Ape Fight

I've built the gearbox already, because it's (I think) the most accommodating gearbox design yet, it's completely flat and thus allows for a wide range of interior options. It is though, easily removable, so another gearbox could be added if a designer chose to build this car themselves. As I'm building a the complete car, using the crowdsourced components built by other builders for bodywork and interior, I wanted my own gearbox in it. However, if anyone wanted to recreate the chassis without my design they could insert their own gearbox, or engine, or bodywork....

Hey. Yes, that would be awesome. I can't take new photos until next week, but I will do so as soon as I can and upload them to Flickr. It's quite simple apart from the gearbox maybe.

Great. The chassis uses some older parts, as it's not an unlimited parts build. The suspension is not one of the modules required in this first version of the project - the platform is a completed module.

Sign-up on Flickr from today Join the Crowdsource a Supercar Project here

MOCpages is having one of it's regular strops, once fixed I will start a group both their and Flickr which people can join to take part. These groups will show the components that require design and as people sign up, they will list the builders designing them (your competition). The groups will also set out the criteria for each component, including the mounting points and dimensions. The criteria will be broken down as follows: Essential Features (a design must meet all of these in order to be considered) Desirable Features (the more of these a design meets, the more points it gets and the more likely it will be chosen for production) Nice-to-haves (additional features that make a component more favourable if scores match with a rival design) Example 'Essential Features' would be dimensions and mounting points. E.g. The engine must be 10 studs in length or less, and use a stud connection at either end. The seats must be between 5 and 7 studs wide. They must include horizontal pin mounts. Example 'Desirable Features', these are not essential but recommended. E.g. The engine is exactly 10 studs in length, and uses the standard Lego cylinder mounting bricks. The seat's mounts are at their lowest point. The seats are adjustable and forward-folding. Example 'Nice-to-haves'; E.g. The engine includes an exhaust system. The seats have the ability to slide. All of these will of course be set out fully, and all members not building a particular component can input into what features that component should have.

Thanks for all the 'yes's so far! For those interested, I think this will need to be done on Flickr and MOCpages (although it could be done here too), so it may be worth starting an account if you haven't yet. These are free and take 2 mins to set up

Great This is getting a very positive response! I agree the parameters need to be very well defined. I don't use CAD so I plan to annotate pictures of the actual platform, showing stud distances and mounting points. However, if anyone would like to then recreate this digitally in order to assist with their designs they are very welcome to. Sheepo's work is superb, and a real benchmark for Lego Supercars. It's also far more thoroughly designed than anything I can do. However, it's also a 'Lego' Chassis for a 'Lego' car, and doesn't really reflect how a real car chassis would look if it were recreated in Lego. I have tried to do the latter, as such there are no double or triple height beams in the chassis, no huge gearbox sitting in the middle of the cabin forcing the seats to be miles apart, and no suspension that moves wonderfully, but takes up the entire boot/trunk space. E.g. As you can see below, the gearbox is flat and fits within the chassis. Of course, this is not how a real car would be, but it gives the interior designer the freedom to build an interior in the same way they could for a real car, without trying to fit it around a massive box sitting in between the seats.

It's a manual platform at present, but designed with the capability to be RC. If people are interested in this project, one of the 'nice to have' criteria of the bodywork designs will be to retain RC capability (which will be set out in the minimum overhangs, boot-lid height etc.). The suspension is independent double wishbone, with no flexibility for pneumatics. However, all the extra stuff (like adjustable spoilers etc) are completely within the design allowances for those who would be designing other aspects of the vehicle. E.g. Someone designing a convertible may decide to include a working roof, someone designing a 2+2 may decide to include an opening hatch. As long as the designs meet the architecture hard-points (wheelbase, track, suspension towers) anything is allowed. All these would be set out in the criteria for each element should this project 'go'

Awesome! The joy of Lego is that it should all fit together, and as I'd be building the final designs onto the platform (and anyone else involved could too if they replicated the platform themselves) any tweaking to fit could be done then. That said, I've spent a looong time making the architecture as flexible as possible, so as long as the criteria for each component was set out before any designs were started, it should work no problem. The most complicated bit will be the bodywork, but again, as the only 'fixed' points are the track width, wheelbase, suspension travel and suspension tower height, it's a pretty free reign in design terms, almost anything goes!

Great : ) That's what I'm feeling, few builders have all the parts to build the whole thing, but between many builders we could all build a world-class Supercar that we can be proud of, to rival the best builders on the net

Technic Supercar Chassis - Crowdsource a Supercar? Hello Eurobrickers. I've had an idea that I was wondering if I could run past you, especially those of a Technical persuasion. There are some amazing Technic supercars on the 'net from the like of Crowkillers et al, and I think many of us would love to build something comparable. I think many of us also secretly harbour the ambition to be a car designer or Lego designer. I'd like to see if this idea would interest anyone who has the above ambitions: Could we build a modular Technic Supercar together, from people based all around the world? Real cars are designed in a modular method, often with internal competition between design studios and teams to 'win' the right of their design being used in the production model. For example, Mazda's MX-5 design was chosen from a variety of their design studios, with the California studio design selected for production. Toyota's revolutionary Hybrid system was chosen from an internal competition to design a power-train with 50% improved fuel economy. Do you think we could do the same? I've designed a modular chassis architecture, featuring independent double wishbone suspension, rack and pinion steering, a 'flat' automatic (D-P-R) gearbox, Power Functions compatibility, modular engine options from an I3 to a V8 and variable front and rear overhangs. Track and wheelbase are fixed. It requires: Engine designs; using any configuration within a 4-cylinder length, turbocharged or supercharged, full hybrid or KERS Dashboard and instrument designs, including steering wheel adjustment, pedals, centre console etc. Seat designs for folding and adjustable seats front and rear Bodywork designs; for a GT, sports, or 2+2, convertible or coupe Door and other aperture designs; conventional, suicide, scissor or gull-wing Exterior light designs; fixed, pop-up, LED etc. Each of these would have a range of criteria that must be met (e.g. Weight, Cost, Parts Availability, Functionality etc.), after which the most suitable designs would be selected and built for the Supercar. If (a very big 'if'!) this were to work at the end of the project we'd have (hopefully) a top-spec Technic Supercar, designed and built by people from all over the world So, for those on MOCpages and Flickr, do you think this could work, and if so would you be interested in designing elements for the final car? If it doesn't work I'll just carry on and build the whole thing, and I'm sure I could do a good job. But I think the talents of many builders will result in a great job, not just a good one. Please add your thoughts below! Ape

Those that have built it/mixed the pieces in, I salute you : ) I hope Lego release this as a 'non-limited' set (I.e the same but without the numbered sticker, a) so people denied by the eBayers can own it, and b) to screw those same eBayers. I own a 'limited edition' Santa Fe train, bought as a kid because I liked it. It's built, and used to haul my carriages. It's now up in a box in the loft with the rest if my Lego. But... here's the thing, I bet if you look back to 2004 or whenever it was released, this forum will have a topic much like this one, with people debating not opening them, buying lots to sell on etc. Now, almost 10 years on, does anyone give a toss about the limited edition Santa Fe? Of course not, and I suspect 41999 will be much the same. Because after all, it's a plastic toy with a number on it.

And on the 1997 Technic Barcode Truck B-Model

Hello. Yes, there is a way to reduce the track. Two that I know of anyway: 1: Switch from wishbone to swing arm suspension Or 2: Look up 'Tyler Reid' on MOCpages, who has an ingeniously compact independent suspension design.

My guess would be one of the steering rack gears is one tooth off being centred. Prise the gear away from the rack, move the rack one tooth along, or the rotate the gear by one tooth, and put it back. Hopefully it's as simple as that.

Wow... That's about all I can manage!

I flat pack mine into the recycling. I doubt they'd go back together again, but they may one day end up as another LEGO box : )

Pretty sure mine's like that when I'm building.

Nice idea! - is it string that makes the wheel move?

8448 - The 1999 Supercar : )

Hi Eurobrickers. Apologies if this has been posted already; this popped up on Brick RSS today and it looks like a decent new resource to sit alongside Brickset and the other LEGO review sites, as they do some cool comparisons between new and old sets. Lego Set Review Library Ape

The build of the summer so far Sariel!

Excellent interview VF! I l love reading about how great builders got into Lego and how they took it to the next level. Definitely well deserved - this ship is masterful!

This is NUTS! Awesome job - what an ambitious MOC!