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The Great LEGO Ball Contraption…

(Written by Philip Verbeek)

My name is Philip Verbeek from the Netherlands. I’m 18-years-old and a LEGO fan. My specialty is making LEGO GBCs (Great Ball Contraptions). Today I would like to show you my latest project, the LEGO GBC-8. Maybe it will inspire you to make your on LEGO GBC on day. I even have the instructions available for download, if you are interested! 🙂

LEGO Great Ball Contraption by PV-Productions

This is not the first time I have made a LEGO GBC, in fact this is my 8th design. Some of my past LEGO GBCs included ball-launchers, ramps, elevators, grabbing claws, and more (see my website). This time I wanted to add even more, so the GBC-8 comes with elevators, moving ramps, and an undulating bridge. I also incorporated the LEGO NXT that allows me to track data about system-performance and control the whole thing with an Android app. See video below of how it all works!

Some fun facts about the LEGO GBC-8: I used over 2000 LEGO pieces and 2 XL motors (one for all the modules and one for the air-pump). The mechanical energy from the motor is transmitted to most of the modules via gears, or a network of strings woven through the bricks.

LEGO Great Ball Contraption Overview

I also used the LEGO NXT, so I can control the LEGO GBC with my smart-phone and wirelessly turn it on and off (a mechanical control-switch is added as well). The LEGO NXT is also used for measuring data; you can see the balls that have passed by, the average amount of balls per second and a clock to see how long the GBC has been running.

LEGO Great Ball Contraption from Above

Here is a list of mechanisms and functions of the LEGO GBC-8. Please note that not all of them have official names, so I just named them by the function they perform:

  1. Stop-Go Mechanism #1: Stops the balls and let them go by at the right time.
  2. Sinusoid: Moves the balls by making a sinusoid motion.
  3. Stop-Go Mechanism #2: Stops the balls and let them go by at the right time.
  4. Elevator: Lifts the balls to a higher level every time 3 balls can fit in the cabin.
  5. Bridge: Leads the balls of the yellow tower to the blue tower. When the elevator is down the bridge will go up and when the elevator is up the bridge will go down
  6. Stop-Go Mechanism #3: Stops the balls and let them go by at the right time.
  7. Vertical Pushers: Pushes the balls in a vertical way up.
  8. Color-Sensor: Takes measurements of the balls.
  9. Ball-Pump: Pumps one ball up at a time.
  10. Android App: Controls the LEGO GBC.
LEGO Great Ball Contraption Side View

If you are interested in building a LEGO Great Ball Contraption, you can download the building instructions for the GBC-8 on my website. Here is the link: Download GBC-8 Building Instructions. You can also check out my website for my previous LEGO GBC designs: PV Productions Website

LEGO Great Ball Contraption Instructions

Also, if you would like LEGO to make a Great Ball Contraption set, you can support my project on LEGO CUUSOO. If it reaches 10,000 votes, LEGO may consider making it an official LEGO set.

Great LEGO Ball Contraption on CUUSOO

So how about you? Have you ever built a LEGO GBC before? Are you considering it? Do you have any questions? Feel free to share in the comment section below. Thanks for reading! 😉

And you might also like to check out the Featured LEGO Fans and Featured LEGO Creations section for more inspiring LEGO projects.

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LEGO The Simpsons press-release & more!

The first images of the #71006 LEGO The Simpsons House set surfaced just a few days ago, and now we have the official announcement, press-release, designer-video, and of course lots of pictures. So let’s take it all in and then discuss what we think about it! 🙂

#71006 LEGO The Simpsons House Details

LEGO THE SIMPSONS PRESS RELEASE: BILLUND, Denmark (January 8, 2014) – The LEGO Group today announced a new partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products to produce a construction set and licensed LEGO minifigures inspired by the iconic television series, The Simpsons. In addition, FOX is scheduled to air a special LEGO episode of The Simpsons in May 2014 featuring Springfield and its cast of characters in LEGO form.

#71006 LEGO The Simpsons House Open

Scheduled to launch this February in LEGO stores and via the LEGO Shop at Home catalog and website, the construction set will recreate the iconic Simpsons family house in LEGO form. Also included in the LEGO and The Simpsons construction set is the entire family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie along with neighbor Ned Flanders. A separate line of 16 LEGO The Simpsons minifigures will launch in all mass toy retailers in May 2014.

#71006 LEGO The Simpsons House

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Fox during the 25th anniversary year of the Simpsons,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president licensing & entertainment at The LEGO Group. “We know our fans will love the challenge of building the Simpsons’ family home in great detail and the ability to collect quintessential characters in LEGO minifigure form will let them showcase their love of the show in a whole new way. We are also excited that The Simpsons will be created in LEGO form, truly bringing this partnership to life.”

#71006 LEGO The Simpson House Modular Design

“We are kicking off the 25th anniversary of The Simpsons in a big way, and we think LEGO-loving fans of the show will be impressed with this collaboration that represents the best of both iconic worlds through the LEGO and The Simpsons construction set, minifigures and LEGO-themed episode,” said Jeffrey Godsick, president of Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products. “Our partnership with LEGO is the perfect addition to the range of product lines that will be introduced globally in celebration of this great milestone achievement in television history.”

#71006 LEGO The Simpsons House Bottom Floor #71006 LEGO The Simpsons House Top Floor

The LEGO The Simpson House will be available February 1st in LEGO retail outlets for $199.99 (USD). The line of LEGO The Simpsons minifigures will launch in May 2014 in all major toy retailers for $3.99 each.

#71006 LEGO The Simpsons House Minifigs

LEGO THE SIMPSONS HOUSE DETAILS: D’oh! The Simpsons House has been turned into LEGO bricks! Build The Simpsons House with detachable roof, modular design, car with dent, the famous family couch, 6 minifigures and so much more. Recreate hilarious scenes from the classic animated TV series with The Simpsons House. Taken right out of Springfield, this amazing model is crammed with tons of LEGO brick detail.

#71006 LEGO The Simpsons House Images

Lift off the roof and open up the house to discover Homer and Marge’s big family bedroom including bed and Maggie’s crib, Bart’s room with his skateboard and Krusty the Clown poster, Lisa’s room with her favorite books, jazz poster and more, and bathroom with shower, toilet, sink and mirror. Lift off the top floor to reveal the fully-fitted kitchen with dining table, chairs, yellow and light-blue tiled floor and lots of pots, pans and other accessories. Then it’s into the living room with couch and TV playing Itchy and Scratchy, purple piano and more.

Next to the house is the detachable garage, complete with workbench, tool rack, vacuum cleaner, broom, toolbox, tools and the family car, complete with dent (because only in a LEGO world are dents a plus!), opening trunk and ‘radioactive’ bar from the nuclear power plant. Step outside onto the terrace and you’ll find loads of cool items, including a grill, wheelbarrow and air conditioning unit with ‘Property of Ned Flanders’ decoration, sausages, 2 garden loungers, flowerpots, a shovel, 2 fruit cocktail glasses, Lisa’s camera, Bart’s skateboard ramp with ‘El Barto’ graffiti and an antenna on the roof. The Simpsons House is the perfect collector’s item for fans of all ages. Includes 6 minifigures: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and Ned Flanders.

#71006 LEGO The Simpsons House Minifigs
  • Includes 6 minifigures: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and Ned Flanders
  • First floor includes yellow and light-blue tiled floor, sink, oven and stove, drawers, cups, pot, pan, bowl, mixer, plates, cake tins, cutlery, dining table and 4 chairs
  • Living room features TV playing Itchy and Scratchy, couch, boat painting, telephone, carpet, purple piano and staircase to the second floor with family photos
  • Bart’s room features a bed, night lamp, desk with pin board, chair, Krusty the Clown poster, skateboard, shelves with books, radio and a cap
  • Marge and Homer’s bedroom features a bed, 2 side tables, Maggie’s crib and Marge’s bagLisa’s room features a vanity mirror with hairbrush, stool, bed, table with lamp and cup, shelves with books, magnifying glass, backpack and a jazz poster on the wall
  • Bathroom features a shower, toilet, sink and a mirror
  • Detachable garage features the family car, tools, workbench, tool rack, vacuum cleaner, toolbox and a broom
  • Family car with space for 4 minifigures features a dent in the front and an opening trunk to store Homer’s suitcase and a ‘radioactive’ bar from the nuclear power plant
  • Outside area includes a grill, wheelbarrow and air conditioning unit with ‘Property of Ned Flanders’ decoration, sausages, 2 garden loungers, flowerpots, a shovel, 2 fruit cocktail glasses, Lisa’s camera, Bart’s skateboard ramp with ‘El Barto’ graffiti and an antenna on the roof
  • Can you spot all the items Homer has “borrowed” from Ned Flanders?
  • Remove the roof and top floor to access the different rooms inside
  • House is hinged in the middle for easy access
  • The perfect set for fans of LEGO brick building and The Simpsons!
  • The Simpsons House measures over 9” (23cm) high, 16” (42cm) wide and 9” (24cm) deep
  • Ages 12+
  • 2,523 pieces
#71006 LEGO The Simpsons Family Car

Available for sale directly through LEGO beginning February 2014 via shop.LEGO.com and LEGO Stores. US $199.99 – CA $229.99 – DE 199.99€ – UK  £179.99 – DK 1,699.00 DKK (Euro pricing varies by country.)

So what do you think now that we got all the info on the #71006 LEGO The Simpsons House set? And what about the minifigures? Is this a set you are considering getting once it becomes available? Or are you going to pass? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

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