DLuders

What a great Technic model! :thumbup: In the last 11 years, the only cargo aircraft model similar in scale to your Antonov AN-140 is this Lockheed C-130 Hercules from 2001:

From the Brickcon 2012 website, the existing (non-Technic) rules of the "Draft" are: "To participate, bring an unopened copy of LEGO® set(s) “Small Draft” 9463 The Werewolf (236 pieces, about $20) Lego Shop.com “Large Draft” 9476 The Orc Forge (347 pieces, about $40) Lego Shop.com A Draft is where several copies of the same set are opened (sealed sets only, please), sorted into individual piles of unique shape or color, and each player (in turn – determined by lots) takes one pile for their own. To participate you’ll need to bring one (or more*) unopened copy of the official Draft set(s). Everyone cooperates to sort all the pieces into piles of like elements. Players discuss combinations(1) and separations(2), draw lots and, in order, pick up the pile they want. Play continues until all pieces are claimed. At the end of each draft cycle the draft order reverses (1-2-3-4-5-5-4-3-2-1-1-2…). * Multiple copy drafting is at the discretion of the Draft Coordinator. (1) Combinations – Elements are often paired or naturally ‘go’ with others. It is common to combine these elements into groupings. It is also usual that the combined groups are then divided into the number of lots equal to the number of pieces combined. Example: A pair of left and right wedge pieces. The lefts are combined with the rights and two (equal sized) lots are formed. Each (new) lot contains both L and R parts. This can be used for any combination of parts – Minifigs (legs/torso/head/etc.), wheels/tires, ball/sockets, etc. (2) Separations – Sometimes a part has a high quantity in a set (say 5 or 10 per set). Discussion is opened to separate very large lots into smaller, multiple (evenly sized) lots. This allows more people to get some of that part. Also, there are some very desirable parts in a set that “everyone” wants. This type of part may be separated into multiple lots if the group agrees. The extreme on this is where “Everyone just keep THIS part.” You provide set(s). Unlimited participation. No need to sign up."

Han has several nice trailers on his "Technic LEGO site of Han". Click on the various MOC links on the left side of this webpage.

Nice find! Jeppe Juul Jensen hinted about this Lego Technic Challenge in this May 8th Designers Blog entry.

Yes, Jetro read the MOC card on the large Flickr photo correctly -- it's Scott Anderson from Alexandria, Virginia (outside Washington D.C.). Perhaps Paul Boratko has met him? I did a little research on the Aug 2012 Brickfair Virginia website, and found this list of Scott Anderson's "MOCs". Alas, when you click on his name, there is no e-mail address or other contact information.

Yes, I used all of the standard foam inserts on all of the tires I posted on this Eurobricks topic. All of them could handle the weight of the 9398 4x4 Crawler.

You should see what the First Lego League team wants to do with their robot. The Lego Light Sensor is a must, but there are many other cool devices for sale on this Shop.Lego.com webpage. The Lego 9693 NXT DC Rechargeable Battery could save the team a lot of money over time (compared to alkaline 1.5V batteries), but it is sold out until September 23rd. If you're not in a hurry, that would be a nice purchase. During FLL competitions, recommend that you use new alkaline 1.5V batteries because they will provide MORE INITIAL AMPERAGE (and faster speeds) compared to rechargeable batteries.

@ Nazgarot: Those RC4WD MIL-SPEC ZXL 1.9 Tires can fit on the Lego Technic 44772 "Wheels 56mm D. x 34mm Technic Racing Medium" (the same wheels that come with the 9398 4x4 Crawler set and many other sets). Since they are 36mm wide, they will be SLIGHTLY narrower than the wheel but the stretchy rubber can accommodate the size difference. I had recommended using tires in the 37mm-48mm width range, but 36mm is "close enough".

I built both the 9398's A-Model and B-Model (using two sets), and think that the A-Model is better balanced. The B-Model may look "meaner" but it is nose-heavy. If you are "bored" with the models, you can easily remove their Power Functions L-Motors and try them on MOCs that struggle with PF M-Motors. Or, you can give them to some kid down the street and they'll have LOTS of fun with them!

The "Trucks Database" on BrickTruckTrial.com has the weights of many Lego Trial Trucks with 2 ea. Power Functions XL motors. You can judge what is "normal" for various motor combinations to handle.

Jorgeopesi added another for his Lego Technic Caterpillar 6090 Front Shovel RC:

It's a Mercedes-Benz Zetros Off-Road Truck!

Good find! The ToysRUs online ad is a bit odd -- it says "only at ToysRUs"....

[bUMP] There is a recent article about an "Investment Analysis of the LEGO Technic 8110 Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG U400" on "Brick Picker" (an "Online Price and Investing Guide for Lego"). It tries to project the future value of that set based on these 4 Technic "flagship" sets (8421 Mobile Crane, 8285 Tow Truck, 8258 Crane Truck, and the 8275 Motorized Excavator): The results are encouraging -- the average price increase per year of these discontinued sets range from 13% to 25% per year, or an average of 21.4%! Although I buy Lego for enjoyment, it's nice to know that you could easily recoup your money. So, if your family or friends say that you spend too much money on Lego Technic, show them this article and say that it's a fun "investment"! If you register for the Brick Picker website, you can view their 6-month investment trend charts for these Lego Technic sets.

... I had not ever seen this Hispabrick webpage either. What a great resource! Thanks, Jetro! I translated the original Spanish version to English here -- people can easily change it to their languages by adjusting the dropdown menu boxes at the top of that Microsoft Translator webpage.

@ dxb: I received your ZIP file of the Lego Dacta 9751's Control Lab software Version 1, and posted it for others to download here via SkyDrive. Thank you!

@ dxb: It's been many minutes, but I did not receive any e-mail. Perhaps you typed my e-mail address incorrectly. Could you retransmit?

@ dxb: Welcome to Eurobricks! Since you are new and don't yet have the 10 posts needed for Eurobricks "Private Messages" (PMs), please e-mail your v1 software to me at LudersDG@MSN.com and I'll repost it for all to download via SkyDrive. Thanks.

I kept my extra parts for the 9398 "A" Model in a plastic bag, and had a slightly different batch than you. I had: 4 ea. Light Bluish Gray Technic Half Bushes 2 ea. Light Bluish Gray Technic Bushes 2 ea. Red Technic Bushes 6 ea. Black Technic Pins With Friction 1 ea. Light Bluish Gray Technic Pin Without Friction 2 ea. Dark Bluish Gray Technic 3/4 Pins 1 ea. Light Bluish Gray Technic 1/2 Pin 1 ea. Blue Technic 1/2 Pin 1 ea. Tan 12-tooth Technic Bevel Gear 1 ea. Trans Red 1x1 Round Plate 1 ea. Trans Orange 1x1 Round Plate 1 ea. Trans Clear 1x1 Round Plate If your model OPERATES well, I would not worry about the differing "extra" parts.

It's good to see you building MOCs again! The Pagani looks excellent! Your "break" was spent writing your upcoming book, which I'm sure was a LOT of work!

Yes, you could connect the Lego Power Functions Receiver's electrified plate ON TOP OF the black 2x2 electrified plate of the 8528 Converter Cable.

@ Chief Test Pilot: Snap the 8528 Converter Cable onto the end of the black Extension Cable above, to be able to clip into the NXT brick:

You can operate your Power Functions elements powered by the NXT brick, by using some extension cables. The Power Functions Receiver's electric plate can be connected ON TOP OF the old-style 5306b "Electric, Wire with Brick 2 x 2 x 2/3 Pair" (the black cable below). Connect your Power Functions motors to the PF Receiver, then connect the extension cables above to the NXT brick (instead of the PF Battery Box pictured below).

It looks a little bit like a Manx Dune Buggy: