knotian

May Christmas come early - the red is piercing!

Very very nice. I am a fan of 'Theme' series of models and this is an excellent example. Well thought out.

Please disregard Thanks Ed

Rotsa Ruck - Grasshopper All kidding aside, you have found the greatest site for just what you want. Browse and especially follow the links some of the people have posted. There are several books available from "no starch" and they have some good sales. As to understanding what happens - build one and test it as you go. Look on line also for public domain references. As far as 'how do they come up with these', your guess is as good as mine, but seriously they study 'real' transmissions, gear boxes, vehicles etc and then go bonkers as they build a Lego equivalent. Welcome to the fold. Happy building.

Re Erector sets For those who remember them. There was their biggest set, it came in a large red metal chest and had a 110 volt motor, gears etc. Well one Christmas I got one from my father. The next day we went to see my uncle and lo and behold another red chest. You cannot believe what stuff I built in the next few years.

Mr.Przemek has a moc of an unde4rground drill that I would like to have the plans for. Does anyone know how to contact him and/or anything about plans? Thanks ,Ed

Thank you for the badge. I'll wear it proudly! Thank goodness its on line - I've misplaced things all week.

You might be able to get away with taking a mosaic approach and using white tiles as your edging, yell in the middle. Going to be a toughy no matter what.

Took a while to find my post since the title had been changed. My comment was made because I am Not dissembling, I bought two sets since I want both displayed. My thought that was as long as the designer, or the person making the instructions was at it, it would be nice if they made a listing separated by major steps, of the parts required. Then I could sort the bag contents into logical order. SIMILAR to what is done in the bags.

Just heard about this bunch. 78 and counting. Just tore out my woodworking shop and replacing it with Lego storage. (Actually was really getting tired of sawdust) Working on the BWE. Bought 2 so I can have the B model displayed with it. Spare time spent designing a series of Underground mining equipment that I hope to run with EV3. Would love to be called 'Older than dirt' so much better than being under it! Knotian

This is just a suggestion to Lego. When the staff puts together the instructions for the B models, it would be nice if they created a list of parts and quantities that should be collected before starting a certain stage. This would be a digital list equivalent to the numbered bags in the A model package. This would allow a person to disassemble the A model and presort parts to make the B model easier to build. 4000 plus parts for the BWE alternative is going to be a chore to sort through.

I am in the middle of building it. The engineering exhibited so far amazes me. The modular approach with many dismantling points will make transport to displays and storage easier. I am an older builder, 78, and I enjoy the building and 'understanding' process more than the 'operating / play' process. I bought two since I want to use the BWe and it's 'B' model together. I've also experience several situations where dismantling and correction have been necessary. It calls for very careful attention to instructions, which is not a bad thing :)

Thanks, I didn't know brickset used the official data. Ed

I guess I wasn't clear. We should not have to have different descriptions depending on the management system we use. I'd like to know if there is an access to the 'official' Lego Group definitions.? Thanx, Ed

I just picked up a large quantity of mixed parts (125# and have another 15000 loose parts) and am in the midst of sorting and storing them. In referring to several places to find part names and numbers (LDD, Bricklink,Rebrickable, Brick Owl, and Brickset) I found many instances of the same part with different names. As an example looking for the 3639/3640 parts I found- 4 different descriptions. Plate 2x4 Cross Connection Hinge Plate 2x4 w/articulated joint Plate 2x4 Cross Coupling Plate 2x4 Across Hinge Asking all the various programmers to agree on one, I know from personal experience, would be impossible. LDraw is a good start. Is there any place where we can get access to an official Lego parts catalog? Any help? Ed

Lego is playing 'dirty pool'. Both the A and B models are keepers IMHO. Rec'd my BWE this afternoon and I like it already. The only problem is I like the MAPP just about as well. Glad I ordered two :) They are going to really make a dent in my display space. My current project is a surface/underground mining operation covering a 60" x 120" area and these two will fit in great. Ed

It would have to be in a horizontal orientation, only one direction rotation and a gear on one end to serve as the driven element. The shaft diameter is not standard but sized to fit 40243.

Thanks all! Ed

Thanks _Zenn, I've looked at that and it seemed flimsy if multiples involved in a horizontal environment. I was hoping to find something like coupled shafts that I could run 24 of them together. I was wondering if someone had a couple and could try it before I hit brick link. It has to be long enough to get a gear on the end to drive it.

I'd like to use a bunch of spiral staircase segments (40243) horizontally as part of a machine. Any suggestion as to how to join together? There could be space between them, but they will all be on a long horizontal shaft. Outside of the support, I cant find anything that will fit the opening snugly enough to allow turning. Thanks, Ed

Check out the specs on the motor. I believe It is designed to reset back to it's original position.

Longer beams would look 'spindley' and would be too flexible for any strength. Offsetting double beams connected together look a lot better and are stronger. I find vertically doubled studded beams to be an excellent solution.

There may have been production costs involved but from MY perspective the studded technic beams have a very great advantage. Several of the designs I am working on require thin, long, strong features. The studded beams allow a one brick wide, by two or more bricks high, beam of great strength whereas the stud-less beams require bracing on the sides to gain strength. The squareness of the ends allow increased strength as well as they butt up closer than the stud-less. By the way I use stud-less, on side, for outside neatness. Plenty of room for both.

I'm going to go off a little on a tack - Lego is a great 'construction medium' and I believe that TLG has missed out on the entire 'modelling' fraternity. Having pre defined kits is of course a good start for modellers. The GBC efforts show what creativity is really out here. I'd like to see TLG actively keep LDD up to date and add some features and support that effort by having a bulk discount (10+ or 100+ of same part) added to pick-a-brick. I'd like to see the LEGO Ideas program include designs for models that would not be considered for commercial kits, but serve as a venue for modelers of all genres. The ideas above of the Shipping center would give a great exposure to large cranes, boats, trucks and other bulk handling. The detailed, larger, locomotive idea is excellent, not necessarily for a full layout, but as a display model operating on a short section of track, lets say 2 -3 times the length of the model. Since parts on rolling stock are usually linear, detailed freight cars and others would look great. The whole area of extraction mining including oil wells, Excavators, Mill equipment has some fantastic opportunities. Now before the flame pens get going----I know that a lot of these are being built and shown on MANY different sites --I know that parts are available through Bricklink -- It's just that I'd like to see The Lego Group take the lead and consolidate all of the various on-line sites. Ed

It would even be more usable if each label was in a fixed format so that sheets of standard labels could be used. There is a great amount of good work here, but I'm not going to buy a special printer for labels since there are all sorts of label sheets available for normal format printers.