DLuders

If you want to snazz-up your 8264 Hauler, you could do some mods like these: FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE, Skid-Steering Hauler: "2 M-motors for propulsion and steering...made the dump feature work remotely and added lights....1 remote (soon to be 2), 3 M-motors, 1 Battery Box, 2 IR receivers, and lights": http://mocpages.com/moc.php/175637 . PHOTO-SEQUENCE BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS for similar 8264 Mods from NXTLiftboy: http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x249/NX...rection=reverse from http://mocpages.com/moc.php/112750 .

On eBay, there are 19 ea. Lego 8258 Crane Trucks for sale: http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_trkparms=65%2...op=15&_sc=1 . One of them is for sale NEW at $180 US, but the shipping is a whopping $60! Most of them are selling well over $240 US, so maybe paying $200 US for a used one isn't so bad after all. Bricklink has a "Price Guide" feature showing the recent costs of 8258 Crane Trucks. You can see what people have been willing to pay, month-by-month: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?S=8258-1 ($148 to $247 US). Current list of available #8258 Crane Trucks on Bricklink: http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID...68&invNew=N . Anyway, keep checking the above links (and others) every day -- a good deal may crop up and you'll have to jump on it quickly!

Maybe somebody could use a pair of these in some "Great Ball Contraption" (GBC) device. Better yet, maybe somebody could make a creature which is disgorging Lego plates out of its mouth!

What a nice blend of the old-style STUDDED Technic Bricks and the new Power Functions elements! A lot of folks like the studs better because it's more "Lego-like" and reminds them of sets they built as a kid. Well done!

Has anybody noticed the red #57792 "Cylinder 6 x 3 x 10" being used in the 2010 "Atlantis"-theme kits? There are RED ones used as propellor pods on the Set 8075 "Neptune Carrier" kit that you see in stores now, and they have Technic pins to hold them together. Even if you're not into the "Atlantis" theme, think of how the cylinder halves could be used in your next Technic MOC: 1) Engine intake cowling for a F1 Racer? 2) Wheel arches or fenders? 3) Fuel tank covers? 4) Jet engine housing? 5) Decorative cover on a Medium Power Functions motor? There are available on Bricklink in both blue and red: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=57792 .

From the same person who created the first Lego 1:10-scale Technic Bugatti Veyron (Ming Thein), there's now a FANTASTIC Lego Technic PORSCHE 917K from 1970: http://mocpages.com/moc.php/193021 . He posted it just a week ago, so be sure to check it out! Ming Thein writes: "Once again, I present a world first - a functioning Porsche 917K! MOC includes accurate scale and drivetrain layout, flat 12 engine, working gearbox behind the rear axle, full independent suspension, opening doors/ engine cover, and connected steering." "Functions: - Working steering, linked to steering wheel - Full suspension, same type as the real car - independent double wishbone front/rear, shortened wishbone length and vertical absorber placement to increase suspension stiffness to match real car - Working flat 12 engine, mid placement - 3-speed gearbox with shifter mounted behind rear axle, pushrod activated shifter - Opening engine cover and doors "Constructed from: - 8145 Ferrari 599, and 8297 Off Roader. - Yes, the 250GTO still exists complete; the 917K was assembled from sets acquired specifically for this purpose." Addtiional photos are on http://www.flickr.com/photos/mingthein/set...57614387804037/ .

Oh, I never had one of those #4760c01 "Electric 9V Battery Box Small Assembly with Gray Switch" units. So Zblj, does the correct combination could look like this?

Wow! I like it a lot. The Power Functions Receiver is well integrated into the roofline, and the Model Team details are excellent. The Peterbilt's interior and license plate tags are a nice touch. Good luck in the "Hard Truck Contest" ( http://www.doublebrick.com/htc )!

I e-mailed "Philo" (Phillippe Hurbain) about this, and this is what he wrote: "Unfortunately I never got my hands on this part. Probably inside looks a bit like this http://philohome.com/nitroflash/rc_nitro_rcx.htm but with a PF receiver inside. No idea about its hackability :( Philo"

The box for the #8455 pneumatic Backhoe Loader (with 703 pieces and sold from 2003-2005) says the set is for folks ages 11-99. So, you can play with it for a LONG time to come!

Zblj, to make sure that I understand you correctly, did you place 2 ea. small aluminum foil strips on top of the pairs of electrical contacts of the #60656 "Electric, Power Functions Extension Wire with one Light Bluish Gray End (length 20cm)" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=60656 ) AFTER it was already snapped onto the old-style #5115 9V Battery Box? Maybe you meant some other "old" battery box pictured on http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?q=battery+box . Any "old" 9V Lego Battery Box is bound to be HUGE compared to the tiny 9V alkaline battery mentioned in the original post. I'm not sure what advantage your setup would offer. Could you elaborate?

Thanks for the feedback, Blakbird. You may have misunderstood -- the smallest of my three rockets shown on http://mocpages.com/moc.php/104238 REALLY FLIES and it has proved itself in at least three ~300'-high flights. The 100%-Lego rocket (using no glue) has withstood the compressive forces and and is aerodynamically stable. There isn't any room for a parachute but after a "bucket recovery" I just snap the pieces back together for another flight (but my NAR club frowns upon it). The four white slopes (acting as "fins") do get a little carbon and scorching on them so if they get to "grody" I can just replace them. I appreciate your guidance on how to activate the igniter. My main challenge now is to have a POWERFUL tilt-up launcher that has enough torque to lift the rocket up from a horizontal to a vertical position. Do you know of any official Technic set that has instructions that I could mimic? I know that there are Technic cranes, fire trucks, etc. -- whcih one could best be adapted to tilt a rocket? The back end of the trailer can be built with some of those Lego-compatible custom ALUMINUM LIFTARMS available from a Florida USA Bricklink Store named "Inaminate Reason" ( http://www.bricklink.com/storeDetail.asp?p...mp;itemStatus=U ). The aluminum won't melt like the Lego ABS plastic would, and can be cleaned up with a White Vinegar bath just like any other launch rail. By the way, I'm impressed by your yellow High-Power rocket. Did you fly it at FITS in Mansfield, at Brothers or at XPRS at Black Rock? I only got to HPR Level 2 certification....

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not trying to make a 1:13 scale official "Trial Truck" conforming to the official BrickTruckTrial.com rules. My son and I want to make a big MONSTER TRUCK (which has an oversized suspension and wheels).

If you know what size the trays are supposed to be, you may recognize them on the two pages of "Trays" on Bricklink: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?q=tray . There is a Bricklink Catalog category for "Gear-->Technic" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?c...=G&catID=36 ) and for "Gear-->Storage" too ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?c...G&catID=399 ) where there are a few storage trays shown. You may have to post the tray(s) on your Bricklink "Parts Wanted" list and wait a while if they're none currently for sale....

OK, but if you SLIGHTLY SANDED the balls, wouldn't it be a looser fit? The parts are MUCH MORE ROBUST than the standard Technic Suspension pieces.

Ooh, sorry about my getting faked out by the old TLG Shop images! My apologies. One can always find these Technic Figures for sale on Bricklink, though: http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?q=8300 . The prices don't seem unreasonable....

I would imagine that the interior of the bb396c01 piece http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=3766159 would be a combination of the PF Receiver and the Medium PF motor. Peeron.com lists it as "'Electric Power Functions 4.5V IR Receiver RC Car Base' (x1953cx1)" ( http://peeron.com/inv/parts/x1953cx1 ). The entire unit is fairly compact. It came with the 2009 #8183 "Track Turbo RC" and #8184 "Twin X-Treme RC" sets. There's an interesting article at http://www.techbricks.nl/My-LEGO-projects/...ackturborc.html .

Can you use Bionicle parts (with BALLS on the ends) to click onto Technic Connectors (with Ball SOCKETS) to make BIG Suspension Steering Arm units? My son and I want to make a big Technic MONSTER TRUCK with a big, beefy suspension having GREAT RANGE of movement. However, the selection of Technic Suspension pieces is rather limiting for larger vehicles ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?c...P&catID=141 ) . The official Lego suspension arms offer too little vertical travel for a Monster Truck. So, I ordered a few items from Bricklink, got them in my hands today and fiddled with them. It is possible to make a jumbo Suspension Arm assembly that's a LOT BIGGER than the ones you're used to. As pictured below, the three key pieces are the #47330 "Bionicle Vahki Torso Lower Section ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=47330 ), the #60176 "Technic, Axle Connector 2 x 3 with Ball Socket, Closed Sides, Squared Ends" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=60176 ), and the #bb78 "Technic Ball Joint with Double Rack" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=bb78 ), which Peeron lists as Part #x843. My digital camera is on the fritz, so I'll try to describe the steps below: 1) Snap the balls of 1 ea. #47330 Bionicle Torso onto 2 ea. #60176 Connectors with Ball Socket, to form the top and bottom pivots of the Steering Arm. The #60176 Connector with Ball Socket pieces (in turn) pin onto LONG Technic Liftarms of your choice using blue #43093 "Technic, Axle Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=43093 ). Alternatively, each #60176 Connector with Ball Socket piece can connect to 2 ea. Technic Liftarms directly, using 4L Technic Axles. NOTE: Don't use the lookalike #32174 "Technic, Axle Connector 2 x 3 with Ball Socket, OPEN SIDES" pieces; they are weaker than #60176 and crack easily (see http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?q...ith+Ball+Socket ). 2) Note that the #47330 Bionicle Torso piece has a choice of two central holes through which an axle can connect onto the wheel. Axle-to-wheel connections can be made stronger by using 2 ea. #4185 "Technic Wedge Belt Wheel (Pulley)" ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=4185 ) on the outside of the Steering Arm assembly (next to the wheel). They allow Technic pins to snap onto the wheel's outermost holes to reduce the torque on the axles. 3) Connect 1 ea. #bb78 Ball Joint with Double Rack to the #47330 Bionicle Torso using a 3L Technic Axle. Then, snap 1 ea. #60176 Connector with Ball Socket onto the ball of the #bb78 Ball Joint with Double Rack, to offer a pivoting connection to your steering rack assembly. The back-and-forth rotation of the #bb78 Ball Joint with Double Rack causes the #47330 Bionicle Torso to pivot (thus steering the wheels). There is a WIDE-RANGING 3-directional SWIVELING action -- up, down, and back-and-forth. The combination of Ball-and-Socket connections are a bit snug, so if one wanted a looser fit a bit of sandpaper on the balls could reduce friction a tad. Hey you experienced "Trial Truck" builders out there -- do you think that this concept is worth developing further? Maybe somebody else has already thought of this, but I don't think so. Feel free to experiment and comment, and use it in your own MOCs.

Several years ago, I designed a 100% Lego flying model rocket that uses Estes C6-5 or C6-7 black powder model rocket motors ( http://mocpages.com/moc.php/104238 ). Yes, it really can fly but it has no parachute and I have to collect all of the pieces after it smashes into the earth (i.e., a "Bucket Recovery" method) . It's still intact in my basement. To launch the smallest one pictured off of a remote-controlled Lego vehicle, I've been wanting to create a MOC similar to this 8-wheel, Power Functions XL-scale #6950 "Mobile Rocket Transport" ( http://mocpages.com/moc.php/90309 ). My question is, do you think there's a way of launching my Lego rocket off of the XL-scale Mobile Rocket Transport? The trick is to develop enough TORQUE to lift my rocket upwards from a horizontal to a vertical position. The tilting mechanism would have to work SLOWLY, and then move the butt of the rocket outwards off the end of the truck (so that the hot flame doesn't melt the Lego pieces!). Do you think that it is POSSIBLE to DRIVE a model rocket around and actually LAUNCH IT using remote-control? I would have to use a short, metal launch rod to guide the rocket upwards for the first 3 feet. Lego Linear Actuators don't have anough range of movement to do the job (although I could use these Lego-compatible jumbo Linear Actuators with a 4" stroke available from http://store.firgelli.com/lego-actuators.html ). Any suggestions? (Blakbird, I know you flew rockets at Mansfield like I did, so your insight would be appreciated). (P.S. I know that the National Association of Rocketry has a code whereby rockets shall not be tilted more than 30 degrees from vertical, so I would test-launch my rocket on my own huge field just in case it launched prematurely like a Cruise Missile)....

Want to make a REALLY SMALL remote-control vehicle or robot, but can't figure out how to squeeze in a big Power Functions battery box? Well, some fellow figured out a way of using a SMALL 9V disposable battery (like the ones used for smoke detectors) in a Lego Power Functions application: http://mocpages.com/moc.php/168223 . He used it in a small model of a Shays Locomotive by utilizing research by Philo (Phillippe Hurbain) and adapting it. Although a 9V battery may not last very long (compared to 6 ea. AA batteries or TLG's Power Functions rechargable battery), it may be useful in smaller MOCs. Really, do you power-up your MOCs for more than a few minutes at a time anyway?

For several years, folks have been bemoaning the fact that large TECHNIC Figures have not appeared in recent Technic sets. There was a older Eurobricks post that lamented this fact: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?...&hl=figures . I was glad to see a bright blue Technic Figure in mahjqa's recent "Karbargenbok" MOC: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=40095 . According to pictures on the Bricklink Catolog list http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?q=technic+figure , there were several different Technic Figures made. Please note that The Lego Group is now selling two TECHNIC FIGURES on their website http://shop.lego.com/Product/?p=8300 . Alas, they are not available in the US, but use the dropdown list on the top of that webpage to see the many countries that they ARE sold in. Lego fans living in the US can get them from Bricklink and eBay international sellers. Here's what they look like with their helmets off: Bricklink lists them as Part Numbers "tech016" and "tech017", respectively: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?M=tech016 and http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?M=tech017 . They were originally issued as "Action Figures" Set 8300 in 2000-2002, and sold for US$11 in 2000. Peeron has an inventory of the various parts: http://peeron.com/inv/sets/8300-1 . Get some drivers for your larger Technic and Model Team MOCs!

So, this Thompson Coupling could be used as a "joint" in the chassis of a Lego Trial Truck, correct? The joint could offer an infinite range of movement (due to the Flex Cable). The Technic Turntable can only allow movement along two axes. Have you used this in one of your MOCs?

Wow, thanks Zblj! There are many people who admire your Trial Trucks, and it must have taken a long time to navigate through the Lego Digital Designer software to make the .LXF file. I just used LDD to display the Building Instructions, and it ends up being 213 steps involving 544 pieces. I generated the HTML Building Guide using LDD's Toolbox, and will print them out for this weekend's project [P.S. For those not familiar with navigating the LDD program, after you "unzip" the file you'll have to do a "File--> Import" inside the LDD program. Use the dropdown menu to select the "LXFML" files so that the "Image100" file appears. Name it something like "Zblj's Lynx Trial Truck 10" and then it will open up in LDD (which can be downloaded from http://ldd.lego.com/download/ ) ].

Nevertheless, we appreciate the efforts of Blakbird and Crowkillers to make the special Gallardo MOC. We know that you didn't do it "for the money". Heck, Lego Technic is an expensive hobby anyway. Folks know that you enjoy rendering special models like this one -- your work is unequalled. Thanks!

"DAH-da-DAH, da-DAH-DAH". I can hear the theme song from the campy 1980s TV series, "The A-Team" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_A-Team ). There's going to be a MOVIE about it in June 2010: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_A-Team_(film) . I think the van looks great as-is, and is fun to drive. Using your "Basic Power Functions Car Chassis" designs previously posted in Eurobricks ( http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=39827 ), folks can follow the picture sequence on your Flickr page to make the complete van: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28134808@N02/...57623663460282/ . ""I love it when a plan comes together". Thanks for sharing!