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For my 1000th post I want to present my best creation so far,
JCB 3CX Backhoe Loader
Construction equipment is my favorite Lego sub-theme.
Backhoe Loaders are my favorite type of machines, because they are like swiss army knife, they has everything.
The machine itself consist of 3 main sections:
- Tractor, for pulling or towing load,
- Loader, for loading loads into the trailers,
- Backhoe, very compact, very useful digging arm.
Building just one of this in Lego can be tricky, building all of this in one vehicle sounds impossible.
This is for sure my most complicated project ever.
For this model I used official JCB 3cx PDF sheet and scale it down to 1/13 scale on computer, and made .ldr file, to see does it look good and to have perfectly proportioned model.
Guidelines during construction phase:
On this model I had to put many functions as never before.
And to make every Linear Actuator work by deliver torque from appropriate motor.
And to make everything stiff to withstand great weight and pressure from cylinders, so rugged technic skeleton-frame was first in building list.
Next chalenge was to cover technic pieces with normal bricks, slopes and tiles, to achive realistic look, detailed and curved.
Aesthetic was of great importance in this model.
Equipment:
It has 8 Motors
It has 4 Receivers
It has 7 Linear Actuators
It has 4 PF Extension Cables
It has 2 Pneumatic cylinders, can't forget good old pneumatics
It has 2 new rechargeable Battery boxes set 8878
It is operated by new speed remote control, which can adjust speed of the motors in 7 speeds, so the tractor can accelerate gradualy, slow down gradually or drive really slow, which looks great, or fast if needed.
Model featuring:
-Drive 1 XL Motor
-Steer 1 M Motor
-Loader rise 1 M Motor
-Loader Bucket 1 M Motor
-Backhoe rotate 1 M Motor
-Backhoe rise 1 M Motor
-Backhoe Dipper 1 M Motor
-Backhoe Bucket 1 M Motor
-Supporting Legs 2 Pneumatic Cylinders
Tractor:
On pictures it looks compact, but i assure you it is a really massive model, packed with parts very tight, and thus, very heavy.
Details are there to improve overall appearance, details inluding metallic silver steps, tiles on every stud, no-sliping floor in the cabin, detailed interior, dish covering on rims, printed round headlights, curvy fenders, curvy roof, sloped hood.
This is my first model which has stickers, you can see for yourself are they success or failure, personally, I like them, they give another realism note, imo.
Battery boxes are hidden in black brick-built boxes, which is supposed to be accumulators on real vehicle, and the steps.
Front axle is tiltable, like on real machine, so the two back wheels are always keeping the contact with the ground.
Steered wheels can turn near the angle of 45 degrees.
Drive has optional second differential, to help spread the toque to two diffs instead on only one.
Drive has 2 stage reduction, with final hub reduction to keep diff(s) with lower torque.
For the back wheels I have chosen the biggest available tires from set Power Puller. These big rugged tires are perfect for this vehicle, Big surface is ideal to spread its big weight and avoid any slippage.
I wanted to have a gearbox, but the I have received speed remote control, so I had practically 7 froward and 7 reverse speeds! Nice!
Here is how I did drive:
Front Loader:
Front loader bucket is made out of the bricks, every existing bucket is too small. This one is made from black bricks in 24 wide scale.
Loader has 2 LA's to lift the frame with bucket, and two LA's to operate bucket angle.
It was one of the trickiest sections to build, mainly because of the extremely limited space, and problems with delivering power to all of the LA's.
Here is how the bucket operates with two M Motors (the third one is for steering with pulley:
Backhoe:
Backhoe was a great challenge, too. I has to be narrow, strong and slick. Also it has to house 3 M Motors, 3 Linear Actuators, their cables, and to look good.
I made it 5 studs wide, it has good movements range, and I am very happy with the result.
Conclusion:
I am very impressed with the real Backhoe Loader, and I have always been. So this model was of great importance to me, and I really enjoyed making it!
I have already build one backhoe loader, but it was very basic, limited in functions and not very detailed.
But this one, I think, is completed with a much better result, which is proportional by the number of bricks used, time invested, and experience involved.
I had to change the frame design 3 times to make it able to hold few motors, battery boxes, cables and gears and axles, which goes into the frame, and to be supper strong, and to make all parts free from bumping into each other.
Price of the final model...somewhere near the price of few 8285 crane trucks, hard labor not included.
NOT ALL THE PICTURES ARE SHOWED YET. I HAVE TO UPLOAD PICTURES OF THE FINISHED MODEL!
Dimensions:
Weight: 5 kg
Lenght for riding: 60 cm
Lenght with arm extend: 80 cm
Width: 19.2cm
Height: 32 cm
Parts used: approx: 4000 pieces
Building ime: 3 months
Thanks for reading and please tell me what do you think about it!
Edited by Milan, 18 November 2009 - 09:21 PM.
...8 PF functions+1 pneumatic 
