astyanax

And we know that TLG has been needing that piece too! For example, in the virtual pivot steering system of the big Batmobile (set 76139), they used 4x the 120-degree 3-axle connector when they really only needed 1 axle...

While you're all busy celebrating those new parts, I'm still impatiently awaiting the arrival of but with axle hole........ (Equivalently, with one axle.)

It's just a screenshot from LDCad. Better than a pretty render -- or a photo -- for communication purposes, because here lighting is uniform and parts are clearly outlined.

Speaking of those side skirts... Now we have to smoothen things... Connection points aren't obvious and a black 3x11 panel must be sacrificed... But it can be made to fit I think. You'd need 5 on each side.

Oooh that's a great thread, thanks for the pointer @Lira_Bricks! Though I just realized that the steering solution in the Mustang (set 10265) has towballs at the same 3M distance as the old piece, but without using that piece.

On the topic of steering solutions in smaller models, is there a good alternative to this part that's very rare and expensive?

Indeed. is available but not ...

I dunno. According to my files they've been available through B&P all along. In fact, I bought 4 of each through B&P in 2019 (1.5 years ago), even though the last Technic set using them was from 2012.

Yeah baby! The difficulty level was set by @jb70, on whose model and instructions I built. It would be awesome if you can post 1 or more of those photos to the Rebrickable page! Indeed. If you open @Odinkuijpers's pictures above, there's a potential solution to the issue of flow from side skirt to #13/14 panel. My main issue with the doors is that there's a big whole in them, at the bottom/front! Here they should actually extend all the way to the black #21/22 panel right behind the front wheel. The black #21/22 panel should lift with the door, as pointed out in Sariel's video review. But I really ran out of steam... I've been staring at photos of the real Sian for so long; and you know what the funny thing is... the real car just remains an ugly beast itself. I don't think any amount of modding can fix that!

@amorti Here's an idea: I've just made a mockup with Lego parts and it's nice and secure. Parts used: , , , , , .

Last year I bought a couple of new air tanks from Lego Bricks & Pieces, where they cost 'only' $3 a piece. And only in white. They don't seem to be available at the moment, but might be worth checking every now and then...

@amorti There's a ridge inside Lego's frictionless 3L pin, which prevents bars from being inserted deeper than 1L, from either side. Same for Lego's frictionless 2L pins. If you don't mind introducing more friction in the suspension, what you might try is to use two 2L black pins with a 4L bar through them, effectively making a 4L pin. (But will the 4L bar be able to take the stress? I'd think yes...) Just a wild thought...

Lego parts also suffer from this to some extent. Since liftarms are very slightly less than 1M thick, if you stack enough of them, the tolerances add up and become visible.

Thanks @amorti, I checked in LDraw and you are 100% correct about the axle length. Especially using part 15535 is a nice finishing touch.

I'm seeing many many more mods too, impressive! Your new exhausts made me smile... I tried many ideas, one of them exactly like yours.

I've updated the inventory, building instructions, and virtual model on the quoted Rebrickable page. No more are used.

Now I see there's actually a bug in the instructions on the passenger side for this subassembly. I'll fix & update the instructions later today, using the alternative without part 32184 in lime. Thanks for pointing out its rarity. Just realized that the new 2x3 panel fairing is now available in LDraw. I think it looks great, even better than the brick-built solution now on Rebrickable. Shown below, the fins are 1M less tall but 1M longer (needed to accommodate the new panel). C'mon B&P, time to ship my order!!

@LvdH There are 2 options: Just skip this mod. I thought it would be slightly more accurate to move the small #21/22 panel toward the rear by 1M. Then on top of it I placed a bionicle tooth, which also hides the clip holding the flex axle (I dislike those clips). Part 32184 is used to keep the tooth in place. If you don't feel strongly about this little mod, just skip it. Replace part 32184 by the construction below. The blue axle-pin will then hold the lime, rotated, 2x4 L-shaped liftarm.

Fair enough. Yes I ordered the 2x3 panels in black last week already, but they're still "in warehouse", predictably. I expect they will look a bit better on the black rear fins than the published brick-built solution. If so, I might update the Rebrickable page. While I was in B&P anyway, I also ordered more of the 2L beams of type OO in lime. Although I like the brick-built hood extension, I'd prefer Technic solutions. I still wanna see how those 2L- beams-over-flex-axles look when applied to both sides.

Excellent question. I was already planning to expand the MOC description on the Rebrickable page to highlight which steps in the building instructions to look at for which of the mods in the bullet list there -- to make it easier for people to pick and choose which mod(s) they want to apply. But I didn't have the time to write so much all at once. I'm gonna try to do it over the weekend. @LvdH Taking apart is not necessary though. Although in the virtual model and building instructions the mods are applied to the pimped version, in reality I applied them to my 'factory-state' 42115. And I never pulled apart any significant sections.

Virtual model and building instructions now available at https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-62340/astyanax/42115-cosmetic-changes-for-lamborghini-sian/ With big thanks to @jb70 whose virtual model I built upon!

Perhaps you can encircle on a photo which part you mean? I think a big problem is that the edges of the model are too thick at the rear. In the real car, the outermost taillights are very near the edge. On the Lego model, there are another 3 studs to the side of the taillights. Also, the moveable spoiler is a nice gimmick, but it's disproportionately thick. I don't see obvious fixes though, Lego has its limitations and constraints... for reference.

I filmed the model from my turntable: The video also shows my best shot at making the rear 'fins' angled inward -- they're also about 0.5M less tall. Again I went with a System solution, which may not be to everyone's taste. In fact, I plan to revert the fins as well as the widened hood, as soon as my B&P order for 2x (for the top of the fins) and 24x (to thread across the sides of the hood) arrives.

Sometimes I write a script that accesses the Rebrickable API to answer such questions, then I can visualize the results in any way I want. Regarding AliExpress, I'd be surprised if anything on that platform is genuine. Made in China is what you'll get. I'm not saying it's all bad quality, but Your Mileage May Vary... a lot.

It has trans-red engine cylinders?! Oh boy, time to pour some bleach into my eyes.....