Superkalle

Great looking model. Keep up the good work. And welcome to the LDD talk. About uploading LXF - either you can upload it directly to the Forum, but the space is VERY limited. If you do, you need to zip it first. You may be able to upload to your image sharing site as a zip. If it doesn't work, there's always BrickShelf where you can create a free account.

I think you nailed the last one Aanchir. Well folks, I suppose that means we have all the angles I asked for in the challange. Now it's just a matter of preparing a reference LXF file with jigs for each angle so you can place a plate vertically or horisontally, and then move that brick to the desired position. Actually, those jigs could be placed under templates I guess. PS: If you have a LDD Design Challange, PM me and we can discuss it. Or if you want to post it directly. If so, just up the # one step.

Well, did you look where all the castle pieces are? Because it's there.

Who said I didn't, he, he? No, seriously, I just wanted to send a prioritised list, so they take 'em in the right order.

It would be good with some higher resolution pics so you can study the building techniques a bit closer up.

Hey, you're actually right, Jipay. It was supposed to be a bad joke, but it's actually doable, and kind of cool. You got me going now. Here's my list of far-out little guys: God - all white, white beard, white cape, possibly with Emperors lightning bolt Satan - red body, red head, hat with horns, tail, trident Death - black body, black head, Emperors hood, Skythe War victim - one leg, no hands, bandage on head Invisible man - all transparent Shadow - all black Siamese Twins - joined somewhere. OK, that was my list. Anyone know if they've been done before. Otherwise, I'll put them together and post here on EB later on.

Yeah, the 47474 might be tricky to persuade Lego to make. 424 definetely more likely. But I'll put both on the list for next batch request to Lego (if they ever put them in LDD I have not clue about, but we can wish). EDIT: this was inccorect. x1669 is actually allready in there. Keep on looking in that dreadful LDD category system

SpiderSpaceman....even more finds. This is great. I don't know if you know it, but I report all found errors to Lego, so keep 'em coming. About the last batch of finds, would it be possible for you to make a LXF with the faulty parts - just line them up and put the male/female part next to each other. You can either attach the LXF (zipped) directly here in the forum, PM me or (naturally) upload it to whereever

Great finds, SpiderSpaceman! That the lightning bolt was so badly modeled was new too me. Lego defintly got to fix this, specially since parts in LDD are supposed to be based on the actual mold designs (an example of this is that the big suitcase is modeled wide open in LDD, just like in the mold). Something must have gone wrong when they did the bolt, or it was based on an early mold version. Regarding that minifig skiis don't fit, it's actually because the feet are too looooong. The problem has been reported to TLG. Note that the problem is only on the tall legs, the short legs fit fine. And on opacity, I agree completely. They should be much fuller in color. This has been reported to Lego, and hopefully they can fix this for LDD 4.0.

Here my proposed minifig. The invisible man (from HG Wells 1897 novell): Gender: Male Occupation/print on torso: Scientist / None Type of headgear: eh....none Type of facial expression: Let me think....that ought to be....none Color on torso/legs: Once again....none Accessory: Aha, it's got to be.....oh no, it's none again (Sorry CopMike, coudn't help myself... )

I found this on this topic: http://www.holgermatthes.de/bricks/index.h...10_pf_train.htm

@dluders: I'm not sure I follow you here. To create a 30/60 degree angle the opposing side and the hypothenuse should have the 1:2 ratio. To see what I mean, look here: http://www.freemathhelp.com/triangle-30-60-90.html But how do you construct that with Lego or Technic Beams? Or have I overlooked something? For 22.5 degree angles, I was thinking some of these elements could be used:

Lots better And a great job on that set. Thanks!

Well, I'm not going to close the challange yet for a while. I'm sure there are some clever solutions out there. What I guess I was looking for are solutions where you would have to use other bricks as basis to create those desired angles, like Aanchir has indicated. Then those "angle-structures" can be added to the Template tab for easy access when you want to generate that special angle.

I agree with Calabar; So, JunkStyleGio, please post your own MOCs in the thread that Calabar mentioned. This thread is only for official Lego sets made in LDD. Thanks.

OK, shall I understand your proposals as: For 22,5 degree intervalls, use visual approximation of the click-hinges And For 30 degree, to use a triangle based on a connecting technic pieces? It would be super great if make a LXF-file and take some screenshots, or ever better to make the LXF avialable for download If anyone else has some more clever solutions, please...add 'em here! Please, keep this thread to solution challange discussions (even if I agree that this whish was very related )

Hey, that R4-D7 looks like a piece of chocolate, maybe you can eat him? You know, like a Kinder Egg. With a microscale R2-D2 inside? On the more serious side - I think the polls are difficult to understand. It says "vote your opinion", but are you voting on the set, or on the review?

OK LDD geeks, here's challenge #2 Well, so you know that there is a rotation tool in LDD. And you know that to create 45 or 90 degree angles you simply double click the markers of the rotation wheel (see image below). And you also know that to create 18 degree steps (18, 36, 54, 72, 90) you use the arrow keys. OK, so far, so good. But what about creating exactly 22,5 degree intervalls (the intervall of the standard Lego "click"-hinges) or intervalls of 30 degrees (30, 60, 90). How do you do that? There is not direct input-method for it (that I know of), so I guess you need to use some other way by using placement of bricks or technic elements to create the desired angle. But maybe there are other ways? The end results shall in any case be a joint that has the desired angle. NOTE: For this challenges I don't have a prepared "right" answer, so it's going to be interesting to see what you guys come up with. Double click markers to rotate in 45 degree intervalls. But how a about 22,5 and 30 degree intervalls. That's today's challenge.

I don't think it's the Vasa. Compare to this very detailed large scale model at the Vasa-museum in Stockholm. http://www.vasamuseet.se/ImageVault/Images...ultHandler.aspx Note also that the model is painted with what is belived to be the actual color scheme the ship had on the fatal day in 1628 when she sank. Notice her side is painted partly red, not blue as otherwise is most often seen. The research to establish the color scheme was completed in 2008 after 12 years of anlalyzing small fragments of paint. Source: www.vasamuseet.se

The cargo train looks the best too me. And...new part spotted (I think): 2x2 Wedge brick / cut corner (same as this http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=30505 but 2x2). You can see it in the front of the cargo and passagner train. EDIT: what about that inverted slope piece in the front train (under the new wedge brick). Is that new too?

@dluders. I agree completely. Some sort of function so that technic liftarms, bushings etc are "sucked" together with a tight fit when they are close to each other. I guess Lego decided not to implement this function because sometimes you want pieces to be slightly off from each other, and what do you do then? One solution could be to allow pieces to get contact when you drag them past the point of contact. Todays functionaliy is that bricks become semi-transparent and eventually "jump" to the next side. Personally I have learned just to be careful to "push tings together" when I work with technical pieces or sliding pieces. Off course there is the "Hinge Align Tool" but that only works for angular connecting.

The set looks very nice, but personally I don't understand why a Shuttle, and why now? There has allready been a number of Lego space shuttles, and besides it just doesn't feel right in time. What I heard the last flight of the Shuttle is soon, but is that a reason to bring out this set? Or have I overlooked some other good reason?

@dluders - part identification is high on my wanted list too. There a couple of different things here, which you have identified: 1) Part identification by mouse-over in the Brick Palette 2) Part identifcation of parts in the model 3) Part identification in the building instruction. I think that the most likely Lego would concider doing is 1), since there is allready a mouse-over pop-up window to piggy back on. 2) I don't know. How would part IDs be shown. Maybe a status bar would be better then an annoying pop-up everytime you hover over a part? @Shroud - about next version of LDD unfortunately I don't know that much, but looking back historically when previous releases has been, I think one can extrapolate from that ;-)

But I want it to be 5 cents /crying like a baby/. No, but seriously, thanks for letting me know. English is not my native language! @Johnnizippy3 - With those two last models you're moving on to some sort of admiral class when it comes to reproducing official sets in LDD. What I would really like to know are any porential problems you bump into as you build these massive models (problems with using the software, or things that cannot be done in LDD because of missing bricks or brick geometry errors). The best is to post them here http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=40785 @Calabar - the index is coming

I had a really interesting mail conversation with EB member Shroud who presented some really good ideas. I thought this could be interesting for others too, since we touched in on a lot of interesting subject, so with his permission, here is slightly edited version of our chat: (Shroud in black, Superkalle in blue) 1. The rail parts 32028 and 4510 cannot have anything attached to them when connected with parts 2653 and 4217. Yes, good spotted. I know this problem has been reported to Lego, but I have no clue when it can be fixed. 2. Minifig legs cannot be placed on a plate or brick and sit flush up against another brick that’s placed in front (i.e. the feet are too long). A great bug find. Well spotted. It's the first time I've heard about it. 3. Animation Tool. The greatest Improvement that can be made to the program is the technic parts having interactivity with each other. Meaning the cogs for example could connect together and with the help of a new animation tool could move accordingly. It would be awesome to see the cogs turning, the gear rack “3743” sliding with the gear worm screw “4716” in either manual or automatic mode when connected to a motor. The tool would also have a speed adjustment box so you can set the value of how fast it moves or rotates. The little I know about Technics movement in LDD is that it’s hard to make with the physics engine that LDD has at the moment. It will probably be a while before we see this in (until they change physicks engine). 4. Export Function to common file types that could be imported into 3D programs for rendering and animation. This is a good idea that has been brought up by other LDD users. I'm not sure Lego will do it, because that would mean exporting the brick geomtries also. But, I know a LDD fan (the famous Bojan) is working on something to export to OpenGL, which could then be transformed to 3DS or similar, but I don’t know when and if that will be ready, and if Lego will approve of it. 4. Animation Tab. Contains buttons that link an animation to a button to make it easier to display. Includes grouping where separate animations can move together. This is a great way to make sure the MoC works properly. I’m not sure exactly what you mean? A lot of the parts in LDD hinge and slide with each other. When it comes to moving them it’s a lot of work to display by using just the hinge and rotate tool. It would be nice to be able to almost record the motion once and assign it a button in another tab. That way you can click a button to show the motion. For example a simple door could actually open with the click of a button rather than have to rotate it with the tool manually. I like the idea about animation button. I wonder how would be the best way to make this work in LDD concidering that kids have to understand it. Do I understand correctly that one should be able to enter “animation” mode, and what ever thing you click at that has a joint will then rotate to it’s end positions and then go back to the start point? Because that’s probably the easiest. If you want to go into recording movement macros and such, it may be too complicated, but I don't know. 5. Ghost Brick. When bricks are removed automatically when opening a file because they were placed incorrectly there is no indication of what ones they were. This is hard in a big project because there is no way in telling what was removed. An improvement to this would be a transparent red “Ghost brick” to let the person know what has been removed. The reason it cannot be “ghost shown” is because the geometry data has been removed from the underlying database, so hence, it can’t be shown. However, there is a file created when bricks are being removed called UnplaceableBricksDump.lxfml placed here C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\LEGO Company. If you open that in notepad, you can see what bricks have been removed. I didn’t actually know this but is there any way of telling where the brick was removed from? No, not really. You have the x, y, z positions in the lxfml file, but that’s not really human readable 6. Have LDD remember your settings from the last time you opened it. E.g what colours you choose the bricks to be, what tool bars are open. This is a good idea. I’ll make sure to pass it along. However, I think the current functionality is because it’s an easy way for younger users to just restart the program and then get everything back to the default settings. Yes I can see how that would make things easier for beginners. Maybe a tick box in the settings menu to remember settings? 7. Free Placement Mode. The ability to change a bricks properties to free placement mode so you can place any brick freely onto a tile or other smooth surface. Once again, a very good idea. I know has been requested before in the EB forum. But I’ll put a notch that one more person wants’ it 8. Physics Mode to check for balance and weight. This would be useful to check structures and also models that require balance. For instance a mech to see if it stands on its own or if it needs joint adjustments. An excellent idea. However, to get a precise center of gravity measurement you need some input data. First there is the mass for each brick. Then there is Center of Gravity. For regular/symmetrical shapes (such as a 2x4 brick) you could easily calculate COG. However, some pieces have irregular shapes (like Bionicle pieces etc), and for those the COG is more tricky. So in effect, you would need to have mass and COG point for each brick, and that information is unfortunately not included in the LDD parts database today. It could off course be added, but it would probably require a lot of extra work at Lego to update the database with all that information. But if they can do that, then this is a killer function. I’ll be sure to pass your idea along. This combined with the animation tool for technic parts would be a nice start for “LDD CREATOR ADVANCED” /me dreams 9. Wireframe Mode for use with large projects for smoother viewing. Once again a good idea. The reason it has not been implemented is because LDD is targeted as kids who mainly do smaller models, and then a wireframe is not desired or needed. I know the LDD dev team is aware that large models make the frame rate lag, but I don’t know how high it is on their prio list. Maybe with an updated 3D engine, these problems can be solved in the future. 10. Be able to select an object, hold shift and drag a selection over more bricks without the first selection disappearing. You mean like to copy the brick if you hold shift and drag? A good idea that should be very easy to implement. Personally I just use copy-paste. The good thing about that is you can ctrl-v as many times as you need the piece. But one function doesn’t eliminate another…. I do the same with copy and paste. When you have multiple things selected and then hold ctrl or shift you cant actually drag the selection only click Hm, maybe I missunderstod you. Because you can click and drag when selecting multiple things. You just have to mouse-over until you see the purple line outline and then click that (and drag….). What you just said was what I was talking about except I want to be able to do it twice. The problem is that you lose the first selection. For example: Click and drag = make a selection Hold shift and drag again = lose the first selection Basically I want to be able to drag the selection box multiple times to add to what's currently selected. It doesn't sound like much but it's a massive time saver. 11. Be able to use placement with keyboard arrows This idea is good to be able to fine-position parts, or position them where there are no studs (like Minifig utensils in a barrel, or a car on tiled driveway) The problem is that keyboard arrow keys are today used to rotate the piece. Do you have any proposals for a other/complimentary input method? After a brick is placed and u select the brick those arrow keys don’t actually do anything to it. Maybe that would be a good option to move it around? Forward, back, left and right to move it on the horizontal plane, home and end key to move on the vertical plane. You are right, but wouldn’t it be confusing with the different behavior. Perhaps you need to change the mouse pointer so that the user would know the difference? 12. View buttons for perfect top, side and front view This is a good idea. Several people have wanted a 4 pane ISO-view (top, right, side, 3d) like in common 3D software, but I'm guessing that in LDD that would take up to much screen real-estate and would be difficult for kids to understand. However, it’s kind of funny, because according to the LDD help file this is supposed to be done by "Pan view – (Shift + right click)". However the shift + right click only pans the view, it does not show you top, left et