Toastie
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I do exactly this. Mostly on heavily discounted sets, I am not interested in at all. They often have nice pieces - and one gets many other pieces for "later on" = MOCing. Best, Thorsten
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The shift from creativity to consumer fan base?
Toastie replied to mikaelsol's topic in General LEGO Discussion
And then your entire - very nice - write-up: I cannot agree more. All the very best, Thorsten -
I like the "bitch" bit very much - simply because TLG's first serve from the left (as seen by the receiver on the other half - yes, I played tennis when I was less old) - the 4 wide high speed train - was returned by a smashing topspin backhand into the far right corner ... for 2022, love 15 I'd say. So all this bitching is really enjoyable - and constructive! I mean - one really cool (!) idea (@dr_spock) was cloning BB sets to get a decent 2022 LEGO set. For me, it does not get any better. Boom, we have gazillion 2022 sets. Doing the totally forbidden. I love it ... let's bitch on Best and have fun, Thorsten
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There is none. Over and out. Other than: Regulations, regulations and more regulations, leading to endless litigation regarding the use/availability/impact of such technology to unattended post 2010 kids . Best Thorsten Nice! I like that. Now, should he get a little older, and should he be willing to this one thing: Don't kick the 3 metal tracks in this particular section - called refueling - apart (or build it in a way that is tough to do so by playing with excitement), dream of a power pickup rail set, attach whatever DC voltage is required to that track section, roll your train onto this section, which then feeds your wide voltage range chargeable LiPo (as 8878 was) and don't worry about any power issues. Just navigate your train, at the end of wild rides to that section, go to bed and tomorrow morning - blast off. The ESP will be very happy, I bet. This is what I do - however, at age 60. Best, Thorsten
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I can certainly follow your arguments, no doubts here. However, the Metroliner was a ready to go train + carriage(s) + 9V motor + 9V track set. It had 11 minifigs and one 9V light bulb + 9V wire. I viewed it as an expansion set; once you had the done the groundwork (some 9V track + power supply + regulator from lets say 4561 ($130 back then, some believe ugly, I believe very high playability + fun, more importantly it had all the stuff you needed) - and there was no need for getting another regulator. Nothing was in my reach back then, not even remotely. But I did the "calculations". And dreamed of having it. A 9V train motor is a piece of art and fantastic engineering, I believe. As is the 9V track. When you open up a 9V train motor and a PUp train motor, you'd be surprised, I bet. Maybe you have, I don't know. I know that this is called "progress". But in your assessment this is missing: What you get today is all plastic track, to a minimum reduced all plastic train motor, a BLE hub versus a rather complex speed regulator (again, open them up, possibly you did, and then just imagine the amount of labor required for assembling the two units). And take into consideration that current electronics is way more fancy and powerful, but costs "nothing"). TLG has simply done what everyone does: "Optimize" = reduce the production costs, and in parallel gauge what the customer pain threshold is, price-wise. For some reason, the latter is extraordinarily high. You are looking (absolutely valid!) at the inflation rate for a particular train "set". I bet though that the ratio of cost of production of 4561 vs original retail price is by far less favorable, as compared to any of the current train sets. In other words: The optimization of the production process (of a "complete" train set) and thus significant cost reduction is not at all - in contrast - reflected in the retail value. And this is what I call inflating the price. Don't get me wrong: This is, marketing-wise, absolutely the way to go. No doubts! But, and this is my very personal fear, may postpone the introduction of comparably expensive technology such as smart energy management - as the financial poker game TLG (and all others) did and do, is already rather hot. And unfortunately may not leave that many options. Also, there was (I believe what we will never see anymore) the option of getting 456X: X = 0: Just the train + motor + track; X = 1: 4560 + regulator + power supply (cheaper than the sum of the individual "sets"). There was a choice you could make. It was a bit of doing your own research and decisions - and optimize your budget allowances. My "inflating" comment was also more generally tailored towards TLG sets in the lower price segments, which simply raise the bar overall. There are numerous folks out there doing the calculations - not me. But again: There are so many perspectives - which is good. I like to think about diverse reasoning. Thank you very much for your - as always thoughtful - comments! All the best, Thorsten
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No offense, ads are paying for something. So I should not do this, but it was absolutely not entertaining. Not here, not with this type of content. My solution: Firefox + Privacy Badger + AdblockPlus = no ads (here + on Brickset)
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Well, I would not phrase it that drastically; The "Li" in LiFePO4 (or the many other varieties currently produced) is really what renders the technology less favorable. I'd rather phrase it differently: The idea of using one-way electrochemistry for powering devices, which are sold in uncountable numbers (and by a toy manufacturer who, according to the profile of the current CEO, is going the green way) is ... questionable. The way of using resources should go in circles - everywhere. And thus rechargeable batteries AND recycling them after they don't perform anymore - is exactly that. The thing though is, from a purely financial standpoint: Manufacturing of alkaline batteries is and will remain dead cheap and for long. Almost everything in there is available in sheer and apparently infinite amounts. Zn - "less adversely" mineable (in contrast to Li, Zn minerals are found in big chunks, Li is spread thinly over the planet with some rare "concentrations", we all know the pictures. Mn is the 12th most abundant element in Earth's crust, again favorably mineable, and K comprises 2.4% of Earth's crust ... the same holds for the remaining ingredients. The biggest issue with alkalines is: Most of these batteries are simply thrown into the household garbage can. The typical one-way and out-with-it thinking. I tend to call that Homo sapiens style or HSS. Making Li battery based rechargeables is indeed affecting the environment much more than making alkalines BUT: They can be recharged - 500 to 1000+ times, equalling as many alkaline batteries. And this is where the former easily wins the battle. Plus: Due to their higher prices, people tend to think twice before they dump them into the waste bin. However, Li is not the end. There are just now so many less adversely impacting materials currently researched (believe me, this research area is red-hot, and the land with a mostly red flag has become one of the world leaders in that regard. NOT in cloning, but in coming up with new avenues) - I view current Li technology as bridge technology towards an even much better way of circling ("storing") energy. Best Thorsten
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Yes - and unify the battery compartment (not the electronics operated with it) or have two or so versions, which voltage and charging-wise behave the same. City/Technic/etc BE hubs, would have worked for PF, works for the dumb Technic bat box ... and that is solely targeted towards better use of resources. However - and this will in my opinion simply kill it: 10 AA or AAA alkaline batteries sell for < 2€. Don't worry about leakage because they'll be gone within hours of operation. I don't see the business case here (from TLGs perspective - maybe the battery boxes are even licensed from battery producers ). The initial cost of any "electrified" set would go up significantly using Li-technology. It is too bad, that TLG has inflated the value of their many sets already to a level that is (customer-behavior-wise) astounding. Best, Thorsten
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Same here! My dark ages came to a grinding halt in 1996. "Restarted" with an irresponsibly discounted 8485 (Control Center II), then 9719 (RCX, in 1998 - Fry's did not know what they were selling for less than $100) and then 4512 in 1999 + some additional 9V track. This "event" marks the day I started my "remote train control" project, still ongoing today ;) The original Toshiba lapop computer is also still there; along with my first QBASIC "control" program This little thing really boosts my endless efforts - as it is an all-in-one LEGO "communicator": https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/188584-mulpi-a-multiple-lego-remote-protocol-interface/ I really did not expect any reasonable outcome when I started with the latter - but finally I have a simple "access point" to my PUp, PF, and RCX trains. Thank you for your kind words regarding the file structure - I am still in my uni-days - for a couple of years. All the best, Thorsten
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Yes, 4512. I could be very wrong (colors and I ...) but the engine and one carriage body is made of old gray with some green bricks, isn't it? I "made" (mostly copied) this PF version and tried to follow that "color scheme": https://uni-wuppertal.sciebo.de/s/lLmsX65l0m5QJOm (navigate to 4512 MOD) I don't know about the green, but I am an expert in shades of gray All the best, Thorsten
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Oh my - you cloned a clone-model made of clone bricks with non-clone bricks? I was thinking about that - but then - hey, it was their idea (provided it was, I believe they have a dedicated "BB train-program" designer, but I could be wrong) - thought: The non-clone bricks won't stick together upon trying that out. Not true; they do, as experimental results clearly show. TLG is sharing freely their building instructions, BB does the same. Signed up (nothing to be afraid of - never get/got any ad or the like from them), downloaded the instructions of the model I liked - and liked very much what I saw. Then looked at my brick inventory, then at the amount of money I would have to spend for the cloned non-clone version - and then - just bought their set. I must admit: It appears as if non-cloned bricks are a bit on the pricey side. Also, it appears as if making bricks has become a business, clones can also do very well ... However: This approach is certainly a very good way of introducing a sheer endless line of attractive trains and train-related things (carriages, trackside stuff, engines, buildings ...) into the LEGO Trains 2022 program! If I had the funds, I'd do it. Best, Thorsten
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Hi Gergo, damned, I missed the location of that charging port. This does not get any better. This is how I see TLG should move forward. You did it. Best, Thorsten
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Wow! That is totally cool. And this is what I was hoping TLG would do for long. You have clearly demonstrated that this works: Rechargeable (LiPo) batteries, safely handled (I believe the electronics board is doing exactly that). Now, there is one downside so far: How to charge the LiPo without disassembling the battery enclosure? Thank you very much for sharing (the one-year development period is absolutely reasonable) Best wishes, Thorsten
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This set is 3 A models . I built them all, back in 1998. Simply amazing. And then selected the T-Rex as never-being-touched-anymore shrine-type thing. SoCal sun did bad things to the flex system, so took it apart and used the bricks to live forever in some other structures. Best, Thorsten
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@Kai NRG I watched your entire build-video. No fast-forward. And it is a fantastic experience. Let's take the equally fantastic MOC - for a minute - aside. Experiencing (your video is much more than "seeing") how you create this "windmill" is something I have not felt for long. The way you push back your glasses, the changing light, your "changing" clothes (all this gives a deep temporal perspective) but most importantly: There seems to be no "instruction". Please tell me there is. Please tell me that you have - a hundred times - practiced putting your windmill together. I know (one can see that) you did not. To me, your video is a demonstration of vision, planning, (superb) building skills ... and tranquility. I don't know why, but to me, this "stop-motion" and the same time fast-forward movie - is enjoyably slow. The windmill itself, particularly the functioning interior, is beyond anything I can encompass. Thank you very, very much for sharing both the video and your MOC. All the best, Thorsten
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Why don't I come up with such ideas? Thank you very much @JopieK! This sounds like a very good avenue - let's see ... Birthday is coming up soon ... I believe I am going to pitch that one With very best regards, Thorsten
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I was thinking about that VIDIYO bit (since a bit longer than this thread exists ). The other issues you mentioned: It was not meant to be "knowing it better" - no way and never. Calling a reasoning rubbish is your choice, I can surely live with that. I am always searching for a reason when something happens that I don't understand. Maybe this is the (good/bad) fall-out of earning my money by asking some strange molecules: Why on Earth are you doing that? Why that fast/slowly, and why with what comes out? For me, this scenario is pretty much the same with TLG: Can't see them, don't know them, and they don't talk to me, never. So I try to gauge their "nature" by their "behavior". And then brag here without much (zill zero) proof. Possibly with a tiny bit of experience. TLG is certainly a big company - but the ones we are working with could buy them without getting in too much financial trouble (other than shareholders freaking out like hell) tomorrow morning. The question that interests me: How could they ever come up with VIDIYO as an envisioned product for the (young) masses? Could it be that the folks currently responsible for coughing-up new exciting game-changing products and programs grew-up with the internet and cell phones more powerful in computing power than the thing that was used to land Apollo 11 on the moon (and bring it back safely)? The Think-Tank type folks securing the next decades of company existence? Could be very well a conspiracy thing, but honestly, this is happening everywhere else as well, at least in my perception. We work with companies that have a track record going back to - make it the 1950's. The people founding these companies, the ones who dreamed it all up and make it work - have died or will very soon. These companies operate within a rather conservative environment. Still, they have begun to entertain the idea of cell phone controlled medical devices. Or pressure gauges. I mean: Did they ever work in a laboratory? In there, a cell phone is prone to failure every minute ("Folks get ready, goggles on? I am going to fire this thing without electrical shielding in 10, 9, 8 ... secs"). TLG is none of that, but they need to be up-to-date - they don't make laser stuff or mass specs, they make toys. For kids living in 2022. I have the feeling they simply tried it. As a think-tank outcome, produced by "younger" people. Could that be? Is it really conceivable that old farts like me thought: "Oh, cool. Let's grab our cell phones, write some nifty Android code running only on the latest OS version (yes there are Apples as well, but who cares)"? As my daughter tells me, when I talk ... "sh*t": "I doub'it ..." [All just plainly typed into this keyboard with not much reflection. As said, I was thinking about VIDIYO - the big disaster - a lot] Best, Thorsten
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Hmm - I like to turn this discussion around Setting: TLG is a globally operating, successful (in terms of financial figures) enterprise. There is competition around the world getting stronger - and certainly not only from Asia. TLG has a considerable overhead - as many globally operating companies have. This overhead is paying myriads of lawyers, business and business administration folks, advertising pros, more lawyers, R&D folks, civil engineers, and so on and so on. Ah, forgot: Designers - and of course The Family. Hypothesis 1: TLG "hates" A, B, and C, plus trains, and in particular straight tracks. (I am deliberately calling this a hypothesis to encourage positive thinking and "hates" stands for "doesn't like", "is disinterested", "is too stupid to realize it would be so favorable to make") Hypothesis 2: TLG is not understanding what they are doing with regard to A, B (and so on) Hypothesis 3: Service in terms of service packs in the 1980's was so much nicer than nowadays [Let's skip the elaborate way of working ourselves through the "hypotheses 101" and just ask ourselves]: Question: WHY is this happening (not THAT it is happening; I believe there is enough evidence that this is happening in this thread and about 42 others here on EB). Multiple choice answers are: TLG is stupid (hint: There are not that many examples in recent history, where stupidity lead to world leading in a sizeable global market segment) TLG does not get it (see hint above) TLG does not care (see hint above) TLG can do what they want (Tip: WHY can they do that? Be careful; this may result in an endless loop) TLG is, since 50+ years, successfully steering its way through consumer behavior and will keep doing so What would be your freely voiced answer: WHY are they hurting you? Best, Thorsten
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Sorry to straddle into your discussion. I believe this is really important: Before a program can deal with "things", the hardware needs to allow that. Otherwise any PID control may not lead to any acceptable result - timing wise that is. I now understand that this is a major challenge. Yes, with sufficient reserve - power wise. The moment you reach limits (level off), timing will go bad. I believe there are two issues here: 1) accurate positioning and 2) timing (synchronization). 2) seems to be critical for 1) in your project, as the position depends on more than one coordinate - to be reached within a defined temporal profile. I may be totally off here, but I believe the two dimensions time and position need to be critically evaluated for the operation of such a nice and complex built. Best, Thorsten
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The shift from creativity to consumer fan base?
Toastie replied to mikaelsol's topic in General LEGO Discussion
As I can follow your reasoning about license issues, why do you believe that a feeling (hate) is really of relevance to a world-wide operating corporation? I do not believe that TLG operates on feelings - at all. They operate on profit - as they have to. They have so many employees who expect to get their paycheck at the end of the month. I believe feelings need to be set aside (which is tough, count me in, getting older helps, when you ask me). So yes, the licensing route may really be a dead end for the original, creativity driven path of the (very old) past. It is not profit wise. Best, Thorsten -
Well, I don't believe so. At least, this contradicts my perception of TLG, which is of course just that: My very own view. I believe TLG is calculating every single thing thoroughly through. With all the databases they have access to - and I believe they know exactly what sells when, where, and at what price on planet Earth. TLG is never ever anymore the family owned caring business. Oh sure, they have a superb customer service - which is of course priced into their sets - and other companies don't have that. There were days, when people figured problems out themselves ... missing piece here, frustration there: Just do it. Yes, many can't, won't, and want service. That is fine. But: I simply do believe they pick what has the highest potential to sell - with a sizeable profit for them. Plus, I believe every other company on planet Earth of this size, revenue and customer base does exactly the same thing. There are simply too many universities in the world cranking out business (and law) trained folks at ever-increasing rates. Best Thorsten I cannot agree more. Very well said! Best wishes, Thorsten
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Well, I guess it is kind of a similar situation here, limited budget-wise . The reason is different, though: My LEGO budget is limited because the rest of the family believes I am - at least a little - "weird", still playing with LEGO, which in turn renders my (perpetually voiced) argument that more LEGO is essential for my "mental well-being" less convincing. Well, that's a matter of taste, I believe - the brown thing bit that is. The mess bit is also a matter of tweaking her to run well on track. The Crocodile is - in my view - a historical, beautiful, powerful electrical engine, suitable to haul cargo in steep and rather harsh environments (sometime called Switzerland, sometimes called the outskirts of the known inhabited universe). Even today, in a less harsh but comfortably heated cozy totally flat in-door German environment, I regard her, in the form of the LEGO reincarnation, as a beautiful model. She needed a little tweaking here and there (polishing- and engineering-wise - but after that she is not doing any worse on track than the EN or whatever other historical engine TLG came up with. And you are so right: Carriages. Decent carriages ... and that is why I sometimes cross the border - with no regrets. In contrast. There are many diverse nice carriages. However, without the LEGO imprint on the studs. I sure hope that TLG will bring out - in the foreseeable future - a train that you like! All the best, Thorsten
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[MOC] The German BR 50 with Cab Tender+[IDEAS] need your support
Toastie replied to Railtobi's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Absolutely. I guess they were just happy with what was left over and did not care about any systematic numbering or build - but rather securing something to eat. At that point, things of interest change quite a bit, I believe. Anyway - I simply like your MOC either way very much! Best Thorsten -
I did - and this is a very nice write up. However - the PID thing. @ord mentioned more aggressive settings - I'd say individually adapted PID settings? When you have direct access to the PID algorithm, you can adjust the parameters on the fly. I do not believe that this is necessary, but each motor should have an individually optimized PID response parameter set. This is really tricky (as far as I am concerned) but worth the try. A PID algorithm simply does not care whether the actuator reaches final speed; it will just rank out full power. The thing is the response behavior to changes. When these become more or less erratic, then I'd go with rather aggressive settings, as @ord suggested. This may lead to serious overshooting, but if this happens you can relax the set a bit. All the best, Thorsten
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[MOC] The German BR 50 with Cab Tender+[IDEAS] need your support
Toastie replied to Railtobi's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Same here. However, when you do pre-war or wartime mocing you are "stuck" ;) with the large Wagner deflectors. I believe the smaller Witte deflectors were mounted on the many "remaining" BR50's after the war. As far as I can read (Wikipedia in German), the Kabinentender was also a postwar thing - but what do I know. I'd say: Just go with the Witte deflectors and keep the tender as is = all is good. Best wishes, Thorsten