Werner Uniknick (Forestry Articulated Unimog)

[nico71]

A 1:15 LEGO replica of the Werner Uniknick, an unimog based articulated forestry truck from 70’s. Features 4×4 transmission, articulated steering with linear actuators, winch, fake engine and openable elements, built for the mid scale truck trial competition for the 2025 Buwizz Gathering.

Specs :
 

• Werner Uniknick UK52/60 Torpedo Cab (German info website)
• Dimensions : 30 x 16 x 19.5cm, Scale : 1/15, Wheels : Ø81mm
• Built for the 2025 Buwizz Gathering mid scale truck trial competition
• Power functions Motors (Drive : 2x L, Steering : 1x M, winch : 1x M)
• Battery source : Buwizz 2.0, compatible with any PFS 2.4GHz controller that connect to PFS motors
• 4×4 drivetrain with differentials (compatible with red 28t crown) and portal hub (gear : 20/24 and 8/24)
• Removable working OM616 i4 fake engine
• Steering with dual linear actuators, working steering wheel in the cab
• Suspension : central oscillating articulation limited by a connecting rod
• Openable hood and doors
• Winch with M-Motor and worm gear / 8t gear
• Control+ motor swapping possible with reworking the rear axle frame length

Ghost view of the functions :


See in action :

 

With my  irst participation to the buwizz Trial Truck competition, not the best but succeed to finish the race with almost every pieces (RIP the exhaust) !

 

Links and infos

More picture and instructions can be found at my website, and rebrickable with the partlist :

• https://www.nico71.fr/product/werner-uniknick/
• https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-241304/Nico71/werner-uniknick/#parts

You can use any electronic source, as long as it handles the PFS motors and with the same form factor as the buwizz 2.0. Using Control+ motor is possible but required to extend by one stud the rear chassis, and the hub will be placed on the top which can block the winch.

Feel free to comment, ask question 👍

[Aleh]

Why do I have a feeling that I'd already seen this wonderfull MOC before, several weeks/monts before? 

[Alex Ilea]

I promise guys, the model is so much more pretty IRL than these photos. I had the pleasure of seeing it at the Buwizz Gathering, and it's a stunner, accompanied by the Rally car. Well done Nico!

[N1K0L4]

Nice model, it was great seeing it live!

54 minutes ago, Alex Ilea said:

I promise guys, the model is so much more pretty IRL than these photos.

I agree (not to say the photos are bad ofc).

Did you get to use the winch anywhere outside? (both during the gathering and not)

[1gor]

Wow it is more than beautifull, it would be one of my to do list to stand with my 1:15 Unimog

[gyenesvi]

Such a cute model, I like the shaping a lot! It's a unique concept well fitted for the lego portals (as the hubs are not steered), and the articulated steering is nicely implemented with the linear actuators. Unfortunately, for competition use, the steering might be too slow, if you need to go back and forth, to clear the gates, no?

[TLCB]

Featured at

The Lego Car Blog

[Jundis]

I've never seem this Unimog-Variant before, really fascinating and perfectly captured again.

You just keep on improving your skills, just fantastic model!

Especially the clear red chassis looks so good in combination with the yellow cab.

[1gor]

7 hours ago, Jundis said:

 

Especially the clear red chassis looks so good in combination with the yellow cab.

Mostly they were painted like that, or in lime (new Werner Frost Trac is in lime)...

[Krxlion]

Well-packed, cute-looking model! Maybe it does not offer the best performance in terms of off-road capabilities, but you couldn't just go by and not notice it!

[nico71]

Thanks for your comment !

Here is a picture of the real one :

And some old footage : 

Indeed the articulated steering is not the best for trial truck, ultimately because the center of gravity are affected while turning and balancing. So as long as it remains on the support polygon, evertyhing is fine, but when it goes out, the model tip over easily.

The steering made by linear actuator make it accurate but a bit slow, so yes, back and forth movement is tedious. I can put a servo steering directly on the articulation, with buwizz servo control, I can have both accuracy and speed, but I do not want to always power on the steering actuation during a turning to keep some power to the motors. I find the linear actuator more aesthetically accurate to the reality (hydraulic in real). 

The portal hub is very usefull to have the output at the same height of the chassis but being a 4x4, it block a lot on the root as shown on the video. A 6x6 will have a better performance here, or a 8x8 Tatra style with a very short distance between axle 2 and 3.

I have not use the winch during the truck trial. I think it can help and we are authorized too, but to have some pulling power, it is geared down and so are slow, so the needed time to unwind, attach, wind, detach, wing will take more time that just try and retry to pass the obstacle I think.

At final, this is primarily a reproduction of a forest truck, that I bring to a trial truck competition so not the best in term of performance as not intended too.

Now I need to create sort of attachment to the front and/or rear ^^

 

Edited December 4, 2025 by nico71

[nico71]

After some demands, I have released a manual version of the Werner Uniknick with the removal of the electronics, and adding a Hand Of God and ratchet mechanism for the winch.

Both versions are included in a single purchase / download as they are very close, and are upgradable from and to each version. The Bill Of Material on Rebrickable have been updated for that with the adding of 14 parts for the manual version.

Ghost view of the functions (manual version) :

Link unchanged :

On my website : https://www.nico71.fr/product/werner-uniknick/

On rebrickable : https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-241304/Nico71/werner-uniknick/#details

[Cypr-21]

Hi Nico,

Wouldn't it be better for playability to use connecting rods instead of mini actuators ?

[nico71]

Totally, but the aim was to share the most of the parts between the two versions in order they are upgradable by just adding the motors without the need to all dismantling. The speed is not that bad with a gear multiplication and tiny knob. It also enable to lock the model in position which is important especially in articulated steering when offloading (even by pushing by hand, it avoid an obstacle turning the steering).

EDIT : I assume you talk specifically of the manual version

Edited December 17, 2025 by nico71