Grum's Shed

[Lucio Switch]

I'm very pleased to say that as of yesterday my leg is now brace free. This can only mean one thing... building the 8880 will be starting very soon

Good to hear that!

[grum64]

Good to hear that buddy.

Thank you Edwin.

Nice work on the Beetle, it looks like a very good model. How is it compared to the Mini? Keep the updates coming, they are fun to read.

Thanks Bart. You're right about it being good looking model.

It has its critics who say the windscreen's too upright, the curvature of the roof isn't quite right and the tyres a little big but while I see what they mean I don't care. No one said it's a scale model, it's Lego with all the limitations that imposes. Personally I think the designer's done a brilliant job, it's instantly recognisable and was a joy to build.

As for how it compares against the Mini. I think the Bug's roughly the same scale, side by side they don't look to far out.

They do have one thing in common. They're both a really good build. Some of the techniques used to achieve the shape of each vehicle are very clever indeed, especially with the Bug.

Would I recommend the Bug? You bet I would.

One last thing. Anyone who has the Mini will know the windscreen used doesn't look right at all. If you phone Lego they'll send you the updated one (as used in the Bug but tinted) free of charge.

Good to hear that!

Thank you.

Edited July 29, 2016 by grum64

[BusterHaus]

The scaling differences don't bother me either. Unless you're getting close to a 1:1 scale it's very difficult to recreate all the lines of a car with bricks.

By the way, do you have a preference between system and Technic models? Is one easier to build than the other?

[grum64]

...By the way, do you have a preference between system and Technic models? Is one easier to build than the other?

Technic is and will always be my first love. I find it far eaisier to build with than System.

The hardest thing with System is positioning pieces whilst applying enough pressure to fix them together. This usually means giving them a 'whack' (or as Jake calls it, a Grum knock) with the hard boney part at the base of the palm of my hand resulting in them either flying through the air or going on at an angle that makes it near impossible to get them on properly.

I enjoy the challenge of System but give me Technic any day.

Edited July 30, 2016 by grum64

[grum64]

As promised and considerably later than planned I've today started the much requested 8880. To be totally honest this is the only build that I've felt a little intimidated by.

Over the last few months I've spent many hours going through the instructions with a view to, as I normally do, working out a build plan. With the 8880 that hasn't been as straightforward as planning my other builds has been but I'm not entirely sure why this is. Maybe it's down to the complications presented by the combination of studded and stud less elements to achieve the iconic shape of this car, maybe it's the 'old school' instructions with their plethora of steps on one page leaving you to work out where some have been fitted. Who knows. I'm sure as the build progresses I'll work things out.

Build Day 1 - Days build time 3hrs 30mins / Total build time 3hrs 30mins

Todays build didn't start well faced as I was with a diff to put together. Those of you who've read some of my previous ramblings will know that diffs are my nemesis. Over an hour of today's build time was taken up putting just one together. And there's two more later in the build!

Once the diff was assembled and placed into the chassis it was clear that it had more problems to cause me. With it protruding below the chassis fitting the parts that followed was a frustrating experience. Pressing down on one part resulted in the rest fell apart. Grrrr...

After trying a few different 'solutions' I settled on the easiest, making a frame of beams for the chassis to sit on & raise it up. Now the chassis can be supported along it's length when fitting parts and the diff has clear air under it. Job done.

With the diff and frame taking up time you can see from the pic below that not too much progress was made today.

I've a hectic couple of days ahead so may not get any building done but I'll be back to it sometime over the weekend.

Edited September 26, 2016 by grum64

[Alasdair Ryan]

A whole hour,just to put together one diff....

[grum64]

A whole hour,just to put together one diff....

Yep. I was not a happy Grum.

Edited August 3, 2016 by grum64

[Edwin Korstanje]

Yep. I was not a happy Grum.

I can feel your frustration Clive and respect that you did not give up

[LucyCol]

Perseverance wins the day, it'll all be worth it in the end

[RohanBeckett]

if you're making it right hand drive.. make the necessary changes NOW Both front and rear diffs will need to be reversed, as if you don't, the large side of the front diff will foul the steering gears, when you attempt to mount it right hand drive

if you don't do it now, you WILL need to pull the whole frame apart - and that's hard enough for us able-handed people!!! (extremely rigid construction!)

[grum64]

I can feel your frustration Clive and respect that you did not give up

Thank you Edwin. I do get frustrated occasionally when building but I certainly don't think I'm alone there.

Perseverance wins the day, it'll all be worth it in the end

Thank you.

if you're making it right hand drive.. make the necessary changes NOW Both front and rear diffs will need to be reversed, as if you don't, the large side of the front diff will foul the steering gears, when you attempt to mount it right hand drive

if you don't do it now, you WILL need to pull the whole frame apart - and that's hard enough for us able-handed people!!! (extremely rigid construction!)

I've been thinking about changing to RHD but am still undecided. With the 8880 being a dust magnet it probably won't stay assembled for very long.

Edited August 4, 2016 by grum64

[RohanBeckett]

With the 8880 being a dust magnet it probably won't stay assembled for very long.

and that it is - definitely! I only pulled mine apart a few months ago after being on the shelf for 5 years, as I neeeeeded more long black beams..

I hope to build the F1/Indycar B model soon.. it's meant to be pretty good...

[grum64]

Build Day 2 - Days build time 3hrs 50mins / Total build time 7hrs 20mins

Today's building went really well thanks to my makeshift 'frame' placed under the chassis. The frustrations I encountered during the first days building have been conspicuous only by their absence. Aforementioned frustrations gone, I've been able to enjoy this build. From being daunted by it I'm now embracing it (not literally you understand!). 

I've not seen the 8880 in the brick before so it's size is coming as something of a surprise. It's much bigger than I thought it would be. As I'm still having to build on my laptray that size is slowing progress a little as it over hangs each side by a good 3-4 inches making moving it around a little difficult. I keep knocking the cars front plates off.

Flying front plates aside, one thing I will say is just how well designed this set is. Layers of beams and plates mean this is going to be one seriously strong chassis and as the build goes on its only going to get more so. All these beams, plates etc make this fairly heavy even at this stage.

I've decided to stick with the instructions and leave it LHD (sorry Glen ) Being the dust magnet it is it won't be going on the shelf but will be dismantled and possibly sold.

The eagle eyed among you will no doubt have noticed that one of the Thin Liftarm Triangles (2905) at the rear of the build is black when it should be blue. When sorting out the parts I found one of the blue ones was cracked so I've ordered a replacement. Until it gets here the black one will have to do.

.

Edited September 26, 2016 by grum64

[ctx1769]

Glad to see you back

[grum64]

Glad to see you back

Thank you. It's good to be building something bigger than my last few builds.

[grum64]

Build Day 3 - Days build time 7hrs 10mins / Total build time 14hrs 30mins

After several days with no building being done it was great to get back to the 8880 today.

Having a good few hours free I got stuck in and looking at it I'm really pleased with progress. I'd have progressed a little further had there not been two diffs to assemble but thankfully (by more luck than anything) they didn't take quite as long as usual. The rest of the build was very straightforward.

The 'frame' I'd made to 'level' the underside of the chassis thus allowing me a firm base when fitting pieces wasn't quite up to the job so I've ditched the idea. Without it I'd be back to breaking parts of the chassis every time I pressed a piece in place so I've fitted plates along the underneath the length of the chassis, again to level the underside. I don't know why I didn't think of it before, it's a far simpler idea and works a treat.

The 2905 Thin blue Liftarm Triangles have still not arrived so the black one used at the rear of the build to replace the broken blue will remain in place.

Today's build pic.

Edited September 26, 2016 by grum64

[Edwin Korstanje]

Good progres you made today Clive

[BusterHaus]

Good work so far. Those hubs look pretty interesting - I don't have them in my collection so it's nice to see them mid-build. Keep up the hard work.

[syclone]

Great progress!

The photos provide details that can't be seen normally

Edited August 15, 2016 by LXF

[grum64]

Good progres you made today Clive

Thank you Edwin. It's coming on nicely.

Good work so far. Those hubs look pretty interesting - I don't have them in my collection so it's nice to see them mid-build. Keep up the hard work.

Thank you Bart. I've seen the hubs etc., before but didn't know what they were so it's interesting seeing how they're used.

Great progress!

The photos provide details that can't be seen normally

Thank you. Unfortunately the photos aren't as good as I'd like them to be. I'll try getting some closer ones next time.

[suffocation]

Love seeing my favourite set ever coming along so nicely. Cheers mate, keep up the great work.

[grum64]

Love seeing my favourite set ever coming along so nicely. Cheers mate, keep up the great work.

Thank you. It's s really intetesting build especially using these 'old style' instructions where building is as much about observation as much as anything else.

[Rishab N]

It's always great to see your builds. The 8880 is a set I've always wanted to buy, but has always eluded me as I feel the prices were a bit high

[RohanBeckett]

The hubs are good.. but ultimately, probably have too much friction to be used in a PF-powered driveable car..

it was a shame they weren't used much, in the era they came out...

[grum64]

It's always great to see your builds. The 8880 is a set I've always wanted to buy, but has always eluded me as I feel the prices were a bit high

Thank you for your kind comment.

I agree with you about pricing, I've seen 8880's selling for silly money. I was lucky and bought my 8880 very cheap.

The hubs are good.. but ultimately, probably have too much friction to be used in a PF-powered driveable car..

it was a shame they weren't used much, in the era they came out...

As I said, I'd not come across them before so don't know much about them. Looking on Bricklink it seems they were only ever in a few of the smaller Technic sets.