Portable Chess Set

Last week I received a comment from RAKRONDEWL who was suggesting me a different type of locking mechanism. At first it seemed like overkill to me, but then he made realize that some people want to bring this chess set with them even on their most challenging trips and want to make sure it doesn’t accidentally open. So I decided to create this update and present the “travelling locking system”. Although a little less visually appealing than the standard one (…at least in my opinion…), it’s super secure. In fact the only way to open the compartment is to pull out one third of the technic pin. So just including a few more pieces into this set would give you this additional locking mechanism that can be implemented in seconds. You just need to switch very few pieces and you are ready to go!

Thank you RAKRONDEWL!

Hi everyone,

so today is my last day on the front page. This week has been amazing. Lots of new supporters, lots of great comments… WOW! I wanted to thank the staff who gave this project a chance to be more visible and gain so many supporters (we made it to “Popular this Week”!). Of course, I wanted to thank all the new and old supporters for believing in this idea! I would like to ask all of you to please share this project or at least let me know if you can think of some blog or website or whatever that could be interested in taking a look at it, so I can try and contact them.

Also, I’m very happy because a few days back LEGO released an update for LDD with more than 300 new pieces. That’s great and I hope it’s a sign that they’re keeping it up and running a little more. Thank you LEGO!

If you haven’t already, please consider supporting this idea and, if it’s not too much to ask, I would love to get to 100 followers! See if you can help me out with that, too! ;)

Thank you all, again!

WOW! Today this project has been Staff Picked and reached 200+ supporters. I’m very happy and wanted to thank everyone who took the time to check it out and support it so far.

For those of you who haven’t already, I suggest you take a look to the updates below. I think the two alternatives (BASIC and PREMIUM) add quite a lot to the original idea. I love the premium version cause it’s stronger and better looking. The basic, on the other hand, would be so cheap and light... Anyway, the difference in terms of pieces is so little that this could even be a “2 in 1” kind of set.

Thank you again, and, if you have the chance, please spread the word!

Hey everyone,

I’m really happy and proud to announce that this project has been featured in the February 2016 issue of the “UNDERATED for LEGO Ideas”. Here’s the link:

http://silentmode.tv/commentary/2016/02/17/underated-february-2016/

You will also find three more projects that are really nice and you might want to support them, too. So please go check this article out!

A great thanks to SilentMode.tv!

PREMIUM version (see description below)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138638656@N06/albums/72157662778585943

BASIC version (see description below)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138638656@N06/albums/72157665047448716

ORIGINAL version

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138638656@N06/albums/72157665047927326

All images

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138638656@N06/albums/72157664768109031

Here's two possible alternatives to the original project: BASIC and PREMIUM.

The BASIC version (230 pieces) is smaller (no frame around the board) and thus cheaper/lighter than the original. The compartments are completely detachable. They have four studs on the corners so they can be attached under the board and "locked" with 2 tiles (one on each side). When detached and turned around, the compartments serve as supports for the board.

The PREMIUM version has a third layer of plates to strengthen the board (now 1 brick thick) and it has some 2x2 and 2x3 plates attached to the bottom, mostly to secure the hinges to their compartments, but also to help keeping the base plates together. This way it’s overall much sturdier. This version is made of 303 pieces. I would also include in the set some optional 1x2 tiles (32 more pieces) with letters and numbers (see last image) so one can even have an annotated chessboard, when needed!

Hope you enjoyed this update!

If you haven’t supported this project yet, please consider doing so. ;)