Well, parts of one…
We usually only publish posts that feature genuine LEGO pieces here at TLCB (in fact it’s one of our submission criteria), however today’s creation warranted a closer look.
Built by TLCB regular Sariel, this Technic dune buggy features a few parts that you won’t find with an official LEGO logo on. That’s because they’ve been created using the relatively new phenomenon of 3D printing, which enables a Computer Aided Design (CAD) to be realised for real via plastic moulding.
Over the past few years the price of 3D printing has tumbled, meaning unique parts production is now within reach of many amateur designers and engineers (or morally-bankrupt individuals who think that the ability to print-your-own firearm is something the world needs…).
Fellow previous TLCB bloggee Efferman has put his design skills to use and created a range of custom components that LEGO themselves have yet to officially produce. These include a 5 stud long steering arm (vs. LEGO’s 6 stud long version), a heavy-duty differential, and some wonderfully bouncy suspension springs, all of which Sariel has fitted to his excellent remote controlled dune buggy.
The custom components appear to work beautifully with the standard LEGO Technic used in the rest of Sariel’s creation – especially the springs, which we’d love to test out ourselves (hint!) – and Efferman has designed a wide variety of other custom LEGO-compatible components that are available to purchase online. These include suspension and steering parts, pneumatic tanks, custom wheels, excavator buckets, plus a lot more that we’re not clever enough to understand.
You can view Efferman’s extensive range of unofficial 3D printed Lego components by visiting the Shapeways Store, plus you can see more of Sariel’s dune buggy demonstrating some of these parts in action via MOCpages at the link above, or by watching the ace video below.
YouTube Video:
Pingback: Sariel.pl » Dune Buggy
Oh so if someone likes guns they’re “morally bankrupt”? Give me a break moron!
If you think it’s morally bankrupt because the gun would be concealable since it’s plastic you’re wrong. You still need metal for the chamber and barrel to handle the pressure from the bullets!
Hello Rayome
Thanks for stopping by.
This writer (whose views may not represent TLCB as a whole) would like to suggest the following words;
‘Unlicensed’. ‘Untraceable’. ‘Universally Attainable’. And in much of the world, ‘Illegal’.
Pleasingly LEGO-compatible suspension parts present no such problems.
TLCB Team(member)
Dune Buggy is cool anyway