RC modding

[Technirus]

If You enjoy building chassis more than designing body designs, this is one of the best building styles for you: Buying Lego sets and making them remote-controlled. I have modded almost every Lego set I got over the last couple of years and made some guidlines for the best possible outcome. PLEASE NOTE: This are the guidlines I like to use. Other people might have different and I totally respect theirs. That's the best part about Lego: Everyone can build how they want, and it should always stay like that. I just thought I'd share my guidlines, as they may inspire some to also mod official Lego sets.

✴Do not change the look.

Your only goal should be to make the model remote-controlled, not improving the appereance.

✴Always hide electric components.

This is the statement that bothers me thr most: "I'll simply put the motor outside the body because I can't find any space inside". That way you not only wreck the model's looks, but also fail at the challenge of fitting everything inside.

✴Make reasonable changes.

Before you mod a function, figure out if it will be convenient to operate. For example, it would not make sense to remote control a gearbox' motor, but having to switch the gears manually.

✴Do not add or remove any functions.

The final outcome should still feel like the original model, just remote-controlled.

If you follow this guidlines, your result should be a fun to play with, nice looking model. You succedeed, when the following conversation happens when showing your model to another Lego fan:

A: " Look what I built"

B: "Oh, nice, you got the xxx set'

A: "Yes, I even made it remote-controlled, "

B: "What?! How did you fit all that stuff in there? O_o"

If you now feel like modding a Lego set, I've prepared some tips and set recommendations for you:

✔Make a plan: Think about where to put what component before building anything. Also have a second plan, as it often turns out something wont work the way you thought. (I often make plans before even owning the set by looking at the instructions)

✔Lights are a nice, but simple addition. You sometimes have to change the way they are mounted, but it pays off.

✔If you run out of space, remove the fake engine, it doesn't hurt that much.

✔Wires need more space than you think, so keep some room for them. (Especially when using lot of Leds)

✔A common setup is the following: Steering & driving RC, lights & gearbox' motor attached to switches.

✔Mid-range sets are the easiest to mod because they have the most space unused.

✔Assemble the set yourself, because you get a better understanding of how things work and what you can remove.

I highly recommend the 42008 service truck and the 42006 excavator for modding, as they both have plenty of space left. I modded both of them, so feel free to ask me for help if you're stuck, I would be honored to help you out!

Personally, I really enjoy RC modding Lego sets, and I hope this post inspires some of you to try it out too. I would love to hear about your ways of doing it!

Greetings, Technirus

[750ACE]

Do you have pictures of the past two years of MOD's?

[Tomik]

I like your guidelines. They make sence and I kept them when I was motorizing official sets. I even added one more to make it more challenging for me:

You can use just parts from set that you are motorizing and PF elements. It means no extra pins, gears, axles, connectors etc. Lately I've motorized in this way set 42037. You can see result here.

[Technirus]

You can use just parts from set that you are motorizing and PF elements. It means no extra pins, gears, axles, connectors etc.[/Quote]

Wow, that's ultra difficult. I've never even thought of this! I may be trying it out with the Arocs once I get it.

Do you have pictures of the past two years of MOD's?

I will be posting them along with my other models at the end of the month, as I'm currently on holidays.

[Tomik]

Wow, that's ultra difficult. I've never even thought of this! I may be trying it out with the Arocs once I get it.

Yes, it's difficult but if you choose right set it's not too difficult. I've already motorized in this way 3 medium-sized sets:

8437

8048

42037

[Flipolas]

Hello hello, I'm new here and this is my first post.

I just bought the 42008 service truck and I'm planning to MOD it into a fully motorized. How can I start it?? I never did something like that.

Thanks

[jamesed_1971]

The only Lego Technic Model I have modded is the Lego Technic 8070 Supercar released in 2011, it had working front lights, RC steering and drive

[Imanol BB]

hi, i really like the idea of not change the look of the sets, because, i have seen people that instead of try to hide the motors and the receivers, they just put thems like ugly tumors on the sets, i started to preparate my 8110 some time ago, for some motors which i am waiting for, and i tried the most of hidding all the motors and receivers, i replaced the fake engine, and there is enough space in the whole truck to put 2 XL motor for driving, 1 m motor for steering and a receiver, i did my best to hide thems the most i could, without changing the looks of the truck, also i didnt put out the standard functions of the truck, it has the same capabilities as the standard version, which is very important; i think this should be one of the most important topics to give tips to builders of how the sets should be motorized, and thanks for the others tips, they were very helpful., i will upload pictures when i get the motors.