DLuders

This is a nice, old-style studded Technic MOC! I like the Lego Technic figure (which has not appeared in a Technic set for 10 years). The pneumatic dumper mechanism is robust; do you know how much weight it can handle?

@ Squizz: Bricklink.com has a "Price Guide" feature for every part. For the 3711 "Black Technic, Link Chain", here is the webpage showing the Minimum, Average, and Maximum Prices bought in the last 6 months (look on the left side): http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=3711&colorID=11 . The right side has the "Current Items for Sale" (New and Used) -- you can see a great range of prices.

On MOCpages, Ingmar Spijkhoven is known as "2LegoOrNotToLego": http://www.mocpages.com/home.php/34273 . Here they are: He has posted many of his MOCs on his Brickshelf gallery too. There are sets of detailed pictures of the MOCs above, plus more:

BrickStore could help convert Han's MLCAD file into a Parts Inventory list that is compatible with Bricklink: http://www.brickforge.de/software/brickstore/index.en.html#what .

On his Brickshelf gallery, Aussie "Lego911" just posted 26 photos of his large-scale Lego Bugatti Type 35B car. It is a "Bugatti Type 35B Racer - Large scale. The most successful racecar ever with over 1000 victories. This Bugatti racer-type dominated the second half of the 1920s and into the 1930s. Built to large scale for LUGNuts "Size Matters" challenge. Working engine." The images there are very large, but they allow one to see his great attention to detail. If you go to Brickshelf, you can see that he uses a nice blend of Technic parts in his Lego Creator-type MOCs. As far as I'm concerned, he's the most prolific Lego car builder in the world. He has many imitators, but his extensive Lego car collection is unmatched. The large-scale version on the left is 1:15 Scale. On Flickr, Lego911 wrote that "This build consists of four Bugatti Type 35Bs in the scale 1:15, 1:20.5, 1:28 and 1:43. The largest scale was designed to partner a similar scale Bugatti Veyron 16.4 for Eurobricks 2010 LDD Competition. The Bugatti Type 35 is the most successful race car of all time, dominating the late 1920s with more than 1000 race wins, cementing Bugatti at the pinnicle of car companies." From his Flickr photostream:

@ legolijntje: Your "Part 2" PDF instructions are also very good. The 44-MB download contains 135 pages. Did you e-mail "Designer-Han" at Han@designer-han.nl to tell him about your Building Instructions? He may not know about them, and may provide a link to your PDF download site (or maybe even post the two PDF files on his website http://www.designer-han.nl/lego/index.htm ). I think that he would be pleased.

This is a very useful tool! I sent a message to Lego911 (a prolific Lego car builder) to possibly use on his MOCs ( http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=121116 ). Your LEGO Model Scaler tool is really handy for Model Team and Creator-style builds. Thanks for sharing it! I'm curious to know Ralph_S's opinion of the tool, since he recently discussed "Building Scale Models of Aircraft in LEGO" on this website. He uses a ruler on paper printouts; your method is a lot faster!

On Peeron.com , there is a complete Parts Inventory of the Lego 9747 Robotics Invention System (RIS) 1.5 set, pictured below. For comparison, here are the Peeron Parts Inventory for the 9719 RIS 1.0 set, the 3804 RIS 2.0 set (with the RCX brick), and the 8547 Mindstorms NXT 2.0 set.

@ sted: OK, please "Vote" in this topic's poll to indicate your (different) Production Code. The previous 12 poll responders all said that their Linear Actuators had "36X0" stamped on them.

@ legolijntje: I downloaded your 8421 XL Building Instructions and unpacked the 75-MB Zip file to find your 80-MB PDF file. The 198 pages you've done are really good. I have an 8421 set that I want to upgrade into Han's MOC. Looking forward to your "Part 2" Instructions!

@ nk4200r: With the 20-fold increase in the number of sales of Linear Actuators, it seems that folks are DUMPING their old/damaged/undesirable LAs onto unsuspecting customers. Without knowing that the NEW, LUBRICATED LAs have "36X0" stamped on them, Bricklink customers would not know if they had a "New" or "Old" LA. Heck, neither Bricklink nor Peeron have distinguished between two versions of LAs in their parts catalog, and the LA advertisements don't say anything about the "36X0" lot number. I'm keeping my old LAs, since they're perfectely adequate for all of the other sets EXCEPT for the 8043 Motorized Excavator. I lubed them with Olive Oil, and don't have any trouble with plastic shavings, poor performance, burned-out motors, etc.

@ Squizz: There is an talented Australian Lego car builder/designer named Lego911 who frequently uses Bricklink.com to order his parts. Yes, the number of Bricklink vendors in Australia are rather limited, and the prices are high. However, there are hundreds of overseas vendors to choose from. Many accept payment (in their currency) via PayPal.com . When building your Parts List for Han's creation, recommend using Bricklink's Parts Catalog function http://www.bricklink.com/catalogTree.asp?itemType=P to locate them. Bricklink's "Help" page http://www.bricklink.com/helpMain.asp will answer a lot of questions about how it all works.

Here's another video of the 3D printer on . Willgorman wrote, "The MakerLegoBot can print 3D Lego models, using standard Lego bricks. This video includes a few real time clips of printing. The robot uses 3 Mindstorm NXT robot brick's and 9 motors. You can find more information and build instructions at http://www.battlebricks.com/makerlegobot ."

Here are two more pictures of the seaplane (from matthewcrandall9's Brickshelf gallery):

Ruudriessen/ Ruudtechnic made a nice, studded "Skip Truck" (container truck), and posted these images and YouTube video link on his Brickshelf gallery. The images are HUGE, so only the thumbnails appear below. He wrote, "This is my skip truck. It has pneumatic functions and it has remote control driving and electric compressor": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2ak4pc5Dkg

Blakbird also did the additional rendering below:

You're going to have to go to the hardware store and get some more shelving!

Blakbird noticed that Han posted a NEW "Truck 8x4 with Detachable Lowloader" on the Technic LEGO site of Han http://www.designer-han.nl/lego/index.htm . Look for it at the left side of that webpage, under the heading "Design Models". Han wrote that his new MOC is a "Detachable lowloaders are used to transport heavy construction vehicles over the road by powerful trucks. These trucks are optimized for this purpose (engine, multiple axles, extra fuel tanks) and operated by specialized companies as Brouwer, Mammoet/Seumeren, van der Vlist to name a view in The Netherlands." Here is the [updated by Han to show a bottom view and gooseneck lifting): "The requirements for this model were: Ability to load the original Technic Lego® set 8275 (Remote Bulldozer), 8043 (Remote Excavator), 8265 (Front Loader) and the Prinoth Leitwolf snow groomer. As such, the gooseneck can handle a load of max. 3kg's. The challenge in Technic Lego® was the stiffness and the pneumatic lifting construction of the deck. The truck is remote controlled, but can be switched easily into manual operation (steering, driving) by shifting gears on the model. "Until today, this is the largest MOC I designed (3.747 parts). It took about 3 months to design, 2 months for the instructions. Hope you like it!" The dimensions of the total combination (Truck with Lowloader): * Length: 130 cm * Height: 21 cm * Width: 16 cm * Width with extended deck: 19 cm * Weight: 4,7 kg (including batteries) * Cargo weight: 3 kg max. * Cargo length: 42 cm max. * Cargo ground clearance: 2 studs min. * Number of parts: 3.747 "Truck 8x4 (Remote controlled or Manual) -- The dump truck 10x4 (see elsewhere on this site) was the basis for the design process of this truck 8x4, which means that most of the functionalities are comparable. The technic functions are: 2 axle steering, working V8 engine, differentials on both rear axles, power functions head-lights and power functions XL-motor for driving / M-motor for steering. Compared to the dump truck 10x4 - except from appearance (color, redesign grille and bumpers) - both steering axles are mounted 1 stud towards the truck's front side and are operated by the new 1x13 gear racks (part 64781)." "Drive train: A power functions XL-motor is used to drive the truck. The force of the XL-motor is geared down in a two stages to the both differentials which drives the 4 rear twin wheels. The whole drive train is equipped with twin gears on each axle to apply the force from gear-axle to gear-axle. These twin gears are used to prevent damage to the gear tooth. The XL-motor is pretty well able to drive the total combination, including a cargo load of 3 kg. However, my strong recommendation is to use only the 8879 'IR speed remote control' unit due to it's ability to control the speed of the XL-motor in multiple steps. Just applying the 'full speed' of the XL-motor from a 'stand-still' position of the total combination will result in too much stress on the whole drive train (as is done with the 8885 'IR remote control', who lacks the speed control). "5th wheel: A technic turntable is used for the 5th wheel, together with a static connection to the gooseneck (i.e. decoupling the gooseneck means removal of an axle-10 which can be easily done). The reason for this construction is to assure a smooth ability for the total combination to turn curves, as well to make sure that a detached gooseneck will stay connected properly to the truck." The technic specifications of the 'Truck 8x4': * 4 axle truck, first 2 axles steered * Turning cycle correction for 2nd axle (with gears) * Remote controlled, ability to switch to manual operation * Working V8 engine, including fan * differential unit on 3rd and 4th axle, interconnected * Headlights equipped with Power Functions LED's Non-technic functions are: * Cabin doors open & close * Cabin can be opened for engine access * Raise-able wind deflector * Towbar Details applied: * Dashboard with coffee machine and coffee cups * Fuel tanks, air compressors and air filter units between the wheels * Fire extinguisher, exhaust pipe * Spotlights, flashlights, horns and airco-unit on cabin roof The dimensions of the 'Truck 8x4' are: * Length: 45 cm * Width: 14,5 cm * Height: 21 cm * Weight: 2,3 kg (including batteries) * Number of parts: 2.052 "Detachable gooseneck with Lowloader -- As seen on the pictures, the lowloader is mostly build with the traditional studded bricks. Especially the deck is fully based on bricks, because bricks provide a much more stiff construction compared to studless beams. It took some development time to find the optimal balance between deck stiffness and minimal deck height with an acceptable ramp angle. The outcome is a deck being able to load cargo with a minimum ground clearance of 2 studs, with an acceptable sag of the deck when loaded with cargo. The deck is mounted precisely in the middle of the 3-axle assembly, which has a pendular suspension mechanism. This is necessary to prevent tipping of the 3-axle assembly when the gooseneck lowers the deck. All the axles of the assembly consists of twin-wheels. The platform height of the 3-axle assembly is very low to support the bucket of an excavator. "Expansion of the deck width is possible by mounting so-called 'deck extenders' which are stowed within the gooseneck stock area. These deck extenders are equipped with flashlights and warning signs." "The detachable gooseneck is able to handle a cargo load of 3 kg ! First I considered the new PF linear actuators, but again I experienced pneumatic cylinders have more advantages (appearance, necessary space, no difficult gearing system, force). Disadvantage is not being able to couple/decouple the gooseneck remotely, although manual assistance is needed anyway to mount the gooseneck firmly to the deck (by applying so-called 'locking bars' = axle's pushed through the technic holes in the deck and gooseneck). "The gooseneck has 2 independent pneumatic circuits. One for lifting the deck, and one for supporting the gooseneck on the truck's chassis when decoupled. The truck has an gooseneck 'auto-center' function; as such the gooseneck will center and locks when lifted. The deck is lifted by 3 pneumatic cylinders in parallel and holds ~ 2 bar / 30 psi of air pressure when lifted with 3 kg cargo. "The gooseneck is equipped with a stock area, a spare wheel and ladders for access." The dimensions of the 'Lowloader' are: * Length: 102 cm * Height: 16 cm * Width: 16 cm * Width with extended deck: 19 cm * Weight: 2,4 kg * Cargo weight: 3 kg max. * Cargo length: 42 cm max. * Cargo ground clearance: 2 studs min. * Number of parts: 1.695 There is MORE on Han's website -- too much to list here for this new MOC! Find the Parts List and BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS (in PDF and MLCAD formats) there!

Three Lego builders had different (but interesting) model solutions for this Russian Ka-50 HOKUM attack helicopter (also known as the "Black Shark"). It features counter-rotating rotors (which eliminate the need for a tail rotor): Ciamoslaw Ciamek posted his STUDDED Ka-50 model on MOCpages, where he wrote: "Model of the Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark" helicopter. It features coaxial rotor, retractable landing gear, cockpit, cannon and opening panels. It's a little too big for minifig scale, but it's the cost of "playable" details. The colors are pretending about-a-desert camouflage. My black bricks are in use so I made him in yellow and grey. I think that it doesn't look so bad ;o) It could look better in tan, but I don't know if there are such bricks in that color - I don't have many tan bricks ;o) " Grohl/ Grohl666 made this STUDLESS Russian Ka-50 HOKUM helicopter, and posted images and a link on his Brickshelf gallery, where he wrote:"Studless model of famous Russian helicopter. Length 785mm, width 360mm, rotor diameter 700mm. Pneumatically lowering and raising landing gear, moving elevators and rudder. Both rotors are contrarotating, controlled by one RC motor. grohld@centrum.cz." On his Brickshelf gallery, ZED posted images of his TRANSFORMING "NightHunter - the Autobot Transformer. I have constructed it for competition on www.doublebrick.ru . This robot is transformed to helicopter KA-50 Hokum aka Black Shark."

The newest (NXT 2.0) "Tilted Twister LEGO MINDSTORMS Rubik's Cube Solver" is fully explained on the website http://tiltedtwister.com/'>http://tiltedtwister.com/ . It has a (larger) and Building Instructions. "See http://tiltedtwister.com for info and building instructions Features: Solves a standard Rubik's cube Can be built from a single LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 set Completely stand-alone. No need to connect a computer No web cam needed. It detects the colors using the LEGO Mindstorms color sensor Support for Herbert Kociemba's Two-Phase Algorithm Free programs and building instructions" On the Building Instructions webpage, there is a Parts List and PROGRAMMING CODE for it! It even has a link to the older (NXT 1.0) version of the Rubik's Cube Solver. On the TiltedTwister.com website, the author of that website wrote: "Tilted Twister 2.0 Features •Solves a standard Rubik's cube No need to replace any color stickers •Can be built from a single LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 set •Completely stand-alone No need to connect a computer •No web cam needed It detects the colors using the LEGO Mindstorms color sensor •Support for Herbert Kociemba's Two-Phase Algorithm •Free programs and building instructions The challenge was to build the robot using a single LEGO Mindstorms NXT-kit. And to make it completely independent, without need of being connected to a computer. The Lego Mindstorms NXT kit contains three servo motors and a set of sensors (touch, color and ultrasonic). How should I build the robot using only theese items? After a lot of experimenting I came up with a solution - If I tilted the whole robot, it would be possible for it to tilt the cube using only one motor, leaving the other two motors for twisting the cube and for positioning the color sensor. Thus Tilted Twister." Recommend going to that webpage to read the entire story. Performance Stand-alone: Scanning the cube: 45 seconds Calculating a solution: 20 - 40 seconds Executing the moves: 1 - 5 minutes Average total time: 6 minutes Connected to computer: Scanning the cube: 45 seconds Calculating a solution: 1 second Executing the moves: 1 - 2 minutes Average total time: 2.5 minutes

Maybe Mahjqa can make this Ferrari limousine in Lego bricks (from Uphaa):

I just received my set of three "LEGO Technic Idea Books" from No Starch Press. They are very nice. Each measures 8" x 10" x 3/8" (20.5 cm x 25.5 cm x 1 cm), and are in full color. Bill Ward has done a review of them on his Brickpile website. He wrote: "These books from Yoshihito Isogawa are a great guide to all the wonderful ways you can combine LEGO Technic gears and related elements. I’ve always been a little wary of Technic myself. Even though I got an Expert Builder parts pack as a kid, I never did a lot with it. (I was probably too young, since I was only 6 when that set came out in 1977.) I’ve built a number of modern Technic sets, most recently the Lego Technic Crane Truck 8258, but I’ve only done minimal work with designing my own Technic machinery. Mostly what I’ve done is simple gearing such as my Scrambler amusement park ride, but I always seem to have trouble getting the gears to do quite what I want without either destroying the gears, skipping teeth, or woefully misjudging speed and/or torque. "The first book is The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines which shows a myriad of different ways to combine LEGO gears and pulleys to achieve particular gear ratios and directions. If you’ve ever scratched your head wondering how to get a certain speed or torque out of a LEGO motor, your answer is in here. Even the most experienced builders will certainly find something new they can use. For example maybe you know how to get the gear ratio you want, but the mechanism you’re thinking of is too bulky to fit into the model you’re working on. Take a look through this book and there’s a good chance you’ll find a better way to get the same effect in the space that you need to fit it into. "The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Fantastic Contraptions is full of clever ways to combine gears, pulleys, springs, and magnets to create models that move. There are ideas for shooting projectiles, building shock absorbers, and even using magnets to animage LEGO minifig scenes. The only problem is that the magnets shown have been discontinued (due to fears that a child might swallow magnets which would get stuck in their digestive tract and require surgery – for example, the new train sets have a redesigned coupler with a magnet permanently affixed), so that might be frustrating to some people without extensive collections of older parts. "Finally, the The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Wheeled Wonders is full of great ideas for LEGO vehicles. Drivetrains, steering mechanisms, and other vehicular ideas are illustrated in full detail. "The examples in these books are purely pictures. There are no verbal explanations, which you would think would be a problem. But the pictures are reduced to such a level of simplicity that it’s easy to understand the mechanism without any text, and if you build them you could easily understand how they work. There are a lot of tips that show ways of combining gears that I had never thought of, and as I was flipping through it I kept thinking “Oh, that would be good for X” type thoughts. The lack of text would also be helpful for younger kids or people whose primary language is not English (or Japanese, in this case). "I think the one area where this could have been improved would be to show more complex ideas – instead of just showing the simple combinations of parts to achieve a particular kind of connection, show ways to combine these together to create more intricate machines. Some of the examples in the Fantastic Contraptions and Wheeled Wonders books do this to some extent, but I’d prefer to see that taken to a higher level. Also, instead of just showing each model from a variety of angles, I’d like to see step-by-step building instructions or to see some of the simpler modules combined together to create more detailed ones. "One area that isn’t explored very well is motorizing the sets. There are some examples that use motors, but they are largely built using the older 9V motors instead of the current Power Functions parts, and with the Power Functions remote control system, there are a lot of things you could do that aren’t covered by these examples. Hopefully they will come out with a fourth book featuring Power Functions. "All in all though, these are excellent books showing a lot of great ideas for LEGO mechanisms. Even if you’re an experienced builder, there are surely some ideas in here you’ve never seen."

Here is a simple Lego NXT robot that solves Rubik's Cube (a toy that is nearly as popular as Lego, and which has been sold since 1980). There is no explanation accompanying this , but it is a lot simpler than the complex Lego NXT MINDSTORMS devices made by others. The key is the PROGRAMMING of the NXT brick. On this Eurobricks post, "Uniquebuilder" located this solution (from ): On this Eurobricks post, Roamingstudio introduced this INTRICATE Rubik's Cube solver (from this Engaget story): Video: Does anybody know of other Rubik's Cube solvers?

Welcome to Eurobricks! You sure introduced yourself with a FANTASTIC creation! It's a nice combination of the 8258 Crane Truck and the 8052 Container Truck. I'm glad the the entire truck is not all RED, and that there is some variety.

As long as we are talking about S-T-R-E-T-C-H Ferraris, if you live in the UK, you can rent one of these for hire: http://www.limobroker.co.uk/ferrari-limo.htm