DrJB

Thank you, but that's missing the hole at the top. This little piece is a real puzzle.

Got an email about this, and thought I'll share with the broader community. This is a bit in between the contests we run on here and FLL. So, Lego Education is one of the sponsors of this year's Science Fair. For those of you interested in coming up with meaningful/scientific ideas (STEM), give this a try: https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/?utm_source=LEGOEd&utm_medium=announcement%20teacher%20email&utm_campaign=gsf2015

I tried, but could not successfully replicate all the 'holes'.

I've seen the videos and your effort to put those in 'digital' form is truly appreciated. Though, in all honesty, and with all YOUR contributions to this forum, one must ponder: Where do you find the time? Do you ever sleep?

Thank you for the comprehensive reply.

I've seen the discussion back-and-forth few times about the "options". I know some of the answers are buried deep in this thread, but anyone with enough 'patience' to answer these questions once and for all? 1. Figelli vs. Lego LA's to lift the boom 2. Technic vs. Studded (heavy) counter-weight 3. Wheels with suspension vs. none Where are we today and which options were the 'best' and which versions do we have instructions for?

Nice, and very tempting to open mine. I've had it sitting for several years, still sealed box. But, with 3 other similar cars (2 Ferraris and the recent white/red) assembled/displayed, it's hard to add a similar one, just with a different color.

If the motor runs too slow for your needs, the best/trivial approach is to 'gear-it-up' i.e., attach a large gear to the motor, and have that gear drive a smaller gear, attached to the wheel(s). Keep in mind though that, if you up the speed (with gears), the max torque will go down by the same factor. The change in speed is exactly the same as the ratio of number of teeth. Is this the kind of answer you're seeking or is that just too basic?

Would really love 41135 or a substitute available in LDD

Fair enough, all of this is based on our own opinions, but by no means this is bashing TLG. I for one, and have said this many time, find the 'plethora' of tiny parts (not just in Technic) rather annoying. But, we all come to this hobby with different interests, and that's a good thing. Let's get back to the topic then: I'm making an LDD of Mahjqa's Metal Grudge, but LDD does not have the part below. Has anyone concocted an LDD alternative?

You and I will never know, but for sure it's one of many very plausible reasons. To reduce costs, a company has two options: lay off personnel (fixed costs) or improve processes and reduce raw material (plastic/oil) consumption (variable costs). Despite many (different) opinions on here, TLG is in the business of making money, just like any profitable company out there. To you and me, the joy we get from the plastic parts way eclipses the high $$$ we spend, but I assure you, TLG enjoys much more getting your and my $$$ than making plastic . It's well known that many sets were seen to come with different versions of any given part. TLG produces sets on a 'per-demand' basis, depending on market/fans' demand. As such, they may run several production runs throughout the 'life' of a given set. They simply use whatever part was available during a specific production run, and when they run out of one part, they use the next available part. That is why, in Bricklink, there is a list at the bottom, called 'alternate' parts. For example, the 8285 Tow Truck was first released with silver wheel rims, then LBG. Simply because they ran out (or decided to cut costs) of the silver version.

And then, once you have them all, you'll be pondering which are you favorite, with thoughts of down-sizing constantly haunting you ... unless you're Blakbird of course.

Thanks. That's exactly the one. I was going from memory I guess but it seems that's not so good nowadays. Good find nonetheless. From my recollection (and this IS correct), those parts have a very small clamping/grasping clutch and would come off easily. It's made from a very soft silicone, much softer than the other rubber parts. There are few versions of the rubberized legs (shooters). The one you're showing (below, left) is the most recent, but not the 'softest'. I used an earlier version (below, right), which had a softer (more cushioning) feel to it. Not to be critical of TLG but, the modern one is a cost-reduced version of the old model.

I used the above once as the legs of a 6-legged walker, worked nice as there were little 'impacts' and good friction with the ground. There was a version of this with some of the bionicle sets. It was made of very soft yellow/green (see below) rubber and had some 'fins' and an axle hole. Could not find it on Bionicle. The axle hole would not grasp hard enough though.

It is not the only part. In fact, if you look 'closely', you'll find that MANY parts have gone through some mold-redesigns. Those changes are either minimal or very visible, and are typically driven by either part durability (such as the small half bushings) or cost reduction (3L vs. 4L cardan joint).

It was part of the GBC setup, just before the 'farm' of 20+ identical modules. I'll look up pics I took, and if I find them, I'll upload.

I built it in red a while back. That MOC has so much character!

During the last BrickWorld 2014 here in Chicago, there was a large display area (in the GBC section) of a lego-like system called VEX. The system is similar to the Mindstorms theme and comes with an intelligent brick and gamepad-like controllers. While I personally did not find the system 'appealing', there was quite an interest from the audience, judging from the crowd. The website (below) does provide enough information about the system, but I'm more interested in how this would be received by Lego enthusiasts, and what's the general consensus in this specific community. http://www.vexrobotics.com/ PS. I was a bit surprised that a non-lego system would be 'allowed' in a Lego event but, since TLG was not a sponsor ... anything goes (so to speak)

http://www.philohome.com/tech.htm

+1. I have positive experience with Eneloop as well. In the US, you can get them from Costco, 12 batteries + charger.

While searching for 'unique' lego contraptions, I found the lathe below. It packs a good mix of realism and functionality. If you've used one of these, you'd appreciate how good a gem this is. There was another/old thread on EB, but it is for a different design. http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=60832

You're right. It sounds really bad. The old differential and the relatively new 12-tooth gears are 'generations apart'. Thus, I am not sure the teeth profile (and axis spacing) were meant for them to mesh properly. The image below 'states' that the teeth/dimensions of old differential were designed for it to mesh with the old 14-tooth gear (same as those inside the differential). I am not sure offsetting the differential (left-right) is even possible. I got the above picture from a thread here on EuroBricks http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=76320

+1 How smooth the pneumatics are depends on many factors: 1. size/obstructions of/in the air-path(s) 2. load the cylinder must work against 3. Pressure (and flow/volume) available from the compressor I did add an air-tank to the 8455 Backhoe few years back, coupled to an external compressor, fed by 2 large pumps (springs removed), and the pneumatics were very fast. How fast the pneumatics cylinders extend/retract depends a lot on how much air the compressor puts out at every stroke. So, Mark has a valid point that the pneumatics might not be as smooth as everyone is 'hoping'. But, only time will tell.

Not Quite, instead: Power = Force × Velocity = Torque × Angular Speed = Energy / Time Power = (2×3.14×RPM/60) × Torque

I believe it's the thread I started few days back. Link is below, it's from message $204 onward. http://www.eurobrick...c=101081&st=200