Tag Archives: rc

BuWizz 4.0 Ultra | Kickstarter Preview

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If you’re a regular here at The Lego Car Blog you have doubtless seen dozens of creations powered by a little programmable bluetooth battery brick; BuWizz.

Since their first Kickstarter featured here a decade ago, BuWizz have moved through three iterations (and from four to the full five stars in our Reviews), and are now ready to launch the fourth generation of the amazing programmable powerbank. This is the BuWizz 4.0 Ultra.

Retaining the same dimensions, 100m bluetooth range, and immense power as before, the new BuWizz 4.0 Ultra features four Power Functions ports, one of which can toggle to control Powered-Up components. With its output programmable in increments, you no longer need a Servo Motor for precise steering or gearbox positions, as any Powered-Up Motor can act as a servo.

The BuWizz 4.0 Ultra also debuts an in-built three-axis gyroscope for the first time, allowing a vehicle to maintain a heading or radius without wobbling about (which is perhaps something of a worry here at TLCB Towers as the Elves have used many a BuWizz-powered build to flatten their colleagues, even with dodgy steering), and four programmable fibre-optic ports with integrated LEDs, enabling head and tail lights, flashing beacons, indicators, and more to be programmed into the sequence.

Rechargeable via USB-C, the new BuWizz 4.0 Ultra features a Li-Ion 2400mAh replaceable (not inaccessibly sealed, hurrah!) battery, allowing for easy replacement and continued reuse. And with original BuWizz 1.0 units still going strong after ten years’ of service, we’re sure the 4.0 Ultra could power decades of creations.

Expected to cost €229, the BuWizz 4.0 Ultra Kickstarter campaign opens on November 4th for three weeks, and you can find all the BuWizz bluetooth bricks and motors currently available via the BuWizz store. The BuWizz 4.0 Ultra will hopefully appear there (and in creations featured here) very soon…

Click here to visit the BuWizz 4.0 Ultra Kickstarter

British Sea Power*

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Of the world’s seven largest off-shore wind farms, six reside in TLCB’s home nation, including the four biggest. Of course the UK is the perfect country to capture the power of the wind because, well… there’s a lot of it. Plus a huge coastline and considerable expertise in how to build along it thanks to the legacy of North Sea Oil.

But despite the normality of off-shore wind farms in the UK’s waters, this TLCB writer is continually amazed at how the enormous turbines are placed where they are, considering the violence of their location.

Rather calmer, yet somehow just as remarkable to watch, are Master MOCer mahjqa and AppieNL, whose collaboration for the LEGO World 2026 show saw a pair of Technic tug boats and enormous crane barges construct modular ‘floating’ wind turbines entirely remotely.

Power Functions and Powered-Up motors, pneumatic compressors, magnets, and some seriously clever mechanics saw an entire wind farm gradually rise out of the floor, without a single human hand touching even one LEGO brick.

It’s one of the most enrapturing 7 minute Lego videos we’ve ever seen, and you can harness the power of the wind via the embedded player below, plus you can see more of the Technic components contained within it (including the remote control tug boat featured in this post) via the link to mahjqa’s associated Flickr album here.

YouTube Video

*Today’s wonderful title band.

Laying Bridges

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The war in Ukraine continues to drag on, with Russia now targeting Ukraine’s bridges (a war crime, as these are civilian infrastructure). Of course militaries have been able to create their own bridges for centuries, and this is one of the vehicles deployed to quickly create a bridge in the modern era, the remarkable Tatra 813 AM-50 bridge layer.

Based on Tatra’s 813 Kolos 8×8 off-road truck, the AM-50 can span a gap of over 12 meters (40ft) and carry loads of 50 tons, with this amazing Technic version by Samuel Nerpas (aka Tatrovak) able to replicate the real truck courtesy of a suite of Power Functions, CaDa, and BuWizz electronic components.

A plethora of motors power the eight-wheel-drive, steering, and bulldozer blade, plus the bridge cradle, winch, unfolding, and side extensions, with the deployed bridge then strong enough to support the truck as it drives over it.

It’s an incredible feat of Technic engineering and you can see more – and watch the model in action – at both Flickr, Eurobricks, and via the video below.

YouTube Video

Fire in New York

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All fire trucks are cool. But FDNY’s are particularly so, what with them having to reach the skyscrapers of Manhattan making them, well… massive. Cue Mirco Hussmann of Eurobricks, who has created three enormous trucks from FDNY, each of which is astonishingly lifelike in both looks and motion via a combination of LEGO Power Functions components, 3D-printing, BuWizz bluetooth control, vinyl decals, and Beier USM sound modules.

Working features include remote control drive and steering, turning and elevating ladders, automatically-levelling buckets, accurate lighting sequences, and even working pumps, switches and water cannons.

A host of metal parts including differentials and linear actuators replace plastic LEGO ones in order to cope with the extreme stresses, and you can find out more about it all comes together, the third-party components used, and the real FDNY trucks upon which Mirco’s incredible creations are modelled via the the Eurobricks forum. Click the link above to call 9-1-1.

Keep on Tumblin’

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The Tumbler is – and no arguments here – the best Batmobile bar far. Which is probably why it has both appeared here at The Lego Car Blog and been turned into an official LEGO set more times than any other of Batman’s rides.

Despite the proliferation however, there’s always room for more Tumblers, particularly when they are as accomplished as this.

Constructed by Eurobricks’ MAP Tec, this enormous Technic Tumbler is fully remote controlled, with twin XL-Motor drive and Servo steering, plus shooting rockets, an opening roof, and moving aero wings via an M-Motor each.

There’s also suspension from and rear, a working steering yoke linked to the aforementioned Servo, and a full suite of LED lights.

Building instructions are available, and you can head to the Eurobricks forum to find them, all the imagery, plus videos of MAP’s model in action.

Giant Haystacks

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Because we’re weird, we like obscure niche pieces of machinery here at The Lego Car Blog. And they don’t come much more obscurely niche than a trailer specifically built to carry hay bales. It’s an Oehler DDK 240 BL apparently, and it’s the work of TLCB Master MOCer Eric Trax, who has teamed it with previously-blogged remote controlled JCB Fastrac and Claas Scorpion 756 telehandler.

Like his JCB and Claas, Eric’s Oehler is also motorised, with a single L Motor paired to a gearbox and winch system to allow each sidewall to raise and lower independently, granting access to the 36 brick-built straw bales held within. It’s rather mesmerising to watch in action and you can do just that at Eric’s ‘Oehler DDK 240 BL’ album and at the YouTube video here.

*Today’s title reference. Because we don’t think we’ve linked to a 1970s 317kg British wrestler yet.

The Robot Apocalypse

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We’re all living in a world of AI now. Mostly of course, AI is used to make terrible short videos and to write cover letters, but there’s a somewhat scarier application which means we’re pretty much at the plot of ‘Terminator’. AI drones and robots are already on the battlefield, and they’re making decisions about whether to kill real human beings. So on that cheery note here’s a Lego interpretation!

Looking rather like a 6×6 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), TLCB newcomer deltamc‘s fully remote controlled ‘Autonomous Patrol Machine’ features six-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steering, a deployable scanner that raises out of the body reminiscent of one of the robots in ‘The Incredibles’, a spinning radar dish, and motorised opening weapons hatches to deploy unguided rockets. It’s all impeccably engineered and there’s more to see at the Eurobricks forum where the robot apocalypse is surely one step closer.

YouTube Video

 

Connecting Virginians

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We’re taking the bus today, thanks to previous bloggee JLui15 and this stellar Orion VII NG bus in Fairfax Connector livery.

Fully remote controlled with working drive, steering, and motorised doors, JLui’s model is so realistic we can almost hear the kid playing terrible R&B through his phone speakers in the back row and smell the old man in the front.

There’s lots more to see at JLui’s ‘Orion VII NG Fairfax Connector Bus’ album on Flickr and you can hop on board to transit Northern Virgina via the link.

A MAZterpiece

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The Lego Car Blog Elves are cheerfully riding around the office whilst attempting mildly xenophobic Eastern European accents today, courtesy of Michael Kulakov (aka Michael217) and this, his spectacular MAZ 504 truck.

Fully remote controlled via a mix of LEGO and third-party motors, Michael’s MAZ also features a two speed gearbox via a nicely accessible lever behind the cab (which also moves the in-cab gear lever), a working steering wheel, a 6-cylinder engine under a tilting cab, a mechanically deployable spare wheel carrier, working suspension, plus custom wheels, rubber mud-flaps, and 3D-printed front fender extensions.

The result is quite fantastically life-like (even if not quite all LEGO), and there’s loads more of Michael’s magnificently presented MAZ model to see at both Eurobricks and Flickr. Click the links above to check out his MAZterpiece.

Seeing Red

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It’s been some time since one of our Elves ran over its colleagues with a remote control creation. And that doesn’t change today, as despite being epically remote controlled, this magnificent Tatra trial truck is too slow to run down any Elves at all. Which enraged the Elf that found it. Still, a Red Smartie will perk it up, and we can take a look at this astonishing creation without having to clean the floors first.

It comes from TLCB Master MOCer Sariel, and it’s a Tatra 813 8×8 designed specifically for going very slowly over almost anything.

Eight-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steering, high/low gearbox, incredible suspension, and a working piston engine all feature, and you can see more of this mighty machine on Flickr and via the video below, where Sariel pulls some very heavy things (very slowly) across his floor.

YouTube Video

Cor-Off-Roada

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As the world’s best selling car, the Toyota Corolla has been many things, but not often a 4×4 desert racer. Cue Randy Wilmenta, who has built his 1989 Corolla GT-S into an awesome all-wheel-drive off-roader, which Eurobricks’ 2GodBDGlory has faithfully recreated in Technic form.

With working all-wheel drive courtesy of two Power Functions L Motors (hooked up to both a transverse inline-4 piston engine and a remotely-operable 6+R gearbox), remote control steering, an electronic hand-brake, motorised clutch, pop-up headlights and differential lock, plus suspension, and opening doors, hood and trunk, 2God’s recreation of the unique Toyota packs in as much as its real-world counterpart.

3D-printed wheels and an excellent classic Toyota livery complete a superb build, and you can find out more about the model and the real off-road Corolla it replicates via the Eurobricks forum. Take a look via the link, where you can also watch a video of 2God’s brilliant build in action.

BuWizz Gathering 2026

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BuWizz-powered creations have been appearing on The Lego Car Blog for years, and with programable bluetooth control, mega power, and a 5-Star Review when we tested their awesome 3.0 Pro system, it’s easy to see why.

If you’re a BuWizz builder or a fan of seeing what remote control Lego can do, the BuWizz Gathering 2026, held in BuWizz’s beautiful native Slovenia, is coming this July 11th-12th.

The 2026 event will include multiple vehicular competitions, daily prizes, conferences, and a social dinner, as well as attendance from 95-million views YouTuber RacingBrick and TLCB Master MOCers Sariel and Nico71.

Tickets are on sale now for €60 (competitors) and €20 (spectators).

Find full details and tickets for the BuWizz Gathering 2026 here

There’s also currently 10% off BuWizz components in their Summer Sale. Click on the image below to take a look at what’s available.

Remotely Racing

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This morning has been somewhat messier than we hoped. A remote control creation was found by one of our Elves, which – as regular readers will know – of course means it was used to run over as many Elves as possible before it inevitably crashed.

Rather annoyingly however, the Elven attrition continued post-crash, because whilst the truck was out of action it was able to jettison the racing car it carried which was also remote controlled. Sigh.

Order has now been restored, the culprit given a Smartie (that’s how it works…), and we can take a look at the creation/s that caused the ruckus.

Built by Technic genius mahjqa, this remotely controlled transporter and racing car duo are a wonderful demonstration of brick-based engineering.

As well as both featuring remote control drive and steering, the racing car includes an oversized V8 engine with working cylinders, whilst the truck is equipped with a clever tilting hook-lift platform, with even cleverer automatic wheel chocks that deploy during the tilt to ensure the racing car doesn’t roll off.

It’s a brilliant solution and you can watch both models in action via the fantastic video below, in which mahjqa also reveals the ingenious Technic camera cars used to capture the footage, plus you can find full details at Eurobricks as well as all the images on Flickr here.

YouTube Video

 

Czech Meight

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It’s been a while since we had a trial truck here at TLCB Towers, but we’re making up for it today. This is Madoca 1977’s Tatra T813 8×8 Kolos, and it’s one of the most capable we’ve seen yet.

Controlled via a Smart Hub, two L Motors drive all eight fully-suspended wheels via planetary reduction, a M Motor drives the steering, whilst another M Motor operates the high/low gearbox.

Madoca’s model also includes a V12 engine, a removable cab, plus opening doors and hatches, with lots more to see at the Eurobricks forum. Click the link above for a closer look.

Bus Boy

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We’re travelling slowly through Westchester New York today, on a twenty-year-old Orion Industries V (05.505) bus. Over a hundred Orion Vs still operate on Westchester’s ‘Bee-Line’, and are the last not be hybrid or electrically powered.

This Orion V actually is battery powered though, as its maker JLiu15 has equipped it with full motorisation including the drive, steering, and doors.

There’s more of the model to see at JLiu’s ‘2005 Orion V (05.505) Bee-Line Bus’ album on Flickr, and you can take the No. 52 to Bronxville via the link above.