Anio

It is good to hear that this year the sets are cheaper. :)

Hi, Just a message to inform you that the model is now complete, and the BS gallery is public : http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=491912 I took more photos of the MOC, but more important, now, I have the sticker. 3 photos here in the thread : For those who wonder if the bottom side is well done or not : And the sticker :

I can't say that I really love the ship. Your design is maybe very good, but what I do not like much is the ship itslef. Whatever, do you have any pic without the plates, so as we can see how the indise is built ? Because technically speaking, I'm sure your model is very interesting. :)

A chibi scale model... It's been a while I have that in mind. Well, I have way too little time to achieve all the ideas I have. So, I focus in SW and UCS, which is special to me. :) I like this model. Especially the scout trooper.

The build is very interesting. I will download and study it. :)

It is cool you like it. I do not plan to share the lxf file. Indeed, a friend and I will maybe release an instruction in the future.

Thank you, Brickdoctor. :) The shape is not that simple. There are several uncommon angles to achieve. The color scheme requires some SNOT here and there. And there is still the structure. It make a lot of things. Moreover, the body of the model is not that big. What is hard is to make everything fit well together. I have indeed very strong standards regarding the way I design my models. I try to be as close as possible to the standards a Lego designer has to face. The main restriction I do not succeed to take into account is the ref number optimisation (ref, not part). Indeed, this requires a lot of time, and the design of one part of the model (the wings, for example) also depends on the design of another part (the capsule for example), precisely to optimise the ref number on the whole model. I do not have enough time to achieve this. Moreover, it's hard for me to know exactly what parts are used where, and in what quantity, to optimise the whole build regarding the ref number. So, I do not consider this restriction. I do optimise the part number, and take many other restrictions into account, though. Painting parts is not a big deal for the approach I do have with my design process. Indeed, I really try to work as a designer. And in most of the case, the color is not a restriction they have to face. Actually, not on key parts. Some parts can NOT be changed and replaced by a part already produced. This is true for the parts that are very visible, and so plays a big role in the final look. On the contrary, sometimes it is possible to ignore the "right" color. For example, that part : http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=63868 It would have been cool to have it in dark red. But it does not exist in that color. So, I've used it in white (to attach the radar near the cockpit). White, it's fine. And it avoids to create/paint another part. Inside the model, generally, I also define a little color scheme. For instance, on the republic cruiser I choosed black for the parts that can be classified as "bricks", and dark bluish gray for those which can be classified as "plates". Well, this is a choice. I could also have choosen DBG and LBG. This color scheme on the structure helps to understand how it is built, and to identify the parts that are used. I do not use parts with odd colors (example, a green part or a yellow part in the structure) that are used in the model as a kind of mark for the kids (it makes things easier for them to compare their build with the instruction, instead of only black and DBG parts) given that I do not know exactly what are the rules to position these parts with odd colors.

Thank you. :) It is cool to read that you notice the details I included and appreciate the accuracy of the MOC. And I forgot to give the link to the Brickshlef gallery. So, here it is : http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=491912 (I also added it in the first post)

Thank you. :) The guns on the Fregate are nice. But I choose the Republic Cruiser for 2 reasons : - it is dark red. I love that color. Few ship do enable to use dark red. So, I choose the Republic Cruiser rather than the Fregate - it has some nice details at the back with all the radars and sensors. Well both models are still very similar technically speaking. I could achieve a Fregate pretty easily with the Republic Cruiser I did.

Thank you all for your comments. :) Yes, I did the math, and it turns out that the scale is very close to 10019. If my Republic was built exactly at the same scale of 10019, it should be precisely 53 cm long (it is actually 58 cm long). But in the Lego system, I think we can say that both model are built in the same scale. It is possible we discussed on Youtube. Cause I answer many questions there. Thanks for blogging the model. :) Yes, obviously. But keep in mind that the approach to adopt when designing a UCS model is very different from the one necessary to design a play set. ;)

Agreed. And I add that TLG do not care of what we can comment just with these tiny and blurry pics. If with these pics we can make observations that a Lego product designer can not do with the model in his own hand, I think there is a serious problem. O_o We may like or not the models they do. But no doubt they do know how to deal with the specifications they have to respect. The thing we may discuss is the specifications (example : the helicopter 9396 has no motor and it's cool, or, another model has a gearbox and it's pointless). But the designers will very hardly change these specifications after reading our comments. These specifications were set a while ago. What they may do now till the release is optimising the model (few parts added/removed/changed (the bucket on 8043), or a mechanism redesigned). That's all. And they do not need our help for that. Edit : back to topic. I think the models are great. I really like the helicopter. Nice colors, great parts, and very nice features. I do not appreciate the trial truck very much. But I still think it is a well designed model that kids will really enjoy.

I do not know if TLG will ever release a UCS Republic Cruiser. But if yes, I confess that I think that it would be very close to my MOC which has IMO good compromises regarding details, colors, strength, accuracy and size (and so price). The capsule is attached with SNOT (studs are upside down). Even if it can be taken appart from the ship, I wouldn't say that the capsule can be detached. Unfortunately, few people (or at least not enough, IMO) share their techniques and give explanation on "how to do that" and "why to do this that way". Thinking to "How to build a model" is really something interesting. Sometimes, I think on a model I will build 1 year later. And many times, there are parts of the vehicule/ship, that I do not know how to achieve. So, I keep on thinking. And one day (often when I'm more or less sleeping in my bed :p), I get the right idea that enable me to work on the project. This situation is very true for what will be my next project. In short : it is necessary to understand what we build and what is involved in the build in order to built a model well (well means efficiently for me). Nail ? Well, I guess it means "achieve" or "succeed". I like the structure too. Its shape is really interesting and not common. The structure is the most tricky part to design since it has to match with all the other elements of the ship : cockpit, wings, capsule, greebs, etc.

EDIT : Professional building instruction available here : You can email me at setechnic@gmail.com /EDIT Hi fellows, Here is my latest MOC : a UCS Republic Cruiser. UCS Republic Cruiser by Anio, sur Flickr UCS Republic Cruiser by Anio, sur Flickr UCS Republic Cruiser by Anio, sur Flickr The Brickshelf gallery with more photos : http://www.brickshel...ry.cgi?f=491912 Note that I have been compelled to paint some parts. Not because I was lazy to order them, but because they have never been produced in the color I need (dark red). I will switch these parts as soon as possible.. My work began in mid October. Actually, I did not plan to do a new MOC in 2011. But well, I just wanted to start a little bit that project, just to see what I could do. And it turns out that I progressed very quickly on that MOC ! Indeed, I had a very good understanding of what I had to achieve, both regarding the structure (the most interesting part IMO), the look/finition/details and the size (the final model is 58 cm long). I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to achieve a real structure from the cockpit to the engine for the model to be very well designed and strong. You can see some kind of SNIR to achieve the angles on the sides. You can also notice some vertical technic beams to "lock/strenght" the structure. Indeed, a weak structure would actually not be a structure. O_o Then, given that the tricky parts were designed, I decided to work on LDD. Everything went well, and that was very cool. UCS Republic Cruiser by Anio, sur Flickr UCS Republic Cruiser by Anio, sur Flickr The engine are a bit heavy, and so not totally horizontal. But it's fine. They are only half a millimeter bent because of the weight. That is the price to pay to get a very sleek (and simple) construction that do not damage the look of the ship. Indeed, I absolutely wanted to keep the cylinders in 8 stud wide, with dishes on top. So, I mainly use a 8L axle with stop. The engines can not spin. The build is very modular. Another very interesting aspect of the build is that the front is built in an odd width whereas the back is designed with an even width. It is the first time that I work on such thing. Well I confess that it is also why I choose the Republic Cruiser. This "problem" regarding the width was very exciting from a design perspective. ^^ I did my best to reproduce the radar and other sensors at the back. UCS Republic Cruiser by Anio, sur Flickr UCS Republic Cruiser by Anio, sur Flickr My greebs are dark bluish gray whereas they are red on the real ship. Will, I think that red greebs would not look very good on a Lego model. Beside, they would have made the model totally dark red (in the hypothesis that enough parts have been made in dark red to achieve greebs). And it is IMO important to have some variations in the colors on a Lego model. So, I did them in DBG. I am very pleased with the final model. I think it is very accurate regarding the shapes, proportions and colors. :) Et voilà ! I hope you like it as much as I do. =) Instructions soon.

Agreed. It looks great to me too.

Agreed.

Modular build (gearbox, front axle, rear axle, engine, front side) + Gearbox 5+R + steering + 3 transmission modes (+ doors, hood, etc) for 1458 parts. I do not know how the part number could be significantly lower. @ JunkstyleGio : Great answer !

It is fun to read that when people have no valuable argument to expose. I agree that the look of a model may be a matter of opinion. However, for the features, it is a matter of facts. steering + fave engine + winch + towing plateform for nearly 1,000 parts, it is lame. In other words, the set could have been smaller (and so cheaper) and includ the same features. Oh thank you so much, I was not aware of that. Really ? A handle in the cabine is enough for the 9395 to be a great set ? Really ? Nothing but a smaller model with an optimised build. Look at the concept car of Nathanaël Kuipers and compare it to most other supercars you may find on the Internet. You will understand very quickly what the words "optimised build" mean. Regarding the hinged plateform, what you did works but seems very weak. The hinge on 8462 was strong, and the plateform was automatically centered when raised. As for the gearbox, it is here only to make the motorisation possible. But motorising a plateform and a winch when we just have to raise and unwind them by 10 cm is pretty useless. Motorization make sense when the mechanisms require loads and loads of turns. Like 8295, 8053 or 8265. Sadly, the motorisation disfigures 8295 and 8053. Fortunately, motorisation is very hardly noticeable on 8265. And it is one reason why 8265 is a terrific set. Edit : Yes, exactly. After all, it is not a problem if all the models designed by the Lego designers are not perfect. I would even say that they can not all be perfect. Because they are made for kids with budget restrictions. What is boring is to read that all the models are great, that they are all outstanding, and that they all deserve 5/5. Even the Lego designers know that this is not true. They have great building skills, and so, they know the weaknesses of their model. As much as a MOCer know the weaknesses of his MOCs. As for the bad joke, it is a taunt.

I do not understand your question. 8265 is a great set. Awesome look, great features, so many gears, and motorizing make the model even cooler. 9395 is not a great set. That's it. No, the concept is good. A towing vehicle, isn't it a nice idea ? I really think that what sucks is the way it is built. Too much parts. It was possible to get the same functions in a much smaller model. The problem is the gearbox : it has no reason to be in such model. The gearbox increases pointlessly the size of the model. And it is still VERY annoying that the lifting plateform is not hinged. It is not convenient at all to steer when towing a vehicle. 8462 was perfect on that point. Too bad they didn't make something similar. :(

Humor ? No. Critical eye and analysis of what a good set can be. 1) Agreed 2) Playing value is definitely not high. The fake engine is interesting and necessary, but it is a function you can hardly play with. The winch, as all the winches, is boring. It remains steering + towing platform. :-/ Not much for a 950 part model. For example, 8071 has 350 parts less, but is much more playable. 3) The complexity make me think to 8289. I doubt the build is that interesting 4) Agreed. Nevertheless, big size is not synonymous of interesting model IMO. 5) That may be useful for AFOLs who do MOCs. A kid does not care much about the part number. He will buy and use the model for what it is : a towing vehicle. If the pointless motorizing option (with 8293) was not included in this model, it was possible to design a model with the same functions (engine, steering, platform, winch) but with "only" 750 parts.

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=9395-1 954 parts for so few features. Steering, fake engine, towing platform, winch (I do not consider the pointless gearbox). Seriously, this set is a (bad) joke.

Yes, the model does not look very good. Yes, it is not very accurate to. But honnestly, I think a kid will have a lot of fun when playing with it. For that reason, I think this model is not that bad. Keep in mind that this model is a play set, not a collector or UCS model. ;)

Time will tell...

You can modulate the stiffness of shock absorbers by reducing the length of the lever arm they are attached to. It is very interesting to see how a given shock absorber can produce very different results. Look at the 8297. The suspensions are very strong. And look at the Concept Car from Nathanaël Kuipers. It uses the same shock absorbers as 8927, but it is very smooth (actually, the best suspensions I have ever seen). So, I think you can go with the shock absorber of 8110.

Yes, with 10221 and 10030, you have a lot of part to do my model. :) For the payment, just convert the amount you want to give with xe.com.