The instructions for this set come in two parts. Part 1 are 200 odd pages and 392 steps - I'd set myself a goal of finishing the first part by the end of Saturday and as I type this I can say I've achieved that.
For those who want to catch up on this project:
Click Here for the Intro
or Here for the first day of building
I started early this morning when my mind and hands were sharp and good thing I did because there have been some trickey little stuff today.
It started with some fiddly levers which I assume are the gear selector - the interlocking gears at the bottom of this picture are pretty cool.
Then it was off to build the front axle - I love how detailed this is - and I have to say the instructions by a designer called Dyen are amazing - they are super clear - this isn't an easy build, as I mentioned it's complicated as anything, but the instructions are almost official Lego standard in their ease to follow.
I mean look at the suspension geometry in the shot above it's all very unusual angles, and yeah the first time I put it together it didn't make sense and I had to rebuild it, but this was entirely my fault not the instructions.
Also the black circle on the top of this is the 'hand of God' steering. very impressive.
Next the drivers seat - I don't know why but I really like building seats - I'm like one of those hipsters with a posters of mid century chair designs on my wall. I just LOVE chairs.
The next main step is the engine - now yesterday I build what was unmistakably the bit that makes the pistons go up and down when the car moves along, (If you have ever built a technic Lego car you'll know what I mean - the movement of the wheels drives the engine rather than the other way) but it didn't look like an engine and I was a little confused
But look at this thing, a big old V8, amazing angles to this, awesome curved exhaust pipes - this is the sort of detail that is making this alternative design one of my favourite builds so far.
From there is was just a little 'non-descript engine cover' that I'm sure you won't see on the final design and we have officially hit what I consider to be the half way point. (Even if 392 isn't half of 807 steps)
Here are some shots of what it's looking like - I have so say I'm really impressed, it feels solid and sensible and I have a good idea of what I'm building, and it also feel absolutely ginormous, not only the length but also the width of this thing.
I feel like I've done most of the insides and the second half might just be a look of body work, but I could also be very very wrong.
Here it is from above:
Fromt he top is front axle, driver's deat slightly off centre with the steering weheel, big old engine behind the driver, the rear axle and the very cool exhausts at the back
Here's a closer look at them:
And the driver's cockpit - I like the angled beams which the canopy is going to come off. A bit hard to tell from this angle but the front axle is angled which is very clever.
The level of detail at the back is so impressive, level one is the chassis, then the drive train and gearing, then the engine all layed one on top of the other
