freakwave

Mh, it got a solar panel... to power itself...a lot to do for engineers till 2020 to achieve it I am not sure to judge this. It looks weird, and having the (wide) front shovel with only one connection point looks like trouble to me if the load is not distributed evenly in the bucket. ... And anyone mind explaining me the "augmented reality 3D camera use"? Why does this thing has windows then?

I wonder how hard it is for the MB-guys to not say "LEGO". I guess they go to bed with a headset on that continuously says "MegaB..." I like when she said "you can go to the pet shop, ...and over to the Friends house". But the figs look worse than the friends ones IMO. Although quite big, they have joined legs and sit on one stud.

Somebody did send a LEGO Space Shuttle up there, I just do not find the link anymore. How can the Canadians send up the poor minifig without any oxygen tank and head protection. Effe's video is great! Nice piece!

Ups, same idea, same time

I could not find a dedicated topic to the TMNT, so here's the beginning: Over at Gizmodo there are the first pictures of a set, The Shellraiser Street Chase set, 79104. Let's see if we soon see more! Weird car, but interestinlgy coloured parts! fW

The only problem I see when you start constructing it: How to tell NASA to move the ISS out of the way...

More pictures at fbtb's flickr

Do you mind being more specific...?

Let's put it that way: The internal loss (of voltage) within the motor-drivers is less than in the V1-Receivers and thus there is more power available. btw: anybody already opened a V2 Receiver to identify the piece of circuitry used there?

I actually did, accidentally... The 'scene' is cut from the clip, though, but the rubber tips are worth it! The problem with the tilted rotors is that it's harded to estimate where they are when rotating with, well, speed!

Well it took me (or YT, but I guess it is more myself) some time to have the movie of the B-Model uploaded. iMovie worked so well uploading the first one, the second one took ages to upload and to be visible in the search results... Enough moaning, here it is! Again the RC-motor rocks!

Hi Eric, Some add-on to Alasdair's answers, based on LPub V4.0.0.11 - Right Click in the call-out - select "No Part List per Step" - Pop-up asks "Change only this step?" - Select "No" Alternatively you can edit in the right box manually and add the line: 0 !LPUB CALLOUT PLI PER_STEP FALSE just after the STEP command. Note: if you do this successively several times you might end up with the following meta-commands in the text-box: 0 !LPUB CALLOUT PLI PER_STEP FALSE 0 !LPUB CALLOUT PLI PER_STEP TRUE 0 !LPUB CALLOUT PLI PER_STEP FALSE In this case it does not matter, but better remove the two surplus lines. This is true, but what I noticed that if you keep a step "clean" (i.e. remove additional lines as mentioned in the "PL-per step" it fits pretty well using LPub's predefined positions, i.e. relative to the Assembly or the Part List. Moving it around arbitrarily does not work. If this happens may be you should try to use: 0 !LPUB ASSEM MODEL_SCALE GLOBAL 0.5000 <- SCALE Before the first step of the call-out (Click on the first assembly in the call-out to get thse corresponding text on the right) In turn changing "GLOBAL" to "LOCAL" will work only for the step where this command is used (after the STEP) Try the "Redraw" button, this helps. Otherwise use the lines I wrote just above, then "Redraw" The rotation should be best done in MLCAD. If you want to rotate it, as Alasdair wrote, use the box on the right, eg.: 0 ROTSTEP 0 -75 -5 REL And change the rotations as you like it. Do not forget to "Redraw". I do not quite get you. Need to try cascaded submodels. Moving things freely, I have the impression that LPub does not like it very much... Expanding a callout, I need to try. I think it yould be great to make a Web-Collaboration course on LPub :-) fW

so, got some delay in the B-model pictures but here they are! A few compressed shots during the construction to show some of the mechanics. Landing Gear: Compared to the main model everything here is done with gears and axles, no linkages used to connect functions. The main landing gear really folds very well! 9396_B_01 by 1wave, on Flickr Main Rotor Pitch Next up the mechanism to adjust the pitch on the main rotor. It is constructed much simpler than the A-model. The top two pictures show how the two "Axle 4L with Stop" are moving the red 3L Liftarm, the bottom two are the corresponding images with the linkages to the blade control already attached. And this is in fact the small disadvantage here compare to the A-model. The B-Models pitch relies on gravity to move the rotor. Moving them up (horizontal position) is no issue as it is being pushed. Going down is working well without load, meaning without rotating blades. Once they reach a certain speed the centrifugal force wins over gravity and they do not come down. They stay in the "down" position nevertehless even if the rotor moves at high speed, but once horizontal, that's it... You need to stop it to let them move again. 9396_B_02 by 1wave, on Flickr Leftovers: Those are the leftover parts when you are finished with the B-Model: 9396_B_03 by 1wave, on Flickr Functions: As mentioned before, all functions are driven by the tail-rotor. This is convenient and gives ample control. The transmission is well chosen to retract the landing gear swiftly. Also the rotation of the main rotors is done in the same way. Switched by a driving ring, the force is directed to the rotor. The main-rotor also features the safety latch to have the rotor spinning freely when it is not driven anymore. This ratched mechanism is built a bit stronger, than the A-Model. What's noticeable is that much more force required to spin the rotor. This is due to a transmission from the 24T Bevel Gear to a 12T Bevel gear. I guess the reason why they have designed it like this is to achieve a proper speed for the landing gear retraction. On the other hand you cannot simply put a motor there, the torque required is too much and it is screaming... To put a motor in line with the axle of the tail-rotor and make it move everything I swapped the 12T and the 24T this makes it much easier to drive! Video is coming! ... and yes, one of the things to consider with tilted rotors, the blades do hurt if they hit you (when driven with an RC-Motor) as their rotation plane is not spotted easily when spinning at....speed! Finally a few eye-candy shots: 9396_B_07 by 1wave, on Flickr The side view reveals the concession you have to make with the applied stickers. I would love to see this one in a black / dark bluish grey color scheme! I think it would look great! ...more evil :-) 9396_B_05 by 1wave, on Flickr 9396_B_06 by 1wave, on Flickr enjoy!

Erik Leppen's Brickshelf Folder (Techniques) also contains telescopic booms and many more interesting things!

In the meantime I built the B-Model as well and after reading AVCampos superb review I need to say that the tail-rotor/propeller in this model is not redundant, it is actually used to power the main rotors and when switched, to also raise the main landing gear. I will add a few construction pictures and videos tomorrow (ran out of battery...). The B-model's shape looks very sleak! The main landing gear retracts nearly all the way into the body. Motorizing is not foreseen by TLG and looks like a bit of challenge as some gearing needs to be changed to make the M-motor spin the blades. It takes some force to do it. Need to check all gears if they are properly installed. It's colors are a bit off due the stickers on the panels. But I need to say that I admire the set-designers for getting so much out of the primary model! fW

I guess you have to change your nick into "helidoc" after you got it I do not have a picture without stickers, I put them on straight through the build, some photoshop needs to be done... The space on the bottom is 5 studs wide, so the rechargeable will fit in for sure, to make it attach properly a bit of adaptation is necessary. There is really plenty of space inside to mount additional motors and stuff. @JunkstyleGio: Enjoy the build!

Ooohh..., don't call my little wonder from 30 (!!!) years ago a midget Believe me, it is no small guy! Looking at the seats, 8844 and 9396 are the same scale. Both seats are 3L and 4L high Compared to last years helicopter, all I can say (not having the 8068 Set) that the radius of the main rotor is: 22L for the 8068 and 35L for the 9396, going on it is 28L for the midget (8844) and finally 30L for the very first LEGO Technic Helicopter, the 852 What I find amazing is the difference in the instructions. Given the number of steps on one page and the small absolute number of only 19 steps to complete the 8844 and 144 steps for the 9396, it looks like paper was weighed in gold in those times. In the meantime my YT upload has finished as well, so enjoy (my very first edited video...)

Thanks for your positive feedback on the review! I am also happy to hear that the stickers across the birthmark are fine I am also preparing the video some have asked for I've got some bonus material for Blakbird! Take a look at the difference between the manuals! 9396_24_Comparison by 1wave, on Flickr 9396_23_Comparison by 1wave, on Flickr 9396_22_Build by 1wave, on Flickr

A beautiful extension of this little gem!

Nice thing! Lot's of interfaces which is good for large scale technic MOCs. Leaving out the battery is a good idea in my opinion as it keeps the form-factor small and it is up to the user to decide which one to take. On the other hand I would like to see a smaller one having the usual two outputs. Like to have trains controlled with something else then IR. The price, well I think it is not too much out of range. BT receivers are not that cheap, around 20 EUR, compared to other receivers in the 433MHz or 866Hz band which are a fraction only. But BT offers the convenience of having an interface at each and every phone. (nearly) I am thinking of putting some 866MHz receiver and a very small processor into the IR Receiver to "emulate" the PF-Protocol, another idea, but not too much time unfortunately! BTW: Red NXT? me getting curious...

Thanks! I use a Canon G11. As I did it in my basement I have an 400W halogen-light pointed to the ceiling to get a mostly proper light scene. The camera's white balance is on "Bulb", manual focus and ISO80 and a tripod. As a reference I have the 8844, which is only partially assembled. It's a good idea to put them next to each other! The PF Battery box goes in from the bottom, it is held in place by the four Technic Pins with Stop Bush. The switch points downwards, so you can reach it on the belly. What I find inconvenient is if you play with it and want to lower the hook or the ramp and then back up, you need to find your way under the Heli towards the battery box. Putting the Pole Reverser on top makes life/play easier in my opinion. I will upload a picture of the installed battery tomorrow. 9396_19_Build by 1wave, on Flickr I will add some videos towards the end of the week, editing them is more painful...

The ship looks out of proportions... the engines are either too big or the saucer is too small. Kre-O Figs: not nice I bought (in Germany) the bumblebee out of curiosity, but regretted this instantly. - Price: No advantage - Packing: not appealing - Parts: well, smelling awful and do not feel "right" - Transformation: What was the movie about, ah transforming! Well they can't do that... 10 EUR down the drain...I feel even bad when selling it on a flee market...

It was about time! Here it is the first(?), at least at Eurobricks, english review of the newest and greatest and largest LEGO Technic Helicopter. I got mine at the brand store in Munich. To start, a few basic facts on the set. Set Reference: 9396 Bricklink, Brickset, no entry at Peeron Parts: 1056 Price: 89,99 EUR Weight: 860g (finished model) I had to look up the number of parts from Technicbricks as we Europeans do not get this information regularly printed on the boxes and I did not want to start counting the pieces… Packaging and Box Art: Form the various blogs and forums a lot of promotional and box pictures have been posted but for the sake of completeness, here’s the box art. On the front there is a prominent mark “Ready for Power Functions”. It is interesting how this worked out, what LEGO wants us motorize out of the box respectively by combining the two boxes 9396 and 8293 Power Functions Motor Set. We gonna see this waaay down. 9396_02_BoxFront by 1wave, on Flickr The backside shows the B-Model at the bottom and as Conchas pointed out the instructions for the B-Model are already available from LEGO directly as PDF. The top half of the box shows us how really easy it is to Power Function the model. 9396_03_BoxBack by 1wave, on Flickr The Content: Here we go! The opened box is note really friendly for storage as folding it together is not really easy. Anyway let's focus on the inside! We do get 9, surprise, unnumbered bags! So this set is really for the professionals who do not need any numbers on their bags to keep track of pieces and progress! The box does not contain any loose parts... but hey wait where are the rotor blades?!? 9396_04_Bags by 1wave, on Flickr Here they come. Tucked away in a cardboard sandwich the big rotor blades come in the same bag as the instructions. It is a neat solution to keep such a big and to some extent flexible part safe and secure in this box and prevent it from being damaged and bent. Thanks Lego! The instructions, three books of them, for your building pleasure. As usual LEGO is shelling out a few extra cents (or saving a few cents) only to have to cover of book number one made of glossier paper. The sticker sheet is quite large, nearly all stickers are numbered to make them easier to identify. On a side note: I had (have) a high humidity (68%) in my LEGO room due to a plumping issue and interestingly the sticker-sheet began to roll-up considerable over time of construction... 9396_05_InstructionsContent by 1wave, on Flickr I will stop here for now to save the post. I will continue later in the same post! What is up The Parts and Colors The model's primary colors are yellow and red so this is what makes up most of the parts, there are only a few black and dark bluish grey liftarms worth to mention. Much of the space is taken up by a multitude of red and yellow panels, none of them are really new, but I think the variety is definitely one of the widest I have seen. 9396_06_TechnicPanels by 1wave, on Flickr The set has been packed with a number of functions that can be controlled with the driving rings near the main rotor, a lot of gears are necessary to do that and arrange them neatly on the top of the Helicopter. Notably a large bevel gear is included and will hold the tail-rotor, a new small turntable, driving rings and a driving ring extension as well. 9396_08_TechnicGears by 1wave, on Flickr Other interesting Technic Parts include the new 4L Axle in Tan, I will point out the locations where it will be used. We also get four of the not so new anymore triangles, but this time in Dark Bluish Grey. Let’s see if the new form-factor is required. Also there are two of the new connector piece, which Zblj calls... aehm well I do not quote him... 9396_07_TechnicParts by 1wave, on Flickr Finally there are a few studded parts which exclusively make up the dashboard in the cockpit: 9396_09_StuddedParts by 1wave, on Flickr And finally… the new rotor blades. Both main and tail-rotor blades are brand new parts. The cross-section of the blades is shaped like an aircraft wing, i.e. it can be felt that their top bulges our a bit. The main rotor blades are 31L long and about 3L wide. The rubber tips are very flexible in order not to hurt the younger sibling or [insert relative of your choice] What’s bugs me a bit: The blades have quite a prominent “birth” mark from, what I guess, the molding process. One side has a sizable (around 3 studs diameter) single blob with an indention in the middle. The other side has three smaller blobs, some difference in the surface pattern where the big blob is on the other side. There are also some minor ones on the rubber tip. Interestingly enough the main “indents” from apparently the molding process on either the hard plastic and the rubber are not on the same side! So you can’t place them getting a pristine surface. So one has to chose to live with the lesser visual impairment (let’s see how they have to be mounted) 9396_10_Rotors by 1wave, on Flickr Completing the parts section of the review is the obligatory picture from the instructions. Please follow the link to a readable size! 9396_11_PartList1 by 1wave, on Flickr The Build and Building Experience The instructions are nice and clear. However this comes with a price and quite often only one part is added. Nearly every step contains a call-outs, sub-model assembly is limited. Book number one build starts with the bottom of the nose. It gradually adds the basics for the various functions, the nose landing gear, the main landing gear, the sliding doors, the not straight forward visible mechanics for the ramp and of course the mechanism for the rotor tilting. As a second function the landing gear is prepared. A 15L Technic beam connects the front and the main gear. This is done with the assembly on the top left side. Thirdly, and not obvious at the moment the movement of the ramp will be controlled with the L-beams at the bottom left hand side 9396_12_Build01 by 1wave, on Flickr Next up are the sliding doors. The mechanism is pretty simply but effective and keeps the doors properly aligned when closed and opened. What is a bit annoying is that they open and close pretty easily (i.e. when swooshing the final product around) 9396_12_DoorFunction by 1wave, on Flickr The dashboard is completely constructed of the only studded elements included in the set. The gauges are all stickers added to the 2 x 4 Tiles. 9396_14_Build03 by 1wave, on Flickr The cabin is finished of with the roof housing the 20T bevel gear to make the functions accessible manually. Here we also see the use of the new 4L axle. I do not see an apparent advantage of the use here. On the solid part of the axle a clutch gear is put. Also the two Mini-LAs are now in place. Despite their symmetrical placement they do not serve the same purpose. One of them moves the landing gear, the other one the ramp on the back 9396_15_Build04 by 1wave, on Flickr Finishing book number one is the winch that extends to the right side of the helicopter. Book number two starts off with the first pages devoted to the, at least for me, most anticipated function, the main rotor control assembly. It's a pretty nice and packed construction, although a bit bulky. The drive of the rotor is done rather cleverly by using the turntable top to transfer the power. The axle in the middle of the turntable is also rotating, but not as a drive. Its main purpose is moving vertically and hereby setting the angle of the blades. I wonder what continuous operation of the rotor would do to the 2L Liftarm in the helicopter base that is being used to push up the axle. I guess it will have some wear sooner or later! 9396_16_Build by 1wave, on Flickr Next we come to the first part of the gears that are use to spread the drive for all the functions in the chassis. This small base also houses a very practical and protective function: The L-beam with the 16T Gear can rotate on the axis of the clutch gear. Why is that? This is the gear that will drive the rotor. The rotor has quite a mass and with mass comes the moment of inertia. Due to this pivot the rotor can only be rotated properly in one direction, otherwise the gear just moves up. Now if the proper rotation is suddenly stopped, e.g. due to the PF motor switching of, the gears would be blocked and make some nasty noises. But due to the hinged gear the rotor can slowly come to a halt while the hinged gear is just moving out of the way! 9396_17_Build by 1wave, on Flickr Next is the sub assembly that is the preparation for Power Functioning the helicopter. On this axle the reduction from the proposed PF-M is added along with a the white clutch gear and an 8T gear. The black Technic Pins serve no purpose except being there to wait for an M-motor. 9396_18_Build by 1wave, on Flickr Book number two finishes of with putting the main landing gears and the ramp in place and starting with the tail assembly. It is worth to mention that the four Technic Pins with Bushes are solely there as a preparation to fix the PF-Battery Box. 9396_19_Build by 1wave, on Flickr Book three continues and completes the tail section of the aircraft. Here the new Technic triangles are used to keep the gearing together which is used to divert the rotation to the top of the tail. A few non-functional details are added like the engines. 9396_20_Build by 1wave, on Flickr And finally we have the finished product: 9396_21_Build by 1wave, on Flickr The Stickers: In my opinion the stickers give the model an additional touch by adding the diagonal line between the yellow front/top and the red back/bottom. This line has been solved quite well beyond the stickers by adding certain parts, e.g. the diagonal strut at the cover of the landing gears is made out of yellow and red connectors. One thing I do not like about the stickers is the fact that all stickers on the panels are only placed half way over the panels’ birthmarks. Which in my opinion makes them prone to come off. Anybody has a long term experience here? What I mean is shown in the picture below: 9396_22_Sticker by 1wave, on Flickr Functions: There are a lot of them! And this is what I really enjoy with this set: Many of them can be controlled through the 20t bevel gear above he left door and the driving ring selector above both doors: Selector on the left: - Retractable Landing Gear - Rotating Main and Tail Rotor Selector on the right: - Foldable Ramp for Rear-Access - Winch with a Hook Additionally there are other functions that are all manual: - Adjustable Main Rotor Pitch - Opening and Closing Sliding Doors Power Function It! Here is where I am a bit ambivalent. LEGO makes it very easy to add Power Functions to it, very, very easy. In fact according to the instructions this is done within "seconds". But LEGO does not recommend respectively adds the PF-Directional switch. The switch would really be helpful as most PF-able functions (Ramp, Landing Gear, Winch) would require a left and right run of the motor. Well that can be achieved also by switching the battery compartment, however the switch is right at the bottom (but pointing outwards) The main rotor can easily be rotated by the M-motor, although a bit slow. Stopping the M-motor will activate the "safety" feature mentioned above so that no gears are crunched. PF has big big opportunities in this model, the remaining space is HUGE and will house a few motors along with IR-Receivers etc. Looking forward to a lot of tweaks! Opinon and Rating: Parts: 4 / 5 (There is a good selection of standard Technic Parts, New parts are very specific) Build: 4 / 5 (some nice solutions implemented to control functions and form) Playability: 5 / 5 (Lots of functions, Out of the box configuration fits very well into a playroom) PF-Out-of-the-Box: 3 / 5 (due do the limits/hassle of directions change) PF-Customization Possibilities: 5 / 5 That concludes my review of this wonderful set! I hope you enjoy reading through and browsing the pictures! Let me knwo if you do have questions on the set, I try to answer them!

Finally, I got mine yesterday and am in the midst of building and documenting it, currently done with the first book. The second book will get interesting as it starts with the rotor adjustment and the distribution of most of the functions from the multitude of gears on top. From what is visible to me right now is that most functions are switched with the driving rings, also the rotation of the rotor. So either rotate them or use the hook. The good news is that it has quite a lot of space behind its doors which should allow to split some of the functions (Roto an Hook) fW

There is a HD video on Gizmodo...