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Impressive work. The outriggers are very nice indeed.

Thank you, although I was aware of 8043, I have never looked at it's construction, or functionality and that's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I've now built the gearbox of that, and it's certainly a useful mechanism. It's not quite the solution, but it's a good start. That's a fantastic piece of design (well it would be if Sariel designed it.) it doesn't suit my needs though having the four functions sequentially selected like that instead of in any order at will. Are you meaning just swapping out the sliding driving rings for pole reversers or Pneumatic switches? Please can you elaborate on this. Thanks. I have done as you say, the word multiplexer was not in my vocab before, now I've looked at the kind of things shown I agree with your second statement, most seem large and of limited use in MOCs. Wow, Jeroen, that's a magnificent effort.I feel your pain however with regards to functions that don't work as planned; The MOC I'm building that all this is for, has in many ways similarities with yours, it's not as complex, or as sizeable, however it's complexity and size has reached the limits it seems of the plastic pieces we use. Increase size, functionality and complexity and you increase weight, weight bends parts and overloads gear trains, it can be very frustrating. I'm very interested in some more details about the mechanisms in your Liebherr. A few questions if I may: In what way can you add 4 more functions per additional motor? I've studied your ghost image of the superstructure but can't decipher the switching side of things. I have read and reread the thread but perhaps I'm missing something. Thanks for all your input on this.

Hi, I'm looking at ways of improving certain aspects of my builds and wanted to ask the collective mind their thoughts on a few specific subjects, this being one of them; I'm a big fan of remote control, integrating PF units as much as possible into my builds. Initially it seems that for simplicity, each function run by it's own motor/s and using one channel on a remote seems to be the simplest way; One remote can control eight functions, so that's eight motors (at least). However constraints including space within the model, weight of the finished model and not to mention the cost of multiple motors and suddenly it seems to have it's drawbacks. Except eight channels isn't always enough, some models require more than eight, which means manually operating pole reversers, pneumatic switches of driving ring switches. Thoughts then move onto complex gearboxes, such as those used on 42043 (Mercedes Arocs), working four individual functions from just one motor is certainly being economic both with parts, weight space and money, however changing from one function to another clearly relies on the outside influence of a switch manually operated, and negating RC control. Or does it? Are there any examples of MOCs where builders have successfully managed to control ordinarily manual functions, such as sliding driving rings, or electric pole reversers, by coming up with some kind of operating mechanism, that in itself can be controlled remotely. This of course is of little benefit if an individual motor is used to change over each pair of functions, but if one motor, could be used to drive (for example) four functions, each in turn switched mechanically by remote control from the power of just one other motor, at least we'd have halved the number of motors. The more functions that could be run and switched by each pair of motors the better of course. Thanks in advance for any thoughts, images and such like anyone would like to share on the subject.

Such a shame the 32003/32004a/b wheels and tyres as fitted to the 5571 and 5563 are so rare and expensive as I feel sure they would be perfect for my purpose. I had hoped the 244772c03 might be an option for me, but it seems they're way too big.

Ah, now I understand, Too bulky and all terrain for my needs. Thanks.

Crawler wheels? Not sure what you mean?

That's absolutely perfect, many thanks Marek. Looks like you've just saved me some money. So the 244772c03 is larger even than the old 3739c01. Not what I expected. Back to the drawing board it seems. Thanks again,

Can someone help me please, I need a clear picture showing the size comparison of the following wheels: 3739c01 as used in 8860, 8865, 851 and many more. 4266c02 as used in 8868, 8848, 8862 and more. 244772c03 as used in 8110, 76023 and 42030 and 86652c01 as used in 8258, 42009, 42043 and many more, OR 32020c01 as used in 8285, 8421, 8264 and more I'm not interested in colours, I just want a couple of clear pictures showing all the wheels together so I can compare relative sizes. Thanks in advance.

I'd be surprised if there's much missing from the Bricklink catalogue, it's an amazing resource. The biggest problem is finding what you have, often things aren't where you'd expect them to be.

I've spent a few hours today on this, it's amazing how long it takes to effect changes within a structure where everything is so tight for room, and everything has been built around and intertwined with everything else. Anyway, I've managed to squeeze in a second 8881 battery box, so at least now I can spread the power loading a bit. after a bit of testing of various bits it seems like it might make a difference, but for now it's late so all the batteries are on charge. I'll have another play over the weekend. If I had the finances I'd pick up a pair of the PF rechargeable batteries, but it's cash I just can't drop right now, this model (and others) has way too much invested in it as it is. Can someone answer me a question; one function in particular really struggles, it's down to the sheer weight of the construction, and there's nothing I can do about that. I started with a M motor, it now has one of the newer L motors, IF I could squeeze in an XL would it make much difference to the torque available and assist this struggling section of the model? Apart from trying to improve that, it's really just a few details I need to work on. Hopefully with the changes I'm doing I'll be ready to take some pictures soon and post it up.

Thank you both for your thoughts. Sadly I'm not sure it will help much. The model is mobile, and it's singular in so far as it doesn't have a train, or load or whatever in which to hide additional batteries. Space is getting very tight within it, hence wondering about the other battery box 88000, I genuinely hadn't realised that that is for AAA not AA batteries, I hadn't really given it any thought, so that is clearly out of the question. I may end up rebuilding some of the model to see if I can hide another 8881. As far as using other non Lego power solutions, that's not me I'm afraid, too much of a purist. Only unmodifed Lego parts in my constructions. I will also look at the various mechanisms and see if I can improve in any way to minimise their power consumption. Thanks again for your time and ideas.

Wow! 201 views over just 24 hours. But no replies. Am I on the wrong forum?

I wondered if I might ask the collective for some advise; My current and most complex construction yet currently utilises 6x medium motors (M), 1x large (L) and 2x Extra large (XL), plus 3 pairs of the old style 1x4 electric light bricks. In addition if I get around to it there will also be a couple or three pairs of PF LED lights added along with an old style micro motor. Of course not all are in use at the same time, the light bricks are the only things that are on at all times. The two XL motors are the main drive motors and they are working together and working hard due to the sheer weight of the model, if they are being used then there is the likelihood of one other hard worked medium motor also being in use intermittently. The rest of the motors tend to work singularly or in pairs but only when the aforementioned drive motors are inactive. Currently partly due to a lack of other options and space constraints within the construction, everything is run from one 8881 battery box. As you can imagine I am caning batteries like there is no tomorrow. I've considered adding another battery box the same, physically fitting it in could be an issue, but will spreading the load over two batteries make that much difference, and if I do go that route is there any advantage other than packaging for using the 88000 battery box? I'd have to buy one or two as I don't own any, but are they any better than the 8881. Lastly is there anything I can actually do to reduce the power being used? Currently most things are remote controlled using the first generation RC receivers, 8884, Typically I have connected function to these in pairs that work together, and all are operated by one remote control 8885. I'm not sure if I can wire things differently, but if I could what could I hope to achieve, are there any ways of minimising consumption, I did contemplate two paired function from separate receivers on separate battery boxes, but this doesn't seem obviously workable. Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.

Wow! Simply stunning. There's a number of reasons I think why this MOC stands out as something really special. Obviously the scale and construction is top notch, also great details abound, but the main thing for me is who else would have thought of mixing Castle, train, Third Reich, River scene, Bavarian village and cablecars all in one scene. Add in the Indiana Jones touch of humour with the excavations, and the mad scientist elements and it's all just a bit crazy. In a good way. Bravo for pulling it off so successfully.

I feel that someone has just raised the bar considerably here with regard to building castles. Whilst many of us through a combination of resources,space and of course skill make some nice MOCs, they nearly all seem to be lacking something. Stature. Real castles are built with walls that are thick. Really thick. a 1 stud thick wall somehow doesn't really cut it, yet that's what most of us do as to make a wall 3 or 4 studs thick would entail vast quantities of resources that we just don't have, not to mention the overall increase in size of the model. Also real castles by there very nature of construction and location are rarely square. Curved walls, round towers, round staircases, walls angled toward each other, and all perched atop the roughest most jagged landscape of rock you can imagine. I know all these features have been done in Lego before, but I personally have never seen anything so convincing. Add to that the modular assembly, with whole floors that can be lifted off the previous to show inside details, staircases that twist convincingly up through square towers, and not a stud to be seen anywhere. Everywhere this fine construction is finished with tiles and cheese slopes, to further hide it's Lego origins. And then there's the detail, truly exquisite. Looking at this I feel it makes it look the rest of us are merely playing with a childs building bricks.

There's some great ideas in here, and some nice solutions to making those ideas work. Really nicely done. Good work.

Nice to see a witch without a pointy hat, a nice touch. Tell me what are the parts you've used under the cauldron? The speckled black/silver bits, I can't place them? Nice little Vig.

So sensible adult discussion is not allowed here then? Just what was so wrong with the thread I started yesterday that someone felt the need to lock it? I could understand of course had I been offensive, or sworn, but I started the thread not as a rant, but because I'm genuinely interested in what the attraction is to LOTR. It seems that whenever I look on here these days there are a huge number of threads relating to LOTR, something I just don't 'get'. I've even looked at a few of the proposed sets, the new figs and parts inventories, but aside from a few interesting fig parts and the new horses I've not noticed anything spectacular, have I missed anything? Doesn't anyone get excited about building castles and churches, great halls and medieval scenes anymore? Perhaps I'm on the wrong forum. Suggestions for alternatives welcome.

Does anyone else have absolutely no interest whatsoever in LOTR? I never 'got' the films, I watched one at the movies, and had to struggle to stay awake, never again. I can't think of a worse theme for TLG to decide upon. Am I alone?

Very very nice work.

I really like this, some nice ideas, good colours and overall I feel it works really really well.

Your comments especially mean a great deal to me, Thank you. Obviously it's clear to see where I have taken some of my inspiration from, I hope you don't mind the clear similarities in some aspects of my buildings.

Very unusual, and as others have said, very TLG. I love the furniture, and the use of the grey minifigs as supports. That's a really cool idea.

Thank you once again for all the kind comments. To those who seem surprised that this is my first castle, I thought I'd say a few words about myself. I'm no beginner with Lego of course, I came out of my dark ages about 4 years ago, I'm 40 years old this week) and found Bricklink 3 years ago. The rest as they say is history. I usually build Technic models, or other random stuff, I've honestly never built a castle before. I started to get interested in castles just a few months ago, when my 7 year old son showed an interest in the Kingdoms theme. I have spent countlesss hours trawling the net since for inspiration and ideas, this castle is the result of that research. I read quite a few Lego websites and forums, looking at other's MOCs, and I take note of details and techniques which I can integrate into my MOCs. Once I'm building unless I'm totally happy with something I build I tear it down and start again, or at least I tear down the last part and rebuild that bit. This is partly why it takes me so long to build things, certain elements of the castle were built and rebuilt a few times until I was happy. Only when I'm completely happy with the whole build have I taken some pictures and released it to the world. My MOC page (http://mocpages.com/home.php/53518) show's a few other things I have built in the last few years, of course there have been more things but I don't post up much. Now I've built this castle I shall leave it in one piece for a while for my children and their friends to play with, later in the year I will dismantle it and start afresh, I intend to build more castles, hence why I was happy to invest in so many castle type pieces, my big problem is exactly what that castle will be like..... Cheers Andy.

Wow, Thank You so much for all your kind comments. Regarding the copying of others techniques; There's some great builds out there on the net, it would be virtually impossible not to copy someones ideas in some way, so if I see something I like I'm not afraid to use it. Also finance concerns are an issue to me, there are very very few high cost parts here, a few minifig torsos, the tall corner roof tiles, those are probably the most expensive pieces in the whole model. Once committed to building something of this size of course any financial concerns seem to be a mute point, but it is still a consideration. Also as a person with a full time job, family and other interests as well I find that I work much slower than many, so don't expect anything new anytime soon. I don't plan on tearing this apart anytime soon. When I do at least I should have a good selection of parts to start with.