DLuders

@ Syn: Whether or not the Lego DesignByMe "store" has your desired parts or not, you could always use LDD Manager to create a Parts List. Then, using Bricklink.com's Catalog function, you can order your 16x32 Baseplates in the color and design you want.

On his Flickr photostream, Luc 2000 posted 9 pictures of his "8th attempt at building a good TT, and my most succesful so far. It has: -6wd -4ws (front and rear axle) -straight 6 fake engine -XL for drive -M for steering Other versions can be found at Brickshelf.... http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=421226 ."

@ Merluz: Welcome to Eurobricks! It sounds like some of your pneumatic cylinders are not working correctly. If they need to be lubricated, here is a YouTube video that shows how to do it. There is a good description of Lego Pneumatics on Wikipedia . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooB8q4DZXz4

Sheepo/ Sheepo86 posted this of his Lego Technic LIZARD 8x8 TRIAL TRUCK, which is his "first 8x8 truck. For more information please visit: http://www.sheepo.es ." On his website, there are extensive BIG pictures, descriptions, and additional videos. "Also you can see more pictures here: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=464921 . I hope you like it! " He wrote, "I don't like Tatra system. That system works fine but I prefer to use rigid axles. For building the truck I have reused the axles of my previous trial truck (Little Boy MK2). "Also I have reused the suspension system too, but added some more rotation points. As I have reused so many things from my previous trial. [it] only took me 4 days to build it completely. PF elements: - 4 XL motors for drive (one per axle) - 1 M motor for steering - 1 M motor to move the fake engine - 2 IR Receivers The gear ratio in all axles is the same, 9:1(3:1 x 3:1) Total weight with two lithium batteries is 2.4 kg, and with a 9v battery box 2.45. "The truck is divided in 3 parts: the front axles (with steering), the rear axles and the chassis." See his Brickshelf gallery for pictures of these three key components. There is much more -- be sure to visit Sheepo's website.

No, I don't think anybody else here on Eurobricks has made a vacuum engine like yours! You wrote on your YouTube video description (with added punctuation): "This is my redo of the three cylinder engine. The performance is much better. It can run well without a flywheel, but there's nothing wrong with a little flywheel. I have built a simple throttle mechanism. It does its job but i am now discovering the disadvantage of a Scotch yoke. Constant rebuilds of the yoke [are needed] because parts keep getting broken. The small pulley wheels are very fragile." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r31Ks30OHrM

I like the 5-wheel (Pentaro) version of the Vespa Scooter.

Blink59 has posted 11 BIG pictures of the 8081 Extreme Cruiser on his Brickshelf gallery. In regards to the Light Bluish Gray connectors at the top of the windshield, I would use a Sharpie pen (permanent marker) to make it BLACK....

They are the 9244 4L Universal Joints. The price you will pay for NEW ones (at $1 each) is fair for the USA; Europeans can get them for less. The 62520 3L Universal Joints (second picture below) are averaging $1.50+ each on Bricklink.

I like Choice #1 -- the Tree Harvester. There are machines like this working the forests in Washington State USA. The mechanized feller/buncher HEAD would be very challenging to build in Lego Technic.

You could always get your Star Wars Episode 4/5/6 Pilot minifigs from Bricklink....

[EDIT: Added the 31st alternate model's picture below] I compiled Grohl's first 30 of 31 ALTERNATES for the 8271 Wheel Loader into one PDF document. It is (now) 275 pages long, is Bookmarked to quickly go to each of the first 30 different models (in alphabetical order), and all of the pages are numbered. I transcribed all of Grohl's comments that were in his Brickshelf folders, and the links to the various videos. Download the 15.4-MB PDF document here via MegaUpload SkyDrive. If one downloads the TLG's Building Instructions for the 8271 set, one will then have a grand total of 33 DIFFERENT BUILDS for one Lego Technic set (which has got to be a record). Try doing that with a regular "System" set! Grohl has demonstrated the many creative possibilities in using a handful of parts. I always thought that building some of these 29 Technic models would be a fun activity for Lego User Groups (LUGs), or for schoolkids during a Summer Camp activity. Build them via the pictures only! Would anybody like to make any Lego Digital Designer (LDD) .lxf files out of some of these? Here is the 8271's Bricklink Parts Inventory to show what you will need.

On his Brickshelf gallery, nuno2500 posted 19 images of his modification to the Lego 10194 Emerald Night train. The mod was made so that the train can get 9-Volt power from electrified tracks. More on Flickr.

On his Flickr photostream, Dikkie Klijn posted his Mini Supercar -- an "entree for the Lego Technic Challenge April 2011. Features: - Full independent suspension - 4 speed gearbox - A lot of fun"

Black is too dark to see, so pick the Light Grey.

On his Flickr photostream, RoscoPC posted images of his Lego Technic racecar collection. Here are some of his finest creations: LEGO Lotus 43 BRM: LEGO Lotus 79: LEGO Brabham BT46B: LEGO Ferrari 312T: LEGO Tyrrell P34: LEGO Lotus 49B: LEGO Brabham BT46B 2010: LEGO McLaren MP4-4 Work in Progress (WIP) -- "The McLaren MP4/4 was a highly successful Formula 1 car that competed in the 1988 Formula One season. It was designed by Gordon Murray, who based the design on his lowline Brabham BT55 car of 1986, and American engineer Steve Nichols. It is one of the most dominant Formula One cars ever built, winning all but one race in the 1988 season."

On his Flickr photostream, Henrik Hoexbroe posted his 21-step Building Instructions for his miniature Lego Forklift. He wrote that "To see each photo in full resolution, go to my Brickshelf-folder at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=462570 ."

AndyC posted an LDD v4.1.6 .lxf file of the 8547 Lego MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 "Alpha Rex 2.0" humanoid robot over on this Eurobricks Technic Forum post. His commentary is over there.

There is a Lego Digital Designer (LDD) .lxf file available on this website for an "improved" Alpha Rex.

If your city is supposed to be downtown Chicago, Illinois USA, I would trim off some of the outer, low-rise blocks that are not as interesting as the "high rise" blocks. Your IMAGINATION has no limits, but how big is your wallet? I downloaded your Building 29 (City Hospital) LDD .lxf file yesterday, and it loaded up on my Windows Vista Home Premium software in about 45 seconds. The problem is that it's been trying to create a "Building Guide" for 24 hours now, and it's still not finished! My computer did not crash, but I don't know if it can finish its calculations. I'm going to let it run a little longer....

I think this Lego Mindstorms website has what you are looking for. There are instructions for the Lego 8527 "Classic Clock", "Alpha Rex", and "Music Player", plus the Music Player's NXT program files.

You need to get a 2868b "Electric, Train Speed Regulator 9V" unit, powered by a 70931 "Electric, Train Speed Regulator 9V Power Adaptor 120V 60Hz." On the electrified 2 x 2 plate at the "north end" of the Train Speed Regulator, connect a 60656 "Electric, Power Functions Extension Wire with one Light Bluish Gray End (length 20cm)." The Light Bluish Gray end of the wire connects onto the Train Speed Regulator, and the Dark Bluish Gray end connects to the (Dark Bluish Gray) Power Functions Motor wire. I just confirmed the arrangement described above with the parts I have, and it works great in the USA.

andris788 posted this of high school students creating Lego TECHNIC mechanisms during class time! [Question to self: "Why couldn't I have had a class like that?" ] Alas, the video comes with no description. The MALUG (Hungarian Lego User Group) website did not seem to have any information about it. Are there any Hungarian AFOLs who know more about this "ROSETTA Project"? It appears that they are trying to make a Lander mimicing the European Space Agency's Rosetta Project simulated with Lego (as reported by the NXT Step).

On this , Nico71 (Nicolas Lespour) shows "A simple assemby to test different BB [battery boxes], based on differential principle. -- If the yellow part turns clockwise, the slowest motor is on the right -- If the yellow part turns anti-clockwise, the slowest motor is on the left http://www.nico71.fr ."

Nice find! Over on TechnicBRICKS, Conchas provided the direct link to the Lego Club's PDF Building Instructions for this custom chopper bike. The file is 2.2 MB and 25 pages.

Here is a longer (1:30) YouTube video (with English subtitles) that shows the modules being placed on top of the Brazil Lego Tower. WorldRecordsAcademy posted the video, and wrote: "SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Nearly 6,000 Lego lovers in Sao Paulo, mostly children, helped put together 500,000 Lego pieces which were later stacked using a crane; the Lego tower reached 102 feet and 3 inches - setting the new world record for the Tallest Lego Tower." AOL News has a nice article about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp-ALHtZEms