Lipko

The same for me. I've just finished my latest MOC, which I started some time in February. And the model isn't big or complex.

I really suggest you to look up the full orange inventory first. I can tell you it's very limited if you want to build studless.

Use software for designing too. For example LDD. And for starters, I would suggest buying sets instead of parts. Building sets teach you some techniques and some limitation of the system, and sets usually come with well balanced parts inventories. By the way, 1000 Canadian dollars is almost the 2/3 of the cost of my entire parts collection, and my collection is enough to develop two models at a time (in this case you only have to buy the specific parts).

The model can't steer and it's not remote controlled (as it was stated in the specifications? I haven't checked it, just read from the reply Anio posted).

If it's a manual model, than I would go with the lower one. I made once manual model that was almost a crawler (http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=487752), but you just can't play with a pushing toy on rough terrain. The wheels can only climb over obstacles if they are driven. The only manual model I can imagine that works over terrain, is a trophy truck with strong negative chamber. Or maybe you just want a display model.

My current workplace is still on a carpet, but now it's a dedicated Lego carpet. Plus I bought 6 pieces of IKEA plastic boxes which was a very good decision. By the way, the rest of my collection (I bought an Acors too since then):

It's beautiful. Somehow it looked much larger at first glance, it's just amazing how much stuff you managed to fit inside. Does it have suspension (pendular rear axle)? One feature think I've never seen in Lego telehandler models is an automatically levelling pallet fork (always keeping its angle as the boom rises). Does this model have such feature? (BTW I'm developing a telehandler for years now. Pretty much the only working feature it has yet is the automatic levelling...)

I'm also overengineering things. The problem is that it's not only time consuming, but also it prevents me from coming up with better concepts. I usually make some temporary solutions (which usally means weak and to bulky at the same time) and usually realise too late if I'm refining and hammering the very first "temporary" solution I came up weeks (or even months) ago. I'm usually afraid to start something from scratch again because of the effort already put into that thing.

Seriously, most of the things in this tread are just basic aesthetic sense. Not caring of most of these things would result in an untidy looking model. Only aligning pins (2L/3L) is too much because it can hardly be seen on the final model. But for example the orientation of bushes and the other things is quite visible. This is our hobby, and one part of it is looking at the final model. It's obvious that we pay a little extra attention and try to make our models look the best they can. I'm still waiting to see some real "manias". Like always building in tin-foil hat or Hello Kitty underpants or washing parts before building or whatever

First one.

...

I hope I can express myself, I have doubts. Many people still don't understand the difference between sets and MOCs, between "I built it but from instructions" and "I designed it". If they see a physical model, they keep asking if I have built it. I guess some people even think that you can buy these models already assembled, or that assembling from instructions is a great achievement and not different than building a MOC. Maybe they don't see designing MOCs any greater achievements than building from instructions, because they just fail to see the difference. Obviously I say yes on building the model if asked, but I always tell them it's a set I have bought and build it from instructions. Still I have to explain myself for quite long in some cases. Okay, I failed to be clear. Anyhoo, maybe I'm totally wrong, but despite the kid is being from the young generation, maybe he totally misunderstands how Lego models are built (maybe he's like 11 and never got Legos?). Maybe he thinks that every single Lego sets are made and sold by individual hobbyists Sariel is evil because he doesn't.

Are you seriously asking or just letting of some steam?

Yup, that Hobson mechanism looks quite baffling at first look, and mainly because it's not a frequently seen thing, yet is seems so straightforward. I graduated as a mechanical engineer, but we weren't taught about it. But if you look closely, the principle is very simple. At any arbitrary time, the bent axles on the outer and inner side of the coupling are simply pushed up and down. The bent axles on the top and bottom do nothing to rotate the output wheel. Maybe the ones that are on the top and bottom draw attention more that the others, and that's causing the confusion. I guess this mechanism requires very good bearing of the bent axles to be efficient.

This size limit is a bit disappointing, We will miss middle size models again.

Yup, I gave up early too because my model would have been around 12000 cs.

Omikron only likes to build huge stuff.

I was only joking with the 6 months. So, do we have a clear statement yet of the volume limit? Is it 10000?

I'm in for the A/B contest. If there will be a 6 months development time. But I guess there will be a specific theme. Or should I get starting now?

pullback sets are among the cheapest sets.

That's not true, there are double acting versions.

and white...I agree that having more colours is better. It would be better if there were a little bit more pieces in those funky colours (at least some more liftarms), but still they can jazz up models a bit.

Awesome model! Maybe smaller front lights would make it less cute. But I thinks it's good as it is.

I wouldn't call something a shelf model, just because it's not remote controlled.

The instruction is mind-blowing, and it's so clear this way (colors are easily recognisable), Lego should consider to make them like this at least for Technic