[CADA] CADA General Discussion Topic

[arcticgenes]

Is it just me or are most of the pictures in brunojj1's improvement PDF already in the instructions?  I've looked at all the fixes and the only one that differs from what I have in my instruction book is the plug locations for the battery box to allow you to press the power button.

[Ethan0080]

Ordered the car. Cant wait to build it. Since my God father work with Benz, i might put the AMG 1 on their showroom for display

 

[SystemOfABrick]

I made myself a non CADA bricks version of the car 😀

[Epicinfiniti3297]

Does anyone who has built the CADA Fantasma know how many extra pieces there are supposed to be after part 1? I don't know if I should have used all of them except spares or If i should have like 15 parts left, some of which are repeats. If anyone could send a picture, it would be really helpful.

[amorti]

On 9/28/2023 at 5:10 AM, Epicinfiniti3297 said:

Does anyone who has built the CADA Fantasma know how many extra pieces there are supposed to be after part 1? I don't know if I should have used all of them except spares or If i should have like 15 parts left, some of which are repeats. If anyone could send a picture, it would be really helpful.

In both the red supercar and the AMG One, there were quite a few spares in the box, including some weird ones like technic panels.

In the One I even had spares of a part in a colour that's not even used in the model.

So not specifically that set, but IME it's not unusual for CaDA to send you some extra parts with each set, and not just pins and 1*1s like Lego. No no, much more generous, they will give some weird stuff that'll have you questioning where you missed it.

On 9/27/2023 at 10:11 PM, SystemOfABrick said:

I made myself a non CADA bricks version of the car 😀

 

Congratulations, it's a long and arduous process to do this in Stud.io

Buuuut as mentioned above... the roof panels, arches, and various other overlaps all look worse than with CaDA parts, you'll be missing the printed parts, and you'll have to 3d print the special parts.

Also I'm sure you didn't use a pirated copy of the manual to complete your work. "Play fair" and all that, right?

"In the LEGO Group, we believe that any original product design should be protected against copying for as long as it is produced and marketed"

Has to apply both ways!

Edited September 30, 2023 by Milan
Do not quote images from the same page.

[Lipko]

22 minutes ago, amorti said:

Also I'm sure you didn't use a pirated copy of the manual to complete your work. "Play fair" and all that, right?

"In the LEGO Group, we believe that any original product design should be protected against copying for as long as it is produced and marketed"

Has to apply both ways!

You act like a CADA representative.

[andrzejl]

9 hours ago, Epicinfiniti3297 said:

Does anyone who has built the CADA Fantasma know how many extra pieces there are supposed to be after part 1? I don't know if I should have used all of them except spares or If i should have like 15 parts left, some of which are repeats. If anyone could send a picture, it would be really helpful.

I've build this set few weeks ago, don't remember what was there, but I can confirm there are plenty of extra pieces left (same with other Cada models, often you get quite big parts as extra, even panels). Keep those extra parts though, with Fantasma I had pieces missing in later stages that were in the bags for earlier stages (I mean in later stages, I think 3 and 4, I was missing some pieces in the bags. But they were included in bags 1 and 2 but not used during those stages).

On 8/7/2023 at 6:49 PM, DrJimbo said:

Fourthly, there can be pointless functions, perhaps to distinguish from some of the recent LEGO Technic sets with too few functions. Here, there was a very elaborate train of axles, gears, etc from rear to front, that when the last parts were in place was revealed to.... wiggle some panels near the front wheels that were only visible from the underside. Hmmm. Call me underwhelmed.

This is due to error in instruction: in steps C35 and C53 part "Technic Beam 1 x 2 Thick with Pin Hole and Axle Hole" is added with axle hole being put on 2L axle. It should be rotated, 2L axle should go into pin hole of this part. Much later in construction axles will go into axle holes and when done properly this function will change the suspension height.

[brunojj1]

@amorti :  I think we can relax here and rather enjoy a beer or two . He could have used just the original instructions book, you don't know and I don't care either. IMO there is nothing wrong with doing this, let everybody have his fun ! As long it's not being used in a commercial way like claiming a new copyright by changing 5% of the build. 

Otherwise I personally see absolutely no point in building this from Lego parts and especially "from Lego parts only". 

7 hours ago, Lipko said:

You act like a CADA representative.

There is no secret - he's on my "payroll" since I arranged one or two free sets for a good comrade, that's it . I wish that one day you would consider any sort of cooperation too - you know how you can reach us .

[amorti]

11 hours ago, Lipko said:

You act like a CADA representative.

It's no secret that I received a review copy from CaDA (maybe everyone didn't know it was at Bruno's recommendation), I have an affiliate code, and I have in any case long been sympathetic to CaDA's cause.

In this case though, it's just about what I wrote there, and btw I don't see any counter being offered, only ad hominem. 

Regards the Lego-only model's looks: again respect for the effort because Stud.io is hard, but check out the triangular arched panels in the frunk. CaDA panels have the attachment point one stud across, and without that nor any adjustment, the frunk is the wrong shape. The rear arches needed a ribbed hose to make up that same gap and it looks weird. The gap around the front of the nose is bad due to a lack of long arched panel without pin holes, not to mention the missing Mercedes emblem. The 13L arch panels below the doors and in the roof just look weird with the ribs. The 21/22 panels by the rear arch have had to be put on backwards and it's odd. Also again those special parts aren't there, you'd have to 3d print them which means plenty of postprocessing, or grainy parts.

I'm not mad about anything. I just don't understand the logic of why it's important to use Lego panels to make a copy with a worse look. It's like trying to run Windows on a Mac or an iOS skin on Android.

4 hours ago, brunojj1 said:

 @amorti 

As long it's not being used in a commercial way like claiming a new copyright by changing 5% of the build.

Bruno, I can't imagine how it felt when that happened on the red one.

Edited September 28, 2023 by amorti

[SystemOfABrick]

11 hours ago, amorti said:

Congratulations, it's a long and arduous process to do this in Stud.io

Quote

 

Buuuut as mentioned above... the roof panels, arches, and various other overlaps all look worse than with CaDA parts, you'll be missing the printed parts, and you'll have to 3d print the special parts.

Also I'm sure you didn't use a pirated copy of the manual to complete your work. "Play fair" and all that, right?

"In the LEGO Group, we believe that any original product design should be protected against copying for as long as it is produced and marketed"

Has to apply both ways!

Thank you! It was quite fun except for the flex parts. They are a nightmare in Studio. Same as for stickers. If you 3ver tried to place them on curved surfaces you understand the pain. And just for the 3d render I was not motivated enough to draw the part in CAD plus adding the decal there and finally Reimport it back to Studio. The air inlet was enough work.

I wonder what makes you think about a pirated copy of the manual? I used the instruction booklet coming with the set of a friend. Here in Germany it is for sale since 2 weeks or so. Not sure about public availability.

What I don't like about the CADA parts is the fact that they don't follow the existing standard. The need to create a technic frame out of at least 3 parts where the individual parts can only be used for that one purpose. I don't get it. Or the odd shaped thin liftarms with a wavey side. WHY?

I very much appreciate the new parts, like liftarms with perpendicular holes or liftarms with pins on the pointy sides (used in their Humvee). I also highly appreciate their efforts to release sets while respecting the designers. I hope that motivates other companies to do the same.

About your remarks to the differences to the CADA model. For me it's absolutely fine to have a version being 99% same as the original one. We still try to make a sphere with squares, you know 😀

Just a fun fact: I made the 3d design of the AMG One rims as Lego part over one year ago. Before the public knew that there is an upcoming MOC

[amorti]

The CaDA frames being made of two pieces and the panels being redesigned is all (as I understand second or third hand) a result of love letters sent from the legal department in Billund. I can't imagine CaDA would have done it for fun, it will have been really expensive to retool so many parts.

I couldn't tell you why CaDA made changes and not the others in China, but the answer may be the same as why they respectfully work together with their designers instead of ripping them off via rebrickable.

The halved 5*7 and 5*11 frames are not as easy to use but still fine, the 3*5 I-beams can be worked with, but the 3*3 T-liftarms can lose strength right where you needed it.

Funny you mention that wavy thin "brass knuckles" liftarm, I kinda like it. Not sure where, but I feel like it'll have some decorative use somewhere. You could as well ask why Lego added those bumps to the long arch panels 

[Epicinfiniti3297]

Thank you @andrzejl and @amorti for the clarification

[Lipko]

12 hours ago, amorti said:

 only ad hominem. 

I see that on both "sides".
I'm waiting for some other reviews, sorry, but yours was just too positive to be believable.
And I do have a feeling against CADA at the moment, but I could not point out what. Maybe that I don't believe that two brands with almost the same content and system can co-exist for too long, and Lego has still way more inertia. I don't want to invest and "play" on both sides then to find myself outside both.
I wish more than anything (I'm overacting) that Lego would co-operate with hobby designers in some other ways than Ideas. CADA has this, but at the moment that's the only appeal they have.

[brunojj1]

Although I see no benefit to engage in this kind of discussion, you guys are challenging and triggering me and I'll not stay quiet.

14 hours ago, amorti said:

only ad hominem

Let them fanboys play out their victim card, it's not more than entertaining and they can have our compassion for free 

2 hours ago, Lipko said:

too positive to be believable

Of course I'm biased here, but I really think he has pointed out the major weaknesses in my model.

2 hours ago, Lipko said:

And I do have a feeling against CADA 

You are welcome to believe and feel what you want, thanks for expressing your honest opinion.

2 hours ago, Lipko said:

 two brands with almost the same content and system can co-exist for too long

I have to disagree. CaDA brings more innovations to the table than other competitors (of which there exist so many today!), who are just copying. And is about to diversify itself enough, break away in the long term by introducing differentiated concepts at all levels. Also they have no need to restrict themselves regarding e.g. the military theme, no need to follow a woke gender-neutral LGBT agenda, just offer people the fun toys they want to play with, period. Then consider this: the CaDA / Doubleeagle company does NOT need us Europeans and Americans as customers, the Chinese market is big enough and constitutes the larger proportion in the sales shares. They could just move on doing the same as the others and still grow and make profit. Thanks to my dream boss who has the right attitude, willing to take on the adventure !

2 hours ago, Lipko said:

Lego has still way more inertia.

Let's not forget TLG is a multi-billion giant, by far the largest toy company ever. You still can't compare them to any other brick manufacturer. But they'll try anyway to take on the sporty challenge at least in some fields, keep up a competitive spirit which will benefit everybody IMO. Though the "play fair" rule should apply on both sides, I remember somobody saying this .

2 hours ago, Lipko said:

I don't want to invest and "play" on both sides then to find myself outside both.

I can't understand this at all. This is not a war where you have to gamble on one of the parties in order to survive. They will definitely not kill each other, rather deliver supplements to you! Why can't we just enjoy the blessings of both worlds, build anything we like according to our own vision and be happy?..

[amorti]

2 hours ago, Lipko said:

I'm waiting for some other reviews, sorry, but yours was just too positive to be believable.

If you also watch the bugfix video, you can see the "gotchas", and note that I'm not scared to mention them.

I am a very novice reviewer and so I am definitely open to feedback on the videos. For example I had the idea to build each section then cut in and talk about it, but it turned out hours long and even more amateurish than what I did publish. For sure there were a few minutes in the footage from the first bag or two talking about the split parts being annoying, but honestly a few bags in and (except the 3*3 T's) I wasn't bothered by it anymore. I don't think I mentioned it in the final review, so there if you need a negative, that can be one. You'll enjoy the build more if you bring about 15 black 3*3 T's from your own stash.

The thing I kept coming back to in multiple clips was how much improved CaDA parts are. I've built from many brands and what's always been missing from brands supplied by gobricks and now also from Lego since they changed the black pins, is the pins sliding in "just so", and then a satisfying click as they get home. CaDA pins were historically too loose and the plastic too brittle, but now they have it "just so". It's a big factor in my enjoyment of a technic build.

What negatives are you expecting to hear on other reviews? What do you suspect I oversold, missed, or hushed? Ask me a question, I'll tell you my opinion! Naturally if you buy and build it you may form a different opinion for yourself, but if you ask my honest opinion you can get it.

Edited September 29, 2023 by amorti

[Lipko]

Okay, I'm going to stop too, because I don't want to start qouting people here, and maybe I misunderstand the, but I feel hatred from towards TLG from some of you (especially you, Bruno), and even hatred towards Lego fans ("fanboys", "victim cards", and other such expressions) for some reason. Everything Lego does is crap, CADA is the "dream" company. So your vision about " anything we like according to our own vision and be happy" sounds a bit wierd. You seem to be happy bashing LEGO and "fanboys" actually.

For the review: the chassis is quite flexible, turning radius is huge (and even huger with 4 wd), doors and chassis deform when operated, steering wheel connected by friction. Just some things TLG models get bashed for all the time. Okay, you mentioned some bugs that were trivial to fix too, some of them are more like building instruction mistakes than design mistakes.

I'm not saying Lego models are perfect, or very good, but I don't see that huge difference between the quality.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Lipko

[jmordoj]

Hi Lipko, may I ask you what are you trying to accomplish here?

I am a regular guy from the other side of the world (South America) and I come to this forum because I really admire the work Bruno Jenson does, (I do not know anything else about him, but I DO admire his work and I think he is the best I have seen in my life), and you come to the CaDA forum, and start fighting with him and people who like this toys, man, why???

If you don’t like it don’t come here, buy Lego, play Lego, be happy, stop fighting people for the toys they like.

[brunojj1]

@Lipko : Talking about feelings. I feel no hatred towards Lego, it's more contempt and growing disappointment. It is what it is when you're being treated like crap as a customer, ripped off 450 bucks for a huge box full of cheap plastic (mainly produced in China), yet marketed in the biggest stadiums of the world. So I can do better and yes, I believe we with CaDA have reached Lego quality with this product. Not shy to to boast of having built the better and more intersting designs than them. Feel your envy and prove you can do even better .

[Lipko]

17 minutes ago, brunojj1 said:

@Lipko : Talking about feelings. I feel no hatred towards Lego, it's more contempt and growing disappointment. It is what it is when you're being treated like crap as a customer, ripped off 450 bucks for a huge box full of cheap plastic (mainly produced in China), yet marketed in the biggest stadiums of the world. So I can do better and yes, I believe we with CaDA have reached Lego quality with this product. Not shy to to boast of having built the better and more intersting designs than them. Feel your envy and prove you can do even better .

I cannot do better, if I could, I would already have done so. It's not about your skills, you know that, I know that you are the best Technic car designer probably, and honestly I haven't built any MOCs ever except Crowkillers' Vampire GT, so I can't comment on the building quality. What I was trying to say that CADA is just too similar to Lego for me, and I'm trying to undertand why that bothers me, and why I feel that strange "sect" vibe about these dreamy CADA opinions. And suddenly I became the villain. It would definitely be easier to discuss this in person with a couple of beers, that's why I asked about CADA events. Another point I feel CADA is not there yet, it's AFOC base. BTW if I had the time, I'd buy CADA just to try, but I can't make the time even for my own simple MOC.

Another "feeling" I have, is that if CADA would divert more from Lego, and go for, say, (partly) metal parts with the possibility to become better than current RC models, no one would have a bad word. CADA and LEGO are unique (as I know but I may be wrong, not counting copy cats), that these are construction toys that are also look awesome on the shelf. So two almost the same brands filling the same niche alone, dunno, fells unconfortable.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Lipko

[CleverPig]

Hey everyone I hope you are all doing well. This is my first time posting, but I have been following this thread for a year or so.

 

I've been inspired by the work CaDa is doing - especially the work alongside all of the incredible MOC builders here (as opposed to some other companies who seemingly pirate designs...). I recall seeing the designs from @brunojj1and Thijs De Bour and several others. 

 

I think it's awesome that these sets are being produced for the average consumer as it gives us more options than always going buying from LEGO. Nothing against LEGO, I just like options!

 

I have a quick question and it may be a silly one to ask on EURObricks lol but does anyone have experience getting these CaDa sets shipped to North America? I'm a Canadian AFOL and I really want to get my hands on a copy of the new AMG One to review and post to my YouTube channel (I am slightly hesitant to pass along $300 when I have no previous experience, if that makes sense). I have seen people getting these sets in Europe, but I feel like they're relatively unknown in my area and I want to change that as the AMG One looks seriously impressive and deserves more attention.

 

Cheers!

[amorti]

1 hour ago, Lipko said:

For the review: the chassis is quite flexible, turning radius is huge (and even huger with 4 wd), doors and chassis deform when operated, steering wheel connected by friction. 

The chassis is flexible, yes. It's a plastic toy, if you force it, it'll bend. The point was that when you flex it, it doesn't creak or groan which old CaDA and other Chinese makers could do, due to too-hard/brittle plastic in the pins.

The doors flex? Again... plastic toy.

Turning circle is almost a quarter turn of a 12 tooth gear against a gear rack. It can't be better without excessive gaps under the wheel arches, which nobody will prefer. The brick world doesn't have the necessary parts to allow a virtual pivot strong enough for this job (3kg RC model with a fair speed for what it is)

Turning angle is miserable with 4wd - but that's everyman's choice to make. I had a surprisingly heated discussion on FB with a guy who told me my driving video was wrong to recommend 2Wd and if you did that it wasn't true to the original and it was only going on the shelf anyway so who cares, etc. Safe to say he'll happily live with the limited steering!

Steering wheel connected by friction pin is 100% good. In this case it's only decorative, you couldn't steer with it anyway as you'd have to force the servo. It being by friction allows infinite adjustability so unlike eg. the Lego McLaren, you cannot end up with the steering wheel stuck half a tooth from straight.

Edited September 29, 2023 by amorti

[2GodBDGlory]

1 hour ago, CleverPig said:

I have a quick question and it may be a silly one to ask on EURObricks lol but does anyone have experience getting these CaDa sets shipped to North America? I'm a Canadian AFOL and I really want to get my hands on a copy of the new AMG One to review and post to my YouTube channel (I am slightly hesitant to pass along $300 when I have no previous experience, if that makes sense). I have seen people getting these sets in Europe, but I feel like they're relatively unknown in my area and I want to change that as the AMG One looks seriously impressive and deserves more attention.

 

Cheers!

I think that's a fair question to ask!

I haven't gotten any CADA sets, but my brother bought the Ferrari 488 from this website, and it all showed up fine to Canada:

https://www.yourwobb.com/

They don't sell it with the original box (you could go to the official CADA site for that), but it was all there. I vaguely remember it showing up in multiple shipments, though. Maybe it was all the normal parts first, and then the electronics in a separate  box?

I've also had good experience with this site for buying other, non-CADA things, so it'd be at least one option

[CleverPig]

6 minutes ago, 2GodBDGlory said:

I think that's a fair question to ask!

I haven't gotten any CADA sets, but my brother bought the Ferrari 488 from this website, and it all showed up fine to Canada:

https://www.yourwobb.com/

They don't sell it with the original box (you could go to the official CADA site for that), but it was all there. I vaguely remember it showing up in multiple shipments, though. Maybe it was all the normal parts first, and then the electronics in a separate  box?

I've also had good experience with this site for buying other, non-CADA things, so it'd be at least one option

Thanks for the reply! I really appreciate your information.

 

That's great to know - I have heard of that website you mention so that's good to hear I have that option. 

 

I am hoping to try CaDa direct as I'd love to have the box too - just to get the full experience. I watched @amorti's most recent video (great video, btw) and I think the box definitely adds significant value for me.

 

Thank you, again!!

[LvdH]

1 hour ago, amorti said:

The chassis is flexible, yes. It's a plastic toy, if you force it, it'll bend. 

The doors flex? Again... plastic toy.

Same with the Lego 42125, but that was ripped to shreds by (especially) the “anti-Lego” crowd. Of course it had other major issues such as the price and ugly design, but I’ve not seen anyone defend that by saying “plastic toy”. 
I think the criticism just becomes worthless if the defense just ends up being “plastic toy”. 

[amorti]

1 hour ago, LvdH said:

Same with the Lego 42125, but that was ripped to shreds by (especially) the “anti-Lego” crowd. Of course it had other major issues such as the price and ugly design, but I’ve not seen anyone defend that by saying “plastic toy”. 
I think the criticism just becomes worthless if the defense just ends up being “plastic toy”. 

No, it's far from the same. That one flexed crazy, the AMG One is well within acceptable levels.

In comparison, the red supercar is a wet noodle: the opening frunk (for access to the lithium Bluetooth battery box) sacrifices a lot of rigidity.

Edited September 29, 2023 by amorti