TBs TechTips 28 - Connecting the PF Receiver to 9V (III)

TBs has already hosted two stories about how to connect an IR-Receiver to a standard 9V LEGO battery box. The trouble with the IR-Receiver is that it doesn't draw its current from the same wires as the motor and so the extension/conversion wire doesn't work in this case.

The first solution involved using a PF battery box (without batteries) [1]:

The second solution consisted of using small strips of aluminium foil to short C1 and the 0V line as well as C2 and the 9V line [2]:

Today I tried my hand at a solution proposed by Rob Hendrix (Brickmodder) in BrickJournal 7.

The solution consists of prying the light grey connector of the conversion cable open (the one that is top PF and bottom 9V) and shorting out 0V with C1 and 9V with C2 from the inside:

Make sure to carefully push the bent black wires between the metal forks that are the bottom part of the connectors. Then place the 9V bottom part on top and press hard to close. Check to see if all the connections are good by using the your modified connector to hook an IR Receiver up to a 9V power source. Disconnect and reverse polarity immediately if the IR-Receiver's little green light doesn't go on, as you might damage it if exposed for too long to the wrong polarity.

TBs TechChallenge, 2009 - Reverse 8046 - The submissions

The period to submit an entry for this Challenge has finished last Sunday (15).

Given the difficulty level and some challenging aspects, in my perspective we got a very good adhesion to this Challenge. Either considering the number of submitted entries and discussion generated around the topic, through the comments left and dialogs established into the Challenge original post.

We got a total of 6 participants and 6 submissions. Each one was allowed to submit up to two submissions, but it was not the case for any of the participants.
Five of them were valid submissions and one was more for the fun (you will see below) but which can't be considered as a valid participation in terms of the Challenge's goals and rules (you will also understand why this distinction, below in this post).

In order of submission, we got:

• Eric Albrecht (Blakbird) - US
  
• Scott
  
• Martijn Bosgraaf (Dryw Filtiarn) - NL
  
• Minshik Kong (Sarafiel) - KR
  Sarafiel also provided us with some nice instructions for his submission, which I won't yet disclose, so that we won't get into details about each one's interpretation at this point.
  
• Mike Hatton (Parax) - UK
  
• Nathanaël Kuipers (Industrial Designer) - NL
  

So and before we can proceed to the evaluation phase (pending on instructions delivery by TLG and time availability), I decided to publish here one render provided by the contestants, for each submission.

In order of appearance from top left to bottom right: Eric, Martijn Bosgraaf, Minshik Kong, Mike and Nathanaël.

And also the funny entry from Scott.

You might remember that when I mentioned about the signed box prize for this Challenge winner, I also wrote that might be something additional as a surprise.
In fact I just wanted to avoid that it would have influenced the way, that contestants would send their submissions and so decided to kept it as a little secret, to disclose after the submission period.
This means I'll have also a small symbolic gift to send to the first three contestants, with valid entries (i.e. those entries fulfilling the Challenge goals and rules).
They are three boxes from the 8046 Helicopter itself. This model was made by Markus Kossman, however the boxes to send are not signed, in case you wanted to know.


Let me express here in advance how thankful I am, for the LEGO Technic design team to have accepted to collaborate with TBs , with this Challenge and to have supported us with all the prizes to give away.

8049 B-model, The pneumatic Log Handler

We have here mentioned before, that B-model for the sensation set of the moment (8049, Log Loader) is going to be a Log Handler.

However I guess you have not seen yet any image from this alternative to the 8049 main model!?
So once more at TBs , in exclusive and first hand from TLG to all the Technic fans, here it goes!

Awesome and very good usage from the pneumatic functions!
It may look like quite a large claw for the scale, but somehow imposed by the turntable size. However some real Log Handlers could have such large claws [1, 2, 3] despite slimmer wrists.


Have you liked it?
From December, in a store next to you.

Lego Technic website, got a new face!

From today, LEGO Technic website got a a new face.

Content is basically the same for the moment, but the website look got some renovation, new and more up-to-date software.

Easier maintenance and some new capabilities were also added to the Designers Blog. Soon you should start noticing some of these improvements.

Along with the refreshed website, some new amazing video animations have been added, relative to the 2H2009 sets.

Jump in to see them, at much better quality!

TBs TechPoll 16 - What next?

Technic sets for the 2H2010 are decided for long and mass production should be in the horizon.
New sets for 2011 should be decided already.

So whatever we would most aspire, either it was meanwhile selected by chance, from the Technic Designers team to be in the roadmap or the next chance will only arrive almost three years ahead...

Nevertheless I thought it worths to ask for your most secret wishes.
Hence the question for the next TBs poll is, "Which LEGO Technic flagship, would you like next?"
And my choices for you to vote*, are:

• Some kind of crane
  
• A fully remote controlled excavator
• Some other construction machine
  
• A supercar
• A truck
• A flying machine (either airplane, or helicopter)
• Something else (specify in a comment to the respective post)

Let others to know about your preference!

*) You may select multiple entries.

Week TechVideo, 2009 #46 - Just want some treads like these...

Just another good example to the idea of a crossover motorized sets product line, on the previous post from today...
These here, more suitable for a sub-theme of imaginary vehicles.


A couple of cool and terrible efficient tracked vehicles made by Peer (Mahjqa), with the participation from some of his imaginary enterprises - Yes! he looks prolific creating them... Stilzkin Incorporated, Arxa Enginnering and Vayamenda Industries. The last one we had already seen before through one of its racing division creations. What's next?...

It looks it was featuring aslo into the LW Zwole 2009, main hall...
And a nice transparency effect, on the running treads.

Amazing use of not so common parts and techniques, freaking cool and distinctive look, superb mechanic articulated transmission and efficiency, awesome offroad capabilities, what else?...

The idea used to build the treads just drives me crazy, despite I can't still figure out how they are made working stable into the drivetrains.


Below the fantasy made reality, in Peer's own words.
"The Stilzkin Igniz is a tracked, articulated, all-terrain carrier developed by Stilzkin Inc. for the Russian Army. It is mostly used for (troop) transport, it's not designed to be used in combat. It consists of two units, with all four tracks powered. It can carry up to 17 people (6 in the front compartment, 11 in the rear), although the trailer unit can be adapted for different applications. (Ambulance, flatbed cargo carrier, tactical operations center...) Its low ground pressure makes it suitable for all kinds of difficult terrain like bogs and snow.

The red version seen in this video is a civilian variant. It was stripped of most of its armour and outfitted with a better engine to take part in offroad competitions."


You will find some more great artwork images for these models in action scenarios, from Peer's Brickshelf folder or his Flickr photostream if you are looking for higher resolution images.

Could it be an idea?

Don't know whether TLG ever considered to release a Product Line with models like this featured here today, but I believe it could turn into an interesting business case.
This is something different from the LEGO Technic theme, but still plenty of functionality/playability and a significant step ahead from the former Model Team or some modern Creator sets. They are actually designated 'crossover' models and a style used by many AFOLs and amateur builders.
The new PFS elements came to make creations like these, a lot easier.

A very well done video, indeed!

With some nice stickers applied, this 6 PF motor mobile crane model from Co1Der (DoubleBrick, Russia) would turn into a very nice toy for the teens and above.
You may find additional photos at this BS folder (after moderation).

---

Meanwhile let me just recap some other constructions previously featured here at TBs , together with a few other models that would fit in the same conceptual range of products.
All these covering different set sizes, making an example how such hypothetical theme or product range, could look like into a given year lineup.

Most but not all of them motorized, these are models from M-longer, Han and Franzhe. Click over the pictures for more images about each of these.

For the high-end consumer range, also believe some like these (or slightly simplified versions in some cases - 6 motors may be a bit too much to make it affordable) would be feasible into a line of commercial sets, price and partcountwise.
I'm just still missing a good marketing name, for such crossover product line, but I can already imagining some appealing boxes on the shelves.

Rumors and nonsense

In the last few days there has been circulating a rumor, about LEGO Technic to be discontinued in 2010.
This misinformation have been originated into a Wiki site , which I won't even link here... and also didn't credit before or felt it to deserve a post.

You folks, may get calm as this is not true. LEGO Technic theme will certainly NOT be discontinued!

It was officially denied by TLG in the person of Tormod Askildson (Head of LEGO Community Development) to the LEGO Ambassadors.