[MOC] [WIP] LEGO 6542 Launch and Load Seaport Bigger

[2GodBDGlory]

Nice work! Have you considered these rims?

Part 44292

I don't have them, but as I understand it, they support Bronco tires (and all the others that size), and also wheel hubs. They're only available in different greys, but if you only use them for the inner front wheels, I suppose they wouldn't be visible anyways

[Jundis]

Functionality should always go over form. So the top fork design should be the better way for the weight goal. With motors or battery box in the back, I think the tipping over isn't a problem.

Bronco tires and the inner rims like @2GodBDGlory mentioned, is the way to go here. Didn't even think about these :D

Also with the long linear actuator it should have enough power. Maybe do some prelim tests first with the weight.

*Edit: With that longer wheelbase, a big steering angle should be also top priority

Edited January 3 by Jundis

[karmadrome]

This is such a cool project, Kyle. I love this set, too, I recently had it for the first time in a bulk lot, together with the smaller 6541 and 6540, as well as the 6543 Marina. This is definitely the best Town set of all time. Seeing this come to life in Technic is brilliant, I'm eagerly following this thread :)

 

I love the coupling mechanism for the fifth wheel - would you mind sharing this design? 

Edited January 12 by karmadrome

[Thirdwigg]

On 1/3/2026 at 11:13 AM, 2GodBDGlory said:

Nice work! Have you considered these rims?

Part 44292

I don't have them, but as I understand it, they support Bronco tires (and all the others that size), and also wheel hubs. They're only available in different greys, but if you only use them for the inner front wheels, I suppose they wouldn't be visible anyways

Thanks for the idea. No, I did not consider this part. I don't have them either, but I am going to try a different size wheel first. I would like to use current part if I can, but I'll keep this one in the back of my mind.

On 1/3/2026 at 3:01 PM, Jundis said:

Functionality should always go over form. So the top fork design should be the better way for the weight goal. With motors or battery box in the back, I think the tipping over isn't a problem.

Bronco tires and the inner rims like @2GodBDGlory mentioned, is the way to go here. Didn't even think about these :D

Also with the long linear actuator it should have enough power. Maybe do some prelim tests first with the weight.

*Edit: With that longer wheelbase, a big steering angle should be also top priority

I have been tinkering with some ideas, but nothing is perfect yet. I'll keep at it, but the top fork design, is gaining some momentum with me. I'll give the forks a little more work.

1 hour ago, karmadrome said:

This is such a cool project, Kyle. I love this set, too, I recently had it for the first time in a bulk lot, together with the smaller 6541 and 6540, as well as the 6543 Marina. This is definitely the best Town set of all time. Seeing this come to life in Technic is brilliant, I'm eagerly following this thread :)

 

I love the coupling mechanism for the fifth wheel - would you mind sharing this design? 

Thanks! I'm glad you like it, and I hope following this project does not lead to disappointment for you. I never had 6540 or 6543; I figured after my parents got 6542 that was all I needed to ask for.

I'll see if I can add a little render of the coupler. It's really quite simple. 

OK, I think the truck is done. I have made a final part order (with some ship and forklift parts thrown in as well), and I'll get it published soon. I couldn't decided on a 2 or 3 axle, so I make both! This is why projects take me so long.....

I have a couple of details to fix (mirrors, dashboard, wheel hubs), but I like where this ended. There are 2478 parts for these three. I hope you all like it too, and I hope you see some of the truck from 6542 coming out in the design, while giving a little update and technification to the build.

[Thirdwigg]

The Truck and Trailer are done!

Instructions are available at Rebrickable.com. 

Now this project is starting to feel like it is more than just containers. The full truck and trailer is just over 60 cm long and features the following:

Truck

• Steering with HOG
• Rear wheel drive with fake I5 engine
• Working fifth wheel with spring loaded HOG
• Tilting cab
• Opening doors
• Opening grill

Trailer

• Designed to hold two 6542 Bigger containers
• Front container locking mechanism with HOG
• Rear container locking mechanism with HOG
• Three axle trailing arm suspension
• Mach Anthem compatible fifthwheel and kingpin

And a little video to show all the functions.

Also, I posted a little video that show more about the tractor as well. Sorry it was a little late.

 

Now I'm going to get back to the forklift and ship. And the crane.

[Jundis]

Fantastic, both truck and tractor.

Even though I'm an adult, there is suddenly the inner urge to maneuver the fully loaded trailer backwards into a narrow space ... :D 

[XTN]

The whole project is impressive and the result so far is amazing.
I really hope you will finish the whole harbour with all components and have the opportunity to show it somewhere to a greater audience.

Personally I love that scale, almost all my vehicles share it too, so I'm really hyped about it and the first impression already was jaw-dropping.

The truck and the trailer are awesome. A two axle truck and a three axle trailer resembles perfectly what we see on European roads. I am happy you chose that combination.
What impresses me most, is that, even if the MACK is long gone now, you still come up with improvements like your fifth wheel mechanism.
That mechanism is not really crucial for the project, but it's simple and adds so much playability, that I ask myself: Why hasn't this been invented years ago?

Another cool detail is the steering of the truck using that unusual orientation of the rack. That's another genius solution that is simple and saves a lot of space and gears.
And... please correct me if I'm wrong, but... does the geometry of that solution even add Ackermann characteristics to the steering?

Imho so far every component of the whole project is a little gem on its own and could easily be an official set.

Keep up the great work!

Edited January 25 by XTN

[Thirdwigg]

21 hours ago, Jundis said:

Fantastic, both truck and tractor.

Even though I'm an adult, there is suddenly the inner urge to maneuver the fully loaded trailer backwards into a narrow space ... :D 

The number of times I have done this in the past two months is bonkers. You're not alone in that desire.

6 hours ago, XTN said:

The whole project is impressive and the result so far is amazing.
I really hope you will finish the whole harbour with all components and have the opportunity to show it somewhere to a greater audience.

Personally I love that scale, almost all my vehicles share it too, so I'm really hyped about it and the first impression already was jaw-dropping.

The truck and the trailer are awesome. A two axle truck and a three axle trailer resembles perfectly what we see on European roads. I am happy you chose that combination.
What impresses me most, is that, even if the MACK is long gone now, you still come up with improvements like your fifth wheel mechanism.
That mechanism is not really crucial for the project, but it's simple and adds so much playability, that I ask myself: Why hasn't this been invented years ago?

Another cool detail is the steering of the truck using that unusual orientation of the rack. That's another genius solution that is simple and saves a lot of space and gears.
And... please correct me if I'm wrong, but... does the geometry of that solution even add Ackermann characteristics to the steering?

Imho so far every component of the whole project is a little gem on its own and could easily be an official set.

Keep up the great work!

Thanks @XTN, I'm glad you like the project. I too, hope I finish the whole project, including the harbor.

Yeah, the scale was the right decision. Even if I don't finish the whole project, I'm getting some nice MOCs done that match well some of my other builds. 

I came up with the steering rack orientation a long time ago as it solved a lot of problems with builds with the engine right ahead of the steering axle. I'm not sure if it correctly does Ackermann, but the wheels are not parallel throughout the rotation.

Hopefully I am able to continue making fun solutions as the project continues.

Thanks for the continued encouragement everyone. 

[Thirdwigg]

Alright, I still have a lot to do for this project so we keep moving forward.

Due to the scale of the project, I am completing projects in the order of least to greatest part investment. Thus, the forklift is the next on the desktop.

I was able to spend a couple of hours on the forklift over the last two weeks, and the result was significant. I first started with an actual scale document to figure out what space I can use. It was clear scaling up the original 6542 forklift was going to be too short to be able to add the functions I wanted and not tip over. So I'm going a little longer. I used this image from Hyster, and plugged it into Sariel's scaling tool.

Note the size of the container is almost perfect when the scale is set for the 68mm tires from LEGO. This confirmed the question I had a couple of posts back about what wheels and tires should I use.

I'm going to use this tire.

I built two drafts, and came out with a chassis and fork that I think will work.

Above, you can see the general idea loaded with the lightest container. The PF battery box is placed low, and as far back as I could get it. Steering runs just above the BB, and has about 50 degrees of pivot to each direction. The turning diameter is pretty great, even if the rear frame could be a little stronger.

The gearbox on the top will run an up and down selection for the forks elevation (close in photo) and the fork angle (far in photo). When I tested everything last night, the functions move too fast, so I am going to relocate the clutch and add in a reduction gearset at the back.

I was most concerned about the weight the forks could handle while holding a container, and I think it will work. I put great care into the rigidity of the boom mount, and the first stage. The result was worth the care as I think this is going to work. I put no care into the fork stage, so I will pick up some more rigidity of the full assembly with some changes to that part. With a little more work here, I think the complete fork head will work just as I want.

Then I loaded up the forklift with the heaviest container and tested that. The forklift tipped until I gave it three tires of counterweight, and cleared another container (a build priority).

This tells me this setup will work, and I have some work to do to add more weight on the build. This should be fine. Though as I build the body work, it will be a situation where when there are three or four different part options that will work for the project, use all of them to get a little more ballast. Hopefully the bodywork will be able to reference the original design too.

I now feel comfortable enough to start on the Studio file for this build as I will help me optimize the frame, functions, and part placement.

This was good day. I was concerned I was not going to be able to get this to work the way I wanted.

Next up, I'll show you the draft of the boat, and what I'm thinking for the crane.