[TC10] Technic Pneumatic Contest - Information Topic

[jorgeopesi]

Then I was right in the end, now is time to look for a MOC to build.

[Klirre]

Hello everyone on Eurobricks!

I've recently found my way back to Lego, after stumbling on my old Technic sets :) My absolute favourite was the pneumatic front-end loader, I had the first version from '97. If it only was sold in 1997 I must've been 6 years old when I got it, good times.

I've been lurking a couple of weeks while playing around with LDD then this awesome contest showed up, and I felt that I must try and contribute even though I'm a bit rusty. The biggest difference is that I've only used "studded" technic, not the newer beams which to me seem superior in every way. It always annoyed me when the studs get in the way of moving parts.

I was planning on buying the volvo ew160, but now I'll wait and see if I can win it. I don't see any point of owning two of the same set when you can buy separates on bricklink.

Now for my post here, I have some questions:

My old pneumatics are corroded on the pistons, they work but they're not running very smooothly. Is there any way of fixing this?

I've found the guy who sells pneumatic tubing, http://www.blokbricks.com/, so that part is easy to source. But dhc6twinotter wrote about getting the pneumatic bag for 42043 as the cheapest source of pneumatics, where do I find this? The parts on bricklink are pretty expensive as earlier mentioned.

Final question: How worn are the "used" things on bricklink? Most of my old lego is well used, I built more than I played with the models. Especially pneumatic cylinders, will they be in good condition if they're marked "used"? How about PF-battery boxes and motors? Was planning on buying the 8293 set for my future EW160, but maybe getting a batterybox + m-motor is cheaper and better? I don't care much for lights anyway, the switch might be useful though.

Lots of things to ask in this thread, but hopefully most of it is relevant for the topic. I will probably post a discussion topic for feedback on my MOC in the future, I need to tinker a bit more in LDD first and fix my old pneumatic parts. I really want to build that old wheel loader again, it's been 12+years since last time...

[Jim]

Hi Klirre,

Welcome to EB. Nice of you to join! The questions are very relevant to this topic, so no worries.

I will others help you with the corroded pistons. I have no experience with that.

[MaxSupercars]

Jim, thanx for answer.

Max

[Klirre]

Hi Klirre,

Welcome to EB. Nice of you to join! The questions are very relevant to this topic, so no worries.

I will others help you with the corroded pistons. I have no experience with that.

Thanks Jim!

Another question: How strong are the small pneumatic cylinders? I really need the shorter stroke of the small one. If I combine two small ones, in parallel, how do they perform vs. a large one?

Edited August 18, 2016 by Klirre

[allanp]

Hello everyone on Eurobricks!

My old pneumatics are corroded on the pistons, they work but they're not running very smooothly. Is there any way of fixing this?

I've found the guy who sells pneumatic tubing, http://www.blokbricks.com/, so that part is easy to source. But dhc6twinotter wrote about getting the pneumatic bag for 42043 as the cheapest source of pneumatics, where do I find this? The parts on bricklink are pretty expensive as earlier mentioned.

Final question: How worn are the "used" things on bricklink? Most of my old lego is well used, I built more than I played with the models. Especially pneumatic cylinders, will they be in good condition if they're marked "used"? How about PF-battery boxes and motors? Was planning on buying the 8293 set for my future EW160, but maybe getting a batterybox + m-motor is cheaper and better? I don't care much for lights anyway, the switch might be useful though.

Lots of things to ask in this thread, but hopefully most of it is relevant for the topic. I will probably post a discussion topic for feedback on my MOC in the future, I need to tinker a bit more in LDD first and fix my old pneumatic parts. I really want to build that old wheel loader again, it's been 12+years since last time...

Welcome to Eurobricks

You can put some life back into old pneumatics using some lubrication. Do NOT use anything petrolium based (like 3in1 oil) as these will corrode the rubber seal. use something silicone based.

That tubing from blobkbricks is pretty good. not quite as good as proper Lego tubing as it feels softer and more flexible, so it tends to kink easy and the hoses can pop off, but for anything other than the most demanding pneumatic applications it's usually fine, and you can get great big long lengths of it.

If they are used on bricklink they can range from being as good as new to being total crap. you can usually ask for pictures from the seller before buying.

I haven't looked to see if the individual parts you want are cheaper than buying 8293, bt the switch is very useful. the newer battery boxes also have a better switch, don't know if 8293 comes with that.

Thanks Jim!

Another question: How strong are the small pneumatic cylinder? I really need the shorter stroke of the small one. If I combine two small ones, how do they perform vs. a large one?

One small diameter cylinder is about 1/4 the strength of one large diameter cylinder, more or less.

[Milan]

My old pneumatics are corroded on the pistons, they work but they're not running very smooothly. Is there any way of fixing this?

I've found the guy who sells pneumatic tubing, http://www.blokbricks.com/, so that part is easy to source. But dhc6twinotter wrote about getting the pneumatic bag for 42043 as the cheapest source of pneumatics, where do I find this? The parts on bricklink are pretty expensive as earlier mentioned.

Final question: How worn are the "used" things on bricklink? Most of my old lego is well used, I built more than I played with the models. Especially pneumatic cylinders, will they be in good condition if they're marked "used"? How about PF-battery boxes and motors? Was planning on buying the 8293 set for my future EW160, but maybe getting a batterybox + m-motor is cheaper and better? I don't care much for lights anyway, the switch might be useful though.

Hello and welcome to the forums! Have fun on the contest!

Regarding used parts on BL, in my experience, if i need something like motors, switches and cylinders, I always try buy new ones, even if that always mean buying less quantity. You will never know how worn they are, especially since even the sellers very often have no idea (they got them mostly by buying them from elsewhere). So if you need parts that need to work good, it is better to invest some more (or buy less) and get a new ones. You will end up will less of those expensive functional parts, but you will be sure they work properly.

Ofc, this does not apply to regular parts, like beams, bricks, plates...

Another question: How strong are the small pneumatic cylinder? I really need the shorter stroke of the small one. If I combine two small ones, how do they perform vs. a large one?

I did some testing on both V1 small and V1 big pneumatic cylinders, with both hand pump and small pump, I hope it helps:

Edited August 18, 2016 by Milan

[Seasider]

Does anyone have a table of the technic cylinders and pumps with their sizes compressed and extended ?

[BusterHaus]

Jim, Milan and everyone else: what do you think of having two separate lists in the entry topic, one for pneumatic functions and one for mechanical functions? I don't want to discount projects that have mechanical systems, but I think it would help voters to see at a glance the pneumatic functions of a model. It may also raise the quality of entries by making builders aware that the pneumatic functions are going to stand out, so we don't end up with entries that have 14 mechanical functions and one pneumatic one (think of a supercar with a pneumatically adjusted spoiler).

[syclone]

I have a small question, was so idiot to don't ask before:

Can the Unimog have detacheable attachments? And if so, do they have to be attached all the time( If I can create more than two for the entry)?

[Jim]

I have a small question, was so idiot to don't ask before:

Can the Unimog have detacheable attachments? And if so, do they have to be attached all the time( If I can create more than two for the entry)?

You need to create a single model, with a single attached attachment. No replacements or alternatives.

Jim, Milan and everyone else: what do you think of having two separate lists in the entry topic, one for pneumatic functions and one for mechanical functions? I don't want to discount projects that have mechanical systems, but I think it would help voters to see at a glance the pneumatic functions of a model. It may also raise the quality of entries by making builders aware that the pneumatic functions are going to stand out, so we don't end up with entries that have 14 mechanical functions and one pneumatic one (think of a supercar with a pneumatically adjusted spoiler).

Good point. I like your suggestion! Will do

Actually, we just need a list of pneumatic functions.

[Lipko]

Um.. Maybe a minimum number of pneumatic functions should be defined? Like 3.

We had defined minimum number of functions in the SBrick contest too. A contest this generic should have some more specific rules (I mean no size limit, but no minimum functions either. 1:1 Death star with a pneumatic something...).

Edited August 18, 2016 by Lipko

[syclone]

You need to create a single model, with a single attached attachment. No replacements or alternatives.

Thanks for answer. Can I have a winch at front and a crane at the back? ( my Unimog has 2 PTOs)

[Jim]

Thanks for answer. Can I have a winch at front and a crane at the back? ( my Unimog has 2 PTOs)

Sure. By single attachment I mean single attachment attached...at the back, but you can have another one at the front. As long as you don't replace attachments.

Um.. Maybe a minimum number of pneumatic functions should be defined? Like 3.

We had defined minimum number of functions in the SBrick contest too. A contest this generic should have some more specific rules (I mean no size limit, but no minimum functions either. 1:1 Death star with a pneumatic something...).

I get your point and we discussed this. We thought it wouldn't be necessary, but maybe you are right. Let me think about this for a night.

How about "more pneumatic functions than other functions"?

[jorgeopesi]

Um.. Maybe a minimum number of pneumatic functions should be defined? Like 3.

We had defined minimum number of functions in the SBrick contest too. A contest this generic should have some more specific rules (I mean no size limit, but no minimum functions either. 1:1 Death star with a pneumatic something...).

Judges would be able to assess that... but we are all judges. Expert judges for each contest?, but we have the same problem... how to choose them appropriately?.

[Lipko]

How about "more pneumatic functions than other functions"?

I don't like it very much... I don't want to see knowingly omitted functions just to make sure there are less other functions than pneumatic functions. In case of the SBrick contest, there was no limit in manual functions, and yet, the entries were true remote controlled models.

EDIT:

@ Jorge: that's why I think having a minimum number of pneumatic functions would at least push entries to a "better direction" (plus a size limit but that's a different beast and I understand why we don't want to get deeper into that).

Edited August 18, 2016 by Lipko

[Jim]

I don't like it very much... I don't want to see knowingly omitted functions just to make sure there are less other functions than pneumatic functions. In case of the SBrick contest, there was no limit in manual functions, and yet, the entries were true remote controlled models.

EDIT:

@ Jorge: that's why I think having a minimum number of pneumatic functions would at least push entries to a "better direction".

I guess you are right. Just a minimum would be easier to enforce too.

[J_C]

Please, do not set minimum. I am already building 1 function entry. I do not wanna pat my own back, but I think originality will overcome its simplicity (actually it is so simple), but it is just 1 functional. (if I make it work satisfactory enough). I do not wanna be among endless row of excavators and tipping bed cars (no disrespect).

(I wrote it before, I have just 1 pneumatic set with single unit. I decided I am not gonna let it be my disadvantage, but I will design something new and truly unusual with just one pneu-function. If you set e.g. 3 minimum, I am out.)

Edited August 18, 2016 by J_C

[Jim]

That's a valid point too!

We could indeed solve this during the voting phase.

[emerson woo]

Hello, im from Colombia, can i participate in this contest?

[Jim]

Hello, im from Colombia, can i participate in this contest?

Nope sorry. People from Colombia are not allowed.

Just kidding mate. Of course you can join the contest!! Welcome to EB.

[Appie]

1:1 Death star with a pneumatic something...).

Hey! That was my idea

I don't think a minimum is a good idea, because I think it would limit what kind of entries we will see and might have a negative effect on the size of some models because people will scale up to dump more pneumatic parts in it. There's also the grey area of a pneumatic loop, which could be considered 1 function as a whole yet it uses 2 or more pneumatic switches and cylinders you want to get that single function.

I think it is easier to set the rule: the pneumatic function(s) should handle the key feature(s) on the model. So a supercar with a pneumatic spoiler is out. A forklift where the lift is done with pneumatics is in. I think this should give the same result as the Sbrick contest where models were still mainly RC only here it will be mainly pneumatic.

[Seasider]

Jim ... The left-field model I'm thinking of only has a single pneumatic function and may possibly have a second non-pneumatic function if I can work it out

Edited August 18, 2016 by Seasider

[syclone]

That's a valid point too!

We could indeed solve this during the voting phase.

How about a minimum % of the functions should be pneumatic? for example :

80% minimum of pneumatic functions; 10 functions in the model. at least 8 should be pneumatic

Edited August 18, 2016 by LXF

[zux]

How bout a minimum % of the functions should be pneumatic? for example :

80% minimum of pneumatic functions; 10 functions in the model. at least 8 should be pneumatic

So, if you have steering (1st function) and suspension (2nd) in a model already you are willing to include 8 more, but this time pneumatic?