j3tang

just ordered parts for Optimus Prime :D and then ..... i noticed that this was version 2, he's up to version 4 of the design! Too bad there aren't LDD files for the other models and the trailer. Can't have Optimus Prime without the trailer!

@Madcat2000: I did come across those images but it just didn't strike me as what I wanted to be using for the occassion. I have an idea as to how to make it open up, so I'd prefer to try to stay away from such specific pieces. Thanks for the comments though! @mr. lego_bildur: not quite what I had in mind, but you're right that the tips for building a sphere would definitely be easily adaptable to a balloon. @Cecilie: That's the one I had in mind! Thanks for the link to the two books!

I'd like to get some help from boardies here for an important day in my life. Several years ago, me and my significant other had an enjoyable time floating through the air in a hot air balloon. I've made up my mind that I'd like for her to spend the rest of her life with me and I plan on one more excursion through the air, but this time I plan on popping the big question to her and I'd like to commemorate the occasion with a MOC of a hot air balloon that will hide the ring. She loves playing with my Lego too, but boy am I glad that she doesn't visit these forums :) I recall that there was someone who wrote a book on Lego creations and building round objects with bricks. I don't recall if there was ever instructions on building the balloon, but it would be a nice read nonetheless. If someone can point me to the right direction regarding that book, that would be great. I've also been browsing other's creations and came across a very nice example and I'm going to need some help with this: The proposal won't be for several more months, so I've got some time to build this thing and I'm going to try and tackle this MOC slowly and from the above photos I'd like to get started with the basket first. It looks to me like the basket is made up of a whole bunch of round plates to give it the basket-weave look, am I correct? Could someone elaborate on that? Thanks for any help I can get! Cheers!

mind sharing what you're using the B-model for? :) what did you place on the back? Thanks for those links!

picked up this set just recently from TRU at 20% off. I wasn't too impressed by it initially and decided like a lot of other members that it would be a clearance purchase only. However, even at 20% off, it was still $63; I'm not sure I want to keep it still so I've not opened it and kept the receipt in case I wanted to return it. The new container truck in 2010 might be more interesting, though I have a thing for yellow construction technic and the new contanier truck isn't yellow (but I'm sure I could replace all the blue parts with yellow ones through bricklink). I've been doing a bit of searching and have really not found any modifications to this set to make it any better. I've also been wondering if it were possible to modify the set to make it PF-less and use them for other sets/MOC. Hand of God operation and turning knobs to perform some of the basic functions (not that this set has much functionality to offer to begin with) of this set would be totally acceptable for me. Lastly, what sort of Technic construction sets would look good on the flat-bed of the B-model? Judging from the pic of this hauler with other construction sets, I'm thinking the flat-bed is at a decent size for the new upcoming 2010 Technic flagship set, the remote controlled excavator. Any ideas/comments/links?

Thanks for them pics (and the original ones too)! I'm still planning out the mod to the last set of wheels (need to buy some parts). I've done the set of wheels in front of those.

Could you show a few shots of what you did with the rear fenders to make the double wheels look better?

2 out of 6 sets would make it 33% .... lately, i've been on a buying spree and purchased 7 or 8 sets within 2 months and most of them are fairly large sets too. I've been missing pieces from 4 or 5 sets and in one case there was a handful of missing pieces, not just 1 tiny thing missing. It's just pretty bad luck I suppose, I've never had that much problems before. When going through customer service to get missing parts, they shipped from the US to Canada. The last time I used this missing parts service (which was several years ago), it came out of Richmond Hill Ontario (which is local to me, 10 minutes away). I wonder why they'd ship from across the border now?

Any electrical concerns for modding the 7996 switch? will it somehow short the rest of the layout? would you need any mods additional to the copper tape in order to maintain conductivity from one loop to the other?

I've not attempted any mods yet, but plan on doing so. I've been doing some searching and came across this on BS: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=sarafiel There seems to be 2 different mods, one for Worm Steering and the other for LA Steering. It looks to me like they are both full RC mods, just that there are two choices for how you want the steering done, worm gear or linear actuator. Lastly, how does this compare to the Attila mod that a few others have followed previously?

Could someone provide dimensions of the A model in plan view? I'm trying to figure out if it fits into one of my glass cases at home (not that it would stop me from purchasing it )

what exactly was the original plan with the pf wire and the 9V motor? I can't imagine how to use the 2 together ... the train motors don't connect to anything really. I definitely am not thinking outside the box on this one ... could someone explain this to me? edit: actually, since this is the trains section i jumped the gun on this one and thought 9V train motors, didn't I? The OP must be talking about that other funky shaped motor found in many technic sets? I've been thinking about this for a couple of days and as soon as I posted this message, (I think) I figured out what the OP was talking about :)

this was my first train set I soooo wanted the Cargo Crane set above to go with my train, but I was never able to find it

this looks absolutely amazing! this is what TLG needs to do .. something like this on an individual car basis like what they did with Santa Fe, but i realize that's a whole discussion on its own rehashed over and over again ... I like how each of the trains are so much longer than the cars in the train sets TLG usually releases, it looks more realistic to me this way. you should consider releasing instructions for this train set. I'm sure there will be a ton of supporters of this here!

permission problem to download the .bsx file?

that would be awesome :) would love to find out how you've hidden away the wires!

after you insert the LED into the clear round brick, does the wire come down through the lamp post? that would mean you had to drill a hole at the top of the white lamp post piece as it isn't straight through?

oops, n/m :) the RC rail crossing is on sale from S@H as well as locally at TRU (though slightly marked up compared to S@H) and I'm tempted to buy it and put copper tape on it to use with 9V :) anyone have any thoughts (other than, "do it!")?

I'm new to BlueBrick so all I've been doing is just reading in this thread. This caught my eye since I've not seen it before. I’ve seen other users mod switching tracks into the shortened branch switches but I’ve never seen the configuration below. I've tried Googling for it, but I just can't seem to come up with any relevant hits. I’m assuming it’s real (since effort was put into creating the model here), and likely a mod? Anyone have info/link for it? It looks 9V so ... does it actually work (electrically speaking)? This is probably the wrong spot to be asking these questions, so hopefully someone can link me so I can read it on my own and stop derailing the thread (pun intended)

I'm curious where you've got all these parts from? It's a 2454-piece design so I would much prefer (if possible) to buy an existing/official Lego set and then shop the remaining parts from Bricklink. I'll end up with some leftovers from the official set, but that would help me build up my technic spare parts. It would be quite the task to purchase everything straight from Bricklink I think Anyone have a good solution?

I remember years ago I had seen some photos of a display for the Santa Fe Super Chief. It had the train on a few straight 9V tracks and in the background was a wall built from tan and brown bricks. I don't know why, but I get the feeling that it was a limited edition display that was an official Lego thing. That's about all I can remember. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

I have a small feather duster that I use to dust stuff off if they're not in a display case. Actually there is a small gap on either side of the display case, so dust does get in. I periodically do have to take everything out of the display case to wipe because if you dust it off with a feather duster or compressed air, all the dust would come off the Lego, but still end up inside the case I think that compressed air and then feather duster does a good job for Lego, but the feather duster works wonders on Technic stuff because of the cracks and crevices! The Go Duster looks like cotton candy ... it might make me want to eat it

I'd like to bring this back up from the dead. Show me more displays! Here's mine: I can't find space to display the Metroliner (built) and the Hobby Train (still sealed). What you see is the top shelf of 2 Ikea Skogen display cases. The trains sit on straight 9V track on top of stepped acrylic risers. The two display cases are side-by-side, giving the illusion of continuity. As these display cases have been discontinued by Ikea, I've not been able to purchase any more of them (not even second hand as nobody locally seem to have any for sale). I need a better solution to display (more of) my trains!

Not mine, but came across someone else's MOC of a caboose which matches the coach very nicely as well! http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/142701 The creator also has a few other coaches as well: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/164137

haha, that was what i recommended for the Emerald Night! All you have to do is swap out the blue pieces for brown and if you like, add some brown accents and the color scheme would match the passenger of the EN set :)