agrof

Agree, nothing wrong with waiting. I remember, no picture policy is not a new thing at Nürnberg Toy Fair - totally understandable. Where I am missing the point, that they invite press, but also prohibit them to do their job in any form - no word policy is new to me. Press is always part of the marketing, they do add value for the companies, so if this value is undesired in the future, why are they invited at all? This is a double edged weapon: I can easily see, that this decision not makes journalists to feel honored, but frustrated, because they are actually restricted to do their job (and passion) for living. I know, I would. I will not go further into this, as we will not getting an answer for sure.

Understand, but than why they invite press in any form? Preliminary catalogs serve the same purpose, and they are not intended to appear at any kind of media. Still, all the leaks are out there. My question is than: really the press (media) is the evil to be hunted? Yes, it is like You wrote in theory, in reality we have human beings everywhere. There is still no logic in this move from TLG. If they really want to keep this informations intern, than no press at all, and only trusted, filtered resellers can enter. Something is not straight here: the news or the strategy. Can be that they base the marketing strategy on anticipation of excitement triggered by the secrecy, but I don't see how would that change the wallet and attitude of any copycat buyer.

Just read it at Zusammengebaut... so this is the big plan of LEGO to hold back copycats. Just as @vectormatic wrote: Nürnberg Toy Fair is about marketing, but taking out the marketing value... what is the point to participate? Not to mention, nowadays there are enough gadgets for spying - and pictures are already leaked for most of the themes! Innovation and thus competitive prices, new "hard-to copy" products would be the right answer to the current market demands, this... this is just stupid.

I love the black one, but the main question is: do You?

I also vote for the clock face and no housing. I like, that the clock mechanism is uncovered, would be pity to hide it. What I am still not liking, is the pendulum arm. It should be straigth, sleek and functional, as it is, I feel it overdone. It should let the eyes to slide on the main thing: the mechanism.

Thanks for the funny morning starter! Creative and very well done video setup.

Great idea and engineering, my favorite so far. I would only change the pendulum arm to something more sleek, and elegant.

Great job on it! The car is levitating, because the tires are not aligned with the bottom surface. They have a blocky volume shape definition, as the rendering model is calculated from the lowest definition point in Stud.io, it will take the lowest edge of the block. You only need to rotate the tires back to horizontal. I hope this helps.

I just watched the video (which is very good presentation by the way), and... well, while we play with LEGO on this forum, You did true ENGINEERING with LEGO. Nothing else to say, it is not only HOF model, but deserves own page in LEGO history book. I can just express my true respect for this MOC and the author.

It is not that hard to filter a bit. Each licenced sets from LEGO was connected to new releases. Just look up, which company will reveal a new type in the near future. (I have no idea, I am not petrolhead enough to be up to date.)

Just to be more fair, I don't see the expectations were unbalanced high, LEGO advertised this set with the label of "Ultimate". According to definition of word "ultimate", one rightfully can expect the next: the most significant, highest, furthest, or greatest thing (at least up to date). So if LEGO dares to stand such statement, they had to be prepared to be up to the mark. No 4 wheel steering, ok plausible, they made really outstanding visual design, nice new parts, but there were significant problems in the construction, which is hardly acceptable for an ultimate flagship set. Also don't forget, that even from 1 year distance, the cheap excuse they officially made, is very embarrassing (this was bigger issue for me, than the actual design problems). I don't think that we (the market, they are living of) should be "ashamed" for having expectations. This is one important component of innovation. So my opinion is still the same, after 1 year.

Price update for a happier new year!

Well, true or not, the pre-indicated prices were approx correct in the past. I see the next: LEGO does the same price play as for the 42070 (high price advertisement, and price drop for actual sale to make feel customers satisfied to have "The deal"), which is not a straight talk - absolutely no go for me. OR LEGO just outprices me from the hobby.

Yes, PayPal is an option, but please consider, that oversea shipping might be quite expensive.

I think I will start the new year with "kind-of-new" life... I decided to sell some LEGOs, if somebody is interested, please check the topic in Buy-Sell subforum.

Hello All, I decided to say goodbye to some of my LEGOs, due to lack of space. Short list below, for serious interest, pictures, please PM me! They would be shipped assembled to ensure no not indicated part is missing. 8043 MOD, with 2 pcs of V2 receiver (!!); dusty, sorry... - 220 EUR: https://www.bricksafe.com/pages/agrof/8043-mod SOLD 42037 MOD, as pictured, with LDD model - 70 EUR; https://www.bricksafe.com/pages/agrof/42037-ultimate-mod Mini off roader - in RED, without servo, without IR receiver, with MiniZip cable, weak front axle, with LDD model - 50 Euro: https://www.bricksafe.com/pages/agrof/mini-extreme-samurai Project CORE - unfinished MOC, with LDD model - 90 EUR: https://www.bricksafe.com/pages/agrof/project-c.o.r.e. Madoca FJ40 Crawler MOD, with IR (one is V2), MiniZip cable, 9V Ansmann accu - 360 EUR: https://www.bricksafe.com/pages/agrof/madocas-fj40-versions Madoca V3 buggy in RED, without servo, without IR receiver, without battery box - 120 EUR, picture here: http://s28.postimg.org/b6lwh7d2l/WP_20150705_002.jpg 42028, 42034, 42053, 70618, for request I am open to deliver various parts too - to deal. Location: Budapest, Hungary - shipping in EU is possible, as extra cost to be calculated. Thank You for attention! agrof

Congratulations Lipko! Looking forward to hear about another kind of MOCs in the future.

I just checked the pictures, and I must say, it will be a great 2H - meanwhile I think it was a bit early for such quite exact leaks (insert usual conspiration theories here). My thoughts: 42082: I really like it, just like Cumulonimbus, I will be a party smasher too for those, who are expecting new dogbone piece. It is 5x3, with 3x11 panels inbetween. Let's compare the 3x3 T-beam - where the linear actuators are attached to the boom -, if You scale it to the nearest dogbone, it clearly reaches to the middle. I made this in photoshop too for double check, I just will not share even tiny detail as picture here - rules to be respected. The Autonomus wheel loader is a great welcome from my point of view, finally LEGO not about only just to copy existing machines, but gives inspiration for the (near) future, for (near) future engineers. The right move! Still, don't expect more than a manual model, probably upgradable with PF for bucket movement, but that's it. The forest machine is a bit weird (not in a good way this time) with motorized pneumatic pump - BB is in the back, hidden behind the panels. The forklift is spot on for it's size, nothing to complain.

The Tigercat project is not stopped, and winter holiday is there! I just got quick Buggy-infection, and had to build this.

Thanks for the kind comments! I made extensive testing, I couldn't reproduce the steering slip with the new bracket solution, so now I am confident to release the BEAST. I am quite proud (after solving the embarrassing issues...) for this build, I achieved all the points I had in my mind: legal connections, modular, sturdy, compact, 4x4, heart-warmingly ugly. It is now back on Rebrickable, enjoy it as my christmas gift!

@Didumos69 That quote describes perfectly what is in my mind about design in general. @AOW It was not my intention to refer to the work or the ideology of LEGO designers with those examples. I consider all of us who build something with LEGO parts, as designers in this discussion. We are not bounded to directives by a company, thus we have more freedom luckily. Those are just design examples, nothing more - nothing less, honestly I am not really interested in the internal function of LEGO, I am interested in the creative ways of part usage and the way of translating an idea, LEGO is just a supplier for me. Sorry if I misinterpreted the original thought of the topic, I understood it was a discussion in general.

For me: I don't think that evolution is the exact word to describe the relation between connectors, flex axles and panels. I see each of these as individual parts and see the opportunities how one can use them. I am a big fan of out-of-the-box way thinking, panels are not only covers, but great and light structural elements too. It is the designer who decides which direction to go, we have great examples for with panels and without panels kind of MOCs. Just quick examples - speaking about cars, I took 2 examples below. Both are fantastic, and the most important: use consequent design language, with taste. LIpko made it right, it would be a mistake to hide the detailed roll-cage, and the technical bits, like suspension, etc. The shape is to be estimated, and the flex axles, connectors help perfectly to drive the eye. Madoca uses with very good feeling all the parts: connectors, flex axles, panels to create a very appealing bodywork. Although technically it is also very unique and great on the inside, let's be honest, there is not much to observe on 4 L motors, BB, and Sbrick - they are just big gray blocks. To "compensate" this, the bodywork was made extremely well. So each part has the deserved place in the building spectrum for me, You can not blame parts for making a model looking good or not, it is the design choice of how to use them. Maybe for official sets it is not the best decision to use wheel arches like today, I like them neither - too blocky for being one piece, or feels too overdone, out-of system, like the Porsche fenders. But I am for open wheel vehicles anyway. Still, there can be a "good" reason to follow this dressed-up trend: it is getting harder day to day to get the attention of people in this rushed world, vibrant colors, appealing look comes first (selfies - sounds familiar?). If there is a flex axle beside the wheel arches, which forms nicer shape, it will pop out immediately as one grabs on. Reaction? "Oh, it falls apart, this is shit!" - and will be shouted around the internet. Yeah, things are not like in the old days. But no reason for moaning, we can build whatever we want, this was not taken away, right? Edit: I consider look as function too, especially in Lego, but in real life as well: think about aerodynamics. Might be my conclusion: for models with interesting moveable drivetrains, solutions, I prefer open chassis, for models where not much to see under the shell (RC, pneumatics sometimes - 42053) I like good looking paneled job too.

I think the redesign was successfull. Still bugs me, that the steering still can slip. Not really annoying, but come on! Soon it will be back on Rebrickable, I need to update the LDD model.

Thanks for the note, that saves some bad experiences already. Go on with the build!

Hi, of course You can implement whatever You want, and also it is welcome to share here! I would recommend to use the 2M rubber piece for that connection instead, it is more legal solution, but I don't think it will be long-term solution, looks bit flimsy. I made a wheel holder actually with very simple MOD in LDD, but I don't like the overall look, the huge wheel eats up the rear end visually, also the center of gravity is OK now without it, and I like the chopped look. But first things first: I must fix the drive train problem, it is embarrassing... EDIT: at least the disassembly is easier than I thought: