LEGO Great Ball Contraption at BrickFair Virginia 2022

[@csrboltfan2643]

This is as satisfying as watching fish in an aquarium. Very relaxing.

[@-TheLuckyDonut-]

Ah, I missed these videos. They’re just so fun and relaxing to watch. Thank you to everyone who helped make this another great ball contraption!

[@222gracemac]

This video is my new favourite thing on the planet. Makes my brain go brrt watching these little balls go through all these little contraptions. What a journey they have

[@222gracemac]

I just got to the ball counter. I’m losing my mind rn this is grade a content

[@222gracemac]

NOT THE FERRIS WHEEL Ik you guys are probably like in the Lego loop with this stuff but I’m learning about it for the first time and it’s amazing

[@lordquagsire5714]

I love the minikit at 59:50! Really nice hidden detail.

[@darianleyer5777]

Yup! Instant recognition from people who played the video games at all!

[@Tazerboy_10]

😀

[@Tazerboy_10]

@@darianleyer5777 - Yup, but the Minikits are different between the Lego games! Star Wars ➡️ Minikits Lego Indiana Jones ➡️ Brown crate

[@coastropolisbrick-built]

Tom is absolutely right with his closing comment that the end of Power Functions and the resulting lack of affordable and suitable motors becomes a limiting factor for GBC. The same is true for GBC balls, which continue to go up in price fast. Many GBCers (including me) have a lot of motors and balls in stock and can therefore continue to develop new modules for a while but for people starting now it's unnecessarily difficult and expensive. I'm afraid this will negatively impact the development of GBC in the future and hope a better supply with more suitable products from LEGO will solve that issue. I hope... (Even for people who are not purists, working with third party components is not an ideal solution because GBC relies on standards. Even very slight differences between balls or motors can reduce reliability of the system as a whole significantly.

[@Tazerboy_10]

🤔

[@Mark_Dee]

The limiting factor is the mindset of the people who think the quality of Lego is a league of its own.

[@jtd8719]

If there's a reliable 3rd-party supplier, then I say use it. I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting for Lego to wise up to the fact there is still a good reason for dumb motors and controls.

[@emiliaolfelt6370]

@@Mark_Dee they kind of are. Besides that, even if they weren't, it really helps to stay in system for compatibility reasons.

[@PoweredUP_]

The only easy and cheap solution i see for this is buying Chinese products. They still have all power functions electronics and finding nesessary balls that match the lego ones won't be a huge problem too

[@mickeymoff]

Any gbc video be like "and this is a workshop model and that is a workshop model and this is basically a sweeper" Love you guys, those gbc overview videos are so relaxing and always fun to watch

[@TalonWolf1313]

I have two of the pieces at 49:24 They are from set 70803, and my gosh, that is a wonderfully built module.

[@darthgbc363]

Cool... Thank you for putting my Zig Zag Module as the thumbnail.

[@COLOREDLESS.]

Never been to this event but hands down the lego ball contraption is the best thing in the event

[@GlennKinz]

The frustration at the models causing jams was so funny to me

[@TheBrickDudeStudios]

Oh, believe me, when you are displaying there, it's not funny, but after the fact it kinda is.

[@nelyon]

To shorten the phrase "brick____ workshop module" you could just call them "shop mod"'s Edit to add example: A "2022 brickfair workshop module" would be shortened to "22 fairshop module.

[@MichaelJennrich]

You guys should do a “lottery drawing” where contenders will have a numbered ball and all the balls are poured into the first gbc contraption and the first ball to come out of the last wins like a rare mini fig or LEGO set.

[@Intrafacial86]

Ya know that actually sounds pretty cool. It would be a great way to raise money as well.

[@LKLM138]

27:11 That is the neatest idea! So innovative! I want to see more of that laburint rocking

[@wyguysecondary]

alternate title: oldish man talks about balls being pushed for over an hour

[@ArcheoLumiere]

Don't forget him complaining about his joints

[@007DarthMan]

I took a shot each time he said module - its been four days since I started the video, I dont know where I am or what has happened but my head really hurts!

[@PlanetGBC]

very nice GBC layout !! and a lot of brand new modules and techniques. I love it ❤❤ The transclear bridge is IMPRESSIVE !

[@loopingbricks899]

I love Tom’s sound effects lol

[@cartoonkeeper]

Did anyone notice that the monorail module had five block sections making it possibly capable of four train operations

[@HenBasketFireAlarms]

How was the module at 47:43 non-compliant? Was the output too high, or was something wrong with the input?

[@wedge471]

It's a bit of a nitpick but the input and output are supposed to be in line with each other. The input on that one is set back a bit from the output

[@darianleyer5777]

Ideas have ensued. For example, a splitter that allows the subsequent modules to cross the streams, and modules for those intersection points.

[@EzBricks_]

Love the new intro

[@skyluke9476]

Every 5 minutes I keep remembering this is all lego. My brain keeps forgetting because the engineering alone is marvelous, and the fact it was done with legos is mind-boggling

[@mickthebricker]

Wow, that's an unbelievable explosion of new modules and great design! A very cool contraption. I fully agree, the strategy of connecting lego technic with "smart technology" causes a lot of anger. This is not what people need and it is not what lego technic was designed for. i think they could do it additionally, but not replace the power functions. It is getting all worse ...

[@megamanx466]

Interesting new modules! 😄

[@mdouglaswray]

Need a ball washer module!!

[@LewisMoten]

Need to use tables as a double decker to run modules under the tables as well.

[@chrismcbricker1765]

Dam right brother " Lego, fix your white bricks. Like Lego would listen to me."

[@chrismcbricker1765]

If you pay attention to the gentleman speaking, this was a quote he said during video. I appreciate and agree with his thoughts.

[@J0k394]

Love the fact greek mythology is being shown in GBC, it really seems like the brown labyrinth module refers to the minotaur

[@TheBrickDudeStudios]

38:14 it's from fabuland

[@bdonaghu]

It's incredible what folks are able to create with LEGO parts.

[@billmusenga6977]

That is sick dude.

[@redbloodcell4047]

Nice new intro!

[@mizzsanny766]

nice job dude

[@pikachuthebananasplit9061]

39:12 that single ball - HELP ME, SOMEBODY!

[@microwavemad]

my friend just introduced me to the world of gbc and i am so excited to be here

[@mdouglaswray]

Old toys never die!!

[@bluegirrafe17]

I don't know anything about LEGOs but this is incredible

[@VieneLea]

Me: "Oh no, I have stuff to do! I can't just sit and watch KZbin!" This video:

[@loganvandyk7090]

I love playing the GBC drinking game! “Module,” DRINK!

[@enby_of_chaos2008]

20:20 the yeet machine never gunna give you up never gunna let you down rickity roll i now yeet ur soul

[@arthurmerkel1615]

Tom is either really tired or dead inside, judging the commentary. Cool vid

[@rigey_fizz2583]

Tom, lets goooooo

[@buildingfactory]

A lot of ball jokes rolling in this one!

[@SysFan808]

39:19 for some reason, this made me think of: MAYONNAISE ON AN ESCALATOR IT'S GOING UPSTAIRS SO SEE YOU LATER BYE BYE!

[@speeder3235]

TO THE SKY!

[@antonagrill4310]

Thanks for the video

[@lukasschriefer799]

I want the calendar for Lego balls

[@SeanWalsh75]

15:31 - i want to build a scaled down version of this to count the laps my model trains take around the layout - ball counter

[@FlowerVoidedthe1st]

I really thought they’d have a count of all the modules I really want to know Edit: I have recently been informed that it’s almost 200 modules

[@TheBrickDudeStudios]

Just shy of 200 modules.

[@kendemajoros4617]

I was like, ok. 2 minutes of this. 30 minutes in …

[@trenthawkins]

I want to take all the balls out, grab 100 balls, number them with a sharpie (first 10 and last 10 are basket/soccer balls for increased visibility), and select a starting point (randomly, but ideally a contraption that will output 1 at a time in the order input (one of the counters?)) and feed it using a rail of all 100 balls in order, and then wait to see what order they are in when they come back around. Have cameras tracking ball #1, #100, first place, and last place. Might need rules for balls that escape. ends up as "DNF"? Returned to track when noticed? Returned to track in last place? Discretion of the person minding their section?

[@candykatkittylichiousisthebomb]

Do i have a KZbin channel for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKfVeIGdjp6Sn5Y

[@notmuch_23]

I'd call the modules that have the rotating arms that push balls up "rotor lifts". Almost every serpentine module is also a rotor lift, and the only one I know of that still uses those discontinued rubber tires is Maico Arts' serpentine, but I think he put liftarms on his too because the tires are wearing out.

[@ger128]

23:00 "It's so big that I didn't have enough balls to actually test it at home" -- that could be interpreted in multiple ways...

[@cartoonkeeper]

Yes it can especially given the nature of the internet giggity giggity

[@methamphetamelon]

Given the number of parts failing prior that were overflowing with held up balls he could've scooped up 40+ to test it at one go...

[@nataliawegiel5558]

This guys jokes are on point

[@8bitPikachu]

GO MINTY MANIACS! wait wrong video

[@davidgriego549]

I love Lego GBC

[@arichithechimericvelvetwol84]

Never took it anywhere since one of my previous dogs shattered it but I did make something like these once.... it took me a couple months to complete and was completely reliant on a fan to power the windmill that drove the gears, but it worked, by no means reliable but it worked.... I gave up on rebuilding it cause I couldn't find some pieces... I can only assume the dog ate them....

[@notfis2241]

Fr fr sick intro

[@JBOboe720]

Did anyone count how many Brickfair 2021 Workshop modules were in this setup? It seems like every other one

[@guidingkeyblade7834]

It's sad that GBC modules aren't as intricate as they used to be. In the past, there were some really good designs. Especially from Akiyuki. In this video, there was only like, two Akiyuki modules. I would love to see some of his newer designs in future GBCs, but I know that might never happen.

[@TheBrickDudeStudios]

I'm sure lots of other people are thinking the same thing, and I am sure in the future there will be more complex and unique modules.

[@guidingkeyblade7834]

@@TheBrickDudeStudios That was one of the reasons I liked GBC. Seeing all of the cool modules people have come up with. I liked seeing people innovate.

[@noobtheodorluther6147]

Cool

[@A320neo-aircraft]

"Intro" 2 sonic speed minifiger

[@josephmontoya5104]

Simple wheel lift by Christopher Rubin Christopher Robin

[@hatyjr2450]

37:58 in the background theres the meme thing in the background omg

[@ASpeedruner777]

1:03 Spiral Wheel (simple)

[@Request_2_PANic]

Would GBC modules need to be only Lego? If not, I could make some with K'nex. For testing them, I have balls from Magnetix which should be close enough in size to what's used in the layouts which with their additional weight, I could make sure they can work well enough. Noticing that Mr. Red wasn't mentioned this time around, it brings to mind that as Tom and possibly some others are getting up in age, it would make sense to expand however possible to keep it going for future generations.

[@wedge471]

Well it's labeled as a brick fair this is technically a Lego show (they're not allowed to use the name Lego). So kenx and off-brand Legos aren't generally welcomed.

[@cherylvanhorn7911]

We used a variation of this as an idea for an off-season activity for kids on FLL or WRO teams. For several years we did a Great BIG Ball Contraption day, but since the little balls are harder to come by and expensive, we settled on using the larger balls found in several prior FLL competition kits. This video was our first event, our other videos seem to have disappeared: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5vbZHlphs14ftU

[@darianleyer5777]

40:57 I saw it.

[@Mr_Skarr]

What a gif I watched the whole video hoping to see my favourite GBC Tom's shooter and it wasn't in the video

[@SysFan808]

24:15 idea: cannon bridge.

[@ThePal]

drinking game: Whenever you come across a workshop module, take a swig.

[@memermenel8667]

was i the only one that saw something unperfect? 10:25

[@methamphetamelon]

What are you referring to? The ball pump? Something else? I see nothing terribly "unperfect" at the time you list. The pump is working as expected, it had an empty hopper so it couldn't push the balls until more arrived at which point it did its job fine...

[@memermenel8667]

I mean that there was one technic pin missing in this conveyor belt like thing

[@methamphetamelon]

@@memermenel8667 Ah, yeah I noticed that but didn't really think much of it. Maybe it's intentional, idk. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@theodorehazel6920]

so how many tiems did hes say module in this

[@DroidzandBrix]

Guess you won’t be happy when I bring a gbc powered by buwizz

[@TheBrickDudeStudios]

I mean at this rate, bring something that is powered by fake Chinese motors, no one would care, this year's workshop module was powered by fake motors.

[@2009dudeman]

I say do it, as long as you meet the specs for inter-module compatibility then it can fit in. The limiting factor is ball entry/exit height, in basket size, the rate at which it passes balls, the direction it moves balls, the relative locations of the in and out baskets. Outside of that, nothing inside the module matters, as long as it works and is somewhat reliable it doesn't matter.

[@DroidzandBrix]

@@2009dudeman good to know. Thanks

[@BradleySmellsOfBeans]

TOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrJonesy]

Maybe a stupid question but where can I get balls from at a good price? They seem very expensive on eBay and bricklink. Are 3rd party balls acceptable. There must be 10k worth of balls running round there.

[@MrJonesy]

Just checked Lego store….it costs £13.00 to send 10 plain orange basketballs to the U.K.

[@MrJonesy]

Strike that…after adding to bag….it costs £16.95 for 10 plain orange soccer balls!!!

[@MrJonesy]

I ordered anyway…..fkit

[@wedge471]

Not stupid at all, the original balls are high in price but there are substitutes. I use 14 mm sewing beads for testing, you can find them for a few bucks on Amazon

[@JDT-Loadsamoney]

Did I really just watch an hour of this? Of course Did I think it was going to be longer than 10 minutes? Of course not

[@garrett_harper]

Where in Virginia is this BrickFair??

[@BeyondtheBrick]

Chantilly

[@garrett_harper]

@@BeyondtheBrick thanks! I’m in Virginia Beach. Would definitely be fun to attend!

[@finallyone8692]

Camera man struggling through this video

[@extraheight]

oh, it's not a gameboy color

[@seanmullane1]

👍

[@mickeymoff]

Is he being ironic all the time or is tom getting grumpy after all those years?

[@Tazerboy_10]

😲 "Dirty balls" "I didn't have enough balls at home..."

[@itzsrikanth]

I wish Lego were cheaper in India

[@TheBrickDudeStudios]

It's not cheap anywhere

[@1234c-h7m]

Last man standing scar

[@ASpeedruner777]

9:45

[@ASpeedruner777]

14:34

[@jacecoleman3832]

the blue and orange build has the same colors has nerf guns. no?

[@methamphetamelon]

That was my thought too, Nerf had a blue/orange phase and that part made me think Nerf as well.

[@heartwellroots5365]

At least it's not Lego GBJ...

[@kevinphan1254]

How I long to be a ball riding along…

[@Kafj302]

I am like number 167

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

Nice that some people still wear masks to conventions, I’m surprised

[@saaco5740]

😢😊

[@Erik_mit_K]

The motors are all from China. Lego produces the same stuff in the same factories. Pureriest crack me up, hahahaha

[@ThirteenPrimes]

id like to suggest "workmod" and "brickmod" as new terms to help him out