All Questions
8
votes
0answers
273 views
What would be a simple trebuchet design at the Minifigure scale?
I would like to have a trebuchet design at the Minifigure scale and simple enough for kids 10+ to build.
Note 1: The counter weight can be any non-LEGO heavy object.
Note 2: On top of the standard ...
7
votes
7answers
519 views
Cleaning between the studs
I've unpacked a few of my models after moving home some time ago, these models have been in a cardboard boxes for several months and need cleaning:
I've tried compressed air, which only makes some ...
7
votes
8answers
770 views
Are there any mirrored LEGO bricks?
I recently built LEGO Creator 5770: Lighthouse Island which features a clever trick to build the lighthouse's lantern, using stickers on on a Slope Brick 2x2 and Slope Top 1x2x2/3:
Step 54 from ...
7
votes
4answers
347 views
Does anyone have any successful techniques in searching for lego bricks in a pile?
We typically tip our box of Lego bricks onto a giant sheet (so that it can be easily picked up) but searching for bricks becomes really tricky and time consuming. You often remind yourself, "you'll ...
7
votes
5answers
411 views
LEGO Safety: Known risks and how to avoid them?
I run an after school program that teaches engineering to kids, mainly Kindergarten through 3rd grade (roughly ages 5 - 9). I'm trying to educate my coaches as to the known safety risks regarding ...
7
votes
4answers
213 views
does Lego make bricks with a stone, brick or concrete block design?
Does Lego make the bricks with a stone, brick or concrete block finish on the sides? I would like to use these for walls and buildings on a train layout. Thanks!
7
votes
2answers
607 views
Is it possible to build a full-size house with Lego bricks?
I want to build something big.
Should* I build a complete house (interior and everything) with lego bricks?
.* By "should" I mean, will it be safe? How big can I go? How much do you think it will ...
7
votes
3answers
681 views
Is there any application to keep an inventory of owned sets and pieces?
I'm looking for a desktop application that keeps track of sets and pieces owned. Ideally something that would look up LEGO databases such as Peeron or others in order to add the pieces in a set ...
7
votes
2answers
353 views
Why does Lego restrict the number of colors per shape?
There are many shapes and many colors of Lego elements. Some color/shapes are rare and hard to find. Why does Lego restrict the number of colors available per shape?
7
votes
3answers
325 views
How can I build a human-scale Lego gun?
I would like to build Lego projectile weapons. Are there any designs available? Can one make an amunition magazine and self-reloading mechanism? Should I use rubberbands as ammunition or are there ...
7
votes
3answers
5k views
Alternative products compatible with LEGO [closed]
I heard that lately a patent for LEGO expired and now everyone can create a company to produce bricks that are compatible with LEGO.
I am wondering how many of such companies are there.
I know one ...
7
votes
2answers
268 views
Why does LEGO sell minifigures randomly?
I often want to buy only some minifigures in each series and might want to buy more than one of a given minifigure but LEGO doesn't allow it. You know, it wants to give you a nice surprise in each ...
7
votes
1answer
330 views
Lead in LEGO bricks
I have a set of LEGO bricks from Denmark and they were made in the late 1960's; should I be concerned about my son playing with them because of any danger of lead in the product?
7
votes
2answers
570 views
How do I keep LEGO boxes looking their best for as long as possible?
I want to buy a few cool sets for investing purposes or to give to my kids later on if they prove to be poor investments. I'm not going to open the boxes they'll just be stored but it might be nice to ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Which sets currently contain pneumatic LEGO equipment?
When I was younger my dad bought me 5218-1, a technic-based pneumatics set, which, combined with the old motor system to provide a mini compressor system created quite a bit of entertainment and it ...
7
votes
2answers
696 views
How does LEGO handle the breakage of Hero Factory sockets?
My son has a slowly growing collection of Hero Factory figures, and they have accumulated a consistent problem: socket connector cracking.
The tips of the angular part of the limb which connects to a ...
7
votes
3answers
257 views
Displaying the Star Wars Super Star Destroyer in a small apartment?
It has been several years since I played with LEGOs.
Three weeks before the holidays I got the LEGO Star Wars set 10221 Super Star Destroyer as an impulse purchase at a local sale. Now I am stuck ...
7
votes
2answers
296 views
How do I make Victorian looking minifigures?
I want to do a Victorian style station to go with my steam trains. I've got some great ideas for the building and accessories, but I'm not sure about the people. How can I make Victorian-looking ...
7
votes
3answers
360 views
How many spaceman minifigure variations exist?
I was looking at collecting all the different Spaceman minifigures. So I'm wondering how many different types(styles) of Spaceman do exist. Color variations is not necessarily but it would also be ...
7
votes
2answers
289 views
What is the name of the Lego product that snaps together with knobs?
I remember owning a very strange Lego set, but have forgotten the name.
The pieces were similar to Technic parts, but different. They were green rounded frames and connected using purple squares with ...
7
votes
3answers
125 views
How should I remove a Hinge Tile, especially in the middle of a plate?
I've recently had some trouble removing a 1x4 hinge tile from the middle of a plate:
Even when they are on the edge of the plate there isn't a lot of areas you can use to gain the traction to ...
7
votes
2answers
655 views
Where can I find a list of all LEGO sets ever released
Can I get a full list of every set LEGO has ever come out with?
7
votes
1answer
374 views
Why doesn't LEGO bring back old series as they were “in the day”
As many of you probably can tell, LEGO has been rehashing old series and giving them a new twist (eg. Rock Raiders -> Power Miners, or whatever its called). Why doesn't LEGO actually make some of ...
7
votes
1answer
455 views
Are the LEGO Friends Mini-dolls compatible with Minifigures?
I've seen the new LEGO Friends sets, and wanted to know if the Mini-dolls are compatible in any way with minifigs?
I'd quite like to get some sets for the new colours however I want to ensure the ...
7
votes
1answer
903 views
How can I create a simple steering mechanism for a car?
Just curious about this. How can I create a simple steering mechanism for a car?
7
votes
2answers
654 views
Can I remotly control the points on PF train tracks?
I'm interested in investing in power functions based trains, but want to automate switching points. Is this possible? What is the cheapest / easiest way of achieving this?
7
votes
1answer
454 views
What does “AFOL” mean?
I've seen the term AFOL around; for example, this site has an afol tag. What does AFOL stand for?
7
votes
2answers
237 views
What solutions are there to organising a LUGBULK order?
I'm involved in a LUG that's made orders in each of the LUGBULK programs that have run. Determining what goes into each order has proven to be a nightmare, with all sorts of email-spreadsheet-ad hoc ...
7
votes
4answers
287 views
Waterproofing Lego bricks
Pretend I have a Lego ship that I want to photograph as it's sailing along in a pool. Of course the Lego bricks have cracks in between them so water will leak through. Anyone have any ideas as to how ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
LEGO brick competitors?
I'm trying to find all the competitors to LEGO. I know there is MegaBloks. What are some more?
The base idea is that they should be bricks and they need to connect to each other like LEGO. However, ...
7
votes
1answer
242 views
Of what fell beast did this olive drab carcass come?
I think I have assembled the remains of some dread creature:
I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have enough elements to reassemble this, but I would at least like to know what it looked like in it's ...
7
votes
1answer
224 views
What are all the third party (unofficial) accessories I can get for an NXT
Similar to this question but I'd like to know about 3rd Party/aftermarket options instead please.
I've heard about motor multiplexers and the like but are there others, i.e. more sensitive colour ...
7
votes
2answers
327 views
Is it possible to add the power functions to Western Train Chase?
I recently got the Red Cargo Train and it's a great Lego set but a Cars themed train going around my Christmas tree would be even better.
Has anyone gotten the power functions to work on the Western ...
7
votes
1answer
584 views
What sizes of bricks (building scales) have carried the Lego brand name?
Apart from regular Lego and Duplo, what other sizes of brick have there been that have carried the Lego name? What is the compatibility between the different building scales?
7
votes
1answer
276 views
What is the best-practice for circular lego staircase construction?
Aside from using the grey key-hole shapes, I'm looking for a Lego-standard or best-practice method for building a circular Lego staircase?
Requirements:
6-8 studs "wide" (from the center to outer ...
7
votes
2answers
123 views
What do the terms “vintage” and “classic” actually mean?
I often see terms like "vintage" and "classic" used to describe LEGO sets (especially on ebay, but I've seen them elsewhere, too). What do these terms mean? How strict is the definition?
7
votes
2answers
370 views
What are Good LEGO (or similiar) sets to play-prototype machines working with fluids?
I want to play around with fluid engines.
I'm aware that LEGO is sometimes used in labs for prototyping kinematic components, are there successful examples of operating with fluids?
Have pistons, ...
7
votes
1answer
437 views
What is the difference between train motors 88002 and 10153?
I want to motorize my Santa Fe Super Chief.
Its original instruction mentions 5300 but it's marked obsolete on BS.com and now re-released as 10153.
In the same time 88002 costs few times less, e.g. ...
7
votes
1answer
160 views
Which pre-2000 set had a mobile crane with lights?
I had a set similar to this when I was younger (I am fairly sure this was before the year 2000), although:
The model was red, rather than yellow.
The model was more of a breakdown truck, rather than ...
7
votes
1answer
241 views
How can I make a brick-built wheelbarrow?
I'd like to make a brick-built wheelbarrow to fit on a construction site that can be held by minifigures hands. I've seen prefabricated Duplo/Fabuland wheelbarrows as well as a new wheelbarrow in a ...
7
votes
1answer
490 views
How can I build Victorian Style windows?
How can I build Lego Victorian style windows, like those on the White House or Capital Building?
This is one style I have done, which, as far as I know, was an original idea by me:
7
votes
2answers
274 views
Colouring bricks with the sun
This question is related to How do I change the color of a brick? and the exact opposite of How to minimise or remove sun-stains/fading from blocks?
Is it feasible to artificially age bricks in ...
7
votes
2answers
169 views
What is the brown ship in the Star Wars 2012 advent calendar?
The brown boxy ship is shown in the ad, but I have no idea what it is? My son was waiting all day for me to get home and tell him, but I can't figure it out!
7
votes
2answers
1k views
Good LEGO CAD Design Software with Technic elements and animation
I'm taking computer engineering in Gr. 11 right now and our final project is to create a robot with the first version of Mindstorms. My partner and I are making a sumo robot for the class competition. ...
7
votes
1answer
193 views
Mechanical auto-unblocking mechanism
I have a GBC module1 which is quite simple but blocks regularly because a ball happens to be at just the wrong place at the wrong moment.
Per se, it's not a problem as a Technic Gear 24 Tooth Clutch ...
7
votes
2answers
273 views
Is there an official LEGO terminology for the features of basic pieces?
When I read this question I remember to regularly ask myself what the features of bricks are called. At the top are there nibbles, knobs, or studs? At the bottom are there tubes? New bricks also have ...
7
votes
1answer
222 views
Will Lego repair a bad motor?
I have the Electric Technic Micromotor:
http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/5119-1
and it simply won't come on. I seem to recall at some point someone telling me a long time ago, that if you sent parts ...
7
votes
1answer
139 views
Is it possible to retrive a text file from an NXT?
I am on a SeaPerch building team which is starting to use a Vernier Dissolved Oxygen probe, connected to an NXT to log the data. I have a bit of programming experience, but nothing in particular with ...
7
votes
2answers
395 views
Lego-compatible suction cups?
I'm looking for suction cups that are compatible with the Lego pneumatic system. I've seen people who have built things with them (on youtube videos, etc), but haven't found anything on eBay or ...
7
votes
4answers
597 views
How to make Mindstorms respond differently, depending on which sensor is triggered?
I am new to Mindstorms (but in my day job I am a programmer).
I want to make my robot do one thing if the touch sensor on port 1 is pressed, and do something different if the touch sensor on port 2 ...
