allanp

I am very close to backing this. I think I will anyway at some point but I would really like to see something about creating custom profiles. Ideally you would create an application to run on your PC/Mac with a nice graphic, drag and drop interface. To create a new custom profile you would first select a work space from a list of devices, like all compatible smart phones, tablets and game pads. This is so that you can have a larger area to drag and drop a larger number of controls when using a tablet for example, and to make it easy to assign controls to a physical joystick/button on a game pad. You could also adjust the scale of the drag and drop controls to fit more on or make them easier to operate. After selecting your desired workspace then you can drag and drop controls onto it from a list of options, all of which can be opened, assigned and customised once dropped into the work area. You would be able to select your own graphics and adjust dead zones and responsiveness and so on. Controllers would include: Vertical slider horizontal slider momentary button toggle/latching button lots and lots of gearbox layouts or even better, a custom gearbox layout designer (with each position being customisable and assignable) giro various dials (like -100-0-100 and 0-100) various throttles (all kinda functionally like the vertical slider but instead of going from -100-0-100 it goes from 0-100) Indicator/hazard/reverse/warning/beacon/etc lights (which can have their own controls or can be assigned to other controls already dropped into the work area, like the reverse light can be assigned to the reverse position of the gearbox control) And I'm sure there are lots more I'm missing. It would also be great if you could assign a kind of anti dead zone or live zone or whatever you want to call it. One could be made for steering operated via a servo motor to account for any mechanical slack in the steering. For example, from a middle position, you move the steering wheel on your controller 30 degrees to the left. The SBrick moves the servo 30 degrees plus a user defined amount to account for the mechanical slack in the steering. Move the steering wheel a further 30 degrees and the SBrick moves the servo a further 30 degrees without adding the extra. It will only add the extra amount when you change direction, so now if you move the steering wheel 60 degrees to the right, placing it back in the middle, the SBrick will move the servo 60 degrees plus the extra amount, effectively placing the wheels of the vehicle where they should be. Obviously the user would be able to finely tune the amount added so as to get the best results. Another one could be created for a servo moving a pneumatic valve, so that when you move a lever 10 degrees from the middle position on your smart phone, the servo moves 10 degrees plus an extra user defined amount to account for the valves dead zone. It will only account for this dead zone when the valve is in it's dead zone defined by the user, not when it changes direction. Each side of the valves position could also have it's own responsiveness setting, for example when moving a heavy boom up and down. When going down there is the most responsiveness allowing for smooth, controlled lowering of the boom. You could also assign another port to automatically come one, to power a compressor, when ever a valve is operated Once you have finished you would then export the completed profile to your device.

Agreed. Everyone seems to have raised their game this time round

"Hello there towns people, just taking my castle for a walk!" Love it :thumbup:

Thanks

6. Digger Mini digger by AllanP Features 3 function pneumatic digging arm controllable from the drivers seat, manual slewing and rubber tracks. 199 parts (grouped in 10s by green lines): Original WIP topic with more pictures here: http://www.eurobrick...25#entry1940521 LXF file: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/radbot/online/Mini-digger/mini_digger_3.lxf

Ok guys, it's done. Counting the turntable as 2 pieces it is now 199 parts. It has full control of the digging arm in all three axis from the drivers seat and a large range of motion. It also has manual slewing and rubber tracks. It's pneumatic functions are powerful and fun to play with. It digs loose things like a pile of connector pegs, rice or flour very effectively and also has a compact but powerful look to it. And it's small enough to hitch a ride So there's my entry guys. Hope you like it enough to vote for me .

The cars size and weight isn't really the problem. The old 9v motor would have no problem moving that if geared down properly. The problem is the huge amount of friction in the drive train which wastes most of the motors power. The axles are up to it, but the gears are not, particularly the old 14t bevel gears and also the universal joints. One option is to swap the hubs with the new ones from 42000 race car and the bevel gears with newer ones. You may also need to redesign the 4 speed gearbox to handle more torque, like this one. It would be great to see you implement these changes without significantly altering the looks of the car. I don't think it would be that hard.

The above creator examples brings to mind another point. The model team sets were always very life like and not "cartoony" in any way. Some creator sets are life like but most of them are more cartoon versions of real life and others are just wacky like the dino. So I guess model teams focus on being lifelike should also be part of it's definition. Model team: Large, detailed and life like models of vehicles sometimes using advanced techniques and aimed for older children. Creator: Intricate models covering a broad range of subjects including vehicles, buildings and animals. I can't really narrow down the creator definition much further as whenever I think of a rule there are exceptions to disprove it. Creator is not always lifelike or large or aimed at older children. It's kind of a miscellaneous theme. There is also other themes and subthemes like creator expert and the advanced model themes which include modular buildings, the horizon express, the Sydney opera house and so on.

I would define model team as being highly detailed and large models (for their time), often utilising more advanced building techniques and is aimed at slightly older children. It's hard to compare to creator because creator sets are usually less detailed and more for younger children than model team but it has some exceptions like the upcoming mini cooper which is very much like model team.

Yes, when in neutral the wheels and engine are disconnected like a real car. As for the ungeared 9v motor of that era, as it is it does have very little torque but that's not the same as saying it has very little power output. It has almost the same power output as a PF M-motor. You just have to gear it down. An ungeared 9V motor that is subsequently geared down to the same speed as an M-motor will give you about the same torque as an M-motor. However, when motorising 8880 there are other things to consider. The gearbox in particular was never designed to take the load of actually moving the car, only the fake engine. The drive train of the car also has a lot of friction in the wheel hubs. Most of the motors power will be needed just to overcome that.

Thanks for the info.

Yeah, it's well comfy http://www.staples.co.uk/mansell-executive-racing-chair-black-white/cbs/421257.html?promoCode=300300666&Effort_Code=WW&Find_Number=421257&cm_sp=

Here's mine.

So is there a definite idea of what to build or are you still looking for ideas?

Thank you although if we are counting the turntable as two parts then it's 201 pieces right now.

Thanks guys. Here's the ldd file for the current version. http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/radbot/online/Mini-digger/mini_digger_2.lxf ldd doesn't have any pneumatic parts so I have substituted them for others. It should be easy enough to tell which. The part count is 189, add the 11 hoses and that makes 200. Only problem is that the turn table counts as a single part. The rules of this contest say that a turn table is two parts. If that's true then I will need to loose a part from somewhere. But it is strange, why is a pre built turntable 2 parts, where as a pre built LA is only one part?

If you can post a picture of the ldd version and clearly say that these are the colours it is supposed to be then hopefully you should not be at a disadvantage.

I reviewed Sheepos land rover 110 and it was a lot of fun. http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=80063 I did point out it's flaws because I felt it was important to be honest. However I also think it's very important to point out that Sheepo is not employed by Lego to build lego models 8 hours a day 5 days a week. He also doesn't have the resources available to him like being able to design completely new parts. So for MOCs I am much less critical than I am official sets. I can tell you that before my 110 review came out Sheepo was rather nervous as I wouldn't tell him anything about what was in it before everyone else saw it but he was pleased with the end result. Can't wait to see your reviews on the brick show (of which I'm a fan). I just hope you don't rate everything between 8 and 10 out of 10 as that doesn't really help much .

TechnicAL? I should change my name to that

Hope not and don't think so. When in doubt I'm going on how parts appear in the instructions to an official set and LDD. Stickers do not appear in either. Also, turntables appear/count as one part in both. Hopefully Tim/Jim/Ted/Jeb/Jed/Tom/Frank can clarify .

I personally prefer the second version. It looks more serious! I would also change the colour of the seat. Still a fantastic model though

Small update. Have made a better seat that's blue and is closer in size and shape to real life mini digger seats. The seat has fold down arm rests but they don't look right when folded down so I'm ignoring that "feature". It uses more parts so I redesigned the roof to use less parts and have a sleeker look. I have also added some bigger lights to make them more prominent and hopefully add a little more charm and realism to the model. It's still exactly 200 pieces.

Thanks. I still have some improvements to make to get it where I would like though. My guess is that with a turn table, tracks, a weighted block and a not inconsiderable amount of pneumatics the price per piece would be quite high. However, those parts are what I call the good stuff, while beams and pins are just filler. I would rather spend £20 for a 200 piece set which has lots of "the good stuff" than spend £15 on a 200 piece set that's just lots of pins and beams. That's just my preference .

Or maybe post the ldd file or something. I'll probably post a vid of my entry when it's finished anyway.