DLuders

As Jetro noted, Philo posted 9 photos of the WeDo hardware on this Brickshelf folder: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=434406 .

@ Sternford: Perhaps you don't know that you can buy the needed "special gears" from the Bricklink.com links that Efferman provided you in Post #2 above. For US$10, you can the parts delivered to your door by a Bricklink vendor of your choice.

"Crowkillers" (Paul Boratko) posted 24 pictures of his Lamborghini Murcielago on his Brickshelf gallery http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=432598 . He wrote there that his "Model will be on display at Brickworld 2010", which is near Chicago, Illinois USA next weekend (June 17-20, 2010): http://www.brickworld.us/bw2010/view/member/938/ .

Here's the story about Theo Jansen's Lego Walker: http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/2008/03/...heo-janson.html . It has a detailed description, videos, and pictures.

It is good that "Crowkillers" is back making his cool Technic MOCs: http://crowkillers.com/id13.html . This webpage has a series of 10 photos of his Lego Lamborghini Murcielago, the first since his Lamborghini Gallardo done 6-1/2 months ago. The Murcielago has chromed wheels courtesy of http://www.cvvacuumplaters.com/ ("...a custom plating shop that produces a chrome like finish on plastic.")

Still, one can dream.... (from http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartnupj/3014730901/ and http://safa.tv/447,12-famous-structures-in...-in-lego,9.html ):

From the Lego Pressroom website http://www.lego.com/dan/info/default.asp?p...mp;archive=true , there's a Sept 2003 image of a Lego Tower Bridge. Do you think it will be as magnificent and large as this?

I would not dismiss the MOC just because of a few bent/broken parts. If they break, simply replace them with the extras you have. They only cost (at most) US$1 total. Compared to the cost of the parts needed to make the MOC in the first place, that's "chump change."

I did a search of Bricklink's Catalog function using the term "hole", and waded through 9 pages of possibilities. The closest I could find is (overall) 2x2 in size, but it has a 1x2 element. If you have the room, the 85943 "Technic, Brick 1 x 2 with Hole and Dual Liftarm Extensions" may be useful to you: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=85943 . It would FIX an axle in place (without rotating), though. Another possibility is the 87082 "Technic, Pin Long with Friction Ridges Lengthwise and Center Pin Hole". You could set two of these back-to-back, if there are adjacent Technic Bricks or Technic Liftarms to anchor them: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=87082 . I know these solutions are not what you want. If it were me, I'd just Superglue the two "1x1 With Hole" bricks together. Unless you're entering some contest, who is going to know/care anyway?

By coincidence, I got a birthday gift today from my mom -- the same Power Functions 8878 Rechargable Battery and the 8887 10VDC transformer. I did not use it, but plugged it in to see how long it would take to go from "flashing" (charging) mode to "steady light" (charged) mode. It took a little over 2 hours using US 120V AC power. After you discharge your battery and plug it in to recharge, if it still "blinks" for a day without going to the steady-light "charged" mode, I'd return it. The setup is too expensive to settle for a defective product.

@ Mortymore: OK, I see it now on the Lego homepage. I usually blow right by that page when trying to look up Technic product information....

The "Technic Game" (which has an imbedded link in Mortymore's "LEGO TECHNIC Challenge" graphic, http://technic.lego.com/en-us/games/default.aspx ) is a five-minute, one- or two-player "escape" game. This game is well-hidden by TLG, since it's not on this list of games: http://play.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx . One has to press the link TWICE to get past the Lego homepage.

This Lego Technic car model is the first representation I've seen of the Toyota IQ electric microcar (pictured below), which was the Japanese Car of the Year for 2008. There's a lot of Lego pieces crammed into a small space! Kudos to you, grindinggears!

That's what I think -- the Transformer may not be correct. Recall This EB Post when somebody noticed that there was confusion about the proper transformer. Is the one that you are using an 8887 10V DC Transformer, or something else? Maybe TLG sent you the wrong one....

Very nice! The panels on the deck look like Mahogany wood like those in the fancy Century wooden speedboats from the 1950s! You used the 30215 "White Boat Hull Unitary 52 x 16 x 5, Base (Belville Set 5848)" piece well. If you ever go to The Netherlands, maybe you can race Mahjqa's boats!

Your TECHNIC flatbed and foklift are a good set. I know that it must have been awkward to design the chainlink lifting mechanism. I've always wondered whether one could use mimic the large links used for forklifts and for Genie-brand manlifts in the USA. I like the fact that Linear Actuators have been used on both of your MOCs.

1. No, I don't buy large Lego sets for their parts; I buy them specifically for the creations shown. 2. I buy specific models (mostly TECHNIC) for their specific appeal; I don't buy a complete year's worth of TECHNIC just to complete an entire collection. 3. The next World Icon would be the "Millennium Eye" Ferris Wheel (from London, England), made with primarily TECHNIC pieces. It would appeal to fans of many different Lego themes. It would use a Power Functions XL motor to turn the big wheel. 4. I'd like to see a TECHNIC "Super Car III" model, complete with Power Functions motors for driving and steering, full suspension, moving V-8 or V-10 piston engine, and gullwing doors. It's been TOO MANY YEARS since the original 8880 "Super Car" (from 1994) and 8448 "Super Street Sensation/ Super Car Mk II" (from 1999) were released. 5. TECHNC fans know that TLG's Nathanael Kuipers (and others) have FANTASTIC sets that have not been released. If you consider that TLG has "Sold Out" of all TECHNIC flagships sold in the past few years, one can see that there is GREAT DEMAND for a "D2C" TECHNIC set! A "Super Car III" set is way overdue!

ATTENTION TECHNIC FANS! Be sure to make your needs known at THIS Eurobricks Embassy Post . Now's your chance to possibly get a TECHNIC "Direct-to-Consumer" (D2C) Set for Year 2012! See the details below, but please don't respond here -- post your feelings on THAT POST . The deadline is Thursday, June 10th (not June 11th as I mistakenly put in the title), so act soon! TLG wrote: "Direct is just wrapping up 2011 and we’re now looking forward to 2012 and beyond! I’m hoping you and the ambassadors can help me do a bit of brainstorming for some new model ideas. "We’re specifically trying to get some insight into what excites fans about our World Icons models. Do you buy sets like the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal because you view them as amazing ‘parts packs’? Do you only buy specific models in the line because of individual appeal or do you collect the whole series because you appreciate the theme? What would you like to see as the next World Icon? "We’d also like to hear if there is a particular ultimate set beyond World Icons which you’ve always wished we would make. It could be anything—like the Carousel, Imperial Flagship, Space Shuttle, Town Plan, Beetle, Medieval Market, Sculptures, etc. It could be Technic, Town/CITY, Space, Castle, Mindstorms, Belville, Trains or even something completely new. The sky is the limit! "Thanks everyone, hope to hear from you soon." Go !

Yes, they are still available in the USA: http://minifigures.lego.com/en-us/bios/default.aspx . "8683: LEGO® Minifigures Collect all 16 unique LEGO minifigures! Each minifigure comes in a sealed “mystery” bag, so you never know which minifigure you might get. And each minifigure has its own special accessories, display plate and collector’s leaflet. Inspired by movies, sports, history and just everyday life, this collection includes: Demolition Dummy, Forestman, Cowboy, Super Wrestler, Zombie, Ninja, Cheerleader, Skater, Tribal Hunter, Circus Clown, Magician, Deep Sea Diver, Robot, Nurse, Caveman, and Spaceman."

There's a Forum on http://mindsensors.com/ that can probably assist you both on your RCX and NXT projects. Check it out -- it may save you a lot of time.

I like the Moonbase Ferris Wheel. It kind of reminds me of the "Millennium Eye" Ferris Wheel in London, England. What you didn't show is the follow-up picture of the dizzy minifigs after they got off of the ride!

Are you sure about this? HiTechnic JUST posted a new RobotC download (on June 2, 2010): http://www.hitechnic.com/downloadnew.php?category=21 . It deals with "A suite of RobotC drivers to support HiTechnic sensors and the HiTechnic Sensor Multiplexer. These drivers make it easy to use HiTechnic sensors when programming in RobotC and allow you to maintain control over when and how RobotC accesses the sensors. These drivers are for RobotC version 2.00 or later."

I just e-mailed you "The Art of Lego Design" PDF booklet, plus a few other PDFs on building with Lego Gears. The 7.5-MB "Building Big" booklet is available from http://www.texbrick.com/articles/index.html . "It presents several building methods that can be used to successfully create large models made from LEGO® parts. Trusses, large composite beams, gears in high torque applications, and the modular approch to building are discussed with text and photos." Further down on that same website is a 0.3MB, 8-page "Using Lego Gears" PDF document. "This article is a guide to using LEGO® gears in high-torque applications and is based on my experiences with gear erosion and breakage." "The Art of Lego Design" PDF booklet (19 pages) is available from http://www.handyboard.com/oldhb/techdocs/artoflego.pdf . You may also like the "Art of Lego" PDF booklet http://llk.media.mit.edu/projects/cricket/...oflego-pics.pdf .

I'd like to comment on the first TECHNIC LDD contest entry -- Zblj's Trophy Truck ( See Details Here ). I think it's excellent. I downloaded the LDD .lxf file, looked at the Building Guide Mode, and can see that it would be a great model for a TECHNIC fan to build. I used Superkalle's LDD Manager to generate a Parts List. If TLG would create an official TECHNIC set like this, I bet that it would sell a lot of them. This Trophy Truck is simple enough to not be too expensive to buy, and it has the OPTION of motorizing it with a Power Functions Medium motor. I really like the model's quick-switch motor assembly. It would be right at home competing in the Baja 1000 race in Mexico! Thanks, Zblj, for sharing it!

On the website http://www.hitechnic.com/ , it says: "HiTechnic Infrared Receiver Sensor Released -- Control your NXT robot with the HiTechnic IRReceiver Sensor and a LEGO Power Functions IR Remote Control. The IRReceiver decodes commands from a Power Functions Remote Control and your NXT program can use the commands to directly control NXT motors or to control other functions in your program. More information is available on the Products page." Cost is US$55.