[TC20] - looking for something suitable

[anyUser]

Doing a classic technic set appeared to obvious. Therefore I went to other sets from my past to find one that might be sufficiently interesting to re-create.

Last weekend I started with Mobile Crane. That was always fascination as it has the boom sloped from two hinged plates.
Instead of four pair of wheels from the original set I chose tracks. The length of the rubber would define the scale.
My attempt will be about 75% (14 studs instead of 8 for the chassis) larger than the original:

There is plenty of space inside to allow for a linear actuator to adjust inclination of the boom.

 

[Jurss]

Cool, but what is original?

[Seasider]

What set number is this?

[anyUser]

3 hours ago, anyUser said:

Mobile Crane

643

[msk6003]

I'm sure this is oldest set in this competition now.

[Scoar Sonander]

Me when I see a set number with less than 4 digits: That's OLD!

[anyUser]

I am considering to shrink the crane - without changing to smaller, System wheels.

In the meantime, I started another project that was in my mind for long time:

Draft for the base came together quickly:

[anyUser]

Next thing I addressed was the excavator arm. The original one is very sleek. I could easily copy the setup:

 

[anyUser]

I sketched an outline of the original superstructure (right, orange beams) onto the new tracks:

Current setup is less squar-ish than the original one using angled beams at the front and a curved panel in the back:

The few pneumatic elements will fit in nicely:

(Do I need to recover the pneumatic from 42053 since the one shown has anti-studs?)

Draft tubing - I didn't want to cut my pneumatic tubes (yet):

This is current status:

I'm not fully convinced respectively satisfied: The overall appearance differs because studless beams are narrow compared to studded ones. Therefore my build seems to 'miss substance'. Also the body of the original excavator has a height of 3 bricks compared to 3M for the rebuild. Adding one more layer would congest the current layout.

Last, the superstructure is narrow compraed to the tracks since new ones are wider. This has considerable impact on overall appearance.

Edited June 20, 2021 by anyUser

[Rebel_Lego]

Are you keeping that big yellow brick or is that just temporary, cause I think it would look better without it

[anyUser]

2 minutes ago, Rebel_Lego said:

Are you keeping that big yellow brick or is that just temporary, cause I think it would look better without it

The yellow plate is just a base / stand to have some stability during construction of the superstructure..

[Rebel_Lego]

@anyUser aah, ok. Looking good so far!

[Brickend]

@anyUser I agree with your point on substance - I think you have to build differently to create the same look in certain circumstances; it's sometimes tough to know what to prioritize.

[Jundis]

Looks good so far :-)

One suggestion/question: Did you try to recreate the mechanism and the bucket? It geatly enhances the movement, as the "open" position right now is quite restricted in your built ;-)

[anyUser]

All: thanks for your kind remarks.

2 hours ago, Jundis said:

Did you try to recreate the mechanism and the bucket? It geatly enhances the movement, as the "open" position right now is quite restricted in your built

(Not sure if I understand your comment about "open" correctly)

I am using the bucket from 42055, 42121. As the attachment point(s) are diffenrent from the old shovel I used almost the first and most simple 'lever' that I came by:

I would rate the angle of the bucket towards the boom as similar. However, the shape of the new one at the front / teeth has some impact on the appearance.

[Jundis]

Maybe you can get some inspiration from my mod of the 42121 ;-) --> Thread

[anyUser]

A remark on the non-progress of the excavator:

old & new version were placed near my desk: I wouldn't like the width of the new tracks. Eventually I made an attempt with the old ones (similar to what Toitoine did for the bulldozer). As consequence it would have been necessary to narrow the whole base, probably skip the (large) turntable. But this would have made the model similar to the original which didn't feel OK to me.

Secondly I didn't want to cut the pneumatic tubes to clean up the tubing. Would you imagine that I couldn't find proper lengths in mine not-so-small collection?