Help Needed Please

[grum64]

Hello Everyone

I hope you are all well.

Some of you may know me from this forum but for those that don't, a brief introduction

I'm disabled & unable to use my hands, but have a passion for Lego Technic. The nature of my disability means I build by mouth which if nothing else, teaches patience.

Well, that's enough of my ramblings, here's my problem.

I'm hoping one of the gifted folk out there can help me with the rear of this amazing Shelby Cobra (link below). I've been asked to build a copy of it by my cousin who's restoring a real one.

For the life of me I can't get my head round some of the techniques used. I've tried for quite some time using LDD but am falling foul of LDD's 'illegal building technique' restrictions. I've asked the builder if he has a set of instructions but he hasn't and won't be making any but he has very kindly given me his blessing to try building it.

Due to my disability, and the fact that all my spare parts are Technic, physically experimenting with parts is difficult. I can build, whether it be Technic or bricks, but dismantling is particularly difficult.

I've done the chassis, mid body, engine and little of the front as well as the boot to around number plate level but I'm hoping that someone can help me by either building the rear up to to that level in LDD/LDraw or sending clear instructions for the techniques needed/used.

I hope this makes sense.

Any and all help would be very, very gratefully received.

Thank you.

grum64

PS I had posted this same question under General Discussion and News / MOC-stuck? Ask for general building advice here! and posted a in its entirity, the chassis has got Technic elements so I hope it's OK to be posted here.

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=422647

Edited June 29, 2014 by grum64

[Edwin Korstanje]

Best Grum64,

the link to flickr don't work by me.

I want to help you, but i must see what your problem is to help you.

[Nazgarot]

The link doesn't work for me either...

-ED-

[grum64]

Thank you very much your super quick replies and your kind offer of help. Thank you also for letting me know about the link not working. I've now corrected it but should you have any more problems with it please let me know.

Edited May 30, 2014 by grum64

[dhc6twinotter]

Here is the picture in question:

Grum, it looks like the entire back-end, from the top of the license plate down, is built sideways using SNOT technique. The flat blue and white pieces around the license plate are tiles. The bumper is held on with and the rest of the lower section is built with this . The lower section uses looks like there an upside-down tile on the bottom, and this is probably achieved by using a "1x1 stud with stud on side".

The rear of the fenders have some upside-down parts, but I'm not sure how this was achieved. There are several ways that can be accomplished.

I'm sorry I'm not very good at the LEGO CAD programs.

EDIT: Sorry about the links not working. This forum software is being glitchy and I'm not able to properly edit it. You can copy and paste into your browser to see them.

Edited May 30, 2014 by Jim

[Jim]

I have fixed two of the images, but the third didn't have a valid url.

[TheItalianBrick]

Hello mate, where do you live exactly? if not far I can show up and help you with it. How does it sounds? Just let me know!

[grum64]

Here is the picture in question:

Grum, it looks like the entire back-end, from the top of the license plate down, is built sideways using SNOT technique. The flat blue and white pieces around the license plate are tiles. The bumper is held on with and the rest of the lower section is built with this . The lower section uses looks like there an upside-down tile on the bottom, and this is probably achieved by using a "1x1 stud with stud on side".

The rear of the fenders have some upside-down parts, but I'm not sure how this was achieved. There are several ways that can be accomplished.

I'm sorry I'm not very good at the LEGO CAD programs.

EDIT: Sorry about the links not working. This forum software is being glitchy and I'm not able to properly edit it. You can copy and paste into your browser to see them.

Thank you for taking the time to explain this. SNOT building techniques sometimes seem a 'dark art' but when explained in detail it makes them a little easier to understand.

Edited May 30, 2014 by grum64

[grum64]

Hello mate, where do you live exactly? if not far I can show up and help you with it. How does it sounds? Just let me know!

What a very kind offer, I'm really touched that you'd be willing to take time to come and help me.

I'd like to take you up on your offer, it be the ideal solution, but due to the nature of my disability it's very difficult to arrange anything with any degree of certainty. I don't know how I'll be from one day to the next & with you living the distance you do I'd hate you to have a wasted journey.

I hope you understand and that you know how very grateful I am for your kindness. I've said it many, many times before and don't mind repeating that Eurobricks really is the friendliest place on the 'net.

Edited May 30, 2014 by grum64

[Lakop]

Is this what you're after? What you've done so far is fabulous.

H

http://www.thesmokingtire.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Shelby_427_SC_Cobra_CSX_by_Partywave.jpg

[grum64]

Good Morning Horace

Thank you for replying and for your kind words.

As for the photo. Yes, that's the boy, surely one of the best looking sports cars ever and it's those good looks that are causing me problems

Those beautiful curves at the rear are proving very difficult to replicate in LDD. No doubt I'd find the solution if I were to sit experimenting with a pile of pieces but whilst I can build, disassembly is a whole different ball game. That's why I'm hoping one of the many skilled builders or those far more proficient with LDD or LDraw than I can help.

Just an aside to my help request.

The car my cousin is building will be Candy Apple Red with Silver stripes when finished so the car he's asked me to build has to be as close as possible to that. The Silver's no trouble and Dark Red pieces are almost a perfect colour match. Great thinks I until I find that the wheelarches, only the wheelarches, aren't available in Dark Red.

Don't you just hate it when that happens. Oh well, such is life!

Solutions are being looked into...

Edited May 31, 2014 by grum64

[TheItalianBrick]

What a very kind offer, I'm really touched that you'd be willing to take time to come and help me.

I'd like to take you up on your offer, it be the ideal solution, but due to the nature of my disability it's very difficult to arrange anything with any degree of certainty. I don't know how I'll be from one day to the next & with you living the distance you do I'd hate you to have a wasted journey.

I hope you understand and that you know how very grateful I am for your kindness. I've said it many, many times before and don't mind repeating that Eurobricks really is the friendliest place on the 'net.

Oh no worries mate! I do understand you, but if you were quite close I would have done it anyway! if I'm not wrong you are in cambridgeshire right? what a shame! But yeah what else I can do feel free to ask!!

[grum64]

Oh no worries mate! I do understand you, but if you were quite close I would have done it anyway! if I'm not wrong you are in cambridgeshire right? what a shame! But yeah what else I can do feel free to ask!!

You Sir, are a Gentleman and I thank you most sincerely.

[grum64]

Hello Everyone

I hope you are all well.

Some of you may know me from this forum but for those that don't, a brief introduction

I'm disabled & unable to use my hands, but have a passion for Lego Technic. The nature of my disability means I build by mouth which if nothing else, teaches patience.

Well, that's enough of my ramblings, here's my problem.

I'm hoping one of the gifted folk out there can help me with the rear of this amazing Shelby Cobra (link below). I've been asked to build a copy of it by my cousin who's restoring a real one.

For the life of me I can't get my head round some of the techniques used. I've tried for quite some time using LDD but am falling foul of LDD's 'illegal building technique' restrictions. I've asked the builder if he has a set of instructions but he hasn't and won't be making any but he has very kindly given me his blessing to try building it.

Due to my disability, and the fact that all my spare parts are Technic, physically experimenting with parts is difficult. I can build, whether it be Technic or bricks, but dismantling is particularly difficult.

I've done the chassis, mid body, engine and little of the front as well as the boot to around number plate level but I'm hoping that someone can help me by either building the rear up to to that level in LDD/LDraw or sending clear instructions for the techniques needed/used.

I hope this makes sense.

Any and all help would be very, very gratefully received.

Thank you.

grum64

PS I had posted this same question under General Discussion and News / MOC-stuck? Ask for general building advice here!

http://www.brickshel...ry.cgi?f=422647

Good Morning Everyone

Just a quick update to the above.

As the dimensions didn't seem right, it was too narrow, the front was too long and I wasn't very happy with the look I decided to start the Cobra again from scratch.

Below are a couple of screenshots of progress (such as it is) so far. Sorry the 'shots are few and not great, my son's got my laptop and these are all I've got on my iPad. Since these I've dropped the windscreen down by a tile.

I've never tried building something someone else has built before and found it difficult fathoming out the techniques the builder used, especially the sills. The problem with the rear remains but other than that, am I getting it right? Does it resemble the/a Cobra?

It's not much yet I know but, good or bad, I'd welcome any constructive critisism.

Update 2

Just a couple of screenshots to show my method of attaching the sills. I hope they show things clearly.

I’m not at all convinced that this is the method used by the builder but it seems to work OK. I’ve use LDDs Connected Selection Tool on what you see and then deleted the selection (and undone afterwards) and no pieces are left so I know everything’s connected OK but whether the build will be strong enough remains to be seen.

So, here’s the question. Have I used the best technique to affix the sills?

I think I’ve to remove one or possibly both of the 1x plates between the base and the gray brick with the slot as fitting the seats is proving problematic and think the extra height may be the problem.

By the way, the engine is just a quickie, I’ll refine it when I know all else is OK.

Also, anyone have any suggestions for better rims? I don’t really like the ones used. Would custom rims be the way to go? You can get an idea of how I’d like the rims to look from this pic. Although not the actual car this model has to resemble, it’s identical to all intents and purposes.

Edited July 2, 2014 by grum64

[z3_2drive]

In comparison, looks like you got all the dimensions right so far (did I miss anything about making a right-hand drive version?). Yes the resemblance is definitely there, especially once you attach the iconic headlights.

I suggest you try to build the bottom frame next in order to figure out how to replicate the interior, engine, and undersides of the bodywork.

EDIT: there are some hidden hinges where the windshield is, but I'm no good at reverse engineering model team style models, I wish you luck!

Edited July 1, 2014 by z3_2drive

[grum64]

In comparison, looks like you got all the dimensions right so far (did I miss anything about making a right-hand drive version?). Yes the resemblance is definitely there, especially once you attach the iconic headlights.

I suggest you try to build the bottom frame next in order to figure out how to replicate the interior, engine, and undersides of the bodywork.

EDIT: there are some hidden hinges where the windshield is, but I'm no good at reverse engineering model team style models, I wish you luck!

Good Evening z3_2drive

I hope all's well with you.

Thank you taking the time to give your thoughts on my progress so far.

I'm relieved you think the dimensions are correct. I counted & recounted its stud length/width and thought it OK, then looking at it again, the doubts crept in.

You didn't miss anything about it being right hand drive, it's a request from my cousin who's asked me to try and build it.

I've done the bottom but need to make a few alterations because of my interpretation of the way the builder did the sills. I get my laptop back tomorrow so will be able to post a screenshot of the method I used as it's easier than me explaining. The engines' also done but it's provisional at the momont.

Thank you for the heads up re: the windscreen being hinged. Although I knew it was tilted back slightly I'd not yet put any thought into how it was done.

Thanks again. I very much appreciate you taking the time to give your reassurance and your advice.

Edited July 1, 2014 by grum64

[z3_2drive]

No problem, beautiful MOC and hope you complete it successfully.

[Edwin Korstanje]

Great work so far @Grum64 :thumbup:

[grum64]

Great work so far @Grum64 :thumbup:

Thank you. It's encouraging to have positive comments from such respected builders.

[grum64]

Update on progress so far.

Firstly, and with apologies for going off on an entirely different tangent, you may have read in another post that I've started building the Airtech Rig. Unfortunately this has yet to start as my Gilly, my Wife, is ill & unable to get the set for me. I'll make a start when she's well.

I've not been idle though, I've put the time I'd have spent building to good use by working (LDD) on the front of the Cobra and after a several days work I've now got something I'm quite happy with. At least it looks fairly Cobraish.

The gaps under the headlights and above the wedge pieces I'll sort out during the brick build.

As for the rear. I've got most of it done but can't seem to get area right. I've lost count of how many weeks I've spent on it with no satisfactory results so I posted a topic in the General Discussion forum asking for advice. Following that request a very kind Eurobricks member has offered to take a look at the .lxf file and give me some advice for which I'm very grateful. In the mean time I'll keep at it.

It's still very much a WIP but I'd appreciate any constructive criticism.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/56rn3t6x8gdjzj2/AADeaCR5ZyHiB2KGaKmmKwLIa?dl=0

Edited January 31, 2015 by grum64