This week, visit Web sites where you will learn how to use building blocks to build electronic circuits

When I was a kid, my favorite toys were building blocks or variations thereof. During my youth, I built miniature architecture using wooden and plastic blocks, Lincoln Logs, a Gilbert Erector Set, an Elgo American Skyline Plastic Construction Set, a Kenner's Modern Girder & Panel Building Set, and Elgo American Plastic Bricks.

Claude Rieth is the creator of an electronics experimentation lab using components embedded in LEGOs.

My favorite, Elgo American Plastic Bricks, were "a toy creation from the 1960s consisting of interlocking uniformly-sized red and white plastic brick pieces. Each piece had sockets inside and studs on top that allowed it to be assembled with other pieces. Accessories included operating white plastic windows and doors and green cardboard roof panels." The American Plastic Bricks are very similar to today's LEGOs, which kids and adults are using to build anything and everything imaginable these days.

Did you know that there is free LEGO Digital Designer software that allows you to "build absolutely anything with virtual LEGO bricks right on your computer? Then you can buy the real bricks to build your creation and you can share it with thousand of other LEGO fans."

I don't know if Claude Rieth used software to come up with his Lego creation, but it is very cool, nonetheless. Claude created an electronics experimentation lab using electronic parts embedded in the LEGOs. You build electronic circuits by laying out the electronic LEGO components and wiring them up. If you can read or translate German, also check out the LegoElektronikExperimentierKasten Web page.

70^th Anniversary of W1AW's Death

Woody Woodward, K3VSA, reminded me that today is the 70th anniversary of the death of the ARRL's founder, Hiram Percy Maxim, who died after a sudden illness on February 17, 1936.

John Johnston, W3BE, has a page on the QCWA Web site that locates the burial site of the former W1AW. Also, Wikipedia has a short bio about Maxim and the Egg Harbor Township (NJ) Web site reprints an article from The Radiogram, Vol. 1, No. 2, June 1915, written by Maxim that describes his ham radio station in words and pictures.

Until next time, keep on surfin'.

Editor's note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, used his Gilbert Erector Set to build miniature ham radio towers! To discuss radio towers and other cool stuff, contact Stan by e-mailing him or adding comments to his blog.

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