[WIP] Ultimate 42009

[grum64]

Welcome back Grum, looking forward to your progress updates again

Thank you

[afol1969]

Hi, Grum64,

I'm back from the holydays, and now I see your building progress. Keep good on, you'll make it!

Myself I've to continue to finish the Grove MK-3 with Firgelli actuators.

Greetings

Alex

[grum64]

Build Day 15 - 20/04/2015 / Build Time Today -1.5hrs / Total Build Time - 69.5hrs

As you can see above, not much building was done today. The combination of a beautifully sunny Spring day and South-West facing conservatory (yes, I know but it's the only place we could have it!) curtailed any plans I had to build. 1.5hrs is all I managed before I had to retreat into a cooler room.

Before said retreat, I did however, come up with a novel way to support an assembly while I work on it. Don't get too excited, it's nothing LEGO will be hammering on my door for!

During a previous days building my 'manhandling' of the superstructure assembly had inadvertently pushed the 9L grey axle from stage 13 on page 203 too far one way meaning the grey pin was sticking too far out. When I got to stage 40 on page 223 the 2 x 4 L liftarm wouldn't go all the way on the 3 pins

I just couldn't push the axle through, I suppose due to the accumulated friction from the parts it passed through. All that happened was the thin liftarms on the opposite side were starting separate but at an angle as I had no way of stopping them. They would not let the axle through.

After an hour or so of trying I came up the solution which involved a battery box complete with batteries and an iPad...

Just the job to support the assembly while I pushed the grey axle through while the parts on the other side were unable to move as they were braced up against the battery box.

Not exactly groundbreaking but it did the job.

Sorry about my less than clear explanation & the poor quality of my photography.

Edited April 21, 2015 by grum64

[MacKaiwer]

Nice that you've solved that problem and your great work continues. Keep it up my friend ☺

[grum64]

Build Day 16 - 21/04/2015 / Build Time Today - 4.5hrs / Total Build Time - 74hrs

I think you'll agree that I waffled on long enough in yesterday's post so as I've not too much to say about today's build I'll just say, here's the pics.

[JGW3000]

Nice to see the PF's going in - L-motors hooked up to the LA's, this thing is going to spin! Did you give it a test drive?

[grum64]

Nice to see the PF's going in - L-motors hooked up to the LA's, this thing is going to spin! Did you give it a test drive?

I tested the motors before installing them but not after. I'd best do that on Thursday.

[Jeroen Ottens]

Good progress! Lego is all about creativity. You seem to have that in spades when it comes to finding solutions for the challenges you face (and create inadvertely). :thumbsup:

[BusterHaus]

Good going Grum, great to see your progress.

A question for those who have built this model: how long did it take you? The WIP pictures that Grum is posting make me realize that this is a pretty big model.

[grum64]

...the challenges you face (and create inadvertely).

:laugh:

Edited April 22, 2015 by grum64

[grum64]

Good going Grum, great to see your progress.

...this is a pretty big model.

Thank you Bart.

As for the models size. I first saw the 42009 at Brick 2014 & thought it was big but I didn't quite realise how big. So far I've only completed the carridge and that in itself is very impressive.

Edited April 22, 2015 by grum64

[grum64]

Build Day 17 - 23/04/2015 / Build Time Today - 3.5hrs / Total Build Time - 77.5hrs

Firstly...

Today was L Motors test day so once they were connected to a battery box I 'threw' the switch and... one actuator extended/retracted the other however did nothing but rotate

After trying all I could think of I contacted Zblj who suggested pushing an axle through the end of both actuators & powering up. This I did and voila, both actuators extended/retracted.

Zblj. Your help & patience today was very much appreciated

JGW3000. L Motors tested & I'm happy to report, are working

The above aside, it was difficult to get much building done today due to my upper body repeatedly trying to acquaint itself with the table top. This also affected the quality and amount of pictures I was able to take for which I apologise.

Today's build pics.

Edited April 24, 2015 by grum64

[Boxerlego]

That looks impressive Grum64. Nice to see your updates. I look forward to seeing more. Keep up the good work.

[grum64]

Build Day 18 - 01/05/2015 - Build Time Today - 3hrs / Total Build Time - 80.5hrs

Great to be back building.

I enjoyed building today but as is always the case with me, the panels were a pain to connect pins etc., to & assemble so I got a little less done than I'd have liked.

Here's the days build pics.

Edited May 3, 2015 by grum64

[grum64]

Build Days 19, 20, 21 - 4th, 7th & 10th May 2015 - Combined Build Time - 8.5hrs / Total Build Time - 89hrs

As you can see the build's coming along OK with the only real problem along the way being of my own making.

I fitted the 'baseplate' to the turntable the wrong way round so a pair of gears in the carriage stopped a corner of the 'baseplate' locking in place. Off came the 'baseplate' & around 4.5 hours later (don't ask!) it was the correct way round but I ended up with multiple cuts to my hands in the process. The ends of those pins are flipping sharp! Good job Gilly was on hand with the plasters!

In the next few days I'll double check I've got all the parts needed for Christophe Moittie's extended boom and I can get a start on that.

NB. The IR Receivers will be removed and replaced by a pair of Sbricks (a huge thank you to Tamás & Lénárd at Vengit) next build day.

Here's the pics from the last 3 build days.

Edited May 11, 2015 by grum64

[BusterHaus]

8.5 hours? I wish I had a chunk of time as long to build. Keep up the good work and if you get asked about the cuts on your fingers, claim that they are battle scars. It's not a far stretch.

[Edwin Korstanje]

Your almost there Grum64 , only the boom yet.

[grum64]

8.5 hours? I wish I had a chunk of time as long to build.

I'm lucky in that I have a lot more time to build than most but the 8.5hrs was over 3 days. I don't get chance to build every day but on a very good day I get around 6hrs or so but those days are rare.

...if you get asked about the cuts on your fingers, claim that they are battle scars. It's not a far stretch.

The cuts aren't on my fingers they're on the side of my hands.

As for claiming they're LEGO battle scars

Your almost there Grum64 , only the boom yet.

Yes, it's progressing well. There'll be a slight delay with the boom though. I thought I'd got all the parts needed but after double checking I find I'm several short

Edited May 11, 2015 by grum64

[Boxerlego]

Your almost there Grum64 , only the boom yet.

Yea Grum64 your almost there.

8.5 hours? I wish I had a chunk of time as long to build. Keep up the good work and if you get asked about the cuts on your fingers, claim that they are battle scars. It's not a far stretch.

But he not able to build with his fingers that well. Unless I missed something I always was under the impression that Grum64 built LEGO with his mouth.

Is that true Grum64 or are you using your hands to build this here?

[grum64]

...But he not able to build with his fingers that well. Unless I missed something I always was under the impression that Grum64 built LEGO with his mouth.

Is that true Grum64 or are you using your hands to build this here?

I have no use of my fingers at all, limited movement of my arms & wrists.

My building is about 99% by mouth. Sometimes though I use the side of my hand to help press parts together against either my chin, iPad, phone, coaster, side of an upside down laptray, the side of my other hand, whatever best helps me do what I'm trying to do.

When I say I had multiple cuts to my hand it's the side of my hand I'm refering to which was cut by the pins sticking out from the sides of the baseplate when trying to push the two halfs together.

I hope this clarifies things.

Edited May 11, 2015 by grum64

[Boxerlego]

Thanks for clarifying things, I can see what is going on now. You got to be careful pushing some Technic pieces together, just awhile ago with my new 42041 race car I was pushing a large axle through a bunch of axle connection with smaller axle I was putting good amount of force on it and the small axle slip and bounced off the table and it flew up and almost hit me in my left eye . If your getting cuts while putting together LEGO I would seek out other methods. Have you tried building some kind of simple LEGO tools to help you build certain objects. I see you have a hemostats is that something that helps you while building with LEGO.

[MacKaiwer]

Nice progression my dear friend It is a beginning of final stretch and end result will be absolutely amazing I admire You grum and your huge effort for this build :thumbup:

[grum64]

Thanks for clarifying things, I can see what is going on now. You got to be careful pushing some Technic pieces together, just awhile ago with my new 42041 race car I was pushing a large axle through a bunch of axle connection with smaller axle I was putting good amount of force on it and the small axle slip and bounced off the table and it flew up and almost hit me in my left eye . If your getting cuts while putting together LEGO I would seek out other methods. Have you tried building some kind of simple LEGO tools to help you build certain objects. I see you have a hemostats is that something that helps you while building with LEGO.

I've poked myself in the eye many times on axles I've used as guides/to hold pieces in place but at least I'm spared the worst injury/pain of all. Stepping on LEGO pieces.

My beloved 92yr old Nanny keeps on at me to wear safety glasses and leather gloves while I'm building while my Dr's convinced that LEGO pieces will be the death of me!

As for the hemostats (I just call them clamps). Yes, I find them extremely useful but as I have to hold one 'handle' in my teeth my Dentist isn't particularly happy with the way they chip my teeth. He's actually getting me a pair with rubber coated 'handles'!

Nice progression my dear friend It is a beginning of final stretch and end result will be absolutely amazing I admire You grum and your huge effort for this build :thumbup:

Thank you once again for your kind words.

Edited May 11, 2015 by grum64

[Boxerlego]

Wow Grum, That is a nice Dentist you have. Important part in building is staying safe. LEGO certainly is not worth chipping a tooth over. I would still be careful using hemostats even if there rubber coated with your teeth. Take care of yourself.

[grum64]

Build Day 22 - 30th May 2015 - Build Time Today - 2.5hrs / Total Build Time - 91.5hrs

Hello Everyone

Hope all's well with you.

After several chaotic days (pretty normal for our household ) I had a couple hours free today so made a start on Christophe Moittie's Extended Boom. As you can see from the pics there's not much to show for 2.5hrs building but I'm happy.

Before I'm asked, no, there were no cut hands today