kbalage

Thanks folks, I felt the need to add something to the video as the car itself does not have too many features to show :) I added some images and thoughts in my blog post if you're interested. The pieces left from the A model: @Johnny1360 - I'd call that creative freedom :) Thanks for pointing it out, I always manage to mess up some little details. Maybe it'd be better to make these videos after sleeping and not during the night :)

Here is my quick review of the B-model. As it does not have any special features apart from the cool design I decided to boost up the video a little bit :)

It might be a bit more actually, I added a few bits and pieces during the motorization (although no big parts or panels).

I have to say the B model is almost as cool as the A model, this set really offers a lot for the price. Here's my review & speed build of the B model: Build time was around 4 hours (plus 2 hours to disassemble the Anthem and sort the parts). You can find more images and thoughts in my blogpost.

If you're ok with manual focus then I strongly suggest the Laowa 7.5mm F2 for Micro Four Thirds, that's only $500 and has a much wider aperture than the Olympus -> you can get away with lower ISO indoors. I used this lens for my latest speed build videos and as the focus is manual you won't have the annoying "focus breathing" either. And it's super small, looks like a toy lens on my GH5 :)

Time will tell, on the side of the box it looks black :)

I think it's a reflection of something blue and the panel is actually black. The vertical beam of the cabin right next to the panel is certainly black, but the side of the beam has a similar color tint like the black-or-blue panel. There should have been a blue light source or something being reflected in the panels when they took the prelim image.

Added some PF lights, 2 L motors to the trailer with another SBrick for control and Mack the Bulldog also received a little Christmas upgrade :) Tested the trailer also with M motors but they were too weak to lift the load. Placement of the motors in the trailer is not 100% satisfactory as the one which is perpandicular lifts the container up a bit. And of course Merry Xmas to everyone :)

Amazing!! With that on-off switch function you already managed to overtake the official app ;) Can't wait to test it!

If you check the box art it should be 2-1-2, I also built it that way. The panels underneath have 2 layers so despite the asymmetry there they support each other. The instruction also shows 2-1-2 layout.

Very nice mod with PF motors :) It's pretty interesting to see how people independently come to a similar solution, e.g. swapping the engine to a V6/V8 because it is easier to fit the Servo (and obviously to look more badass ). I even had a similar placement of those blue panels next to the engine. I agree it's a great set to easily motorize, the only weakness is the CV joints - they cannot handle higher speed offroading.

Yeah, I see that situation coming in a year or two... my son's Batman & Super Heroes squad against the Duplo invaders :) Anyway my son still enjoys sometimes building with Duplo as well, it's good to create big starships like an Imperial Star Destroyer that can be blown up in an epic battle :)

What I used to have (that was my hobby photography gear for years, collected most of the lenses during that time): - Olympus OM-D EM-5 MFT (micro four thirds format) camera + 12-50mm kit lens. Decent camera with great build-in stabilisation, took very good photos even after 4 years. Cons: only 1080p 30fps video with limited options. I wanted to have slow motion ability and 4K to be able to stabilize and crop in post. Example video with the camera and various lenses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVxeDh4IeEQ What I have now: - Panasonic GH5 MFT camera with 12-60mm kit lens (killer video/still camera, tons of options like 4k@60fps, 1080p@180fps). My recent videos were made using this camera, like this one (includes slow motion footage as well): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D0Zz4N5zD0 - Olympus 45mm F1.8 lens - good for mid-range shots with very creamy bokeh wide open, example shot: https://youtu.be/LZGmyuzo2Uw?t=4 - Panasonic 100-300mm lens - good telephoto with mediocre focus speed/accuracy, example shot: https://youtu.be/3D0Zz4N5zD0?t=175 - Laowa 7.5mm F2 lens - super wide angle lens with fast aperture and wide field of view without fish eye distortion. Used it for my recent speed builds like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE0lMNG4emY&t=62s - SJcam SJ7 Star action camera - can do 4K and 1080p@120fps, although due to the small sensor and the low bitrate the results are not the best. Example slow-mo shot: https://youtu.be/6fgP2zNAWJY?t=199 Regarding your question, $100 is a very tight budget. That won't be enough for a mid-range camera, that's a budget for an entry level compact or a simple action camera. You need to specify what would you like to shoot - photo or video? Would you like to do action shots, e.g. camera mounted on your Lego creations? If you'd like to shoot photo mainly or both photo/video, take a look at the few years old compact camera models, like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830. 20 mpx, 8x optical zoom, decent macro, 720p video. If you stretch the budget you can get something like a used Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS which has 1080p video recording as well. If the main usage is filming and especially action/slow-mo footage, then I suggest to get a cheaper used GoPro like the Session 4 mentioned before. You can get 1080p@60fps video which is good for basic slow motion and has a decent quality. I wouldn't go with the cheaper action cameras under/around $100, they might even promise 4K but resolution is only one factor. If the bitrate is low and the compression is crappy you will not be happy with the result.

The music is a perfect fit for the car :D Looks great, can't wait to see it.

@evortigosa There's definitely space in the trailer to put motors in it, although you'll need some rearrangement either of the axles or the support beams. @BrickbyBrickTechnic I managed to buy the Mack and the Rally Car only. I'm planning to get the First responder as it looks interesting to make RC but it's not available yet around here.

Not yet sorry, I was 100% busy with the reviews of the new Technic sets and I am still busy with their RC mods. I'll have a look in a couple of weeks.

I wouldn't say lego controls my life, but nowadays it takes a pretty significant amount of my time :) I really-really want a white Christmas, but it will be highly unlikely to happen here in Hungary. Obviously :) My son is always asking for Lego, and I think I already had all my Christmas credits used with 42077 & 42078 I also bought some Duplo for my daughter to be on the safe side but she won't get it yet (only 7 months old ) I'm planning to take some of my RC cars with me when we'll visit family in the countryside, always looking for opportunities to shoot videos black, or very-very dark bluish gray

No I didn't, measured bumper to bumper. There's about 10 cm overlap when the trailer is connected to the truck.

truck ~40cm, trailer ~53cm

@rathodsandeep I can confirm, it is 83 cm as it says on the box.

Usually if Lego offers a PF upgrade that's really "remove 2 parts and add the motor" style. Here I had to rearrange a lot of things, e.g remove the bunk bed completely, remove the 5x7 frame supporting the rear section, rearrange and move the steering mechanism, find a new way to get the drive from the motor to the fake engine etc. And it was only a proof of concept to see if the components can be shoveled in the box. To make it properly - e.g. whith an easily accessible battery box - I'll need to redesign the whole innen structure of the cabin's rear section including the steering.

After realizing my complete lack of truck/crane operator knowledge I created a new video where the trailer is connected to the truck when I'm lifting the container - this time the trailer was much more stable. I also did another weight lifting test with a moderate load - container and the battery boxes were 600g together - and the cranes were able to deal with it, although it was pretty hard to turn the knobs. I also created a quick proof of concept RC mod with a Servo motor, L motor for drive and a rechargeable battery box (works with AAA as well). Could be IR controlled but I used an Sbrick so I was able to hide it. L motor direct drive is apparently to quick for the truck so it seems to be unrealistic, might be better geared down or with an XL (better towing capabilities as well).

Part list for the Rally Car: 42077 part list 1 42077 part list 2

Part list for the Mack: 42078 part list 1 42078 part list 2

I think it's a joint design between Markus and Milan, on the license plate you have both MK and MR. A lot of building techniques in the truck reminds me of 42069 which is Milan's design.