idlemarvel

Wondergul 6 wide model. You can get the front railings in yellow if that helps.

Another excellent model Sérgio. You are becoming a bit of a master at this!

In case you don't visit the Technic forum, this is to let you know that I have written a reference book about Powered Up and the Powered Up app, now available as a paperback book or a free download. If you already know this skip the rest of this post. The book covers the hardware and all the possible uses of the remote controller, but most of the book is about the Powered Up app. Anyone who has used Powered Up for a while will probably have worked out most of the content of this book for themselves, but if you are new I think this will help. Part of the content is an up to date reference list of all the programming blocks, and a how to guide for creating controllers and writing code, including the use of composite blocks. The PDF version also has a "behind the scenes" section where I delve into the file system (Android users only) and show how to backup and share projects, choose a different background for your controller, and add Lego provided widgets. If this is of interest, as a Eurobricks member you can download the PDF version of the book for free. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MtdZ1WlGIgX0CnWeN6JODX6r0i_gZte1/view If you prefer a hardcopy you can now buy the paperback book version on Amazon. This is a link to the Amazon UK listing https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO-Powered-Up-Pocket-Book/dp/B0CYQ6DKM1/ If you click on Read Sample you can see the contents and a few other pages. It should be available world-wide now, costs approximately UK £11, US $14, EU €13 plus P&P. Thanks for reading this far, possibly again(!), Dave

I just checked on amazon.nl and it is available. https://www.amazon.nl/LEGO-Powered-Up-Pocket-Book/dp/B0CYQ6DKM1/

The Technic Small Angular Motor arrived in the post yesterday. Unlike it's bigger brother it only has an axle socket on the top (rotating wheel) not the bottom. So I had to rebuild the chassis completely, right way up this time. Picture of the model and the studio render without train wheels so you can see the details more easily. As before, it works, and if you use a Powered Up app you have speed control, but like before the traction is very poor without the weight of a body or battery. It is quite compact and you could probably fit two motors of this size in a 4-wide model, but they are very expensive - about 50 GBP is the best price I have found even if you look for the part number 68488c01 rather than the set #45607.

Thank you both. I enjoyed doing the research and I enjoy writing so it was a good way for me to spend the winter months!

I'm trying to build a 4 wide motorised chassis using only Lego parts, suitable for Powered Up. I wanted to try and build it so that the chassis was inside the wheels and robust. Most of my previous attempts have used Technic lift arms outside the wheels to hold the wheels in place, allowing room for gears, but these always looked a bit ugly and flimsy. Here is my latest effort using a Medium Angular Motor. Excuse poor quality picture. The construction is all upside down to fasten to the bottom of the motor. The whole thing is only 3 studs wide apart from the 4L axles so you should be able to easily hide the motor with plates and tiles. It works but the traction is very very poor as a) no weight and b) only one drive axle. There's still the small matter of the battery box to hide. That may have to be in a towed wagon of some kind, but at the moment it might be a challenge to pull it! It could be made even smaller with a Technic Small Angular Motor #45607 which is available as a Lego Education product and therefore quite expensive, but I have one on order to see if it works.

Don't beat yourself up about it. I suspect people couldn't think of anything to say as it is an almost perfect model and one of the quirks of this forum is you can't just press a "like" button!

Love it and your attention to detail at that scale. The front lights, coupling, snowplough, buffers are all wonderfully done. I especially like the interior lights. And the flat wagon in tow is pretty cool as well. What new wedge tiles are you referring to?

Yes @Toastie sorry about that but clearly some people had not seen it I echo your thanks to @JopieK

Thanks! I know next to nothing about Raspberry Pi so probably best I don't write a book about it! Thank you. I agree Lego should have done this themselves years ago.

I wasn't quite sure which forum to put this in, but this seemed to be the most appropriate. I have written a reference book of information about LEGO Powered Up and the LEGO Powered Up app programming environment. It's probably about 4 years too late, and IMO is something that Lego should have provided from the start, but as I could not find anything I thought I would write one. I realise that books, even e-books, are a bit passé but sometimes I find it useful to have everything in one place. The book covers the hardware and all the possible uses of the remote controller, but most of the book is about the Powered Up app. Anyone who has used Powered Up for a while will probably have worked out most of the content of this book for themselves, but if you are new I think this will help. Part of the content is an up to date reference list of all the programming blocks, and a how to guide for creating controllers and writing code, including the use of composite blocks. There is also a "behind the scenes" section where I delve into the file system and show how to choose a different background for your controller, and how to add Lego provided widgets. To give you a better idea, here is the list of contents. There's 145 pages but that includes lots of screen shots. Introduction to Powered Up Powered Up Hardware Using Powered Up Powered Up App Creating a Project Controller Design Coding Principles How to Code Coding Examples Behind the Scenes Coding Reference Beyond the Powered Up App If this is of any interest you can download the PDF version of the book for free. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MtdZ1WlGIgX0CnWeN6JODX6r0i_gZte1/view I would welcome any comments and corrections of which I'm sure there will be many. Thanks for reading this far, Dave

The paperback book is now available on Amazon. The link below is for Amazon UK but it should be available worldwide shortly, except maybe AU and JP for some reason I don't quite understand. It is an abridged version of the PDF, more or less the same content but with the chapter on "behind the scenes" removed. Pricing is approximately $14 US, £11 UK and €13 EU. The full PDF version will remain free to download for Eurobricks members. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CYQ6DKM1/

I should think so - they're just going to get lower voltage, like the batteries are already running down.

I have used dummy batteries to slowdown motors. 5 x AA rather than 6 may be enough. You can get dummy AA or AAA batteries from Amazon etc.

FYI I have updated the document with (many) corrections and added a few new sections: composite blocks local and global variables new example of using a remote to control Move Hub motor speed more granular table of contents I have updated the link in the original post but I have included it here as well: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MtdZ1WlGIgX0CnWeN6JODX6r0i_gZte1/view As before it is free to download for Eurobricks members. Even though every time I read through it I find at least one mistake I think it is ready to publish as a paperback. I'll let you know when it is available.

You're welcome.

I'm going to sign you up as my publicist!

Thanks @Milan I can't immediately think of a picture that would encapsulate the book. I can get a screen grab of the proposed book cover if that would help? EDIT: see below

Thanks @Lok24 I agree with your position BTW, Control+ is just one app that uses PU aimed at Technic models. Thanks @Celeri It seems to have got a favourable reception for which I am most grateful. Whether the whole EB community would be interested I don't know, I'll let others decide that. This forum and Train Tech certainly. I am working on a few updates based on feedback so far. Maybe the mods could consider pinning a new post with the most up to date version in it, and keep this thread for discussion and feedback?

Thanks all of you. It makes it even more worthwhile to me. As for any payment from Lego I won't hold my breath!

Thanks. Maybe "late" rather than "dated" AFAIK it is still current technology. Wow to your feedback! Thanks Thorsten for your very kind words. I'd be very happy for Lego to take this on (and even compensate me!) although that is not why I did it. As you say it is nearly always the case that software documentation is the last thing to be considered and the first thing to be cut if money or resources are tight. It is false economy in my book but we're swimming against the tide there. As you say first time users can find it very frustrating - I know I did. The mantra of "learning through playing" is all very well but at the end of the day you need something to refer to as many things are not as intuitive as the developers believe they are! I have the basics covered now I think but if you or anyone else can suggest topics that could be added please let me know. My intention is to have this made into a paperback book with Kindle (Amazon) Direct Publishing which explains the odd page size I used (14 cm x 21.6 cm) rather than the usual A4. In the meantime any more feedback would be most welcome. Dave

Thanks Surprisingly it only took me about 2 months - started on 19 Jan 2024 - but I am retired so I have more time on my hands than I used to! I am approaching 70 and I am still learning Paul and long may it continue. Thanks Balazs

That's a very nice 8 wide interpretation of a Taurus.

Lovely model. I have fond memories of the same journey from Wernigerode, pulled by the same class of loco. The operating running gear is very cool. Does it run on straights only or can it cope with LGB R5 curves? Also I wonder why you use plates rather than bricks on the outside layers? For strength or appearance? Good job!