5 comments about Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems.

1. If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and could only take one CD with you, which one would you take and why? Years ago I used to listen to a program on the BBC that asked famous guests that question, only they said record, not CDs. Well I suppose I'd take Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" if I were in that fix. And if I were to go to sea on a cruising sailboat and could only take one book with me, it would have to be this excellent, well written book by Mr. Calder. It's big, heavy, expensive and if you need it, you'll be glad you have it and you'll think it's worth it's weight in gold.



2. Calder provides a detailed, in depth discussion of electrical and mechanical systems found on modern small to medium cruising vessels both sail and power. This is not a book for those who are looking for a cursory overview. It is a text book for those who want to know the details of electrical and mechanical systems and are willing to put in the time to study. The book is exceptionally well written, clear and extensively illustrated. Also helpful, the author discusses the pros and cons of different approaches to configuring electrical and mechanical systems. Very helpful in sorting out the many claims and counter claims made by industry. If you want to be a knowledgeable expert, this is the book for you.



3. Very thorough manual although it is becoming somewhat dated due the the rapid advances in electronics.



4. Bought this for my husband for his birthday! He really wanted this book, so I was happy when I found it on Amazon.com! It shipped in a few days and arrived in perfect shape! Couldn't ask for more! I am sure it will come in very handy when we use our boat next summer!



5. Although emphasis is marine the chapters on electrical is detailed and found by me as very good for my RV and home power projects.

5 comments about The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide.

1. This is not a book on ideas for how to build, but details on what Lego's are all about. You will find history and part number and many details that you wouldn't find just anywhere. A must have the the true Lego junkie!



2. this was a nice book that my son does not look at
   i continue to point him back to the book as it appears
   useful in making your own plans.



3. This is a back to the basics or what some call the tricks of the trade type book. I really enjoyed looking through it and learning new stuff. Great guide to all the pieces and naming conventions.



4. I've been building with Lego bricks for over 30 years. I bought this book to add to my collection not expecting to "learn" much but have something to share and refer to from now and again. I was very happily surprised after reading and learning a few new building techniques. While this book isn't exhaustive of every single SNOT or other advanced building technique (btw, there isn't one) this is a great single volume that is a happy addition to every LEGO enthusiast's library. I have also recommended this book for persons just starting or getting back into building. It's a great overview and introduction. I look forward to future volumes from the author!



5. I hinted quite strongly to my family that I wanted this book for my birthday, and I received it recently. It is everything I had hoped it would be: comprehensive, detailed, easy-to-understand and written by someone who clearly has a love of Legos.
   
   I especially enjoyed the extensive vocabulary chapter (I always instruct students that learning starts when we all "talk the same talk". . .having these common terms helps) and the Brickopedia. I also liked how the book begins with basic terminology and techniques and builds on the early concepts slowly. The images are crisp and the accompanying Web site contains more information beyond the book. Thank you, Allan, for a great read. . .and for making my favorite childhood toy something I enjoy even more as an adult.

5 comments about The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor's Guide.

1. The book provides a great overview of NXT platform and teaches how to build more complex robots using several projects. The first sections provides an introduction to what is in the kit before going into how to build common components. The middle sections contain several robot projects that teach how to build more complex robots, both with the bricks and sensors and how to create programs for them. I found it very useful quickly learning how to build complex robots and understanding how the graphical programming language works.



2. Very good book, helps getting started with Mindstorms. Easy to use for my 11 year old.



3. Even though I have been working with the NXT as a teacher since it came out, I learned things about how to better build or program the NXT. Since I teach mostly introductory robotics using the NXT, I explored some additional concepts using this book.
   
   If you are new to the NXT, this is for sure a great first book to read. It begins with explainations of the LEGO pieces used in the NXT kit and then explores all of the basic programming blocks.
   
   For someone who has used the NXT, but just jumped into it without any previous Mindstorms experience or training, this book will help you fill in the gaps you probably have with the NXT. Some more advanced concepts are also covered for someone wanting to reach a little further in their NXT knowledge.



4. I highly recommend this book since the documentation that comes with the set is lacking. The book fills in the voids.
   Also, I had a question about availability of a program. The author responded with an answer within one day.



5. The book was very helpfull and got into details. We ramped up on all the major capabilities in one day. very good SW part and great instruction for building stuff.

5 comments about Forbidden Lego: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against!.

1. This book has piece by piece directions for building different objects. You use household items with the legos to make things work.



2. Forbidden Lego has some innovative and fun designs, and the description of the process Lego uses to design, approve and produce models is especially interesting.
   
   The models in this book would not pass this rigorous approval process, and the authors tell you exactly why - they might fire projectiles too fast or too quickly or require the alteration of an approved Lego piece. But the building instructions would also not pass Lego's quality control process, either. Some illustrations are missing the box that shows the pieces needed for that step, leaving the builder to search the diagram to find what has been added and where (Step 14 for the Candy Catapult, for example).
   
   The instructions are definitely for experienced builders, as they do not always show the intermediate building steps - you may have to partially insert an axle piece before placing an assembly on the main model, for example, and fully insert it after the assembly is in place. This shouldn't give experienced builders any trouble, but might be frustrating for younger builders.
   
   These models call for some parts that are uncommon, but the best thing about Lego pieces is their adaptability. It is possible to modify the models to accomplish the same function with other more common pieces. Advanced builders will enjoy this challenge, but it may frustrate those who want ready-to-build models. A similar challenge faces those of us who don't want to alter our Lego pieces to find a way to do the same thing with whole pieces.
   
   If you are considering this book for yourself, you'll know if you're the kind of builder who enjoys this kind of challenge. The completed models are worth the effort. If you are considering this as a gift for a young builder, you'll want to be sure they have an advanced builder around to help them out. If not, you might consider a book like Lego Crazy Action Contraptions: A LEGO Inventions Book (Klutz) which is not only geared toward younger builders, but also includes all the pieces needed to build the models.



3. I can't wait to send this stuffed inside my son's stocking for Xmas ... I'll include the requisite parts so he and his fellow airmen can have a blast



4. I was excited to get this book for my 12-year-old budding engineer. He was too, until he looked through it and saw that he would need to have a Lego robotics kit to make a good number of the creations. Since the kit is $250, that ain't happening, so back it goes.
   
   And as other reviewers mentioned, they show pictures of the pieces you need, but they don't label them with names or part numbers. It would be EXTREMELY hard to find the parts you need to build most of these projects. It's amazing to me that the authors would create such great projects but then provide such incomplete info, rendering their book virtually useless to most users. What a waste of the return postage!



5. The designs in this book are great! However, my son can't make most of them because he doesn't have the parts. If the writers had provided Lego part numbers with their designs, then it would be easy to order those parts. We talked to Lego and they tried to help, but couldn't because they can't tell exactly what part we are talking about! Without the part numbers listed in this book, the book gets only two stars.

5 comments about LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT One-Kit Wonders: Ten Inventions to Spark Your Imagination.

1. I bought this book for my seven year old son. He finds it difficult to understand the images. I have to constantly help him to build the models. I think if the images were colored he might have had a better chance of understanding. I very well understand that would have increased the price of the book exponentially. I book has good ideas but might be difficult for kids to do.



2. Very Inspiring book, a must for any serious NXT fan who love to learn from the masters by inspecting every aspect of the designs for fun and inspiration (like i do) then it doesn't matter what NXT set you own or is available at school but if the book owner plans on building the actual robots (10 of them) and has little LEGO TECHNIC available beside the parts in the NXT, then you need the first RETAIL NXT kit that has been on sale since 2006. TODAY LEGO repackaged the same NXT brick in a new version 2.0 and changed the parts in the box!
   
   So this book may not be the best one to get along with a the new NXT 2.0 kit, the WHITE and BLUE box
   It is however a great gift to give someone with the original NXT 1.0 (GREY and GOLD box) or someone who just loves any NXT ideas!



3. First of all I love the NXT and already have the block and lots of extra parts, separate from the main kit. When I saw this book I purchased it based on the name of the book (One-Kit wonders) solely. Since my child conquered his own designs I wanted to challenge his abilities to follow directions, thus I purchased this book thinking it meant what it stated in the title by "One Kit," meaning the main NXT kit and no other additional parts. This book requires many parts that don't come in the original main kit, and none of the extra parts I do have. The parts are not labeled and you must hunt and peck through your system to find the parts you don't have in your main kit and hunt them down and order them (not exactly a truthful title). Not to mention the pictures are poorly detailed making identification difficult, either by color or indentions in parts etc (black and white picture). This book by all means has some great intentions, but for the price nowadays, the pictures could have been better and in color. I gave this two stars for the lack of picture quality, poor labeling and Misleading title. I've yet to build anything with this book and I've had it for over a year now. Plus several parts I have ordered turned out to be wrong, do to poor picture quality and lack of measurements.
   
   
   Since Author of book replied to my review, I've updated it:
   Well, the picture and content of this book is exactly the same as the one I've owned for over a year, and I stick by my comments. I regret to disagree because I've loved the NXT system for quite a few years and have taught the Lego classes for over five. So I think I would know what I'm talking about. As for the "click" of supporters or publishers/writers payment seekers, of this book. I guess the lynch mob has spoken, I still caution anyone to carefully consider this book before purchasing and oh, keep your receipt. I'm the one out money while one of this books authors is trying to sell books and keep buyers in the dark. I have a right to voice my opinion and I will never purchase another book by this AUTHOR again, given the nastiness of his attacks on blinded consumers, and yes you may even be challenged. I have pages and pages of all your projects marked with parts that were not included in my "one kit" 2.0 NXT system.
   
   Since teaching the NXT class I do get premarket products, plus I have a class room full of kits both 1.0 and 2.0. I'm very familar with product.
   
   *NOTE: SEE HOW MANY "USED" BOOKS ARE BEING RESOLD, GOOD INDICATOR



4. I liked the book, but it assumes that you are using the NXT 1.0 set and it turns out the sets have different parts. So when I purchased the book I found out that I could only make a few of the items. I have since purchased the additional parts I needed and can build them all now, but it was a little bit of a let down when I received the book and could not build them all.



5. This does look like an interesting book with several great projects. I was intrigued enough to order it along with the NXT 2.0 set, based on the Amazon recommendation. This book uses parts that are not in the NXT 2.0 (especially gears). You can not build some of these projects with just the parts in the NXT 2.0 set. As a novice to these kits I didn't know enough about them to even consider the differences. Now I need to find the pieces that I need to actually build these projects, because they are too compelling to ignore. I like the book, just beware of the differences between the older NXT set and the newer NXT 2.0 set.

5 comments about Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series).

1. We received this book within five days, and before the sun set that afternoon, my nine-year-old grandson had constructed three sizes of the trebuchet by following the instructions.



2. I purchased this book after I saw the "Leonardo di Vinci" exhibit at my local museum. This particular exhibt showcased his inventions, not his artwork. There were many full size replicas of machines that he thought of that were actually built for this exhibit. I was intrigued by the bridge that could be built with just a few stick and got stronger the more weight you put on it. After putting the dowel sized replica together at the exhibit, I had to have one for myself to build. That's the primary reason I purchased this book. Now that I have it in my hands, I've been going over the different activities I can do with my baby siblings, and I'm so excited I have this book in hand. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in "how things work" and science in general.



3. I purchased this book as a cross curricular lesson. Although I teach science there is history, strategies, art, and exposure to building simple machines. I am using the book to make shoe box activities for me students and update myself on the wonders of Leonardo.



4. We are homeschoolers using this book in part of a unit on Inventors. My eight year old is able to read and enjoy the history behind the different inventions. I thought it would just be a "how to" book, but we are both really enjoying the well written historical information in this book. It really makes Leonardo and the world he lived in come alive. I like to just browse through the book and look at all of Leonardo's sketches as well.
   
   The pictures and instructions are fairly easy to follow. The inventions do use common items, but we don't always have the right "common" items at the right times. We have modified most of the directions to use what we actually have in our house. Today we wanted to make the camera obscura, but we just threw out our last empty Pringles can... guess we'll be eating lots of chips in the next week :)



5. Wonderful book for kids who love to learn. Great info and facts even for adults. Highly recommend.

No comments about The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Discovery Book: A Beginner's Guide to Building and Programming Robots.

No comments about Mixed-Media Dollhouses: Techniques and Ideas for Doll-size Assemblages.

5 comments about One Hundred and One Track Plans for Model Railroaders (Model Railroad Handbook, No. 3).

1. I used this book about 18 years ago for a very small N scale layout - 2.5' x 3' - since I lived in an apartment at the time. I have received many compliments on my layout even though it is now in the basement of my house next to my husband's O scale layout that is 17' x 9' and has been shown on home tours. As others have mentioned, the book covers how to make each of the layouts in all sorts of scales from N to O.



2. This book is an esential for planning. It would be most useful for those looking to build smaller RRs.



3. This is the BEST of the best,of model railroad plan books,you can get. All plans can easily converted to any scale,from Z to G.Just photo-copy each plan you like,clip out the parts of each plan you like,annd then draw out your layout site in scale squares,and the piece together your own dream layout!!



4. 101 Track Plans is full of great ideas that can be pieced together from the many plans to make your own unique track layout. Of course, they can also be used as shown for a quick start. Spending significant planning time on the front end can save you many hours and disappointment during the assembly phase.



5. I purchased this book back in about 1984 or so. I was getting ready to build my dream railroad, and I needed ideas.....I found loads of ideas in this book!!! I picked bits and pieces from several of the plans in this book, and combined them to come up with that dream layout!
   
   I used plan #46 The Jordan Valley RR, as the basis for my layout. However, it was too narrow, so I 'stretched' it out 2.5 feet further, making it 12' x 10.5'. I also needed a freight yard and engine facilities, so I added onto the plan on one end to include a 10' long yard and service area.
   
   I made a few other adjustments to track placement here and there also. Added in several extra industrial spurs, extended extra mainline trackage on another addition. And various other things. This was the first layout that I ever built without any sectional track. I had never used 'flex-track' before, but I did on this layout! I never knew it could be so simple! You can do so much more with 'flex' than with sectional you'd be astounded! If you're a 'sectional' user, give 'flex-track' a try....you'll love the ease of use as well as the results!
   
   Using 'flex' is like playing "connect the dots". Lay out your turnouts and crossings where they need to be, and then pencil in the connecting tracks. Once you have everything the way you want it, start the roadbed and track installation. Don't be afraid to experiment and try different things! Model railroading is fun!!!
   
   I built my 'dream layout' in 1985....and it hasn't changed much in all those years! A few minor tweaks here and there, but no major changes to the original. The only major changes have occurred in the freight yard and engine facilities, and that wasn't until last year (2008), as they had never been completely finished...all that's left to do now is some scenic work!
   
   So if you're considering build a new model railroad layout, or you're looking to tweak or modify your existing layout, grab this book for some great inspiration! You won't be disappointed in the least!!!
   
   Happy Railroading!

5 comments about Ship Modeling Simplified: Tips and Techniques for Model Construction from Kits.

1. If you are a beginer than this book is for you. Frank is the best of the best and explains
   everything very well. I very strongly recomend this book.



2. Being a novice model boat / shipbuilder , this book came highly recommended from others and is very informative to anyone starting out in the hobby . Very easy reading and makes a great reference . Lots of good detailed drawings explaining all aspects of building your model .



3. I got this book before I started working on my first ship. It was an easy book to read and explained things in ways that people not familar with ships can understand. It was great in giving you the basics of what tools you need to get started, what to look for in picking out a ship (especially early on as you do not want to pick one too diffcult which will dampen your spirit with hobby), definitions of many common terms, and the basics on most of the skills that are required to build your first ships. Basically this book builds a great foundation to start your hobby. As you move along in the hobby and get into more difficult ships, you can get additional books specific to certain skills which I would recommend. The more detailed books however, are just more detailed versions of the basic skills that are covered in this book. For anyone that is starting out, or thinking of starting out in the hobby, this book is a requirement.



4. I just received this book and I am very pleased with the content. Don't worry about tons of fine print and esoteric talk, just a step by step easy to follow, discussion of the contruction of a single model with side steps when needed. You can expand the lessons learned to any size model or even strike out with sxratch building some parts. A OK/



5. Great book for the first time model ship builder. Full for great tips and short cuts. It's worth the money just for the time you will save and the mistakes you would have made.