2011 plans
A somewhat late overview of my building plans for this year.
Presenting plans for new year in the middle of March may seem a little delayed, but it just happened so that I really had no time to dwell on these earlier. I should start by saying that I expect to produce less constructions this year, largely due to a huge amount of work required to get my book ready. Still, I hope to build at least 10 more models.
A very important part of these plans is my supercars line, which I have announced a long time ago, to little effect. My only supercar so far was a 1969 Dodge Charger model, one that I wasn’t very happy with, and one that taught me that a supercar with a studfull body is a bad idea. I will probably stick to 8448-styled supercars permanently, and with this in mind I am determined to build at least two supercars this year, the most probable choices being the Lamborghini Reventon and the Ford GT40. The Ford can be actually built first, due to its smaller size and lower complexity level.
Another important area of building are the Truck Trial vehicles. I feel these had too much impact on my plans last year, as I have built 5 vehicles to a very insignificant effect. At the moment I have plans for only two such vehicles this year, and should they fail, I will probably quit driving in the Truck Trial races completely. The two vehicles are a Humvee and a BMR-2 personnel carrier. The first one will be another try at the classic Hummer H1, which I already modelled once, but this time I want to try a slightly larger size and a more ambitious approach, including a realistic suspension, that is an independent one with portal axles. Such a suspension is quite a challenge to build with LEGO pieces, but I believe I already have a working solution at hand. Ironically, despite its ‘militarized’ name, the model will be more clearly a civilian H1 than my earlier one: it’s going to be black with some chrome additions, and probably made to appear somewhat tuned. The BMR, on the other hand, will be a close relative of my 2009 Alvis Stalwart, with a 6×6 independent chassis based on LEGO suspension components. It will use larger wheels than Alvis did, and it will have steering on axles #1 and #3, which should result in an unsurpassed manoeuvrability.
2011 is going to be a year I take interest in something completely unrelated to the Technic line: the LEGO Monorail system. It has been my childhood dream, and only recently I realized that it can still be bought, at prices generally lower than e.g. LEGO Trains system. I already have a basic Monorail network at hand, and I will be expanding it gradually whenever my budget allows. The Monorail cars are easy to run with the Power Functions system, and there are various possibilities of motorizing switch points or even the stations. Somewhere along the way, I will also publish a tool for designing Monorail networks, which I already have partially working.
One of the must-build models of 2011 will be a new tank: this time a South Korean K2 Black Panther, which is probably the most advanced tank currently in service. As I have mentioned last year, it will be in many ways a continuation of the ideas and solutions tested in my Leopard 2 model, and I will certainly be trying to take these ideas really far. After the K2, I have no plans for modelling regular tanks – instead, there’s the M2 Bradley on my list. Before or after the Bradley, I will be putting together am overview of all my tanks built so far, because my ‘tanks line’ seems to be exceptionally good at showing progress, development and evolution of my building techniques and other skills.
I have started this year with a classic ‘American big rig’, but I’m not done with the subject yet. Next in line will be the Kenworth T900 in a Road Train configuration, including multiple trailers and the mighty ‘kangaroo deflector’. I don’t want to build this truck anytime soon though, because I feel that the more I wait, the more different it will be from the previous truck (a rule that applies to tanks too). Additionally, it definitely won’t be black, to avoid looking to similar to its predecessors – the most probable alternative colours include yellow and red.
I haven’t build any Liebherr model since early 2009, and I feel I have neglected a very inspiring brand. I would like to finally build a Liebherr mobile telescopic crane model, one I have been planning for quite a while. I’m not sure if I will have enough time for that this year though, and even if I do, the model won’t be anywhere near the complexity level of my recent Tow Truck 2. It’s much more likely that I will manage to build a small, simple model of a Liebherr R944C tunneling excavator, a very unusual machine that I would love to try inside my freezer. I also want to try a different building approach with it – I want it to be powered mainly by pneumatics connected to an external controller. This is perhaps an odd idea in the Power Functions age, but it will keep the model small, at the same time letting me to get a good feeling of the pneumatics that is only possible with the manual control of the valves. Additionally, it will be a nod towards how Technic models used to be built, and I enjoy the idea of controlling a model the way Jennifer Clark controlled hers – even despite the fact that the model won’t be even remotely as fascinating as hers 🙂
I would like to use this year to gain more experience in the areas I haven’t ventured much into before – including the are of walkers which I have barely touched with my first, very simple construction. I feel that trying to follow the natural movements of animals rather than the movements that are mechanically easy to carry out is the right direction, and I want to explore it further. Currently my attention has been brought to the crabs and the fascinating ways in which they move. I believe that a crab-like chassis will produce not only an interesting mobility, but also a stable platform for something a bit larger and heavier than before – it would be nice, for instance, to build a crab-like walker with a military-styled body.
Finally, as usual, I have some secret experimental projects up my sleeve, and I hope to surprise you with results, should they turn out successful. I am also more than likely to indulge my tendency to build something that was not planned every now and then. 2011 seems like another year of struggling between plenty of ideas and shortages of time to make them real, but I genuinely hope that the ideas I manage to make real will be interesting enough, and that I will learn from both successes and failures. Stay tuned and enjoy!
@bob
Just for fun.
you said you quit truck trial when your humvee and your bmr failed, but why did you builded a mrap vehicle a year later?
Ford GT – to bÄ™dzie furora 🙂
and I forgot 1 in action with a quad roadtrain. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmy_on_the_spot/5086159128/in/photostream. Note that the first trailer is a little different as the turntable or fifth wheel is included on the end of the trailer. They are fairly common in Australia for making B doubles or B-trains but can be used in combinations like this in road trains,
@GlennWA
Hello Sariel. Look forward to the Australian road train however back home the ‘kangaroo deflector’ is known as a bullbar. The truck you have chosen seems to be closer to an american kenworth than an australian kenworth. I have also seen some trucks here in the states with similar bars. Typically australian trucks are a little higher, have different sleeper cabs, different mudflap arrangements, larger fuel tanks and different rear tail light arrangements. An excellent model in my opinion would be the Kenworth C510 twin Steer found in Western Australia pulling road trains. It comes complete with a Cummins K19 20L in-line 6 diesel. have a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/espedge/4432256786/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/espedge/4432256936/in/photostream/
or just google search them for some inspiration.
@Bullet for my Valentine
Yes.
For next jear, 2012, can you made a rc boat or a rc sportscar? Ive found very cool cars in the internet, like Pagani Zonda, Lamborghini Gallardo etc.
P.S.: If my english is bad, sry, i am from Germany
@bob
If you haven’t noticed, I put everything from my Facebook page to my website once it’s complete. It’s just a matter of time.
will you put the monster truck of your facebook page on your website?
sorry for the writing mistake i just made -.-‘
@bob
It’s really hard to understand your question. Unless there is a new verb “to monster truck”.
are you going to monster truck facebook on your website?
@Victor
I prefer the old good ’69 version.
You should try building the 2010 dodge charger concept
http://www.painkillerz.ca/images/2007_images//2008_images/charger_2010concept_orange.jpg
@Sariel
ok thanks, quick answer too! 🙂
@Mr.M
Oh. Lucius is a very docile hamster, but he lives alone. Keeping many dwarf hamsters together can be tricky.
@Sariel
is lucius good natured? because ive had a dwarf hamster before and he killed his brother
@Mr.M
A regular russian dwarf, as far as I know.
@Sariel
so, is Lucius a campbells russian dwarf?
@Krika99
Yes, and we have minimum weight limit increased to 2 kg this year.
@Sariel
Are you sure? Extreme Cruiser at http://www.setechnic.com/Forum/post79728.html#p79728 has some of the larger black panels available–I’m sure it would benefit the Humvee’s performance greatly 😉
@tzepelvas
I’m not interested.
You can make a concrete pump because you are very good builder and you have so many parts of lego.I think is a good idea and is little hard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_pump#cite_note-0 Τhis is a text about concrte pump.
good luck
@Legoist
It’s one of my secret plans.
A-10 Warthog is not planned anymore?
@supersparrow
Lucius is good, thanks.
I’d recommend that website: http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/tp/hamsterguide.htm
excuse me, this has got nothing to do with building but I am going to get a hamster and was wandering what websites or books were good for reasearching foods/habitats/toys ect. my mum and dad say i need to research about hamsters before i get one. Thanks 8-).
P.S Hows Lucius?
@Mahonii
Tak.
Pytanko: czy koła z Power pullera są większe od tych z zestawu 8297 (off roader)?
@Mahonii
Są trochę za duże.
please do not stop making trial trucks evan if you don’t place in the next trial truck race, the trial truck section is my favorite and all your trial trucks inspier me evan if they don’t place.
Co sądzisz o tym, aby w nowym czołgu wykorzystać zamory? Bo według mnie, brakuje im tylko działającego działa.
@DoKnEs
Humvee. Tak, na poważnie. Dziękuję, potrafię korzystać z Googla.
Jeżeli tak to tu masz dwa opisy kraba :
http://www.terrarium.com.pl/zobacz/cardisoma-armatum-krab-teczowy-177.html
http://terrarystyka.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=670:krab-teczowy–cardisoma-armatum-hercklots-1851&catid=51:kraby-brachyura&Itemid=105
Co będzie pierwsze ?
Czy ten krab to na poważnie ?
Pozdrawiam
DoKnEs
@Pushback_tugs_rocks
No, it’s the Humvee.
@Pushback_tugs_rocks
sorry i wrote it the wrong place i would write it in future projects sorry
what is your next project after the monster truck? is it the Pushback Tug I really hope so because I really love Pushback Tugs 😀
@will
Studfull.
will the body of the humvee be studfull or studless
@Sariel
thats good, as long as you keep making models and enjoy doing it. 😀
Can’t wait to see the ford gt and the reventon, i wish you the best of luck!
@pera
also polish trtr requires all wheels have suspension
@pera
That would be a terribly bad Trial Truck, sorry. This suspension has poor ground clearance and doesn’t handle the torque well, and the limited slip differential would be suicidal. Our Truck Trial tracks are REALLY demanding, trust me.
Hello! I really like your creations and thank you for the useful instructions!
I have an idea and i think you can make it with no prob. (like i did):
make an 4×4 by using your Compact pendular steered suspension idea + your Limited Slip Differential on the rear. I am thinking of pendular suspension on the front and nothing at the rear, no springs required. Probably it will need a gear box. It will be an awesome trail truck that will be lightweight and strong 😀
@Andrzej Niedzielski
Będą lżejsze, więc mam zdecydowanie nadzieję że szybsze. Zamierzam eksperymentować z napędem z dwóch RC i czterech XLi.
are the super cars going to be fast cars or as slow as dodge?
@Mr.M
I may still make some off-road vehicles, but they will not be suited for our races – for instance, they can be in a different scale or less robust and more sophisticated.
so even if you quit truck trials will you still make trial trucks for fun? Please do as most of them are really good! 🙂
@MrJail
December 2011 is the closest date possible.
Do you have any idea when the book will come out?
nice ideas looking forward to the crab, it’s going to be very interesting, especially with a military style body!
Nice lineup, good luck! 🙂
A 8448 style supercar will be very interesting, as all the moving stuff will not be concealed 🙂
I’m also curious for the BMR because if I remember right basically the only problem with the Alvis was lack of driving experience, which you have now, so I guess it should be successful!
@will
Precisely. I’ve got some ice to clean up there 🙂
@will So he can clean out the massive ice buildup in there. 🙂
@will
probably because it’s very mine like with the ice buildup
Hell. Yes.
why are you going to put the liebherr r944c in the freezer?