Toastie

Did TLG ever "use" the ppp as some sort of figure of merit? I don't think so. Isn't it that TLG (naturally and aggressively) just asks for whatever they believe is most profitable for them? We have long departed from a company that “cares”. It feels, just that, it feels as if there was such a notion, in a galaxy, far, far away. I believe the quote should read "LEGO fans should forget ...", or am I mistaken? Best Thorsten

There is hope - we are two. I never thought that TLG would finally lose me entirely: No - zero - LEGO sets since three years (and counting) anymore, after believing in the Gods of ABS Bricks since 1965 (OK, with dark age). And it doesn't even hurt with all these alternatives around ... Best wishes Thorsten

That is TOTALLY illegal Actually, it is so illegal that I simply love it! Have fun and all the best Thorsten

@Sven J If this news was not worth bumping this thread, nothing is worth bumping any thread!!! Very nice find and thank you very much! All the best Thorsten

Isn't happening ... soon - but is it really dead? Sorry to hear about your setback; you were so close. Take any time and then maybe - in the future - you decide to revisit this nice project? I sure hope so! All the best Thorsten

*sigh* - there simply are no stupid questions! There may be stupid replies or reactions - hope the reply below makes any sense. I recently (= two days ago) opened up one of my two (black) 12V train motors. This was one of the variety with the holes for receiving the center wheels. The motor came a couple of years ago from France along with the 7740 locomotive and carriages. Very nicely seasoned light gray slopes - I love it. I just was curious to check on its internal condition, as it was just doing fine. My 7740 is retrofitted with a PF receiver and 10 NiMH AA rechargeables, as I have a mixed 4.5V, 12V (blue and gray), RC=PF, and of course ample of powered 9V track. As far as I can tell, the metal inside is die-cast aluminum for the two large brackets, copper/brass type alloys for the electrical contacts and worm gear, as well as the usual non-lead metals for the motor and rails contacts. You should be fine. All the best and good luck, Thorsten

Devoted to vehicles, of which are mostly cars, isn't it? These are certainly technical devices, though ... But doesn't that reflect to some extent the distributions of thread themes in this forum, taking into account that it is the "LEGO Technic, Mindstorms, Model Team and Scale Modeling" forum? Did not do any analysis yet, but it would be fun to see some sot of statistics. Best Thorsten

I love this. For some reason, I also love Maxwell's equations, although I am a chemist Cool thread! All the best Thorsten

Yeah. And that's for end consumers ... well, “good” for us nerds. Best Thorsten

Hmmm - the Mould King crane comes with a dedicated remote, doesn't it? No idea what's in there, but an ESP32 would be kind of an overkill, with one of those as brain you can control an Apollo command module and lunar lander, fly to the moon, and safely return to Earth. On the other hand, an ESP32 WROOM board sells for $2.49 on Ali - and they make profit ... Best, Thorsten

Yeah - here is to feeling good! All the best Thorsten

Without shortcutting @idlemarvel (who knows much better!!!): Yes, I believe so, if you want to go all LEGO. You know, I guess, when I am doing this, I sound like a smart *ss without really knowing things, I am a chemist ^^. Just briefly: BLE is standing for "Bluetooth Low Energy"; this is some hardware, along with some software, almost all Bluetooth devices use today. Not that important, as you do not need to know anything on that hardware level, other than the protocol LEGO uses for their BLE devices called "PoweredUp". They have published that protocol (but never updated it): https://lego.github.io/lego-ble-wireless-protocol-docs/ "ESP32" relates to a >powerful< microcontroller family made by the Chinese company Espressif. These have a multitude of communication means on chip, along with BLE. In order to use the BLE functionality of a number of ESP32 hardware boards, such(!) as the ESP32 vroom devkit v1 board (=chip + things to run it off from your computer), you need software to make it work with LEGO's devices. This software is - for example - LEGOINO, published by Corneliuz Munz. Just turn on Google for details ;) All the best Thorsten

Nice!!! That is the way to go. I am more on the ESP route for signing-up BLE devices and controlling them (or entire programs) with the PUp remote - but that is just my preference. For advanced control of machines as you are building, an XBox controller is so much better! All the best Thorsten

@JopieK is referring to your It really is a small computer, some call a microcontroller, and TLG decided to call it a "hub". Even a "Powered-Up hub" ^^ Just trying to get on the same code page :D Hope it will work out for you! Best, Thorsten

Wow. Simply that. You guys are crazy - in such an overwhelming, phantastic, positive way. I am in total awe. Another example that folks here on/in the Technic forum doing Technic are playing in the Champions League - and in this regard I am simply kicking cans down the street ... Now, with that 4-port PUp hub, are you using the PUp remote to control that beauty? Or is control via cell phone? All the best Thorsten