MOCpages Backup: Magic Folding “Fidget” Cube

A MOCpages backup

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Added May 31, 2014

Magic Folding "Fidget" Cube

A magic folding „Fidget“ cube – also known as promotion or merchandising cube – built with Lego parts and fully functional.

After some other 3D Lego Puzzles I had the idea to build a “magic folding cube”. Cubes like this are often used for promotional or merchandising purposes. I have a picture cube from the first “Lord of the Rings” movie which works the same way. It’s not really a puzzle when you play with it, but it was a puzzle to build ;-)).

The idea was to build it as small as possible with an edge length of two studs for the eight “sub cubes”. The only possible hinges for such a cube were 1×4 / 2×2 hinge plates. I analysed the position of the hinges on my picture cube and tried to transform them into a working Lego model. I tried a lot of SNOT elements which all didn’t work. Then Lego released a new inverted 1×2 / 2×2 SNOT bracket and the folding cube worked with it ;-)).

I wanted to put a black and white “checkered” pattern on the cube, just like I had done with my Soma Cube before. But the brackets only existed in black, grey and red, so I chose a black and red pattern instead. For that I seperated the hinge plates and recombined them.

This is the result:

A complete folding sequence:
You can go on and on and on …

The “snake” of cube segments:

So this is my magic Lego folding „Fidget“ cube.
I hope you like it :-))

Update January 24, 2018:

You can find additional information about the basic structure (the “skeleton”) of the folding cube here on MOCpages. An LDD file with many variations of the design can be found there, too.

MOCpages Backup: Presentation Platform for Small Scale Vehicles

A MOCpages backup

Rated 5 out of 5 (35 ratings)
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Added May 27, 2014

Presentation Platform for Small Scale Vehicles

A platform for presentation and photography of small scale LEGO vehicles.
The idea was a platform for the presentation of my 4-wide vehicles, especially to take photos from different angles without changing position or zoom factor of the camera. I started with a square platform based on a 16×16 base plate, but the platform was a little small to get a reflection of the whole car on the platform. Black was the best colour to get a cool reflection.

The ideal form would be a circle. An octagon formed by four 10×10 plates with 45 deg cutout was already getting close. A circle formed by 16 round 1×1 tiles (representing spots in the floor) added some extra coolness.

In the center of the platform there is a little turntable to change the angle of the car in front of the camera without “moving” the car itself:
Transparent plates, tiles and jumper plates are used to fix the car on the turntable.

For an “odd” length of the model (in studs) the jumper plates are used to center the model on the platform.

For an “even” length of the model the plate and the tile are used.

Just turn the turntable…

… to change the photo angle of the model …

… without changing the position of the model on the photo.
You only need a tripod to freeze the position of your camera ;-))

It works great for an animated GIF, too.

So this is my presentation platform for small scale LEGO vehicles.
I hope you like it :-))