[MOC] Mini 42030 - VOLVO L350H

[Ngoc Nguyen]

The mini replica game is taken to the next limit: now with pneumatics! This model was meant to be published lated this year originally, but since there's a cool loader coming to City, I want to showcase mine!

 

MODEL CHOICE

I'm well aware that the original 42030 is actually based on a Volvo L350F. However, that model is now out of production and has been replaced with the L350H, which is the most current version. Therefore I decided to go for the L350H while incorporating the original 42030's functions.

 

THE BASIC FUNCTIONS

The idea is to use 3 small pneumatic cylinders to control the bucket's movements. The pump and the valves are put in the back.

 

 

It sounds cool on paper but it doesn't work quite well in practice unfortunately. Because of the hoses' elasticity, they tend to push the arm up. Since the cylinders don't have enough force to push them down, the arm doesn't lower completely. 

 

THE EXTRA STUFF

At first I didn't think there would be space inside to add anything else, but a neat arrangement of tubes turns out to take up less space than I thought. The tubes just need to run parallel on the two sides, while the pump and the valves are pushed as far back as possible.

 

So I decided to add a differential and an inline 6 engine! I also made the sidewalks and top hatch openable, just like in the original 42030. Originally there's pendular suspension for the rear axle as well, but in the test build the model turned out to not have much space for the axle to swing visibly. Also the chassis needs to be firm so that it doesn't wiggle while I'm pumping. Therefore I removed the suspension from the rear axle.

 

 

Overall it's more like an experiment with small scall pneumatics than a model that I'm happy with, but at least I managed to make it look nice.

 

Free instruction: https://reb.li/m/259503

 

 

[2GodBDGlory]

That is an impressively small scale for pneumatics, and I'm glad to see it!

[Ngoc Nguyen]

29 minutes ago, 2GodBDGlory said:

That is an impressively small scale for pneumatics, and I'm glad to see it!

Thank you for your support!

[jorgeopesi]

Being so small they certainly would not pass my structural requirements, they are too high even for bigger MOCs, but aesthetically speaking It is incredible what you can achieve in  such a small place with almost all Technic parta, congratulations. I hate work with pneumatic tubes so doing at this scale would be hard for sure.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

32 minutes ago, jorgeopesi said:

I hate work with pneumatic tubes so doing at this scale would be hard for sure.

 The tubes are a pain to deal with, definitely. You can notice that the top cylinder has its connections upward. That's because the area under already has to accommodate the tubes of the bottom cylinders, and adding two other tubes will prevent the arm from going to the lowest position. 

 

Quote

Being so small they certainly would not pass my structural requirements, they are too high even for bigger MOCs, but aesthetically speaking It is incredible what you can achieve in  such a small place with almost all Technic parta, congratulations.

Thanks a lot for the support! Gotta make up for the poor functions somewhere else