Tobbe Arnesson

This is important: You'll need a charger that's intended for the LiPo battery, preferably one with load balancing that can charge the individual cells in the battery pack separately. Charging LiPo is nothing that should be taken lightly on (now here's a real safety threat): Understand the risks and minimize the potential for things to go horrible wrong, we don't want reports of LEGO-rooms in flames (or worse).

There it is. :) The middle hole is not connected to the beams it pass throe. Still not sure how the bucket will move in the end of the arm: It's quite obvious that it will rotate at the end of the yellow beams and the dark bluish gray piece will remain somewhat stationary. It's a rather odd linkage, will be interesting to see the ratio of it.

Cool MOC! And the side with the panels look really slick, well done!

How will the bucket move? Is the dark bluish gray piece between the bucket and the arm also a new part?

Used it averages just above SEK 1.400,- on BrickLink: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?S=8466-1 But since you're a Swede you can sell it on Tradera instead (Swedish eBay), lot's of crazy people there spending tons more than sets are worth... Personally I don't sell bricks, but when I found out these ugly things are worth quite a lot I'm beginning to reconsider: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?M=sw038 Oh and check out the Swedish forum if you have not done so already: http://www.swebrick.se/

Ha! I LOLed!

You need an IR-tower so you can communicate with the programmable brick. I recommend the USB one (there's also a serial/RS232 one but that needs a battery and a serial port): http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=x431c01 Next up you'll probably need a few sensors: Touch: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=879 Light: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2982c01 Rotation: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2977c01 Apart from those items some 9V Mini-Motors come in handy: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=71427c01 But if you have a large Technic collection I suppose you already have these. The RIS-kits don't really contain anything of value except the items above (the rotation sensor is not part if the original kit) to someone with a large collection. If you are used to programming NQC is a good way to go (Not Quite C), or at least it was some years ago. I have not been in the Mindstorms-loop for a while.

It happens that Q-elements show up in the stores at LEGOLAND and other Pick-a-brick-places. Also bricks which falls off the production line gets collected and shipped to various purposes, mostly donations to orphanages and such.

The 8258 "frames" are not that expensive, if you need them: http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=84645&colorID=86 http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=84644&colorID=86 The RC parts on the other hand... But like I've already said (and a fair share with me), it depends on what parts you need. If you are after parts...

Congratulations to all, especially the three winners! Thanks to KimT for the fun, well done! And my hat off to Mos_Eisley that renounced his grand prize so it can be claimed by some other winner in some other contest! Edit: I'd also like to see the full results, or at least my place in it all. Just for the fun of it.

You can see ratings here: http://www.brickset.com/search/?theme=Technic&year=2010 4.6 8043 Motorized Excavator 4.4 8051 Motorbike 4.2 8047 Compact Excavator Since brickset.com don't allow sorting on the grade here are the Technic sets that has 4.5 or higher from all years: 8421 Mobile Crane 4.8 8458 Silver Champion 4.8 8466 4X4 Off-Roader 4.8 8275 Motorized Bulldozer 4.7 8480 Space Shuttle 4.7 8860 Car Chassis 4.7 8880 Super Car 4.7 8043 Motorized Excavator 4.6 8265 Front Loader 4.6 8445 Indy Storm 4.6 8455 Back-Hoe 4.6 8460 Pneumatic Crane Truck 4.6 8504 Jet 4.6 (Slizer / Throw Bot) 8868 Air Tech Claw Rig 4.6 851 Tractor 4.5 8258 Crane Truck 4.5 8285 Tow Truck 4.5 8448 Super Street Sensation 4.5 8459 Pneumatic Front-End Loader 4.5 8520 Millennium Slizer 4.5 (Slizer / Throw Bot) 8522 Spark 4.5 (Slizer / Throw Bot)

It's a stunning truck! The only thing I don't like is the support beam to the rolling curtain, I think this would look better witout the technic beam-holes in it.

Yes and it's the same store as I purchased from http://butik.elevdata.se/ . Dunno if they ship abroad, there's an e-mail address here: http://www.elevdata.se/Produkter/LEGO-Education/LEGO-Element.aspx . Perhaps there is a Dacta/LEGO Education-supplier willing to sell to private persons in your own country? Check here: http://www.lego.com/education/buy/default.asp?page=5&l2id=8_1 Another source would be to call TLG Customer Service and tell them you'd like to order some loose bricks, state 4198367 as the partnumber. If you go down that road, please get back here with the prices!

That confirmed my parts count for the treads! I bought the rubber parts from a Swedish Dacta-supplier, 40 pcs for SEK 50,- plus VAT = SEK 1,56 per piece. That's like €0,17 and US $0,23 per piece. The item name with my supplier was "DAMPER 2M (4198367-40)". They're quite expensive at BrickLink now if you want any quantities. I suppose the LUGBULK-program would be the cheapest source.

Yeah, this topic is 1h 2011. Traditionally Technic sets are released in two waves, smaller sets for the first release. 8043 this year was a 2h-release. As long as we don't get a new year like 1987 I'm happy (I won't even mention the dark ages of 1998, 1999 {apart from 8448} and 2000 ).

I caught it, said it was gonna be good for "nuclear accidents" and called him fallout-boy (Simpson reference) - but I did not to bee that guy. To avoid bad feelings and harsh words, let's all sing a song together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8H-xNQr4Kk

I bought the 8258 last year, it's ok but I think the crane struggles (especially swivel). Also it has the old LAs which I presume have issues. I bought the 8043 this year and it's so good that I actually bought two! :D It depends on what you want to do with the model: 1) Build it and have it on a shelf? Then it's a tie, they both look good and are equally fun to build (but the 8258 was more fun building the chassis, then it dropped in building-fun. The 8043 was fun all the way). 2) Build it and play with it? 8043 wins hands down, much more play value! 3) Use it for parts? Depends on what parts you need and what color you prefer... I use all my sets as part packs (after I've built and perhaps played a little (8258) - or a lot (8043)). 8258 has the XL motor but 8043 has four M motors. 8258 has the switch but 8043 has loads of RC stuff. 8043 has more LAs and they're of the upgraded kind. 8258 has great wheels and 8043 has loads of treads. Compare the inventories: 8258 | 8043 But if you want both then 8258 is more urgent since it'll disappear sooner... Here in Sweden there is a big christmas-discount on the 8043 in some stores but not on the 8258, this might be a factor to consider.

The first one is really cute with that cab and the front lights!

Yeah I know the MOC is plenty old, but I could not find any topic about it here? So I started a new one, it deserves the attention. And yes, he's done some great MOCs since as well! I just ordered the rubber parts needed for those treads...

Hi! I tried searching on the YouTube ID, "Stilzkin" and "Igniz" but could not find a topic on these stunning models!? I did found a post that he sold the red one for €500 to Switzerland: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=44290&view=findpost&p=776982 This shows how the treads are built: I counted 24 segments x 3 rubber parts x 4 treads = 288 rubber parts! How the chassis made: I must say that this is probably the best MOC I've seen. Ever. It looks like so much fun! If it indeed are 24 segments for each tread, these parts are needed just for building the four treads: 192 x 3705 Technic, Axle 4 48 x 32291 Technic, Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular Double 48 x 43857 Technic, Liftarm 1 x 2 Thick 288 x 45590 Technic, Axle Connector Double Flexible (Rubber)

What do you mean limited? It's the first collectible fig I can use a bunch of. General SciFi, Post Apocalypse, space, nuclear accidents, etc. etc. etc.. But the main reason he's so popular is probably because of Half-Life fans (I'm not one): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Freeman Edit: Also, compared to the cheerleader (which got the highest ranking in the Series 1 poll) the fallout-boy is a lot more useful.

Great scene!

Yeah! I forgot to mention 7-Zip like I intended to, but dolittle took care of that! It's great! http://www.7-zip.org/

Minimalistic walker! Well done to get both movements from one motor (leg lift and rotate), the chassis drops a fair bit but it still works!

The new connector is just a bonus, I'm so getting my hands on a few of this set for the mini-LAs!