Inferiority Complex

Easy-peasy! http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=99339

My plan to build something from the red plane didn't work and I have fallen back to the 8081 set myself. I think I may as well just give up - I don't stand a chance against this. Well done, indeed!

It's a remarkable amount of fun watching this topic go all over the place as people scramble to find ways around the rules as they were set out. Meanwhile, I've disassembled one model to try and build the idea I had and found it didn't work. So, I rebuilt the original model and disassembled another... So far, I have my Mk1 version of my entry:- it's far too large and has a really odd-looking back end. Now it's time to disassemble and tighten up the entire thing, squeezing everything together and making more effective use of the empty space within the shell of the model. Soon, Mk2 will be ready...

Is there something wrong with imgur?

Aw, crapola! Now I stand no chance! :D

8081 Extreme Cruiser (589 parts) should be in the list, shouldn't it?

42009 C-Model: Logging Truck (Based on 9397) I'm particularly please with the way the bonnet & nose of the truck came out. :) Getting the grille on the front was tough. The parts just don't exist in the set to make a decent looking one. It sticks out a wee bit, though. I think it might be possible to widen the bonnet slightly and fit a V-8 engine in there. Only two lihts on the cab, no horns, but the mirrors are still adjustable. Also, note the thinner exhausts. The doors are a bit ugly, but I decided to play with the black striping design from the stickered panels. The first section of the crane is almost an exact copy from the 9397 set. There's just a few color differences. The tanks are one stud higher and one stud further out than on the 9397. This allowed room for the 42009 motor as it is larger than the 9397 motor. The second and third sections of the crane are longer than the 9397 version. The third section also maintains the 3-stud width, unlike the 9397. The underside. The panorama function of the camera got a bit confused at the back end. Steering and gearbox. The steering is wider than on the 9397. There is a third beam between the main two on the steering to act as a limiter. This stops the wheels hitting the bumper on the front. The back without the panorama function. Notice that there's double-wheels, unlike the 9397. You might also notice that the transmission to the engine doesn't use the usual differential gearing. (I can't remember why I had to change that.) The stabilisers retained their motorised function. So did the 3 parts of the crane - first LA, second LA and rotation. The pivot for the claw was realised with a non-friction, grey pin. The claw itself is manually controlled by turning the red screw. Rather than using gearing as in the 9397, I opted to use a small LA, similar to the claw on the 42006. Finally, the struts on the back were more difficult to realise and I constructed a 'plate' of beams in two sections. The rear 4 rows can 'unpin' from the rest and then the rest of it will just slide right off. If anyone has any comments/suggestions, please do. I'd really appreciate the feedback from the community here. I'm also intending to hunt down a 9397 to build for a side-by-side comparison.

Here's a long overdue update to the thread with some photos taken during the construction from the 9397 instructions: Things go well at the start Difference have to be worked in due to the different parts available: There's a marked difference in the gearbox from the instructions... ...to how it appears in the final build. It's also quite flimsy. The motor is too big to allow the side tanks to be added correctly. Here's the possible build based on parts available in the 42009 set. I'm currently putting some finishing touches to this and will post again soon.

This was just before bed yesterday: Now, after messing about with it for a bit tonight: Doors Front grill Exhausts Mirrors Wheel arches Side tanks Load struts - perhaps no longer needed? Claw Extend crane arm Yellow (too much grey) Double wheels in rear Fix front steering Neaten cab - in progress The gearbox is quite loose. A simple but effective claw. Manually controlled, but using a small LA rather than gears, giving it some decent grip. Tanks finally attached. Spaced them out and up by one stud but doesn't look too out of place. Wheel arches, bonnet and the cab shade are neatened. It still needs doors.

Current progress: Doors Front grill Wheel arches Side tanks Load struts Claw Extend crane arm Yellow (too much grey) - in progress Double wheels in rear Fix front steering Neaten cab Picture coming tomorrow evening.

Aye, it's on the list of things that couldn't be added due to a lack of pieces used in the 9397 instructions. I fully intend to add what I can to the model at is currently stands without it becoming too ugly. The first item on my list is to add an alternative claw/hook to the crane and then try and convert the rear to double-wheels. I'll also fix up the front steering as it currently is quite badly converted to work with the parts available in 42009. Next, I need to fix the weight problem and add a bit more support structure to the middle and rear. I'll post the odd photo now and then.

Well, building the 9397 was certainly a challenge given the difference in pieces available only from the 42009 set. But, I've had a lot of fun trying to work around missing pieces. There are several pieces just not present in the 42009 set that would help a lot with the stability and structure of the truck - especially since it has a slight sag in the middle. (Just like me...!) Currently missing due to lack of pieces: Doors Front grill Wheel arches Side tanks Load struts Claw Yellow (too much grey) Now the fun begins trying to convert it to double-wheels and then add the missing features back in. The gearbox is quite loose on the right side due to some pieces not being available and the motor in the 42009 is a different size from that in the 9397 (L vs M?). In fact, it's the larger motor that stops the side tanks being attached.

I like the hood as well, but the cab is too cramped to get my ideas to work. I'm likely to remove the section behind the cab which would allow the cab a bit more room. I'd end up with something like this. I've downloaded the 9397 instructions and will attempt to construct it at the weekend -- if I get the time! Another thing I'm considering is, since I had a large number of leftover pieces, would be a rudimentary trailer. I'd need to move back to single wheels on the back though, or just a single set of doubles.

I'm thinking to dismantle completely and build the logging truck from the 42009 set parts, using the instruction from Lego. I'll need to improvise a bit to compensate for the pieces the 42009 doesn't have, but it might end up looking a bit more 'healthy' than what I have at present.

I have finished my initial build. Now comes the slow process of going over the model a few times trying to tidy it up. Here's some pictures with my initial thoughts: The full body. I feel it's a little on the thin side and needs 'beefed up'. This i likely to mean switching longer axles onto the rear wheels as well as the front and could mean stripping the model right back to the base-frame and widening it. Front view. Currently, the bonnet is attached to the cab and the steering wheel needs removed to allow it to open. I'd prefer if the bonnet tipped forward, similar to the 9397 Logging Truck. (Possible PF?) The cab is currently quite ugly and needs refined. The 'beam-stack' under the bonnet is also unsightly. The rims over the back wheels are a nice feature but upon reflection, I'd prefer to have these the other way around. The rear lighting arrangement strikes me as being too low down and should be nearer the top. I already redesigned the wheel arches on the front and gave them a tiny bit more solidity to their structure. However, they are still far too big. The V-shaped engine is probably adding unnecessary width. Perhaps, I should change it for a straight row of pistons, again similar to the 9397. Front steering seems too exaggerated. Increasing the width slightly, would allow use of the racks and limit the forward and backward movement of the wheels. Plenty of room for a battery box! ;) Doors come across as very 'basic' and need much improvement. Perhaps the best course of action is to use these leftover parts: I think I'll take a sequence of photos as I dismantle it and try building the 9397 from the 42009 parts as much as I can & see what the instructions there might teach me. Then, I can try to rebuild and apply some of the techniques used in the 9397 along with some of my thoughts regarding this initial build. Anyone else have any thoughts to add? I'd certainly appreciate the feedback.