roamingstop

Nice idea. Actually when I first saw it I thought of some tracked mobile cranes we have here. I.e. take the jib and extendable boom part of a mobile crane (on a lorry) and add it onto a crawler crane base; with crawler supports. Somehow it is a heavy duty mobile all terrain crane. But nice idea with the extra lift...

I'd take a pop if anyone else is not yet doing it... It would help me practice LDD - just hope that V4 does not change positions of parts in libraries...

My sentiments exactly. It would be interesting to compare the 'portfolios' one day to see what was considered good / bad. Good luck to anyone else who receives a call for interview.

Done. Toy Story 3 Western Train Chase 7597post has been updated with all submodels. See the original post for edits.

I can say that the cone stack approach can work - but not exactly. I had to fix the model with a 3M axle to ensure the top connected, as using a round plate upside down, forces the inner 2x2 bricks to either not make a connection with a normal non inverted plate (grey chimney) or the bottom bracket. Alternatively you could put the two 2x2 round bricks 1/4 stud apart (held together with the axle) but then it is an illegal build. Either way allowing studs to connect on the top and bottom does not work. I also replaced the 2x2 round plates on the pistons - but they to do not properly work now; there are larger gaps than on the model, but at least a connection is made.

Damn the late night - I could have sworn the official instructions were not the same. If you look at the rendering of Page 45 the parts (when attached) look flat - but I agree they are the 4 stud type in the callout. I will correct. Thanks for the tip on the cone - I will also correct it (although I had tried something similar which had failed).

There was a couple of things I noticed about alignments when completing the locomotive of Western Train Chase. These can be seen in the picture. The ends of the cylinders cannot be attached. The cone will not fit over the 2x2 round bricks. The dynamite cannot be placed inside the 2x4 container in the Goods Wagon. (kind of expected as there is no stud). I also could not force the dynamite placement using other bricks.

Sorry to bump this - but I wondered if people could answer a few quick questions: From what I see it is necessary to buy the WeDo hub seperately from the Lego driver - is this the case or is there some overlap with the NXT platforms? Was there any progress in getting a ActiveX / DLL formed from the Lua scripts? Did anyone get the educational resource packs available as well? Im interested to see what the packs contain and the level of education provided. Thanks RS

An observation I had forgotten. One of the corner stone products in Lego Education 2010 is the Pneumatics Control Set, which gets a good write up and forms part of the classroom concepts. I dont know if it is listed in the 2011 Education guides - I will try to find out.

Thanks for some inspiration for my next model set - I like this idea a lot, although I was going to focus on a furnicular type where the engine and wheels are mounted at a 30 degree angle.

Sorry - missed a '-' on the filenames. Fixed now. Ive added the Locomotive as well. Some bricks wont fit - the cone chimney stack wont fit over the 2x2 round / log bricks. The piston ends wont fit onto the pistons. And I could not yet find the correct Plough piece (for the front). I might also have got some of the colours wrong - I will check with the official palette later. Western Train Chase Locomotive

Actually I wonder how much time / energy it would cost to make a longer pneumatics cylinder a little similar to the way Big Bens wheels are regularly used for Steam engine MOC's. The longer LA is certainly interesting but too 'non lego' like... but a longer pneumatic cylinder could be interesting. Anyone got ideas on how much it costs for rapid prototyping moulds these days? And then conversion to production? Dont forget a pneumatic cylinder would be mounded in minimum of 2 parts and require assembly.... Just thinking...

For another project I had started on the carriages of the Toy Story 3 Western Train Chase, set number 7597. Western Train Chase: Locomotive, Cargo, Passenger Car, Caboose The sub modules are complete, with only mintor changes listed below. * 2 1x1 bricks with holders and a 1x1 brick instead of a 1x3 brick with holders (Caboose). * 3M axle to support the cone / chimney in the Locomotive * The front plough of the Locomotive is missing - not in LDD database (?). * The Locomotive "EN" wheels are missing - for now ive replaced with some technic beasties. [Edit] Thanks to ILikePi for your 3.14* EN wheels.. looks a lot better. Similarly the licensed mini-figs are also missing; as are the decorated panels. [Edit] The dynamite cannot can go inside the box - thanks Calabar. [Edit] Thanks to Prateek; I used your little Woody and Buzz equivalent. I tried to create a Jessie, Rex and Ham (sorry Beef): not sure what other improvements could be made without licensed bits. For those who are interested, I also list the submodels which have grouped elements for easy manipulation Western Train Chase: Locomotive Western Train Chase: Cargo Western Train Chase: Passenger Car Western Train Chase: Caboose Edit - Updated versions to LDD4. Western Train Chase: Locomotive, Cargo, Passenger Car, Caboose Western Train Chase: Locomotive Western Train Chase: Dynamite Wagon Western Train Chase: Passenger Car Western Train Chase: Caboose

A few more variations on a theme with their LXF files. Unfortunately I not yet got all the pieces to make final versions, and I expect there are some LDD / layout errors which ive missed. First up: A 3 tank solution with a normal train base plate; the scaling is much more compatible with Lego engines (than the really long carless ones). Small Tanker, Train Base Plate Small Tanker, Andythenorth / Lego Cargo Base Plate Edit: Fixed some typos.

Added the LXF files for those who are interested. Carless Petrol Tanker, in Dark Red and Yellow A slightly shorter version also looks good. Medium sized Carless Petrol Tanker, in Dark Red and Yellow

Makes me green... in a good way; ideas for future. And wow a great model to see in the brick.

I love the archimedes screw principle as well; and some great educational elements which would be great for kids (in a modular way). Actually this is something I had been planning on as a development project for later this year - 2011... so I may come back to you.

Today at 13:00; direct by email. Yeah this could also be something letting me down as I had provided a lot more about schematics than drawing. Im not an artist; but I did put together some conceptual ideas as a different way.

Yes and No. Yes I heard, no I did not get an interview this time. Thats the way it goes; the application was too early for me - I had to rush the Portfolio for the 30/06 deadline, and did not get time to work on it during July. I also work in product management / research for a small medical rehabilitation company - not toys. But I dont see it negatively - it gave me a chance to think positively and come up with lots of educational conceptual and ideas which I will have the pleasure of doing in my own time in the next months / years. Edit: On their website TLG are still listing this position as open, with updated text and new contact details, so perhaps they are looking for something really specific.

Actually the best is to look for a latching solenoid - whose state changes depending upon the initial current supplied; but then it can stay in the alternate state without power (or minimal power).

I was expecting Dluders to post this... waited but decided to do so myself (im joking). Interesting MOC of a chicken walking up a set of stairs. For anyone into control theory this is one neat trick! http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/03/lego-bipedal-bot-takes-several-small-stairs-for-man-one-big-fal/ http://mobildefencelab.blog.homepagenow.com/blog.shtml

Ive just started out with LDD after a couple of abortive virtual lego attempts (ML Cad etc). My limited experience is that the tool is invaluable and helps support creative effort. E.g. first I will start with the physical bricks - and build up my concepts; get a rough idea of what it looks like. Probably no complete models - but bits (with strange colours). Then switch back to LDD to give me a design with coherant colour scheme, and try out ideas with components I may not have. Then switch to bricklink if there is an interesting set of bricks to get Then switch to physical building - prove that the LDD design work - and make modifications. There really is no substitute for seeing something in the brick and feeling how well it is - how strong the bits are? Does something easily fall off etc. Then finally switching back to LDD to implement the final designs and attempt some lego instructions. For some models if I know how it will look I may skip the first step - but only because I had probably developed an idea from an earlier MOC. The main influence for me is to have coherant colours in bricks which I may not have (or may not be able to get).

Yesterday we had one of these in bright red outside our office. Talk about coincidence. I had a good look to see if I could help a bit more. The bright red was related to recently repaired / replaced elements. The truck bed was not flat- but rather trapezoid (flat top, bulging bottom). The bars were attached nearly at the bottom (encompasing where you have the handle). So as Peter AB mentioned having two securing points would make them more stable, and a bit more realisitic. Second the surface of the truck had a lot of wooden slats, with occasional hook points. So I would replace the yellow tiles with dark brown or tan; interspaced with a different rustic colour.

Variations on a theme.

Except small particles getting into and jamming the Linear Actuators and possible motors...