South African LUG aims to break records
Posted by Huw,
Here's a press release about a forthcoming event in South Africa:
The South African LEGO User Group, or zaLUG, will exhibit as guests of Hands on Tech at the Gauteng South Provincial competition finals of the South African chapter of the WRO (World Robot Olympiad) on 30 July 2022.
Back in 2019, zaLUG applied to LEGO's corporate office for Special Project Support which aims to facilitate unique projects by allowing recognised groups to purchase LEGO elements in bulk. In this case, the special project was to build Africa's largest GBC circuit. An acronym for Great Ball Contraption, a GBC is a dynamic, motor-driven circuit in which balls are passed along an array of individually built units. While conforming to certain standards, the units are characterised by the unique ways in which they pass balls from one to the next and the sheer variety of building techniques and engineering employed.
Seventeen members of zaLUG participated in the special project, and the culmination of their efforts will be on display at the WRO finals. In addition to building and displaying the largest-ever GBC circuit on the African continent, the group will also be attempting to break a LEGO-related world record, the details of which will be revealed on the day.
Fans of LEGO, both the young and the young-at-heart, are invited to attend this free event on 30 July 2022 from 08:00 to 16:00 at Curro Aurora, Taurus Road, Sundowner.
More about zaLUG (South African Lego User Group)
zaLUG is a club for adult fans of LEGO that allows them to connect with other like-minded people. Based in Gauteng, South Africa, zaLUG regularly participates in exhibitions and displays. Visit www.zalug.co.za to find out more or to join the growing community of adult LEGO fans.
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12 comments on this article
I need a sense of scale.
@Huw - at a typical UK show where there are linked GBCs, how many units are we talking? 10? 20? 50?
I think the largest we've done this year was around 60.
So awesome to see news from across the world. Thanks for posting this great article. Will be awesome to follow up and see how it all turns out!
Good luck zaLUG in trying to beat the current European champions in Feb 2021, with 299 modules covering 60 meters. This took 40 minutes for the ball to complete the loop and highlighted here: https://www.brickfanatics.com/the-lego-group-shows-off-the-longest-great-ball-contraption/
Please let me know if someone has already beaten this.. as the USA has the largest gbc conventions so only a matter of time.
Wow. I find all these GBCs highly impressive.
The creativity and engineering skills that go into building many of them are simply mind-boggling to me.
thats great man
What is the current record for longest gbc setup in Africa?
Always thought GBC would be a good line for LEGO to get into, maybe an Ideas sub-theme with votes for the next….. and next…… and next modules
@Slave2lego said:
"Always thought GBC would be a good line for LEGO to get into, maybe an Ideas sub-theme with votes for the next….. and next…… and next modules"
Unfortunately, the GBC entries for Lego Ideas don't usaully do very well in gathering votes.
Last year (I believe) Lego asked what Technic users would like to see in the Lego Technic range. My first choice was for an helicopter with both collective and cyclical with adjustable tail rotor - it seems like I will get close to that with 42145 (fingers crossed). My second suggestion was for GBC modules. It would be cool if Lego were to release 3 or 4 modules per year (maybe 3 sizes: small, medium, large). It would become a collectable, it easily could showcase interesting mechanisms, it would be true to the mission of Technic; and GBC is just simply cool. I think it could be a very nice line and could introduce more people to the Technic range because GBC seems to be quite a social activity as well. I have not heard anything (not that I am ever the first informed in Lego matters) but we never know - maybe they are studying the viability and feasibility of this - would be nice...
I can't see the blue part as anything but the MLM flag and the last two colors look like the bi flag, this might be like the Amogus effect as I'm seeing any blue six-to-seven color gradient as it... including on underwear designs. In all seriousness, it's cool that they're expanding LEGO fan events to other continents, South Africa is the most westernized region of Africa as far as I know but regardless it's a cool reminder that AFOLs are everywhere.
Sounds fun, would love to see a video of this!