Technicopedia

[allanp]

Oh yes! What a great thing to wake up to.

[Blakbird]

So, I'm not entirely sure whether I'm just so sleepy or there's a mistake in here somewhere: "The two claw jaws are linked together with a pair of 16 tooth pinion spur gears to the star synchronized." This is in the description of 8446, claw section.

Wow, that's messed up all right. Not sure what happened there. I'll fix it.

EDIT: So here's another question, in the year 1994, parts section, you wrote that the cam was introduced, with 6 axle holes. Is this correct, because I'm seeing only four?

Looks like that error has been hanging around a long time, I posted that in 2009. Thanks for letting me know. Always nice to know that people are reading closely!

Two things came to my mind readng Technicopedia again. None of them means big work but immediate improvement IMO.

- Texts of categories: could be updated to 2015 because there are sentences that stay out (for example regarding Cranes: "8421 and 42009 are by far the most complicated" <> 42043). This would increase coherence whch is ultimate for proper reference.

2015 has not been included yet. I'm working on it.

- Pictures of categores : some sets are almost completely hidden by pics of other sets and also pics could be updated to 2015 (for example 42043 is missing from BigRigs category).

Can you give me an example of something that is hidden? I work really hard to make sure this doesn't happen.

[Interceptor]

Can you give me an example of something that is hidden? I work really hard to make sure this doesn't happen.

For example in the top-left corner of Cranes pic huge part of 9391 covered by 42043. Big sets overlap each other partly in category pics (Cranes, Loaders, BigRigs). I know it is nearly impossible to put everything in one pic without having partial overlapping (tried myself a couple of times) but for me it is joy to see all the details when comparing sets in one pic.

[Blakbird]

It has been almost 10 years since I started writing Technicopedia, and it is still far from done. It is reasonable to ask whether I am really making any progress or I am falling further behind as new sets are released. I decided to run some statistics to find out.

When I started in 2007, there were 31 years of Technic history to write about and 233 models that I classified as Technic. If you account for the fact that Universal sets have multiple models to write about, then there were really 320 set. This averages out to about 10 sets per year.

• 31 years : 0 years written : 31 year backlog
  
• 320 models : 0 models written : 320 model backlog
  

As of today, I have completed all the historical pages except 2015. The number of models has increased to 403, and I have completed writing about the models up through 1999 which makes 242.

• 39 years: 38 years written : 1 year backlog
  
• 403 models : 242 models written : 161 model backlog
  

So although I still have 161 models to go and there have been significant periods of time between updates, I have actually made a lot of progress toward catching up with the present. Chasing a moving target means I will never be done, but it would be great if this could be a once-a-year activity for new sets only.

Of course, the above analysis ignores all of the changes I have made over the years which make the tracking of progress non-linear. For example, I had no LDraw models in the beginning, and I now have files for everything. I also went back and changed the formatting of pages several times, and recently went back and updated all the photographs. I'm trying stop with the "going back" activity now so I can concentrate on "going forward".

Of course I'm still going to get distracted by cool MOCs. Curse you Pvdb and your Koeniggsegg!

[MikroMan]

Thanks for letting me know. Always nice to know that people are reading closely!

Happy to help improve your webpage, even if in such insiginificant way

Found few other minor nitpicks:

Year 1995:

Parts - Stopped axle: "...and a rotable axle..." should probably be "rotatable" or "revolvable"?

Parts - Pin Joiner: "A round pin joinere..." should be "...joiner..."

Parts - Gearboxes, second paragraph: "Wth the..." should be "With the..."

Year 1996:

Parts - 6x4 Bent Liftarm: "Because Both" should not have the second B capitalized. Also, "...but the other hole..." is most likely "..but the other holes..."

Year 1997:

Parts - Gears: "...and therefor..." should be "...and therefore..."

Parts - Other Parts: "3L pin pin integral bushing" is probably wrong.

[DrJB]

It has been almost 10 years since I started writing Technicopedia, and it is still far from done. It is reasonable to ask whether I am really making any progress or I am falling further behind as new sets are released. I decided to run some statistics to find out.

I always found statistics to be 'misleading'. Some people look at the average trend (mean/average), others look at the outliers. It's all a matter of subjective interpretation. Now, while your metrics for catching up definitely show a positive trend, it seems now TLG is more aggressive with the numbers of models they're releasing and how complicated they've become. That in itself might suggest TLG is actively working on increasing their lead ... ... but with active AFOLs willing to help, I'm sure the site is up to the task and will always be a valuable resource/reference for many of us.

Thus, I raise my to another 10 years.

Edited April 20, 2016 by DrJB

[Blakbird]

For example in the top-left corner of Cranes pic huge part of 9391 covered by 42043. Big sets overlap each other partly in category pics (Cranes, Loaders, BigRigs). I know it is nearly impossible to put everything in one pic without having partial overlapping (tried myself a couple of times) but for me it is joy to see all the details when comparing sets in one pic.

I consider this level of hiding to be totally acceptable. In fact, I positioned that very carefully to show as much as possible. Making these images is a lot of work and requires a lot of thought. I could make sure that nothing ever overlaps, but then I would have to shrink everything down more to make it fit. I consider the primary purpose of these images to show the relative scales of the models and to allow comparison of the styles. For details, you can always go the dedicated page for each model.

Found few other minor nitpicks.....

Thanks for this, I will work on some corrections next week.

Now, while your metrics for catching up definitely show a positive trend, it seems now TLG is more aggressive with the numbers of models they're releasing and how complicated they've become. That in itself might suggest TLG is actively working on increasing their lead ...

Although the number of sets per year has been widely variable over the decades, over the last 10 years it has been pretty constant at about 10 sets per year so I don't think there is any escalation. Sets have become generally larger, but this doesn't really make them any harder to write about.

95% of all statistics are crap. Including this one. ;-)

[zux]

Website is being a bit stressed since update. Random pages and pictures are not really getting loaded some time.

[Paul B Technic]

You are doing a great job with this, I love reading the updates.

[Kman860]

Blakbird, could you PM me about Ldraw and such? I don't even know what I need to download, but I'd like to help with renders.

[Blakbird]

Blakbird, could you PM me about Ldraw and such? I don't even know what I need to download, but I'd like to help with renders.

The renders are all done, I don't need any help there. However if you are interested in LDraw just go to LDraw.org and download the all in one installer. There is also a forum here on Eurobricks.

[Kman860]

The renders are all done, I don't need any help there. However if you are interested in LDraw just go to LDraw.org and download the all in one installer. There is also a forum here on Eurobricks.

Thanks, and by all renders does that include 2016? Or do you need some of those? Or if I just make an LDraw file is that good?

Edited April 21, 2016 by Kman860

[DrJB]

Fantastic site of course, prior comments were not too serious. Any thought about consolidating all of BlakBird's contributions into a single website? There is Technicopedia of course, but there is also a huge number of renders he has done for many MOCs out there, Akiyuki's GBCs, and so on. Am I looking for a one-stop-shop for everything SR71? ... hummm ... yeah!

I understand the larger the site the more expensive to maintain, but maybe some hot-links to other repositories such as those available on the many picture-sharing sites out there.

Edited April 21, 2016 by DrJB

[Targi]

I've been re-reading Technicopedia after the update, and I've noticed 9392 was not included into any of the categories. With my dark ages ending, I recently purchased a copy of 9392. It's a great small set in my opinion, and feature-wise, it looks like a scaled-down version of the old great 8858's B-model.

I'd put 9392 and its quad analogs 8262, 8282 and 8826 into a separate "quad bike" category, as they are closer to bikes in terms of riding position. Anyway, Blakbird, maybe you'd consider to place 9392 into the current "Dune Buggies" category with the other quads at some point when you update the site again?

[Blakbird]

I've been re-reading Technicopedia after the update, and I've noticed 9392 was not included into any of the categories. With my dark ages ending, I recently purchased a copy of 9392. It's a great small set in my opinion, and feature-wise, it looks like a scaled-down version of the old great 8858's B-model.

I'd put 9392 and its quad analogs 8262, 8282 and 8826 into a separate "quad bike" category, as they are closer to bikes in terms of riding position. Anyway, Blakbird, maybe you'd consider to place 9392 into the current "Dune Buggies" category with the other quads at some point when you update the site again?

You are quite right, it should appear in that category. Not sure what happened. It just so happens that I am updating the categories right now so I will fix that.

[Josephiah]

Not strictly technicopedia-related, but on a similar theme, did anyone spot this?

http://www.lego.com/en-us/technic/history-page

[MikroMan]

Not strictly technicopedia-related, but on a similar theme, did anyone spot this?

http://www.lego.com/...ic/history-page

Yeah, there was a thread about this on EB, a few days ago.

[Blakbird]

Fantastic site of course, prior comments were not too serious. Any thought about consolidating all of BlakBird's contributions into a single website? There is Technicopedia of course, but there is also a huge number of renders he has done for many MOCs out there, Akiyuki's GBCs, and so on. Am I looking for a one-stop-shop for everything SR71? ... hummm ... yeah!

I understand the larger the site the more expensive to maintain, but maybe some hot-links to other repositories such as those available on the many picture-sharing sites out there.

My site used to contain other sections for my rocketry and astronomy hobbies. Those have since gone by the wayside. I don't think the Internet has the bandwidth to cover "everything that is Blakbird". I do have a site for my Pocher Aventador build though!

After displaying GBC this weekend, it certainly occurred to me that it would be nice to put everything in one place. It is not really a matter of storage or traffic, but more of time. My Bricksafe account is a better place to peruse if you want to see what I've been up to other than Technicopedia. Some day perhaps I will be able to consolidate stuff.

[DrJB]

Did you say Astronomy? I started with that back in 98 ... got a Meade ETX 125 (Maksutov-Cassegrain) with Autostar and a Nikon 995 plus various adapters for astrophotography. Was able to get decent pics of jupiter+moons, the Pleiades, and few others. Of course this technology is 18 years old and I'm sure things have evolved substantially since then. For one, Meade no longer makes the 125 and they moved their production to China. Still have my 125 though, and hopefully someday the kids will develop a taste for it.

I'm digressing again ...

Edited April 26, 2016 by DrJB

[mostlytechnic]

Thanks Blakbird - looking forward to reading this over lunch today! 1999 is still during my dark ages, so it's great fun seeing these "vintage" sets that I never had.

[Blakbird]

Update

Incremental update to Technicopedia. Adds year and new part summary for 2015 and updates all related category pages. Adds Snow Vehicle category. Error fixes.

[AOW]

Blakbird ! WOW ! really nice to see that update ! Thank you !

[Blakbird]

Blakbird ! WOW ! really nice to see that update ! Thank you !

You're welcome! I am taking photos of the 1H2016 sets now. If LEGO would only send me free copies of the 2nd half sets for review, I could put those up as well.

[bj51]

Nice update, Blackbird.

Error report: the angled panel (24116) was introduced this year and not in 2015 as mentioned, if i'm not mistaken.

[Kman860]

Not sure if it's just me, but I don't see a 2015 or snow vehicles category yet.