[TC27] Drift Kart & Driver

[JoKo]

Hi everyone!

I haven't posted for a while and I have a lot of new MOCs to share but first I have to show you my project for TC27 !

It's a RC go-kart with a Power Function IR receiver V2, two PF L motors and PF servo.

I wanted to build a good drift chassis with no differential, no suspension but I still wanted something steerable when not drifting so I angled the front axle with nb3 axle connectors to have some caster angle. When turning right, it "lowers" the right front wheel and thanks to a rigid frame it lifts (or unload) the right rear tire. Just like in kart racing. 

The idea with kart was also to build an animated driver using the battery box as torso, articulated arms connected to the steering wheel and animated head to look into corners. He's name is Ken Brick and he's wearing his meanest race face!

 

[everybrickasculpture]

Very fun!  I would like to see a video of it drifting

[JoKo]

25 minutes ago, everybrickasculpture said:

Very fun!  I would like to see a video of it drifting

Of course he will show his driving skill in the entry video!

 

[pow]

It's hilarious! And seems to be fast!? (When) Do we get more footage?

How hard is it to squeeze the black 3L Pin with axle hole (87082) into the Pin Connector Toggle Joint (87408) - that thingy under the steering wheel?

 

[JoKo]

5 minutes ago, pow said:

It's hilarious! And seems to be fast!? (When) Do we get more footage?

How hard is it to squeeze the black 3L Pin with axle hole (87082) into the Pin Connector Toggle Joint (87408) - that thingy under the steering wheel?

 

As fast as it can be! more video soon!

About the unorthodox assembly... That's inside my Lego misstreatment  tolerance zone but still not a good idea. it isn't a solution to any problem and kinda ugly. It's already gone.

[Paul B Technic]

Very cool :)

[JoKo]

Wanna see it in action?

 

[Mikdun]

Great idea. The way you build the driver looks fun-tastic. 

[Mikdun]

Can you show the link to the driver's head?

[steph77]

love this one.

I particulary appreciate the originality of the concept.

And this driver...God, i need to build my own.

S.

[1980SomethingSpaceGuy]

Great one JoKo! 

[Thirdwigg]

This is such a fun little build. The driver really adds something extra.

[Timewhatistime]

On 7/25/2024 at 7:29 PM, JoKo said:

 

The idea with kart was also to build an animated driver using the battery box as torso, articulated arms connected to the steering wheel and animated head to look into corners. He's name is Ken Brick and he's wearing his meanest race face!

... and the L-motors are the legs... but what is the servo motor...?

 

I really like the overall apperance, the drift maneuvers and the moving driver. Very nice idea and one of the few instances of integrating the battery box and the motors in a decorative and structurally relevant way.

My only concern is about the toggle joint at the steering wheel. I believe there must be better and more "legal" ways to do that.

[JoKo]

@Mikdun   @steph77 @1980SomethingSpaceGuy @Thirdwigg 

Thanks guys! Happy if it makes you smile!

 

On 8/21/2024 at 7:13 PM, Mikdun said:

Can you show the link to the driver's head?

I'll show it in the final photos and video. That was the hardest system to pack in that small kart and i had to be creative on this one!   

 

17 hours ago, Timewhatistime said:

... and the L-motors are the legs... but what is the servo motor...?

 

I really like the overall apperance, the drift maneuvers and the moving driver. Very nice idea and one of the few instances of integrating the battery box and the motors in a decorative and structurally relevant way.

My only concern is about the toggle joint at the steering wheel. I believe there must be better and more "legal" ways to do that.

 

The servo motor is obviously the gas tank or... whatever your fantasy is! 

The toggle joint mistreating infamy is no more. Was just an experiment. Sorry for the triggering picture but that's WIP

[Timewhatistime]

Sure, my first thought was the kart's gas tank as well. Otherwise the kart wouldn't be able to drive and drift in this nice manner, would it?

 

Thanks for relieving the poor toggle joint (and the Eurobrickers who are trying to keep things legal) from stress.

[SaperPL]

Amazing build, the trick with hands is really cool. Great work. Now I want to see full race of such go-kart builds :D

Edited August 23 by SaperPL

[JoKo]

On 8/21/2024 at 7:13 PM, Mikdun said:

Can you show the link to the driver's head?

Sorry I rushed a bit to post my entry and video but I'll reveal the head mechanism. 

It uses a lever, pulleys and a loop of string. With just a bit of slack to compensate for geometric approximation. That's not a simple thing to replicate, requires a bit of tuning. Not easy to make instructions, not a solution that TLG would use. But I could not find another solution with that lack of ground clearance.

 

[Appie]

On 8/22/2024 at 8:32 AM, steph77 said:

love this one.

I particulary appreciate the originality of the concept.

And this driver...God, i need to build my own.

S.

Exactly this. Great work JoKo!

On 8/24/2024 at 12:17 AM, SaperPL said:

Now I want to see full race of such go-kart builds :D

Me too!

Edited September 2 by Appie

[Alex Ilea]

Yeah, this is my favorite entry :)

[Mikdun]

On 9/2/2024 at 9:33 PM, JoKo said:

It uses a lever, pulleys and a loop of string.

Thanks, now I can actually see the string on some previous videos.

[JoKo]

@Appie & @Alex Ilea Thanks!  I wanted to try "something new". It was really fun design the kart with dynamic driving in mind. I always had a soft spot for Lego creations like automatons or animatronics. I think there is some kind of poetry in the use of mechanical engineering to make somethin "alive".

Edited September 8 by JoKo