Since posting my smooth motion modification to the Dragon Dance set, I’ve been doing some more experimenting with the mechanism for it. Instead of continuing to modify that set, I thought it would be more interesting to build my own dragon, and for inspiration I turned to Falkor, the luck dragon from The Neverending Story.
The updated mechanism features an even smoother wave motion with an increased amplitude. I was able to achieve a cam offset of 30 degrees between adjacent cams (instead of the 45 degrees used in the Dragon Dance modification), and increase the travel height of each segment from 1 stud to 2 studs.
In addition, I was able to make each segment of the dragon tilt as it traveled, to stay at a tangent to the wave that is traveling through the body. You can see the model in action in the video, along with an explanation of the mechanics.
The stand is decorated with some imagery from the story, including the Ivory Tower and the Southern Oracle. The black pieces on the right side of the stand represent the Nothing, which is slowly taking over the world.
You can find building instructions below, along with some notes to help make it operate smoothly.
Building Notes
As with any Technic model, it is important to ensure the mechanics operate smoothly while being assembled. Once the cam shaft is assembled and inserted into the base, ensure it can rotate freely, without catching on any parts of the base. You may have to slightly adjust the positions of some of the liftarms or pulley wheels.
Similarly, once the body supports are attached to the top of the base, ensure they can travel up and down freely. If any seem particularly tight, you can wiggle them a bit, to slightly adjust the bricks in the frame and increase the available space. You may notice they will catch on the top of the frame if you lift them up too much, but they never travel that high during normal operation.
Over time, you may find that some of the supports will start to intermittently stick. I have found that adjusting them again usually fixes this. Dust accumulation can also cause problems, so keeping the model clean will help. Applying a PTFE based lubrication on the moving parts can also help keep the model running smoothly.
Loved the Build-A-MOC kit for making this dragon. Motion is wonderful. I’m going to try using some pulley gears to rebuild my Chinese dragon new years model. Thank you for sharing so many of your creations!
I received this model yesterday and bought the instructions, but when I tried to locate them today, they were gone. Not in my files, and not in my browsing history either. I expected them to be available on rebrickable for free as I already bought them yesterday, but they aren’t.
If you log into Rebrickable with the same account you purchased them with, they will be under Account | MOC Purchases. When you say ‘I received the model’, did you buy a kit? If you bought a kit from BuildaMOC, they will send you the instructions.
Hi Jason, I just got your luck dragon model (from buildamoc.com) as a birthday gift. Finally I am the proud owner of a jkbrickworks original! Thank you so much for this amazing piece, which will have a special place in my house (out of reach of my kids 😉
Keep up the good work!
Cheers, glad you like it, and happy birthday!
I ordered all the parts from BrickLink last week and today the last parts arrived. Of course I started immediately building it. Result: up close it’s even more beautiful and the movement is really naturally smooth.
I was wondering, though, why is there a single Tan 1 x 1 round plate in there, when all the other 1 x 1 round plates are Pearl Gold? I realized that, of course, after(!) I had used up 1 Pearl Gold one where I had to use the Tan one, and was looking like crazy for it? I thought I had dropped it somewhere … 😀
Thanks for this great model!
Oh, man, that was completely unintentional. I’m pretty sure I intended to make them all the same colour (pearl gold), but just forgot one. I must have been rushed when I was optimizing the parts list. Thanks for letting me know!
Hello I have the building instructions purchased from you, but the PDF file does not work! Could you please help me? greet Robert
Wow. I just purchased the instructions via Rebrickable after seeing it on Brothers-Brick. Is there any chance you can include instruction on how to motorise it?
Excellent design! Bought the instructions and started the process of picking the parts. By chance, do you have a supplement to the instructions to motorize the dragon?
Having placed my order for the instructions and pieces, the release of this Luck Dragon is perfect timing, as I needed one for my house. I will add a pearl to its claw for the best Feng Shui effects and maximum good luck.