dmaclego

Hello there! This is my first entry in this part of Eurobricks Forum, so... hello again! Please, let me present my latest creation - a 1:13 scale model of Kobelco SK210 HLC tracked excavator. Why Kobelco? Because of the color, of course. Pretty much everywhere except USA the company sells these excavators in "Kobelco blue-green" livery, which happens to be remarkably similar to LEGO Dark Turquoise. So it's beautiful, it's not yellow and it's challenging enough, since only 216 Dark Turquoise parts were available when I started building it (and most of them unusable like Martian heads). The model includes some custom made parts but the most obvious ones are long pneumatic cylinders - and that's where you can see the similarity, because they are painted exactly that color: Kobelco blue-green. I made them myself, using aluminum, brass tubing and rubber parts from original LEGO cylinders. The other - not so obvious - modification is battery box. I modified it to use 3.7 V li-ion batteries (the same size as regular AA batteries) in two groups, giving it altogether 11.1 V at 1600 mAh. The model worked just fine on regular batteries, too, but now it works faster, as the new battery power both compressor (8 pumps altogether). Other than that, there are only cosmetic modifications: chromed fences, custom stickers and LED lights (these also could easily be LEGO but, strangely enough, I much prefer paying $1 for 10 lights and not $10 for 1 light. The other unusual - but perfectly legal :) - solutions are: hidden winch that supports the enormously heavy arm (so that it doesn't fall like rock) and LEGO tires acting as extra support for the arm. And again: it would work without them but works better with them. And some statistics: 10 motors (plus 2 for the nibbler attachment) 8 small pneumatic pumps maximum reach - 75 cm maximum length - 101 cm width - 25.5 cm ground clearance - 3.6 cm maximum depth of digging: 44 cm total weight - 5.5 kg I'm very glad to write that most of these parameters are very close to the original (considering the scale, of course ;) ). Admittedly, this was partly why I took up this project: to finally overcome the limitations of LEGO pneumatics and create realistic reach for the arm. And that's it, I guess. Thanks for reading and If you feel like commenting on my model - just shoot; I'll try to handle the critique ;) . For more pictures search flickr.com for dmaclego. And substandard video (due to my cameras being unable to record Dark Turquoise - correcting it degraded the picture):

I think you underestimate LEGO designers. in private, most of them build or used to build models on stellar level so it is not a matter of AT-AT being "too difficult" for them. It's all about the rules they must follow as toy designers. Even sets marked 14+ must be robust to a certain degree and buildable for a single person. Unfortunately, AT-AT is, by definition, a very delicate construct and a huge one is extremely hard to assemble for one person. For these two reasons either we'll never get a truly UCS version of this machine or we'll get a big, simplified AT-AT with extra-thick legs, which will cause a massive outcry from adult fans. Actually, the only solution to avoid that is adding some kind of support structure (a stable building to which the model could be anchored) but that would easily double the part count and, consequently, dumbed down the AT-AT itself. All in all, I can't see possibility a REALLY GOOD model of AT-AT in forseable future - but it has nothing to do with LEGO designers' abilities.

Project: Endor visited Skaerbaek Fan Weekend in the last days of September. The crew of Beyond the Brick were there as well and I was asked to talk a bit about my work. I'm still determined to create my own film presentation of Project: Endor but in the meantime - here's what BtB guys recorded:

Thanks, Jarek. And yes, it is evolving all the time - if not in real bricks, then only in my head, but yest, it is :) . However, implementing changes gets more and more difficult, since with each improvement there is less and less space for another. And I mean it quite literally. With each overhaul more and more parts are becoming "essential" for proper work of mechanisms and cannot be moved/removed/miniaturised. But new ideas keep coming, so... no, it's never over :) . Daniel - sorry, but no chance for instructions. Unless you're absurdly rich and willing to support me and my family for several months, of course :D . Thanks for your kind words, anyway.

Great job, Jarek! Obviously, you sacrificed certain details (landing gear and guns accuracy, for instance) to make the model buildable for any buyer but overall shape is spot on. I would even say it's as good as possible until we get a proper X-wing windscreen, which is not going to happen antytime soon, I'm afraid. Slightly bent sidewalls make it even more similar to the original. Congratulations!

Two quarter domes are 6 studs tall and my shuttle's hull is only 5 studs tall (and still a bit too thick, by the way). So yeah, it's a neat solution but for a bigger model - like the official 10212 or Marshal Banana's Tydirium.

Gosh, now I envy you - I never thought about DRAWING my own instructions back in the 80's! :) What a sweet reminder of childhood. Boy, those were the days! Just a handful of bricks was enough to build ANYTHING.

Is it the one in 1:144 scale? I wondered more than once, so maybe you can tell me: how tall is it? Did they calculate the scale according to formerly official numbers (15 m), currently official numbers (20 m) or used even more realistic appraisal (some 22-23 meters)? About leg pivot point - yes, fortunately I knew that and in my model it's exactly as it should be. Plus, the bigger parabolas are NOT attached to the belly. Only the smaller ones. Didn't know about the neck though (if that's a faithful copy of studio model, that is). In my model the whole neck is somewhat flexible, both vertically and horizontally.

Thank you, guys. And here is the AT-AT's gallery although nothing's changed there since 2015 ;) :

OK, it looks like my Project: Endor will never be over... Inspired by Marshal Banana's shuttle and forced by malfunctions that plagued my Lambda model, I decided to give it a major overhaul. Completely new cockpit, red lights under belly and white over the landing ramp (exactly as in the movie), improved ramp mechanism, brand new mechanics for landing gear flaps, blue exhaust lights... The list is very long :) . Not to mention changes to the landing platform: new mechanism that elevates the shuttle, new cables, steel rods installed permanently in the platform and many, many other improvements. Currently I'm working on adding the red LEDS to boarding ramps of the landing platform itself but I'm not sure I'll manage to finish that before the last weekend of September (Skaerbaek fan event, Denmark). And here's some visuals to illustrate the progress with the shuttle: New lights with old cockpit: (I hope the movie works here... no it doesn't so click the picture to see the movie on flickr) Joined The Light Side by Maciej Szymański, on Flickr Old shuttle, new cockpit: Lambda in flight by Maciej Szymański, on Flickr "Chin" details: Lambda - cockpit guts by Maciej Szymański, on Flickr Exhaust lights (darkened here, bright as hell in reality ;) ): Lambda - rear parts by Maciej Szymański, on Flickr And finally - a comparison pic, courtesy of Marshal Banana: Lambda cockpit comparison by Maciej Szymański, on Flickr That's it for now but, as I said, time has proven that it's never really over...

I'm glad you published these pics while your model is still a WIP because, if you don't mind, there's something I'd like to show you - to make your model even better. Please, take a look at the picture below. Upper part is your model, of course, lower part is the original studio model. It's all about the proportions: red line vs blue line. Your "cam" part is much chubbier than the original. Like 33% chubbier, to be more specific. And it shows, I'm afraid. And not only mathematics is against you in this - it's also about the aesthetics: you chose to make your "cam" nice and curvy, while in the original it's all straight lines, rounded only at the ends. I truly hope you'll find some time and patience to correct this, adding another strong point to your otherwise very nice model.

What an ambitious project, Cehnot. Kudos to you for a thorough research. I guess you're going to need a supercomputer to process the whole file once it done ;) . I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, hoping to see your creation built in real bricks (somewhere in not too distant future ;)). Good luck!

Maybe I could, with my wife's kind permission, by how on Earth can one SEND a massage?! :D OK, PM sent, LukeBrickwalker. Hopefully the system will allow you to respond. ***** BTW, just today I received another question via Flickrmail and I thought an update here might be useful, so here it goes: thank you for your kind words but no, building instruction for Project: Endor are not - and will not - be available :) .

There are Technic beams 1x15 in the upper, tapered part of thighs; the rest is just brick built. Also, the vertical 1x8 tiles on the front and rear part of each leg are somewhat structural, joining the bricks. That's not much, of course, but ANY reinforcement is important when the model is so tall and, by definition, so unstable.

If your model is to be similar in size to Cavegod's, you won't be able to have legs just one stud thick. Even with two stud thick legs such huge models are extremely unstable. The ones from Hoth MOC are much smaller and even they have, effectively, two stud thick knees (including the exposed knee joints) and upper thighs. There are, of course, some simple SNOT techniques that would allow you to avoid visible anti-studs but in my opinion these would weaken the legs even more. Anyway, good luck with your project!

Thank you so much! I was about to ask :) . The helmets are gorgeous. And the rest of the pilot minifigs - well, could be a nice material for, say, a Gray Squadron of X-wings in some huge Yavin IV project :) .

Thank you. It took only 13 years :) . Unfortunately no, there are - and never will be - no plans for the platform. It's just too huge.

Now this borders a personal insult (just kidding ;) ) so let me explain: X-wing gun recipe by Maciej Szymański, on Flickr Note: Technic 8 tooth gears are available in two versions - some with stubby teeth and some with slender teeth. Only the first ones fit into the wheel rims; slender teeth are too big! Also, in case anyone is wondering how the guns are connected with wings, please, notice the square holes in the rims - short pieces of flex tube (hose rigid) fit there nicely or must be slightly squashed (if you happen to have thinner flex tubes). That's all, I guess. Good luck perfecting your model!

Spot on, mate! And same situation here, in Poland: you have to spend your average MONTHLY salary to get this UCS Falcon. By the way, it is some 100 pounds more expensive in Poland than in the UK. I, for one, can't afford this beautiful set.

Well, if you say so then ok, I believe you.

A business venture, huh? If so, then I regret helping you out with this build.

All the trans parts you used to build the cockpit - brilliant. I'm afraid I'll be exploring this solution even further if you don't mind :) . Great little model overall; the only thing I'm not sure about are all these wedge plates in the front - kind of chaotic to my taste. But the cockpit rules. Congrats!

Haha, thanks, man :) . It wasn't that bad in our bedroom but the thing was set up on the floor for quite a while and we had to be veeery careful getting up and zig-zaging towards the door. On the other hand, I must admit it was quite a pleasure to open my eyes in the morning and see those meter-tall trees right in front of me :) .

Mission accomplished, then :) . I knew you could do this. Good luck with the rest of your X-wing!

Having finished a 200 kg model recently, I know exactly what you mean when talking about strain in the structure ;) . OK, I did my duty and i'm not going to nag you anymore. Good luck with your project - you're gonna need it, as Han said ;) .