DLuders

@ Paul B: That is a nice modification! I will probably do the same thing to my 8070 this weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdgcfjMJWzk

From this HiTechnic website and , "New IR RC Kart Sample Model" "The HiTechnic IR RC Kart features the HiTechnic IR Receiver sensor. This sensor allows you to create NXT models that are controlled with a LEGO Power Functions Remote. "This model is buildable with either a LEGO Mindstorms 1.0 or 2.0 set. The building instructions show 2.0 part colors and wheels but otherwise uses only parts available in both sets. "This model also features the new HiTechnic Motor PID Block. The block makes it easy to have an NXT motor drive to a specific angle position. In this model the HT Motor PID block is used to control the steering motor. The block is used twice in the program, first it is used to initialize the steering motor by having it drive to both the left and right mechanical limits and then setting the zero position is the point in between these limits. Then inside the loop the desired steering angle is determined by the IR Receiver and then value is passed to the Set Point of the Motor PID Block. "Building Instructions and Programs can be downloaded from http://www.hitechnic.com/models . The IRReceiver and the Motor PID blocks can be downloaded from http://www.hitechnic.com/downloads ." See it in action on . There is more information on this HiTechnic website about the 5 NXT programming blocks, including more details about the HiTechnic Motor PID Block.

As Jovel pointed out in a recent post, Mahjqa posted Building Instructions for a "Basic Technic Power Functions Chassis" here. You can see how everything works together. He even made a to show it in action. Mahjqa thought that his Intermediate Power Functions Chassis was better. See the second picture below. You can apply the concepts to your own creations.

In regards to the Daffodil's Building Instructions (referenced in the posts above), here's what Lego Customer Service wrote to me: "The Monthly Mini-builds on our web site aren't made available until the day after the in-store building event. The building event is taking place today, May 03, 2011. You will be able to access the building instructions beginning May 04, 2011 through May 10, 2011." @ Superkalle: No, I don't have any other flower designs.

A lot of your questions can be answered in the "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) portion of the Lego Power Functions website http://powerfunctions.lego.com . You will need one 8885 IR Remote Control unit to transmit your signal to one 8884 IR Receiver. Your Remote Control Unit will be set on one of four available channels, and the IR Receiver will be set to that same channel. If some friends come over to drive their Lego Technic Power Functions creations with you, there can be four vehicles driving around at the same time (each on their own channel). The range of the Lego PF IR controller is about 30 feet.

You have a nice fleet of 3 red Sandviks! What additional Sandvik are you thinking about building next? Would you consider the yellow brute shown below?

Yes, I'd like Building Instructions for your Tree Harvester! There are real logging machines like this in the woods in the Pacific Northwest. They make QUICK WORK and are very efficient!

I got an e-mail from the Lego VIP Program today, and it had a daffodil flower that has these Building Instructions (only available for the next 7 days, but in time for Mother's Day 2011).

nolnet created a small (7-studs-wide) Lego Power Functions 4WD Mini Truck, and posted details on his Flickr photostream, Brickshelf gallery, , and . As seen in the bottom two pictures below, he used a 5119 9V Micromotor "Illustrating the micro-motor-direct-to-steering-technique. The 3L technic liftarm grips firmly onto the motor's stud."

On this Flickr photoset, Lego911 (Peter Blackert) shows the cutaway details of his latest Lego car creation -- an Audi R8. These (recolored) images reveal some of the secrets of the most-prolific Lego car builder in the world. There is a lot of functionality (using Technic elements) in a small package. There even is a working suspension! He wrote, "The Audi R8 is the first production mid-engined model from this German prestige car maker. "The car capitalises, and draws a road car parallel with Audi's endevaours in Sportscar racing, in particular LeMans, which it has dominated in recent years with mid-engined sports prototypes. "Developed in conjunction with Italian supercar maker Lamborghini (also owned by the VW group), the R8 shares its inner body, chassis systems and some powertrain components with the similar-under-the-skin Gallardo. The Audi R8 has also gone on to use the Gallardo's V10 engine. Originally the Audi R8 was released with an Audi V8 engine. Both models feature AWD on most variants and feature aluminium chassis. "This Audi R8 model has been created using Lego Digital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 42nd build Challenge - 'Autos aus Deutschland' - featuring cars, trucks and bikes from the birthplace of the automobile, Germany. "The model features a working mid-engined piston engine, AWD and independent suspension on all wheels. "The R8 model featured here is shown as a technical cutaway, illustrating some of the mechanical componentry." More images of the completed LDD model are on his Flickr photostream.

On his Flickr photostream, Legogil posted 7 pictures of his Lego BMW 3.0 CSL. He is a true car historian, and wrote, "Introduced in May 1972, the 3.0CSL was a homologation special built to make the car eligible for racing in the European Touring Car Championship. The "L" in the designation meant "leicht" (light), unlike in other BMW designations, where it meant "lang" (long). The lightness was achieved by using thinner steel to build the unit body, deleting the trim and soundproofing, using aluminium alloy doors, bonnets, and boot lids, and using Perspex side windows. The five hundred 3.0CSLs exported to the United Kingdom were not quite as light as the others, as the importer had insisted on retaining the soundproofing, electric windows, and stock E9 bumpers on these cars. "Initially using the same engine as the 3.0CS, the 3.0CSL was given a very small increase in displacement to 3,003 cc (183.3 cu in) by increasing the engine bore by one quarter of a millimetre. This was done in August 1972 to allow the CSL to be raced in the "over three litre" racing category, allowing for some increase in displacement in the racing cars. In 1973, the engine in the 3.0CSL was given another, more subtantial increase in displacement to 3,153 cc (192.4 cu in) by increasing the stroke to 84 mm (3.3 in). This final version of the 3.0CSL was homologated in July 1973 along with an aerodynamic package including a large air dam, short fins running along the front fenders, a spoiler above and behind the trailing edge of the roof, and a tall rear wing. The rear wings were not installed at the factory, but were left in the boot for installation after purchase. This was done because the wings were illegal for use on German roads. The full aero package earned the racing CSLs the nickname "Batmobile". "Chris Amon, Winner of 6 Hours Race 1973 at Nürburgring with BMW 3.0 CSLIn 1973, Toine Hezemans won the European Touring Car Championship in a 3.0CSL and co-drove a 3.0CSL with Dieter Quester to a class victory at Le Mans. Hezemans and Quester had driven to second place at the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at Nürburgring, being beaten only by Chris Amon and Hans-Joachim Stuck in another 3.0CSL. 3.0 CSLs would win the European Touring Car Championship again in every year from 1975 to 1979. "The 3.0CSL was raced in the IMSA GT Championship in 1975, with Sam Posey, Brian Redman, and Ronnie Peterson winning races during the season. "The first two BMW Art Cars were 3.0CSLs; the first was painted by Alexander Calder and the second by Frank Stella."

@ Grohl: That fellow only has created ONE alternate for the 8271 set, while you have (now) created 29! I included your latest alternate (the Chopper) in the (now) 259-page PDF document containing all of your alternates here. The file size has now been reduced using Adobe Acrobat Pro's utility.

Even the various Collectable Minifig Series 1-4 items promote violence. Here's what you can get when you mix-and-match some of the parts: "Do ya feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?"

Barman76/ barebos/ Barry Bosman posted this of his Lego Technic Walker with Retractable Legs. He wrote,"This project was started as an entry for the motorized sci-fi contest on Flickr.com. I didn't succeed on making the deadline. "Unfortunatly this project didn't work, so nothing was lost. "The first idea was to make a sci-fi car with legs. When the terrain would become to rufh for the wheels, the legs would extend and it could walk on. "Because the system doesn't work as well as I had hoped, I never constructed the wheels underneath. The model doesn't work because the body has become to heavy, the springs are to strong and the slack of the Lego parts is too big. I know this system will work, but in a complete different construct. Perhaps the idea of ISOGAWAYoshihito‬‏'s walker is better, using elastic bands and 3x3 liftarms rounded. "The system works be using Technic springs as rods to hold the legs in there nutrale position. When the springs move, the legs extend and lock into there walking position. For rotating the legs (moving them forward) the spring keeps tension on the liftarm attached to the leg. The rotation liftarm 2L makes the leg move. For lifting the leg, the springs on top are compressed by the rotating liftarm 2L and the leg moves slightly up. When the rotating liftarm passes the spring arm, the springs force down the leg (clicking sound)." There are 6 photos on his Flickr photostream.

preedalist posted this YouTube video of his Lego F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft. He wrote, "LEGO Model Details Length: 67 studs Wingspan: 42 studs Height: 19 studs Pieces: about 718 Created by Sheldon." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDXKX3B1gw0

Cars2cool321 (Rahul Ramesh) posted this of a simple (but fun) "compact, efficient Power Functions car. It is very fast and can perform a variety of stunts." It features return-to-center steering and a geared-up drivetrain (to achieve a top speed of 10.5 MPH/ 16.7 kph). Many people already have the parts on hand to make one yourself.

error4385 posted this of "A single cylinder LPE [Lego Pneumatic Engine]. I modified the cylinder , making it much faster."

mattallen377337 posted this YouTube video of a "Lego mindstorms NXT twister with PSP-Nx for RC, and a custom motor controller to power the drive motors. I used the new Mindsensors NXT socket breakouts for the NXT to breadboard connection, and for the breadboard to NXT motor connection. Go to http://mattallen37.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/nxt-rc-twister-2-0/ for more details."

SM96UK posted this YouTube video of his "new Lego Technic Unimog U400 designed for off-road Truck Trial races. Thank you for watching! Visit my website at http://sm96ukcreations.webs.com/." 19 photos are posted here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7-ynvJ9cCo

Here is a YouTube video that shows one of the 7 finalists for the April 2011 Lego Technic Challenge -- SM96UK's Lego Technic BMW Z10 Eco-Supercar. He wrote, "This is my Lego Technic BMW Z10 Eco-Supercar. I built this model a long time ago and the video has been sitting around on my hard drive for ages!" 20 photos are available on his website http://sm96ukcreations.webs.com/ . For the competition entry, he wrote ""Lego BMW Z10 Eco-Super Car" by stefstef96 -- "This is my Lego Technic BMW Z10 Eco-Supercar. It is equiped with power functions so that you can steer, drive, and raise the rear supension. By raising the rear suspension, one can put more weight on the back of the car so the super can achieve high speeds as the traction increases. With V6 engine." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgWRpCMCwBE

@ McBudda: Welcome to Eurobricks! There was a recent eBay auction in which a used 8843 sold for GBP 20.55 (~ US $34.88). That's about the price of used ones on Bricklink.com. There have not been any NEW ones sold on Bricklink within the last 6 months, so who knows what your MISB 8843 is worth?

I did an image search on Google.com for the terms "Futuristic Helicopter", and there are lots of interesting design ideas. Here are a few:

Blakbird has some good explanations about how a Lego Technic helicopter can be built in his review of the 8844 Helicopter set: Zblj also had this Eurobricks topic about his "Coaxial Helicopter" with counter-rotating blades:

@ Calabar: The 7050 set has already been released, and is for sale and is "In Stock for Shipping" at Toys-R-Us. Sidersdd also did this EB Review of the set.

@ Calabar: Here is the 7050 Alien Defender set on Brickset. Image