[MOC] 4x4 Volkswagen Beetle

[SilenWin]

Hello everyone!

I'm glad to introduce you my tribute to 10187 set!

Long story short: I'm a big fan of the ModelTeam series, and always wanted to build a MOC in this style, but I did not find inspiration. And a couple of weeks ago, I found xx1Andi's LDD file with PF modifications of the 10187 set on the Rebrickable. That MOC did not have a front suspension, complex steering system or any other technic features, but helps me a lot in understanding how all the electrics should be placed in the chassis. So I just started building the chassis with a new Control+ electrics, keeping in mind @Madoca 1977's offroader suspension and driveline setup

The main goal was to preserve the maximum appearance of the original with the maximum count of functions inside. In the end I was able to completely save the interior, all interior and exterior details and leave a place for 3 motorised functions and manual one.

I'm satisfied with final performance: model able to crawl in the forest and even on some rocks. With the help of the winch Beetle can move forward in almost every situation (within reason of course, it's not a lightweight crawler). On the high gear it's fun to see how suspension fulfills little bumps on the gravel road. 

Red color - dual driveline via 2x C+ XL motors that are not connected to one another, which allows car to simulate open differentials  (or turn around like a tank). New planetary hubs can handle with heavy weight (2250 g), even using RC4WD tires for 62mm wheels with the excellent grip properties of rubber.

Yellow - steering with a C+ L motor and common gear-rack setup, nothing special.

Purple - winch with 20:1 ratio via C+ L motor, capable of lifting a vehicle’s weight on a steep slope or in the air. Winch motor placed between upper front suspension arms, leaving space for some scale details under the hood (like windshield washer reservoir)

Spoiler

Blue - torsion bar suspension. 10L axles working like torsion bar with lower suspension arms and limiters firmly fixed on them. Suspension stiffness is adjusted by changing the distance between the arm and the limiter. It's the most simple and compact solution for this scale and weight.

Spoiler

 

 

Green color - 2-speed gearbox (1:1 and 3:1 ratios) with manual (HOG) switching via small actuator placed between rear suspension arms and driveshafts. Simple and stupid solution - just gears in the frame, that pulls them along the driveshafts with a help of actuator. Nothing special.

Spoiler

 

 

All these technic parts are connected only by technic bricks and system plates. Mainly by plates 
There was not so much free space for proper bracing, but some tests and crash-tests  shows me that all these system plates are tough enough to handle some jumps.

Spoiler

 

 

But the main headache was a new C+ hub. That was very hard to hide this enormous brick into the interior, so I was used to make holes in the backrest of the rear seat to fit the C+ hub's "ears". But otherwise I’m happy with the amount of details saved. I love final ModelTeam+Crator appearence 

Thank you for watching and feel free to leave comments below!
Hope you like it! Also you can find more photos here 

[Touc4nx]

Wow, that's truly amazing. 
I had built the lego version a long time ago and I tried to motorize it, however the car's weight was too big...
You managed to keep interior and exterior clean, without compromising performance. Congratulations 

[Attika]

Very clever build, I like it a lot.  Suspension is a piece of cake in itself. 

[Aleh]

HI @SilenWin! I understood suddenly that "angry" offroad tires is not a good idea for such an oldtimer, imo.

[SilenWin]

On 12/18/2019 at 5:19 PM, Touc4nx said:

Wow, that's truly amazing. 
I had built the lego version a long time ago and I tried to motorize it, however the car's weight was too big...
You managed to keep interior and exterior clean, without compromising performance. Congratulations 

Thank you! It's never too late to try again!

23 hours ago, Attika said:

Very clever build, I like it a lot.  Suspension is a piece of cake in itself. 

Thanks! I'm very pleased that such a technic specialist like you likes my solutions 

2 hours ago, Aleh said:

HI @SilenWin! I understood suddenly that "angry" offroad tires is not a good idea for such an oldtimer, imo.

And it's normal thing!  Personally I'd prefer to keep "clean look", but I wanted to try 3rd party tires and this was the only option that fit into the arches, however not until the end (they had to be modified a bit)

[SilenWin]

Sorry for bumping this thread, but old good VW underwent restyling and we shot a great video of him drowning in a stream

The main change - Beetle has lost the winch, but the gearbox is now motorized and gears are switched by pressing one button (high 1:1 and low 4:1), and all 4 motors are now С+ L
Everything else - all-wheel drive, planetary hubs and control via Control Plus remained unchanged. Later I will post detailed photos.

Many thanks to @Shurik for shooting this amazing video!

[howitzer]

Wow, I missed this when originally posted but it's great! I love the details and the functions both, though seeing it in the muddy creek made me cringe a bit for the damage the parts would sustain from such an abuse...

[SilenWin]

2 hours ago, howitzer said:

Wow, I missed this when originally posted but it's great! I love the details and the functions both, though seeing it in the muddy creek made me cringe a bit for the damage the parts would sustain from such an abuse...

No parts were damaged during the ride, but washing planetary hubs was kinda tricky
Plenty of soft brushes, foam soap, and dental irrigator helps me a lot

I apologize that I miss something during the washing, but axle/gears wear is a normal thing when we are talking about outdoor play. Water+electics also not such a big problem, Technic hub was always below the water level, and motors themselves have quite good water resistance (small clearances, a lot of lubrication, insufficient voltage for electropuncture in water).

[howitzer]

Just now, SilenWin said:

No parts were damaged during the ride, but washing planetary hubs was kinda tricky
Plenty of soft brushes, foam soap, and dental irrigator helps me a lot

I apologize that I miss something during the washing, but axle/gears wear is a normal thing when we are talking about outdoor play. Water+electics also not such a big problem, Technic hub was always below the water level, and motors themselves have quite good water resistance (small clearances, a lot of lubrication, insufficient voltage for electropuncture in water).

Haha, good for you for having the patience to wash the parts afterwards. The electronics indeed have pretty good water protection, though I guess the various gaps are not exactly watertight and might let some in which could corrode internals over time...