DLuders

@ Blackburried: Did you check the various HiTechnic programming blocks ? Their Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) #1 and answer is: "Frequently Asked Questions Q. Where can I get instructions on how to install the NXT-G programming blocks for the HiTechnic Sensors? A. Instructions for installing HiTechnic programming blocks and other functions can be found in the support documents."

"Sariel" (Paul Kmiec) posted his "Gear Ratio Calculator 2" on his excellent website. Read about it at http://sariel.pl/2010/04/gear-ratio-calculator-2-released/ ; the actual calculator is at http://sariel.pl/tools/ratios/ . One can place any type of "Driver Gear" and "Follower Gear" on a 6x6 hole grid, and there's a pictorial output and some data like: "The gear ratio is 1.8:1" "The speed is increased 1.8 times. The torque is decreased 1.8 times. The follower gear rotates 1.8 time per each revolution of the driver gear." Cool!

On his Brickshelf gallery, Coney/Contech7 posted 19 BIG pictures of his Willys Super Jeep 6x6 Trial Truck. The shows its capabilities. He wrote that it is "My attempt at a Technic Trial Truck based off of a Willys Super Jeep 6X6. Powered by two XL motors under the hood driving three separate drive shafts, one to each axle. Also features fully independent suspension and front lights."

On his Brickshelf gallery, KAROL4 posted 21 pictures of his 1:24-scale, Lego Technic HSW 560E Front-End Loader. "After some changes body and mechanic. Front End Loader HSW 560E Extra. 1 to 24 scale. Drive by PF XL. Pneumatic turn, arm and bucket. Pendular rear axle. Comments or questions - write at karol_porsche@poczta.onet.pl ." His shows it in action.

SpiderBrick posted 11 pictures of the Porsche on his Brickshelf gallery.

On his Brickshelf gallery, A77 (Ari Holoprinen) posted images and four LDRAW files on his "Twin-Stick Transmission." For those with 3 hands, one can operate the transmission and hold onto the steering wheel. His Brickshelf collection of Lego Technic transmissions include 9-, 12-, 13-, and 14-speed transmission designs. He placed his 14-speed transmission in a truck of his design. He really knows how to space Lego Technic bricks to get gear spacings correct:

Linko made a solar-powered Tricycle, so how about this WIND-POWERED Lego Technic creation by mixineko1/ Neko1? On his below, he wrote, "Visit my website http://sites.google.com/site/brickchronicle/tj-link-lego . This LEGO [creation was] inspired by Theo Jansen's Strandbeest. It...walks by wind power only. This is [Mark II] Take 2, [to] adjust leg sequence and fix parts confliction." On his website (where he has an LDRAW file available), he wrote, "This trial model Mk II has horizontal axis propeller, and adjust gear ratio to up speed little bit. And I put the cockpit and minifig on front of the model :-) The cockpit not only design purpose but for take a weight balance. Mk II model more speedy than old model, but sometime it stops."

@ Linko/ clondealtaseguridad: I didn't know that the Lego solar panels could produce enough current to run a Power Functions XL motor. In your below, I noticed that the sun angle is pretty high. Do you live in a southern area, or was this video shot in some month other than December?

e-Ronin and TechnicFreak, I'm now a "convert" and will no longer recommend using Virgin Olive Oil to lubricate Lego parts. Welcome to Eurobricks, e-Ronin!

Ed from New Hampshire, could you name the exact brand of the "Light Mineral Oil" that you use? Is it Johnson's Baby Oil? Seriously, I respect your answer but I don't see the parallel between running Lego Linear Actuators (at room temperature) and "commercial food equipment" (which will experience higher temperatures when being cleaned and sanitized).

Raus, I personally LOVE your Rock Crawler. I don't care whether you modified some of the Lego suspension links, or used non-Lego tires. As a matter of fact, I have RC tires in my basement that can fit Lego axles using Bill's Brickland "12mm Hex Adapter Kit for R/C Hobby Wheels and Tires" (pictured below): You built a "Rock Crawler" model. There are no stock "Rock Crawlers" that you can buy from the Ford, Chevrolet, or Dodge dealer. Everything is custom-fabricated, but they use Ford/Chevy/Dodge components. I don't see why LEGO is so sacrosanct that one CANNOT and MUST NOT modify them in any way. I applaud your innnovation and willingness to think outside the box. Can your Rock Crawler compete in an official Lego Truck Trial event? Probably not, due to their competition rules. Is your Rock Crawler FUN and can do what others CANNOT DO? Absolutely! If you look at the REAL rock crawlers below, you see non-standard wheels and tires (ones that you cannot get from your Ford/Chevy/Dodge dealer). Your MODEL better approximates a REAL rock crawler than do other Lego Rock Crawler models that are limited to using Lego wheels/tires. I have seen real rock crawlers in action here in the Western US, and they almost ALWAYS have huge, knobby tires for better grip.

[This is a double posting of this original Eurobricks topic. Raus did not get any replies to his December 14, 2010 post, so he re-posted here in a new topic. Recommend that this new topic be closed, so that conversation can continue on the original post.]

Coney/ Contech7 made the Can-Am Spyder! Read all about it on TechnicBRICKS:

TechnicFreak, I am not "slamming" you. Since it will be impossible to get the Olive Oil completely out of the Linear Actuators, the only thing you can do is bring them out of the cold and heat them up. I know, I'm one of the folks who recommended using Olive Oil; I did not know that it would congeal when close to freezing. Nevertheless, for those Lego Technic sets that may be played with, I would much rather have (edible) Olive Oil on my fingers than Silicone Oil. Note that the grease in the new LAs would get hard in cold temperatures too, so I don't know if you can say that the OIL itself is the problem. It's the COLD. If you have a problem with me, be kind to send me a Private Message (PM). I'm not looking for a fight.

The correct hyperlink is now in the original post above. Translation changed in the original post above.

The 8070-2 (B Model) looks a bit like a 1932 Ford Roadster, with "suicide doors":

On the Coeur d'Alene (Idaho, USA) Public Libary website, there is this announcement: "Sixth Annual LEGO-rama at Library Jan. 15, 2011" "LEGO-rama – the program for kids who love to build – will be Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, 1-3 p.m., in the Community Room at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. [Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA 30 miles east of Spokane, Washington]. One entry per participant can be entered in the contest for ages 4 to 13. Entries must be original designs – not a LEGO or compatible brand kits – built by the participant without adult assistance. Entries are limited to a 15-by-15 inch footprint (the space it occupies on a table). Judging will be in age groups 4-6, 7-10, and 11-13." I went to this small show last winter, and there were a few neat MOCs made by youngsters and adults.

On his Brickshelf gallery, Emilus/ Emilus6 posted 40 BIG pictures of his Lego Technic "MANITOWOC - my interpretation of 4600 series - weight 9,3 kg, 14 PF medium motors on board, fully IR operated drag line excavator with lights." Recommend seeing the extensive photo presentation and discussion at the LUGpol Forum (English translation here). The shows it in detail: "At the outset I wanted to thank the gene, Żbikowi, Sariel and Longerowi for swallowing photos wipa and very valuable comments at times. Thanks fellas. A few interesting facts about the model: -Weight 9.3 kg -14 Medium PF motor on board -2 Battery boxes -268 Pieces of new tread links used in the construction -6 Screw actuators -3 Sets of lights PF -3 Switch -4 IR towers using 4 channels and all 8 functions -13 Pieces of extension cables PF -116 Pieces of gear used in the construction of this model (without this part): -1 Z40 gears -2 Z36 gears -33 Z24 gears -6 Pieces Z24 clutch gears -11 Pieces Z20 gears -8 Pieces Z16 gears -17 Pieces Z12 gears -3 Z12 bevel gears -6 Pieces z8 gears -6 Pieces worm gears -23 Knob Wheels -Total length of entire creation = 157 studs -Length of the tower (with cabin) - 57 studs -Width of the tower (the platform) - 45 studs -Height of the tower - 19 studs -Chassis Length - 48 studs -Width of the chassis - 42 studs -Height of the chassis - 10 studs Generally, this material as a model is unusual for two reasons. First, it is large. Much more important is the second reason, however, namely, the assumption has been built in a machine with a realistic mechanical system. What does this mean? Well that is a diesel engine but rather an engine block, which is fueling all functions. As in reality, it is a powerful diesel engine and it drives the mechanical shafts / chains all. Another thing that the machine of this size, many things are driven from the pump oil or electric-powered generators to the main engine. But that's just how it blocks Cieślu once said) and I really wanted to prove that you can build something as elaborate mechanically. Proved, built - no more ... The model is great, mechanically very complicated and you need to learn it. Tower trembles like a powerful working-diesel...."

On his Brickshelf gallery, "pols" posted 60 HUGE photographs of his "JCB js145w excavator scale 1 to 16 . with PF, automatic compressor and lights. hermanpols@live.nl ." Only one picture is shown below (to save bandwidth), but if you visit the Brickshelf gallery you can see more:

On his Brickshelf gallery, Barteq/ ni4nn posted 12 photos of his Lego Technic "MAN 18.263. 4x4 truck trial model with 2-speed gearbox." This shows it driving in the snow:

On MOCpages, Firas Abu-Jaber/ peterabujaber presented his tranformable Lego "Barricade" Transformer. He wrote, "Finally, here is my 2nd Transformers model, it took me a very long time to finish, of course was tough....in this hard build I tried my best to make a nice looking Transformers model in both modes. "Barricade" is apparently a complicated robot....he likes to trick people into trusting him, just so he can see their reactions when they find out just how much of a bad idea it was. As such, he has disguised himself as an Earth police car in an attempt to fool the humans around him....Barricade might not be as large as most of his peers, but he is every bit as deadly." Here is the showing the transformation: His Flickr photostream has 12 full-size photos, but MOCpages has 33, more detailed closeup photos and explanations.

Well then, TechnicFreak, you'll have to take your Lego Technic out of your mancave garage for a few hours to warm up the Olive Oil and the batteries. Most folks don't put their Lego sets out in a garage. It gets just as cold here in Spokane, Washington as it does in Michigan, and I wouldn't dream of putting my expensive Lego collection out in an unheated garage.

@ Out of Sight: Since you are relatively new to this Eurobricks Technic Forum, you may not know about the "Poll" we had about the original 8043 set. The Poll Results (viewable in full here when you press the "Show Results" button) indicate that MOST (but not all) of the respondents had problems that appeared within minutes. If you have the new, greased Linear Actuators, the friction is greatly reduced and the motors can do more lifting.

The Hailstorm creation (pictured in the below) shoots bb194 "Bionicle Zamor Spheres", which come with a bunch of Lego accessories.

pabloalvarezcr/ SpiderBrick posted this of his Lego Technic Porsche 911 Carrera RC car. The camera work is a bit jiggly and it looks like he used a cell phone camera, but the Porsche is very advanced and full of nice features. This next shows the pneumatic disk brakes: His Brickshelf gallery shows a nice V6 SuperCar with a transverse front engine, but it is not the same car.