johnnym

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Posts posted by johnnym

  1. Posted

    Ok, let me continue my series of muscle and pony cars - today with the Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird in 42093 Corvette scale.

    I already gave a preview of an earlier revision in:

    Based on that I did change the color scheme a little and modified the rear section to better mimic the Roadrunner's rear end and now consider it finished for the time being. Here's the result:

    01.JPG02.JPG03.JPG04.JPG05.JPG

    I also created a digital model of it:

    plymouth-roadrunner-superbird.jpg

    Studio, LDraw

    ...and made a rendering with all my MOCs/Mods in that scale with the 42098 car transporter (based on @JunkstyleGio's digital model of the 42098 car transporter - again much obliged for that! :classic:):

    42098-with-mods-and-mocs.jpg

     

  3. Posted · Edited by johnnym
    editor stopped working (no newline/carriage return)

    5 hours ago, HorcikDesigns said:

    The headlight are made from ExoForce optical fiber. Trans clear 4L lightsabre blades are too expensive on BL right now. :blush: The transparent connector piece should be original, it only appeared in one set (according to BL https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=32016&in=S)

    Aha, good to know!

    Quote

    I'll make more photos as I think that the car is finished, and I hope it will be soon.

    Looking forward to them. :classic:

    ****

    I today made a few shots (1) to compare my (first) 8081 mod to a another 8081 which after some visual updates - mostly a facelift - due to missing parts became my second mod of the 8081 set and (2) to show off the current state of this second mod:

    Marketing blabla ON:

    As @rm8 correctly pointed out, the 8081 Extreme Cruiser has lost its appeal compared to other current offerings on the SUV market. But we shouldn't forget that this model is still loved by lots of people for its simplicity and utility. We therefore decided for mainly a facelift and improvements for some of its shortcomings.

    To be completely honest, the 8081 Extreme Cruiser never was a good off-roader, so we don't even try to convince anybody that our newest offering will be a good off-roader. We instead focused on its non-off-road qualities and gave it a much more sportive look: new headlights keeping our beloved look of the 8081 Extreme Cruiser's original headlights, newly designed front bumper and spoiler that opens the view to the new fantastic low profile wide tyres on newly designed rims.

    01.JPG

    The new 8081 also offers fashionable exterior sun visors that also act as spoilers and the new sporty sideskirts complement the lines of the front.

    02.JPG

    We had complaints about the small rear lights of the old 8081, so we put in the largest rear lights we could think off and still kept the great original rear shape intact. On daylight they are just red, but at night they illuminate in lava red - careful, these lights are hot! At the same time we also removed one of the main shortcomings of the original - the too small third door - and gave it a real third door that allows easy access to the trunk.

    03.JPG

    04.JPG

    We also rethought the engine. We could have gone for a V8 but we know what our V4 is capable of, so we added two turbochargers and intercooler to unleash all of its power. Recent technology breakthroughs also allowed us to use transparent aluminum - yes, exactly, the same stuff you saw in Star Trek IV - for the cylinder heads. Check the new engine in all its glory:

    05.JPG

    The rear suspension was replaced with a standard live axle. Pictures show the soft shock absorbers installed, but each new 8081 will ship with an extra pair of user-installable hard shock absorbers - if you want that extra hard feeling when hitting the road.

    06.JPG

    Marketing blabla OFF.

    What do you think about the current state?

    I think I should make the bottom of the rear one stud lower to continue the line of the side skirt. All in all I'm happy with it, for the few hours I invested in it. I would have liked to use trans-red parts for the rear lights, but as these parts don't exist in this color, I used red parts. Because of that I also had to remove all other red parts from the body, which explains the nearly completely black in black look. The white stripes at the side should break that up. I also tried white stripes instead of the red stripes on the hood and roof, but wasn't fond of the result.

  4. Posted

    @rm8 You already wrote it on YouTube and yes, "Lexus" was the first thing that came to my mind, when I saw that uber-grill. :laugh: Very massive. Have you already tried it in black on black? I.e. like this mockup:

    rm8-new-8081-mod-w-black-grill.jpg.6f4d38bbace326d42bb1f1e2fe5ff866.jpg

    I think that would "remove" a lot of its massiveness and look cooler IMO. Hey, maybe the 2L half beams in chrome silver as a highlight? :classic: And why does the front look so narrow? Is this the effect of the huge grill?

    I like how you incorporated all those angles - I still find it hard to do anything non-standard in my mods/MOCs. :sadnew:

    ****

    On 9/17/2019 at 3:11 PM, Thirdwigg said:

    My design is a little more evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

    It  really looks different from this angle compared to the first shot - I mean the roof height and doors.. I hope you'll provide a digital version of the truck, too.

    On 9/17/2019 at 3:11 PM, Thirdwigg said:

    I'm still not sure about the roof rack/roll cage. When it was black, it looked a little washed out, but I am not sure I like the LBG.

    Chrome silver would be a little expensive. Why the step between the roof rack and roll cage?

    On 9/17/2019 at 3:11 PM, Thirdwigg said:

    Whatever I end with will match the bull bar on the front. I'll keep working on it. Suggestions are welcome.

    If you want to have sort of a narrow front bumper that opens the view to the front wheels, I found the old spoiler part a nice fit below a tilted grill (by using these slopes) on my 8081 comparison build (or second 8081 mod if you like). I'll try to provide some comparison shots with my actual 8081 mod on the weekend.

    ****

    On 9/17/2019 at 4:40 PM, HorcikDesigns said:

    I am working on it too. Just hope that 8081 successor built completely from scratch fit the rules of this contest. My MOC should carry on original model's spirit and basic functions. I also decided to stick with almost original drivetrain, so my car is RWD, with V6 in the front.
    [...]
    Almost current version

    Interesting look! Unfortunately the white color of the car drowns in the white background, so it's a little hard to grasp all the details. IMHO the wheels look a little too big, but concept cars are usually shown with huge wheels. Does that car already have rear fenders?

    These transparent axle connectors as head light are cool, as are the transparent laser swords on top. Is that transparent axle connector a standard part? Then I think I need to get some of those, too. :classic:

    The car has a nice shape, please provide additional shots - maybe with darker background, so the details are not lost.

    ****

    If someone not yet into the contest needs some ideas, I recently found these pages here:

    ...with some nice looking 8081 mods. The short-cab pickup is a obvious mod target.

  5. Posted

    I already partly commented here. The rear axle is simple and a quick replacement for the stock axle. I might adapt it in my (second) 8081 (mod). I built another 8081 for size comparison with my actual 8081 mod, but as I have a lot of models built ATM I didn't have enough parts to built it stock, so I started to mod it already with what I had available. And now it's hard to stop modding it further. :laugh: ATM it's just sort of a facelift for the 8081.

    Say did a rubber band help on the front axle of yours?

    And could you also provide a few more shots of the car from different angles (incl. side profile)? From what I see here, it looks somewhat shorter than the original - don't know why, as I count 14L for the roof, so just 1L short compared to the 8081. I'd also go for bigger wheels - if they still fit - but that's just my personal opinion. :classic: If you add some red crosses and blue signal lights you got the perfect EMP runabout for light off-road missions.

  9. Posted

    7 hours ago, ozacek said:

    Just built this set today. I actually liked the build better than I expected. Although I was quite surprised, you're building this great door mechanism, only to find out later than it's not a mechanism at all, and it gets completely locked away. So with very small modifications I brought it back, and I think it looks pretty cool:
    (disclaimer for purists: personally I don't care whether the real car has such a door mechanism or not)

    With the doors only attached at the top, AFAICS it should allow you to also use the wider 43.2 x 22 ZR tyres - which definitely make it look even better.

  11. Posted · Edited by johnnym
    Updated picture URLs

    I took me a while to get to where I wanted, but I think I have some WIP shots to show now. This 8081 mod is actually derived from an 8081 RC variant and at the beginning I wasn't sure if I'll get something useful for the RC variant - which I'll rebuild after the contest - out of the contest. But the contest was a good incentive to "improve" things! :classic: I finally got the links placed right on the front axle and found an alternative to links on the rear axle. The rear axle basically allows for nearly zero lateral movement, but still the wishbone arms have enough flex to allow for good suspension travel on each side - in my limited understanding. Actually they also do a good job to limit the excessive suspension travel at the rear axle. Suspension travel on the front axle is not as good due to the placement of the shocks there. But more travel would anyhow collide with the steering axle, which has to move deeper into a liftarm when the shocks are compressed, and the room is limited there.

    I also added a brick-built interior and trunk lining. Front and rear end are also brick-built. The front was changed from the four round headlights of my early version to two tinted "rectangular" headlights to give it a more "modern" look, the back was totally overhauled. As this version is meant to be a more rigid ride than the original 8081, the A pillars were strengthened and a third A and C pillar was added, too. The hood is held shut by a rubber part.

    Not everything is finished yet, e.g. it's still missing an engine and HOG steering, but I already have some ideas, although I don't have much experience with building those - I actually started this technic building stuff only earlier that year.

    BTW I think I'll stay with the current body and not change it to a pickup for the contest. Enough for the description here are the pictures - hope you like it:

    P1010001.JPGP1010002.JPGP1010005.JPGP1010007.JPGP1010009.JPGP1010014.JPGP1010015.JPG

  12. Posted

    1 hour ago, Touc4nx said:

    I removed the bottom brick and connected the bottom suspension arms with a 5L half beam.

    Ok, I have to try that in my buggy. I wanted to build a second one anyhow.

    1 hour ago, Touc4nx said:

    They are indeed links on both sides of the ball joint.

    Ah, ok, now they're in the clear. Works nicely with the chassis.

    Sometimes it would be really useful if there were some additional 3L pins with ball or stud or else, so they can also work at points where different parts are connected.

  13. Posted

    On 9/10/2019 at 7:57 AM, Touc4nx said:

    For now I remade the suspension, while keeping the horizontal springs on the front. 

    I also added a negative caster angle.

    Interesting! How did you manage to get that offset between the bricks the steering arms connect to? Aren't they connected with plates?

    On 9/10/2019 at 7:57 AM, Touc4nx said:

    However, as it is now it causes a lot of bump steer.

    If I understand your problem correctly, a rubber band between the wheel "hubs" maybe could improve that.

    On 9/10/2019 at 7:57 AM, Touc4nx said:

    concerning the rear axle it’s just a pseudo live axle that keeps the orientation of the original springs.

    How do you prevent that axle from moving sideways? I don't see any links near the ball joint.

  14. Posted

    On 9/10/2019 at 3:05 PM, Thirdwigg said:

    OK, so all this activity has encouraged me to do another version. I am still working on the sport pickup, so you get two from me.

    Wow, that will become a pickup fest! :laugh: With all the pickup versions in the pipeline I wonder if I should not also switch to a pickup body. :classic:

    On 9/10/2019 at 3:05 PM, Thirdwigg said:

    I decided on a four door pickup, a la RR Defender 110, but I am not yet sure I like the styling. It just feels long to me. I want to move the rear axle forward and tuck it under the cab a little more, but that requires different doors and fenders which I am hesitant to do (see below). I may switch back to a single door pickup version a la RR Defender 90.

    Nice one, too. looks equally promising than the other one! You elevated the roof - maybe a little too much? The front door looks very low because of that. Perhaps elevating the hood and the doors by one stud and add one stud on top of the rear could balance that out? But could also be the perspective that tricks me, as the basic shape looks right.

    I love those Fischertechnik tyres (still need to build @filsawgood's Jimny with them :classic:)! Though for some "applications" It would be cool if they were as wide as the balloon tyres.

  15. Posted

    On 9/10/2019 at 7:04 AM, Jurss said:

    What could be bending there?

    You're using that ball joint with open frame - actually me too (both at front and rear) - and both "arms" of that open frame will slightly bend sideways e.g. when (1) they're part of an axle assembly and (2) when they're not "closed" with some other part and (3) force is applied vertically. At least that was the case for my earlier rear axle. It could of course behave differently in your case, as your shocks are placed closer to the wheels, mine were placed closer to the frame. They're still, but I closed the frame with same half beams.

  17. Posted

    Thanks to the great work of @JunkstyleGio in creating a complete digital model of the 42098 set, I finished the digital model of my mod of the blue car from this set with ease and much earlier than expected:

    42098-blue-car-mod.jpg

    Studio, LDraw

    In the process I also created another version in red:

    42098-blue-car-mod-red.jpg

    Studio, LDraw

    I think we need a longer trailer for 42098 to be able to transport all cars that are available now. :wink:

  19. Posted · Edited by johnnym

    4 hours ago, HorcikDesigns said:

    This is the reason why I decided for two-door version. Four door with my front section solution does not ressemble the original well. The hood is too long, and the current cab is too small, relative to the hood. I'll try to rebuild it.

    Oh, what a pity that you gave up on this model. It looks promising! Of course I like the hood as I'm using a similar one in my 8081 mod (early shots). And I really think it's not too long compared to the cab - maybe if the front part is attached, but you could still add a shorter nose (from system parts) as I did. I think from the displayed state it could have developed into a great looking pickup. You don't have created a digital version from it, don't you? :sweet:

    But you're right, it sadly doesn't have much in common with the 8081.

  20. Posted · Edited by johnnym
    correction

    On 9/8/2019 at 4:28 PM, Arioh said:

    Here is my subpar design of front axle using modern components, that could be find in most recent technic cars (like in 42077, 42096 and ect...) Its far from good as for me, but still allow to have suspension similair to original style.

    Ok, I actually thought you were referring to the 5L steering arms in:

    ...but that solution is also interesting.

    Your 8081 mod is really cool looking! The big rims make it look smaller than it is actually. The fast back intensifies that even more. That design would fit my motor and (40 : 28 24 : [...]) gearing combination better than my "off road" one, I think. :classic: Looking forward to your digital version.

    BTW, I used the same wheels from time to time on my 8081 mod, but with my currently used axle suspension, the truck is a little too high up for using these. And I also went for similar head lights since my first post in this thread, though I use the tinted ones (e.g. from the 8682 set).

    On 9/8/2019 at 5:54 PM, Jurss said:

    Yesterday rebuilt rear suspension

    [...]

    And then rear axle itself

    Nice one, I like the simplicity of it. Say, how strong is it? Does it bend much when force is applied?

  21. Posted

    On 9/8/2019 at 3:35 PM, Touc4nx said:

    AWD means that all wheels are always powered whereas 4WD means that you have the rear wheels always powered and if you have difficulties to go over an obstacle, you have to activate something to power every wheel.

    I see, thanks for the clarification.

    On 9/8/2019 at 3:35 PM, Touc4nx said:

    By the way, it's a great mod, it make me think that it's the young sister of 42069 :wink:

    Thanks! Actually it drives on wheels - already before I tried it with tracks and again since a while. Though it worked with the tracks, the one PF XL motor - or better my used gearing (40 teeth on motor to 24 teeth side of the center differential) - had a hard time to move all four tracks. On wheels and with fresh batteries it drives more like a buggy. I also tried with 24 (motor) : 8 : 24 (center diff) to improve climbing ability, but that actually performed worse than the other gearing, no idea why. Maybe just too many gears in the drivetrain then.

  24. Posted

    4 hours ago, steph77 said:

    For the rest it is not the virtual model that i want to change, but the real life model.

    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.