DLuders

Yes, it would be useful to have more speed (and LESS torque) at certain times, and vice versa. If one considers Zblj's Hyperbeast (in which he used two Lego RC Buggy Motors), one could get the heavy "beast" moving with the High Torque/ Low Speed option, then switch into a higher gear when it's moving fast on flat ground.

I don't think I have seen two different, interchangeable motor/gearbox options for the same MOC! It handles the "faceplants" well after getting over an obstacle. Do you know how much it weighs? It appears that the Power Functions motor option has better performance than the NXT motor option -- which one do you prefer?

On his website, Sariel (Paul Kmiec) posted a Lego "RC Motor Output Selector -- A mechanism that selects which of the RC motor’s two outputs is used, and can effectively work as a gearbox." Recommend reading the entire article; here are the highlights: "As you’re probably well aware, the [5292] RC motors are unique for having two outputs, with the inner output (the one closer to the middle) having roughly 35% more speed and less torque than the outer one. Usually when using an RC motor, one has to choose one output that seems better suited for the job. With this simple mechanism, it is possible to switch between one output and another, and since the outputs have different characteristics, it can effectively work as a gearbox.... "...even though I used two RC motors in the instruction, the mechanism can be used just as well with a single motor. It’s just that I and many other builders tend to use the RC motors in tandems. Additionally, two 6-studs long axles has been used as the output of the entire mechanism here, but you can obviously change it as you see fit." BIG LPub step-by-step Building Instructions are available there and on his Brickshelf gallery (when moderated). Here are the direct links to the 3 instruction pages: Page 1, Page 2, and Page 3.

TwoMorrows Publishing announces that "BrickJournal #15 (84 full-color pages)...takes a look at the LEGO Mecha genre of building, especially in Japan! Feature editor Nathan Bryan spotlights mecha builders such as Saito Yoshikazu, Takayuki Torii, Sukyu and others! We'll also talk with Brian Cooper and Mark Neumann about their mecha creations. If you wanted to learn how to build mecha, we'll have instructions by Saito Yoshikazu! All this, plus our regular columns on minifigure customization, building, event reports, our step-by-step "You Can Build It" instructions, and much more. Edited by Joe Meno." "In anticipation of the issue's release, TwoMorrows Publishing is letting readers download a FREE PDF preview of the issue at this link: http://www.twomorrows.com/media/BrickJournal15Preview.pdf . This [2.7-MB] preview features a good sampling of the various interviews, articles, and images from the issue." To get the full PRINT or DIGITAL edition, see http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=963 .

@ Calabar: There is a nice spiral staircase on the Lego DesignByMe Gallery; I did a search for the term "Staircase" and the LDD .lxf file popped up for download. Maybe you could adapt it to your needs.

@ ba12348: Welcome to Eurobricks! After you build the wheels and place it on your vehicle, please post your creation so that people can see it!

@ olaf9198: robbiemccarthy posted this of a Lego Water Pump that illustrates what efferman was saying. robbiemccarthy's description of the video reads:"Using a basic principle of concentration gradients, I built this water pump out of nothing but Legos and a plastic water bottle. More information here: http://web.me.com/robbiemccarthy/Compositions/pump.html How it works: One Lego motor, drawing power from a Lego battery box, activates a Lego pneumatic pump which pumps air through one tube into the sealed water bottle. The water is forced out by the increasing pressure into the other tube protruding from the cap; into a plant, cup, or any other vessel in need of a soaking. One variation of this which i have been wanting to try, is connecting it to an RCX or NXT brick. By doing this, I could make it light sensor activated, so it waters my plant ever morning. (As long as the RCX/NXT has an external power source, which you can find online.)"

I personally own three of the Power Functions Adapters, and they work great. You just cannot get any more compact and lightweight than a 9V battery + adapter. There are many tiny Lego MOCs that now can be motorized (and not have to lug around a big battery box). I placed one inside a Lego tank that did not have much room, and performance of the tank improved due to the decreased weight.

No, the Lego Technic Designers only recognized AFOL entries for the March 2011 Challenge. Scroll to the bottom of this webpage. There was a blog entry yesterday about "Sports Vehicles", so (following the pattern) one can assume that the July 2011 Challenge will be the same thing.

Conchas has a nice, timely article about the 1:12-scale Unimog's new parts over on TechnicBRICKS.

The winner of the May 2011 Lego Technic Challenge is malyMech's yellow Hornet Delta 6 futuristic helicopter: "This type of helicopter involved in extreme races in 2015. It is very slim and fast. One M motor rotates propellers and two M motors provide tilting propellers. The propellers, which are above the other rotates in the opposite direction." Prize:

You could possibly substitute a mini Linear Actuator (mLA) made by Zblj: Alternatively, you could possibly re-engineer (mix and match) Zblj's pneumatic LDD parts (pictured below) to create a full-size Linear Actuator part that can be adjusted within LDD. A Lego Technic Axle sliding up and down the center of 2x2 Round Bricks looks like a LA, if you color it Light Bluish Gray and attach the appropriate connections on the top and bottom....

@ Milan! Nice find! If you look at your high-resolution, 2700 x 2000 pixel picture, and enlarge it to full size, one can appreciate the ACTUAL SIZE of the 2H2011 Lego Technic Unimog 8110 set. Start saving your money now for the August 2011 release!

On his website, Nico71 (Nicolas Lespour) posted his new Lego Pneumatic Engine (LPE) Tools software (which can be accessed here). He states that "This new tool has been designed to help builders to know more about their Lego Pneumatic Engines. LPEtool manages all the important data : type of cylinder, number, switch, modified or not, dimensions… The tool calculates the maximun power (at maximun speed and pressure) and the average torque which varies with the rotation of the crankshaft." "For instance, this classic LPE with 1 cylinder provides 1.3W of power whereas the Nicjasno’s 8 cylinder big block provides 100W, that is surprising but with 1500rpm and 6 bars of pressure, it is quite normal. If you have comment, question of suggestion, feel free to comment in this post."

On his website, Nico71 posted pictures and a YouTube video of his Lego Cuckoo Clock. He wrote: "The clock has a standard minute-hand and second-hand with 1/60 gear ratio composed of worm/24t, 20/20t and 16/40t. There is not hour-hand because of the available place. The pendulum mechanism is not a vertical pendulum but a double horizontal pendulum with two masses (61mm wheels). The escapement wheel is composed of two 6-tooth wheels. The accuracy is +-10% for 1 second because of play. The autonomy is rather good, with 50cm string, a 5/1 ratio before the escapement wheel and 150g of counterweight, the autonomy is 30min. With a pulley and 1m of string and 300g, it may be reach 1h of autonomy." "Concerning the cuckoo, it is powered by a weight lifted up by the minute-hand (one time each hour), when it reaches a special point, it falls down and make the cuckoo get out . The mechanism is simple and has no need to be lifted. Consequently, the clock has one counterweight to power all functions. The counterweight can be easily lifted up thanks to the sliding wheel." "Despite the fact that the cuckoo out mechanism has a non-linear motion, I think that it doesn’t get out enough time. The ideal behaviour must be a normal behaviour during the lifting and a viscous behaviour during the fall in order to slown down the cuckoo. To finish, I will certainly create the building instructions !"

@ Milan: I don't recall seeing these pictures before. The tires say 94.3 x 38 R -- they are a new size not listed on Bricklink's "Tire on Wheel Relationships" webpage.

Sariel/ searme just completed this Monster Truck and made a about it. It is All Wheel Drive (AWD) and has three steering modes. Details are on his website.

@ Grohl: Your Sandhill Crane (pictured below) was such a hit in last year's Challenge! If this year's Challenge criteria is simply to "Build a cool and tough crane", then maybe somebody else will build a Whooping Crane or other type of Crane bird....

@ Solscud007: Recommend contacting TLG's Customer Service (via e-mail, or (better yet) by telephone: "For assistance in English, call us toll free at 1-800-838-9647. We are available Monday - Friday 8 am to 10 pm. Saturday & Sunday 10 am to 6 pm EST." There is no way it should take several months to get a DesignByMe set. See the Terms: "Shipping Times: USA -- min 15 days, max 21 days" I don't know what the "normal" turnaround time is, but I got two overseas Pick-A-Brick orders filled in about a week. Have your Lego Order Number ready so that they can track it down.

Yes, it should be June 20th and not May 20th. I will send an e-mail to TLG's Customer Service again for the same lack of attention to detail in their Challenge posts.

As anticipated by many AFOLs, the June 2011 Lego Technic Challenge is "Cranes". It "ENDS Sunday 19th of June by 23:59 CET [Central European Time]". "Take the Technic Challenge - Build a cool and tough crane! This is the LEGO® Technic Challenge competition! - here you have a chance at showing the LEGO Technic designers your designs and your abilities with the Technic elements. The competition is very simple 1. Build a model out of primarily LEGO Technic elements. 2. Take a picture of the model 3. Press the button below to Enter the competition 4. Enter your contact information 5. Upload your image What to build? This month (June) the competition focuses on strength and stability. Build a cool and tough crane! NEW Competition Requirement! We've had several instances of cheating, so we've had to include a new requirement: download and print the TECHNIC Challenge logo and put it next to your model when you take a photo. Your entry must include the Challenge logo to be considered as a finalist. The printed logo must be in the photo, and not added in a digital painting program like Photoshop. How does it work? Right now you can submit models. On the 20th of May 20th of June, a panel of judges consisting of designers, marketing managers, building instruction artists and more will pick out (of all submissions) 10 finalists that will then be put up for voting here on the site. Considerations for the Nominees will be based on Model, Design, build to theme and age. The winner will receive a prize and also continue to the Big Finale in October." @ Siegfried: Could you edit the second line of the post title to make it shorter? I cannot change it. The challenge deadline is June 19th (not June 1), but my LONG title chopped off the "9". Thank you.

On the Lego Technic Designers Blog, there was this post by Casper Thingholm: "LEGO Technic Flagship Model in August" "As most of you know, the LEGO Technic flagship is usually launched in August. This year will be no exception! We have already seen that a lot of the fans are discussing the model in communities and we start getting questions about it. Some of you have also guessed that it will be the biggest LEGO Technic model ever - and you are right! The model is built of 2048 elements and is a multifunctional vehicle. In the following months, we will let you have a sneak preview on some of the details in the model." "As said, the model is a multifunctional vehicle and one of its fantastic possibilities is the ability to apply tools both in the front and in the back of the vehicle. To do this, we have made it possible to direct the air pressure from a pneumatic cylinder to both ends. The result is an increased number of opportunities to use the pneumatic functions that you may find in this model. We look forward to share more details." "Happy Building!"

Grohl's model is very close to the real Short-Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft:

Mainman has built quite a few 1:100-scale aircraft -- check out his latest image on Flickr:

Since the Lego 64065 "Pneumatic Pressure Gauge - Manometer (9641)" only goes up to 60 psi (~4 bar or ~4 atmospheres), the pressure has got to be less than that. I would imagine that hoses would start popping off the nipples at far lower pressures. This website says "The maximum working air pressure for Lego Pneumatics is around 34 to 37 psi."