Lego Otaku

The BttF time machine train is just under 100 vote away from 10k: http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/35422#_=_

Also there's really only 3 different major versions of the train tracks. The original ones with separate track and ties used with 4.5v and 12v trains was in use until mid 80's when LEGO did a major redesign for 9v tracks. The old 4.5v and 12v could be used interchangeably although 12v motor won't run on 4.5v track without the 3rd rail added. The 9v originally had metal rail but it was redesigned to be all plastic after oh about 15 years and the all plastic version is still in use. Both 9v and R all plastic (RC version) can be used interchangeably as well but 9v motor will die when it goes off the metal rail onto plastic rail. All of the tracks are the standard 6L. The last major type of train tracks are the narrow 4L tracks, often used for mine themed sets like Indy Jones sets, and such and only curve and slope version exists. No straight as of yet. They uses the connector very much like the 9v and RC tracks but are not interchangeable. Not counting the switch track, the largest of any tracks never exceeded 16L and are much thinner and used less plastic so they are cheaper to produce than most of monorail tracks.

Another pricey issue is the green baseplate. Only 1 set has the very large baseplate in green, guess which set has it? Starts at $50 for one and shipping large plate isn't cheap either. You could use a few smaller green baseplates (32x32, a couple 16x32, and a 16x16) or use a more common and cheaper grey plate ($15- from local Toys R Us or LEGO store) and paint it green.

They didn't say anything about LEGO being #1 producer of tires? Many people don't realize this.

I've recycled a lot of empty boxes from the last few years except for the really big boxes (people would lynch me if I recycled a nice condition 10179 box). I did get few double takes when they see me carrying easily over 50 pounds worth of empty Prince of Persia boxes which I parted for Bricklink after finding huge loads of them on sale dirt cheap. POP was a flop and were deeply discounted at places like Target. Boxes from '70s and 80's I have nearly all of them though. They were flattened (not very well for some due to gatefold design) but they were kept because of many alternate building design pictures that modern boxes are missing.

Usually the money. I come up with something I like but if it ends up large or requires many rare parts (or in rare color), and I can't make it smaller or cheaper the idea often remains stuck in LDD and not getting further. I'm trying to put together a Macross Valkyrie (based on plan found in Brickshelf) and I got maybe 1/4 of the parts needed when a few RL matter derailed me. Plus I got to pay about $60 for my youngest cat to be fixed and final shots next Monday (he doesn't know yet)

You can also sell here on the forum's buy, sell, and trade section. You do need more post to be eligible to make a for sale post.

I found another oddity with Brickficiency. I was planning to BL a Millennium Falcon 10179 and I had a basic list just for the internal. Since it would be out of sight parts, I choose to make it any color in my Wanted list. However Brickficiency don't work right with no specific color and ends up randomly assigning color to parts in my wanted list. Such as Trans-Clear Technic, Brick 6 x 8 Open Center which happens to be the rarest color on BL (20 available) or White Plate, Modified 2 x 4 with Pins which does not exists in BL at all. Could future versions check for color, and if there is no color specified assume cheapest possible color, not rarest or weirdest color? In the meanwhile I need to manually recheck the want list and check for cheapest color then assign it.

Vinyl dye probably don't work well on LEGO because the bricks are formed under very high pressure, which means very dense plastic and hard for the dye to penetrate. Regular painting is probably the best solution

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=650 Quite old piece you have

At Troy (MI, near Detroit), over the top is OK as long as the lid touches part of the cup.

I did some extreme digging to find a few screenshots, which I think came from unauthorized source but I did find 2 good shot of that mystery gear. The number displayed is for a standard 40T gear that has been around for a few decades but the gear looks different. It is not the standard 40T gear we know so either the studio messed up and used the wrong part # or LEGO switched number to throw us off since they may already have this new part but not released yet.

Replace a few long axles with 2 short axles and an U-joint connector such as 9244 or 61903 and that can add even more variations. Especially if the joints are worn and wiggles a bit when twisted.

Same, I loved Monorail back then as it was the future plus it's still the only official motorized set that is designed for 3D use. Train and other motorized sets are only capable of 2D (no Z-axis or up/down)

A brand new Turtles polybag 30270 for only 1.80 at Goodwill. About fainted because most Goodwill don't have new LEGO sets these day, only opened and store returned sets missing pieces. (almost always missing minifigs)

Today at the same Walmart they mercifully replaced the icky junk with regular LEGO sets. Mostly the City themes with just a few TLM still around. I wonder who yelled at the store to make them move the inferior junk out?

My memory is somewhat foggy but I am sure the red space minifig is the first one. From X-1 Patrol Craft

Local stores are running out of LEGO Movie sets due to the movie but a local Walmart had to commit a serious crime of putting MegaJunk onto TLM display. This is like putting a Ford Edsel engine into Ferrari or Lamborghini. They had regular LEGO sets they could have used but they choose to shove crappy clone junk onto the display and give less knowledgeable adult the mistaken impression those are LEGO. End rant

Try reading Emerald Night instruction from LEGO. Dark brown and black were next to impossible to tell apart.

Chromed skeleton would be nice. There is also a red space minifig for 3 or 4 seconds total. And lastly I'd like the sleepy Emmet. Right now he's available only from certain movie chain which I am not close to but I kept hearing rumor he'd be available in another manner. How about parts in colors that aren't available currently? I'd like the stalk element (3 points, usually used as flower) in trans medium blue as seen in Emmet's shower, it'd be great in snow and ice scenes.

It's a Frappe!

/nitpick you're missing one stud on the kitty's back. There should be one between the neck and the tail. kidding aside, that's a great one! I may need to build myself a giant uni-kitty

Really odd it's hard to find already. The movie must be more popular than we thought. Even eBay has none of Benny shirt. I did find that classic blue minifig from 80's are listed for $30 There are still a lot on BL for under $3

The leg assembly to torso assembly. Either the studs on leg assembly were made too small or torso assembly were made too big. It's like it's made by Megablock.

If it has original stickers correctly applied, it's worth a lot. Otherwise without original stickers and original minifigs, the parts are probably worth 15 UK pounds