Kumbbl

couldn_t say it better - if all often praised funtions in MOCs or other brands would work so well as this ghost mode (in the videos i could watch until today), than ........ ;-) Concerning funtion-fails the new 1:8 incarnation is by far the most promising so far... for sure it will not be flawless, but as i said: promising...

Couldn‘t say it better….

The SMART BRICK is just the final proof that the people making product decisions at LEGO don’t have even the slightest clue about what makes good toys. In Star Wars, the Smart Brick is the equivalent of the failed Control+ system in Technic. Ever higher prices with ever lower quality — that pretty much sums up LEGO today in one sentence. Unfortunately.

I have a fairly clear opinion about the whole electronics and remote-control issue with Lego: Lego has always been a toy, or rather a platform, that lasts for decades and that you could keep for your grandchildren. Old 8480 Space Shuttles still work wonderfully after 30 years, provided they were stored well. The cables can be re-crimped with a bit of skill and then they are as good as new. Power Functions based models anyway. Why? Because everything is based zero percent on software, pure hardware. As long as batteries exist, all of this will continue to work — even for my grandchildren — all the classic models from the old 90s classics (8480, 8868, etc.) up to the last cool PF-based ones like the 42030 Loader. In contrast: everything (sic!) that somehow relies on software protocols — such as apps on some smartphone — has a very limited half-life. It is 100% impossible that any of this will still work in 30 years; very likely not even in 10 years anymore. In many areas this is perfectly fine — but not for a toy platform like Lego. To put it bluntly: I will carefully store all the top models from the Lego Technic era up to and including the end of Power Functions, and my grandchildren will be able to have wonderful times with them. Everything after that is, in my opinion, a complete misdevelopment, because it is phone- and app-based and therefore practically destined, from birth and by definition, for the medium-term trash bin. A waste of money. And I’m not some nostalgic technophobe: cutting-edge AI and IT are part of my everyday work, both professionally and privately. But they have no place in high-quality toys. Take it with a grain of salt — I deliberately exaggerated a bit to illustrate the core problem of the current Lego Technic development. Smartphones can also be good devices for children if used sensibly, but making this most short-lived technology a prerequisite for the playability of hardware toys is a complete misstep. That’s why, for me, Lego after Power Functions is dead. ps. As a successor to Power Functions, they could have developed Bluetooth-based components for all I care — but with a physical remote control, so that the required protocol would be permanently “baked into” the hardware components and the only requirement for them to function would be a power supply. The dependency on updates and software platforms such as apps is the real problem.

Just an information: Model SOLD

Sorry for bumping - but it seems that a least some people would be not uninterested in building this model... In the very first post of this thread you can see my photos of the model. Unfortunately, it has been sitting in the attic of our house for years now — my son is no longer interested in it, and, if I’m honest, I really need to make some space. It was a truly great and challenging build experience, and I don’t like parting with such special models, but: I would be willing to sell the model fully assembled, i.e. including all required (and in some cases absurdly expensive) parts — including the building instructions from Blakbird with all unclear sections thoroughly clarified by me, detailed pneumatic and electrical schematics (including precise hose and cable lengths), and all other necessary notes. Important: all PDFs will of course be included for free, since they didn’t cost me anything either. I am not trying to make money from this model; I’m happy to let it go for a fair price — offers welcome via PM. To the mods: sorry if this offer is misplaced here, but I thought it fit, since there has been interest in the model in the comments. Please let me know if this should or must be posted elsewhere.

The decisive success factor for a successful repair is using a highly flexible 24-AWG silicone ribbon cable. 24-AWG wires with PVC insulation are too stiff for the small IDC blades. With soft silicone insulation, however, it works well. About 4 out of 5 repair attempts are successful with this. so, great videos linked above…

No worries, you were not too harsh… you were right ;-)

yes you are right, i should switch my brain on before posting.... so sorry fopr the noise - and a big thank you vor the links, very helpful for getting the right product....

Hi all, I want to repair old LEGO 9V cables whose insulation has deteriorated, while the 2x2 connectors are still intact. There are videos online that explain quite well what needs to be done—how you can replace the cable without soldering, just by crimping. Unfortunately, most 0.14 mm² stranded wires have slightly thicker insulation than the old, almost rubber-like (probably silicone-based) original leads. The old LEGO 9V plugs aren’t classic crimp contacts anyway, but so-called IDC contacts (Insulation Displacement Connector). For these, the wire needs to be extremely soft and easy for the tiny blades to pierce. So my question to you all: has anyone done this successfully—and if so, do you have specific product recommendations for a suitable wire? Ideally product recommendations for such stranded wire that can be obtained in Germany, or at least within the EU? Thanks a lot in advance! BR

very cool - kudos

42043 Arocs: The best of the big models - by a wide margin - reasons have already been adequately mentioned above. 8455 Pneumatic Backhoe: a true marvel of Lego engineering - assembling it repeatedly brings a broad smile to the face and waves of admiration for the designer - I think every technic-enthusiast should have built this thing once in their life.

@brunojj1: Without wanting to add fuel to the fire here, I have to make one final comment (from a german "Schlaumeier"): You're almost a reason not to buy anything from CADA anymore, as much as I like some of the models... Your dramatically underlined withdrawal is really no great loss for mankind and for the Lego world ... it seems as if your - admittedly outstanding - lego design skills have left some other competencies atrophied - jm2c

I would recommend building the linked „pimp up my Porsche“ instead of the errata, because it contains all fixes of these errata und something more and has on top full blown pdf step by step BI from scratch… hard to get a better Porsche-package ;-)

The above linked „pimp up my Porsche“ has included this feature too… version 1.4 is strongly recommended: This is the Porsche that Lego should have brought out from the start of 42056: full featured, flawless und highly playable…