dolittle

You must have slept your way through Christmas and New Years eve :) It has been posted here, with pictures :D

Not strictly technic but a cool ad anyway: http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded

I believe model-b is better than model-a for 8043, it is more playable, moves faster (it has less parts, less gears making less transmission loss) and is actually able to lift things. Thanks, Noam

Very nice design and interesting choice of XL motors. Wish you had an LDD of it :)

Hi, Thanks for the answers, I will relay them to the kids. Thanks, Noam

Hi, As I have the 8043 model-b built here on my desk, why not use it as your starting point? It looks a lot like the MOC and it just lacks the back-part claw. Thanks, Noam

It actually shows you as a guy that posted 999 :) But congratulations in any case. And nicely done.

I believe LEGO don't do army stuff... so this might me discarded as it looks armish :)

I was saying, I want to build that too.. till I noticed those miniLA being used ... Pff, I don't have them. Nice job in any case :)

Hi, A nice post on using Mindstorm to control a pinhole which exposes an old fashioned roll of film to the outside light, in turn taking a picture. Quite nice, but kinda useless in this age and time where rolls of film are quickly disappearing... See here: http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/28/diy-pinhole-camera-goes-automatic-with-lego-mindstorms/ Thanks, Noam

Hi, I am helping our my local FLL group and the youngsters have given me a hard LEGO question to answer. I know part of it, but not all of it, could someone shed more light into the subject? There are pieces in LEGO that look the same, but are colored differently, for example: This element Vs this element: Now here the answer is easy, one is friction less and one is friction (enabled). But for some elements there is no apparent difference, i.e. beside their color. One such element I found is the "Technic, Pin Long with Friction Ridges Lengthwise and Stop Bush", there are several versions of colors for this, is there a version that is friction less? So my question is actually, DOES the color of the element mean something? i.e. does blue mean friction, black mean "construction" (connect elements), white mean friction less, etc? Thanks, Noam

Yes, I believe this will be the difference, like they usually use as a 2nd model a weird grabbing device instead of the ordinary looking crane... See some example of: 8049 Log Hauler (model-b) design, 8047 Material extract (model-b). Thanks, Noam

Can you part those vodkas at my place? :)

Hi, It is hard to say, but from what I saw it looks like your wires aren't connected, some of them at least, they are not going into an A/B etc slot. I would remove all of them and reconnect them and try again. Thanks, Noam

Hi, It is unlikely you have a "kit" that needs updating, as LEGO took all those off the shelves, and replaced them (after a few weeks) with updated versions. But as mentioned, build it, check http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=46993 for a discussion on how to determine if you have the new or "old" LA. Thanks, Noam

Hi, I don't know if anyone else has notice this, the 8069 Instructions are available for download on the LEGO site - this is for Model-B of course :) Thanks, Noam

"We're going to show you how to build a south-pointing chariot, an ancient bit of Chinese engineering – out of Lego. What makes this a neat little piece of steampunk engineering is the fact that if you build it right, the chariot will always point south no matter which direction it travels in, giving you a perpetually correct reference point. And there isn't a single magnet: it's all done with gears. " Toy-de-force: Build your own steampunk Le Hope you like it. Thank, Noam

Hi, It looks like it has "minimal" PF capabilities, i.e. an engine and battery for driving the pneumatics, no IR control or anything like that. This means that it won't be as successful as the 8043 in my opinion. I believe a lot of kids (and adults, me included) bought the 8043 because it had two remotes and you can control the mechanics "remotely". Here it would appear you need to move the lever at the mid section of the truck to get it to "do" something. Kinda shame - though I agree that bringing back the pneumatics - large wheels - etc is a bonus and great buy for me too. Thanks, Noam

Hi, Thanks for posting this, I wish they did this more often, I am sure it would create a larger crowd of people that keep LEGO sets - I noted on bricklink quite a few people buy a set, build it and then sell it.. I find it weird :) but that might be just me. Thanks, Noam

Hi, Thanks for the prompt reply, I was more worried that it was missing something I couldn't easily spot. Thanks, Noam

Hi, I tried loading it into LDD and it reported that a few blocks (6 as I recall) couldn't be fit and were removed, basically the back side... Any idea why? and how I can fix this? Thanks, Noam

Hi, Please be kind and post your final version so that others could learn from it ;] Thanks, Noam

Looking back at 8043, and what was released on that year, I think we should expect a big version of Backhoe Loader probably to replace the pneumatic version that has been out ages ago and everyone keeps talking about it :) It also fits with the release of the small version being released this year. Thanks, Noam

Hi, Exactly like I said :) They all "point" to the center, so they are mirrored horizontally and vertically.

Hi, Thanks for the answer. So it has to be mirrored on the vertical center, what about mirrored on the horizontal center? I would expect that as well - no? Thanks, Noam