[MOC] SpaceX' Starship lifting Tower "Mechazilla" - Finished!

[cyberdyne systems]

Happy New Year, everyone! Finally, I've finished building this monster. I will add nice and long article later in the next year. And now you may watch the video of the results of almost year of my work.

 

Well, I think the time has finally come to start creating the biggest thing I have ever built - "Mechazilla". Officially known as Orbital Launch Integration Tower (OLIT) located in SpaceX' StarBase in Boca-Chica. 

Boxes that I want to be checked:

-Tower should has as much functions of original one as possible. (Like QDA and Launch mount) 

-Functions are in higher priority than looks, but it nonetheless needs to resemble the real structure

-It has to be power by C+ Hubs and motors

-The most important - Tower has to be able to lift something Starship-ish (But i'm still no sure what exactly, may be I'll make something from Saturn V) 

 

For the beginning, I've made this prototype of a "chopstick" 

 

Edited December 31, 2022 by cyberdyne systems

[TeamThrifty]

Excellent project choice! I love watching the live channel from boca chica on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/NASASpaceflightVideos - If anyone hasn't watched the live launches, then you really need to!

Looking forward to updates on this project.

(and the inevitable starship + superheavy that you'll build next! )

 

[cyberdyne systems]

IMG_20220217_235955 by SkyNet2@1, on Flickr

After finishing the Clockwork Locomotive (which you may find in Trains theme) I've returned to Mechazilla.

This is the current progress on chopsticks. They are reworked and reinforced. 

[cyberdyne systems]

The Mechazilla rises! Up and up.

This first iteration with 15m beams on sides was a bit too much for the scale. Also I don't have so many of these beams. 

So I rebuilt it with 13m beams. Thats better. SmartHub and motors for operating "Chopsticks" are mounted on a carriage inside the tower. That is why I need to have this slot for the whole heights of the tower

[cyberdyne systems]

The building continues. I've made prototype for Quick Disconnect Arm

 

And some very early prototype for the Orbital Launch Mount. 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by cyberdyne systems

[cyberdyne systems]

 

 

Upper sections of the tower with winches.

[Bluehose]

I like this project a lot !

[Johnny1360]

It's coming along nicely, does the "chopstick" elevator work smoothly. I only ask because I built a similar mechanism before but I could never get it to work smoothly, it looked like a stop motion movie and was quite herky jerky when going up or down, too much binding, I believe. Anyway good luck.

[PassengerJet]

This is incredible!

[cyberdyne systems]

Happy New Year, everyone! Finally, I've finished building this monster. I will add nice and long article later in the next year. And now you may watch the video of the results of almost year of my work.