Sign in
Set 852 Reconnaisance Helicopter
Expert Builder

Reconnaisance Helicopter

This helicopter, set 852, belongs to 1977, the year Technic began. The catalogue spells its name Reconnaisance Helicopter, and it has 364 pieces with no minifigures.

Set number
852
Year
1977
Pieces
364
Minifigures
0
Theme
Expert Builder
Different parts
73
What can I build with it?

Parts list 73

As BrickLink list (XML)

Import on BrickLink: Wanted → Upload, upload the file (or paste its content), pick a Wanted List and add the parts.

Description

Where Technic started

The first Technic sets appeared in 1977, sold in North America under the Expert Builder name. This helicopter is part of that opening year. Its build shows what the system originally consisted of: studded Technic bricks with holes, axles, gears and a limited selection of special parts. The smooth studless beams that dominate modern Technic did not exist yet. For anyone curious about how the line developed, set 852 is a clear snapshot of its starting point and a good contrast with any recent model.

Shaping an aircraft

Helicopters are an interesting challenge for a brick system, because a fuselage, skids and rotors need very different shapes from a car or a tractor. With the parts available in 1977, the result is angular but instantly recognisable. The 364 pieces cover 73 part types, around five copies of each on average. That is a broader mix than you might expect from such an early set, and it shows the range already went beyond basic bricks. There are no figures, so the model stands on its own.

Same numbers, another set

The catalogue also lists 954 Sky Copter from 1978 with exactly the same data: 364 pieces, 73 part types and the same four main colours of light grey, yellow, black and red. If you are hunting for this helicopter second-hand, it is worth searching under both numbers. When checking a used copy, pay attention to colour too. The old light grey is warmer than today's bluish grey, and yellow parts from the 1970s may have faded or discoloured over the decades.

From the box to your own builds

The parts list on this page shows every element with its colour and quantity, which makes completing an old set much easier. If you still have Technic from the late 1970s, the What can I build? feature compares your collection with this model and lists the gaps. The yellow and grey bricks, gears and axles also make a solid starting point for your own vintage-style machines, whether or not you rebuild the helicopter itself.

FAQ

Is set 852 one of the first Technic sets?
Yes, it dates from 1977, the year the Technic line was introduced.
How is it related to 954 Sky Copter?
The catalogue shows identical figures for both, with 364 pieces, 73 part types and the same main colours.
Are minifigures included?
No, the set contains no minifigures.

Similar sets