roamingstop

Technicbricks blog had some more photos from somewhere http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/2010/02/...r-toy-fair.html

Currently in Europe it is on backorder until March - so worth using a credit card and being nice to someone.

How Many MMV's did you use? I had similar - but different - MOC plans. When they arrive. Now I have some inspiration.

Yes on BL and Ebay at silly prices. It will soon be (perhaps already is) better to buy items like GE and reuse the bricks and online instructions to to remake Cafe Corners than it will be to buy the originals.

Actually the pneumatic piston valve would be a real pleasure to use - especially for mechanical / motorised control and it does fit with moving outside of the box - a little. Longer pneumatic pistons would obviously be nice as well. A triple stroke pneumatic part would also be quite interesting. It should be possible to produce if the pistons could be adequately sealed. However it is not too much outside of the box to be worthy of a new design? Some of the more recent angle brackets, or electronic limit switches for PF functions are probably also interesting (and something to work on). A real bonus would be a PF servo control system - a fixed range of movement (either rotational or translational) which occurs when C1 = 1 and C2 = 0, and opposite when C1 = 0 and C2 = 1; and middle (neutral) in all other cases (similar to XOR gate). Yes it would make MOC's easier. But it could be used for steering RC type vehicles, or additions to points for electronic RC track.

Wait for floods of particular models on ebay... High Value Emporiums? Hence the reason they were pulled from LS@H (pure speculation).

When I spoke with a nice lady at LS@H today, she said their systems currently list GG as available until the end of 2010. Fire Brigade is listed until the end of 2011. The Imperial Flagship is currently on Backorder, with a large batch due in March; It is scheduled to continue throughout 2010.. although getting scarcer. Of course this is their systems. If everyone goes out to buy a GG thinking it will end because of new Emporiums, then perhaps it will become self fullfilling. Perhaps not. I suspect that the offline popularity of Market Street and Cafe Corners, especially on places like Ebay and BL where their price doubled because of limited availablity may mean that Lego are more pragmatic about GG. Of course this is pure speculation.

Your doing exactly what I plan to do - once the other half agrees... so I would also be grateful on some tips. For me, Green Emerald is the most spectacular easily available model train produced outside of Santa Fe / BSNF and all those excellent MOC's.

Pulling soon? I hope not. In CH it has always only been listed under 'Exclusives and Hard To Find'... Is this normal procedure for items which are going to be pulled soon? having just bought other models... pulls hair out in frustraition (wait - the other order could be amended... I hope). It also appears under 'City' 'Town Essentials' http://shop.lego.com/ByTheme/Leaf.aspx?cn=356&d=9 - so perhaps just some tidying. The links work(ed) for most European countries and were always listed as 'Available Now' with 'Hard to Find' logo.

Green Grocer was there (on CH site) yesterday - and this morning - but I confirm has also disappeared now from the 'Exclusives' page. It is under the 'Hard to Find Items' page. It seems someone is cleaning up the website / db before perhaps releasing more? In this case; Roses and Hearts for Valentines day (4004 and 852786 )

Tetrix is a Lego Education spin off in conjuction with another company (Pitsco) in the USA. (info from Swiss / UK distributor of Lego Education). The idea is for metalic parts which have much higher accuracy in movement (no backlash on gears etc) and more rigidity - but with the compatability of using Lego for most of the other part; and Mindstorms building blocks and s/w to make it move. Ive been tempted... apart from the price. Main target: Lego Robotics and Highschool / Uni clubs. http://shop.educatec.ch/legoeducationaldiv...etrix/index.php

Dear All Having just returned from Darkside #2, I discovered the fantastic modular buildings series just 1 week after the Grand Cafe sold out... Nooo... it is now very expensive on Bricklink :( I dont want to let the same thing happen again with the current Green Grocers and other 2010 series. However I need to now budget my purchases over the next 6 months, and wanted to find out whether anyone knows when or if any of the current series of models will be discontinued, or likely sales (ahem). I believe LS@H does not allow discounted purchases (at the moment) I also have a couple of aims for some MOC's based upon the modular series (not in order of priority) Aberdeen / Bath Town House: The Green Grocers style is very similar to houses I used to live in, in Aberdeen and Bath, and it would be nice to MOC them into a similar style, but with Aberdeen Granite (which glows pink in evening sun) or Bath Sandstone (think light / yellow tan). I would need to increase the scale of room heights, and also change the layouts. Would it make sense to buy 2-3 GG and then use PYO bricks to change the green to grey or tan? Or should I start from scratch using Bricklink or similar? What is the best way to recreate a Grand Cafe? (or two)... via Bricklink or some of the other sets / creator houses? The exact colour scheme does not need to be identical - so a Bricklink or build your own with similar pieces might work out better. The Fire Brigade model is nice - although it would not fit in with a Aberdeen / Bath type format. Is it however a nice model to own? Would it make sense to MOC this into a victorian train shed? Clearly none of these options will be cheap - and it would make sense to get models when I find them at discounted prices (either LS@H, or local shops with discounts). But some ideas towards prioritisation would be good (especially since I will also get an imperial flagship, which could dock at Aberdeen Harbour / Torvies). Many thanks for your thoughts and comments. RS

Extra logs? look no further than Pirates Kraken Attack #6240. Want some leaf's... go to Canon Battle #6239. Probably cheaper than bricklinking...

Im just coming out of a second dark period and getting into Technic again now that Power Functions and some decent models have been released. One question always perplexing is how to implement proper limit switches? On the back-drivable (harmonic drives) Robotic systems we use at work, we have encoders and limit switches to stop the motors breaking the drive chains. However I have not seen anything suitable in the PF range; and a mechanical clutch is clearly used on the linear actuators. Has anyone worked on a limit switch system yet? The PF functions with their C1 and C2 control lines would make a more useful system. I.e. limit switch detected (it could be an old RCX touch sensor) would disable C1, but still allow C2. A second limit switch could disable C2 and still enable C1. Thus a motor system could be driven to the end of range without difficulty. Useful examples could be a steering mechanism (two limit switches at either end), crane boom extension - or a pneumatic pressure regulator etc. Im pretty sure it would be trivial to wire up a small circuit to enable an RC servo from the PF functions; C1 drive servo left; C2 drive servo right. A small one like this would make pneumatic switching interesting, whilst maintaining the flexability of building / combining small modules without too many custom parts. (sure a custom wiring). Thanks for any comments.

Well as a AFOL coming out of their 2nd dark period... this was the first model to be built in 7 years. (I also picked up the earlier Green Tractor off ebay). To be honest it was a real pleasure to put together (4 hours with classical piano music in the background... sweet). However the final result does not feel as sturdy as the good old 8859 - an all time favorite (I once motorised with PTO). And I was quite surprised to see lift arms used for steering and not the improved axle joints. Similarly that the engine is the structural element on the front - a pity. A V6 with technic beams for support would allow addition of front loaders. With the PTO - it is a pity there is no three way clutch (anyone know of one?) which could see the system motorised with motor -> engine; motor -> engine -> PTO and motor -> engine -> PTO and wheels. Guess I just have to build one. Similarly the lift arms are no way as versatile as those on the 8859. Somehow it is a real pity that Lego chose to change the interface geometry between 8859, 8284 and 8063. However I can also see that designers change; model styles get adapted, and the childrens expectations also change. I would have expected that one day an accessories set would be produced... but perhaps not. Lego had to sell the last batch of 8063 off at 50% (damn I bought mine too early; all sold out now - anyone willing to pass on at cost?) and I guess they did not sell too well previously. As a product manager (professional job, not Lego) I would have to look at the sales of 8063 and 8284 and do a cost calculation to see if releasing (any) accessories pack would be beneficial. I would probably end up with a calculation similar to additional carriages for Emerald Night. A small fan base, mainly AFOL. Poor reviews and low sales of 8063; it would not bode well - unless there will be a 8063 version with accessories in 2011. With improved steering axles and 3way clutch the set would be a storming base for future work. But as is it stands it is a nice complement to the combine harvester - although it is missing a rear flap for the grain to fall out.