Cumulonimbus

I seems to be a good and playable truck. There never has been an official concrete truck so something new is always welcome. At first I disliked the two-piece drum, but in order to make the drum functional, I think there were little other options. I hope that it’s true that the drum can either be driven by hand (as shown in the images) when the truck is stationary or can be connected to an axle to be driven while driving. Some minor points of improvements: the sides of water tank look unfinished and I don’t like the detailing of its “face”. I would like to have seen some engine details behind the cab, but I can understand they didn’t to keep the price down. Not a fan of the two tone blue color scheme though, a combination of blue cabin with a white drum would be more reminiscent of the trucks I see driving around.

I understand why you say that. I don't expect Technic models to be perfect because I know the limitations of the medium. But I don't agree with the priorities TLG has chosen in these UCS models. But all is fine, it just means I won't be buying this set and you will. Worryingly, these priorities seem to trickle down the rest of the Technic lineup. Based on the leaked image of the Volvo A60H set, cramming C+ components in is deemed more important than getting the vehicle proportions correct. In this case I really am consider buying a die-cast model or the Brüder version of the Volvo (coincidentally, this would save me a considerably amount of money).

This turned out to be a great competition: Lots of great, varied entries and it seemed to attract quite a few new members as well. I agree that new contestants should be allowed to vote as well but doesn't this open the door for misuse? Voting could be rigged by a contestant by letting his friends create new account, stacks three bricks together, call it an entry and then award 10 points to the entry of their friend? But I'm sure our captain Jim has a solution for this. These crazy times have meant that my job took over my life the past weeks. We are designing and building products to assist people starting up their normal lives again. All this in record time due to the high urgency. As a result, I couldn't find the time or energy to finish my entry and I missed the first voting round. A shame but better luck next time I guess. Anyway, good luck to the remaining contestants and I will try to add some of the excellent entries to my collection.

I don’t know ... I’m just not that excited by this one for multiple reasons. First, and this is just personal preference, modern Lamborghinis just don’t speak to me, especially the exclusive specials like the Sian. I like my models to be more down to earth vehicles I can see in the real world. The chances of seeing a Sian in the flesh is simply zero. Moreover the Sian is not a handsome car in my opinion. All the black areas and interrupted panel lines create a lack of coherence between all its sides. Those holes for headlights are macabre, like a skull and the rear lights are bulging out as if something is pushing down on the rear of the car. And what’s with the bob-sleigh handles at the rear? Apart from choosing another car, TLG can’t be blamed for these issues. However, the side by side comparison between the real car and the set (on page 40 of this topic) seems to suggest that the Lego version is not a very good rendition of the Sian: The angle of the windshield is too flat, the point of the nose sits too high and the side intakes are not shaped correctly. This is unfortunate for a set that wants to be a scale model which will mostly be a display model. Maybe better quality images will change this perception. I’m not too sure about the color choice either. I'm sure it will sit nicely besides the Porsche and the Bugatti. But again we have new parts in a rare color, making MODs and MOCs more difficult than it should. But this is not the first and definitely not the last time we have seen this from TLG. Yet a part of me thinks that if TLG no longer cares if their sets are more difficult to adapt and money seems to be no object, why not go all in and create special color parts for these UCS sets? A metallic green is a missed chance in that case. Lastly, at the moment I just don’t see how this set will be worth that insane amount of money. Sure you will get a big pile of parts in a fancy box. But the size to function ratio is too small to justify another big car in my collection. I really hope that there will be enough innovation in this set, but apart from the functions we have seen in the Bugatti, I don’t expect many surprises. TL;DR: I think there is a fundamental identity problem with these UCS cars: what are they’re for? If they are scale models for display, I would expect more modelling accuracy in proportions, colour and details (like the Creator sets do). If they are play sets, they should have more and more visible functions and a definitely a lower price tag (like most Technic sets). End of party pooper mode.

This MK model is quite the surprise. Either MK somehow has access to enough inside information about the upcoming Technic set to beat it to the market or MK has developed/hired the skill to come up with an equivalent set for half the price. Either way, I think TLG should be worried. Are we sure there wasn’t a MOC in the community that MK could be based on? About the model itself ... the details and gaps don’t feel as properly designed as the Bugatti was. Developing three new panels and at least one new other piece seems steep for just one set if it was a Lego set. All the PF-like elements are highly unlikely in a UCS car as has been said above. This MK kit appears to have some form of lighting in the headlights, if the Lego version has this, it might be the next level up for these UCS cars. The metallic green for all necessary parts is wishful thinking, but one can hope. Bottom line, I think it might be based on the unseen Technic set, but I don’t expect this to be straight up copy.

Yes, this is good looking set, a worthy successor to the 8420 in my opinion. As others have said before, the new parts and the gearbox are very nice to have. I can forgive the unrealistically huge range of movement of the gear selector and the fact that the chain runs outside the swingarm. The limitations of Technic would not allow for many other stable solutions. However, there are two features that I'm not too sure about: First is the resemblance to the real Ducatti: The side by side image (bigger version at Brickset) shows that the nose is a bit too high, the headlights lack the characteristic shape and the paneling should start closer to the front wheel for that typical stance. I think that even within the Technic limitations this could be improved and I guess some MODs will. The second is the lack of multiple attachment points on the grey side of the new dampers. I would like to have seen at least one extra hole in the longitudinal direction to mount a break caliper, fenders or even to use the damper in the right side up orientation as is the case in many older motorcycles (The Ducatti an many modern motorcycles have a so-called upside down fork). This would also increase the possibilities for other applications like door locks, car suspension components, etc. Anyway, I think I will get this set, possibly even a second for the parts to complete other motorcylce MOCs.

Your images in this post don't work for me in Firefox. But seeing the finished result on your website is impressive. It has a Creator 10248 vibe, which is not a bad thing. I would like to build this model as well, so a LDD file of instructions would be very welcome if you find the time. Maybe one point of critique: in the side view, the tilted fender part makes it look like the noose is drooping, but I understand why you did this. Anyway, good work, you are high on my voting shortlist.

Nice work, this rear view is very Porsche to me. I really like your solution for the boxer engine as well. s very striking

Your photos in this topic don't work for me in Firefox, but looking on Instagram, I really like you creation. You captured the lines of the real car well. I am curious if other body colours would make it pop out a bit more. Nice work!

I think your not far off, reducing the width of the cabin by a stud on both sides will make a big difference (if your chassis allows it). Moving the cab a couple of studs forward, extending the rear overhang a bit and making the windscreen more upright are some of the other changes I would consider. But it is your party and remember that it doesn't have to be an exact replica of an existing car. You can take as much design freedom as you need or want. Look forward to the end result of this build.

I agree with your statement, but I have wondered why that is. Why won't TLG make their generic models as lifelike as the licensed models? Is the developing time and/or budget bigger for licensed sets? Is TLG just not as critical for the end result as an OEM is? Or is TLG afraid of infringing on copyright or other rights when making a generic model too similar as an existing example? I don't know the answers to any of these questions. As a fan of sets with realistic proportions and functions, this trend feels like as a double edge sword. I like the increased realism in licensed sets. On the other hand, I get the impression that generic sets suffer from a lack of attention/time and I feel we lost something by phasing out B-models. And those prices ... the time were I could buy all sets in a wave are long gone.

I liked the first images of the front, but the sideview doesn't really match it in my opinion. I thought you were building something like this: In that case the hood is not sloped down and your windscreen should be more upright. I don't know if you have enough height left to fit in the space limits. Anyway, keep up the good work, good luck.

Some of them do have roofs that can be manually folded away as seen in the image below and on most wartime jeeps:

Hmm... not too sure about this one. The party trick of this little Jeep was going to be a convertible roof. However, My efforts to make it compact enough for this scale while working as intended are not giving the results I hoped for. I might need to go back to the drawing board and pick another vehicle ...

I can't remember, but has there ever been a Technic motorcycle contest? If not, would there be enough interest in such a thing? I have seen many interesting creations in MOCs and non-Lego brands, so I would expect enough diversity to justify a motorcycle (and sidecar) contest in the near future.

As said, at the moment its just a quick model to see if the scale and proportions would work in this scale. I'm working on a pendular front axle (with steering) and would like to have a fake engine up front. I have not yet looked at which colour I would want and if the necessary pieces exist in that colour. Red does look good though: It's just a work in progress, I might even toss this model and try something else instead. Time will tell ...

Amidst the storm of small scale suspensions, gearboxes and Porsches, my TC18 car ideas were becoming obsolete fast. A change of strategy was needed so I'm looking for something a bit different. At the moment it is still a very quick and dirty mock-up, but I like were it is heading. No promises about features yet, but I'll put some interesting functions in somehow.

I agree. The Technic line really needs more variation in thinner tires, especially with the increasing amount of licensed vehicles. The 42110 for example just looks so weird on those fat tires compared to images of the real Defender. Similarly, I have always wondered why TLG has a fascination for balloon tires. They have launched so many vehicles over the years that sat on balloon tires while the real thing doesn’t: 8053, 8081, 8295, 42029, 42068 to name a few. My theory is that the current tires dimensions are a consequence of that balloon fascination: TLG had wide rims for balloon tires and designed more normal patterned tires to fit the existing rims; hence they needed to be equally wide. I was delighted when the 42024 truck included the 49.53X20 tire for the first time and the 10258 London bus launched the 43X14 tire because these where the first more or less realistically proportioned Technic tire-rim combinations since the Arcos wheels. I hope and wish that it is only a matter of time: the more TLG is investing in the seemingly profitable world of licensed vehicle Creator and Technic sets, the more they will need to come up with more realistic wheels and tires. You can see something similar has happened with the Speed Champions where tires with a more real looking thread pattern and new rim inserts were needed to achieve the necessary aesthetic. And don’t forget that it was also licensed sets like the 10265, 42056, 42083 and 42110 which have finally given us rims with realistic offsets. Fun fact did you know that TLG is the biggest tire manufacturing company in the world (when you look at numbers produced)?

That is a quite good looking car, not that convinced by the way the waste line behind the doors has been modeled though. Bonus points for including front and rear suspension, a V8 engine, opening doors, hood and trunk, all in this relative compact scale. For me personally it is too similar to the modified 41999 I once made to purchase this one. Edit: looking at the images @Valkyx shared, I think the wheely function might be spring operated: I think I see another yellow spring in the top view. If so, I'm not sure how it could be activated.

I understand what you're trying to do, my suggestion could have been a bit more clear. What I was trying to say was to come up with another way to create the lower wishbone so that it gives you the degree of freedom in the desired direction (up-down) but rigidity in the other directions. As said, this will probably be more bulky than your current setup, hence the suggestion to hide it in another part of the car. But it's your party, I'm still trying to find ideas for my entry.

@Jim Thank you for setting this competition up. I will give this one a shot.

Its not a bug it's a feature: you simply modeled the DAS system. Seriously though, I like your model so far. What's is the problem exactly? Is there too much play in those hub or is the the flexibility of the suspension arms that plays up? In that last case you could replace the lower arm with something more rigid and hide in an undertray. Might not be as elegant, but it could save this model? Good luck.

Generally speaking, my ideal contest is one with a low threshold and enough restrictions to jump start creativity. To me, one of the best EB contests to date is the MINI contest back in 2014 where the 200 part limit generated high quality and high quantity entries from experienced and novice builders alike. I still have four entries of that contest in my personal collection. That’s why I think a corvette scale car contest could achieve the same effect: compact enough not to deter less experienced builders by super cars standards with features that will take them many months to develop and tweak. Challenging enough for experienced builders to push the limits of the scale and maybe even show TLG what can be done. I expect that the theme is also open enough to generate a diverse range of vehicles in shape, looks and realism. One remark though: if a certain scale is the requirement, are we sure that correctly scaling a model is understood by all builders? The GBC contest seems very niche. Personally, I admire the mechanisms of many GBC modules, but I’m less attracted to them as I am towards recognizable machines modeled on real life.

Non-vehicle sounds cool, maybe it would help to make it more "useful" or recognisable? For example to recreate a powered tool: A powered drill with several gears, circular saw with angle an depth adjustment, a hand mixer with interchangeable an counter rotating beaters, ... anything with an interesting internal mechanism. This can give insight in how these machine actually work.

Like @Jundis mentioned, I would like to see (and possibly participate in) a small car contest. The brief would basically be to build a car fitting the 42093/42098 scale. Can be a sportcar, compact, SUV, pickup, van, sedan, etc. Not sure if the requirement is that the cars should physically fit on the truck or be just based on a certain wheel size. Maybe the use of small arch panel part should be compulsory. This would boil down to a scaling challenge. An other idea is a 42098/Mack scale truck contest. Creativity points for a cargo that has not been done before or which form a playset, think this: