johnnym

I understood that, too. I just thought the described approach would be the easiest way to find out if the respective parts are available in dark azure or not. Checking each part separately, to see if it's available in dark azure, looks like more work to me.

Has anybody already created a digital model of this set or the blue car in this set alone and wants to share it? I'd like to create a digital model of my mod of the blue car and if possible save some time during construction.

Check for 8048s on Ebay, they go for less than 30 EUR (plus shipping) here in Germany, buy two of them and you have all 4 of the identical wheels and two sets of the steering parts. Or have a look at the different steering solutions that were already used for 8081 mods in the past by @Thirdwigg, @rm8 and others.

A relatively easy way to find out if all needed parts exist in dark azure, could be (1) to import that LDD model into Studio - don't know how well this works though - (2) to colorize the respective parts (select the desired color, click on the brush icon on top of the color selector and click each part that needs to change color; you can also colorize whole submodels, by selecting the submodel and than clicking the desired color, but this will also change the color for pins, axles, etc. that are part of the submodel. I assume it can also work to select mutliple parts and then click on the desired color) and lastly (3) check the parts list in the model info dialogue window (reachable from the menu) for any exclamation marks, which identifies color "problems". I can do that for you if you like, just point me to the LDD file after the upload worked. Forgot 'bout this: No, the seat panels don't exist in tan, see Rebrickable for available colors

About the current color: the way it looks to me ATM, I'd say it's closer to medium azure than to dark azure (in which the fenders exists). But if you compare reality and pictures of the blue car from 42098, the look of the color depends on the lighting. I mean on the official pictures the car looks much more blue than turquoise, but when you have the parts in your hands it's rather different. To summarize: a little darker might be closer to reality, I assume.

You're close: I needed a flat surface to also drive my motorized models and the lobby of that "public" place (a university building) was ideal for that. As students have vacation currently, it also was practically empty and most important it was an indoor place, so better for my IR controls and receivers. Sounds funny? Well, yes, it was fun to have such a big space for driving.

I finished the digital model, here you go: Studio, LDraw Thank you very much. Indeed it seems to be a recognizable car: I yesterday showed my currently built collection of cars to a friend of mine at a public place and a stranger went by pointing at this car: "Hey, a Mustang!".

Sorry, still new here: I had a quick look at that Mission to Mars contest - so how does this work here? Can we post WIP shots or does it have to be the final "product" only, too? And how many shots are allowed? Are pictures alone OK or do we need to produce a video, too? Hopefully not, as I don't have any experience with video production. Is a digital model required? I'd like that, as it would allow us to build the mods of our liking when they're finished, which makes at least 50% of the fun here. Maybe a link to where this started would be also useful. Oh please not @Thirdwigg, I'd love to build that pickup of yours when it's finished.

Can't hold back any longer. I don't have current shots of my 8081 mod, but here are a few early shots from a few months ago. Please ignore the installed electric parts for now and consider it a WIP, I'll remove them in later shots. I did not change much on the body as I mostly liked it as it was: As I didn't yet have the big black panels for doors and hood at that time, I came up with alternatives for these with parts I had available. I removed the front bumper for "better" off-road capabilities. The used axles in the pictures below were my first try on 4WD (or AWD? what's the difference actually?) on this model and the front steering arms and mount points for steering arms are inspired by one of @rm8's 8081 mods - I believe the first one. Not visible in these pictures: the car has three differentials. The rear axle is still similar to the original one, but uses that open frame with ball joint, as does the front axle. The current version - from which I don't have pictures yet - uses different axles I came up with just recently, after recognizing this thread and where I integrated those 3-pin wheel hubs. Pictures will follow. The pictures show my try on tracks on this model, it usually uses 81.6 x 38 R tyres (off-road version) or 68.8 x 36 ZR tyres (street version) :

Nice! WRT missing fender panels, what tool are you using? Because since a few (or maybe the second last version, I don't remember) versions, BrickLink's Studio has them and as Studio uses the LDraw parts library I assume that the LDraw "distribution" will have them, too. OTOH it's only a cosmetic issue, as it's clear, what parts are missing there. Looking forward to the final model. Changed my mind about the color, I might give it a try in red after I've disassembled my Roadrunner Superbird.

All that I asked for, thanks! Looks like I need another Corvette...

I asked, because I'm always struggling with disassembling models I really like. The result is that I buy more and more parts - e.g. I have the set 42093 four times already but still think I need another 42093 to keep my existing models assembled. I'm trying to limit that by creating digital models so they can be easily reassembled, but it's not the same than having the models in real. Real-world problems, I know.

@steph77 Wow! Just saw this model on your YT channel - great shape from all angles! Do you have it still assembled?

Oh, sorry, wasn't clear about that: they fit on the exact same rims (43.2 x 26), both new and old versions of the rims. What I meant with "[...] that would also fit I think." was, that I wasn't sure if they'll work with the existing steering/suspension in your pickup, as they're wider and have a bigger diameter compared to the tyres you have in use currently.

So I did another body mod of the muscle car but am unsure about the looks, so post it in this thread first. It should resemble one of the Aero Warriors, specifically the last one: the Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird. Maybe not a beauty, but surely an iconic car: It might be be a little uber-long at the front and maybe also at the rear, but I wanted to use these specific panels at the front at all cost, because they got me started to build this car. The chassis is nearly identical to the muscle car's one, except for the rear axle which is a copy of the rear axle of my mod of the blue car in the 42098 set to allow the wider wheels with the spoked side of the rims facing inwards. I did not finish the engine to save some time during the build. I maybe should close that part up anyhow for the aerodynamics. I built it using the digital model of the muscle car and the auto-generated instructions. For this car I simplified the rear part. What do you think, worth a separate thread and 360° shots? And should I also make a digital model of it?

Wow, I thought the Greyhound was much bigger. Or maybe I just underestimated the size of the 42099. Anyways, looks good in dark azure and black - I think I start to like dark azure, geez...

Wow @steph77! Came out real good! I'd love to have a replica of it to complement my muscle/pony cars in the same or similar scale. Will you create a digital model? The chassis alone could already be useful, e.g. to build another body on top of it. For example an Audi TT has similar proportions I think.

I assume this depends on the tool and/or the configuration. The size of the PDF is indeed smaller than the aggregated size of all the distinct PNGs but I didn't see any obvious signs of image compression when quickly scanning through it just now. Checking the PDF for the used compression it looks like each page/image (or maybe the whole file) is ZIP-compressed. I used ImageMagick's convert tool to generate the PDF from the PNGs and used the following command line (using the configured defaults): convert *png 42099_PF.pdf

Cool and much obliged! BTW, the photo showing the cabling is a very good idea. I made a PDF out of your PNGs. It's available from https://bricksafe.com/files/johnnym/mods/42099/ozacek/42099-PF.pdf if you'd like to use it on Rebrickable.

Upon discovering this thread, I decided to again show my 42077 some love and make a few changes. I already did some changes in the past, to allow 80 mm tyres to fit (though balloon tyres require to limit the steering as in the stock version), as I don't think the stock tyres and wheels are adequate for a rallye car. I also changed the upper rear part, as I didn't like the stock appearance. In this last step, I changed the head lights and finalized the upper rear. I actually wanted to part it out afterwards, but now I find it too hard to disassemble it. One might say that the Fischer Technik tractor tyres are a little over the top, but I like their look on the 42077 and I also found a use for the dark red rims. I still think the read could use some stickers or maybe some white parts to break up the dark-azure monotony.

I love pickups! 8081 as a pickup is awesome. There are some other "realistic" tires from Fischer Technik, that would also fit I think. They're about 62 mm in diameter and 29 to 30 mm wide. A few liftarms maybe - like at the rear end - or is there no way to attach them? Not from this perspective I'd say. Nice one, too. The 8081 is a true classic Lego Technic model and very (mod) inspiring. So the rules for this thread are: 8081 mod w/o motor? Hm, what a pity, mine is already motorized, though it lacks performance. Well, I could remove those motors, but have neither a fake engine installed nor an interior, so maybe a little too less.

The "this" link has no target - at least not for me.

Looks better and better with each iteration. Especially the front came out extra nice and the spoiler size now fits the car better IMO! The engine is also pretty cool, now that I recognize it. I'd love to build it as it is now. Maybe one last thing: Have you already tried to move the bottom of the A pillars one stud up? Maybe a 90° axle connector could allow to fix them from below then - if they can't be attached otherwise.

Hm, don't know the statistical distribution, but I for myself have three V1 and one V2 receivers (so 3:1). In my 8081 mod I use the V2 for drive (PF XL) and a V1 for steering (PF M) and PTO (PF M). So why not power both PF XL motors from a V2 and the PF servo motor from a V1?

The rear looks fantastic! I'd decrease the width of the spoiler though, but I see that's not easy because of the panels and the mounting points. Maybe it just looks so massive due to perspective. I often find my cars looking better or somewhat different in reality - compared to pictures. For the front, as you have two studs of room between fenders and hood, have you already tried to use "mirrored" fenders in place of the liftarms and axle connectors? I wonder how that'd look. Why not use longer liftarms in the middle of the hood to close the front gap a little bit? Nearly forgot, the head rests are cool, too!