DLuders

Slyous' "Long Yellow Buggy" has a downloadable, 50-page PDF instruction file that shows how to make it. It uses a Power Functions for propulsion and steering, and this MOC has suspension. The 3.9-MB instructions are very well done with sharp, close-up photographs, and even though there are a few French words, one can easily build it. The only thing you'll need to know is that "Droite et gauche" means "Right-Hand Side and Left" in French, to indicate the right and left sides of the buggy. It looks like lots of fun! Translated post in English: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?t...mp;fr=yfp-t-701 . Original post in French: http://mocpages.com/moc.php/150361 . .

The instructions for the 8295-2 (alternate "B" Model) can be downloaded from http://technic.lego.com/en-us/BuildingInst...fault.aspx#8295 Group . I see the 61905 piece at the base of the Linear Actuator for the "Log Loader" B-model.

I like this model a lot! It's a good representation of the real car that "Arvo" created: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=219773 . [Noite to non-Euorpeans like me: the "Seat" car (pronounced SAY-at) is a Fiat sold in Italy.] Although your LDD pictures are not yet "public" on your Brickshelf folder, I can see that there was a lot of attention to detail. Is there any chance that you'll be posting the LDD 3.1 .LXF building instructions file there?

Two days ago, I created Lego Digital Designer (LDD) 3.1 .LXF models of two rockets (one of which REALLY FLIES): http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=dluders . I built these using real bricks ~2 years ago, but with LDD's recent "Lego Universe Mode", the parts I needed became visible to complete the digital model. The downloadable .LXF files are available on http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=dluders . The smaller rocket (which really flies) uses 123 pieces and 35 steps; the medium-sized rocket uses 274 pieces and 80 steps. Read more about them at http://mocpages.com/moc.php/104238 .

@Superkalle: Here's what I mean. When a LDD user creates a car door digitally, he/she builds the door upwards using a 9-high stack of 1x8 plates (for example). However, when one goes to the "Building Guide Mode", the same 9-high stack of 1x8 plates only gets PARTIALLY built before the instructions jump to some unrelated part of the car (like the front hood/bonnet). Then, many steps later in the "Building Guide Mode", the instructions come back to the SAME door and finishes it off. Why doesn't the Building Instructions finish off a part to replicate the user's original building sequence? This isn't really a big deal, but sometimes the instructions jumps around so much that the resulting (physical) model is unstable and literally falls apart in your hands. I've had this happen when building a LDD "Custom Truck" with real bricks....

"Marvin G." just posted his 1:9-scale Supercar on MOCpages: http://mocpages.com/moc.php/196639 . He has lots of pics and a video, and he says this about his MOC: "It is 12cm high, 51cm long and 22cm wide, what is in reality 1.08 x 4.59 x 1.98 m." "It features - hand-of-God steering - rear wheel actuation - a V10 mid-mounted engine - adjustable mirrors - full independent suspension - a 5-speed gearbox with reverse - shifting link system - automatic gullwing doors with damped shock absorbers - the hood/trunk opens."

Perhaps Philo's "Power Functions Presentation" at http://philohome.com/pf/pf.htm has some useful info. You have to scroll 1/4 down the page to see the PDF document. If the #8885 "Power Functions IR Remote Control" is defective, perhaps Lego Customer Service can replace it: http://us.service.lego.com/en-US/replaceme...ts/default.aspx . You can "Change Region" at the top-right corner to match your country.

"Sariel" (Paul Kmiec) just 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!

With the recent release of the ~1,400-brick parts pallette in Lego Digital Designer (LDD) 3.1's "Lego Universe Mode" ( http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=40794 ), Zblj reworked his digital model of his Lynx and created it again in a Lego Universe (LU) version. He also did a virtual model of his Mini 4x4 ("A small 4x4 IR controlled offroader"). See the links from the Eurobricks LDD Index thread http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?...mp;#entry718480 ; they're listed under the heading "Downloadable LDD MOCs (LXF-files)" . Alternatively, the Lynx's original .LXF and the new LU .LXF file are available on his bricklink folder http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=425482 . The Mini 4x4 .LXF file is at http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=417982 . The two models' pictures appear below. Thanks, Zblj ! [P.S. If you're not familiar with how to "Import" the models into LDD, see my post immediately above this one.]

Here are two wishes: 1. MORE LOGICAL PLACEMENT ORDER of bricks when using the "Building Guide Mode" -- I've built 2 ea. cars using, and the "Building Guide" does not finish a fender, windshield, etc without jumping to another part of the car for no reason. For example, when placing 1x plates on top of each other to make a door, the Building Guide only goes HALF WAY. It doesn't finish the part, or go to the other door; instead it goes to the rear of the car. The original designer clicked on the virtual bricks in a certain (logical) order, but the Building Guide Mode doesn't replicate it. 2. ABILITY TO WRAP TECHNIC TREADS AROUND SPROCKET WHEELS -- When making a treaded vehicle (like a bulldozer), the #57518 Technic Tread Links (Wide) cannot be wrapped around the #57520 Technic Tread Sprocket Wheel. Currently, one has to lay the row of tread links beside the bulldozer. If one tries to have the sprockets contact the treads, they just "float" by each other like a ghost.

I like the fact that you're willing to modify your MOC (by drilling a hole to insert a non-Lego screw). Although the Lego "purists" out there possibly won't approve of this modification, Lego Technic FUNCTION will always trump appearance. A custom modification like yours requires custom parts. If your truck were REAL, truck mechanics would do the same thing. Lego bricks can't do everything....

Although the original Set 8421 box says 1,884 pieces (see pic below), the official "LEGO COLLECTOR Collector's Guide" says 1,914 parts. I guess the book is wrong; sorry.

Jurgen Krooshoop, thanks for your perspective. I would think that a DRIVEABLE Supercar like your "Little Devil" (enabled with Power Functions) would be "better" and more marketable than the Crane Truck, because the "Little Devil" could be modified easier by the customer. TLG has never produced a Power Functions-enabled car set, and it's been MANY YEARS since the flagship 8880 "Supercar" (year 1994) and the 8448 Supercar II/Super Street Sensation (year 1999) were sold on store shelves. All the recent Lego TECHNIC flagships have sold out within 2 months, so WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR? The demand is there. Sell a "Supercar 3" via direct marketing, Ultimate Collector Series, etc. If TLG can offer Power Functions-enabled merry-go-rounds, they can easily sell out a driveable Supercar. I can't help but think that the Lego TECHNIC fans are being badly neglected by TLG....

The #8421 Mobile Crane was sold from 2005-2008 for US$150. So, it would be unrealistic to find a used set for that same amount (since it's sold out and there's several years of inflation since then). I actually bought all of the 1,914 individual parts needed from Bricklink to build my 8421, and it's a tough way to go. I ended up spending about US$225 and lots of time/aggravation gathering all the parts. You can use the Peeron.com parts inventory at http://peeron.com/inv/sets/8421-1 to see what is needed. Be prepared to make about 10 ea. different Bricklink orders to get everything, and several weeks of effort. Here are some sites to monitor to pick up a used, complete 8421 set: eBay: http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksi...-All-Categories (note the "International Sellers" at the bottom of the list) Bricklink: http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?q=8421 . If you're going to get this set, don't wait too long -- it just gets rarer and more expensive over time.

Whoa! This MOC is most impressive! The remote-controller alone is very clever, and helps to keep the overall size/weight of the model down. A nice combination of pneumatics & Power Functions!

When I opened Lego Digital Designer 3.0 on my computer just now, it alerted me to download a 52.72 MB "patch" to upgrade from LDD 3.0 to LDD 3.1. I did so, but have no idea about the specific improvements. When folks download the "patch", are there really 1,400 new bricks/colors? Are there any more TECHNIC pieces?

Over on MOCpages.com, Thoy Bradley just posted his magnificent Lego "Concept TECHNIC Supercar" -- http://mocpages.com/moc.php/196959 . There are 22 ea. detailed photos (some of which are reprinted below). He writes: "This is a v12 powered beast with hints of a Ferrari F50 look. featuring 4wd, full independent suspension, steering, 5 speed gearbox + reverse, lever activated automatic gull-wing doors, opening bonnet and opening engine cover. Its over 61cm long, 24cm wide and weighs between 2.5 - 3.0kgs. I havn't counted the pieces but may do when i get around to breaking it. Unfortunately towards the end of the build i started running out of red pieces - hence why part of the doors and roof are black lol. The build took me around 30hrs, though i'll admit to having built the drive-train system (unit with all the wheel functions) about 6 months ago and left it. Feel free to leave comments, hope you all enjoy!! PS I think this is closest to the largest technic car on MOC Pages, looked through hundreds to find one bigger and it hasn't yet appeared."

WOW! This is a mighty fine Trial Truck! I like your use of the HiTechnic IRLink Sensor to control the multiple NXT motors. The hinged tarp makes it real easy to access all of the electronics, but it looks very natural. The mud flaps are a nice touch too What a great blend of TECHNIC, Model Team, and Mindstorms building!

Thanks for the detailed building instructions! I would imagine that folks will be using it to a create small truck chassis with multiple axles, similar to the #8421 Mobile Crane (pictured below). Each wheel has a different turning radius, so your design is very useful.

Since there are HUNDREDS of wheat farms in Eastern Washington USA, I can attest that this Combine Harvester MOC is very realistic. There are lots of farmers who buy John Deere models of their equipment, but the pot metal models just sit on a shelf. If the wheat farmers see this, they'll have to make one! What an excellent entry into the April TECHNIC Challenge!

From the BrickFactory webpage http://www.brickfactory.info/set/index.html , there are 277 individual scans of the instruction sheets. There are these pictures of the battery box area: Scan 211: Scan 212: Scan 213: There are some 2847c03 "Yellow Electric 9V Battery Boxes, 4 x 14 x 4 with Dark Bluish Gray Base, Complete Assembly" available on Bricklink: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=2...3&colorID=3 . You could always use a "normal" Light Gray box and surround it with yellow bricks....

@ Underwurlde: To better appreciate the 956/853 set, be sure to see Blakbird's Technicopedia review at http://www.ericalbrecht.com/technic/853.html .

In the Pacific Northwest of the USA, logging is a way of life. There are popular TV shows ("Ax Men" and "American Loggers") that feature the Log Forwarders:

From Brickshelf, Nathanael Kuipers (a.k.a. "industrialdesigner") posted his CAD instructions on his great silver SUPERCAR: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=79271 . He describes it as being "An AWD double wishbone suspension convertible supercar with special doors Sets used - 1 x 8458 Silver Champion and 1x 8466 Offroader." There's a "Car Instructions" subfolder on his main Brickshelf page for this MOC, as well as the "supercar.MPD" file.

TLG has selected the winner of the March 2010 Lego TECHNIC Challenge: http://technic.lego.com/en-us/Competition/...ontentid=171168 . "Heppuneppu" wrote this about his MOC: "This forwarder has got a crane, that can flex from two places with alinear actuator and make 360 spin. All four catepillar tracs can adjust to a bumby ride. It can besteered from the top of the cab. Cab-seat can go around from drive mode to crane controls." Eleven of the AFOL entries appear on the Lego TECHNIC Designers Blog website http://technic.lego.com/en-us/Designers/Blog/Default.aspx :