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@I3Brick: Perhaps you could consider a mini-LA for the tilting? That would require less gearing and include build in clutch.

Hi Trav (legolifty), the perhaps easiest and least complicated way to integrate "computer" control to your elevator is to get an NXT -Set (or EV3, but NXT is cheaper *) and IR Link from HiTechnic: https://www.hitechnic.com/products [* Note: EV4 Color Sensor can identify 7 colors, NXT color Sensor "only" 6. If you want to build higher than 6/7 stories, you perhaps will have to use two sensors ... allowing than for 36 [NXT] or 49 [EV3] stories, which either is more than plenty I would assume. So EV3 would only dead fit if you have planned your build for 7 stories :-) ] The IR Link will allow you to control you PF-motors via the IR-Receiver - and it really works (for me) like a charm! I believe that you have already build in the IR receiver for your manual control - so you would have to change absolutely nothing on the PF side for the NXT/EV3 integration. [One word of advice: Check with HiTechnic if they support the EV3 with IR Link if you consider buying an EV3. I only have experience with connection it to NXT.] As you can set either of the four IR channels and then control A and B ports separately, you can control up to 8 motors with one HiTechnic IR Link Sensor. But I guess you only need to control a single channel with two PF motors for this MOC anyway ? So for your Elevator MOC you would have to integrate the Color Sensor(s) with (e.g. "on top") of the cabin. The sensor will be able to detect color of bricks (using its own light source) so you would just have to color code each story I would actually use two colors for each level: on color that when detected reduces elevator speed, and the other color to "level" the cabin. So e.g. using blue and red: 5 plate thick "blue/"prepare"; 2 plate thick "red/stop" and then another 5 plate thick "blue/prepare" again [Allowing for up and down operation!] - still this "reduces" your build to 3 stories (or you use two color sensors, see above). As it had been stated before, you need to connect the Color Sensor to the NXT / EV3 brickl but I believe you have already cables going to the cabin, so that should then not be a real challenge to implement. In case that the 50cm/18".5 one provided with NXT/EV3 is too short, HITechnic provides a set that does include a 70 and 90cm (27.6/35.4") cable for (in my view) a reasonable price. All "timing" and control will then have to be implemented in the NXT/EV3 program. Especially how much to decrease up/down speed to really hit the stop marker in the correct position will be try and error. A "better" positioning solution could be to use "touch sensor(s)" instead of "color sensor". If you use two touch sensors (on the cabin) and two sets of wall "markers" you could also use one for "prepare stop" (decrease elevator speed) and the other one for precise leveling of the hold. However you would not know, what level you elevator is - so you might require an initialize lift to an defined end position that is "marked" by both sensors "pressed". You could also use the "color" Sensor to detect "prepare stop" (reduce speed) AND to identify the level that you are in and additionally the touch sensor to detect the correct holding position in each level. That is perhaps the most flexible and technically enhanced solution available. Especially as you would only require a single color per story, thus allowing for 6/7 stories with a single sensor. Finally instead of adding anything to the cabin, you could also use touch sensors in the shaft to detect the position and control for a "perfect" stop. However this will limit you to 3 stories (or you would need to buy Touch Sensor Multiplexer), as you can only connect 4 sensors to one NXT/EV3 - and one sensor would already be the HiTechnic IR Link one. The only "missing" item that I do not immediately have an idea for is: how to implement the "call" button in each level to get the elevator move there ... But then you do not have any buttons in the cabin to select the destination anyway - so I guess we could stick to "HOG" control to where the elevator is moving to :-) - And that for, one could use the NXT/EV3 Motors - as input sensors for what Level to go to! Or just "up / down / stop (next level). I am happy to support you with programming EV3 and/or NXT if you need any help here. Kind regards, Enno.

Hi folks, where does the price of 229€ for the BWE come from? In the "zusammengebaut.com" Blog the price is given with 299€ and I believe they got this information directly from the Nuremberg Toy Fair. Actually taking the piece count and size, 299 EUR seems to be much more likely to me.

Mind blowing! While looking at the mini-pictures, I thought: oh look there are actual ones from the original building to compare. I looked twice to see that the shot of the audience was actually minifigs ... and only then I revisited the ceiling shot that I had taken as a shot of the actual even in real size glimpsing on it before - and that was Lego too. I guess the golden colored pieces are manually colored? I cannot recall else to have seen these things. But never the less: breathtaking build!

FYI: This is because technic axles are having all unique color for their length, following the scheme that even length ones are black, odd length ones are grey. So if one axle is 5 studs and the other 6 studs you would end up with one grey and one black axle. Especially as there is nothing like an 11 axle And thank you for the great review - liked it very much. Cheers, Enno.

The German online magazine Spiegel featured this video (in German) http://www.spiegel.de/video/stopmotion-film-mit-lego-zeigt-notebook-zerstoerung-video-1611684.html where the author of the hilarious youtube video gives comments to the creation of the video. Enjoy!

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Hi all, I guess this is only of interest for anyone living close to Aachen in Germany or nearby Belgium / Netherlands, but I thought I should share anyway: I just learned that due to the today "re-opening" of the toy shop "Teddy & Co" in Aachen (which has been relocated into the "mother" company "Mayrische Buchhandlung") all toys (not only Lego - but I don't care about anything else) are 25% off (if you register for Mayrische Kundenkarte - registration is free). [Without registration, it is only 10% off]. For example the 42030 (Volvo Wheel Loader) is price tagged with 199€ ... and thus goes for 149,99€! The EV3 Set is tagged as 349€ which results in a sales price of 261,75€ I am sure that I have not seen prices for these sets any close to this! According to the information I got, sales is until this Saturday. I would think that offer is only available for what is in stock - and somehow I imagine that they won't give you the 25% for any re-order that they might need to take to re-supply stock. I just bought two of the Volvo sets ... but there where at least 5 more this morning. Kind regards, Enno.

3: 1 8: 2 14: 4 23: 2

It is pretty easy to motorize the Unimog (8110). Instructions can be found in a youtube video (that is linked somewhere in the UNIMOG thread). With the new servo motor, steering can be implemented much easier as in the instructions given in the thread - in fact it was so easy to implement that I did not even bother about thinking to make instructions. Adding a second IR receiver for controlling the "function"-motor and additional "lights" wasn't that much effort either - just the cabling was tricky.

Hi all, some not so good news on compatibility: Check here: http://educationnews...nload-media/214 (That is the link to the FAQ in the press media kit. http://educationnews...n-EV3-Press-Kit ) But you can use the parts (motors, sensors and the like) - even the new programming SW on the old brick (with the disclaimer: However, not all of the software features are supported by the NXT P-brick). And then again (And I guess this is also true vice versa, as there will also be a rechargeable battery for the EV3 P-brick.) It seems that there will also be a new part in the education version of EV3: some kind of metal custer ball I really wonder what the prices of the education sets will be in Germany ... but for 329USD I would get me a education set straight away. (Still that would need to add 98USD for the Programming SW ... thus need to get a retail version as well :-) Cheers, Enno.

Very nice review. As one of the cited recent "newcommers" to Technic I fully agree with Sariel's arguments - but I can understand the points Sinner elaborated. Anyway, I am going to buy the book - or win it: Technic for teh win

7. Leela - 3pts 8. Trijntje - 2pts

4 - Trijntje - 2 pts. 9 - Okay - 3 pts.

No Offense: but anyone with common sense would have ideas that these models were not obtained correctly/legally in the first place. Theft from school - that had been my first idea I tell you. Please understand: I am not saying and I do not want to imply that you did some mischief. I rather want to tell you that I would not buy these for my concerns of their origin. However there will be folks out there with less concerns than me - still I personally doubt that anyone would give you more than 200€ for the complete set.