Tag Archives: Bend

Mind Bending

This is an MAN Lion articulated bus, created in Technic by Fosapifi of Eurobricks, and in place of the usual nonsense we write on these pages, this post is mostly an almost unfathomably long list. Because Fosapifi’s model is as complicated – and has as much hidden from view – as Trump’s tax returns.

Firstly the bus is remotely driven, with four Power Functions XL Motors driving the third axle. A Servo steers the front axle, and there are eight sets of LEDs illuminating the lights.

Two separate pneumatic systems, each self-compressed by individual Power Functions L Motors, power the doors and air-suspension, allowing the bus to ‘kneel’ at the kerb for passenger embark/disembarkation. A total of twenty-two pneumatic cylinders (plus ten shock absorbers) are built into the suspension, controlled via Servo, whilst another Servo and six further cylinders operates the doors, the second and third of which can be deactivated via a switch in the cab.

Finally, a Micro-Motor unfolds the wheelchair ramp, with all the above controlled remotely via four SBricks and a BuWizz Bluetooth battery, with all of it hidden away to allow for a complete bus interior.

No we don’t know how it’s possible either, but you can join us having our minds bent at the Eurobricks forum via the link above, where a video and a link to building instructions can also be found.

Hairpin

Things have become a bit slack at TLCB towers recently. The Elf-Wrangler-in-Chief is away and we must admit to having been rather lenient with the Elves. We’ve left top off the Smarties jar on more than one occasion. We’ve enjoyed the abundance of Lego aeroplanes that they’ve brought us, though the little monsters must realise that these aren’t cars! This morning, two of the Elves staggered in looking a bit soggy. They’d swum home from Amsterdam carrying Ralph Savelsberg’s EA-1F Skyraider and tried to tempt us with it.

Fortunately, we’d read The Brothers Brick and spotted this beautiful scene by Simon Pickard on Flickr. Simon’s model of this famous part of a famous F1 circuit must have involved a great deal of patience. He has wedged hundreds of tiles, edge-on, to create a smooth and flowing tarmac curve. Topped off with two cars from different ages of racing and a nice crane, this model is well worth a further look.