DLuders

From the Peeron.com webpage http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/956-1?showpic=6674 , the back of the Set #956 box shows the chassis, buggy, and the alternate models:

From the Peeron.com webpage http://peeron.com/inv/sets/956-1?showpic=6675 , here's what the Set 956 box interior looks like: Those big foam-rubber TIRES are quite rare -- folks want to use them for offroad "Trial Trucks"!

From the website http://retardzone.com/2008/02/28/30-greate...ns-of-all-time/ , here's the "30 Greatest Functional Lego Creations of All Time". Although you may disagree with the list, the MOCs are really good. Many use TECHNIC pieces; there are links from the main page that describe each model in detail. 1. 35 mm Camera 2. Clock 3. Computer 4. Crossbow 5. Desk 6. Differential Engine 7. Flame Thrower 8. Flash Drive 9. Guitar 10. Harpsichord 11. iPod 12. Machine Gun 13. Macintosh [computer] 14. Mouse Cryo Chamber 15. Nintendo NES 16. Padlock 17. Phone Homemade 18. Pinball Machine 19. Rubik's Cube Solver 20. Steam Engine 21. Toilet Flusher 22. Vending Machine 23. Backpack 24. Chess Set 25. Couch 26. Hard Drive 27. Ice Cube Tray 28. MP3 Player 29. Phone 30. Snacks

From the "Lego World Records" website http://www.recordholders.org/en/list/lego.html , here are the some of the records for Technic-related items: "Largest LEGO Car-- Built in Chicago, and using more than 650,000 LEGO components, the LEGO Group's designers worked for 1,500 hours to design a life-size LEGO Super Car, and the company's model builders and technicians spent a further 4,000 hours assembling it. Though the life-size version of the LEGO car is 10 times bigger than the set sold in stores world-wide, it uses 500 times more LEGO elements. The LEGO Super Car is approximately 4.72 m (15 feet 5 inches) long, 2.28 m (7 feet 5 inches) wide and 1.24 m (4 feet 10 inches) high, weighing more than a ton, making it the biggest LEGO car in the world." "Largest LEGO Bridge-- The largest LEGO bridge was a 37 m (122 ft) long bridge built on 26 October 2003 at the Cargo Lifter hall near Berlin (Germany) for a TV show dedicated to LEGO. The widest free span -14 m (46 ft) - had a 20 m long bridge that has been constructed from 16 September - 5 October 2008 at Science Museum Phaeno in Wolfsburg (Germany) from 80,000 bricks. The previous record [about 12.5 m] was for a model of the Gibraltar railway bridge built by Bart Efdé, Benny Efdé and Marco de Vries from 650 kg of bricks. Ted Michon of the Southern California LEGO Train Club has built a 4.5 m (15 ft) operating LEGO train bridge. The double decked, 4 tracked, working suspension bridge measures 576 studs from anchor to anchor and has a main span of 384 studs measured tower to tower." "Tallest LEGO Crane-- The tallest crane is a almost 6 m (20 feet) tall scale model of a Liebherr LR-11200 1000 ton Crawler built by Alvin Brant. PHOTOS Alvin has also built another 6 m-tall model of a Terex-Demag CC-8800-1 TWIN." "Fastest Time to Built the Technic Mobile Crane (Set 8421)", using 5 builders = 1 hr 10 min 46 sec. "Fastest Time to Built the Technic Tow Truck (Set 8285)", using 5 builders = 1 hr 15 min 9 sec. "Fastest Time to Built the Technic Crane Truck (Set 8258)", using 5 builders = 1 hr 13 min 50 sec. There are MANY MORE interesting Lego records, so be sure to see all of them at http://www.recordholders.org/en/list/lego.html .

Here are some useful websites containing Lego Technic TUTORIALS. I'm sure there are others; feel free to add more. Sariel's "Gears Tutorial" -- http://sariel.pl/2009/09/gears-tutorial/ . "A complete tutorial on Lego gears, their advantages and disadvantages as well as the basic laws of mechanics that apply to them. Updated on February 19th 2010." "Physics of Lego" -- If you click on the menu along the left side of the following webpage, it covers "Motors, Ratchets, Multiplexors, and Pneumatics" : http://www.mapageweb.umontreal.ca/cousined...sics/index.html . Jetro's "LDraw Tutorial" on TechnicBRICKS -- Part 1 ( http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/2009/10/...ial-part-1.html ), Part 2 ( http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/2009/10/...ial-part-2.html ), and Part 3 ( http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/2009/10/...ial-part-3.html ).

Here's more about the 96-studs-long (69 cm, 27") "Ultimate Lego Chaingun" that "CP5670" talked about above: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/22386 . Its features include: * "8 barrels, 64 (+) shot capacity, up to eleven rounds per second continuous fire rate." * "The motor driven barrels start winding up to speed at the flick of a switch on the handle. Pulling the trigger unleashes a stream of rubber bands, deluging the target. The fire rate is high enough that at least half a dozen bands are in the air at any one time – the gun appears to fire a single very long chain of them. It’s as much like using a hose pipe as firing a rubber band gun. It also sounds fantastic because each mechanism makes a distinct click as it discharges a rubber band."

JP Brown built an excellent AEGIS Missile Launcher built with Lego Technic pieces: http://jpbrown.i8.com/aegis.html . He writes: "Aegis uses the LEGO Mindstorms Vision Command system to track movement or color and fire Cyberslam missiles...." "FIRING -- Firing works by rotating the missile magazine around the central axle, bringing each missile launcher's firing pin into contact with a spring-loaded beam (on top of the missile assembly, just below the camera). The beam tips the firing pin of the CyberSlam Missile launcher to release the missile; as the magazine continues to revolve the beam is pushed back out of the way and then springs back into place ready to fire the next shot. "MECHANICS -- There are three motors: two control the rotation and elevation of the missile launcher, linked via chain drives to worm screws which turn the large Technic turntables; the third motor spins the missile launcher to fire the missiles one after another. "OPERATION -- The Aegis can operate on single shot (15 second pause between shots) or full auto (it will empty the magazine in less than a second). The launcher...can rotate from +90 to -80° vertically (taking 0° to be the horizon), and from +135 to -135° in the horizontal plane [see http://jpbrown.i8.com/aegis_ani.html for animated GIF]. A rotation sensor tracks the position of each of the motors...." JP Brown has more cool creations on his website http://jpbrown.i8.com/index.html .

"Kum-Bay-Yah, Kum-Bay-Yah...." To take things to the next level, check out this Lego Technic FLAMETHROWER (with video): http://gadgetheat.com/2009/05/18/lego-technic-flamethrower/ .

Yeah, I know -- the use of custom Technic-compatible stuff is "cheating". However, from the discussion above, one already can see that the use of normal Lego bricks made of ABS plastic WON'T WORK for a rocket launcher because the heat of the exhaust gases will melt everything. Also, there isn't enough TORQUE available from regular Lego parts -- the plastic will crack from being overstressed. I have a 100%-Lego rocket that has flown 3 times. My question to you is this -- is it better to ABANDON the project to build a launch tower off of a Lego vehicle, or PURSUE the project and have a HYBRID plastic/aluminum deal? I thought the whole idea was to "Build Well" -- you know, the JOY OF BUILDING. TLG has a motto something like, "Joy of Building, Pride in Creation". Who gets bonus brownie-points for building 100%-Lego items anyway? I'm not in some sort of contest. Nobody else has built something like this (as far as I can tell), so I'm going to build it.

Well, they already did the Off-Road theme in March and the Flying Functions aircraft in February.... How about doing Power Functions-enabled ANIMALS (like this):

So far in 2010, TLG's "Technic Challenge" has had these themes -- "Flying Functions" (February), "Off-Road" (March), and now "Farming" (April). There are 5 more themes to go -- what do you think they will be? Record your guesses below, and see whether you got them all when the Technic Challenge ends in October 2010. Don't do any EDITING of your guesses, because others will see that you changed your answers! Some possibilities include: * Supercar * Robot * Watercraft * Construction Equipment * Animatronics * Great Ball Contraption * Space Rover * Creatures * Other? See Blakbird's Technicopedia http://www.ericalbrecht.com/technic/ to see what Technic Categories have been done in the past. What kinds of Technic MOCs are missing that would be fun to try?

Here's a robust, Pneumatic Tractor recently made by Nico71: http://www.setechnic.com/Forum/topic2892.html . Although the narrative is in French, I'm sure you can appreciate his creation from the pictures alone (only some of which are shown here): Nico71 has links to his Brickshelf folders for more pictures: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=345089 and http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=382424 .

Well, I just won a custom aluminum SPUR GEAR KIT from Inanimate Reason ( http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=InanimateReason and http://inanimatereason.com/shop/ ) , so I'm going to use it for MAXIMUM TORQUE to lift the rocket+launch tower up off of its trailer:

Here's a link to a Lego "Police Gun" that shoots rubber bullets (Competition Arrows): http://www.bouwvoorbeelden.nl/home_eng.htm . There are PDF instructions avaiable there. The webpage says: "This weapon features rubber bullets (Lego competition arrows) to shoot down intruders in the area....The gun uses a standard canon device and a suspension unit in the trigger mechanism. Takes about 15 minutes to build."

Want to zap some Bionicle creature that's using up your TECHNIC pieces? Check out the several large RUBBER BAND GUNS on http://www.lkmachines.com that have photo-sequence building instructions, videos, LDraw models, or Lego Digital Designer (LDD) files. Of particular note are these impressive models: "Improved Lego Minigun S-43" by Koenigseggccr007 ( http://www.lkmachines.com/legoknexgunlk.php?personID=10 ) "Semi-Automatic Lego Gun S-61" also by Koenigseggccr007 ( http://www.lkmachines.com/legoknexgunlk.php?personID=6 ) "The Brick Destroyer" by A Slug ( http://www.lkmachines.com/legoknexgun.php?personID=1 ) There are several more at http://www.lkmachines.com (plus ones made out of K'Nex) !

Can anybody find a use for these #87751 "7-Blade, 6-Diameter Propellors" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=8...&colorID=66 ) or the #4750 "Part 4750 Fabuland Plate, Round 13 2/3 Stud Diameter" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=4750 ) ?

Wow! I really like the roller bearings around the central turntable. Don't ever take this MOC apart! Sorry to hear about your breakup with your girlfriend --"there are more fish in the pond" (as the saying goes). However, there are FEW TO NO MOCs as magnificent as this one!

Does anybody know what happened to the full-size Lego car that was built for Legoland/Billund in September 2000? There is an Lego Press Release article about it at http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?p...mp;archive=true (no, this is not an "April Fool's" joke). My son and I just got a used Lego 8458 Silver Champion kit (shown below), and we followed the broken link to the website http://www.lego.com/silverchampion . Highlights of the September 2000 TLG Press Release: "LEGO Company Launches its own Formula 1 Racer" "...A team of professional LEGO Model Builders have just put the finishing touches to a gigantic, silver Formula 1 racer built of no less than 249,172 LEGO elements. The car is 5.25 m long and 2.30 m wide.... "The big Formula 1 racer, which has recently celebrated its world premiere in LEGOLAND Billund and which is going on a world tour in order to be displayed at various exhibitions, is a true copy of the LEGO TECHNIC Silver Champion that children and adults now can buy in the shops. It has taken LEGO TECHNIC Designers a whole year to design the model.... "The new big model weighs 550 kg and features built-in sound and light effects. Even the wheel suspension is a true copy of a genuine Formula 1 racer, and mind you, it has been built of LEGO bricks. A team of designers have spent 770 hours developing and magnifying the model. Then it has taken model builders and technicians 2,174 hours to construct the car. "...the Formula 1 LEGO TECHNIC racer is making a world tour, visiting some of the biggest motor shows in Europe. Some of the future stops are Great Britain, Great Britain, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, and Austria." Did any of the European AFOLs seen this 1:1-scale car? Does anybody know where there may be pictures of it online, or whether or not it still exists?

Besides the #8063 Tractor with Trailer set (pictured above), there have been these other farm-related sets (from Blakbird's excellent "Technicopedia" reference): 8 different Tractors total: http://www.ericalbrecht.com/technic/tractors.html 2 different Combines: http://www.ericalbrecht.com/technic/combines.html So, there's never been a Hay-Baler, Conveyor Belt (to lift the bales up into a barn), steep-terrain tractor with TREADS, etc.....

Well, you see in America, there's this tradition on April 1st whereby practical jokes are played on folks. The "Fine Print" at the bottom of my original post says "APRIL FOOLS"!

From TLG's website http://technic.lego.com/en-us/competition/default.aspx : "Take the Technic Challenge - Farming! This is the LEGO® Technic Challenge competition! - here you have a chance at showing the LEGO Technic designers your designs and your abilities with the Technic elements. The competition is very simple 1. Build a model out of primarily LEGO Technic elements. 2. Take a picture of the model 3. Press the button below to Enter the competition 4. Enter your contact information 5. Upload your image "What to build? This month (April) the competition is all about farmlife - build a model that can be used on a farm or has relevance to the farm theme. The model does not need to be actually usable on a farm, but resemble items/machines that are used on farms. "How does it work? Right now you can submit models - On the 19th of April - a panel of judges consisting of designers, marketing managers, building instruction artists and more will pick out (of all submissions) 10 finalists that will then be put up for voting here on the site. Considerations for the Nominees will be based on Model, Design, build to theme and age. "The winner will receive a prize and also continue to the Big Finale in October."

You know how management has been very reluctant to release sets that are based on military themes? Well, it seems that many fans have been using Technic Treads to make Lego tanks. "Sariel" (Paul Kmiec) has made some great tank MOCs, and even "Blakbird" has gotten thousands of tread links for his creations. There must be quite a demand for a tank kit, but due to past reluctance, the executives have decided to do an initial kit release in a very small, understated way (to test out the market and meaure customer reaction). See the advance pic at http://www.flickr.com/photos/arkov/3997976653/ . [Fine Print: April Fools!]

Here's an interesting search engine that finds popular videos of Lego Technic: http://lego.product.info/Video_Test.asp?ke...ic&typ=demo . Using the dropdown menu, one can find: * Demonstrations and Tests * Commercials * Comparisons * Reviews There are bound to be things that you haven't seen before!

Over on BrickTruckTrial.com , "Nico71" just posted an interesting review of the online web software "TTools v2.0" : http://www.bricktrucktrial.com/article.php3?id_article=168 . He writes: "This web-software allows you to calculate some usefull data which are: •-Linear speed (max and in charge) •-Torque (in charge and max) •-Mechanical power (on motor, on wheels) •-Electrical power •-Lost power (mechanical and electrical) •-Efficiency (motors and drivetrain) •-General efficiency of the vehicle •-Autonomy (normal use and in charge) •-Useful angles (approach, departure and clearance)" There's a lot more info, so be sure to check out the complete article. If you click on the same image below that appears IN THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE, you'll connect directly to Nico71's website ( http://nicolas.lespour.free.fr/_content/ttools.html ) that hosts the TTools v2.0 online software. Play around with the data and see how the variables change your MOC. Thanks, Nico71!

I like it! You did a good job "revense-engineering" the future set using only a few advance catalog shots. It could be that your MOC will be BETTER than the official 8043 Excavator coming out in 2H2010. The big scoop can really handle a lot of bricks. The linear actuators are very realistic and smooth-operating. If you placed your MOC outside and took a picture of it at a construction site, many folks would mistake it for the real thing. By the way, I like your additional photos and narrative that you've posted on MOCPages.com: http://mocpages.com/moc.php/194666