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Unconventional Book, Unconventional Challenges
Review by Scott Lyttle
Video and cover art from No Starch Press
If you like to use your LEGO elements in new (and sometimes violent/destructive) ways, you may get a kick out of this book.
| Could not generate link to image with ID: | Three wickedly cool looking LEGO creations grace the glossy cover of “Forbidden LEGO: Build the Models Your Parents Warned you Against!”, providing an edgy application of LEGO bricks from the minds of its authors, Ulrik Pilegaard and Mike Dooley. The book starts with brief author biographies, histories and anecdotes of LEGO MINDSTORMS, and a mention of more models like these existing somewhere deep in a basement at LEGO Headquarters in Billund, Denmark. The next chapter of the book briefly covers the LEGO design process, from start to finish, and some inspiration on how to approach the design of your own LEGO creations. The book construction is well done. The spine is designed such that the book lays flat when opened, preventing the book from closing. This feature is a nice touch, as the book has a few building instructions for eager builders to explore. |
THE MODELS:
The next section takes you through five different creations. This is a nice surprise, as the cover shows three models. So anybody taking the time in a bookstore to thumb through the book might discover the two additional models presented within these pages. Each creation has notes on inspiration, design, and the non-LEGO parts used, with detailed instructions included. I had planned on building all five creations, but was able to build only two. In-depth reviews of the two models are in this review, with key notes for the remaining three models.
Please be warned though--newer and younger builders may not find all the parts they need, as Mike and Ulrik appear to have left The LEGO Group somewhere in the mid 2000s, and some of these creations do use older parts that are not made anymore. However, thanks to the websites www.peeron.com and www.bricklink.com, it is possible to get some of the rarer elements you need. These needs will be indicated with each creation.
PAPER PLANE LAUNCHER (PPL)
How would you like to launch a paper airplane across the room, not from your hand, but from a launcher built out of LEGO pieces? This is a relatively simple build, and after building the creation, as with any Technic set, some slight adjusting may be necessary to achieve the desired result. A quick look at the elements needed, combined with a mental check of my own LEGO inventory, compelled me to build this.
Completing my PPL build, I carefully cranked up the PPL, placed my airplane in the launcher. Releasing the trigger, I watched the bungee cord tear into the rear of plane, launching my airplane into a nose dive as the bungee cord worked its way loose. Undaunted, I adjusted the creation a little, didn’t wind the bungee cord as much, and…my remade airplane sailed across the room quite gracefully. My thoughts on this creation? Simple, easy to build, and quite a lot of fun.
Now, a few notes about the printed instructions when building this set. First, a new builder will probably have trouble finding the elastic bungee cord in the instructions, as a set with the bungee has not been manufactured since 2003. The specific piece can be found at: http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/x579. However, to the authors’ credit, a note regarding a substitution method is described in the book. Second, black Technic bricks are in this creation. As has been the case with official LEGO instructions for a few years now, black elements can be difficult to read when printed on paper. Hopefully, No Starch Press will correct this in future editions, either by using a different color, or highlighting key lines in white, providing better contrast. The book also has a picture of the PPL, but the element colors in the picture do not completely match that of the instructions. Instruction step #7 lists using a 6-stud length axle—this is a mistake. The correct axle length is a 5 -stud length axle. A quantity of four Technic bushings is indicated, but only three are actually needed.
CANDY COATED CATAPULT (CCC)
This creation resulted from Mike Dooley’s desire to push a button on
his MINDSTORMS remote control and have a piece of candy launched across
the room into his lap. I was very tempted to build this model, and gathered the pieces
necessary. Unfortunately, these elements are currently sitting in a
container, waiting for some free time to be built. This does look like
a fun creation, and I assume more than just candy can be launched. |
Looking at the parts list, there is another hard to find piece. The piece you need is: http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/32166 and two will be needed. This piece was manufactured in the 1999-2002 timeframe.
My thoughts on this? If you have that rare piece, get to building, and
if not…use Bricklink.com, or see how creative you can be with your
pieces. I’m wanting to build this, and will do soon as some free time
allows!
PING PONG CANNON (PPC)
How fun would it be to launch ping pong balls across a room at unsuspecting targets? The build instructions are easy to follow, and an interesting technique is used for mounting the 9V motor. The motor is mounted sideways, using the 1x2 plate with a side rail (http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/32028 ). Actually, a large portion of this creation is built with the studs turned sideways. Many AFOLs are familiar with this technique, known as Studs Not On Top (SNOT), but newer builders will probably get some unique ideas from building this creation.
During my build, with all pieces present, on step 50, a new part magically appeared in the instructions. The piece is used to hold the ping pong balls in a launch magazine. The missing element in the parts list you will need is http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/75 . I recommend a tube at least 14 studs long.
Finishing my PPC, and hooking the motor up to a 9V power source, I turned on the power. The PPC proceeded to work nicely, rotating a swing arm to hit what would have been a ping pong ball (if I had any available). It appears the swing arm exerts some pretty strong force, enough to work some of the pieces a little loose. So, the creation does need a little tightening after each use. My thoughts? Great use of SNOT technique, and I’ll have to get some ping pong balls from the store, see how far they can go, then set up a line of minifigs to check the PPC’s accuracy.
ALL-TERRAIN LEGO (ATL)
What kid (big or small) didn’t think the gigantic 4x4 known as “Bigfoot” crushing cars on TV was cool? With the ATL, you can use this as a basis for many powered cars! I have not yet built this creation myself, but the instructions do look like fun. There’s some good ideas in the inspiration section regarding the use of springs as shock absorbers, but it’s best one discovers these secrets by reading the book.
Some items to note before starting this creation, however. This set uses Technic shocks http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/731c01. If you do not have these shocks, follow Ulrik’s design idea mentioned in the ATL’s inspiration section. This also requires modifying two 4-stud long axles by trimming them to 3.5 studs (a guide is included in the book). A notable design idea is the 3:1 gearing mechanism, providing the ATL with powerful driving force. My thoughts? I have not built this yet, but I intend to do so. I might think about treads instead of wheels, to make a killer bulldozer…or yet.. a tank!
HIGH VELOCITY AUTOMATIC LEGO PLATE DISPENSER (HVALPD)
| This is quite possibly the flagship creation of this book, prominently featured on the cover. How much fun would it be to shoot fourteen LEGO 1x8 plates in rapid succession? I did not build this, as element requirements and part modifications gave me some reason to pause. No Starch Press has a video on YouTube showing the HVALPD in action, at left. There’s bound to be more than a few AFOLs willing to destroy a few parts, just for the coolness factor of seeing this work. |
Items to note before starting this creation: The HVALPD uses a rather rare element, last manufactured in 1996, and found in only a few specific sets. Note that due to its rarity, the part is not cheap. The element can be found at the following link: http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/6551 Some elements require gluing, and removal of gear teeth on a 24-tooth gear is needed for a working HVALPD. The included picture of a HVALPD has some additional parts not included in the instruction sheet. My thoughts on this? I will probably break down, dismantling part of my #8480 Technic space shuttle for the polarity switch, cut a few gear teeth, and glue some pieces together. After watching the YouTube video, there’s only one word to describe it, “COOL!” (with an evil grin, of course…)
TIPS AND TRICKS
The last section of the book covers some neat tips and tricks, such as wiring two battery boxes to provide 18 volts of power through a 9-volt motor, and a hand powered generator for low speed applications.
Any enterprising LEGO builder will want to get their hands on this book. The book is 186 pages and is priced at $24.95 (U.S.). For any LEGO Technic lover, this is a must-have book. I would recommend this book for any FIRST LEGO League team wishing to be inspired by all things Technic.
Forbidden LEGO: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against! (ISBN 978-1-59327-137-4) is available in fine bookstores everywhere, or directly from the publisher No Starch Press (www.nostarch.com)
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