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This message contains a review of my experience with Znap
as well as some thoughts on the meaning of "Lego".
I bought 4 Znap sets:
3551 $10
3552 $20
3571 $20
3591 $30
I built one model from each of the sets, I modified a couple of the models
to see how easy it would be to do so, and I connected some of the models
to Lego [1] constructions to see how to do that.
The structural pieces are mainly:
(1) beams of various shapes that have cubical sockets on their ends, and
(2) connector pieces that have either 2 or 4 cubical balls that fit
into the sockets on the beams. You can also put a 2-end connector into
a 4-end connector to make a 6-end connector.
To envision this, you can imagine a bunch of 6-end connectors and a bunch
of linear beams of the same length, and put them together to make a
3-dimensional rectilinear lattice.
The beams come in various lengths, and also 2-dimensional shapes such as
triangles and rectangles. Along the length of the beams there are holes
just like Technic beam holes that a Technic pin fits in.
Comparison with Knex:
Knex has connectors that let you connect beams at 45-degree angles,
not just at 90-degree angles. This is a big advantage, in my opinion.
Knex lets you get 14 beams coming out of a connector to Znap's 6.
Znap instead gets the intermediate angles using triangular panels.
Also, Knex connectors are mostly larger and the beams smaller, so
it is easier to disassemble. My experience in disassembling Znap
matches what Larry P. has reported, that it causes finger soreness.
I have also gotten finger soreness from disassembling Knex, but
not as quickly.
The fact that the Znap beams have Technic-sized holes is an advantage
over Knex. But they don't make very good use of that advantage
because they leave out a critical piece: a connector/Technic-pin. I.e.,
a piece with a cubical connector on one end and a Technic pin on the other.
At one point I wanted to modify a Znap construction to add some
arched beams. One end of the arched beam fit onto a connector nicely,
but the other end was right next to a Technic hole on another beam.
How do I attach them? I couldn't see any way to do so.
Interface with Lego [1]:
Znap is like some of the newer Technic sets in that it has no studs.
I shun those sets for that reason, and I feel the same about Znap.
It is even harder to fill in the space between Znap beams with Lego
than it is to fill in the space between Technic beams.
Really the only robust way to connect Znap to Lego is by using
the Lego bricks with Technic pins on them [2], and plugging those
pins into the holes along the length of the Znap beams.
I made a setup using 10 baseplates. On top of the baseplates
I put 2x2 tiles with vertical technic pins sticking up from their
middles. Then I put Znap beams on the pins. They fit, but barely,
and the dimensions were slightly off. The baseplates curved up some
on the edges when everything was snapped together. I was surprised
that they didn't get this right.
Other observations:
Znap is reasonably priced in TRU in the USA. However, when you
compare Znap to Knex sets, I think they are about the same value.
The fact that the regular Lego motor is so expensive to begin with
makes Znap seem like a better bargain than it really is.
The Znap instruction sets / idea books are thick. I liked the
variety of models shown, and some of the models were very clever. I
especially liked the rocking ducky model in 3552 and the train model
in 3591. (The train model is what spurred me to connect the beams
to baseplates because the track kept sliding around as the train
went around it.) There were a few errors in the instructions, like
the arrows showing the motor being inserted into the motor housing
in the wrong direction or the gear going into the wrong hole.
However, no errors causing me to have to undo previous steps.
I disliked the Znap wheelhead mascot (you've got to see it
to know what I'm talking about). Overall, I think the books were
well done.
My philosophy on Lego [1] purity:
Personally I am not a Lego purist. However, I like to define my terms
carefully. If I had a setup with Lego and Znap in it I would
not call it a "pure Lego" setup. Znap is just too different from Lego.
Similarly, if TLC (The Lego Company) bought Knex and put their own
brand on the Knex sets, and maybe added a few connector pieces that
have stud sockets on the bottom and Knex connectors on the top,
then if I had a setup with Lego and Knex in it I would also not
call it a pure Lego setup.
Footnotes:
[1] By "Lego", I mean the Lego brick building system. I do not mean
the Lego company, and I do not mean the Lego brand name.
What I love is the Lego brick building system, not the brand.
I dislike the fact that the Lego company is diluting their
identification with the brick by putting the Lego name on the
"Lego Friends" CD. Because of my personal opinion about this,
I use "Lego" to mean "the Lego brick building system" or
to mean "Lego bricks".
[2] Some of the Lego bricks that have Technic pins on them include:
* 2x4 bricks with wheel hub technic pins on both sides
* 2x2 bricks with wheel hub technic pins on both sides
* 2x2 bricks with a wheel hub or propellor hub on one side
* 2x2 tiles with a technic pin or helicopter hub sticking
straight up from the center top
* 2x2 plates with a technic pin sticking straight down from the
center bottom.
/Eric McCarthy/
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