Erik Leppen

I think Lego is popular because children are made to touch and hold things, and to create things. We are also wired for play. Our versatile hands and big brains reflect this. No video game I know about offers the same touch, hold, play, create aspect the way Lego does. Also, there's still not many rivals. Yes we have K'Nex which as a different system, and we still have Meccano-based systems, but I don't know about the popularity of those. But systems like this were there for quite some time. And then we have clone bricks. But, for people who see the difference, it won't harm Lego. For people who don't see the difference, the bricks are Lego either way, but I do think the real Lego has better box art and better set designs than clone bricks, so will often (but not always) be chosen over the clones.

And animations. I think a lot of the bandwidth is going to the 360-degree rotating animated computer images. Those have a lot of frames, and because they're probably crisp, they might compress badly. At least, most of the page's loading time goes to them. And to be honest, I'd rather see them behind a link, because most of the time I don't care about them, and they slow down the loading of the page a lot. Putting them behind a link will also reduce the number of views to only those people who bother clicking on that link. Edit: I now just read the other replies. I see you already took care of this. Maybe the problem is somewhere else. Are people hotlinking your images? Do you have some sort of download counters on your images, so you can see which ones are viewed the most, and, hence, which ones generate the most traffic.

I'd say the minimum requirement would be having suspension, steering, drive, engine and a gearbox with different speeds (not a function-switcher as in 8070). So that would disqualify 8070. It would also disquialify many Power Functions-driven models. But I don't mind disqualifying those, because however great they may be, I do not consider them supercars in the Technic sense of the word. I think a supercar is a car that somewhat "realistically" shows what a real car does, functionality-wise, and a gearbox for me is an integral part of that. Electric components, in my view, aren't. So 8466 would be a "supercar" to me.

Because people are wired to share. Whence else the success of sites like Facebook? We are made for sharing. That's how we got here.

Yeah, I'm quite happy with it as well. Thanks! A video won't be possible anymore I think. The model isn't assembled at the moment and in fact I don't have access to my LEGO right now. But yes, I like this size as well. It's not overly demanding on parts and manageable in time, and the digital file doesn't make my computer stall ;) Those new wheels were a perfect move by TLC :D Good idea that I didn't think of. Might check that out, thanks! Yeah, this is at least the second or third rebuild. Especially the steering and outriggers was a challenge. The chassis is not as rigid as I wanted, but but it's good enough and works. Thanks :) That's another advantage of mid-sized models - it's actually doable to create the instructions. This size is about the limit before LPub acts weird on my pc. Thanks for all the comments. Also the ones I didn't quote :) Anyhow, about the hidden feature. Maybe you can find it in the picture showing all the gearing :)

So, disassembling wasn't as stupid as you thought ;) After all, if you hadn't disassembled it, you wouldn't have rebuilt it :) I also think it's a great set. I understand some of the critiques about the main model, but I don't share them. I like it. I like it much better than the B model, in fact. And yes, bright green is great. I hope we will see more of the color in the future.

This mobile crane is a smaller (and other-coloured) version of set 42009, but without all the electronics. It has all functions of 42009 (but manual), except the cylinder engine and the three-stage boom. However, it does have a jib instead, and a separate counterweight. And, it does have another really nice feature that is not in 42009! Can you guess? The four outriggers move simultaniously horizontally, then vertically. Same as in 42009. The crane can rotate 360 degrees, but this is not driven. The LAs raise the main boom. The boom has one extending inner section. There is also a jib that can be mounted manually using the new 5L axles with stop. The red unit that has the pulleys for the winch can be separated, and then mounted on the end of the jib using the same axles. The counterweight can be put on the carrier, behind the cabin, but can also be mounted at the back of the superstructure. All it takes to do this is to remove the knob at the back of the superstructure, as this unit also holds the axles that hold the counterweight in place. The main cabin has doors that can open The ground clearance of the crane is a bit more than that of other sets. No PF, all manual, like a classic Technic set. The model is about 1900 pieces. Not many rare pieces, although some orange parts may be rare due to their color. I'm sure they're readily available in other colors though. The color scheme came about after the wish to do something with orange. I initially used blue for the wheel arches, but when starting on the boom I noticed I needed white for the curved panels. As white-orange-blue was a bit of a clash, I switched to red instead. Also, the new black pin with pin hole is a magnificent piece and I use it everywhere, so expect to need a few of those if you decide to build this. It also has 8 of the 5x7 frames to build up the chassis. The space between the third and fourth axle (that isn't there in 42009) was needed to link the gearing for the left and right outrigger pairs. See more on my site: Orange crane on erikleppen.nl (in Dutch). Free PDF building instructions are also available on my website. Use the green Download bar on that page. Instructions are made using LPub. More pictures are inside the spoiler to keep topic size in check:

This truck is a smaller (and blue) version of set 8258, but without all the electronics. It does have a steering rear axle though. Steering on axles 1, 2 and 4. Every axle has a different steering angle. The steering wheel in the cabin works too (as in ye olde 8649)! The four outriggers move simultaniously. Although the rear outriggers are smaller, they have nearly the same vertical reach. The crane can rotate 360 degrees The crane arm can fold out in two places, just like that of 8258. Only one of the two crane functions is routed through the turntable, not both as in 8258; this didn't fit. The final section has an extending inner section, that has the winch. Unfortunately, the small actuator is just strong enough for the boom itself, so lift capacity is negligible... The bed can dump via a LA Doors of the cabin can open No PF, all manual, like a classic Technic set. The model is about 1100 pieces. Not many rare pieces, only the wheel arches use the Beam 2L with 45-degree 1L bar to create the 135-degree angles. Some pins are extended to 4L pins using 4L bars inside normal pins. This technique only works with the newer, thinner version of the black pins. The new pin with pin hole is a magnificent piece and I use this everywhere, so expect to need a few of those. Also, four of the new light gray axles 1L with round hole are used. See more on my site: Blue truck with crane on erikleppen.nl (in Dutch). Free PDF building instructions are also available on my website. Use the green Download bar on that page. Instructions are made using LPub. More pictures are inside the spoiler to keep topic size in check:

This is like a better version of the new funny car set. Same stuff, but in a smaller package and less open space. Nice job.

I always thought the dark gray 3L axle-pin was softer to make it easier to remove. But I don't know where I got this from.

Depends. If it's a Pagani Zonda, I'd think twice.

Same question, same answer... A folding crane.

Aren't "hiding the functions" and "realism" also functions, in a way? Edit: not directed at you specifically, just using your quote I mean, Technic has always been about "just as in real life". In real life, functions are hidden too. I think customers can appreciate the functions by building the model, and then, when it's done, it looks nice and it has all the functions they built. Anyway, I don't think I prefer any over the other. As long as a model has a consistent style, I'm fine with it. 8448 is skeletal maybe, but it's consistently skeletal, so it's good. (Also, 8448 is a great set that I personally consider heavily underappreciated.)

Great to see instructions for this lovely model, many thanks for creating them! Lots of detail goes into the model, I like how compact everything is, and all the angles it has. I didn't know you could resize individual steps, that's good to know.

Definitely both. Because digital building and physical bluiding are best for different things, you get the best outcome by mixing. What I often do is, I build with normal bricks, run into a problem, then fire up MLCAD. I bring the digital version up-to-date with the physical version, and try to solve the problem, and test it with real bricks. If it works, I continue. This problem can be anything. Problems best solved physically: aesthetics, rigidity (designing a strong frame), suspension, linkage-based mechanisms, things involving lots of weird angles Problems best solved digitally: gearboxes/function switchboxes, cramming many independent drive axles into a small space, gear-based mechanisms, things involving right angles mostly In general, problems best solved digitially are those where you want to put parts in a space that isn't fixed in place yet. I.e. first place axles/mechanisms, then add bracing. You can't do that physically; you need the bracing first otherwise it falls apart.

MOC colors will always stay behind of set colors. We see that now with white, which has been replenished in the last few years. There're parts in white that aren't available even in yellow, for example the very useful 2 x 0.5 beam. Orange is available for a while now, but it's not prevalent enough yet to see many orange MOCs. 42038 has been a great help though, and I'm beginning to get a supply usable for MOCing. (Expect a MOC by me soon that uses orange.) We have seen bright green recently come up in a set - it will take a while, if ever, to see it occur frequently in MOCs. I love the color, and am currently using it on a truck. This is a challenge with only three beam lengths available. Same goes for regular green. There's still gaps in the supply of green beams. Dark blue also has only been used in one set (not counting the record breaker pullback set), which is also too few to see it return in MOCs. More recently, medium azure has come up - I'm curious to see what people will do with the few parts in that color. Another set of colors we rarely see for supercars, is gray and dark gray. It's understandable, as it's not very flashy, but we have seen a few gray and dark-gray off-road vehicles.

I really like the red one. Black is also cool, it makes he whole thing a bit more serious and "mysterious". But I think red fits the type of vehicle really well. But I would do another color than blue for the seats, I think. Blue is used a lot by TLC for the seats already, maybe you could do something else. It's only 8 pieces as far as I can tell. Maybe you could do yellow for the seats, as the color of the springs then comes back.

Why are there no half-width liftarms with round holes at the ends and X holes in the middle; and hardly any beams whatsoever with X holes in the middle? Adding a single such part would tremendously increase the different options, probably more than the recent 5 x 1/2 liftarm with X hole ends. Why do flex axles have lengths 7, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 19? What's the logic behind this sequence? What determines when a part is no longer used, for example, the 24t crown gear or the 5 x 7 x 1/2 beam with quarter ellipse? Why are there 4, 5 and 8 axles with stop and not other lengths? Also, one thing that annoys me a bit is how the axle 5 with stop has the same color as the axle 3 with stud, and the axle 3 with stop has to be a new color. The current color coding scheme for axles with stops and studs is now very illogical. The 3 with stud should have been a different color because it is a different type part. I understand the idea of having color coding for parts, but why are the colors so bright? I.e. the red 16t clutch gear. Why red? Why not something a bit more neutral, e.g. brown, or dark tan? I understand the idea of having color coding for gears, but why do the colors make so little sense? Why is it that not e.g. simply all gears with round holes (16t and 20t) are the same color, all sliding gears (8t and worm) are the same color, etc.? Why are there no 28t and 32t gears to complete the bunch, similarly to how 3, 6, 5, 7 and 9 axles have been introduced over the years? Why are pneumatics yellow? Wouldn't the new pneumatic system have been the ideal opportunity to finally produce them in a neutral color, e.g. use the power function double-gray color scheme? Why do Technic sets almost always have blue seats? Why is it that most colored technic sets have only a few elements in their main color, almost all the rest being neutral colors? E.g. how the recent buggy only has a few lime parts, or how the go kart only has about 10 orange parts? Why are there so many colors in Technic that have only a few parts available? (e.g. bright green) Why are some pretty basic parts still missing in some pretty basic colors? (e.g. yellow 1x2x0.5 liftarm, yellow angle connector #2) Why does the recent go kart use purple 3x13 panels? Wouldn't it make more sense to have that panel available in a more useful color, like yellow?

It depends a lot on how far you want to go with detailing. I, for example, don't use the buffer exchange system. I just add the parts in place. If something is unclear, I put it in a submodel and work with smaller steps. My limit is somewhere around 2000 parts (anything beyond that makes LPub and LDview act weird). But my models can have as much as 50 submodels. Sometimes a submodel has only four parts. Also, I just omit the strings and flexible elements. I just do the instructions in a way that AFOLs will probably understand and can fill in the details. And yes, MLCad and LPub are slow (on my computer as well, and it's certainly not a slow computer). I do have a very useful tip though, for combatting the slowness a little. What I do, is when I first open LPub to make the instructions, I first print a PDF of everything, just so it renders everything. During this process, which can easily take 15 minutes or longer, I just go do something else (e.g. take lunch, build something, play a game on my tablet, etc.). This way, I don't have to wait 10 seconds or so every time a new page loads, because everything is already rendered. The layout phase (the fun part, IMO) then goes much quicker. Unless there's mistakes of course. Then it all starts over again.

I'm bumping this topic as well with my quest for instructions! Download PDF building instructions for Model Team Compact Crane (from my own site) Also, the model now proudly features on my website: Model Team Compact Crane on erikleppen.nl.

I had a huge update for my website recently, and I also collected all my building instructions. And there's one of the folding crane! Although it doesn't include the strings, all the parts that are in contact with strings are colored purple for easy recognizability. Download building instructions for Folding crane (from my website, erikleppen.nl). Use this image for all the strings. Also, see the model on my own website.

Yes, I know it's a huge bump, but for good reason, because there's building instructions! Download building instructions for Valuable Transport (from my website, erikleppen.nl). Also, see the model on my own website.

The problem with drawers is that you have to open them, pick something out, close them. That's three actions. I couldn't imagine having to do three things for every piece I need (and three for every piece I put back). So I use open trays for everything I use often. This is much quicker.

I don't get the hype about 8285. In my view it's pretty average. Yes, it's huge, has a lot of very useful parts for a reasonable price, and has silver elements and a nice design, but purely from a technical perspective, I found it didn't really break new ground. It has a lot of open space. Also, it has the old style panels which match badly with the new style. So, it's a pick between the other two, 8258 and 8110. And I think you can't go wrong with either. Both are very nice on functions and complexity, and both have a nice package and a great parts inventory. You can certainly learn new things from both sets.

I use MLCAD, use submodels extensively, and use LPub to create the instructions. This process is time-intensive, but learnable, although it's advised to start simple so you get to know how the programs work and how you should adapt your digital files to them. And yes, the ordering of pieces is something I do manually, in MLCAD. Especially with Technic I think this is necessary. I do it in reverse order - I start with the final model, then repeatedly do the following: find a few pieces that can be taken off select those pieces put them on the bottom of the part list hide those pieces put a STEP in front of the hidden pieces save your file reload the model in LDView Repeat until no pieces remain. Then make everything visible again, and review the process in LDView to see if the steps are doable. You might awnt to add ROT_STEPs to make things better visible. Also, anything that could be a sub-assembly, put that in a sub-model in MLCAD. Consider the sub-model to be just a normal part like all other parts in the main model, and repeat the whole reverse-take-off process for the submodel. Of course a submodel can also have sub-submodels, and so on. And yes, this takes time. I need multiple evenings for a model of 1500 pieces. So I only do it for models I consider instructions-worthy. If this is done, I use LPub to position the steps and sub-steps on the page. THis is more straightforward, but LPub is relatively slow so this requires patience, and the newest version of LPub crashes a lot on my PC.