Lego TECHNIC Footballs ("Soccer" Balls in USA)

[DLuders]

For those who are watching the FIFA World Cup 2010 matches, you can make your own Lego footballs. The old style of footballs had hexagonal leather patches sewn together. Depending on how many 4276 and 4275 1x2 Hinge Plate sets and 32125 Technic rotor plates you have, you can make the several Lego footballs having different sizes and segment shapes.

From the MOCPages page by "RTN LNA" ( http://www.mocpages.com/mocs.php?id=18066 ):

Dodecahedron ("...has 12 regular pentagonal faces, with 3 meeting at each vertex; it has 20 vertices and 30 edges"):

Truncated rhombic triacontahedron or "Buckyball" C80 ("...has 12 regular pentagonal faces, 30 non-regular hexagonal faces, 80 vertices and 120 edges"):

Very strong for those Goal Kicks!

Truncated icosahedron or Buckyball C60 ("...has 12 regular pentagonal faces, 20 regular hexagonal faces, 60 vertices and 90 edges.

The common soccer ball is perhaps the best-known example of a spherical polyhedron analog to the truncated icosahedron, found in everyday life. The ball comprises the same pattern of regular pentagons and regular hexagons, but it is more spherical due to the pressure of the air inside and the elasticity of the ball"):

Or for those who don't want to bother with Math, just get one of these!

So, the next time you turn on the tele to watch Football, impress your friends by saying "My player can sure kick that truncated icosahedron" !

[TechnicJuan]

It's really hard to classify that as technic. More like a sculpture.

[prateek]

I've seen this before, but I never knew it was that strong!

[Sam42]

reminds me of the time square ball i built for a friends new years eve party-

(non lego)

Edited June 24, 2010 by Sam42

[DLuders]

To make a 100%-TECHNIC football, you can use these pieces with Technic Axles in between them:

57585 Technic, Axle Connector Hub with 3 Axles

6538c Technic, Axle Connector (Smooth with x hole + orientation)