Toastie

Yeah - here is to feeling good! All the best Thorsten

Without shortcutting @idlemarvel (who knows much better!!!): Yes, I believe so, if you want to go all LEGO. You know, I guess, when I am doing this, I sound like a smart *ss without really knowing things, I am a chemist ^^. Just briefly: BLE is standing for "Bluetooth Low Energy"; this is some hardware, along with some software, almost all Bluetooth devices use today. Not that important, as you do not need to know anything on that hardware level, other than the protocol LEGO uses for their BLE devices called "PoweredUp". They have published that protocol (but never updated it): https://lego.github.io/lego-ble-wireless-protocol-docs/ "ESP32" relates to a >powerful< microcontroller family made by the Chinese company Espressif. These have a multitude of communication means on chip, along with BLE. In order to use the BLE functionality of a number of ESP32 hardware boards, such(!) as the ESP32 vroom devkit v1 board (=chip + things to run it off from your computer), you need software to make it work with LEGO's devices. This software is - for example - LEGOINO, published by Corneliuz Munz. Just turn on Google for details ;) All the best Thorsten

Nice!!! That is the way to go. I am more on the ESP route for signing-up BLE devices and controlling them (or entire programs) with the PUp remote - but that is just my preference. For advanced control of machines as you are building, an XBox controller is so much better! All the best Thorsten

@JopieK is referring to your It really is a small computer, some call a microcontroller, and TLG decided to call it a "hub". Even a "Powered-Up hub" ^^ Just trying to get on the same code page :D Hope it will work out for you! Best, Thorsten

Wow. Simply that. You guys are crazy - in such an overwhelming, phantastic, positive way. I am in total awe. Another example that folks here on/in the Technic forum doing Technic are playing in the Champions League - and in this regard I am simply kicking cans down the street ... Now, with that 4-port PUp hub, are you using the PUp remote to control that beauty? Or is control via cell phone? All the best Thorsten

But this is the thing, isn't it? Once you know how to do that, you can control any actuator via the hardware remote control. I'd say this is one of the beauties of the PUp system. I never use the PUp app, but other BLE servers such as ESP32 and derivatives - when doing that you can control a bunch of other BLE devices using the LEGO remote control, that is real fun! Best Thorsten

Hi Sven, there is nothing more to add: Get the f* out of there. This, your very approach, is how it should be embraced by us — in an educated, grown-up, giving, living-the-LEGO-idea, world. Well. Things change. Back in 1965, I got my first set … some years later, a small box of bricks which was my world of fun they call nowadays “creativity”. I may be totally wrong here, but your “creations” (adopting TLG talk, never liked it, creations are results of playing and — when you somehow “mature”, planning before building) are a result of deep fun, in many regards. Perfection may be one, showing how it works (the building instructions) another. Just enjoying what you have accomplished (for the sole reason of joy for yourself) a further. Sharing seems to be what drives you. That is what I do here on EB: Sharing - regardless of any kind of praise or whatever. Just that: Sharing. I never made it to Rebrickable - I am simply not good enough, but you certainly are, or better: Have been, as you are pulling the plug. Now, should the usage of any kind of “piece” (hardware or software) that is not TLG compliant not be allowed anymore - then just present your creativity to other gods of toys, materials, and ideas. They have since long gone past accepting offerings from TLG's admirers - they are simply creative. So, without further ado ;) - just quit there. All the best Thorsten

Hi Evan, I suggest you post your inquiry also in the "Forum Information and Help" forum. This here is the Very Dark Side of the Moon ... Only "Cats and dogs, living together, mass hysteria" stuff (as per Pete Venkman, who holds a PhD in Psychology and Parapsychology. And is catching ghosts ...) Best Thorsten

Like always ... and then in black/red/gold (yellow) Thank you very much for sharing! All the best Thorsten

@ChrisXY Did you see this video? The big ugly like stone blob is actually nicely aged solder ... it would be good when you take a look at the underside of the PCB to decide what to do next. Best Thorsten

Huh? Hey, the lorry completes the MOC! - the farm scene is so lovely; reminds me so much of my youth. Which brings me to the lorry (the autocorrection thing tells me to use "truck" - but this is a lorry!) - which completes in its beautiful design the scene. And there we have it: Violation of the second law of thermodynamics! I love all of the scene. All the best Thorsten

Oh yes ... "There are unsmiling faces in fetters and chains On a wheel in perpetual motion" Certainly not from me, but from Alan Parsons ... Car on, guys, and have fun. Just now I am totally fed up (yes, bold and italics! DAMNED) figuring out how to get a decent loan for a PV installation on our roof ... man. All the best Thorsten

Thank you for the flowers, I really appreciate that! Heehee - it wasn't the analytic gang - my colleague in Analytical Chemistry is equally regarded as would-be chemist - the really tough guys are (in this order ) synthetic organic chemists followed by hardcore inorganic chemists. However, we all get along quite nicely. And it's OK, as anyone knows, there is nothing physical chemists cannot accomplish . All the best Thorsten

As far as I am concerned, exactly this is the case. (I am a chemist, but according to my colleagues not a real chemist - I am a physical chemist , and even worse, work at a university). The starting or activation step though needs to be bond breaking. So sunlight is certainly a very good candidate. And sometimes it is just some “residue” in the ABS formulation that may be responsible. Metal atoms are always good candidates for starting or promoting catalytic processes. Being self-propelled does not mean it grows all over the place. With a microscopic region, the activation begins and then will slowly lead to yellowing. Light may very well initiate this process, but as you all know, a white brick does not yellow within minutes of sunlight exposure - it is rather a process that takes months or years and is spatially limited to the “activated” area. And which is really slow. But when activated on a surface area, that area may eventually yellow - even in the dark. All speculation, however, literature suggests that this may be the case. We had some discussions here on EB with ample of literature citations and references. As said: I like it. All the best Thorsten

Hmmm - don't think so . Since decades now, “BFRs” have been of environmental concern. Many of these compounds (there are myriads) have been phased out since long. I don't believe that TLG takes the risk of using remaining halogen/bromine containing flame retardants - if that becomes public, all hell would break loose. Furthermore, since many years now, non-halogen containing self extinguishing ABS formulations have become available, just type into Google "abs flame retardant halogen free" and you'll get access to numerous data sheets, sources, particularly filaments for 3D printers and so on and so forth. As @Mylenium has said, there are so many sources regarding the "break-down" mechanisms out there. As far as I am concerned, it all begins with the initial breaking of remaining C=C double bonds. Sunlight is certainly a secure route for initiating degradation, but also all other means of chemical activation may come into play. ABS tends to absorb H2O to some extent - and thus certainly other chemicals as well. These may also be involved in starting the processes, even in the dark. After all, cosmic radiation is everywhere. Once initiated, the degradation process is indeed of self propelling (chain) nature. As ABS formulations are so diverse (clutch power is one aspect, there are many, many more), the extent of remaining double bonds as well as the 3D-structure of the final polymer may intentionally or unintentionally change during production. How the 3D structures of the polymers actually look like after production in country X on machine Y in an environment Z is really a good question. Yes, there will be very strict process and quality control measures but ... It simply happens. And as far as I am concerned: I like it. It gives a very special touch to MOCs and models, particularly when they are decades old. As I am. All the best Thorsten Absolutely true! Just enjoy the special weathering touch to it. It makes it unique!

Yeah - for whatever reason. OK, impressiveness it is. Oh my. I am pretty sure that ... (many come to mind) Pantasy is impressive as well. But then - who cares. @Paul B Technic: You should have posted that review here anyway (in other words, it is your fault ) - the only reaction you usually get anywhere else here is: Fake, bootlegs, terrible, rip-off, etc. pp. Regardless of what you paid and so on. I am on the “who cares” route. For many reasons, but mostly concerned with - ambiguity: This is "good" but that is "bad". I am happy to post here - nobody reads these posts, but I feel good. There is nothing better to feeling good . All the best Thorsten

Hey, count your blessings But OK, with your overhaul: Just scale the thing linearly up, make it from steel - and boom, you have the exact same real locomotive. Man. How do you do this? Congratulations!!! All the best (I am in awe) Thorsten

You made this absolutely crazily stunning and phantastic MOC using only the pieces of the very LEGO set??? Sorry, I don't believe that. I'd say: From 4+ of these LEGO sets using only the required pieces with only a few pieces as leftovers. Yes, that seems to be accurate. What are you saying? Not accurate? Only the original set pieces were used? OK. Well. Wow. In direct comparison, the LEGO design looks like ... what simply stuck, when arbitrarily attaching pieces ... Congratulations. For me, your creation is simply from outer space, from a creator living far, far in the future ... Wow. All the best Thorsten

That is really a very nicely designed (both, technology- and aesthetically-wise!) and powerful compressor station! The building looks like a "tech-building" - with mighty machines inside. The love to detail is simply fascinating! And then the lighting; outside, inside, the operational lamps in/on the cabinets - wow. Congratulations on achieving the perfect combination of very "good-looking" and "fantastic technology inside"! All the best Thorsten

Dear All, @mahjqa very recently opened a thread in the Technic forum showing his "Train-compatible Friends-style container crane". As he did not want to cross post, I am taking the freedom of posting the link to that beautiful and so functional crane here. @Zerobricks frontpaged it, but as there was no photo available - without photo. I am browsing the Technic forum frequently, as of course the TrainTech forum (but wait, there is more, of course there is ) Should you not browse the Technic forum frequently, here's the link - should you, please forgive me. All the best, Thorsten P.S.: @JopieK - please close this thread if inappropriate!

Yes - I should read before I write. Sorry for that! However, without picture it does not really “show” - I guess a brief hint (= new brief thread) in TrainTech would not hurt, would it? I agree with others that this is of course Technic, but the beauties making it shine it are all tracks, trains, and wagons - and it does really work well in such a setting. All the best Thorsten

Dear all, again (yeah, happened before): This topic is tagged as “featured” but it is not appearing on the main page. If this is just a temporal issue (someone tagged it, the machine has a slot in a couple of hours to check for new tags), fine. But if it is not, I will just create a new thread in the TrainTech forum, with the message: Look here. As this is relevant there as well. I am browsing this forum regularly - but train heads may - or may not. @mahjqa has selected this forum as target, but here, there are too many cars drowning everything not car related ... All the best Thorsten

Yeap, and as @XG BC said, the modern switching power supplies are even better; efficiency (= heat generation) wise. It's simply a matter of taste. I simply like the hum of, e.g., the original LEGO power supply for 9750 (or that of my 99er which sits on a 230/110 voltage converter, again I chose a transformer - transforming 230 to 110 to transform 110 to whatever the TI needs ...) It will all work out. Best Thorsten

I also believe so. BTW, the larger the amperage of a transformer is, the closer they are producing their labeled voltage. I have a 9VAC, 300mA transformer here, which spits out 14 VAC without load (and breaks down to 9V when loaded) - but my 12VAC/10A transformer puts out 12VAC independent of load ... it's the physics behind the Maxwell equations Furthermore, the incandescent lamps TLG was using in their 4.5/9/12V lineup can really tolerate some “overvoltage”. The lifetime of the lamps goes considerably up, when running below nominal voltage. So 12V +2V (- makes it even better) is really not that big of a deal. All the best Thorsten

Thank you very much for pointing this out!!! I tried it yesterday - to no avail. Now, all the content is back! Yes, user login not (yet?) allowed, but that is for the future. All Brickshelf linked pictures/content should work again ... this is so nice! Whoever made that happen (maybe others know, I don't, da force or whatever happened) - I'm on my knees. All the best Thorsten