JLiu15 Posted July 4, 2023 (edited) Model of a New Flyer XD40 transit bus in MTA livery. The model has roughly 3800 pieces. Features motorized drive, steering with working steering wheel, passenger doors, and a removable Cummins engine model with moving pistons. Functions/features: Drive Steering with working steering wheel Remotely controlled doors Removable Cummins engine model with moving pistons Instructions available on Rebrickable: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-153565/JLiu15/2015-new-flyer-xd40-mta-bus/#details Because my NJ Transit New Flyer XD60 model was a huge success, I decided to reuse my design and make another Xcelsior model - this time a XD40 in MTA colors. Unlike my NJT XD60 model which has the livery done entirely using stickers, the blue stripe livery MTA used prior to 2016 is easy to design with blue LEGO pieces. As a result, the model is recognizable as a MTA bus even without stickers, which is why I specifically included "MTA Bus" in the name. The model is not simply my XD60 model cut shorter. The chassis is redesigned from scratch. The front and rear axles are placed at a half-stud offset to allow for smaller wheel arches. The XL motor for drive is placed in front of the rear axle instead of behind it to allow space for the Cummins engine model. The battery is placed much higher and is accessible by removing the upper rear body panel. I added a switch on the roof to allow the battery to be turned on without removing the body panel, so it only needs to be removed for charging. There are also no supports in the chassis for the rear door as the rear door on MTA Xcelsiors open outwards, and the front of the chassis is redesigned to accommodate both the mini linear actuator for the front door and the connection from the steering wheel to the Servo motor for a working steering wheel. Lastly, the chassis is also designed to specifically accommodate for MTA's seating layout, most notably with only a single seat per row on one side in the low floor section. Like my XD60 model, there is also a roof frame that holds both motors for the doors as well as the rear door mechanism (which uses the same general principle as the inward-opening front door despite opening outwards). The roof frame is attached to the chassis using beams, making for a robust "skeleton" that the body is built around. The bodywork has also been redesigned in several places. The wheel arches are now smaller due to the half stud offset of the front and rear axles, although I had to use inverted slope pieces instead of arch pieces to allow the blue stripe to be built entirely in LEGO. This means the wheel arches are not perfectly curved here, but I found it to be a fair compromise for making the entire blue stripe in LEGO. The front lower body panel is one stud higher here compared to my XD60 model, although it kind of makes it look like the front of a MTA Orion VII NG (MTA Xcelsiors in the blue stripe livery have the bottom edge of the front windshield curve downward slightly, and such a curve would be very difficult to model in LEGO at this scale. The rear body panels use a simpler and more robust design, the front roofline curves are angled slightly outward (the space between them was increased by 2 studs), and the side body panels are attached to the chassis/roof frame using white 1x1 Technic bricks with axle hole and part 27940 in white. This allows for a seamless body without pins showing; part 27940 in white was not yet available while my XD60 model was being built. The roof is primarily built using 6x6 tiles this time instead of 5x11 Technic panels - because MTA's 2015 XD40s do not feature a full roofline, the transition from the side body panels to the roof is much more noticeable here which is why I went with the tiles. The model's functions all worked well. The single XL motor was more than enough to power the model, especially considering this model is lighter than my XD60 model. Although the moving pistons on the Cummins engine model are not easily visible (there's one piston visible under the last row of seats), I am happy that I was able to add some additional functionality to this model. And because the pistons are made using half bushes, the engine makes a nice sound while the drive motor is running. While designing my XD60 model I thought there was too little space in the front to incorporate a working steering wheel without compromising the rigidity of the chassis, but I was able to connect the steering wheel to the Servo motor just fine here. There is less reinforcement immediately in front of the front wheels so they don't collide with anything when steering, but the side body panels keep everything robust. I did not test the rear door mechanism before installing it on the model so I was concerned how well it will perform, but it is usually able to open the rear door fully with each door panel rotating 90 degrees. Sometimes the mechanism gets stuck while opening the door, but reinforcing the pieces a little usually solves the problem. While at first glance this MOC looks like my XD60 model shortened and without an articulation joint, it was really a new MOC from scratch. The chassis is completely redesigned and has little resemblance to the chassis of my XD60 model even without accounting for the lack of the articulation joint and a third axle. The bodywork was also improved in several places. All of the functions performed as expected, and the finished model is easily recognizable as a MTA XD40 even without stickers. Speaking of which, I decided to make my model bus 7225 operating out of Grand Avenue Depot in Brooklyn signed for route B62. Overall I am very satisfied with how my second bus MOC turned out, and I plan to continue making bus MOCs in the future, with one already in progress. Video: Photos: Brickworld Chicago Photos: Edited July 15, 2023 by JLiu15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paul B Technic Posted July 4, 2023 You should be very pleased and proud of this, it is simply excellent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLiu15 Posted July 4, 2023 3 minutes ago, TangersTechnic said: You should be very pleased and proud of this, it is simply excellent. Thank you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Train 12 Volts Posted July 4, 2023 Great motorized model! I am fascinated by the large turning radius ...very cool! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLiu15 Posted July 4, 2023 10 hours ago, Milan said: Frontpaged. Thanks! 6 hours ago, LEGO Train 12 Volts said: Great motorized model! I am fascinated by the large turning radius ...very cool! Initially I thought I had to limit the turning radius to prevent the wheels from colliding with the chassis, but I removed some pieces and the Servo motor is able to turn a full 90 degrees. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_TLG_ Posted July 4, 2023 Cool and accurate model, nice features! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikdun Posted July 5, 2023 16 hours ago, JLiu15 said: Initially I thought I had to limit the turning radius to prevent the wheels from colliding with the chassis, but I removed some pieces and the Servo motor is able to turn a full 90 degrees. You are confusing turning radius with turning angle. Small turning radius is when the wheels are angled a lot. When driving in straight line the radius is infinite ie. very big. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLiu15 Posted July 6, 2023 (edited) On 7/4/2023 at 10:36 AM, _TLG_ said: Cool and accurate model, nice features! Thanks! On 7/5/2023 at 3:16 AM, Mikdun said: You are confusing turning radius with turning angle. Small turning radius is when the wheels are angled a lot. When driving in straight line the radius is infinite ie. very big. Thanks for the correction! Edited July 6, 2023 by JLiu15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLiu15 Posted July 15, 2023 The instructions are now published on Rebrickable: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-153565/JLiu15/2015-new-flyer-xd40-mta-bus/#details Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
