DLuders

There are several 9396 Helicopters available in Germany. Has anyone bought one and built it yet?

Let's start a new topic about the new (2H2012) Lego Technic 9396 Helicopter set (since there is not one so far). Please post your impressions here. For starters, the online PDF Building Instructions are available for download on this Technic.Lego.com webpage (both the "A-Model" and the alternate "B-Model"):

The Lego Group has posted the 9398 4x4 Crawler PDF Building Instrructions on this Technic.Lego.com webpage -- both the "A-Model" (4 booklets) AND the alternate "B-Model" (2 booklets)!

Thanks, Jetro, for showing the Unimog tires on the 9398! Here is a side-by-side comparison of the 9398's original Lego tires (picture by efferman), the larger-diameter (but smooth) Lego Unimog tires (picture by Jetro), the 3rd-party RC tires (picture by efferman), and the Lego "Power Puller" wheels/tires (picture by Blakbird):

How do you find which axles are the harder plastic -- by a "thumbnail impression" test, by flexing the axles, or by some other method?

@ Raus: I'm noticing that when your Lego Technic Rock Crawler "approaches" the rock, it does so at a slight angle. The two front wheels don't simultaneously contact the rock slope at the same time. It seems that efferman's "approach" to his obstacles was not done in this manner; both the front and rear wheels have trouble "grabbing" the rock because one tire is not ANGLED to the rock face. Perhaps he used Rechargeable AA batteries (7.2V) instead of new Alkalines (9V):

I'm wondering whether everyone used the same voltage of batteries in the 9398 driving tests (shown in the recent videos). If one used six RECHARGEABLE AA batteries, the available voltage is only 6 x 1.2V = 7.2 Volts. A set of six new Alkaline batteries produces 9V initially -- that's 25% more Voltage. The comparisons of the 9398's performance needs to be an "Apples to Apples" one done with the same kind of battery. If the Power Functions L-Motor has ~50% more torque than the PF M-motor, one could extrapolate the information that Philo did on his "LEGO® 9V Technic Motors compared characteristics" webpage. The "Mechanical Power" of a PF M-Motor is substantially less at 7.2V than at 9V. One could "bump up" the curves ~50% to get an idea of the PF L-Motor's "Mechanical Power".

If one looks at the last third of below, one can see that it's quite capable of running over INDOOR obstacles. If one runs it OUTDOORS (against the recommendations of The Lego Group), maybe one expects too much from the model. However, it seems that it can be customized. Perhaps folks were expecting the performance of Marceloraus/ Raus Lego Technic Rock Crawlers (with their custom, oversized tires to handle steep rock surfaces), like in the . Perhaps the key is to get LARGER WHEELS and TIRES to meet your expectations....

Nice Lego Feller-Buncher! It has the look of the real machines featured in the popular "Swamp Loggers" TV show. I like your use of Linear Actuators too.

@ TechnicFreak: I built Jurgen Krooshoop's Ultimate 8043 (instead of the original 8043 A-Model), and use the same Eveready Energizer 2300 mAh rechargeable batteries as you do. I noted that the treads turn better in one direction than the other, but did not have a problem with the other functions. Note that rechargeable batteries do not produce the same Voltage as new Alkaline batteries. If you use six AA Alkaline batteries, you may get better performance. Perhaps the new Power Functions L-Motors would provide the needed torque to turn the various functions better.

@ efferman: Thanks for your video! Do you think it is possible to modify the 9398's design to have LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS?

@ alpin-ingenieur: Welcome to Eurobricks! I found your Doktor Brick Community topic (in the original German), and saw your pictures of your Lego Power Functions Autovalve there. I also saw The Mind's AVI video too, and his pictures of the Power Functions Servo Motor connected to your Autovalve design:

@ TechnicFreak: You should consider getting a Brick Duster.

On MOCpages, Senator Chinchilla recently posted 34 pictures of his Lego Technic supercar -- a BIG, old-style (studded) De Tomaso Pantera. It has "...Working independant suspension, steering, doors, trunk, hood, parcel shelf (over the engine), lights, pedals, shifters, etc...." Here are the highlights: "When you press the brake pedal, something special happens! (This is currently just some photo mashing stuff, but once I get 2 Lego extension cords, this will really work in the car. As of now, this is just me pushing the unpowered brake switch and the battery box hooked directly up the the brake lights.) It has running lights and brake lights at the back, so you can tell between night-time driving and stopping":

@ Zblj: Allanp figured it out below.

The prices for the 9398 set are coming down on some of the German sources. If you wanted to pre-order one and get it at the end of July, here is a possibility (in English)....

On his Flickr photostream, The Scooter Guy posted this nice see-through rendering of the 9398 4x4 Crawler's chassis. Click on the image below to show full-size:

[bUMP] On his Flickr photostream, The Scooter Guy posted these two pictures about "LEGO Micro Motors --- The transparent one seems to be very rare. Anyone have a transparent Micro Motor?"

From The Scooter Guy's Flickr photostream, there are these images showing how the "flip-up" body shell can be easily removed and replaced with your own (custom) body shell. This is similar to the Lexan body shells that are sold for RC Monster Trucks -- you can easily change the "look" of your model by simply exchanging the shell:

At the end of this excellent TechnicBRICKS article, Fernando Correia (Conchas) discussed the new "V2" Power Functions Receiver that comes with the 9398 4x4 Crawler set: "•The new 9398 4x4 Crawler is released with a new version of the RC Receiver (6020086), which got a "V2" label printed. The newest RC Receiver was upgraded with a CMOS motor driver giving less power loss. This upgrade with a new CMOS motor driver is not directly connected with the release of the new LPF L-motor, but LEGO has been looking for this opportunity for a while and now the right driver is available. The timing is however connected with the launch of the 9398 4x4 Crawler, and the new RC Receiver enables two PF L-motors to be connected to the same output on the RC Receiver. This is not possible with the earlier RC Receiver versions released! (4506085, 4566756) "RC Receiver was first modified in 2009, when support to 'access to extra address space' was implemented and a minor fix related with a 'single pin mode' design flaw. By that time the LPF RC Protocol was also updated and new documentation was released (version 1.10). This documentation was later found to be incorrect and a new document with the protocol description was then released in 2010 (version 1.20). "The current hardware change to the RC Receiver is released with no further modifications to the LPF RC Protocol. "The new receiver got a "V2" label just because the first upgrade in 2009, was purely a firmware change. "So we have now the following list of LPF RC Receivers released: ◦Element ID 4506085 - Original hardware, with RC Protocol firmware version 1.00 (released in 2007). ◦Element ID 4566756 - Original hardware, with RC Protocol firmware version 1.20 (released in 2010). Distinguishes by: LED double blink on startup. 4566735 is the element ID for the corresponding set (8884-1) sold separately. ◦Element ID 6020086 - Second hardware, with RC Protocol firmware version 1.20 (released in 2012). Hardware modifications: New CMOS motor driver with lower power loss. Distinguishes by: LED also blinks twice on startup and "V2" printed label on the front. "•Regarding concerns about eventual center drift of LPF Servo motor - This motor has a fixed zero detection point and there will always be a certain tolerance and hysteresis. These will in most cases be below the slip of practical Technic gearings."

[bUMP] On this TechnicBRICKS (TBs) interview with Gauta Munch (GM, the Product Manager of LEGO Power Functions (LPF)), there was discussion about the 8879 Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control unit. Note the final sentence by Gaute Munch concerning the "open source" code: "TBs: The proportional control allowed by the LPF RC protocol is an addition of great value! However the relative and low precise control delivered with the 8879 Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control dials, doesn't ease to take advantage from a full play experience, rather than absolute control dials or sticks would do. Did you realize or gathered similar feedback on your tests? Was it on purpose or which are the advantages of using this solution? Why did you have not taken the absolute control way?" "GM: A lot of generic control has been build into the LPF Remote Control protocol. When we make a specific LPF Remote Control handset we must make a lot of choices directed by the purpose of this handset. The main purpose of the LPF Speed Remote Control is to enable kids down to the age of 6 to control trains. At the same time of course it is a general purpose power level Remote Control in the LPF platform. Using absolute power control with a speed dial works very well when you have a hardwired solution like the 9V train. In a Remote Control system with multiple channels it becomes inconsistent: I have a train on channel 1, I turn the speed dial to +5. I change to another train on channel 2. The speed dial says +5, but the train is not moving!? Well, I just want the train to back up slowly. I turn the speed dial back…to +4 – now the train runs fast forward! I turn back to channel 1. This train is still running at +5 but the dial says +4. By using Increment/Decrement and forced STOP the train itself will always be the reference and that works very well for the younger kids controlling trains. In the future we might launch other types of controls. As you know, the LPF Remote Control protocol is open source, so you always have the option of making your own AFOL community super controller."

On this TechnicBRICKS (TBs) interview with Gauta Munch (GM, responsible for Technology Innovation at LEGO, in this area of research and development), there was this Question and Answer concerning Lego CUUSOO and Lego Power Functions (LPF): "TBs: Because fans are always eager to give their contribution and suggestions, I'll ask you if the LEGO CUUSOO platform is the most appropriate to raise ideas for potential new LPF elements? Is a widely supported and technically viable new idea for a new LPF element, something that LEGO would consider producing if proposed this way, or is it CUUSOO exclusively targeted for ideas regarding new LEGO sets? "GM: The investment into making a new LPF component is quite high and we are living with the product responsibility for a long period. Therefore there has to be LEGO products using the component in high volumes over a range of years before we will decide to launch it. The best way of promoting ideas for new LPF components is to make a good component description with model and product ideas and send it through the LEGO Ambassadors. I would actually encourage you to do so. If the idea is good it will become part of our internal “goodies on the shelf” and might find its way to the shelf in the stores." Note that Jetro is our current Lego Ambassador for the Technic theme.

[bUMP] On this TechnicBRICKS article, Fernando Correia (Conchas) noted that the Power Functions AAA Battery Box has an "...auto turn OFF feature, after approx. 2 hours of continuous operation. Only with the 88000 PF AAA Battery Box, the user can override this function - If you press and hold down the green button for more than 3 seconds the green light will blink to indicate that auto turn OFF is disabled. This means that a motor will run until the batteries are empty. To enable again turn the AAA Battery Box OFF and ON again."

In today's TechnicBRICKS "Tech Talk 08 -- Designing the Power Functions System" interview with Gaute Munch (Product Manager of LEGO Power Functions), he said: "The LPF Servo motor has front and back outputs giving an easy build of e.g. 4-wheel steering. The output can, from its center position, turn up to 90 degrees clockwise and counter-clockwise with 7 steps in each direction. In total you have 15 positions: •1 center position •7 positions clockwise •7 positions counter-clockwise "When the Servo Motor is controlled with full power in either direction it will turn to the full 90 degrees position (for example with the IR Remote Control). "When it is controlled with power steps in either direction it will turn through the 7 positions corresponding to the 7 power levels (for example with the LPF Speed Remote Control or the LPF Rechargeable Battery box). Fernando Correia (Conchas) noted that "From the explanation above, new PF Servo motor does feature proportional turn, with PWM control devices like 8879 Speed Remote or 8878 Rechargeable Battery Box. If controlled via the 8885 bang-bang IR Remote Control, it also features return to center when the remote is not actuated. Overall unit size is 5x3x7 modules."

On MOCpages, Andreas Neidhart "...built one of the alternative models from the first "supercar" 853. There are some photos on the box but no instruction. The car has a piston motor and a steering. It´s not very exciting but for me a journey back to my childhood." He posted 10 pictures of it there, so you may be able to "reverse-engineer" it. Be sure to click on each image to enlarge them there. It should be noted that, in the USA, this set was known as 956 instead of 853, but they are the same. Note the set number on the bottom-right corner of this box, with the same images as the 853 set: For more discussion, see this past Eurobricks topic.