Hey, this update looks just like all your other updates! But it’s not, because there’s something under the hood that I want to show you.

I had always planned to make the globe at the top turn, but as I was designing the model, I didn’t really work the requirements to make it happen into upper floor, dome, and globe. This weekend, I circled back to finalize the dome instructions, and took the opportunity to make sure the model is ready to motorize.

Honestly, I figured it was going to be a nightmare (Knightmare?) but I managed to get it right in a few hours, meaning I accidentally did something right. To turn the dome, I’m using a small linear Powered Up motor, and about the only thing I didn’t count on was that the axle needed to be between studs, rather than on an even stud. At first I was perplexed about how to go about it, but then after tinkering with some real life bricks, and the prototype dome I built I figured out how to center it properly. I was also worried that the clock face on the upper story would be troublesome because it extends back into the model quite far to make it all look right from the outside.

Happily it turned out that the internal structure for the clock ends exactly where the motor needs to be mounted, so the only remaining thing is the hub to control it. I ordered a small Technic hub this week and in order to fit it inside with the motor it appears I’ll have to push back the rear wall of the clocktower by one stud. If I can make it work, I want to add a door to the back that you’ll be able to open to expose the USB charging port on the hub, which will be pretty cool. Below you can see successive parts of the top of the model being removed to finally expose the motor that controls the rotation.

To say I was happy with how everything worked out would be a huge understatement, I was practically vibrating with enthusiasm, and once I get the hub and figure out how much room I’ll need, I’ll actually build the upper floor and clock tower to test it all together.