42140 - App-controlled Transformation Vehicle

[Ngoc Nguyen]

From promobricks.de:

This vehicle could best be described as a driver's seat with two huge chains on the left and right. Red rubber studs are attached to the black chains, which are apparently new. The transformation vehicle is generally in white and black with red accents. You can control the vehicle via Control +, as the name suggests, it can also be transformed in a certain way. The set consists of 772 parts and costs 129.99 euros.

Set number:  42140
Name:  App-controlled transformation vehicle
Number of parts:  772
Release date:  March 01, 2022
RRP:  129.99 euros

Edited October 10, 2021 by Ngoc Nguyen

[R0Sch]

The so called "new red rubber attachments" are probably these:

[Void_S]

Possibly it was menat not the rubber (EV3-mindstorms, right?) attachemnts but the chails themselves, e.g. "Caterillar's caterpillers" (I was waiting for it, he-he ) but in black?
I have no idea what might mean "transformation" here, but having the fact of "two chained treads/caterpillers + a seat inbetween them" we may have two options:

• transformation of some body parts or attachemets (whatever it could be - doors, hinges, etc.), or a some variant of a constcution tarkes vechile which may have "transport" and "working" shapes.
• transformation of tracks geometry, which may be more tasty for RC-controlled toys - like, let's it be said, a "ripsaw" variant which may have flatened long tracks to run on more or less flat surafces (like A models of 42095 and it's precessor) and high-rised all-terrain crawler able to climb over the high obstacles (B-models, hello!).

[Zerobricks]

I imagine there's an internal mechanisem that allows you to change the track shape, for example from flat to triangle or maybe two sets of tracks with one rotating allowing the model to climb better over obstacles.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

I think it's gonna be a 42065 or 42095 clone. Or variant.

Also, I've noticed that all of the C+ sets so far have their own unique motor combinations.

- 42099: 1 L, 2 XL
- 42100: 1 L, 2 XL to one hub, and 3 L, 1 XL to another hub
- 42109: 1 L, 1 XL
- 42114: 1 L, 1 XL, 1 Angular
- 42124: 2 L
- 42129: 3 L, 1 M
- 42131: 2 L, 2 Angular.

If the pattern does exist, then this set will get its own motor combination as well. I think it's gonna be either 3 L, 2 L 1 M, or 1 L 2  M.
 

[Tcm0]

34 minutes ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

If the pattern does exist, then this set will get its own motor combination as well. I think it's gonna be either 3 L, 2 L 1 M, or 1 L 2  M.

It will only have 2 motors because of the price.

[Rebel_Lego]

51 minutes ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

I think it's gonna be a 42065 or 42095 clone. Or variant.

Also, I've noticed that all of the C+ sets so far have their own unique motor combinations.

- 42099: 1 L, 2 XL
- 42100: 1 L, 2 XL to one hub, and 3 L, 1 XL to another hub
- 42109: 1 L, 1 XL
- 42114: 1 L, 1 XL, 1 Angular
- 42124: 2 L
- 42129: 3 L, 1 M
- 42131: 2 L, 2 Angular.

If the pattern does exist, then this set will get its own motor combination as well. I think it's gonna be either 3 L, 2 L 1 M, or 1 L 2  M.
 

I think TLG just chooses whatever motor fits the best.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

30 minutes ago, Tcm0 said:

It will only have 2 motors because of the price.

Interestingly this set has approximately twice the parts of 42109 (463 pieces) and 42124 (374 pieces) AND the same price. Is it a boon?

Edited October 10, 2021 by Ngoc Nguyen

[Ngoc Nguyen]

I'm thinking of a potential setup like this:

There are two motors, and each of them connects to a differential which drives the tracks. The differentials serve as torque detectors. When the model hits something and increase the torque required for the tracks, the differentials will redirect the transmission into a gearbox or drivetrain that changes the track geometry into a form that allows it to climb obstacles.

[pleegwat]

3 minutes ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

I'm thinking of a potential setup like this:

There are two motors, and each of them connects to a differential which drives the tracks. The differentials serve as torque detectors. When the model hits something and increase the torque required for the tracks, the differentials will redirect the transmission into a gearbox or drivetrain that changes the track geometry into a form that allows it to climb obstacles.

Sounds interesting, but I worry the model would start sliding sidewards instead. Or if only one track is blocked, that one transforms but the other does not leading to a skewed configuration.

[Tcm0]

3 hours ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

Interestingly this set has approximately twice the parts of 42109 (463 pieces) and 42124 (374 pieces) AND the same price. Is it a boon?

It might have more pieces because the track pieces are small. But I'm not sure how they would make the transformation with just 2 motors. Maybe it's a manual transformation?

[Void_S]

16 hours ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

I'm thinking of a potential setup like this:

There are two motors, and each of them connects to a differential which drives the tracks. The differentials serve as torque detectors. When the model hits something and increase the torque required for the tracks, the differentials will redirect the transmission into a gearbox or drivetrain that changes the track geometry into a form that allows it to climb obstacles.

Alternatively, it may be just can be a more simple scheme with a "bogie" tandem arm holding the front upper and bottom wheels:

• Normally, the arm is horizontal, so all three sprockets are flat-lined (both front ones, that act as front+middle, and the rear driven one).
• When some obstacle is here, and the attack cannot climb over, just bumping and pushing it, the bogie arm rotates due to pushing from behind, and the front sprocket goes up, while the middle one is pushed down. So, the tracks become temporary triangle-shaped, until the obstacle is passed.

 

• Red - bogie triangle arm
• Black - bogie mount point
• Blue - a driven sprocket with "pushing" static arm
• Orange - the tracks

[Johnny1360]

So maybe transforms between high speed mode and climbing mode. I would sure hope for more than just a simple track setup change but I know better than to set my expectations too high. I always end up being disappointed, lol.

Edited October 11, 2021 by Johnny1360

[Ngoc Nguyen]

3 hours ago, Void_S said:

When some obstacle is here, and the attack cannot climb over, just bumping and pushing it, the bogie arm rotates due to pushing from behind, and the front sprocket goes up, while the middle one is pushed down. So, the tracks become temporary triangle-shaped, until the obstacle is passed.

That sounds interesting, but does the geometry change improve the ability to climb over obstacles in any way?

[Void_S]

1 hour ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

That sounds interesting, but does the geometry change improve the ability to climb over obstacles in any way?

My idea was to beat @desert752's famous "desktop step", a square-shaped levels rise/drop as an example of the most challenging "indoor" obstacle.

• Has only a pure-vertical surface
• Has a minimal possible traction

The idea is to put the foremost sprocket higher than the obstacle, so it "takes a step" moving higher than the obstacle, and then, when the middle sprocket comes closer to the edge, it retracts under its weight and all-way flat tracks just move forward.

I will try to book some time and build it to see how it works. In a dedicated off-top topic, for sure.

Edited October 11, 2021 by Void_S

[msk6003]

Is it necessary to transform into a way that goes beyond obstacles? How about this?
Or, it will like 8892.

[Void_S]

On 10/12/2021 at 7:47 AM, msk6003 said:

Is it necessary to transform into a way that goes beyond obstacles? How about this?
Or, it will like 8892.

Is there a way to bring some pictures here, may be some screenshots? The site is not reachevbe for me even via various VPNs 

[Ngoc Nguyen]

10 minutes ago, Void_S said:

Is there a way to bring some pictures here, may be some screenshots? The site is not reachevbe for me even via various VPNs 

 

[Maaboo the Witch]

Right now this thing sounds like a redo of 8229.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Just now, Maaboo35 said:

Right now this thing sounds like a redo of 8229.

How does 8229 transform?

[Maaboo the Witch]

13 minutes ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

How does 8229 transform?

The two sections (cockpit, undercarriage) can separate, with the cockpit section becoming a boat or aircraft of some kind (it's not clear what it's actually supposed to be).

I know it's probably not a literal interpretation of the new set's functions, but it's the closest analog I can think of given the description.

[TeamThrifty]

18 minutes ago, Maaboo35 said:

Right now this thing sounds like a redo of 8229.

[Void_S]

Well, 8229's transformation was more a modular rebudilg process, like some sets (mostly cranes) where the B-model was a differnt superstructure on the same chassis.

However, unfortunatelly, I does not deny a possibility of re-relaese of such or similar set... 

Edited October 13, 2021 by Void_S

[SNIPE]

I hope that lego recolors the new spike prime essentials small motor in gray and uses it in a set. Its nice because its 3Lx3Lx4L.

[Jundis]

@SNIPE Looks more like 3 x 3&4 x 5 to me:

Still, the pricings sounds reasonable for a Control+ set with 700+ pieces.

Promobricks mods speculated in a video about using the "moving hub" with 2 integrated motors: https://www.lego.com/de-de/product/move-hub-88006