[MOC] Mini 42043 - Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245

[Ngoc Nguyen]

 

2025 marks the 10th year anniversary of the release of 42043, the most iconic Technic set of the modern era of Technic. It is also my 10th year here in Eurobricks. It is no coincidence: I joined this forum because I came across Jim's excellent review of the original 42043. Therefore, nothing is more fitting that doing a mini 42043 to celebrate the occasion. This model is meant to be revealed on August 1st to match the exact date that 42043 was released, but due to delay in custom clearance, the parts to build this didn't arrive until last week, Oh well, better late than never. At least it's still 2025!

DEVELOPMENT

I know what you're thinking. It's that guy who does the mini replica again, he's probably gonna yap about how difficult the design process was, and how he overcame it, so I'm just gonna scroll through. Well then I'm not gonna bore you with that. I'll go straight up to the interesting parts.

 

THE GRILL

The original 42043, highly regarded as it is, still has some aspects that can be improved upon. For me, one of them is the grill. Mercedes-Benz Arocs almost always have 4-slit grills. I'm aware that there are version with 3 slits, but the 4-slit version is more common. So I set out to do that. The bumper has 2 slits, and the cabin has 2 slits, just like the real thing.

 

To achieve the slant in the bottom slit, I have to use some unusual connection techniques. This is how the bumper look from behind. 

 

CABIN LOCK

Another downside of the original cabin is that there's no firm point to grab it. The crane can move, the bed can move, the cabin can move. Therefore, I added the locks behind the cabin.

 

THE CHASSIS

In my previous 4 axle truck, the Iveco T-Way, I managed to put pendular suspensions into the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th axle. I couldn't add that to the 1st axle because of structural constraint. That is the limit that I'm determined to break this time, and I did it. Both front axles are steerable AND have pendular axles.

 

I'm very proud that the chassis can accommodate pendular suspension in 4 axles AND a 6 cylinder inline engine AND steering axles with two different radii AND the outriggers AND a linear actuator for the bed.

 

This is how the chassis looks.

 

CLAMSHELL BUCKET

The clamshell buckets are probably designed to be operated with pneumatic. I set myself a challenge: make it work with gears. Does it work? Yes it does!

 

Watch everything in action here:

 

THE END, OR IS IT?

Normally, that would be the end of the introduction post. But I think that much wouldn't be enough for me, and it wouldn't be enough for you either. I have done this mini replica thing for a while, and the formula is getting stale. I wanna do something different to break out of the previous boundaries. So I took a look back on the original 42043, and check if there's any other thing about it I can do. Then it hit me. Remember that thing in the back of the box? The thing that used to be a feature of Technic but is no longer since 2024? Yeah this thing.

 

So what did I do? I created a B model too!!!! Please welcome Mini 42043 B - Mercedes-Benz Articulated Construction Truck!

 

You can get both instructions here: https://reb.li/m/240252

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Big vs Small

 

[crazy technic]

yet another great looking mini model, does your B-model also use the same pieces as the A model?

[Ngoc Nguyen]

2 minutes ago, crazy technic said:

yet another great looking mini model, does your B-model also use the same pieces as the A model?

Yes it does! It's a proper B model!!

[Timorzelorzworz]

This is awesome 

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Just now, Timorzelorzworz said:

This is awesome 

Thank you! You're awesome too!!

[Jundis]

This gotta be you best model yet!

Perfect shaping and great functions, also implementing the suspension in this medium-sized model, just whoa. Hats off!

[Ngoc Nguyen]

10 minutes ago, Jundis said:

This gotta be you best model yet!

Perfect shaping and great functions, also implementing the suspension in this medium-sized model, just whoa. Hats off!

Thanks a lot!

[1gor]

Looking what you made, now I can took 42043 apart for my future project (in bigger scale). So far I didn't have a heart to take it apart, but now I know if I decide to have Arocs, there is better alternative in Volvo 42175 scale.

Looks very very good Ngoc. 

[gyenesvi]

This is wild, densely functional and premium with that B model, looks awesome! You do really take this game of minification to the limit!

[Paul B Technic]

Great work as always and I love that you also made the B model.

[J159753]

This looks wonderful, as ever – congratulations!
(Can I raise a side-issue, though? Imgur is no longer available in the UK, and Imgur-hosted images are not visible on UK computers. Please could posters consider using other image services if it's convenient for them to do so? Thanks! https://help.imgur.com/hc/en-us/articles/41592665292443-Imgur-access-in-the-United-Kingdom)