a world-class design team to fund, the prices of Technic kits can be far higher than ordinary LEGO products. So, what's the best way to find a LEGO Technic sale?

If you're seeking cheap LEGO Technic sets, hotukdeals has the answer. Our users post up Technic deals from both the high street and the web as soon as they are announced, so if there’s a deal to be had, you’ll find it here. When you search for LEGO Technic deals on hotukdeals, you'll find the lowest current prices for everything from helicopters to crawler cranes. All major UK toy merchants are included, such as Smyths, John Lewis, Tesco, Amazon, Asda, and Argos.

If you aren't that hurried and want to find the absolute cheapest offers, it might make sense to wait for sale periods. For example, Black Friday in November always sees Technic sets come down in price. The kits are big sellers at Christmas, and retailers try to shift as many as possible at the start of the festive retail season, which is always a good time to find the best price for LEGO. But it's worth checking out the New Year sales, as well as Amazon Prime day in August – both of which are excellent hunting grounds for cheap Technic products.

Let Your Creativity Flow with the LEGO Technic Discounts at hotukdeals

LEGO Technic has captured the imaginations of millions of kids (and adults) over the years, and its collection continues to become more exciting every year. From racing cars and helicopters to planes, cranes, diggers and dragsters, you can find all sorts of vehicles and machinery in the Technic range. You can find all of the most popular kits available for less by checking out the hotukdeals LEGO Technic listings.