Bricksley

So is the use of 1x Mindstorms Inventor/Spike 6 port HUB, 4x motors & 2x LEDs permitted or not? Is a discussion topic required or is it allowed to only create a topic with a finished model? Showing a construction where ideas change doesn't necessarily seem like a good idea, besides, a MOC can be created comprehensively quite quickly.

I don't see it in the posts, but this is what the actual demolition version of the Volvo excavator looks like:

If it is a regular orange, then this bucket has already appeared in one set: https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=50335&colorID=4&in=A

Yes. From the top of the superstructure there is access to the charging socket and it's quite easy, but I wanted to have it in a place like in a real machine, so I used a short extension and built it with bricks :) I read a little about PyBricks, but since I didn't have much time before the exhibition, I saved myself with what I know, the Mindstorms app. But connecting the pad directly to the HUB sounds interesting, so far I've used different smartphones (one many years old, the other one brand new) and you can notice minimal lags, and that would be ideal. In Minstorms app the program can also be saved on the HUB. I need to explore the topic more in my free time ;) Thanks for good words :)

In general, the Spike HUB is almost identical to the regular Inventor HUB, the difference is that in the case of Inventor HUBs, one HUB can be a controller for the other (e.g. using a gyroscope/accelerometer) and the Spike HUB cannot be used in this way (as a controller) even though it has sensors in itself. Oh, and they are different in color :D

The Mindstorms Robot Inventor HUB has a dedicated battery (although replaceable - because it is a separate brick), which is factory-set to 7.3V. I don't know if it will work properly on 9V - I haven't checked (I haven't read about it), but you can't put separate batteries in it anyway, so to power it (potentially) with 9V you would have to build some kind of adapter from a custom battery cell ;) I don't have any experience with previous Mindstorms HUBs, i.e. EV3, NXT. I used to play with RCX a long time ago, but that was a long time ago ;) Of course, there is a Technic HUB with 4 inputs into which you can put batteries, but it is too big for many MOCs. There are also small train HUBs (that's what I used in my Liebherr loader), but there was no space for 2 of them in the model, besides, I wanted to have the functions offered by the Mindstorms system. Unfortunately, we all know well that the Mindstorms Inventor/Control +/Powered Up/Boost/We-do system, although it has common system elements, did not turn out to be LEGO's best - a lot of inconsistencies and problems.

I'm glad that You like it :) Yes, low voltage is a disadvantage, it will indicate motors should work on 9V, and in this way we have losses and slow operation. In addition, the HUB is interesting, compact, 6 inputs/outputs, replaceable battery with high capacity or the possibility of charging.

Hello :) Bright green is not the most popular color in LEGO but in the world of construction and agricultural machinery it is not so rare, it looks different in LEGO and although in recent years the range of bricks has expanded significantly (for example with the help of series with the mustachioed plumber) there is still a lack of almost basic bricks such as slope or wedge plate, and others appear in a limited number of subtypes, which ultimately translates into unconventional thinking. And while the shape will somehow come out, it is worse with durability because the lack of certain bricks cannot be replaced. The consequence of all this was large transitions in some elements and not all shapes could be rendered as well as they would have been with a different color, nevertheless I am pleased that I managed to tie it all together :) Just a few words of introduction about the machine, it is a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) version, i.e. an electric car. For those who are not familiar with it, there is already quite a large selection in the world of construction and agricultural machinery in the segment of small and medium-sized machines (i.e. specific applications (e.g. urban, technological lines, farms). Without going into all the politics, etc., in the above-mentioned segments, contrary to appearances, such machines have their place, especially when we take into account the significantly reduced noise and vibration emissions, lack of exhaust fumes, compactness and non-continuous operation. The selected model is not the beginning of production, prototypes were shown in 2019, and over the following years the version was tested and adapted. A keen eye will notice that machines from 2-3 years ago have cabins from H series loaders (diesel) and steps and handrails in the body color, while those from the last few months have already received cabins from the incoming T series (diesel), as well as changed handrails and steps, which have gained orange color. I like the newer one more, hence it ended up in the workshop. Getting to the point, the model is based on the C+ system with the Mindstorms HUB. This is the result of the need to have two additional ports, the functions I wanted to have and the ability to control the pad/Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the Mindstorms HUB itself has a significant drawback, which I will discuss in a moment. So: drive using XL on 4 wheels, rear axle pendular, the obtained speed is satisfactory. Turning small actuators on the L-motor, the speed also seems to be ok. The arm is also powered by the L-motor, and the bucket by the M-motor. While XL and L in the C+ vs PF version have similar parameters, the M is much more behind, and if we add the lack of 9V voltage, only 7.3V, the difference is already quite large and what worked well on the PFs is now too slow. Or at least in the context of a model for an exhibition - it is enough for playing in a room. Additional functions include a backup alarm and reverse lights coupled with reverse gear, manually switched front lights and a horn ;) And I also the charging socket through an extension (yes, not original) to the exact same place where the charger socket is in the real machine ;) The look is a subjective matter. Personally, despite the fast pace of construction and the limitations resulting from the color, I am pleased with the level of detail that was included. I have some quibbles about some parts from bright green, but I can't get over the lack of bricks. All photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/97083384@N04/albums/72177720320731460/ Movie: Compare with my previous model - actually the same scale, for bricks conditions exactly the same :)

Let me add some general information about buckets :) The topic of buckets is somewhat standardized, of course there are designs strictly developed by a given manufacturer, but in the vast majority of cases it looks like this: - the simplest division of buckets is based on their function, e.g. digging, clean-up, v-ditch, skeleton, etc., - these types of buckets can be divided in size according to the tonnage of the machines, which is the most common determinant rather than capacity, - once you have selected a specific bucket shell, you need to match it to a given machine. Here you simply add attachments (appropriate spacing/dimension of pins/attachments to the boom of the machine, e.g. Liebherr, Volvo, Cat, etc.). But if the customer wants to have quickly replaceable equipment, a quick coupler is installed on the machine (these also have their own standards/principle of operation, e.g. Lehnhoff, Verachtert, JCB, etc.). Therefore, there are a lot of combinations and one shape and size of the bucket can be mounted on dozens of different machines thanks to different mountings and/or quick couplers :) This still does not change the fact that LEGO cannot make an excavator bucket in the appropriate scale for new sets and we are still have buckets for much smaller sets. Do you remember it was in 8043? Instead of giving us something new, they gave us a bucket from a loader that looked ridiculous. What worries me is that if now, despite the license set, I don't get a bucket adapted to larger models, it probably won't happen soon :(

It's funny, I always considered old elements to be those from the '80s, maybe the early '90s and older :D And now I see, 8453 was released 21 years ago! O.o. The standard bucket were always yellow, black stripes were an option, so I didn't use them, but they could look good :) And 8283, a nice set, next to 8453 they look good in the collection and have aged quite well imho.

Dressta 530R Extra is, or rather was, the last generation (no longer produced) of this medium-sized loader, and it has quite interesting shapes, which is why it was chosen. The assumptions were quite simple: scale 1:32 (49mm wheels), movable elements (wheels, rear swing axle, movable joint, adjustable arm and bucket) + as many details as possible, including those in the cab. I realize that some details are exaggerated in size, but well, that's the effect of scale and the fact that you want to capture as many characteristic elements as possible. I leave it to your judgment :) And 360° view:

Ok, it's that time! I can finally show my first bricks set designed for CaDA:CLAAS Xerion 5000 Trac TSOfficially licensed by CLAAS, model in scale 1:32, 1336 pcs.

In this case, I am only the designer of the model, it is not a copy of my previous MOC and at the moment it is impossible to build 1:1 with LEGO bricks - but the policy of releasing the set, presentation, name of the series, etc. belongs strictly to CaDA, so here You should ask them directly about their decisions :) There was no color coding in the prototype, but the final appearance is the company's approach to the sets. Although I can say that in the final model we managed to use black and gray axles in many places, including black axles 2, so apart from the pins we won't see a rainbow of colors inside the model (like in LEGO), it also applies to non-technic bricks. Soon there will also be an official review from me in the form of a video - showing the set in more detail than the advertisement itself :) I agree with this - this is a big and fundamental difference between MOCs built for yourself and models where instructions/sets are made available to a larger group of recipients.

CaDA has just shown the catalog for 2024 - for those interested :) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cada-building-brick-steam-toys_2024-cada-building-brick-catalog-activity-7134881046411575296-YLOg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Definitely one of the best models in this class, the characteristic elements of the real model are perfectly reproduced :)