Captain_Quinn

Yes, still going strong... and with a renewed interest recently highlighting that I should pay more attention to these forums. I've not been on in a long while. To give everyone a picture of the success of this project, here's a quick summary of the almost 6 years it's been going: Copies distributed/donors: 219 Charities benefiting: 112 Total raised (as of time/date this post): USD $7532 Average donation: ~ USD $34 It would be an understatement if I said that seeing the level of generosity, and the works of these charities being supported, is both inspiring and humbling. So... go forth... build more. Build that better world. :)

Apologies for the delayed reply. I haven't been checking Eurobricks regularly so far this year... As @GeoBrick pointed out, there's a Rebrickable page... head on over if you haven't already. Re: part count. Neither over nor under- engineered. You could change up some of the surface panel parts, but the panels connect with the internal frame to provide tension stability. A significant number of the parts are small parts, like connector pins (nearly a thousand in those alone). I've tried to compromise between cost and part count to provide the most efficient and effective build, making sure that structural stability is maintained. Yes, for the most part, internal blocks are listed in the instructions as a generic 'any' color, so that cheaper options can be used without drama.

Apologies for my absence from the forums, but yes, the offer is still available.

I've contacted the two stores that have included the kits and asked that they either remove it, or include a link to purchase the instructions from rebrickable and refrain from sending out the instructions. One has agreed, the other hasn't responded. Time will tell.

Sadly, this will likely be my final Rebrickable based release after finding out that one of the buyers has gone on to sell copies with clone-brick kits on that hive of scum-and-villainy that is a particular Chinese site known for give zero sh*ts about such theft. I can't stop them selling "kits" based on clone bricks, but I'm damned pissed about the inclusion of "PDF Instructions" via email. If I go down the path of releasing instructions again, I think I'll use a different mechanism with added security. Less than 4 months of sales after nearly 4 years of work... just ain't worth the hassle and grief. I never expected this to make money, but I sure as hell didn't expect it to be treated worse than 2-ply toilet paper.

Details and links over in this thread:

Happy to finally say these words.... the Starfury is ready and launching! After what feels like a longer gap between Babylon 5 official releases, I've finally gotten the instructions to a place where I'm happy to give the "go" order and drop this sucker out the Cobra Bay doors. Available for USD$35 on Rebrickable. So, what are you getting for your currency of choice? 436 pages of full color, high resolution instructions, backed with artwork, in-universe history, Behind the Scenes, in a bookmarked, link navigable PDF. Parts lists have been created as XML for upload to Lego marketplace of choice (Bricklink, Brickowl, etc.), CSV and PDF, with both full build and lists for each sub-section to help with organising pieces. This initial release is for the base model, with stickers for either Ivanova's "Gryphon" variant, or one of the "Battle of the Line" participants. "Initial release???"... yes, there are variants in the pipeline. And finally, the design has been developed with room for lighting of the engines, thrusters and cockpit.

Pending approval from the folks at Rebrickable... So, here's the final tally... 436 pages (inc front and back covers), 250mb full color PDF with bookmarks and navigable links. 7910 pcs (according to Studio) or 7829 pcs (according to Rebrickable)... yes, there are some parts that combine and that is why the disparity. Parts Lists in PDF, Excel/CSV and XML formats, in both complete build and sectional sub-lists. Sticker set exclusively from Ultimate Collector Stickers, with a pre-release version of the Display Plaque sticker available on my Flick gallery for anyone wanting to print their own. Once approval received, I'll post the links, etc in a new post... expecting around 48hrs, so just in time for the weekend :)

ok, I guess with it being nearly two years since I previewed this MOC, and with you guys showing so much patience as I go through the process of making this worth the wait, an update is in order. Assembly instructions... build sequencing, step rendering, optimisation and combining for multiple steps per page... from 1600+ pgs down to just over 400. Combined with overlays, pointers, guidelines, highlights, etc, and assembly notes to help understand the build process, this is approx 90% complete. Parts lists... this is proving to be a bug up my a$$. At this stage, I'm seriously contemplating leaving the parts lists out of the main instructions and having them solely as additional XML, Text and Excel spreadsheet files. Graphical parts lists are nice and all,and previous feedback suggested a "List per section" approach, but I've not been able to find something that works and won't take up excruciatingly long hours to do properly. I have an idea that may be a good compromise between integrated sectional graphical parts lists and something external, but much more practical. Stickers... graphics are mostly done. Contemplating a few small detailing stickers like maintenance labels, etc, but finding source materials to confirm these is proving challenging. The primary stickers will be the UCS Plaque, and the Dorsal Hull Art for a few select versions, and maybe some EA logos or Serial Numbers for the wings if I can get the sizing right. The first of these are ready to go to the printers. Wiring instructions... this is another serious challenge, and my hat goes off to the likes of Mirko Soppelsa and his StarBricks instructions for how well he puts that element together. The simplicity of the wiring harness is one saving grace. It's just a matter of how to illustrate it's installation. So, finish line is approaching. Any major revisions/ideas are being shelved for the next release (Yes, there is a variant release to follow that will incorporate updates).

Just found this as a solution to a very frustrating problem with exports to PNG hitting a max resolution/size. Even though I was able to see the whole build in LPub3D, any export would automatically crop and shrink down to A3 size instead of A2 or A1. Very handy, thanks heaps :D

oh, I totally get that the developers time is his to do with as he sees fit... and I'm grateful for the work he puts into this project, as the results have been great. Yes, there's issues with the software, but it's still better than similar offerings such as Studio's Instruction Creator. Just hoping that Trevor's ok, and yeah... that development/support on LPub3D continues.

Does anyone here know what is happening with development/maintenance of LPub3D? Last activity from the dev, Trevor Sandy, on Github was August last year, with last response to bugs/comments/etc some weeks prior.

Thanks @Dracoargenteus. Work is busy (short staffed, heavy case load, welcome to life in Allied Health)... so finding energy to have attentive and productive output is the first hurdle. I've been developing some artwork using Blender, and getting some very positive results, putting the final finishing touches together. So now might be the right time to share the following.

The lighting kit is an off-the-shelf collection of items from LightMyBricks. Link I wanted it as readily available and easy to install as possible, so any custom wiring and electronics were ruled out straight away. What I used is: Universal Power Adaptor 5V 4amp USB Wall Adaptor : link USB Extension Cable 3 meter : link USB Power Cable : link 12-Port Expansion Board : link Cockpit Module: Bit Lights (Red) 30cm (4 pack) : link Engines & Thrusters: Connecting Cables - 50cm (4 pack) : link 2-Port Expansion Board (4-pack : link Connecting Cables - 15cm (4 pack) : link 2 x 6-Port Expansion Board (2 pack) (for 4x 6-port boards in total) : link 4 x Bit Lights (Blue) 30cm (4 pack) (16 in total) : link ... and that is pretty much the order of assembly. Now, the wingspan is just under 1 meter, and I selected connecting cables that when combined with the 2port expansion boards reach 65cm. This was because the 50cm connecting cables only just reached from the core of the centre section (there's a space designed to mount the 12port board and a battery pack in lieu of using the wall adaptor), meaning that the 6port board that connects the 4 lights of the engines & thrusters would be in the wing space and not inside the nacelles. Unfortunately 30cm lengths for the cabling on the lights was all that was available, meaning I had to braid and route the cables for the front sections and loop/zip-tie them with the cable for the main engine. Thankfully, I designed the engines with sufficient room inside mainly to keep their weight to a minimum. Were I to design a lighting kit from scratch, the two major changes to this would be: 1. Single 65cm long connecting cables. This would remove the need for the 4x 2-port boards, and neaten up the cable routing in the wings (the wiring fits inside each technic brick, and is kept in place by the wing plating being installed. 2. Shorter cables on the bit-lights (about 15cm) The red lights for the cockpit are long enough to allow removal of the cockpit module, rest it on the table in front of the build, and detach the connections from the 12port board without putting any strain on the wiring. These lights are also small enough to fit inside a 1x1 Round Brick, with the wire just thin enough to allow for that brick to be attached and stay in place with clutch power. Having said that, where I could I've designed the assembly to allow for the wiring to feed through unhindered. One of the updates with the new parts was to address a weakness in connecting the forward facing engines when the wiring was installed. Originally, when the wiring was in place it would not have quite enough clutch power to withstand even a slight bump and (to my eyes at least) would align quite the way I would prefer. The update is a much more stable and secure connection that remains properly aligned. Speaking of the additional parts, I'm just in the process of resequencing the assembly steps and doing a final error check, but I'll publish a brief text file of what new parts have been included, and what existing part quantities have changed. All up it's a qty change of between 1 and 8 pcs across 29 different parts, for a total increase in piece count of 58 pcs.

Well, the technic figure is an "all-or-nothing" piece... I've got partial figures from finding broken ones in bulk lots, but i've never been able to successfully repair or reassemble one from those parts. I've been trying to design a pilot from readily available pieces, but so far no luck.