Whelen Engineering
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Mockba = Moskva means Moscow
Manufactured by Krasnogorsky Mekhanichesky Zavod (KMZ) , Mechanical Factory of Krasnogorsk, Moscow, former USSR
Model: 1959, type 2b, produced between 1957-60 with quantity 216.457 units
All Moskva-5 produced between 1956-60
There are 2 types and 2 sub-types of the Moskva-5.
As to Alexander Komarov
Folder/Rangefinder medium format film camera
Film 120 roll; picture size dual format: 6x9 and 6x6 with a mask
Lens: Industar-24 (И-24) 110mm f/3.5 four elements in three groups, serial no.133211
Aperture: f/3.5 - f/32 setting: lever and scale on the lens
Focus range: 1.5-15m + inf
Focusing: by a thumb lever, fixed onto the lens-shutter barrel plate,rotates wedge-shaped prisms in its window, turning the knob to focus rotates the glass, thus adjusts the rangefinder images that must be matched,
the rangefinder window on the middle of the top plate sees this prisms apparatus window directly, (prisms assembly is rotatable 180 degrees to the right for the bellows closing)
with no mechanical linkage between the lens and the body
Focusing is possibleby directly rotating the front lens element also.
Shutter: leaf shutter Moment-24S (Mомент-24C), speeds 1-1/250 +B
setting ring and scale on the lens-shutter barrel
Cocking lever: on the lens-shutter barrel, not depends the winding
Shutter release: left side of the top plate, beside the winding knob,
releasing is also possible by a knob on the right front side of the struts
To fire the shutter, the film needs to be transported, if not, the release button will be blocked,
a double exposure locking mechanismindicated by a small window beside the winding knob, before winding it is white and the shutter release is blocked and after winding it is red and shutter release works
Winding knob: left side of the top plate
Viewfinder: coupled rangefinder and dual-format separate viewfinder for larger field of view, separate windows and eye-pieces
The two rangefinder windows are 6.5 cm apart (very long) for accurate focusing
Frame view changes according to the frame size adjustment lever that points the engravings, a square (6x6) and a rectangle (6x9), on the right of the top plate,
this thumb lever moves a sliding frame in the viewfinder
Memory dial: on the winding knob, you can set three film types, and with each film type, four film speeds : (in cyrilic) Tsvetnaya (colour film): 22, 32, 45, 65 GOST, Panchrom (b/w film): 32, 45, 65, 90, Izopanch (b/w film): 32, 45, 65, 90
Bellows opening button: on the right of the top plate; closing: simultaneously pressing to the two struts' back arms
Flash PC socket: X sync, on the shutter
Self timer: knob on top of the shutter
Back cover: removable, a lever in it for controlling 6x6 and 6x9 frame red window's lids, opens by a latch on the right side of the camera
Two red window on the back cover w/ built in lids, right lower side one is for 6x9
Engravings in the back cover: Сделано в СССР (Sdelano v SSSR =Made in USSR)
Engravings on the top plate: Mockba -5 (hand writing style), and
on the back of the top plate: KMZ logo and the serial number
Serial no. 59 22600 (the first two digit shows the production year)
Leather hand grip
Two tripod sockets, 3/8'', on the bottom plate and on the front cover
Body: made by injection molding, weight: 867g
Its main difference from Moskva-4 is added selftimer.
Earlier models of the Moskva were copies of the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta C. Unlike earlier models, this model is a Zeiss Super Ikonta adapted form, rather than a clone and unlike the Super Ikonta, its solid top plate has a built-in rangefinder and a dual-format viewfinder.
Moskva-5 is the latest model in a series of cameras Moskva brand. Main difference from Moskva-4 is added self timer.
The Moskva-5 was undoubtedly designed as an expensive professional camera, and not as an amateur model. It was built in an age (1956–1960) when 35mm photography was already suppressing 120-film, and only professionals still insisted on using the larger format. Its dual-format characteristics, rangefinder and excellent lens and finish indicate professional use also. Apparently these cameras were used until very late (the 1980's?) by Moscow street photographers. More info:
Mockba = Moskva means Moscow
Manufactured by Krasnogorsky Mekhanichesky Zavod (KMZ) , Mechanical Factory of Krasnogorsk, Moscow, former USSR
Model: 1959, type 2b, produced between 1957-60 with quantity 216.457 units
All Moskva-5 produced between 1956-60
There are 2 types and 2 sub-types of the Moskva-5.
As to Alexander Komarov
Folder/Rangefinder medium format film camera
Film 120 roll; picture size dual format: 6x9 and 6x6 with a mask
Lens: Industar-24 (И-24) 110mm f/3.5 four elements in three groups, serial no.133211
Aperture: f/3.5 - f/32 setting: lever and scale on the lens
Focus range: 1.5-15m + inf
Focusing: by a thumb lever, fixed onto the lens-shutter barrel plate,rotates wedge-shaped prisms in its window, turning the knob to focus rotates the glass, thus adjusts the rangefinder images that must be matched,
the rangefinder window on the middle of the top plate sees this prisms apparatus window directly, (prisms assembly is rotatable 180 degrees to the right for the bellows closing)
with no mechanical linkage between the lens and the body
Focusing is possibleby directly rotating the front lens element also.
Shutter: leaf shutter Moment-24S (Mомент-24C), speeds 1-1/250 +B
setting ring and scale on the lens-shutter barrel
Cocking lever: on the lens-shutter barrel, not depends the winding
Shutter release: left side of the top plate, beside the winding knob,
releasing is also possible by a knob on the right front side of the struts
To fire the shutter, the film needs to be transported, if not, the release button will be blocked,
a double exposure locking mechanismindicated by a small window beside the winding knob, before winding it is white and the shutter release is blocked and after winding it is red and shutter release works
Winding knob: left side of the top plate
Viewfinder: coupled rangefinder and dual-format separate viewfinder for larger field of view, separate windows and eye-pieces
The two rangefinder windows are 6.5 cm apart (very long) for accurate focusing
Frame view changes according to the frame size adjustment lever that points the engravings, a square (6x6) and a rectangle (6x9), on the right of the top plate,
this thumb lever moves a sliding frame in the viewfinder
Memory dial: on the winding knob, you can set three film types, and with each film type, four film speeds : (in cyrilic) Tsvetnaya (colour film): 22, 32, 45, 65 GOST, Panchrom (b/w film): 32, 45, 65, 90, Izopanch (b/w film): 32, 45, 65, 90
Bellows opening button: on the right of the top plate; closing: simultaneously pressing to the two struts' back arms
Flash PC socket: X sync, on the shutter
Self timer: knob on top of the shutter
Back cover: removable, a lever in it for controlling 6x6 and 6x9 frame red window's lids, opens by a latch on the right side of the camera
Two red window on the back cover w/ built in lids, right lower side one is for 6x9
Engravings in the back cover: Сделано в СССР (Sdelano v SSSR =Made in USSR)
Engravings on the top plate: Mockba -5 (hand writing style), and
on the back of the top plate: KMZ logo and the serial number
Serial no. 59 22600 (the first two digit shows the production year)
Leather hand grip
Two tripod sockets, 3/8'', on the bottom plate and on the front cover
Body: made by injection molding, weight: 867g
Its main difference from Moskva-4 is added selftimer.
Earlier models of the Moskva were copies of the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta C. Unlike earlier models, this model is a Zeiss Super Ikonta adapted form, rather than a clone and unlike the Super Ikonta, its solid top plate has a built-in rangefinder and a dual-format viewfinder.
Moskva-5 is the latest model in a series of cameras Moskva brand. Main difference from Moskva-4 is added self timer.
The Moskva-5 was undoubtedly designed as an expensive professional camera, and not as an amateur model. It was built in an age (1956–1960) when 35mm photography was already suppressing 120-film, and only professionals still insisted on using the larger format. Its dual-format characteristics, rangefinder and excellent lens and finish indicate professional use also. Apparently these cameras were used until very late (the 1980's?) by Moscow street photographers. More info:
This is such a fun subject to work with, and I wish I started experimenting with it earlier. I’ve tried a few things differently and I know I have more experimentation ahead of me, and I hope you enjoy the results! View large!
This freezing soap bubble is backlit by a flashlight, and the colour transitions you see are natural. I’m experimenting with a number of ways to introduce colour into these images, and I stumbled across a great idea that uses some fun research I never thought would have practical photographic uses.
The colour is the result of projected birefringence. What the heck is that? Certain materials will have a different refractive index based on angle of polarized light that hits them. I’ll save the deep science for another post (you can read about it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birefringence ), but it means that polarized light behaves strangely with certain objects. In this case, the object that I’m using is a piece of broken clear plastic from a CD case.
When polarized light (a polarizer is in front of the light source, not the camera) hits the plastic, the light will refract based on the stress patterns in the plastic. Near the injection molding points and around the edges, the colours will change as the plastic structure is less uniform. This makes for an interesting pattern of colours that you can see very easily – here’s how you can do it while you read this post:
Grab your camera, and make sure you have a polarizer on your lens. Point the camera at your LCD monitor (every LCD screen emits polarized light), and hold a plastic CD case between the camera and the monitor. Turn the camera’s polarizer until it appears darkest. At this point, you’ve cross-polarized the light and you’re only seeing the result of refraction from light that has been “shifted” by the object (CD case) so that it cannot be nullified by the cross polarization effect.
Crazy colours ensue.
This is the effect that I’ve utilized here. In front of a high-powered flashlight, I have a plastic and polarizer sandwich. Two polarizers at opposing angles are secured on either side of a piece of birefringent plastic, which translates white light into a random rainbow of colours. Slight shifts to the “filter” will create different colour combinations, with patterns similar to those found in thin film interference. This filtered light is what gives this image its colour.
The filtered light is much dimmer than the original light source, so I need to crank my ISO to get decent results… but I have a more powerful flashlight on order that should help with the light fall-off. This image has an Aqua / Purple vibe going on, but many other colours are possible simply by changing the position or angle of the filter.
See what happens when I have a few spare moments and a crazy idea?! :)
I work extensively on snowflakes during the winter, but frozen soap bubbles are a welcome alternative. Much of the same photographic techniques are used with both subjects, including a sense of urgency when capturing your subject. To learn more about winter macro photography, check out Sky Crystals: www.skycrystals.ca/ - it’s a great resource for this kind of work, even though it’s snowflake-focused.
These will be available in the Version 2 weapons packs at BrickFair Virginia and on the site after the show!
All of these weapons are custom injection molded to very high standards in house all proudly manufactured in the U.S.A! All of which are 100% compatible with LEGO minifigures. Made of High Quality ABS plastic which is the same type of plastic that most LEGO© bricks are made of! Even all the machines and materials we use are all from the U.S.A, which not a lot of other vendors can say these days.
Introducing the NEW V2 Weapon Packs! These packs are filled with mixed weapons in mixed colors. You don't know what your getting when you buy this. Therefore it is completely random!
Here are some other features!
This pack is filled with High Quality Custom Injection Molded Weapons for LEGO Minifigures:
-All Injection Molding is done here in the USA!
-A custom High quality packaging!
-Completely random weapons/accessories in each pack
All of these weapons are custom injection molded to very high standards in house all proudly manufactured in the U.S.A! Made of High Quality ABS plastic which is the same type of plastic that most LEGO© bricks are made of! Even all the machines and materials we use are all from the U.S.A.
UPDATE – Oct. 14th
I know it’s been a LONG time since I’ve posted something on here, and I know people have been asking for updates (rightly so) – so I figured I’d provide some in a simple post here.
Two things must be made clear first – 1) my printer, who I’ve worked with forever and who produces the best prints of any printer I’ve worked with, has become very successful this past year and as such is trying to catch up with the growth of their business. As such, their times to process orders has more than tripled since the beginning of the year. This has caused many of the prints and test prints, etc. to be delayed by more than 2 months each. So things are slower to get printed now than ever before. 2) we are very close to getting our setup exactly as we need it with the injection mold company that we work with so that our parts are to the exact specifications and quality that we want, and that you expect. The injection molding process, and learning what is needed to create good parts, has been a huge learning process for us. The good news is that after months and months of working and tweaking things, we are very close to having our first parts (for Night Crusader and Original Super Soldier – and 1 surprise figure) ready to send to the printer.
With that being said, here’s some updates on some figs coming soon…
Homemade Arachnid Hero
Our first update will be for all those who ordered the Homemade Arachnid Hero. We are anticipating that this figure will be sent out to our presales customers and resellers the last weekend of October (2 weeks from now) and will go on sale on the website a week or two after that. We will try to post pictures as soon as he arrives.
Night Crusader
The test prints for the Night Crusader have been finalized and approved and we are all ready to go to print it. I usually don’t share pictures of the figures before they are completed, but since you all have been waiting so patiently for this figure, I thought I’d bend at least one rule to make you feel confident in your upcoming fig). However, we are awaiting the injection molded parts to arrive, so that we can align the head print exactly with the cowl part (we want to make sure his eyes are aligned correctly in those hole). We received the most recent samples from the mold and we still need to make a couple of final adjustments, so that it is to the exact quality that I know we all expect from the top customizers. He should be completed before Black Friday (week of Thanksgiving), if everything goes to plan. I will post an update if that is any sooner.
Original Super Soldier
The custom helmet part is being completed at the same time as the Night Crusader cowl, as they share the same mold, and as such is facing many of the same needs for updated changes. However, we are still also processing the prints still for this figure. The hope is that this will be available a couple weeks after Night Crusader is released.
Surprise New Figure
Along with the Original Super Soldier, we will be releasing a third, not yet published custom figure that will include 1 custom headpiece and a printed accessory. I think you guys should be very happy and surprised by this guy – can’t wait to show you! When the part is completed and we send him in for printing, we’ll provide a render of him to let you know what’s coming!
That’s all for now. I would first and foremost like to thank you all for your unwavering patience and kind understanding while I bring Phoenix Customs to a new era of custom figs. However, this kind of growth is not without hiccups and challenges, that is for sure. What IS for sure, is that we are not going to be bringing about products that can’t compete with the best out there. We will NOT sacrifice quality. We want to bring our figures to the next evolution, where unique custom parts and top quality printing go hand-in-hand. We can’t wait to bring these pre-ordered figs to life in the next couple months and to show you what we have in store for the coming months of the new year! So many good figs that I can’t wait to release!!
Take care!
Adam
Ukraine has long been called the “Breadbasket of Europe”. That inspired this image, but more than that, the journey to create it. The bread is shaped in the exact form of the Ukrainian Coat of Arms ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Ukraine ). And you can make one, too.
I worked closely with Ian McKinnell ( www.ianmckinnell.com ) who originally modelled some of my snowflakes for 3D printing a number of years ago. Together with his aptitude for such technical work, we were able to design a giant “cookie cutter” for flatbread dough. We are jointly releasing the model under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International, meaning anyone can use it (including commercially), modify it, do whatever they want with it so long as any derivative works fall under the same license.
You can download the 3D model for printing here: donkom.ca/trident-bread/ukrainian-trident-dough-cutter.STL
And you can upload it to websites like i.materialise.com . Unfortunately at the full 100% scale measuring just under 30cm / 11.5”, the model is VERY expensive, even after revisions to cut down on material / cost. It would be great if someone out there with access to injection molding equipment could take this on as a pro-bono project, or even as cast aluminum. Or make them and sell them!
If you are own a pizzeria or restaurant, offer up trident cheese bread to your customers and donate all proceeds to support Ukrainian refugee relief efforts. I plan on making these for gatherings, but I’ll also be donating a great number of these breads to the relief effort. I know it’s just bread, but symbolism is important. There are more ways to help than to just go shopping for these folks.
My main recipe uses a 2-hour pizza dough as a base and should make roughly three tridents:
-560g of Type 00 flour (pizza flour)
-300ml lukewarm water
-50ml olive oil
-10g sea salt
-7g (sachet) of dried yeast.
Mix the yeast with the water, let sit 5-10 minutes. Add oil.
Add the flour and the salt to a mixing bowl and pour the liquid over.
Mix all ingredients together, kneading dough for 10-15 minutes. Let rest for 1-2 hours until it has doubled in size.
Roll it out flat, and fairly thin like a pizza crust. The thinner dough will work better to keep it’s shape in the form of the trident.
Place the rolled dough in the baking dish before cutting it. This is critical, as you will not be able to move it once cut.
Rub the edges of the cutter with extra flour to prevent it from sticking to the dough, and press firmly down. While still pressing down, use your free hand to pull away all of the dough outside of the form. You need to keep pressing, otherwise you’ll be pulling at dough inside the form.
Some dough is tricky to remove, like that which resides inside the trident tines and in the holes. These can be separated using a bread knife after the cutter has been placed aside.
Add toppings. Choose whatever you like. I’ve been making them with grated cheese, flax seeds, and black cumin.
Place in oven on high heat until the cheese starts to become golden. The bread itself shouldn’t take long to cook, but you know your oven better than I do – I’m using a wood-fired oven that cooks differently with extra heat from the floor of the oven.
The Ukrainian forces are about to start one of the biggest and likely bloodiest battles of this war in the Donbas region. I hope this bread serves as a symbol to boost their spirits and the spirits of everyone that cares about them. In addition to writing to your politicians and donating money, there’s always more you can do. Trident bread for all!
(and I did briefly think that there could be negative symbolism because one must break the symbol into pieces to eat it. I’ve been doing that whole life with Canada’s Maple Leaf and I don’t feel bad about it. Stay positive).
Tomorrow I will spend a good portion of the day making these. This image is also placed in the Public Domain.
Here is a quick comparison image of a few CA bricks. The explanation below is not really proper science, but it might still be interesting to see what we can say about them....
First, some of the (simplified) physics:
Polarized light
A ray of light behaves as a wave. It has a direction in which it travels, but the wave also has an orientation perpendicular to that direction. The wave can be oriented horizontally, vertically or anything in between. (Imagine drawing an arrow on a sheet of paper. The paper can lie flat on the table, or you can lift it up and rotate it while the arrow keeps pointing in the same direction.)
Normal light has a mix of all these orientations. That orientation can be changed when light is reflected on a surface or when it is refracted in a material.
A polarizer filter blocks light waves in one of the orientations and lets the light waves in the perpendicular orientation go through. As a result, the background of my photos can be black or white. The polarised light is blocked (black) or allowed to pass through (white).
Refraction and dispersion
When we talk about “the speed of light” we generally refer to the speed of light in a vacuum. The speed of light travelling through a medium (any material) is different. Light travelling through anything other than a perfect vacuum will be slowed down by an interaction with whatever particles it encounters. The amount by which light slows in a given material is described by the refractive index. The value of that refractive index depends on the material properties (molecules) and the frequency (color) of the light.
If a ray of light enters a medium at an angle, the change of refractive index will cause a change in the direction in which the light travels. Because the refractive index depends on the frequency/wavelength, not all colors change their direction over the same angle (dispersion). The most common example of this is a prism. A ray of white light enters on one side, and a rainbow spectrum exits on the other side.
Birefringence (or double refraction) and photoelasticity
Birefringence is the optical property of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. The light is refracted into two rays, each polarized with the vibration directions oriented at right angles (mutually perpendicular) to one another and traveling at different velocities. As a result, the two rays of light take a different path through the material, with a different speed and a different color dispersion.
Photoelasticity is the phenomenon of birefringence of polarized light by a transparent material under elastic stress. For these materials, the size of the refractive indices at each point in the birefringent material is directly proportional to the internal stresses at that point. Photoelasticity can be used as a non-destructive test to show internal stresses in transparent plastics. Areas with high levels of stress will show more colourful light fringes close to each other than the other areas.
Many crystals are naturally birefringent, but isotropic materials such as plastics and glass can also often be made birefringent by introducing a preferred direction through (for example by applying an external load, creating elastic stress). The injection molding process aligns the molecules of the plastic in the direction of the flow, which creates such a preferred direction through and creates the birefringent property of the material. As a result, it is not surprising that the effect occurs in transparent LEGO bricks. (Because colored bricks act as a color filter, the effect is only visible in the transparent-clear bricks. We cannot make a full rainbow using only red light)
Internal stresses in molded parts
When bricks are molded, liquid material is pushed into the mold. The material starts to cool down and solidify on the outside first. As the material cools it shrinks.
As long as there is an open connection to the mold pip, new material can flow in and fill up the space created by that shrinkage. When there is no open connection however, there is no inflow of new material. In such locations, the material in the center cannot shrink any more because it has to fill the volume between the walls that have already become solid. This causes internal stress. The material inside is “permanently stretched” to fill that void. Places where this is likely to occur are places where there are sudden jumps in the material thickness. On older bricks we find solid studs. When the walls of the bricks had hardened, the inside of the studs would still be warmer and liquid. As a result the studs experienced internal stresses. Often, they collapsed creating “pinholes” on top. In later molds the studs were made hollow to avoid this problem.
The setup of my accidental experiment
In everyday situations, normal mixed light passes through the transparent brick and gets refracted in mixed directions. The end result is that we usually do not see anything odd. The orientation has changed, but it is still a mix of all orientations.
By using a polarized light source (in this case the screen of my phone) we make sure that all light enters in the same orientation.
The light passes through the brick. Because the material is birefringent, the light rays are split into two rays with a different (perpendicular) polarisation. The two rays travel their different paths and have their colours dispersed differently. On leaving, their wave crests can be in phase and combine to give a bright colour. They can be out of phase giving less or no light. The phase condition depends on the wavelength (colour) and the viewing angle. This constructive and destructive interference between the rays of light causes the color bands.
The effects of this are not very apparent until we view the brick through a polarising filter. That filter lets only half of the rays through, and blocks rays with the perpendicular orientation. That makes the color bands visible. By rotating the filter we can change what we see and optimise our result for a nice photo.
So, what can we say about these bricks?
All the bricks in this photo are made from Cellulose Acetate (CA). CA is known to warp. This deformation is a result of internal stresses, so we can expect to get more spectacular results when looking at this material.
On the left there are two slotted bricks (Dogbone logo). On the second brick (number 8), the internal stress around the solid studs is clearly visible in the many fringes around the studs. The brick on the left of that (number 5) has collapsed studs. Bricks number 10 and 18 are hollow bricks (no internal tubes) and they feature the newer hollow stud design. The clear pattern around the studs is gone. The bricks still show a lot of internal stresses, and especially number 18 is very chaotic. As a result of the internal stress brick 18 (and 5) cracked. The internal stress became larger than the molecular binding.
A final thought...
Because LEGO bricks are birefringent, I now have to think about the possibility of making a Viking sunstone out of them… If they are birefringent enough, you can use them to find the sun in any weather and use that for navigation … I wonder if that works with these thin-walled parts… Probably not, but it should be fun to try :-P
Here at X39BrickCustoms we take pride in all of our products we produce. As shown above is one of our injection molding machine running some new colors of our very popular Mark 5 armor! All our custom accessories and printing is done in house and more importantly in the United States of America! As of right now X39BrickCustoms is the only company that produces "Halo Inspired" armor for your favorite brick miniatures in the United States. Feel free to comment below and suggested colors for Mark 5 armor sets as we are tooled up for them right now!
This is a quick 3D printed anti tank grenade that I designed just now.
Ill be injection molding some in solid colors and overmolded OD green and brown handles. Let me know what you think of the overall scale.
Can't judge much else other than scale right now because of how rough the 3D print is. Ill post a design render shortly.
Let me know guys!
Dice are implements used for generating random numbers in a variety of social and gambling games. Known since antiquity, dice have been called the oldest gaming instruments. They are typically cube-shaped and marked with one to six dots on each face. The most common method of dice manufacture involves injection molding of plastic followed by painting.
Dice have been used for gaming and divination purposes for thousands of years. Evidence found in Egyptian tombs has suggested that this civilization used them as early as 2000 b.c. Other data shows that primitive civilizations throughout the Americas also used dice. These dice were composed of ankle bones from various animals. Marked on four faces, they were likely used as magical devices that could predict the future. The ancient Greeks and Romans used dice made of bone and ivory. The dice of most of these early cultures were made in numerous shapes and sizes.
The modern day cubical dice originated in China and have been dated back as early as 600 b.c. They were most likely introduced to Europe by Marco Polo during the fourteenth century.
The sovjet T-26 light tank with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 554 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 7,4 / 7,9 / 15,9 cm.
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
Thanks for visiting!
Since it is quite "hard" to buy train wheels in injection molding technology in Europe, I was very curious about the new XL wheels at BlueBrixx.
And I must say: great, better than any 3D-printed wheel, which I had so far in my hand.
- Clamping force of the cross axle fits
- Pin hole fits
- flange wheel with groove for a rubber band (this groove is missing at the BigBenBricks XL wheels....)
- Surface very good, no comparison with 3D printed wheels
I would still wish that the wheels are not so wide. The width is the same to the smaller Lego L wheels and also the BigBenBricks XL wheels. But I would prefer something narrower ;-)
Overall from price / performance absolutely recommendable. If now other sizes like XXL and M would be available, the wheel problem in Europe would be solved ...
Disclaimer: I do not have to be a fan of Bluebrixx now. But in the area of trains, they definitely do more than Lego. I won't buy sets there, but in the wheels topic, I just see the company as another wheel manufacturer.
This is excess extruded Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) from a LEGO factory. The ABS pellets were heated in preparation for injection molding, but the liquid plastic was ejected from the machine before it could be injected into the mold. This is common when troubleshooting molds, and the waste plastic is typically discarded or sent for recycling at another company. Despite its fluid look, this ABS has cooled to about the typical hardness that you'd expect from LEGO bricks.
The german SdKfz 251-1 Ausf. C with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 457 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 11,2 / 6,9 / 17,2 cm
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
See the chain links rolling: CustomBricks - Chain Links
Thanks for visiting!
This is Factory 3. Their first factory, the one I visited in 2011, seemed huge to me at the time but Victory now refers to it as the small factory. Each of those machines is an injection molding machine which cranks out one item after another, 24/7.
If you’ve spent any time in Vietnam, or SE Asia in general, you will know the ubiquity of the plastic stool. Followed closely by the plastic chair, these stools are where life happens. Virtually every street food stall, food cart, restaurant, or home makes use of plastic stools and chairs. They are so ubiquitous that most people hardly even give them a second thought. Once you begin to pay attention to these seats, you might notice the brand logo, and then begin to realize that most of the tables, chopstick holders, napkin dispensers, condiment containers, trash cans, cups and dishes, toothpick holders and wash tubs all bear the same logo.
Back in 2011 serendipity connected me with Manh “Victory” Nguyen, whose parents started the company Viet Nhat Plastics in 2002. I wound up spending a few days with Victory and his family; including going fishing with him and his father, enjoying some amazing bun cha Hanoi in the city, and most memorable for me, touring the plastics factory they created.
Returning to Hanoi a decade later, I was excited to reconnect with Victory and introduce Michelle to him and to see how Viet Nhat has changed over the years.
In short, Viet Nhat has grown immensely. Victory’s father has taken a bit of a step back while Victory is now the CEO and his wife Trang runs the accounting. Viet Nhat has expanded to 5 factories, employs over 6000 people, has over 8000 SKUs, added a luxury line, and is the market leader, especially in northern Vietnam.
Click through the individual photos for more information, more products which will be familiar to those who’ve experienced Asia, and to learn a bit about how these things are made.
Credits to UrbanErwin for giving me the work ethos and inspiration to finish this one in one (1! one!!) evening.
There is some stress involved in the elements. Partly that's necessary because not all antistuds have the same clutch power. However, if you make sure the plates are connected to several antistuds on the switch, you should be safe. Partly it just because it can be done; 3D printing does give a little bit more possibilities to put elements under stress than regular injection molding due to the way it's produced.
The holes that are currently visible in the middle of the switch can be easily removed by putting tiles underneath that are connected to the baseplate. I haven't don't so yet, but I'm pretty sure you won't see a thing of it afterwards.
The switch is indeed locked in place, this is because it's going to be motorized in the Carl Greatrix / UrbanErwin way by making use of the spring in locked position instead of using the throw.
The german SdKfz 250 with CustomBricks chain links.
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
See the chain links rolling: CustomBricks - Chain Links
Thanks for visiting!
Thank you for 4.7 million views 2017-2020
The above image is a scan from an original Kodachrome™ slide. The default size is 2000 x 1250 pixels, so clicking on the photo will enlarge it for better viewing.
The original image comes from my slide collection, amassed over the past 40+ years. They are a combination of my own photographs and ones acquired over those years.
I created this Photostream in 2017 for the purpose of holding my slide collection as an archive, as otherwise they would just remain in binders and boxes, not being enjoyed by anyone, myself included.
Comments are welcome.
Aircraft MSN: 60-043
Type & Series: Bombardier Learjet 60
Registration: C-GHKY
Operator: Husky Injection Molding Systems
Location (when available): Frankfurt FRA
If the Location is blank, and you can identify it, you are welcome to leave a comment below.
Remarks:
My websites:
Credits to UrbanErwin for giving me the work ethos and inspiration to finish this one in one (1! one!!) evening.
There is some stress involved in the elements. Partly that's necessary because not all antistuds have the same clutch power. However, if you make sure the plates are connected to several antistuds on the switch, you should be safe. Partly it just because it can be done; 3D printing does give a little bit more possibilities to put elements under stress than regular injection molding due to the way it's produced.
The holes that are currently visible in the middle of the switch can be easily removed by putting tiles underneath that are connected to the baseplate. I haven't don't so yet, but I'm pretty sure you won't see a thing of it afterwards.
The switch is indeed locked in place, this is because it's going to be motorized in the Carl Greatrix / UrbanErwin way by making use of the spring in locked position instead of using the throw.
Excerpt from irisvanherpen.com:
MAGNETIC MOTION - For Magnetic Motion, Iris van Herpen explores the interplay of magnetic forces. By thoroughly examining the representation of dynamic forces of attraction and repulsion, the designer fuses nature and technology.
Earlier this year, van Herpen visited CERN the Large Hadron Collider, whose magnetic field exceeding that of earth’s by 20,000 times, provided inspiration for “Magnetic Motion”.
“I find beauty in the continual shaping of Chaos which clearly embodies the primordial power of nature’s performance,” says Van Herpen describing the essence of the collection.
Van Herpen stayed true to her spirit of bridging fashion and other disciplines by collaborating with the Canadian architect Philip Beesley, and the Dutch artist Jolan van der Wiel.
Beesley is a pioneer in responsive ‘living’ sculpture whose poetic works combine advanced computation, synthetic biology, and mechatronics engineering. Van der Wiel is an artist and craftsman whose work with magnetic tension has resulted in dynamic sculptures and installations that bring to mind the power of volcanic eruptions. Both artists strive to erase the boundaries between nature and technology in their work, which coincides with the direction of van Herpen’s creative aim.
The designer worked with techniques like injection molding and laser cutting on maze like structures, 3-D printing and intricate architectural handwork on dresses, jackets, trousers, skirts and blouses giving them dynamic shapes and surfaces that echo the body’s movement. The three dimensional nature and the layering of the garments give them volume.
Emphasizing light and shadow play, the minimalist color palette of black, white, midnight blue, and nude allows the designer to concentrate on the garments’ structure. Micro webs of lace veil and reveal the luminescent glow of crystal forms, while triacetate feathers punctuate the soft drapes and volumes. The controlled structure of the clothes is offset by the chaotic structure of the accessories, where, due to the nature of magnetic growth, no two items are alike. The shoes, belts, necklaces and clutches were “grown” using magnetic fields.
Unlike previously-seen 3D-printed parts, these actually saw release as 3D prints, demonstrating play functions that couldn't be achieved through injection molding — at least not as simply.
The drafting arm (not pictured) was released inside set 4000034, given to LEGO Inside Tour attendees in 2019. It can be moved back and forth within its holder, but returns to center.
The pogo stick was teased as a pledge reward for the book "The Secret Life of LEGO Bricks" in 2020. Blue and red were distributed randomly when the book was finally released in 2022. The campaign was limited to 500 of these rewards, but more may exist. The shape of the plastic functions as a spring, with a center rod keeping it straight.
The classic duck was first given out to Skærbæk Fan Weekend attendees in September 2022, then available for purchase at the LEGO House for 3 weekends in November 2022. Several colors were shown, but only dark red has been released so far.
The gear keychains were given out only to LEGO employees in Billund, in late 2022, to celebrate the Production and Qualifying development departments that are creating these new products. The gears spin freely, though they are trapped within the one-piece casing. These came with a standard 2x4 brick keychain attached.
The german SdKfz 124 - Wespe tank with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 454 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 7,5 / 8,4 / 15,4 cm
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
See the chain links rolling: CustomBricks - Chain Links
Thanks for visiting!
The german Sturmgeschütz - StuG III Ausf. G tank with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 556 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 11,2 / 6,9 / 17,2 cm
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
See the chain links rolling: CustomBricks - Chain Links
Thanks for visiting!
The german SdKfz 184 - Elefant tank with CustomBricks chain links.
The Chain Links are available in Autumn 2014.
More information on our homepage
The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
The german PzKpfw 3 - Ausf.J
with CustomBricks chain links.
The Chain Links are available in Autumn 2014.
More information on our homepage
The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
For more information look on my Homepage or look at this :
Youtube CustomBricks Chain-Links Video
or
For more information look on my Homepage or look at this :
Thanks for visiting ! and best regards
Workshop 1932-1960 Wooden Lego toys.
Rebuilt factory
Ole was interested in the latest production techniques and bought a plastic injection molding machine for plastic toys.
Werkplaats 1932-1960 Houten Lego speelgoed.
Herbouwde fabriek
Ole was geínteresseerd in de nieuwste productie technieken en kocht een plastic spuitgietmachine voor plastic speelgoed.
Atelier 1932-1960 Jouets Lego en bois.
Usine reconstruite
Ole s'est intéressé aux dernières techniques de production et a acheté une machine de moulage par injection plastique pour les jouets en plastique.
Werkstatt 1932-1960 Lego-Holzspielzeug.
Wiederaufgebaute Fabrik
Ole interessierte sich für die neuesten Produktionstechniken und kaufte eine Kunststoffspritzgießmaschine für Kunststoffspielzeug.
The german PzKpfw 6 - Tiger Tank Ausf. E with CustomBricks chain links.
The Chain Links are available in Autumn 2014.
More information on our homepage
The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
For more information look on my Homepage or look at this :
Youtube CustomBricks Chain-Links Video
or
For more information look on my Homepage or look at this :
Thanks for visiting ! and best regards
This is excess extruded Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) from a LEGO factory. The ABS pellets were heated in preparation for injection molding, but the liquid plastic was ejected from the machine before it could be injected into the mold. This is common when troubleshooting molds, and the waste plastic is typically discarded or sent for recycling at another company. Despite its fluid look, this ABS has cooled to about the typical hardness that you'd expect from LEGO bricks.
The Allied M7-Priest Artillery with CustomBricks chain links.
The Chain Links are available in Autumn 2014.
More information on our homepage
The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
For more information look on my Homepage or look at this :
Youtube CustomBricks Chain-Links Video
or
For more information look on my Homepage or look at this :
Thanks for visiting ! and best regards
The Custom Bricks chain links are available in Autumn 2014.
More information on our homepage
The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems.
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
The sovjet T-26 light tank with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 554 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 7,4 / 7,9 / 15,9 cm.
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
Thanks for visiting!
The german PzKpfw 6 - Ausf.B
the Tiger II - Kingtiger with
CustomBricks chain links.
The Chain Links are available in Autumn 2014.
More information on our homepage
The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
The CustomBricks chain links are available now.
The links are with high quality ABS plastic in the injection molding process with hot nozzles without visible injection point injected. This ensures high quality and durability of the products. The links can be replaced by the conventional chains of the well-known company from Denmark.
We have in the design were concerned about the details in order to present our Custom models as realistic as possible. The chain links are available as 1 2 and 3 studes wide.
The sovjet T-26 light tank with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 554 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 7,4 / 7,9 / 15,9 cm.
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
Thanks for visiting!
The sowjet T-34 - 85mm tank with CustomBricks chain links.
The Chain Links are available in Autumn 2014.
More information on our homepage
The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
For more information look on my Homepage or look at this :
Youtube CustomBricks Chain-Links Video
or
For more information look on my Homepage or look at this :
Thanks for visiting ! and best regards
The german StuG 3 Ausf.A tank with CustomBricks chain links.
The Chain Links are available in Autumn 2014.
More information on our homepage
The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
LEGO before and after injection molding. The pile of raw ABS pellets contains precisely the correct weight to mold a single 2x4 brick.
The sovjet T-26 light tank with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 554 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 7,4 / 7,9 / 15,9 cm.
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
Thanks for visiting!
This kit was partially built and then abandoned by some kid 60 plus years ago. It had many issues: glue smears, parts assembled incorrectly, and a gaping hole in the front of the hull (short shot during injection molding). I corrected everything the best I could and then assembled it retro style, leaving the color of the plastic, and painting in the details according to the instruction sheet. I only used one of the "Big Pat" decals because I think they are a bit corny.
This kit was partially built and then abandoned by some kid 60 plus years ago. It had many issues: glue smears, parts assembled incorrectly, and a gaping hole in the front of the hull (short shot during injection molding). I corrected everything the best I could and then assembled it retro style, leaving the color of the plastic, and painting in the details according to the instruction sheet. I only used one of the "Big Pat" decals because I think they are a bit corny.
The german Sturmgeschütz - StuG III Ausf. G tank with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 556 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 11,2 / 6,9 / 17,2 cm
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
See the chain links rolling: CustomBricks - Chain Links
Thanks for visiting!
The sovjet T-26 light tank with CustomBricks chain links. The model consists of 554 bricks, many details make it authentic.
Dimensions W / H / D: 7,4 / 7,9 / 15,9 cm.
- Scale 1:32
Instructions, Model, Soldier and Sticker/Decals available.
The Chain Links are NOW available. The chain links are produced industrially in 3 different types of injection molding.
They fit all standard building block systems. Made in Germany
More information on our Homepage.
here is the link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAIbSzBil4
Thanks for visiting!
This is an unpaid, unsolicited review of Trix Brix products.
I have recently purchased a set of Trix Brix r104 switches, looking to increase our options at Texas Brick Railroad displays. I bought 1 left and 1 right single switch, along with 4 r104 curves in order to make complete single switches. The switches were about $17 each, and the 4 curves were $18. The biggest expense was the shipping, which is a whopping $25 to the United States. It pays to make bigger orders, I guess. At least it was fast shipping.
The curves are sold separately presumably because you have three choices with the switches - 2 curves will create a single parallel switch. Add in 6 curves and you can make a turn-out. Or buy a second (same direction) switch and no curves, and you can make a double switch. So for these reasons, I can certainly understand the a la carte ordering.
The engineering of the switch seems very well thought out, splitting into three pieces along with a half sized straight that evens the length out to 48 studs. In addition the spring loaded switch mechanism is pre-assembled and works well, just enough force to throw the switch but not so much as I feel like I might break it. It has a relatively low profile and has three studs on top that I would imagine could make it possible to build a mechanism to power the switch mechanism.
The quality of the parts is pretty rough, but these are 3D printed parts so it just is what it is. You're never going to get smooth and shiny LEGO-like parts without injection molding. The 3D printer they're using leaves a lot of texture on the part, and if that bothers you, you'll want to look elsewhere. I knew there would be a texture, and personally it doesn't bother me all that much.
I will fully admit that when I first opened the packaging and began playing I was very disappointed by the seemingly near total lack of clutch power on the bottom of the pieces. And after several minutes of trying to figure out how to ballast the tracks, I came to the (false) conclusion that it either wasn't possible at all, or I would have to ballast a baseplate to just rest the switch upon. I began to think I wouldn't be able to use these for our shows at all.
In addition, the nature of r104 curves means that in order to go to a parallel track, a special, slightly longer piece of curved track is required. Unfortunately Trix Brix does not appear to offer that piece, so a small gap is formed when you assemble the track fixed to baseplates. This only served to further sink my spirits, as I didn't feel satisfied leaving a gap between my track pieces. (NOTE - this gap only appears if you use the standard r104 curves to create a parallel switch. Turn-outs and double switches should not have this gap)
But I should not have viewed these as deal-killing issues, but rather problems to be solved. After several days of mulling things over, I was able to ballast not only the switch but the curves as well. Yes, the clutch power for 1xN underneath the tracks is nearly non-existent. But the tracks will hold on to 2xN plates in the right places (pretty firmly in some cases), which is enough to get the job done. The clutch power on top of the rails is very strong as well, which helps keep all of those 1x1 tiles in check that I use. And that gap between the curves and switch, while unsightly, does not hinder the use of the switch.
I have now ballasted my Left switch, and will be ordering Bricklink parts to ballast the Right. All in all I think this will work, and may even survive transportation reasonably enough. The lack of clutch underneath is still a problem, and some of the pieces are not held on very securely. I have tested the switch with some rolling stock, locomotives with three wheeled trucks, and a steam engine. Powered testing will have to wait, but so far everything rolled pretty well. The trains roll pretty smooth through the switches, and it is certainly a huge improvement over LEGO's stock switches. There does seem to be a smallest hint of drag going through the middle of S-curve of the switch, but I don't expect a full train to care.
As far as I know these are the cheapest option for large radius LEGO switches. I would personally prefer injection molded large radius switches, but no one is offering those at this time. In the end the Trix Brix switches are rough and a bit hard to ballast, but you can work with them and they get the job done. It's pretty much the no frills option for large radius track. If you're looking for an economical way to add large radius switches to your layout, this might be what you're looking for.
I will report back once I am able to take these to a Texas Brick Railroad event and run these under show conditions.
Pink Flamingos were pushed into plastic production by artist Don Featherstone in 1957. As live flamingos were in scant supply in Leominster, Massachusetts Featherstone relied upon National Geographic photos to create the plastic flamingos which were manufactured using polystyrene and injection molding.
-- Outside Modern. Com