LEGO® Simple Machines

Description

A set made for the classroom

Dacta was the educational line that brought bricks into schools. Simple Machines fits that purpose: levers, gears and axles are meant to show how forces work. It is therefore not a model of a vehicle or house but a kit for experiments. With 122 pieces the quantity is manageable, so small test set-ups can be assembled and rebuilt quickly. That flexibility is what made such sets popular for teaching. Children can try things out for themselves instead of only following an instruction.

Light grey, red, blue and black

The palette is functional: light grey forms the basic structure, red and blue add accents, and black appears in details. Colours help to tell components and their function apart, which is exactly what you want in a learning set. If you are completing a copy, the parts list gives you the details by part and colour. Shades on old Technic parts do vary slightly, so a careful look pays off. Red and blue parts also make moving components easy to spot.

14 part types, little ballast

The 122 pieces belong to only 14 different types. That is few, and it points to a clear, functional set: you work with many identical elements rather than rare specialised parts. That helps understanding and makes the stock easy to reuse. There are no minifigures. The complete list on this page lets you check your copy for completeness or judge the stock for your own Technic projects. With so few types, the comparison is done quickly.

For collectors and Technic fans

Collectors of Dacta material value the set as a document of early learning bricks. Technic fans use the parts for gearboxes, levers and small mechanisms. With the “What can I build?” tool you can check which Technic models your stock supports and whether the elements in this set are what you lack. The simple basic parts can also become an experimenting ground for you or your children. Anyone who knows Technic will spot the familiar basic elements at once.

FAQ

How many pieces does the set have?

122 pieces in 14 different part types. No minifigures are included.

What was it designed for?

As an educational set from the Dacta line, for trying out simple mechanics such as levers and gears.

Which colours does it have?

Light grey, red, blue and black.