kbalage

Here's my PF mod with some extra lights and SBricks:

I posted my new video in the main Defender topic:

I received some requests to show the gearbox in details and there were also some potential issues raised in Sariel's review topic about the friction in the drivetrain and the cracking noises. I made a new video to demonstrate my experience, please take a look and let's find out if it is really the way it was supposed to be built :)

Ok, so to sum it up - you have a gearbox full of friction with a proper sequence, I have a smoothly working gearbox with a reversed sequence :) I'll make a video about my setup tomorrow morning and we'll continue from there.

When I push the model around it has no issues. I can make it crack once or twice only if I push it really fast in the highest gear. The engine does not run smoothly but it barely cracks. Do you have this issue in all gears? In the lowest gears (where the fake engine barely runs) you should have almost zero resistance. In the highest gear the model requires more force to push but it still should not crack. An idea - do you have the U-joints properly aligned on the same axle? Both should have the same direction. Just tested and if I turn them 90 degrees then the model starts the cracking in the highest gear. Actually the speed difference is very visible, I think this is why there is a significant gear reduction in the system. If it weren't geared down then the fake engine would run at a more "realistic" speed but the difference between the gears would be barely noticeable, as it would be fast, faster, very fast...

You can, but you also need to flip the hi / lo sticker and that looks kinda stupid upside down :)

The frame is used in the roof: About the speed of the engine - I guess this ratio was selected to show the speed difference between the gears. With a faster base speed it'd be difficult to differentiate between 1st, 2nd etc. gears.

It has only one reverse.

My review of the set:

@suffocation my BuWizz had sunglasses and a moustache, didn't have a hat :)

He says that this is the only set from the 2019 lineup that was designed by him.

I leave this one here for the modders :)

PF was around for 10 years, we can safely assume LEGO will provide app support for the lifetime of Powered Up which will not be less than that. Additionally, the protocol is open source so anyone can create a 3rd party app to control these elements (which is being done already). I spent several hours with 42099 outdoors and I don't have any issues with the hubs or the joints. Running the hubs with RC buggy motors in dirt/mud/etc. is still beyond the "standard usage" according to my dictionary.

You made my day :D

I'm sure this was a great experience, although I'm still not a fan of the colour I think the result is a very well made Technic set! One thing that bothers me about the car and could not find an answer so far - what is the purpose of those body-coloured panels in the rear side windows?

Here's the real deal: Key features: Four-wheel drive with three differentials Fully independent suspension Advanced four-speed sequential gearbox with a gear selector knob and a hi/lo selector In-line six-cylinder engine with moving pistons Working winch Detailed interior Removable roof rack with storage box, pannier, ladder and traction mats. More pics and details here.

@suffocation did you try to contact customer service after the cancellation for further clarification? I can imagine that someone simply messed it up and thought that it is an order instead of the replacement request.

I still have doubts that the app uses the "middle of the max angles is the zero position" approach. You can do a simple test - block the orange beam that connects the links and the front hubs with your finger on one side. During calibration the steering will be able to turn fully in one direction but will be limited on the other side. Despite this the proper straight position will be still found and set. These motors have the ability to provide information about their absolute position and not only the relative, the challenge is to figure out how that data is provided and how it can be used.

Not sure if it is a fw limitation as you can make the 4th port work in BC2 and that does not work in Control+. I can confirm the same symptoms, the latest update apparently broke the control of the Smart hub, it was working previously. There were no recent fw updates on the Smart hubs. @Lok24 how did you check the fw version of the hubs?

@sirslayer your thread is all over the place, it's very difficult to find the related content. All I see there is that you measured the difference between the plastic and the sugar cane-based leaves, then you discovered some weight difference between the different coloured plastics. I still don't know how did you arrive to the conclusion that there are other parts containing sugar cane than the plants.

@sirslayer yes it's from 2018, what is your point exactly again? Oh and it also says The new sustainable LEGO elements are made from polyethylene, which is a soft, durable and flexible plastic. So it could be used in flex axles maybe, but not in any other Technic parts.

@sirslayer I don't know how that article supports your theory. A quote from that page: The sustainable product range covers LEGO® botanical elements such as leaves, bushes and trees made entirely from plant-based plastic.

I don't think it is necessary to press that "sugar cane" button further. So far there were only plants produced of that material, soft and easy to recognise. No need for any conspiracy theories. I checked my hubs & joints after several hours of play with 42099 outside, usually stressing them with lower gearing/higher torque and heavier Power Puller wheels. I only see some minimal damage on them, far less than I would expect from e.g. the old CV joints.

@Cumulonimbus with the 88009 hub you'd still need the train remote to operate the outputs so at the moment none of the PU hubs will give you a dumb powering option. We were told that such solution is (dumb battery box) is planned for PU there are usually no details or comments on future products so it's unsure when it will arrive. Btw the physical difference between the 88009 hub and the Technic 4-port hub is the number of the ports (2 vs 4), the battery type (AAA vs AA) and the integrated 6-axis gyro in the Technic hub. Once the Powered Up app will be updated to support properly the Technic hub and the motors there'll be no difference from the software side.

There's a clear overshoot with the Control+ app as well if you remove the motor from the vehicle, you can check in the video below. In the car the axle is limited physically to turn only +/- 90 degrees so the effect is not visible. Additional fun fact - the Control+ app does not turn the servo full 90 degrees, it's a bit less. The stuttering is also visible if you try to steer the L and XL motors (especially the XL) with the Powered Up app's control blocks.