Ngoc Nguyen

42131 Manual Conversion is finally done. DEVELOPMENT Even though I have designed a PF Conversion mod for the original 42131, I was not quite satisfied with it. The first reason is that since PF IR Receivers are separate from battery boxes. I have to find the places to put them, and they detracts from the overall seamless exterior of the model. The rear is just ugly. The second reason is L motor's inadequate torque. In this PF mod, there are 6 PF L motors that drive 6 functions separately, and for some functions PF L motors just don't provide enough torque even when geared up. Hence I came up with this new Manual mod. In this mod, the Smart Hub is replaced with the Simple Hub (non-bluetooth one), and it will power two hard-coupled PU L motor. Because the Simple Hub and the Smart Hub have the same dimension and interface, it's easier to replace the latter with the former. To drive the functions, I designed 5 bidirectional gearboxes that fit into the 7x11 frame of the original 42131. Since the ladder function is in the cabin subbuild, I decided to turn it into a manual function so that I don't have to route a transmission up. That leaves me with 5 functions as follows, from left to right. - Motorized ripper lifting - Motorized ripper tilting - Motorized tracks - Motorized blade lifting - Motorized blade tilting And now comes the hardest part of this MOC: designing the control interfaces. These switches are buried deep inside the model, and the 42131 doesn't have a flat surface to route the transmission to. After many attempts I finally came up with the solutions. Two outermost switches will be routed to the switches on both sides of the engine doors. Three inner ones will be routed to the back, between the LAs of the blade. The battery box can be turned on using a lever on the side. Here are the functions sheet. Rebrickable link: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-205773/nguyengiangoc/42131-manual-conversion/#details

Since the scope is now non animal and non vehicle, may I suggest renaming the contest into "Technic Device Contest"

I agree with no animal.

I guess your alternate model development is on the fast track.

Hi everyone, this is a combo review from RacingBrick

I just ordered all the printed key caps. It took a while to find a vendor that has the whole collection.

Yeah I've always thought Technic Animal is a feasible contest theme by itself. If you think animals don't have any Technic functions to be recreated, try designing the tail of a peacock. That is one Technic idea I've always thought about.

Oh I'm not gonna do that. I'm just turn it into a full Technic build with a Technic case. At first sight it may look like a simple cover swap, but the real job will be more complicated than that. Based on my experience of Technic-ifying the Ornithopter, there are two major challenges. The first one is that the connection points for the linkages in a System model may not lie on a perfect grid, because they can be offset by plates, while in Technic connection points can only be on grid intersections in most cases. The second challenge is that structural bracing in Systems is done in a different way from structural bracing in Technic. Therefore even though the core mechanisms don't have to be reinvented, working on the surrounding structures is an act of creation of its own kind.

Indeed it is Technic at its core, and that's why to me it has more Technic spirit than recent sets in the Technic lineup. I just wanna turn this thing into its true form: a real Technic set from inside to outside.

That was a lot of bricks for a not very big thing. That is one reason I don't like building with System bricks. I feel like it uses too many pieces just to construct one thing, while I can create a roughly similar thing with less parts in Technic.

"Technic is all about the cool functions" - said Markus Kossman. In search for that Technic spirit, I started something new: turning models from other Themes into Technic builds. I did that once with the Ornithopter, and this will be my second try. I will Technic-ify the set 21327 Typewriter into a Technic build. In fact, I've always wanted to do this, but originally not now, as I have plans for other MOCs. However, this TC28 came around, and why not, I decided I'd just go with it. There's no guarantee I'd be able to finish the thing in time for a submission but it doesnt really matter. What really matters is I do what I like, and I like what I do. 'The general plan for the Technic Typewriter is that first I'll construct the Studio model of the original 21327 not only to have a base for Technic-fication but to also learn how the mechanisms work. Then I'll replace all the system bricks with Technic pieces and make adjustments in terms of supporting structures. As for the color, there's no or very few Technic pieces in Sand Green, so I'm not gonna use that color. Also, I hate all the colors that age poorly, like white. I haven't had anything in Sand Green but I suspect I'd be the same. Therefore I plan to use DBG for the exterior. As for now, I've just finished constructing the lever structures of the original set. It was quite tedious so that's all I have for today.

I think you're mixing up Control+ and PU. PU is the encompassing theme for the motor and hub system. The motors in 42145 is called PU L motor. Both the 42145 battery box, which is called Simple Hub, and the Bluetooth Hub belongs to PU. Control+ is only for remote-controlled Technic sets that use the Bluetooth Hub and require dedicated control profiles. 42145 belongs to PU but not Control+. The reason I'm doing all these PF Conversion for Control+ sets is that I want to provide some ways to allow people to control the C+ sets without having to rely on TLG's Control+ App, which might not be supported in the future. 42145 doesn't need the Control+ app to run, so I don't see why it needs PF conversion.

No mech please.

If possible, yes please

This is gonna be tough. I already have plans for other MOCs to do, and February is New Lunar Year time, which means there will be delayed shipping.

So I can do a Technic version of the Typewriter, is that correct?

If I use some model from other Themes like Icon or Creator Expert and turn it into a Technic model does that violate any rule? I did that to the 10327 set here.

What do you want me to do with 42145? It's not a C+ set.

This should have been finished a long time ago, but I lost interest along the way. At least I finished it now, better late than never. Rebrickable link: https://reb.li/m/204737

I think there are a lot to explore with the Technic Animal theme alone already.

I don't think Animal vs Handheld devices vs Househould Appliances would be a fair comparison.

Let's see how this new 42131 mod turns out.

Just to clarify, are CCBS parts allowed in the animal/creature contest?

I'm for the Pokemon contest

If there's a Technic Animal contest, is Pokemon allowed?