Missing Brick Posted April 25, 2014 Thanks to Blacktron for the custom Spunkmeyer and Ferro dropship pilot minifigs and Larry Lars for the APC design. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Artifex Posted April 25, 2014 Wow. Just. Wow. I'm truly out of words. So I'll just put on my armor, get my gun and wait for the mission. Can't wait to ride in those AWESOME vehicles!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eurotrash Posted April 26, 2014 :thumbup: Excellent! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilstorm Posted April 28, 2014 Really awesome! This is by far the most accurate and detailed Cheyenne I have seen, and I have seen a lot:) I think the cockpit and nose are absolutely amazing, but hard to say what is my favorite detail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Guy Bri Posted April 28, 2014 Wow, wow! This is a fantastic replica Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Missing Brick Posted April 28, 2014 Thanks everyone! I tried to build on the great work done by Babalas Shipyards, 2x4 and Havoc - but enlarged to full minifig scale. I also spent a long time studying Toromodel's reference photos, trying to get the proportions as accurate as possible. Still alot that could be improved: I'd like to get rid of those holey wedge bricks on the front and replace them with a smooth SNOT panel. And I'm still not happy with my folding missile arms: They fold OK but they're not strong enough to fully support themselves in the open position. (I used some invisible cord to provide extra support for the pics).  I should probably study how TLG make the wings of the imperial shuttle and the large X-wing models: maybe I could copy some of those techniques using liftarms. But for now it's beyond my bricks. In 'The Making of Aliens' documentary even the original dropship designer said he wasn't happy with the missile arms - too fragile. It's funny they're simultaneously the coolest and the dumbest part of the design. Anyway, thanks for the comments and stay tuned; I've got some more Aliens mocs in the works. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mechamike Posted April 28, 2014 Amazing! Very nice caption of the dropship! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blacktron Posted April 28, 2014 I love it! It turned out even better than I thought it would be. Absolutely amazing! I wish I could build one too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilstorm Posted April 28, 2014 A suggestion for the missile holder arms, you could base it on some technic lift arms and put some tile on the ends on some half pins. That should be pretty solid. I hope that makes sense:) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danthebrick Posted April 29, 2014 Absolutely awesome! Get it on Cusoo - I'd buy it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Missing Brick Posted April 30, 2014 Thanks for the comments all. @emilstorm. Yes that might work, but I wanted it to look good and be studless on all sides. It's always a trade off between strength and looks. Here's some pics of how it works at the moment: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilstorm Posted April 30, 2014 Ah, ok, I thought it was the actual arm that wasn't strong enough, not the hinge. Well, if I have any new ideas, I'll be sure to let you know :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Missing Brick Posted April 30, 2014 Actually, my hinge design is plenty strong enough: I'm using technical bricks pushed sideways onto plates which is a very strong connection (You literally can't pull them off even if you try!) The problem is with the arms when they're in the open position: Because the arms are diagonal, the heavy pods are continually trying to twist the arms off. The left arm is only 7 studs at it narrowest point (due to the flat cut-out needed to let the other pod pass by) and of course it's quite easy to twist off 7 studs. Basically the arms need to be strong both parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the ship. Possible solutions: 1) Use overlapping plates: Tried it. Needed 3 layers plus tiles on top. Difficult to make interlocking flat fold. Studdy underside looks bad when open. 2) Use lift arms like the Imperial Shuttle which can be cross-braced. This might work although the wing edge would be jagged. 3) Somehow angle the bricks so they run diagonally in the same plane as the arm. This would be great but I couldn't figure out how to angle the bricks at each end. 4) Use superglue (Never!) 5) My current solution is to use a regular SNOT construction. This has the advantage of being studless - so looks nice and smooth in both open and closed positions. If I want to display the ship with the arms open I use clear nylon cord to help support the pods from above. If anyone has any other ideas, or knows a way to angle the bricks, please let me know. Otherwise, I will leave it to future generations of dropship builders to ponder the problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilstorm Posted April 30, 2014 (edited) I see your problem now, it helps to look at it on the computer and not my phone That is a tough one! I am thinking soluton 3 wolud be optimal, but very tricky. Excellent hinges by the way, I have tried what you did, putting the studs in technic bricks before, and yes that is strong! Now I can't stop thinking how to make these arms work.... PS That punk Spunkmeyer should know better than leaving his tools in front of an air intake Edited: I get it, poor kid Edited April 30, 2014 by emilstorm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blacktron Posted April 30, 2014 4) Use superglue (Never!) Maybe this would be my solution. A few years ago when I bought some sets on ebay I got real angry when I found out that some of the parts were glued. The auction text didn't mention that with one word. How can anyone glue lego parts? If you want to glue stuff, build a model kit! Well - when I build my APC, I changed my mind about this. I glued some of the parts for the moving side door. I think the mechanism is a little fragile and the door/roof part. + always came of. I didn't want to repair that anytime I was holding the APC in my hand, so I made this decission. Okay, gluing parts in a way is cheating, but I'm sure I will never dissemble the APC, so I'm okay with it if 1-2 bricks are glued. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zidane Posted April 30, 2014 I want one just like this! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A Plastic Infinity Posted April 30, 2014 Simply beautiful. Well done on so many levels of SNOTed nomulance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiffyraf1 Posted June 23, 2014 i only joined the forum to comment on this as it is by far the best dropship and apc i have seen. you need to submit this to get it built as i would buy one in a heartbeat https://ideas.lego.com/projects/69859/edit/basics Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikroMan Posted June 23, 2014 Awesome! I especially love the cockpit and so much SNOT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Missing Brick Posted June 25, 2014 (edited) Thanks all. @smiffy: I don't think Lego would ever make a set based on a horror movie franchise - but thanks anyway. It should be quite easy to copy from the plan view picture I posted. I'm sure you could make lots of improvements too: stronger folding arms, more rounded body, get rid of the seam where it tapers to the tail and use snot to get rid of the ugly studs under the tail etc. There's also a much better piece that can be used for the air nozzles - but I think they only make it in LBG - see Red Spacecat's dropship: AV-24B SeaHawk by Red Spacecat, on Flickr . Edited June 25, 2014 by Missing Brick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grum64 Posted June 25, 2014 (edited) Bloody hell! This this thing's freakin' awesome! Brilliant. Just Brilliant! Edited June 25, 2014 by grum64 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady K Posted June 25, 2014 Awesome! Fantastic design! Looks like you could do brickfilm with it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
