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Erik Leppen

Eurobricks Dukes
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Everything posted by Erik Leppen

  1. Erik Leppen
    The collectable minifigs series bother me for this reason. It's not about what Lego used to be about.
  2. Erik Leppen
    I'd say, get the oldest one first. The oldest one will go out of production soonest. That will give you more time to get the other ones later.
  3. Erik Leppen
    AFOLs seem to do quite well on the originality aspect. Why couldn't a company do the same? Anyhow. I think LEGO has a single selling point above all others and that is their quality. They have to maintain that, otherwise people will slowly but surely fail to see the differences between LEGO and clones. I have no idea about how the quality of clones is evolving, but my guess would be that they will some day rise to an acceptable standard.
  4. Erik Leppen
    Everyone except Anio loves this set, or so it seems. He sure is a good example of a vocal minority ;) Edit: I see the extensive reply by Mark Bellis only now. Good post :) /edit I do like this set. I don't own it, but I think the designer has pulled of something quite remarkable, seeing the almost complete lack of unused space in the truck. It surely forfills the "interesting build" criterion with ease. It might have a playability problem, as you can read on the Techlug review which, if I remember correctly, is written by Anio and that this Eurobricks review doesn't really touch upon (however I haven't watched the video, so maybe it's there). For the rest, the review is great, and I really love the photography here - crisp, colorful and without distractions. The conclusion talks about 8285 too much, which is not what I'm interested in if I click a 42009 review, but as for the rest the review seems pretty extensive. So great job on that :) But, that said, Anio should really work on his communicative skills. Also, in my opinion, you can't turn a whole set down because of a single design decision. Anio has a muddled view - he has decided he doesn't like it, so any positive aspect is waved away and every negative aspect is strengthened, due to confirmation bias on his part.
  5. Erik Leppen
    I think it's a stupid single-purpose POOP in a non-reusable color and with very limited connection options, but I seem to be a minority so far. Edit: I mean the red box. The gray extender looks somewhat useful to me. But nothing the existing 13L gear rack can't do, except be a little longer.
  6. Erik Leppen
    Same here. There are enough parts in the various colors to cover the axles (e.g. the pin joiner) so I don't think other-coloured axles are needed. And they add production cost and confusion. I like it as it is, really. I'd rather have differently coloured bushes :) Those are often more "visible".
  7. Erik Leppen
    I really like your version Detzit! I especially like the dishes in the wheels. Also your wheel arches are a great solution.
  8. Erik Leppen
    It can work. But it's not "in system". I have used it in this case to create a driven steered axle without universal joints: (Again, it needs a 0.1 stud offset, hence the yellow plates) What's also interesting is that two 14t gears placed with the flat sides towards eachother, can work as a sprocket for a chain. As the 8t and 12t don't work as chain sprockets, double 14t is the smallest chain sprocket.
  9. Erik Leppen
    When I see someone complaining about the large number of pins in a Technic set, I'd like tochallenge them to build a studless Technic model with no pins. There are pins in Technic for the same reasons there are plates in Creator. But as for set price. Personally I'd like to see sets with less air too, but the main reason I feel that Lego is becoming more expensive is that they produce more sets. The 10 cents per piece (in Euro) has been an estimate for quite some time now, and it seems to still hold.
  10. Erik Leppen
    File size, download times, bandwidth, compatibility, rendering time :) Also, your actual question seems to be "how does the 28t turntable work", and getting instructions files seems to be just one means to an end. Am I correct?
  11. Erik Leppen
    Why do you ask? You can simply count the studs ;) Anyhow, looking at the wheel setup it looks a tiny bit longer than 8258.
  12. Erik Leppen
    Why did you use red bars in the outriggers, and not axles with bushes? Anyhow, I think it's great model. I like the colors, and it's a vehicle not much seen. The build style is very set-like. An improvement could be to have the outriggers so that they return over center, so they "lock" (similar to how 8460 does it).
  13. Erik Leppen
    Is the 2x4 brick someone's IP? Is any other LEGO element someone's IP? (We all use LEGO elements for our MOCs, after all. Are they original works, or are they always derivative works?) Is the digital representation of any LEGO element inside a computer program someone's IP? Most of us use 3D-models of Lego elements when we make instructions. Are those instructions original or derivative? Anyhow, to answer the original question, I do think that indeed, TLC will avoid using MOCs as inspiration to avoid discussions like this. Because discussions like this are never fun if a lawsuit is at stake.
  14. Erik Leppen
    It is a fire plane. What shade of red fits a fire plane best? I say it has to be normal red. No doubt about it.
  15. Erik Leppen
    What do you mean? What about the designers? Those don't work for free ;) Designing a model costs time, and this is reflected in the price. You are always paying people to spend time doing work. That's how economy works. This work may be creating the moulds, maintaining the moulding process, transporting the raw materials to the factory, shipping the sets, designing the models, creating the instructions, advertising, etc. etc. You don't pay for materials, you pay for the time that was spent getting the materials to you. And of all the elements that determine the price of a set, you cannot know which part is which percentage unless you are one of TLC's financial bookkeepers. Finally, a good post that actually covers new ground ;) I like this idea a lot and it should be doable given the current state of the internet. However, the options are not mutually exclusive. One can have an official alterntive model AND additional alternative models designed by fans.
  16. Erik Leppen
    Wasn't the plane just 600 parts or so? That's about half of 42025. It would be great to have that much functionality in only 600 pieces. This could turn out to be a really nice medium-sized set. If the inventory is promising and the price decent, I might get it.
  17. Erik Leppen
    I was thinking lately, but I run the risk of saying something everyone had already found out, but anyways... There had been some complaints over the past years about the lack of pneumatics in Technic. I think it's simpl because they were busy developing new pneumatics, and this is the result. I am also quite certain that we will continue to see pneumatics in Technic, probably now on a more regular basis than the past few years, after all they have all these lovely new parts now, which would open up new possibilities and at least brings their size and range up to par with LA's. What will the next use of pneumatic be? I'm already curious what they will do with these new parts, and the truck isn't even out yet :D
  18. Erik Leppen
    After all this time on Eurobricks I still hadn't started my own MOC topic. And it's way overdue :D And as I built a MOC I'm pretty happy about, this would be a nice thread starter :) Remember the Model team compo a few months back, where I sent in my compact crane? Well, I got into the Model team groove I guess, because I wanted to build something more looks-focused this time, and this resulted in this truck. It's technically relatively simple, with steering on axles 1, 2, 4, 5, a dumping bed (via LA via knob on both sides) with rear hinged door, and a cabin that can tilt and whose doors can open. Unfortunately no fake engine. What's more interesting (I think) is that I have made full instructions with MLCad, LDView and LPub. Check them out on my site! Kiepwagen (tipper truck) 2014 - with instructions The page is in Dutch, but I'm sure you'll find your way around. Download in Dutch is also "download" so I'm sure you can find the link to the instructions ;) (as well as some extra photos). Take the opportunity to learn a bit of my language, but be sure to check out the other models in the left navigation bar, as I've built quite a lot over the years ;)
  19. Erik Leppen
    You're gonna win so much nostalgia points with this :D The original model has always been one I particularly liked, because of the odd looks and the interesting pneumatics. Good to see you kept both, but added more functionality to it and motorized the whole thing. You even added suspension! Although the container looks too "bulky" compared to the original, but oh well. All in all I like it a lot. Great job :)
  20. Erik Leppen
    I really don't get what all the disappointment is coming from. To be honest I think this is a magnificent model. I'm not into the theme, but just looking at the model by itself, I'm quite thrilled by it. I think it is really intriguing and has a lot of interesting stuff into it. I'm very curious to the instructions (as I won't have the money anyway unless a miracle happens). I also love the microfigure scale. It makes a lot of sense here, and I think it works really well. I really hope they will do this for other sets in the future. Same with all the microscale vehicles, I think they're great. I also like the studs-everywhere approach. It makes the runway stand out more, and afterall, it is a Lego set and I think that with all the studs, this model really feels Lego-y. The only thing I really dislike is the minifig stand and minifigs. I understand it is a collector's item, but I just have zero point nil interest in minifigs, so I'd rather have a cheaper set without them, and them being available as a separate add-on set. As a whole the model looks great. The price is a bit less praiseworthy though...
  21. Erik Leppen
    How much do you build, disassemble and rebuild? I'm asking, because I have a very large problem with parts cracking. It doesn't seem color-related or part-type-related. All connectors having a "bush" element have the exact same problem, and all half-beams with axle holes have the same problem. I already have the first cracked . For me the conclusion is simple: all those parts have a design fault where they are designed with too much clutch power. Some new sets are a nightmare to pull apart (9390 was a particularly bad case) because all the axle holes hold so darn tight it's not funny anymore. And it's not even needed - everything is braced, then braced orthogonally, and then secured in the third dimension, so even with 25% of the current clutch power everything would still work, but sets would be easier to pull apart and parts would last much longer. Many gears have less clutch power - and more "flesh" around the hole - so logically they don't crack. (The only gears I have had cracked in my whole life is a few old 14t's, one or two 8t's, and a few of the old 24t's with three axle holes.) Also, round holes never crack because the hole is stronger than the pin, while for axleholes, the axle is stronger than the hole.
  22. Erik Leppen
    At the moment, proper well-argumented discussion on the subject of the complexity trend of Technic is being overruled by expression of nostalgic feelings and personal preference. Also, "complex" is confused with "interesting". They are not the same thing. I (still) think Technic sets are getting more complex. Pneumatics might be preferred by some AFOLs (not by me) but that is a whole different thing than whether they are more complex. What we prefer does play no role in the answering to this question. Are pneumatics more complex? I think it depends on the set. I think 42008 is a very complex set, given how much they managed to fit in a small space. And 42009 I think is the most complex Technic set ever. But how do you compare it to a set like 8455 (without letting personal preference play a role!)? Maybe some sets from 2014 and 2015 are less complex than 8258 and 42009. But that's hardly a reason to say that Technic as a theme is getting less complex. A theme getting less complex means to me that the most complex sets are old sets. They aren't. So Technic is not getting less complex. And yes, some old sets are complex, like 8880 and 8480 (which I thin kare the two most complex studded sets). But are they more complex than 8043 and 42009 (and if so, how?)
  23. Erik Leppen
    I'mn really looking forward to how you will be doing the outriggers and the huge crane. And, apparently, a six-fold function switchbox? That's gonna be interesting for sure. Oh, and cool subject matter as well, of course :)
  24. Erik Leppen
    I always build all models when I get a set. One can always learn from building other people's models, the official models being first choice. I don't understand buying a set and not building all models. It's like buying a game and only playing through the first half. The set design (and the building experience design) is part of the price, and, to me, a big part of the fun of buying a new set. I have never understood, and probably will never understand, the idea of buying a set twice "to build the B model". Haven't those people found out yet that models they have built can also be taken apart and the parts reused? Isn't that the whole idea of the B model? That said, it continues to surprise me how much money people throw at this hobby anyways, so yeah. Anyhow, I do find B models better in the studded era. Right now you can usually directly spot which model is the main, and which is the alternative. I think 8258B is nice, but 8258A is much more interesting in almost every way. And almost always when the A model has a function switcher, the B model has a function switcher with fewer functions. Ever noticed? I do think 42009B is bleh, but that's because I don't care about the play features. For the same reason I think 42008A is brilliant and 42008B is meh. 42008B is simply ugly (partly due to the bad color mix). But some B-models do look really neat. I have always loved the B of 8856, the red hovercraft, and I have high expectations from 42025B as well.
  25. Erik Leppen
    First build something and show it here, then we can make suggestions and have tips. We can't help if you don't show something to help on.
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