Cheng Fei's Lego Technic DAKAR RALLY TRUCK

[DLuders]

Malay AFOL Cheng Fei recently posted his Lego Technic Dakar Rally Truck on BRICKS MAL (the Malaysian Online LEGO Community). He wrote that it has these "Features: 4 wheel drives with independent suspensions on all axles.

It is powered by:

1 PF Battery box

1 PF IR Receiver

2 PF XL Motors (Driving)

1 PF M Motor (Steering)

Where is the video? I'm still looking for idea for the video shoot."

He explains the history of the annual event:

"Some descriptions on Dakar Rally. Quoted from Wikipedia.

The Dakar Series (or simply "The Dakar"; formerly known as "The Paris-Dakar" or "Paris to Dakar Rally") is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation.

Most events since the inception in 1978 were from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal, but due to security threats in Mauritania in 2008, the 2009 Dakar Rally was run in South America (Argentina and Chile), the first time the race took place outside of Europe and Africa.

It has stayed in South America from 2009 to Present (2011)

The race is open to amateur and professional entries.

Amateurs typically make up about eighty percent of the participants.

Despite its name it is an off-road endurance race, called a rally-raid rather than a conventional rally — the terrain the competitors traverse is much tougher and the vehicles used are true off-road vehicles rather than the modified on-road vehicles used in rallies.

Most of the competitive special sections are off-road, crossing dunes, mud, camel grass, rocks and erg among others.

The distances of each stage covered vary from short distances up to 800–900 kilometres (500–560 mi) per day.

Truck class —T4 and T5

The Truck class, also known as "Camions" or "Lorries", is made up of vehicles weighing more than 3,500 kg.

They are divided into two groups, T4 and T5.

T4 class trucks participate in the competition, while T5 trucks travel from bivouac to bivouac to support the competition vehicles.

T4 trucks may provide assistance during the special stages but must be homologated vehicles.

The T4.1 class covers production trucks, and the T4.2 class covers modified trucks.

T5 vehicles do not have to be homologated.

The T4 class has been composed of vehicles manufactured by Tatra, LIAZ, Kamaz, Hino, MAN, DAF, Mercedes-Benz, Unimog, Renault Kerax, SCANIA, IVECO, and GINAF.

In the 1980s, a strong rivalry between DAF and Mercedes-Benz led to vehicles which had twin engines and more than 1000 hp (750 kW).

Later Tatra, and Kamaz took the race up.

After 2000, renewed competition started in the truck class between DAF, Tatra, Mercedes-Benz and Kamaz."

He has several other excellent MOCs posted on his BRICKS MAL webpage. See videos of these on his YouTube channel. Perhaps a video of the Dakar Rally Truck will be added there soon....

[2LegoOrNot2Lego...]

Impressive MOC's indeed. I think I like the bus the most. I'm not a bus kind of guy, but he did a good job on this one and it is quite original to build one...

[Jurgen Krooshoop]

Yes, this guy mades really nice models. I like his hevy Duty tow Truck very much too.

[dhc6twinotter]

Wow...that guy has some really nice MOCs! The tow truck and bus are especially nice!

[nielsvdv]

very nice mocs :)

the rally truck makes me think of my own rallytruck, i once used it for a trucktrial, they are fun trucks :p

[MikeJ]

WOW that heavy Duty rig is superb!! Pity there are no build instructions for stuff like this. Us mere mortals can only dream of achieving such excellence. sigh!!

[apemax]

that looks really good. so do the other MOC's. well done to him.

[grohl]

The bus is really cool.

[jantjeuh]

Never heard of this guy but his MOCs are very impressive indeed

Love that tow truck..

[750ACE]

I wanted to bump this post due to the fact that Cheng Fei created this masterpiece; Heavy Duty Tow Truck nearly 3 years prior to the upcoming release of the new Lego 42008.

http://bricksmal.com...7bf8d0a150acdf0

I am curious to know what everyone else’s thoughts are. Personally, I wish I could own Cheng Fei’s Tow Truck or have a 8258 to convert just to keep on display.

Edited June 10, 2013 by 750ACE

[Ramacco]

You can probably add this to your 8258 : http://jaaptechnic.blogspot.nl/2012/10/scania-tow-truck-wrecker.html

Instructions for the tow-part only are available for download at his website :)

However, very nice moc.

[grum64]

I'm the furthest you'll find from being an expert and I might be, and probably am wrong so please forgive me if this is the case, but it does look very tall in relation to the wheels.

I stand to be corrected by those with FAR more knowledge of these things.

Edited June 10, 2013 by grum64

[The_Skirrid]

I'm the furthest you'll find from being an expert and I might be, and probably am wrong so please forgive me if this is the case, but it does look very tall in relation to the wheels.

I stand to be corrected by those with FAR more knowledge of these things.

Dakar trucks have very low centres of gravity, almost everything above the chassis is either hollow or very very light. Mostly it's empty space with some thin panels for aerodynamics and the roll cage. They do look oddly tall, but all the weight is low. IIRC part of the FIA regs for T4/T5 is that they have to survive a 45º side slope with no roll over.

[grum64]

Thank you very much for your most courteous correction of my comment.

[The_Skirrid]

I can't think of anything that looks cooler than a Dakar truck at full chat, they just look too cool for school