Cumulonimbus

Interesting question. To me, it is impossible to objectively define the limits of a scaling compromise. I always aim for a realistic impression of my creations, and this is by definition a very subjective notion. Proportions of a model are obviously very important as they are imperative for a realistic look of that model. In my experience, if something seems a bit off with a model, but you can’t put your finger on why, in 90% of the cases, you will find that the proportions are incorrect. Official Technic sets often suffer from incorrect proportions as well, I assume because TLG has a lower priority for proportions than I have and more requirements in the design process. This is one of my main motivations for MODs. It has been said that the legendary 8258, although very realistic, is actually too narrow for it height (I never checked) and one of the best MODs for the 8110 to improve its realism I have seen and executed, was to increase the body width with 2 studs. I try to be as accurate as possible about the scale, but obviously by rounding the dimensions of the real machine to (in most cases) one stud will limit the options. A method I often use, is making a crude mock-up of the machine I want to build, designed around the most critical part and/or mechanism (a wheel or LA for example). I evaluate its proportions by photo-shopping a picture of this mock-up on top of an image of the real thing in the same position and comparing both. This trick makes the differences and areas of attention very obvious. It allows me to move, edit and scale the images until I have a layout that gives a compromise that I’m happy about. To conclude: the level of compromise a builder is willing to make is very subjective and depends on many variables, not in the least part on the priority that builder gives to aesthetic realism.

Sounds like an idea for a Eurobricks Technic competition once it is available in the shops.

Fantastic. I loved that movie and have tried to design a Johnny 5 with NXT once. Although it is slow, I really like the life-like movements it can make and the battery-pack made me chuckle. Is it your creation?

A new Technic bike doesn't have to be shaft driven per se, my point was that there are many interesting mechanisms and layouts out there which I would love to see in a Technic bike at some point. Why does it has to be a sports bike in the first place? There are so many types of bikes in the real world and so far we have only seen dirtbikes and sportbikes as official A-models (and a Trike in '80-s). True, but there are clever solutions for most of these issues. The paralever system (as BMW calls it), cancels out most of the undesired reaction forces and making it a single sided swing arm (again as BMW does), reduces the weight a bit. No, to me it looks messy with the red splashed everywhere. Since we are discussing the colors, what about the dark grey rims? By combining the existing gold rims with regular blue panles, something much more appealing could have been created like this: >End of rant mode< Oh I see. Sure, I'm not a moderator, but I think you can if you want to.

Not sure what you mean, you are free to build you own bike with my suggestions, but I'm not "ordering" a MOD/MOC. In fact I'm working on a on a BMW HP2 on this scale with many of the mentioned features. Unfortunately, the progress is very slow due to my desire for the (in my eyes) perfect balance between functions, proportions and rigidity.

I get the feeling that the choice for light blue parts really has limited the building possibilities of the designers. The time and budget for new parts and existing parts in new colours might have gone up to the other models in this wave.

Maybe they mixed up the preliminary model and the released version . (crossed fingers)

I was thinking the same thing, I assumed this was done to prevent copying by competitors, but this is a much more logical explanation. For us though, it is very interesting to puzzle the design process back together.

Since there are images available without watermark, I think it is time to give the 42036 its own topic as well. I copied my post from the general 2015 Technic topic and pasted it here as a topic starter: As a motorbike rider and fan of most Technic bikes, I must say that I'm disappointed in the 42036. - It presents no new technical challenges like an interesting way of propulsion (through a drive shaft for example), exciting swing-arm configuration, new engine layout (would love a boxer) nor gearbox. - The aesthetics are not very satisfying as well: The body shape is not very pleasing and looks unfinished, the windscreen is too bulky, the stickers for the saddle look poor and the rear tire is too skinny for this type of bike. It almost looks like a B-model. - I really miss attention to details which would be possible in this scale: No license plate at the rear, no fuel filler cap, no realistic dials, no brake and clutch handles, no radiator, it doesn't even have foot pegs. - I appreciate the light blue panels, but as a whole the color scheme doesn't work for me. I would have loved a Martini color scheme with orange, white and light blue, but I guess this is copy-righted. This could and should have been done much better, I'll MOD it for sure, but with all the modifications, it will probable be more like a MOC. I'm curious in the B-model of this set, could be better than the A-model in this case.

As a motorbike rider and fan of most Technic bikes, I must say that I'm disappointed in the 42036. - It presents no new technical challenges like an interesting way of propulsion (through a drive shaft for example), exciting swing-arm configuration, new engine layout (would love a boxer) nor gearbox. - The aesthetics are not very satisfying as well: The body shape is not very pleasing and looks unfinished, the windscreen is too bulky, the stickers for the saddle look poor and the rear tire is too skinny for this type of bike. It almost looks like a B-model. - I really miss attention to details which would be possible in this scale: No license plate at the rear, no fuel filler cap, no realistic dials, no brake and clutch handles, no radiator, it doesn't even have foot pegs. - I appreciate the light blue panels, but as a whole the color scheme doesn't work for me. I would have loved a Martini color scheme with orange, white and light blue, but I guess this is copy-righted. This could and should have been done much better, I'll MOD it for sure, but with all the modifications, It will probable be more like a MOC. Edit: I'm curious in the B-model of this set, could be better than the A-model in this case.

If I recall correctly, the preliminary image of the 42039 had new 3x7 panels in the nose. Could it be that for whatever reason those new panels were canceled and they had to redesign the nose as a result? Alternatively, there might have been some problems with the prototype being too resemblant to an existing machine (Audi R18 e-tron I read somewhere), without the proper license with the OEM. Anyway, nothing a little MOD-ing can't solve. I'm a bit more concerned with the proportions of the 42039 in the sideview. The wheels look to small and too far apart somehow. I think it's the relatively big clearances needed for the suspension and the steering. In the real machines the wheels fill the wheelwells very tightly.

That is a fantastic MOC! My father had one for years and I recognise all the details instantly, you got the interior spot on. Maybe one point of improvement: the exterior shape is a bit too square an boxy. The real LR3 has some slightly angled surfaces on the "glass house" (the upper part with all the windows) and the nose. I'm sure this should be possible at this scale. Nice work!

Looks like the 42024 B-model. I noticed, I wonder what those rims are, just Photoshopped or an existing piece?

Nice explanation, this is the best description in layman's terms of moments of inertia of a beam I ever read.

Ah off course, couldn't see the colour or the front, the two tell tail signs of that model.

Did you see the 2015 Dumptruck in the foreground @ 0:20 and @ 5:03 Edit: Can anybody identify the car in the background next to the 42008 @ 0:43?

Oh, your right. I focussed too much on the first picture.

Is your boom really bending? In your pictures, it looks like the main issue is the play between the two boom sections. This might be solved similarly to the 42009 outrigger mechanism.

I don't get how a reverse engineered set could diminish the appreciation of the original. I see them as a demonstration of the skills of the builder, especially the way he or she interprets those first preliminary images. The fact that they can derive the proportions and (most of) the functions from those blurry, one-dimensional photos deserves respect one way or another. Additionally, it is a way to get a feeling of what the upcoming sets will look and feel like. I largely decided on my wish list and the MOD’s I would like to make, based on these first glimpses and the images of the replicas help in that process. The fact that the official sets will be different in parts, structure, functions and/or colour still guarantees the excitement of actually owning and building the new set once it arrives. In other words, keep up the good work you reverse-engineers!

Yes, it's a nice little set, but the back is a bit unfinished. As it is now, it needs some MOD-ding, but who knows how the model can evolve between now and 2015.

I agree. I loved the body, colours and details, but I wasn't very fond on the 9398 chassis with its proportions and PF. As a result, I have build my own chassis and rebuild the 41999 from the ground up. The dimensions of the body have remained the same, but its stance is much more like the real car. Now it has a fake V8 powered by the rear wheels, openable hood/bonnet, HOG steering with (eventually) moving steering wheel, more complete interior (still needs some details) and live rear axle. This is more or less how mine looks at the moment:

I always thought it was a Dodge Challenger, not sure about the year though.

These first images of the new sets make me very happy: Interesting and recognizable models, exciting color combinations, hints of new parts, no unnecessary PF, etc. Can't wait to see more details like the functions of the LeMans car and the engine of the motorbike.

Yes please, I would be sold in the blink of an eye. Really love the 8288 and exactly what you described is on my MOC to-do list. Add an interesting color scheme and you got a winner.

Plastics (or thermoplastic polymers) are subject to a phenomenon called "creep". When a force is applied on a plastic for a long time, it will tend to deform under that load. Old pneumatic hoses for example, are still expanded at the ends after being disassembled. The amount of creep depends on the stress (the amount of force), the temperature and the type of plastic.