Lasse D

This is my latest version of my very first Great Ball Contraption module - the simple tipper. I have made a video showing the details and how it can be combined in a circuit of similar modules with bridges and common motors: HISTORY The first version was quickly made to a competition in my LUG back in 2007 The deadline was coming up and I did not have a video camera. The pictures (see them cut together in the video) were taking using one of those $20 'stick' digicams that were popular back in the early 2000's. The module was shined up for LEGO Fan Weekend in Skærbæk, 2007: The theme was Aquanauts, but this is unfortunately the best picture I have of it. I brought this and the green 'Logo Roco' module to the event. The other module had a tendency to tear itself apart due to being built using normal bricks and having a hammer to shoot the balls up - similar to the gameplay of the game Loco Roco. The next version of the module had the normal bricks replaced with Technic, the blue rails replaced with a tile and is much more open, making the balls easier to follow: Unfortunately lifting the ramp caused the motor to wear out prematurely, and the outbox was not easy to align with other modules. You can see it in action in the first video, and in this at 6:45: IMPROVEMENTS The latest module has a counterweight in the inbox to reduce wear on the motor The outbox is now to the side to avoid the moving outbox alignment issue: BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS For this reason there are also two building instructions: One for the outbox left and one for outbox right: Left: https://brickhub.org/i/445 Right: https://brickhub.org/i/446 MOTORIZATION The module can be powered by both an M or an L-motor The motor can be mounted both in the middle and at the sides (see the video for how) FUNCTIONS The inbox is 'antagonized' by moving back and forth: And the module is fairly open to make it easier to follow the balls move through: The holes in the ends can be used to connect other modules of the same kind using pins: You can use bridges to make things more interesting, and common rail motorization to reduce the amount of motors required: This will be my last 'simple' module for a while. My plans are to make a couple of really interesting ones for the upcoming LEGO event in Fürth. Take care, and remember if you follow the building instructions: Colors are not important in GBC!

The tipper module is finally reliable. I have connected the 8 modules in a more interesting tight circuit with bridges. Please enjoy this video until I have the instructions ready: (The instructions are not done yet, so please ignore the video title)

I am back with another round of module testing. This new tipper module was in the 2018 LEGO World layout, but I have not had time to make it completely reliable. Here is a video of me testing it while in a circuit of 8: The video will be used to find and fix the flaws.

Ouch! The feedback in this thread is not looking nice for this model. I have a couple of new takes on the model, as shown in the review: The new points I bring to the table are: - Ford and Chevy are long time rivals, and now Ford gets the Creator Mustang which is much more accurately looking. - The LEGO Technic ZR1 doesn't get ZR1-specific details right! The Spoiler is (most likely) supposed to be the high downforce version, but for that it points the wrong way and is too small. The end caps of the splitter are also not present. The supercharger is only barely presented in the LEGO model. This is one of the defining features of the ZR1 due to its massive size. The wheels are not even staggered! The smaller model is actually not a ZR1, but a C7.R built from these building instructions: https://brickhub.org/i/220 but with a new lower front, real, spoiler, and some other minor details. My conclusion is that I have to echo you who say it is a parts bag. I will, however, retract my previous point that the Speed Champions look more like a 'Vette. Both official sets fall way short.

My standard wheel module has been updated. The new version is even more reliable, interesting to look at, uses fewer parts, does not require an anti-jamming mechanism, and is stackable just like the rainbow stepper module by @Maico. Here is a video of it in action: And building instructions can be found here: https://brickhub.org/i/426

The new version of the GBC module underwent some serious testing and a lot of modifications for being reliable (see the final model and instructions in the first post) These videos show the progression and testing:

I have read and seen a lot of reviews of this set, including all posts in this thread, youtube reviews, and reviews on other sites. I have never seen so much confusion as to what would be correct and incorrect details! This includes: - Color of the headlights - they are not supposed to be yellow. GTE cars changed to clear headlights for the 2018 season. - Placement of the fuel cap - it can be changed to accommodate the type of pit. - Type of suspension - it is double wishbones all around, not MacPherson. - Placement of exhaust - Porsche changed the placement to the middle in the 2017 season. - Height, width, overhangs, and wheelbase not being in scale - Only the overhangs are tragically inaccurate. - Wheel size - They are actually in the correct scale compared to the length. Only the wheel arches are way too big. - Ride height - The height and ride height of the car is to scale with the length. I ended up making an in-debt video review with all of these details, including the exact measurements and comparison to other LEGO models of the same car: Please note that after the review I went back to measure the height of the steering wheel. You are all right. It should be placed 1 stud higher.

If you do not like flickr for the limitations, then I would also be wary of bricksafe. The people behind that site have recently added restrictions to another LEGO site of theirs to push paid plans.

I would like to see more Technic functions in Technic sets. Why did LEGO limit 42096 to only the most basic of functionality? How about adding air jacks? They do not have to be pneumatic - any form of lifting technique would work. Working door handles and a windscreen wiper that turns the correct way would also be nice icing on the cake. detail such as a functional LSD would elevate the set enormously. I would also like to see even more care when it comes to engine detailing. The Mack and Corvette gave us this new piston system which is lovely. However. How about including camshafts or just timing chains? A real boxer engine, that is, with pistons that move opposite each other, would be nice to see as well. Functions do not always have to be big and showy. Technic should focus more on the details. In my view, at least.

Also seen in the original Danish movie: "Olsen-banden overgiver sig aldrig" from 1979

Glad you like it. I have now added 4 new iterations as shown in this video: Given the reliability is now allowing more than 1400 balls without failure, I have released building instructions as well: https://brickhub.org/i/425 The final parts count for this single GBC module is 1869. The building instructions are free as always and can be shared, modified, etc.

I am working on updating one of my oldest GBC modules, the Shishi Odoshi: There are still a lot of flaws, but I am glad that the tipping mechanism is finally somewhat reliable :)

Thanks Greg. This project has lead to some people asking me how to make custom stickers work with stud.io. I wonder if Eurobricks is interested in a guide for this. Any interest?

"I believe this will cost a fortune if you are trying to buy it now" 280 EUR on BrickLink for the cheapest new one, and generally in the 300 EUR range. It has not gone up in price... yet :)

Has it already been 3 years? I still have to build mine. Now I’m looking forward to it.

It is 5000 now without paying monthly. Max 20 set lists, max 20 parts lists, 500 sets per list, and max 10 assembled sets.

I have tried working with set lists and Rebrickable today, but have run into trouble. Rebrickable has unfortunately put limitations to how many items can be in various lists in order to push payed plans. I recommend checking out the restrictions first before importing, exporting, and performing other activities that might result in long lists.

Progress on the stickers is slow and unsteady. This is the model as it is currently. I still have to make the 8 most difficult stickers - including 2 that are curved. But with luck, the model should be done by the end of April.

All mentioned 2014 sets I agree are great. I would like to also mention the Simpsons House as a great and fun-to-build model. The modular that year is also one of my favorites, the Parisian Restaurant.

3166 parts and a stupid number of evenings later and they are finally done: The GTEPRO racing Porsche 911 RSR cars from Le Mans 2018 in scale 1:20. Let's take them one by one. First we have the #91 car. It wore the Rothmans livery to celebrate 70 years of Porsche. Special for this car is how the gold (and pearl gold) parts form a (nearly) continuous line from the headlights to the trail lights. What I'm especially happy about is how I managed to add the bulge above the rear wheels. The #92 ran with the victory in the class. It wore the 'pink pig' livery in celebration of the 70 years. This was the most challenging car to build due to the low availability of bright pink parts. They were not all available when I first built the model in 2018, so I went to Le Mans with a multi-colored car, as can be seen in the video. But thanks for Overwatch, the car is not (almost) entirely pink! Car #93 was the first one that I finished. It has the 'standard' Porsche livery which also was present on the 919 prototype the year before. See my take on that car in this thread: https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/151274-moc-porsche-919-hybrid-le-mans-race-car-in-scale-120/ The biggest challenge with this model was the brick built lines. I prefer not to use stickers to denote lines and pieces of the bodywork. The cars should also look fine without stickers. Car #94 will most likely try to forget there even was a Le Mans in 2018. They crashed in the first qualifier and retired early from the race. The car is almost the same as #93. The differences being white spoiler, side mirrors and different stickers. The building instructions are found here: #91 Rothmans Porsche: https://brickhub.org/i/423 #92 Pink Pig: https://brickhub.org/i/424 #93 Standard Livery: https://brickhub.org/i/193 #94: https://brickhub.org/i/421 Please reach out to me, or reply in this thread, with any questions you have regarding building the models, gathering parts, and so on. I am happy to help.

Yeah. That set had some better parts for making free angles, hence the inventive cherry picker and other models in the book. I just found the main model to be so homely that I didn't pick it up when I had the chance. The 31006 fixed aspects of the design of the main model - primarily the proportions. I would have loved to put the EV3 on the top of my list, but... To this day I still can't believe how arrogant I have been told the EV3 developers were 'Every time you complain about the startup time, we add a second to it'. The previous system, the NXT, starts almost immediately! Apparently it zips and unzips the full kernel in each startup and shutdown. That screams incompetence to the skies. This is worse than booting up Windows XP on a computer of its time. Jesus! BTW. For some reason I thought the parts from the Tower of Orchard were usable, so I have 3 (OK. 2 after giving one to my sister).

6days to the event 6 years ago we had 2013! 2013 was the year where the current generation Mindstorms was introduced But the EV3 was not my favorite set this year. Startup time of 30 seconds and switch off time of 45 contributed to some of the setbacks of the latest generation Mindstorms, and even though this is probably my most used set, I will not honor it with my pick of the year. We also had the 10234-1 Sydney Opera House which takes up more shelf space than pretty much anything before, 10237-1 big black tower which my sister seems to love, 10232-1 Palace Cinema, which is one of my least favorite modulars, 10236-1 Ewok Village which I am looking forward to build, and 10233-1 Horizon Express, one of my favorite trains. The Ewok Village and Horizon Express are my runner-ups. The winner is untouchable. It is my absolute favorite of the year, bar none. And it is unexpected. It is the 31006 Highway Speedster. The main model looks rather 'meh', but don't let the looks deceive. This Creator 3:1 set is my favorite Creator 3:1 set as of yet. It even beats the Pirate Roller Coaster from last year. It had great rare parts, such as the 1x2 white cheese graters, black jetpack harnesses, smoke 1x4x3 panels, and something that makes classic space nerds having to excuse themselves and walk away hunched from whichever social gathering they are reading this text: Two 1x16 technic beams in blue! But it is not just great parts. Check out the B-models from Rufus' review: OK. The race car is rather plain, but the wrecker is awesome! And then there are the community built C-models. These are just the C-models I have built: Le Mans prototype race car Building instructions here: https://brickhub.org/i/1 This car even has a V12 And it is similarly sized to the main model: But there is more. Those Technic beams I mentioned? They do not have to be in the frame. With this revelation you can build a Bobcat! Building instructions here: https://brickhub.org/i/3 And how about a Caterham before LEGO released the Ideas Caterham? 31006 has you covered: Building instructions here: https://brickhub.org/i/2 Notice something about those URL's to building instructions? Yep. This set is both #1, #2 and #3. And those are just my C-models. Now check out rebrickable: https://rebrickable.com/sets/31006-1/highway-speedster/#alt_builds 41 alternate builds! This set is awesome. And so are you. See you in Günzburg.

Elena has to get up early tomorrow and will be away for most of the day, so she has asked me to post her entry. I will also be away all day, so I'm going to the limits of the rules and posting at 12:01: 7days to the event 7 years ago we had 2012! In the year 2012 I was not a LEGO fan yet. Back then I simply did not knew my beloved LasseD, who converted me to the LEGO cause. But was I a fan, I would have bought this set:

I have to agree with you on this one Holodoc. Not only is it the only set on your top 4 list that I have 2 of. It is also the only set form that year I still have assembled now 10 years later!

The latest version now removes T-sections and attempts to optimize the output. I see a 5% to 30% reduction in file size after this optimization and I will spawn a separate thread for the tool once I have performed some more testing. The next big thing will be to improve performance.