F0NIX

This was the most entertaining and informative review I have seen so far. Hope you or someone else keep up with this type of review in the future. I have been positive to the hole Friends series from the start, and now I just must have this set (and probably many other Friends set too). The review is very detailed and show of every little detail. With a lot of sharp and well lit photos. The minifig and mini-doll comparison was also very fun, but also informative. The mini-dolls seems to look well in almost all type of minifig head gear or wigs. I also liked the little comic strip in the end :) Thank you very much for this superb review, Hinckley!

See these two threads: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=57230 http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=63317 And I'm also experimenting with PF: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=63984 And this is just the start.... (also see my signature ;) )

V-LC-14B Not sure if this post have to go in the Technic or Town area, but since it is about City Truck I'll try here first :) This is a modification (MOD) that is not about the look. Tried to keep the look on the Truck as close as possible to the original set. But it has got some internal modifications. This is version 1 of 2. See also the next thread about the mod of the 3221 truck. This version was first built before a Brikkelauget meeting some month ago. There I was showing them the prototype. The only modification I have done later is lower the IR-receiver so it is flush with the roof of the trailer. I have also fixed the steering so it works a bit better now. Here is the original set 7848. Pictures says more than 1000 words, so here is some pictures of the thing: (click on the images to see larger versions) More pictures can be found here. Here is two videos of the truck in action: (Sorry for the dark videos, but I have not figured out how I can adjust that. I'm using an iPhone for recording.)

I'm not a train-nut and dont know much about trains. But I love technics and electronics and stuff. I have watched all "Gerrits tagebuch" series (he that have designet the Knuffingen airport at the Miniature Wunderland). And just love all the things that they have done. I live in northern part of Norway, but some day I have to take a a trip to Hamburg to see this Miniature Wunderland for myself :) There they also have a lot of cars driving around with a Faller Car system, but they have made it a little more advanced with lights and sound and remote control of speed. There are a lots of ideas to take from this layout for us to put into our LEGO creations :)

V-LC-14C This is a modification (MOD) that is not about the look. I tried to keep the look on the Truck as close as possible to the original. But it has got a lot of internal modifications. This is the second version. See also the previous thread about the 7848 MOD. This version I made in this Christmas. I had first some problems with the transfer of the power from the motor to the wheels. I first used rubber bands, that made the car very slow as you see on the first video below. Then I updated the car with fixed axles and gears for power transfer. I also got a better turning radius by making some more room for the front wheels to move. Here is the original set 3221. Here is some picture of the thing: (click on images to see larger versions) And then I made some changes to the power transfer and made it with axles and even made bigger room for front wheels to move: More pictures can be found here. Here is two videos of the thing in action. <- here with rubber bands as power transfer. Going for full speed. <- here with axles for power transfer. Not showing full speed. (sorry for the dark videoes, but I have not found out how to adjust that. I'm using an iPhone to record them.)

Thanx folks! Yes, this and the TRU truck was one of the first steps. I am not as happy with this solution as with the TRU truck. But it has to be something like this to fit into a smaller car. The main idea is to have cars actually driving around in a big city layout when we are at a public display. See also my thread about Faller Car. In the end I hope to fit a motor and automated steering into a 4 wide or 6 wide but a lot shorter vehicle than this. Next step is to fit motorized steering and propulsion into a car of the size of the van in the Vestas set. I have also done some minor modification to this LEGO truck, but that was mainly to get the containers/tanks on the side a bit higher and strengthen the lower frame.

Thanx folks! This was actually a very quick but fun build. I often visualize the problem and are solving most of them with bricks in my brain a long time before I start building. And this was a kind of eureka moment, but I think I got the idea of the steering from someone else. The thing I plundered most with was the positioning of the IR-receiver. I finally had to redo the gearing for the steering to get the IR-receiver low enough... The main idea was to have some LEGO City cars that could drive around in the layout when we are having a big display with a big town. This is one of the first steps. Next is to get it smaller, hopefully down to a size of the van in the Vestas set. In that size it will also get a better turning radius...

This is just marvelous! I like all the buildings and the cars. You even got a talent for photographing them to look very realistic too.

Very interesting! Thanx for the picture of the inner parts. Now I just wait for someone to take apart the rechargeable battery box :) What about putting some LiPo batteries in the AAA box? You will miss the charger plug, but that could possibly be arranged in other ways?

Has anyone else here tried to make an LEGO Fallercar? A Fallercar is a car that has a automated steering mechanism made of one magnet that are attached to the front of the steering and as the car follows a metal string hidden in the ground the front wheels steers after that string in curves. This is often used in non-LEGO train layouts where they also want the cars to move around. Here is a place where they have used a lot of this: http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/ After seeing all those videos on YouTube from Miniature Wunderland in Hamburg (Germany) I wanted to try this in LEGO. Actually this idea came to me for a few years back but I never got around to try it. First of all I set a few criteria that I wanted this project to follow: 1. Have to be automated steering. 2. A small car that could drive around in a minifig scale city, had to fit on the regular LEGO-road base plates. 3. As far as possible use only LEGO parts except for the metal string under the road. For size I want it to be 6 wide or less. For length it could be a long truck with trailer or a van. Then on to the first consept car. I met a few problems: the LEGO steering has a lot of friction and the LEGO magnet is too weak. The other problem is that to be able to turn this small car in the tight turns in a city it can not have a stiff rear axle that drives both wheels, because that would prevent it from taking those sharp turns. So then I made a split rear axle where the motor only drive one wheel. The problem then is that its hard to get enough traction to move the car forward. I have to think out some sort of "slip-differential" that would fit in 2 stud space between the wheels... Here is a picture of what I have got so far: (Click on a picture to see a larger version) If you have any suggestion or ideas on how to make this work I would be very happy if you comment on this. On Brikelauget.no there is another guy (Ostehovel) also trying this, but his idea is using two halleffect sensors in the front following a magnetic strip. And it is controlled by a programmable ship called Teensy. So he is going with the mixed non-LEGO and LEGO version. I have also made a project with a small PF-controlled car. More on that in another thread later.

Splat, nice implementation! Good to see that it IS possible :) Now I just have to order some neodyne magnets.... And I have also found other types of batteries that takes up less space, but then we are going non-LEGO. I have to consider how much non-LEGO parts I want to implement in this project. But good to see that not only I see this project useful and fun :)

The problem with those differentials is that they are bigger then the wheels and take up WAY to much space in the car. I need space for the motor and batterybox too :) I have tried one with just liftarms on the sides, but because of the hight I had to either mount it higher than the wheels because of the size of the differentials, or I have to use bigger wheels. I wish to use wheels as small as possible. Hope to use wheels smaller than on the prototype I have made until now. One goal is to fit all this into a small car on the size of the Vestas van in the set 4999.

Nice truck and car. Seems like you have used the "Windscreen 3 x 4 x 1 1/3 Large Glass Surface" part 57783. This is 1 brick and one plate high. You could try using the part nr 6238 "Windscreen 4 x 4 x 1", it is only 1 brick high. Another option is too use the part nr x453 "Windscreen 2 x 4 x 1 Curved Front", this is also only 1 brick high but has a curved and a little steeper front. Hope this help...

Another thing with the "Float" vs "Break" command in the IR command set is that after a Float command, you can still push the motor and it will go around without much resistance. And it will stay in this state until a new command is received. You can even send a Brake command after the Float, and then the motor will brake. Not sure how useful this is in Trains. But when the motor is in Float you can still push the train without the motor giving you any resistance, may be used for manually turn a switch or something. I use both RCX and NXT to control my trains and I use many of the IR commands there. I mostly use the Break as an emergency switch. I even have made an "Full stop" command where the NXT send out the Break command on all channels to stop ALL trains in their tracks where they are...

Well, will try to give you an clearer answer. With LED's you need to know the data on the LED you are going to use. Often this is 3.2v (volt) forward voltage and around 20mA (Ampere). And with this wizard/calculator you can find out what size of resistor you need to connect in serial with the LED. http://led.linear1.org/1led.wiz You can connect several LED in serial. To calculate that, you just add the voltage for each LED, eg 2 LED's gives 6.4v, 3 LED's gives 9.6v and so on. The ampere will be the same. Then, to how to connect the LED's: Philo's page can be a good reference for any LEGO-electronics: http://www.philohome.com/pf/pf.htm A little down the page you find the PF-cable explained. Or you can use a PF to 9v converter cable (PF extension cable) I have used a 9v cables for my LED's and solder just one LED in serial with a 470 ohm 0.25 watt resistor on the cable. That way I can stack several 9V connector on top of each other and extend them with just a simple long 9v cable. And with that resistor I can safely use either 9V power supply or a 12V power supply without any danger to destroying the LED.

This a truly masterpiece! Lots of details! Many technical functions! And it looks very realistic and true to the original. Good work!

Seems like those LEGO vending machines is out in Europe too. In germany at least: http://www.ulbrich.net/post/10806723782/neu-am-munchner-bahnhof-der-lego-automat-hmmm

I have all the module house sets. Bought them after they where released. Some of them I have multiple of. But I never intend to sell any of them. Still I think it is too early to re-release the Cafe Corner and Market Street. In 4-5 years maybe. And I'm also afraid that a too early re-release will dampen the sales of a new designed modular house, and then give TLC an opportunity to stop making more of them :(

I do also get my inspirations from the buildings in the real world. But I do also like to watch other peoples stuff on Brickshelf and Mocpages. Here is some of my inspirations from my home town Tromsø (and in chronological orders of me building the moc): Old Fokus Kino (a cinema hall). The walls are now removed and they built a Public Library and archive under the same roof. Here is a picture after the walls was removed (the new cinema is in the basement of building to the right): This is the first real building I wanted to try and make in LEGO. Just because of the odd shape off the roof. And here is my attempt on it in LEGO. In those days I mostly had just Technic parts and very little standard bricks. That is way it is in so many colors. My model on Brickshelf Here is a link for more information about the library today. There you find pictures of how it is today and some info about the building in English. ------------------------------ Ishavskatedralen i Tromsø - Tromsdalen Kirke [NOR]. The Arctic Cathedral - Tromsdalen Church [ENG] This is a iconic building from my town. You see it clearly when coming into the city by both from the sea and on road in to the town. This was my second building. It has also a strange shaped roof. It took me about 4 attempts to get it right. My model on Mocpages( Here is a link for more information about the church in English. ------------------------------ Polaria - an Arctic Experience! Polaria has an Arctic aquarium, interesting knowledge-based exhibits, a panoramic cinema, and a gift and souvenir shop. This was my third building. This has also a similar design as the Arctic Cathedral. It represents ice floes that have been pressed up on land by the rough seas of the Arctic. My model on Mocpages Here is a link for more information about the real building in English. ------------------------------ Verdensteatret Kino a old cinema building. After the three simple buildings I wanted to do more complex building and a building with more details. So I picked this nice old cinema building. This is the oldes cinema building that are still in use in Norway as a cinema today. Here is my attempt in LEGO: My model on Mocpages Here is a link for more information about the history of the building in English. ------------------------------ Kirkegårsvegen 14 a private residence building. This is the fifth building I built in LEGO. It is a private residence. It is actually built and designed by the same man that designed Verdensteatret. My model on Mocpages ------------------------------ Kirkegårsvegen 16 a private residence building. This is the sixth building I've done in LEGO. This building was also designed and build by the same architect that designed Verdensteatret. My model on Mocpages ------------------------------ I have also a few other buildings from my town that I want to build in LEGO. Storgata 73 - Mackgården (Click on image to se more info about the building in English). This building contains different types of stores on the ground floor and also houses a restaurant. This is built and designed by the same architect that designed Verdensteateret (yes, I really like that architect :) ) Storgata 51-56 - J.M.Hansen Three buildings owned by a local company that sells electrical appliances, radio and televisions stuff, and they have electricians too. .

I have waited a long time to see someone build this magnificent building in LEGO. And then it is done in microscale!! Marvelous! :D

That was some nice appliances! I'm going to copy that washing machine and putting in the large houses I have built now. I have actually built a washing machine in the same size , but I just put a 2x2 round tile in front as a "door". This was way better! Keep em' coming! I need more kitchen appliances! I'v only have a coffe machine and a stove in there now. And a sink ofcourse, but was very easy to make. What about an ironing board and a ironing tool (don't know the correct English word for it)?

Thank you! Yes, I will put in an interior too. I forgot to mention that the baluster on the windows are made out of the leftover on a LEGO sticker sheet. So it IS made of LEGO parts only :)

This is a Work in Progress. It is a model after a real building in my home town Tromsø. It is a brick building built of LEGO bricks (duh) :) It started a few years back after building Ishavskatedralen and Polaria (two iconic and very well known buildings in my town). I then wanted a more complex building to make a model of and selected an old cinema Verdensteateret. After that I was looking around in my town for new inspirations or building to make models after. After some photographing and looking around I desided to build two residenc building in Kirkegårdsvegen. Both these and Verdensteateret is drawn and built by the same arcitects. Verdensteateret was built in 1915, not sure exactly when these other building was created but it was a few years after. I have already built Kirkegårdsvegen 14 and this is a thread about the last creation, Kirkegårdsvegen 16. Have now finished about 99% of the facades. Not happy about how the roof came out, have to redo that. I'm waiting for some white 1x1 plates for the windows and some jumper plates so the windows can be half into the walls. The doors should be white not black. And ofcourse I have to build the ground floor and some gardens and lawn outside. I may also rebuild the house so that it is 2 studs longer and making the roof above the curved veranda on the east facade not so steep. It should probably be more like the other. You find more pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/f0nix/sets/72157627108342525/with/6031670654/ Hope you like it. And please comment and give me some hints and tips on how to do the roof better (and no, I do not want to make it out of slope bricks) or other improvement you see needs to be done.

This is not LEGO. This is art! I would love to see some closeups pictures of the inside or a explanation on how you made the slanted horisontal panels on some of the buildings. Like the grey panels on the clock tower. Hope you win this contest!

The last finishing touches on the outside of this building is now finished. I have not made any interior yet, but will start with it now. Here is some pictures of the house after the final small details on the outside was added. I am not so sure about the chimneys, I may find another way to attach them or remake them. And here is a last picture that show how the splitt is on this house. Here I have chosen a vertical splitt to be able to show of the interior. It makes it a little more complicated to build the interior though. But it will be easier to show of the interior while on display on events. Another reason for vertical splitt is that it was hard to find a natural place to splitt the building horizontal, as the white horizontal lines does not go completly around all sides of the building. Hope you like it. Enjoy!