As 2025 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back at a massive year of building, modding, experimenting, and expanding what’s possible with LEGO Technic. Despite a slow start, the year turned into one of the most creative and productive periods of my Technic journey.
A Slow Start – But Worth It
Just like in 2024, the first few months of 2025 were quiet.
Family life, commitments, and everything else demanded my attention, so Technic projects paused for a while. But that break actually helped reset my focus, and when I returned, I came back with far more clarity and direction for what I wanted to build.
Quality Over Quantity
Across the whole year, I built 14 models, but this time, it wasn’t about churning out builds.
Only 4 were built as “A-models.”
The rest were C-models or full MOCs, crafted from the parts of sets I already owned.
More than ever, I found myself looking at new Technic sets not as finished products, but as platforms, raw material with potential. What they could become mattered more than what the box showed. This shift shaped everything I built in 2025.
Pushing the Limits of 42177
The Mercedes-Benz G 500 (42177) became the backbone of my Technic projects this year. What started as a standard set evolved into a completely re-engineered platform with interchangeable rear attachments, a redesigned tray, and a fully functional PTO system.
The rear PTO, added retrospectively, became the heart of the system and unlocked endless attachment ideas.
I designed multiple rear-mounted modules, including the G-Class Ute conversion, a new tray layout, and various snap-on functional units.
One of the highlights was the Rubbish Loader Attachment, driven by a small linear actuator via the PTO, complete with a purpose-built loading ramp to keep the load contained. A simple concept, but one that dramatically increased functionality and play value.
42177 wasn’t just a model this year, it was a platform for innovation.
Non-LEGO Brands – Some Hits, Some Misses
2025 also saw me explore a few non-Lego brands.
Results were mixed: some offered interesting parts or fresh building styles, while others didn’t meet the quality, clutch power, or durability I expect for Technic builds. Still, it was a worthwhile experiment that gave me a better understanding of what’s out there beyond LEGO.
TechBuildDB – A Huge Step Forward
Another major milestone was the development of TechBuildDB, my custom tool for managing MOCs, attachments, notes, and design logs.
What started as a basic idea evolved throughout the year into a proper web app with features like:
Record creation and editing
Photo uploads
JSON export
Indexed navigation
A cleaner UI designed specifically for Technic workflows
It’s becoming an essential tool for planning and managing my builds, and it will only get better in 2026.
A Shift in Design Philosophy
Somewhere along the way, I realised my whole approach to Technic had changed.
Rather than building display models, I focused on:
Designing platforms
Creating attachment ecosystems
Prioritising functionality over aesthetics
Building mechanisms inspired by real machines
Ensuring everything was modular, durable, and easy to swap
This mindset gave me far more creative freedom, and it made 2025 one of my most rewarding Technic years yet.
A Milestone: My 200th Blog Post
This post marks a big moment, my 200th blog entry on PaulB Technic.
There’s no better way to celebrate that milestone than with a full-year reflection on everything I’ve built, learned, and experimented with.
It feels like the perfect way to round out the year.
Looking Ahead to 2026
If 2025 was about building foundations and exploring new ideas, 2026 will be about expansion.
Plans include:
More attachments for the G-Class platform
A second-generation PTO system
Possibly an all-new base vehicle
Further development of TechBuildDB
And diving deeper into new Technic mechanisms and building styles
2025 has been a year of growth, not just in models, but in creativity, mindset, and engineering.
Here’s to an even bigger, more innovative 2026!
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