Grum's Shed

[Carefree_Dude]

36 minutes ago, Maaboo35 said:

Mobile cranes? Not excavators? 

 

I bet I could turn those mobile cranes into excavators! 

[Maaboo the Witch]

10 minutes ago, Goldenmasamune said:

I bet I could turn those mobile cranes into excavators! 

Put your money where your mouth is, mate... 

[Carefree_Dude]

1 hour ago, Maaboo35 said:

Put your money where your mouth is, mate... 

I tell you what, you provide the mobile cranes, and I'll show you what I can do!

[grum64]

opps 

 

Edited October 13, 2018 by grum64

[grum64]

12 hours ago, Goldenmasamune said:

I bet I could turn those mobile cranes into excavators! 

 

12 hours ago, Maaboo35 said:

Put your money where your mouth is, mate... 

 

11 hours ago, Goldenmasamune said:

I tell you what, you provide the mobile cranes, and I'll show you what I can do!

Back to back they faced eachother, drew their swords and shot eachother 

[grum64]

Build Day 4 - Building time 3hrs 15mins - Total build time 19hrs 5mins

With the second subassembly of the day built it was time to fit it. The first (pic 1) had gone on with no trouble but this one, its opposite number, turned out to be far harder, very frustrating and consumed a great deal of time.

It appears that when building this subassembly and holding the 2905 Liftarm Triangle Thin in my teeth to fit it I'd bitten down a little harder than usual causing a burr that unbeknown to me covered a tiny part of an axle hole.

When it came to fitting the assembly to the main build the top axle it was to be pushed onto wouldn't go right through. I thought that as it had to go through the 6632 1x3 Thin and then the 2905 that the end of the axle was catching on the latter as has happened when pushing axles through multiple thin parts on other builds. Try as I might it wouldn't go through.

I must have taken it off and tried it again over 50 times when, in my frustration and being far too heavy handed, the top of the assembly came apart. Bugger said I and proceeded to put it back together. It was then I noticed the burr, obscurred as it had been by the 6632. It wasn't much but was just enough to stop the axle going through.

I don't recall this ever happening before. It's so frustrating as I lost most of the afternoon's building time so not very much progress was made, not as much as I'd have liked anyways but any progress is a step in the right direction so I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed. I'll need to be more careful in future. 

Todays pictures:

Yellow frames are for support only.

 

 

Edited October 13, 2018 by grum64
Spelling

[Edwin Korstanje]

I feel the frustrations on some parts on the build for you. even i got that feelings on my own builds, but come not close at yours. time after time with your life energie  and building flag models, gives me extra strenght to go on and never give up, for my creations. 

So please bring up all the progress my dear friend.

 

[grum64]

17 hours ago, Edwin Korstanje said:

I feel the frustrations on some parts on the build for you. even i got that feelings on my own builds, but come not close at yours. time after time with your life energie  and building flag models, gives me extra strenght to go on and never give up, for my creations. 

So please bring up all the progress my dear friend.

 

Thank you for your very kind comments Edwin.

As for build progress. I’ll keep posting mine if you keep posting yours 

 

[grum64]

Build Day 5 - Building time 4hrs 55mins - Total build time 23hrs 50mins

Before going any further I feel it only right to warn you that this post contains more ramblings than usual. If you’ve not got the spare hour or so needed to read it and then re-read it to try & fathom what the heck I’m waffling on about I recommend just scrolling down (a long, long way) to the photos which if I’m honest aren't very good at all but more on that later.

You have been warned.

Any way, for those of you brave or foolhardy enough to ignore the above advice, read on.

I'm very happy to say that at long last I'm back building at my table. It's been over two years and what with 3 breaks to my legs and a new, slightly higher 'chair I haven't been able to sit at the table. Instead I've had to sit alongside it building on my laptray. As of today though it's goodbye Mr Laptray, you've served me well.

Once I gotten used to building on a solid surface again I quickly realised how much difference sitting at the table makes to the speed I build. This is partly because it's easier to fit parts together (the Grum Knock is back!) and also because previously, to get the parts I needed, I was having to lean over the side of my ‘chair and with a pair of 18cm surgical forceps, pluck them out of the sorting tray on the table beside me and onto my laptray to assemble.

Anyway, enough of all that.

The build's been going well with each subassembly being easy to build and fit. The only problem has been with the cables. When the two drive motor assemblies were fitted together I was careful to route the cables correctly but unfortunately between then and today they seem to have gone where they liked so when it came to connecting them to the receivers they wouldn't quite reach. Using my forceps to thread them through gaps in the build took the better part of 40 minutes (I can't be alone in thinking LEGO cables have a mind of their own). Once the re-routing was done the plugs (the correct name escapes me) had to be fitted to the receivers.

Whether it be onto a battery box, receiver, Sbrick or Buwizz I've always found fitting PF plugs difficult but due to how the receivers are mounted on Bully there's nothing solid when pressing the plugs down so it's a job to get the plug to fit firmly in place. As I found out on numerous occasions, press down just a little too hard and the receiver flies off. After just over an hour all four plugs were firmly in place and I was a happy Grum.

As good as it is to be back at the table there is however a big downside. As you know the quality of my photos has never been great but I do think they'd improved a little bit when taken on the laptray partly because of the white background but mainly because I could get away from the glare from the windows. 

All this is a rather longwinded (oh there's a surprise!) way of apologising for today's pictures. I'm not at all happy with them but I can't go back and take better ones because the build has progressed. I'm looking into getting a white curtain or something similar that can easily be pulled over the window when I'm building. I'm sorry to say that until then the pictures might continue to be rather ropey. Again, my apologies.

Todays pictures:

[BusterHaus]

It's funny that you complain about them, but I think your photos leave little to be desired. They are sharp, well lit and usually show quite a bit of details. Yes, the reflection from the window is apparent, but unless you're taking them on a cloudy day, it will usually be the case.  A curtain should help, but don't turn your shed into a light tent just to improve your pictures marginally. 

[brickless_kiwi]

But I like Waffle, its the insights and one's perspective that makes the build entertaining... As for electrical Loom's having spent two days having a argument with a Scania 640 engine loom and yes I agree, the little bleeper's have a mind of their own..

 

[Jeroen Ottens]

Good to hear that you are back at the table! I like the Waffle too, so no need to warn or apologize. I remember that routing the wires on this on was tricky, with little room to put them all in and with some wires just long enough to reach the receivers. As for the photos, I don't mind the quick shots that aren't perfectly lighted for a WIP. You should spend your time on building, not on perfecting photos when you are building. To me that is just setting the right priorities. And when the model is finished, no one can beat @Jim's quality of photos, so no point in trying to beat that .

Seeing the build progress it is funny to realize just how many parts have been added in the past 11 years to the Technic palette. No smooth axle connectors, no frames, no pin-with-pinholes (which should make you happy ) or any of their siblings, no LA's, no big turntables (I think?), no smooth panels and only a limited selection of crossblocks. And his model introducing the new tracks, sprockets and PF system.

[Aleh]

@grum64 Hey Mate! I veeery like and appreciate the way you post the materials! Keep going! 

Sorry for the question - are you building the 8275 replica? And what kind of bulldozer?

[grum64]

On 10/17/2018 at 1:15 AM, BusterHaus said:

It's funny that you complain about them, but I think your photos leave little to be desired. They are sharp, well lit and usually show quite a bit of details. Yes, the reflection from the window is apparent, but unless you're taking them on a cloudy day, it will usually be the case.  A curtain should help, but don't turn your shed into a light tent just to improve your pictures marginally. 

Thank you Bart. For the time being I’ve junked the curtain idea in favour of one of Mrs Grums big ‘ol art boards & I’ll see what difference it makes. Fingers crossed it’ll do the job. It can’t make things any worse.

On 10/17/2018 at 6:14 AM, brickless_kiwi said:

But I like Waffle, its the insights and one's perspective that makes the build entertaining... As for electrical Loom's having spent two days having a argument with a Scania 640 engine loom and yes I agree, the little bleeper's have a mind of their own..

 

You’re very kind. As for wiring looms, I can only imagine the complexities and difficulties of what you’re doing. A clever bloke like yourself should get it sorted but I wish you luck all the same.

On 10/17/2018 at 7:06 AM, Jeroen Ottens said:

Good to hear that you are back at the table! I like the Waffle too, so no need to warn or apologize. I remember that routing the wires on this on was tricky, with little room to put them all in and with some wires just long enough to reach the receivers. As for the photos, I don't mind the quick shots that aren't perfectly lighted for a WIP. You should spend your time on building, not on perfecting photos when you are building. To me that is just setting the right priorities. And when the model is finished, no one can beat @Jim's quality of photos, so no point in trying to beat that .

Seeing the build progress it is funny to realize just how many parts have been added in the past 11 years to the Technic palette. No smooth axle connectors, no frames, no pin-with-pinholes (which should make you happy ) or any of their siblings, no LA's, no big turntables (I think?), no smooth panels and only a limited selection of crossblocks. And his model introducing the new tracks, sprockets and PF system.

Thank you Jeroen. I planned on using an Sbrick buried in the body of the build which would have saved me all that grief with the short wires but the more I thought about it the more I thought it best to keep Bully original.

On 10/17/2018 at 7:14 AM, Aleh said:

@grum64 Hey Mate! I veeery like and appreciate the way you post the materials! Keep going! 

Sorry for the question - are you building the 8275 replica? And what kind of bulldozer?

Thank you.

I’m building the original Technic 8275. The designer drew inspiration from many makes and models of bulldozer, it’s not based on any one in particular.

Here's a video of the designer, Markus Kossmann, talking about the design process. If you've not seen it before it's well worth watching.

 

Edited October 18, 2018 by grum64
Text change.

[Aleh]

Wow! Thanks for the video!

[Andy D]

That is quite a designer video! Very interesting seeing the design process. I can't decide which type of designer video I like best... the one showing the design process or like the later videos, demonstrating the functions. Maybe a combo of the two, the old and the new.

Thanks for sharing this!

Andy D

Edited October 18, 2018 by Andy D

[grum64]

52 minutes ago, Andy D said:

That is quite a designer video! Very interesting seeing the design process. I can't decide which type of designer video I like best... the one showing the design process or like the later videos, demonstrating the functions. Maybe a combo of the two, the old and the new.

Thanks for sharing this!

Andy D

There are plenty of videos demonstrating funtions etc but sadly very few showing the design process. Personally I prefer the latter but having said that I like the idea of a video combining both.

Edited October 18, 2018 by grum64

[grum64]

Build Day 6 - Building time 1hrs 20mins - Total build time 25hrs 10mins

I had hoped to have much more time to build today but just as I was getting into the swing of things I was interrupted by the ever lovely Mrs Grum offering to sort my table out for me. It took well over an hour but thanks to her efforts I’ve now got a much better background for photos with the plethora of bits & pieces sorted out or moved out of the way. I’m not saying that the quality of my photos will improve, we all know that’s not likely to happen, they'll just be glare and clutter free.

More time was lost trying to fit the seat. It’s placement was difficult due to the receivers, cables and rear of the cab all being in the way and once I had gotten it past this mini obsticle course trying to line it up and fit the 6536 Axle & Pin Connectors up with the two pins was a pain & consumed a ludicrous amount of time. I couldn’t get to the seat at the right angle to push it on without it coming off or getting it on one pin but not the other. It took 1hour 40minutes!!! Like I said, ludicrous. I seem to remember it being just as difficult when I first built the 8275 way back in 2011. I’d like to think it took much, much longer, if it didn’t it doesn’t say much about any improvement in my building technique.

Sorry there’s not much progress in this post but if I don’t post it when I do it I’ll forget to and post the next days instead.

Todays pictures:

 

Edited October 18, 2018 by grum64

[LucyCol]

Starting to look good, this set came out in my dark ages so never had the joy of building it.

[grum64]

18 hours ago, LucyCol said:

Starting to look good, this set came out in my dark ages so never had the joy of building it.

It’s a fine looking model even at this stage of the build. I think LEGO are overdue bringing out a decent bulldozer. I didn’t like the 42028 very much, to me it looked half finished in places. I’d like to see a bulldozer as a flagship set but I doubt it’ll happen.

It’s a shame you weren’t able to get one when it came out but should you see a good used one at a price you’re happy to pay I recommend you buy it. It’s an interesting build, is fun to play with and if you display your builds it does look great on the shelf. If nothing else you can entertain your cats with it 

[brickless_kiwi]

An interesting thing to note from the designer video is that MK has Nine different versions sitting on the table.  

[Maaboo the Witch]

4 hours ago, brickless_kiwi said:

An interesting thing to note from the designer video is that MK has Nine different versions sitting on the table.  

There were at least three Unimog models.

[grum64]

Build Day 7/8 - Building time 3hrs 40mins - Total build time 25hrs 50mins

Build time was interrupted yesterday so this post covers two days building with the time for both combined.

Most of the building over last few days has been studded which although not being my favourite style has been very enjoyable none the less. With me now building at my table putting these parts together is easier as the solid surface means the Grum Knock has been employed to good effect. Doing so has taken a toll on the side of my hand which is now sporting a multitude of cuts and grazes which is small price to pay for a few afternoons of fun.

I bought this set used and the previous owner had very carefully disassembled everything but the tracks so yesterday I spent 25 minutes taking them apart, had a quick coffee and spent another 55 minutes putting them back together. Yes, I could have saved myself a lot of time and would likely have finished the build today had I used them as I found them but everytime I looked at the finished model sitting on the shelf I'd have thought 'I built that... with the exception of the tracks'. I just couldn't do it. If I'm going to build something I'm going to build it all.

Edited October 20, 2018 by grum64

[BusterHaus]

When you run out of space on the shelves and need to take models apart to free up space, you can do disassembly updates here. 

[grum64]

7 hours ago, BusterHaus said:

When you run out of space on the shelves and need to take models apart to free up space, you can do disassembly updates here. 

Disassembly? You realise there are rules about using such language