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Blakbird

Technic Regulator
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Everything posted by Blakbird

  1. Blakbird
    I'm pleased to say that, thanks to the help of all of you, I now have a complete set of Technic LDraw files. This even includes Technic Star Wars and Racers models which will be included in Technicopedia. For those of you who are curious as to what all these models look like, I have posted the annual collection images from 1977-2014 at my Bricksafe account, and here's 2014 just for a teaser.
  2. Blakbird
    This topic is discussed quite a bit in the previous thread. Starting with a copy of 42009 is a very cost effective think to do. It gets you a large portion of the required parts. Buying a second 42009 is not very effective.
  3. Blakbird
    No one can tell you what you should use. You should use whatever you like to use! If your goal is to make it like a real full size pick-up truck, then it should have front and rear live axles with coil springs. If you are not trying to make it realistic, then just do whatever you like.
  4. Blakbird
    I finally got a chance to look at your file and you have done amazing work with all the stepping and submodels. Thank you very much!
  5. Blakbird
    No. They work exactly like a regular linear actuator in PF mode. You can stop anywhere you like.
  6. Blakbird
    This has been discussed in quite a few topics before. There is no official answer, only speculation. My speculation has been that it is to prevent Chinese piracy. There are already Chinese companies producing exact replicas of entire LEGO sets and marketing them under many different names. If high quality vector instructions were available, these same companies could just take the file and print their own copy to include with their fake products. The side effect of all this is that if you are a legitimate builder and need the digital instructions (maybe you lost your copy), it can be very difficult to build with them. I just reproduced an LDraw file using the PDF for 8682 and the quality is so bad that there is no way to tell how long certain black parts (you can't see the studs or holes so you can't count).
  7. Blakbird
    This is not an advertised option. When Chase Horman first used the Firgelli actuator for Jennifer Clark's AC-50 crane, he found that the weight of the boom would sometimes backdrive the actuator. After discussing this with the people at Firgelli, they told him it was possible to change the internal gearing to make the actuator slower and more powerful. They sent him a set of gears to make this conversion (which worked great) and also indicated that they'd be happy to make the swap at the factory for anyone who asked for it. You can read a bit about it here. I would guess that you will want the lower gearing for this application since this boom is even heavier than the one on the AC-50.
  8. Blakbird
    That actuator has been discussed, but it has problems in this application. Because it is designed to be trunnion mounted with a motor hanging off the back, there is not a good way to have it supported and to pivot properly in the superstructure. The pivot point either needs to be behind the motor or the motor needs to be remotely mounted.
  9. Blakbird
    I've finished 8682 apart from the engine block part which does not yet exist in LDraw. I had forgotten how unique this model was. Apart from the stickers, what really makes it stand out is the video game console system which pops up out of the cargo area along with a massive set of speakers. I can't think of any other set that has that!
  10. Blakbird
    Got it! Thanks.
  11. Blakbird
    I have no doubt that a Firgelli actuator will work. I hope you remembered to ask them to put the lower speed gearing in it. If not, you can still make the change yourself. I don't really have a problem using a non-LEGO actuator in this case, however the big change will be that the Firgelli has an integral motor. This means that the L motor used for luffing the boom right now can be taken out, along with all its gearing. The problem with this is that the motor is used as part of the superstructure structure so it cannot be easily removed. This is one of the reasons I am leaning towards Efferman's actuator. Besides looking more scale, I'm hoping I can rig it to use the existing motor.
  12. Blakbird
    The easiest way to post them on a file hosting site (like Bricksafe) and then just post the link here. That way other people can enjoy it as well.
  13. Blakbird
    Good idea!
  14. Blakbird
    I'm going to start working on 8682. If you still haven't time to work 8146 by the time I finish, I'll move on to that one next.
  15. Blakbird
    I use MLCAD. I can create with this tool far more quickly than any of the others, although much of this is just due to my vast experience with it. I did not know that! This is terrible news. He was a leader in the community.
  16. Blakbird
    OK, I have ordered the actuator (and some wheel covers). I'll report back here how it goes. The actuator should arrive ~ Nov 23.
  17. Blakbird
    Sure, I can do that. My hope is to be able to convert the crane to use it. Where exactly did you use grease? Just on the gears, or also on the internal threads?
  18. Blakbird
    Of all the sets I've bought used, perhaps only 2 or 3 were delivered assembled. In every case, they were assembled wrong. I was also surprised at how easily people were able mess up instructions made for children. On the other hand, by daughter was able to build Technic sets marked "Ages 12+" when she was 7 with no problem whatsoever. Sometimes it is hard to appreciate that something is a skill when it comes so naturally to you, and easy to forget that not everyone has that skill.
  19. Blakbird
    I agree with the high praise. Here is a photo of my finished model. I can't believe how well it works despite the weight. I've added some aftermarket tires called "USSR Military Tires" which seemed just perfect. The Unimog tires are too wide and flat and the tread is not right. I used gray wheels which do not look as good as black, but I already had them so I couldn't justify buying more.
  20. Blakbird
    Some of the older models make some of the tips impossible. I have a Nikon D70, one of the very early DSLRs. For example, I can only go down to ISO 200 and it is pretty well impossible to focus manually because there is no preview (you have to look through the tiny viewfinder). Other than that I was able to follow most of the tips and get pretty good results, though my images are not as sharp as Jim's. Those are the lights I bought. I cannot stress enough how hugely important the lighting is and how much it improves the image.
  21. Blakbird
    In my experience, you are WAY off on that estimate.
  22. Blakbird
    Last I heard, Efferman was still working on improving that actuator, so I have not ordered one yet. I do intend to get one though.
  23. Blakbird
    He's just being modest. He really is that awesome.
  24. Blakbird
    This topic, while useful, has nothing to do with Technic. I think you'd get more feedback in another forum.
  25. Blakbird
    The micromotors are useful for their small size and very slow output which does not require any gearing. From my own experience, the reports of poor reliability are exaggerated. I have about a dozen of them and I've never had one stop working or break. YMMV.
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