RohanBeckett

haha.. I'm not an aerospace engineer! just a 37yr old who's been into Technic since 8030 ;) I've got a few other lego books (mix of Mindstorms+System building techniques).. and also the amazing PDF of Yoshihito Isogawa.. so that's all I've had to go by.. This book sets the bar a LOT higher, with regards to background knowledge on the 'why' things are built in such a way I love the fact you were able to include all the latest parts.. nothing worse than a book being out of date the moment it goes to print! ps.. Blackbird: your photo looks like a police line-up mugshot, in comparison to Mr Stylish Sariel!!! RB

Bah.. I pre-ordered *weeks* ago.. and NOW they have a discount sale?? ahh well.. I guess you're worth full price, Sariel Downloaded the PDF last night and had a skim... whoa... talk about text-dense!! going to be a great read when the print edition arrives! Really like how you made different versions of various mechanisms for studded, studless.. and old/older/new parts (eg: the 3 different diffs!) great work! RB

change the search to 'new' (sets) vs used.. and you'll see there's 6 sellers with it, in the world, (one has 7 copies!!) ranging from US$65 -> $US170.. ..so for 195, it had better have a few gold plated bricks in there!! ;) RB

Actually, the pic with the large lego head (sorting box, I assume?)... gave me an idea.. how about using that, to create a scaled-up LegoMinifig? Would look awesome, even if the legs didn't walk.. (maybe on a wheeled/tracked platform, with faux-walking legs?) for nostagia's sake.. a scaled up (to match the head), working version of 886 would be amazing :) RB

Amazingly realistic.. even when one stops.. and another one 'bumps' it back into action! well done! Are you using standard lego magnets, or did you need to resort to rare-earth ones? RB

again.. I have no qualms about using 'odd' connections for lego pieces, as long as it doesn't irrepairably damage the part this is about as official as you'll get with this topic: http://bramlambrecht...stress-bf06.pdf Same file as Powerpoint on Lego's site: cache.lego.com/downloads/brickfest2006/brickstress.ppt and even they admit that there's some official sets in the past, that used techniques that wouldn't be accepted today! We wouldn't see half the amazing MOC's today, if people didn't bend the rules a bit!!! ;) RB

I have no problems with some MOC's with modifed, or a small amount of non-lego parts.. However I've seen some people who do (and often, quite angrily so!!) I think the easiest way would be to have a simple name for each style MOC-Pure MOC-ModifiedParts MOC-inclNonLego I'm sure someone can think of 3 better names.. handy when referring to your own, or someone elses creation and if it's flagged as 'inclNonLego', then you'd have no reason to 'complain' about it! RB

when you get crazy people like this: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=73497 http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=72558 is it any wonder that certain pieces are in short supply??? RB

hah.. I'd seen plenty of regular clones before, both system, and technic models.. but this was the first I'd seen with electronics. They don't seem to be that common.. I'd be pretty pee'd off if I bought a 2ndhand set, and found it to be a clone... Fortunately, they are usually VERY easy to spot, for some of us experienced collectors! RB

Saw these in the local Hobby/RC shop at first I wondered if TLG had just sold the rights to use the parts/molds.. since they were so very un-lego like in the first place, and haven't been sold for 6 years Then I figured they might just be regular clones - although probably the most complex ones I've ever seen - complete with all the electronic parts! Anyway.. thought I'd post in here, since I often see the wheels being used in various MOC's / truck trials... Out of interest, they weren't actually cheap - around AUD$160! RB

ok.. now you and burf need to join forces (and bricks!) wonder-twins style... and make a working version of that massive 8880 that TLG built! come on... you *know* it's possible! ;) RB

856 Bulldozer still has one of my most favourite oldstyle Lego mechanisms... it's perfectly arranged, so that it scoops the bucket, and then hold it level, as it raises it... you can't really understand it until you build, and operate it! Shame about no Universal sets! I didn't get too many 'full' sets when I was a kid, but I did get 8020, 8030, 8050 (motor!) and 8090 all within a year or two of each other, for birthdays/christmases.. and it gave my technic collection a huge boost, and gave my classic town/space building MUCH more interactivity! the memories of getting a big box like this on christmas day, then squirrelling myself in a corner all morning building, and ignoring all other toys!! ;) RB

neato box.. I'd never seen it before - I don't think it was widely released in Australia Does the box lid open, like many of the other boxes from that era? RB

agreed.. nice review.. although probably a few too many photos of the build process. This was my 2nd set after returning from my dark ages (after the 8436 Truck) I was VERY disappointed in this set.. I reckon if this came out in the 80's, at least there'd be a crank on the side, to make the propellers go! I think at this stage, TLG was still finding their feet with studless construction... it would be a few years later before most models really matured, with design and functionality RB

although I'm sure they have advanced a bit... but I'm amazed that the motor looks *exactly* like the ones that I used to find, when I ripped open my toys in the 80's (yes, of course I was one of those kids! :) We can always trust on you, Philo, to go above and beyond... to sacrifice motors to the benefit of all AFOLkind! RB

haha.. not sure if I should admit this... but I find a technic axle *perfect* for cleaning my ears.... feels so good too.. like an inner ear massage! hahaha RB

I modded mine with 2 airtanks, replacing the fake ones... they fit in really well (although I only have blue - white would look nicer) It did smooth out the operation of the pneumatics.. and if you wait a minute for the compressor to fill them up.. you get a bit more 'fast action' play time, before the pressure drops too much Still doesn't fix the inaccurate rotation movement of the main arm - it's an ingenious solution, but too hard to control fine-movements.. so you end up overshooting, when rotating When I rebuild mine, I think I might try some sort of geared solution, to make it more accurate RB

While I admire your enthusiasm, and optimism... you will NOT get the 9396 to fly. Lego is just far too heavy, and the motors are not strong enough Nice big threads on it last year: http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=56658 http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=60737 RB

Yes.. definitely coveted! I finally picked up a 2ndhand copy last week.. after a failed attempt a couple of years ago.. I foolishly bid, and won one on ebay, where the photos didn't show the wheels, (or indeed, that many parts) And yes.. it arrived with barely 10% of the pieces... Fortunately the seller refunded me most of my bid (since I was happy to keep some spare parts!) But last week I got lucky, and I won one for the low price of $AUD120.. and although not mint.. is in good enough condition.. very dusty... all the disassembled parts are in a tub of warm water! I now have a spare set of instructions!! RB

To be honest, I can't remember.. and it's been a year since I had them assembled in a vehicle.. I wouldn't be surprised if it happened to both of them. I got Hot Flame first, and it happened with that one (which is 2nd revision) I remember trying rechargables at first, but stopped using them soon after, and now, when I want to play with them, I just buy a bulk pack of 'average' alkalines. In Australia, the large hardware shops sell a 30-pack of 'Varta Longlife Extra' for under $10.. so it's not too expensive to have a bit of fun with them I can't remember the range.. but I don't think it was that far.. no more than 10-15metres for sure RB

Unless you're counting the RC (RF, rather than Infrared!) series of Racers Cars, which were pretty much all studless technic parts anyway RB

Just for you... I decided to unscrew my 2 RC Buggy Units, and take photos.. I have one of each version (original with 2 outputs, and the 2nd edition, with only 1 (from Hot Flame) Original - http://www.bricklink...m.asp?P=6272c01 Hot Flame - http://www.bricklink...m.asp?P=6293c01 https://lh6.googleus...00/IMG_1392.JPG (high res version) On the left is the Original - note the internal version on the main PCB - 43449.40A On the right is the 2nd edition - version 43449.40C C revision https://lh6.googleus...00/IMG_1393.JPG A Revision https://lh6.googleus...00/IMG_1394.JPG Both have very different sub-PCB's below them Pretty sure, I can see from YOUR photos, that you have a 'A' revision.. and the photos you found on Brickshelf are 'C' It's interesting to note that the brickshelf 'C' edition has the dual output.. as you can see by the 2 sets of yellow/black wires, in the very first photo, unlike my C version, which only has single output, although I reckon I could mod it for two, as there's a C1 connector holes in the bottom right of t he PCB, and the top shell has a clip-out cover plate, for where the auxiliary output should be In short... I really don't think anyone has cut out your chips.. you just have an 'A' revision of the board. I too, had issues with the jittering.. but it was always solved by using better, fresh, NON-rechargable batteries (providing the full 9 volts, rather than 7.2, from 6 x 1.2v Nicads) Also, fresh, good quality 9V batteries in the remote, doesn't hurt either! :) Even with decent 1.5v Alkalines, the units don't have a huge range.. 15-20metres tops.. Now.. back to screwing these cases back together!! ;) RB

I'd just like to strangle thank you for increasing the price of those technic frames by 20x on bricklink .... oh.. and congrats on giving birth to another technic monster! next time, we demand a 3 metre tall NXT-breathing dragon! RB

I just picked up a cheap 8448 the other day! (woohoo.. after only 5 years of looking) for the bargain price of AUD$120! It came assembled, but dusty.. so it's been pulled apart for cleaning.. was interesting looking at the design of it! I have a dusty 8880 sitting on the bench behind me, and a 8868 on the shelf next to me... that I'm thinking of finally building the B model for, soon. Not sure if I'll ever get a Silver Champion, as they always go for so much. By all means, buy as much as you can afford.... but do keep your eyes out for an 8480 Shuttle... which is still my favourite old flagship, purely because of the mechanics, and the uniqueness of it (plus it's super fun to play with!) RB

I used to spend hours at lunchtime, at highschool, playing with all the DACTA sets they had... designing all sorts of contraptions, and then programming it via the control unit plugged into the Apple ][e Computers! funny.. if I had one in front of me now, I probably couldn't remember a single thing about the programming!! (scary to think that it was just on 20 years ago I was doing that (16years old vs 36 now!!) RB