JGW3000

Thanks for all of the support! Some considerations - First, the track will be short, only 6 pairs, so maybe less than a meter in total length, primarily due to budget constraints. May consider expanding it in the future, but will have to be straight unless I figure out how to bend the tracks. With such a short length, not really enough room for both the engine and a coach, so I will focus on the engine first. Probably will be a combination of studless and studded Technic with some bricks, but I am getting a bit intimidated by the size, at 3-4x larger than a typical LEGO train engine. But since I don't need rotating bogies, this does help reduce the complexity. I can use a train motor, as the engine will be 11 to 13 studs wide so plenty of room for all of the PF components plus gears. Using chain drives to connect the train motor axles to the actual train wheel axles and cog wheels may be a good approach. The train motor has great torque. I am also thinking of using 2 XL motors, one for each axle. The real engines has the cog and train wheels on the same axle, as they have their own machine shop and so can make custom parts out of steel. We are limited in the choices of sprockets or gears that can be used that will work, so may end up having the cog and train wheels on separate axles. Waiting for some parts from BL to test out concepts I have been pondering. As Technic goes, this will have just one function - hill climbing, but it will be a fun design for me. I will of course make updates as the work proceeds, but in the real world will be really busy at work until end of February, so may not have as much time as I'd like to work on this.

My daughter's birthday is coming up, she's gonna love this. I've seen it before, but it slipped my mind, thanks for the reminder!

Not worth a new topic Unimog 8110 - RIP, had a great 3 year run! (although TRU still has plenty in stock) posted on the US Lego S@H site 8110 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 400 Price $199.99 Sold Out

Very nice, thanks for posting, now added to my 'to do' list!

Looks great and robust, almost makes me want to build one out of my 41999! How many crashes did it survive without breaking?

Its really unacceptable since they have a major presence in Connecticut, just up the road from me - can't they get someone to proof-read these descriptions? Heck, I'd do it for some non-cash compensation.

I was strictly into LEGO for the architecture and Technic aspects since COOMDA, recently I watched some 'Legends of Chima' on cable, now I may actual get at least some of the Legend Beast sets, as there is a certain organic appeal to the theme

Its HOG pushing (just needed an excuse to get to 100 posts)

Thanks for the comments! The train chassis will be all Technic, with some Technic bricks used as well. Next step is to decide whether to use a train motor or an XL motor. I am tempted to use the train motor, but its form factor is a bit inconvenient for mounting the cog. In either case, will probably go with a chain drive to turn the cog's axle. The real engine has two cogs, each on the same axle as the train wheels, one on each of two 4-wheeled bogey plates (or something resembling bogies) After I get the chassis worked out, with two cogs, I may decide on going for a steam-engine rather than diesel, so definitely will need to transition from beams to bricks at some point. May be easier as the steam engines used on the Cog appear not to have bogies, and there is a convenient tender for the battery box.

Come to think of it, the 42023 construction crew set is very close to being a universal set. It has many of the features and functions I would want in such a set.

My younger kids (boy and girl) eyes light up when they see gears, axles and motors - a (two) Universal Set(s) would be the best present ever for them! They try to build vehicles with functions using what they can from their City sets, but that is limited - imagine what they would do with a carefully chosen 200-500 part Technic Universal Set. Too many kids go for the easy way out - video games, TV, simple to follow BI's; IMHO guided free build is best and much more rewarding. Come to think of it, I should round up a bunch of my spare parts and make my own Universal Set for them (next project )

20. gazumpty - 2 24. spacysmoke - 2 30. emma - 1

Inspired by last summer's trip up the Cog to the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire (http://www.thecog.com/), I thought I'd give modeling a diesel cog engine a go. In order to get the correct spacing for the wheels, and placement of the cog sprocket, the first order of business was designing the cog track. I am focusing on the steepest "Jacob's Ladder" section, with a grade of about 37.4 % (20.5 degree angle from horizontal), which is nicely approximated by using a Technic angle connector #5 , which has an angle of 112.5 degrees (needed 110.5 for exact match) Here is the final result, and yet another example of LDD's built-in background actually being quite authentic. The actual diesel engine ascending Jacob's ladder My first attempt was placing the support trestles parallel to the track (which was actually done in very old builds of the Cog, back in the 1870's time frame) After looking at some images of the actual modern-day Cog, decided to be more authentic by placing trestles across the width of the track This was not very satisfactory, as the trestle should get wider closer to the ground, and also needs cross-bracing parallel to the track,.after a few design iterations, this is the final version (verified by actual build with parts) Another view of trestles and tracks together, about 1200 parts for six lengths of track, all BL'd! Next step, to build the engine chassis, and then later do the bodywork. Here is what I have so far. Lots of work to do yet

I see small dump truck bodies (almost typed dumb truck ) mounted to a large pick-up style frames, frequently with front or rear winches, very often around town, at gardening centers, with landscapers, etc.. Maybe something like this? Kidding aside, I'd like to see something with multiple feet, legs or arms rather than wheels. My son would love to get robots, dinosaurs, sister-scaring spiders, etc... all RC of course

Hooray, more yellow panels! ;)

No surprise, there were a lot of file naming errors, missing books, and duplicates

OK, even though I picked all 'new' parts, and selected 'all' for countries to search, I am getting this error message, which of course is total nonsense "It appears that no stores that a> ship to you and b> are on your list of valid countries have this part. You may want to revise your part list or consider adding more countries to your query", Any suggestions? Brickficiency worked once for me and it was great, like to be able to keep using it thanks

some variety: Technic-based railroad (well, not quite, at least enough Technic to stay in this forum) Some gear for macrophotography A fast tracked machine

Very nice and an inspiration! Thanks for posting

Thanks for the suggestions, I was hoping for something a little better than arts and crafts, but since I got 3 kids, I can put them on it!

This is a great app, but it has only worked once for me here is what I was searching for: Found 9 lots: 24 x Used Dark Gray Technic, Axle and Pin Connector Angled #5 - 112.5 degrees 48 x Used Light Gray Technic, Axle Pin without Friction Ridges Lengthwise 48 x Used Dark Brown Technic, Link Tread Wide with Two Pin Holes 72 x Used Light Bluish Gray Technic, Pin 1/2 4 x Used Black Technic, Liftarm 1 x 13 Thick 24 x Used Black Technic, Plate 2 x 4 with 3 Holes 6 x Used Dark Bluish Gray Train, Track Plain Rail Straight (no slots, no notches on end) 24 x Used Dark Brown Plate 2 x 6 24 x Used Black Technic, Liftarm 1 x 4 Thin here is the report Calculating 2 vendor solutions... Thousands of solutions checked: 0 No matches found. Calculating 3 vendor solutions... Millions of solutions checked: 0 No matches found. Calculating 4 vendor solutions... Millions of solutions checked: 0 No matches found. Obviously something wrong, as I can manually find a 3 vendor solution Any ideas what I am doing wrong? thanks for your help

We face similar issues at work all the time - my arguement is always to get the device working and do your proof of concept, and along the way you can figure out how to make it more efficient, less expensive, more like the intended outcome - since you have come this far with your fantastic MOC, I'd keep going and try to lift the boom regardless of what is required. If the end result is not acceptable, you will at least have learned the limits practical building with Technic.

I have been frustrated with the looks of the garish blue axle pins with friction, especially when you see a bunch of blue circles on otherwise nice green/black/white/red panels and beams on the exterior surface of builds. You know the ones I am referring to - http://www.bricklink...tem.asp?P=43093 The black (and white) versions of 43093 are outrageously expensive in quantity, so unless someone makes a batch, its not an option I am thinking about using the light grey or tan "axle pin without friction ridges lengthwise", http://www.bricklink...Item.asp?P=3749, but in certain situations the friction is needed to maintain stiffness in the structure (black in this is also very pricey). Any thoughts on how to introduce "friction" or "stiction" into the pin end of the 3749 part, but without doing permanent damage to the part or the receptacle? I was thinking a bit of double stick tape may do the trick

I have thought the reason for having varying color parts in hidden places was to facilitate the build process and clarify the instructions - its much easier to place a red/blue/green part into a sea of gray, for example, and verify the build is correct, than it is to place yet another grey block into a build of grey blocks. For an example look inside the abdomen of Shelob (set 9470), very useful to see that the build was done correctly via use of the odd red and green bricks.on the inside.

...and for you late risers in the US, shop.Lego.com is now sold out of the discounted sets