42242 Mercedes Benz Unimog U5023 with Crane - MODs and Improvements

[Timewhatistime]

This is my first attempt to improve the 42442 (which I surely won't buy): an extractable boom, based on the 13L gear rack. It is controlled by a 12t gear which I tried to put in a place where it can be reached easily.

I nearly preserved the original geometry, there's only a slight difference in the link's geometry (4Lx2L red beam instead of two red 4L thin beams).

Sorry for the mismatching colour of the white 9L flip-flop beam - I just own this single one.

By using some longer beams (7x3), I also fixed the stability issues raised by the single 5L axle on which the entire crane rests in the official set.

Maybe someone who will build the 42242 likes to test IRL if my MOD really fits...?

There will be other solutions with the thin pneumatic cylinder, but I won't try that.

My next attempt will be a worm gear driven mechanism which thus locks itself into place.

Some images (since they are hosted on brickshelf.com, it maybe will take a while until they are visible publicly):

https://brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.php?i=6778967

https://brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.php?i=6778968

https://brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.php?i=6778969

https://brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.php?i=6778970

Edited 1 hour ago by Timewhatistime

[R0Sch]

Nice job on that! And doesn't use that many parts. Every truck crane like this uses an extension for the boom for cargo loading so it's a huge miss to not have it included in the official set.

[Paul B Technic]

That is an excellent design and build, well done.

[2GodBDGlory]

Wow, that's some pretty hardcore drivetrain routing!