A couple of months ago someone pointed me to this fascinating video from Disney Research – Computational Design of Mechanical Characters. It’s full of some amazing character models featuring realistic motion, all achieved using mechanical links and gears. Of course I was immediately inspired to build my own version of the Sisyphus model out of LEGO parts. I definitely wanted to add my own touch to it though and, in addition to tweaking the geometry a little, I decided to add a boulder and extend the motion to it as well. You can see the results in the video below, where I also discuss the details of the mechanics. I have put together building instructions for both the full model and just the core, if you are only interested in building the main mechanism. PDF FileDigital Model FilesLDraw File Depending on the relative orientation of the two crank shafts when you connect the chain, the motion of the legs and the body/boulder may not be in sync. It’s quite easy to adjust this after the fact – just slide the 12 tooth double bevel gear (the black one on the main drive shaft) to disengage the leg crank shaft, orient the two crank shafts as they are depicted in the instructions, then reengage the gear.
Welcome to 44 Bricks 44 Bricks provides LEGO® fans around the world with new and used LEGO parts, minifigs and sets. In our online stores we offer a wide range and large quantities of LEGO products from all eras and themes. we have compiled some general information and LEGO related content for you. To proceed directly to one of our online stores click on the corresponding link below. 44 Bricks in figures Catering to LEGO® enthusiast needs for over 5 years now we offer a wide range and large quantities of new and used LEGO items in our stores. Our team is working very hard to constantly improve the quality of our products and services. We are very thankful for all customers showing their appreciation for our efforts and rewarding us with an impeccable feedback record. Here are your key advantages at a glance...Items perfect with great packaging. All ok, super seller, high quality !! perfect packing & shipping! VERY happy. . . Can't believe how quickly this order arrived.
Thank you so much. Excellent Seller, helpful, friendly. First Class Service Highly Recommended.Very fast, nice, and communicative seller! As usual with this shop, everything is perfect. One of my favourite shops!!! Fantastic sale, as always! Thanks for the bonus and the candy :) Impressive LEGO Technic MOCs for reconstruction from our friend Nicolas "Nico71" from France. Fernando also known as "Sheepo" from Spain is famous for his genious LEGO Technic creations. Interesting set reviews and more are to be found on Johannes's YouTube channel "Bricks4Jo".First appearing in 1949, Lego is a popular toy, comprising of numerous different product lines suitable for all ages. Lego encourages imaginative play in children, while also offering an educational experience, teaching them the basics of construction. Lego is popular with children and adults, both as toys and, in the case of some products, collector’s items. From versatile basic bricks, to intricately detail licensed minifigures, there is a huge range of Lego products available, and all of these can be found on eBay.
Age ranges are an important thing to consider when purchasing Lego parts. The smaller pieces of the main Lego range represent a hazard to younger children, while also potentially being too small for them to easily use. There are a number of types of Lego available on eBay which are suitable different ages. Due to the differences in size and complexity of the pieces, some of these are only compatible with other pieces from within their range. The Lego Quatro range was designed for children aged 1 to 3. Quatro bricks are the largest bricks available, and are designed specifically to withstand teething. They are four times the size of the standard Lego bricks and often sold in boxes or bags, allowing for free form play. Quatro bricks are compatible with Lego Duplo bricks. Lego Duplo blocks are twice the size of standard Lego, and are designed for children aged 1 to 5. The larger sized bricks are easier for small children to use and represent less of a hazard, and are compatible with both Lego Quatro and standard Lego bricks.
Duplo is available in a number of themes, including licensed themes such as Bob the Builder, and Duplo versions of standard Lego themes such as Duplo Castle and Lego Ville. The standard Lego system, these bricks are widely considered suitable for ages 6 and up, though some specific play sets may be more suited to older children due to the complexity of the models. The standard Lego bricks are hugely versatile, and offer an enormous range of themes and different parts, including the popular Lego Space theme, as well as licensed themes such as Lego Star Wars and Lego Lord of the Rings. The Lego Technic line of products is more complex than standard Lego, with an emphasis on more complicated moving parts. Lego Technic is suitable for slightly older children, generally from 8 and up. There are numerous parts from the Lego Technic range which are not found in other Lego ranges, such as axles, pins and gears. Some sets even include pneumatic and powered parts. Some Technic pieces have been used in more complex standard Lego sets.
A popular theme which uses Technic pieces is the Bionicle range. This range consists of action figures and accessories aimed at the 5 to 16 year old range. Lego Mindstorm is a unique part of the Lego range, and allows for the construction of programmable robotics. The Mindstorm sets themselves use both Technic and standard Lego pieces to build the constructions themselves, but the key difference in this range comes in the programmable ‘master brick’ and a range of cameras and sensors. The robot can be programmed to take the data from the available sensors, including such inputs as temperature, touch and sound, and react to it. This teaches children both about construction and the basics of computer programming, though the added complexity means it is only suitable for older children, of around 10 years old and above. Different lines of Lego products are called ‘themes’, this being the primary way of differentiating between the styles of different sets of standard Lego bricks.
Duplo and Quatro often have their own themes, based on the standard Lego themes. When purchasing Lego pieces, it can be helpful to know what theme they should be. While buying parts from one theme offers thematic consistency, all the different themed parts are compatible with one another, and this choice of Lego pieces can encourage imaginative play. Indeed, many of the larger Lego collections for sale on eBay are made up of multiple different themes. The themes are frequently updated, with new themes becoming available as old ones are discontinued. There are a few popular core themes which are widely available. Lego Space is one of the most popular Lego themes, offering over 200 complete sets and a wide variety of different pieces. The pieces available are based around astronauts, spaceships, aliens and other planets. These can range from smaller accessories such as helmets, air tanks, tools to lunar terrain and parts for the construction of larger space ships. Lego City is one of the oldest themes, tracing its origins back to some of the earliest Lego play sets.
The pieces are based around urban environments, with parts to build emergency service vehicles and characters, as well as construction workers and sites, and civilians. There are five main subsets in this theme; Police, Fire, Trains, Transportation and Construction. Lego City Space is a sub theme shared with Lego Space, with pieces to build astronauts, rockets and satellites based on those in the real world. Another longstanding and widely popular theme, pieces in the Lego Castle range are based around medieval and fantasy environments and characters. Numerous sets are available, including catapults, castles, knights, wizards and elves. This theme also includes smaller accessories, such as spears, bows, swords and axes. Lego Pirates is based around pirates and soldiers, and has long been a popular theme. Sets in this theme are often based around ships, islands, treasure and other nautical settings. This theme has a distinct range of characters, and often includes minifigures with features such as peg legs and parrots.
In recent times, the licensed theme Lego Pirates of the Caribbean has begun to replace the standard Lego Pirates theme. Lego Racers focuses on the construction of racing drivers, and vehicles for them to drive. Wheels, steering wheels and other car related pieces are widely available within this theme, as well as equipment and tools based on mechanics and pit stop teams. A number of popular licensed themes based on films and books have also become available. Such themes include Lego Star Wars, one of the most popular Lego themes available, Lego Harry Potter and Lego Batman. These include pieces to build scenes and characters based on the films, and have accessories unique to the themes. As with the other themes, these parts are interchangeable with other standard Lego based themes. Duplo also has licensed themes, such as Thomas and Friends. An iconic part of the Lego range, minifigures are plastic figures which connect to Lego structures and also fit into the Lego themes.
Most minifigures are made up of a number of key parts which can be interchanged, creating a great deal of potential for customisation. The head, torso, legs and hands are all removable, and these parts are widely available. Many Lego sets are sold with minifigures, though they are available separately. Popular characters include astronauts, pirates, police and a variety of more unusually shaped characters such as robots and aliens. Duplo minifigures are also available. They are larger in size than standard Lego minifigures, and cannot be disassembled. A wide range of accessories are available, which fit in with the Lego themes and add to the sets. These can include those intended for use with minifigures such as helmets, tools and weapons. Sets and minifigures will often come with accessories which are consistent for the theme, such as helmets and air tanks for astronauts, or swords and hats for pirates. As minifigures are all of a standard size, most accessories can be used with any figure.
Other accessories include themed storage, or display cases for collectible Lego figures and sets. Manuals and magazines are also available, offering ideas for constructions or specific instructions on how to build certain sets. There is a huge variety of Lego available on eBay, with some selling a mixture of parts by the kilogram. The full listing of available Lego parts can be found in the Toys & Games section. The Lego category can be found in Construction Toys & Kits. Results can be filtered with categories such as price, new and used, location and purchase format. Lego can also be categorised by the type of the parts, such as Strips/Plates and Wheels and Gears and by themes such as Pirates and Towns. This makes finding specific kinds of Lego parts easy.Important information about the item will be prominently displayed in the items listing. This includes the amount and type of the Lego parts, as well as the theme and type of Lego. Further information about a particular item is available on the item page.