Wiseman_2

19. 8460/8431/8438-B Truck with Knuckleboom Crane - Studless Original Set: 8460/8431/8438-B Knuckleboom Crane Truck Functions: Front wheels steered via the roof light Individually controlled left and right side stabilizers Crane rotation via gear on left side Two stage crane, with pneumatic switches on the left side, with the pump mounted horizontally between the rear axles and activated by a lever at the back of the truck Mini piston engine and spinning fan driven by dual rear differentials Discussion Topic: Photos: Some comparisons with the original model:

Thanks for your comments everyone :) I didn't take many photos of WIP for this one as I normally would, because I'm a pretty slow builder at the best of times (my last project took 18 months and I still haven't shared it yet), so I wanted to focus on the build in the little time I had. The only photos I did take in progress were before I made substantial changes, so I would know what to revert to if the change didn't work... so the only WIP photos I really have are of elements that didn't actually make it into the final model. Fortunately the bed is easy to lift up, so here are a couple of shots to show how the pump is connected. You can also see on the left the worm gear mechanisms for the stabilizers and the turntable rotation, and the blue hose that connects to the pneumatic switches: The yellow 1x4 liftarms are connected to the top of the pump, while the grey beams are then connected to the lever at the back. The white beams then stick out at an angle from the back of the bed as the lever that you press. I would have liked them to remain flat but the only way to get this to work and keep the pump beneath the bed was to have the switch at an angle (I tried a lot of different things and was very close to just having the pump sit upright in the cab). This side-on shot shows how the linkage is connected: It was a rather tight squeeze and there's exactly enough room for the swing of the pump that it doesn't touch the 20T gears connecting the differentials. The pneumatic hoses are routed under the turntable in pretty much the same way they are in the original, and like the original, there's really very little room (I always underestimate how much space is needed for pneumatic hoses) - unfortunately the structure almost completely blocks any view from outside, but there isn't much to really show inside other than the hoses anyway: And as requested, here is a shot from below: This probably doesn't show as much of the internals as you might have hoped, because there are frames from front to back. I had thought when making the studless conversion I would have used 6 to 7 studs for the center of the chassis, but the new tires were too wide, and so it's actually 6 to 5 studs (at least at the axles) and consequently relies on beams running across the top and bottom of those frames for structural stability. At the front you can see the 20T gear that drives the engine; it is mounted just in front of the axle as placing it at the front of the vehicle (like most sets) would have extended the whole front grill and subsequently looked a bit out of proportion. Yes, I did try a few different methods here, but the cams are necessary as the beam in the original is 10.5 studs long, and those cams were the best way of achieving that here. They are sturdier than they actually look and are well braced; maybe it wouldn't be sufficient on a more heavy-duty build but they are more than sufficient here. I think if I had more time I would have tried to find a solution that would allow it to fold without the half-stud offset.

It's been a long time since I've entered a contest here, but when the theme was announced I just couldn't resist giving it a try. The model I've chosen is something I've wanted to remake for some time and this contest was a great reason to push it up my project list. I did briefly give some consideration to other sets (notably 8414, which was the first Technic set I ever got), but in the end I decided to go 8460/8431/8438-B - the first appearance (as far as I am aware!) of a knuckleboom crane in a Technic set. Trucks with cranes are a staple of Technic, but there have only ever been two folding knuckleboom cranes as far as I am aware (I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong), and the original is one of my favourite B-Models. While I would have liked to get this topic going to show WIP earlier, I honestly had no idea if I would find the time to finish it (working in a hospital in the middle of a pandemic will do that for you). The model is now pretty much complete though, so here are a few preliminary photos. I will hopefully get some more cleaned up photos ready for entry (emphasis on 'hopefully'). I decided to go with the new tractor tires for this as they fit perfectly with the model's aesthetic. They are slightly larger than the originals, but I managed to keep the scale more or less the same because the tires on the original actually feel a little small. The model's functions are identical to the original, including in their geometry (which was a real pain to get done because there a half-stud offsets everywhere): Front wheels steered via the roof light Individually controlled left and right side stabilizers Crane rotation via gear on left side Two stage crane, with pneumatic switches on the left side, with the pump mounted horizontally between the rear axles and activated by a lever at the back of the truck And one additional function that is pretty much standard on every truck these days: Mini piston engine and spinning fan driven by dual rear differentials The original model does include an engine of sorts, but it is non-functional and only for display. The pump was particularly annoying to fit in, since in the original it goes right between the two rear axles. Here, it is mounted above them to allow space for the differentials, but this meant there was less space for the lever that would move the pump. It therefore uses a linkage to allow for the full pump stroke in a more compact space. I was not sure whether to go with panels or not. The rear bed would definitely use them were it to be built today, and there really isn't any way to replicate the brick-built sides of the original in a clean way using studless building; I've therefore added doors and a hood to the engine, which I think completes the looks a bit better. Some comparisons with the original model: I tried (successfully I think) to retain the aesthetic of the original engine, while also making it fully functional in the same space as the original. There have been some really great entries so far (as there always seems to be). I'll try get a few more photos up and get it entered.

This is the first contest in a very long time that I think I'll enter, some really good models so far. One (possibly dumb) question: are the B (or C) models of a set okay to enter with? I've had an idea floating around for some time that I want to try building that will (hopefully) be perfect for this.

Summer set names have been listed on Brickset: 42068 Fire Rescue Vehicle 42069 Extreme Adventure 42070 6x6 All Terrain Tow Truck

19. Snow Groomer Functions: Raising and lowering of the front blade Tilting left and right of the front blade Adjust the front blade's wings Raising and lowering of the front end of the vehicle's undercarriage Raising and lowering of the rear tilling blade Raising and lowering of the tilling blade's smoothing plates and rollers All controls for these functions are in the rear bed. Video: Photos: All photos are on my Flickr. With front and rear blades lowered: With the front blade angled and the wings adjusted, and close in detail: With the front end of the undercarriage raised: And finally the detail of the rear blade. This uses a single cylinder to deploy both wings and rollers simultaneously, timed to touch the ground at the same time: Rear: Entry Discussion Topic:

Initially, the pump was actually located horizontally in the base of the undercarriage, and was operated with a rocking mechanism that you pushed down on in the bed of the vehicle, but the rate at which it pumped air into the system was just too slow. It also caused the undercarriage to flex badly, as it interfered with all the pneumatic tubing in the switch area. I also tried having it as an exhaust, as you suggested, but bear in mind one of the functions is the raising of the undercarriage: I would be pushing down on the vehicle as it was trying to raise up. It was rather counter intuitive. I like it in its current location, to be totally honest; it's easy to access, and doesn't affect the vehicle itself when it's in use, regardless of the function being used I've also finished putting together the video. I've been a bit pressed for time all through building this so I haven't found time to reshoot this video (lighting is a bit of an issue), but I might get lucky with that this weekend. Just in case, here's the preliminary video which in any case shows all the functions, and also the cheap improvised backdrop I used for my photos (the tripod I mounted the camera on was itself built from Lego).

I don't have a photo of that I can post right now, but you'll hopefully be able to see how it works in the video when it's done. Until then I'll try explain it, you can see it in the photos of the rear blade itself. The pneumatic cylinder's head is connected by a pair of 3l thin lift arms to an axle which runs the length of the blade, with the knob gears at either end. As the cylinder pushes the rollers down, it rotates this axle, in turn lowering the wings. It's set up such that the rollers and the wings touch the ground at the same time, using a single cylinder.

Hi everyone, I figured I'd have a bash at this contest, so here's my entry: I decided to go with a Snow Groomer for this. It has six pneumatically powered functions, along with manually driven tracks: Raising and lowering of the front blade Tilting left and right of the front blade Adjust the front blade's wings Raising and lowering of the front end of the vehicle's undercarriage Raising and lowering of the rear tilling blade Raising and lowering of the tilling blade's smoothing plates and rollers All controls for these functions are in the rear bed. I opted for a manual pump rather than a motorized one, as the contest is, after all, pneumatically focused. All photos are on my Flickr, but I'm going to post them all here anyway as I doubt everybody will see them there. With front and rear blades lowered: With the front blade angled and the wings adjusted, and close in detail: With the front end of the undercarriage raised: And finally the detail of the rear blade: I'm currently in the process of putting together the video for this, hopefully should be ready in time for the deadline

I'm glad you like it

Not had much time of late but I've managed to cobble together an LXF, which I've attached to this post. When I get chance I'll stick it on Rebrickable. Some notes: The door panels in the cab are 1 stud higher in the LXF than on the model, so move them down by one when building. They fit fine, it's just the angle in LDD is hard to line up. The mini LAs are not connected to their implements but it should be pretty clear where they go. 42038 SnowGroomer.lxf

Since I don't really have time to create instructions, I'm putting together an LDD of it instead. Hopefully it shouldn't take too long (I normally do it the other way around - design in LDD before building in real bricks). Not sure where I can host it though... I'd be happy for it to be there

Thanks for the comments folks I didn't have any plans on making instructions, but if I can find the time I might be able to put together an LDD. I did quite consciously factor the stickers into this build, as I figured they'd fit with the theme.

So it's been a long time since I've done any building that wasn't an out-of-the-box set, and I quite liked the challenge of the C-Model contest from a while back (TC5 was it?), so I figured that was where I'd pick up... When I first saw images of 42038, I figured that it would probably have a snow groomer as its B-model. We got something different instead, which was great, but I decided to have a bash at a snow groomer myself anyway. I tried to get as much functionality as possible, at least similar to what the real thing might have. Features are: The front blade can be raised and lowered with a mini LA, controlled via the 2-point gearbox behind the cab The rear blade can be raised and lowered with a mini LA, controlled via the 2-point gearbox The front blade can be tilted left and right from a control behind the cab An extendable winch, which can rotate 360 degrees via the control at the back On with the gratuitous photos: Front and rear blades raised. The controls. The nearest operates the gearbox, while the middle tilts the front blade. The front blade raise and tilt mechanism. The rear blade in the lowered position. The winch controls. All photos available in full size on my Flickr. Hope you all like it

Good to know it wasn't just me thinking that Going to be keeping an eye on this one, I look forward to seeing how it turns out.