Movable Dwarf Legs

[MrTS]

So i got my first 4 dwarfs last week. I love them! But there was one thing that started bugging me, and thats the miss of movable legs. I want to make a battlescene with dwarfs oneday but when i started thinking about it i figured this battlescene would be quite 'static'...those dwarfs cant do anything other then stand there.... I want dynamic action!

So i tried making movable legs for my dwarfs. It was quite a challenge, but i think i came up with a nice design. The legs are dark red in these (crappie) photo's. I wanted to make them brown, like the original, but i didnt have the right pieces in the right color..so this will have to do.

Here is the folder when public:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=298659
And here are deeplinks to most pictures:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MrTS/ ... Legs/a.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MrTS/ ... Legs/d.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MrTS/ ... Legs/e.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MrTS/ ... Legs/f.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MrTS/ ... Legs/i.jpg

I know its not perfect. But i think this design is ok. What i really need i a bar of 2 studs long, without anything on it...On this moment i used a hamer, haha...its the best i have. I tried a lot of different pieces, but maybe i missed some other sollutions. Suggestions perhaps?

[lolas]

That's great idea! Dwarf's legs look really good!

[Heir of Black Falcon]

Thats a good solution to a less than ideal design... come on lego what was that all about. I have thought most of the new stuff they have done even, the viking dragons, were well made and fun but it is sad that something as simple as the dwarf legs had to be one piece, motionless, static.

Let us know where your inventing takes you as I am sure many of us wish the legs could move.

I have thought about trying to modify some but I am not daring enough yet. Maybe I will buy some extras and mess about with them.

Randall

[MrTS]

Thanks guys. Please Heir of Black Falcon give it a try too. I just want to find the best design, the more people trying the better it might become. Although i dont wish to use any modified pieces, i'm still curious about what you will make of it.

I might give it another shot when i have the time. But i'm not sure if i can improve the current design....but maybe i missed something last time.

[wunztwice]

Hey, these actually look a lot better than I would have thought! Good work.
I'm not so sure about the rubber band, and where it goes, but it's definitely a tough problem to make work.

I know its not perfect. But i think this design is ok. What i really need i a bar of 2 studs long, without anything on it...On this moment i used a hamer, haha...its the best i have. I tried a lot of different pieces, but maybe i missed some other sollutions. Suggestions perhaps?

...

...I don't wish to use any modified pieces, I'm still curious about what you will make of it.

I'm a purist too, so please understand my position when I say this, but I might try some flex tubing cut to a 2-stud length. I, on occasion, do cut flex tubing to provide myself with bar lengths that do not exist. I dunno, might be a n option?

[DARKspawn]

Great design, consider this idea stolen, Mr TS. It really bothered me that the shorter legs didn't move either, & this is a fine solution.

[MrTS]

Great design, consider this idea stolen, Mr TS. It really bothered me that the shorter legs didn't move either, & this is a fine solution.

Thank you. And thats allright, but please give me some credits when you do haha!

Hey, these actually look a lot better than I would have thought! Good work.
I'm not so sure about the rubber band, and where it goes, but it's definitely a tough problem to make work.

Thank you. It might be possible to hide the rubberband better, or maybe even stuff it under the beard, although the beard is tight.

I'm a purist too, so please understand my position when I say this, but I might try some flex tubing cut to a 2-stud length. I, on occasion, do cut flex tubing to provide myself with bar lengths that do not exist. I dunno, might be a n option?

Maybe maybe...ahh i just hate the idea of making custom stuff. I really want to try every possibilty before i'm gonna use any customization...if i'm gonna use any at all.

[Heir of Black Falcon]

Mr TS,

I think what I may do is try slicing and sanding a pair of lego dwarf legs- get rid of the top connector bumps then cut them in half. I may have to fill the legs up with something first. After that I may try filling the top with some form of epoxy let it try drill a few holes in the legs to allow them to connect to lego bricks from the back adn two small ones to post onto the original lego leg tops. Still thinking it through right now.

R

[Lord]

Instead of using the hammer maybe you could try using the T-bar piece and sticking a half-pin on the other end so you can put the torso on it.

[MrTS]

@Heir of Black Falcon:

Mr TS,

I think what I may do is try slicing and sanding a pair of lego dwarf legs- get rid of the top connector bumps then cut them in half. I may have to fill the legs up with something first. After that I may try filling the top with some form of epoxy let it try drill a few holes in the legs to allow them to connect to lego bricks from the back adn two small ones to post onto the original lego leg tops. Still thinking it through right now.

R

Wow, sounds like a complex process haha! I would def. like to see a pic of it when you've made it.

@Lord:

Instead of using the hammer maybe you could try using the T-bar piece and sticking a half-pin on the other end so you can put the torso on it.

I'm not sure what you mean either, haha. I feel stupid. Which pieces do you mean, these two perhaps?:
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=4696b
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=4274

I tried using these 2 parts myself too..but it didnt work for me. Maybe you can show me a picture of your idea?

[Lord]

Yes those are the parts and I just tried them out. They make the dwarf a bit taller so i took of the bottom 1x1 plates. Also this only works with old style torsos. I haven't had time to take pictures yet.

[E of Alshire]

Although i dont wish to use any modified pieces, i'm still curious about what you will make of it.

I tried it here a while ago- purists beware!

[Heir of Black Falcon]

E,

What did you do exactly? Not sure I can tell from the picture. Looks very cool though. A very warlike looking dwarf- which I think in dwarf culture means looking well today . I'd love to know how you did whatever you did.

Nice hammer by the way. I'd like to get one of them for some of my lego guys and a nice big real one for myself as well!

R

[MrTS]

Looks nice yes. I wish lego would produce such legs.

I made some higher res. photos, they are in the folder:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=298659
Also this time i stuffed the rubber band under the beard, looks better this way, right?:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MrTS/ ... _res_c.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MrTS/ ... _res_b.jpg
Also here is a picture of the parts i used:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MrTS/ ... _res_h.jpg