MajklSpajkl

18: 10 10: 6 9: 4 21: 3 14: 2 11: 1

It can turn into a mecha ;-)

I was also hoping for more big fish to come swim in the pool, or at least more fish at all. Too bad Paul decided not to enter his masterpiece. And I hope Jeroen wasn't banned for real :-))) I totaly agree on the prizes distribution. and hope that an obvious chance to loose against non-pros didn't turn some guys away from the competition...IMO reputation and quality of those masterbuilders is undisputed whether they are winning competitions or not... As for me, it's true I won silver in TC5, but it's a long road ahead of me to become a "pro" builder, with or without the tag.

I see that you used Technic-fig seats behind the rear mudguards - very clever idea. The car looks fantastic, cool functions, only the guns seem a bit smallish. Best regards

Hi, Normal mode looks really good, a lot better than the official buggy. And the front bumper / propeller is a really nice touch. Good luck :-)

I'm glad you decided to join in after all :-) and that haven't abandoned building yet. This is an interesting excavator, but I like the battle mode more. The canon base looks like a strong bunker, and the smaller mobile tracked unit must be very agile. Good luck ;-)

@VFracingteam: Yeah, some of the guys were making me quite nervous about it... well, the game is on and weapons are HOOOOOOOT! @Jim: Thank you, I really was expecting your verdict on it . Heh, Optimus ha? it's funny, I was asking my wife, if she had an idea for a good name (although she tends to roll her eyes white when I bug here about my LEGOs), and she said, if it was a bandit, it should be Megatron . Best regards!

Nice project you've got going on. I am really interested how that climbing frame will come out. I hope you'll build it for real.

@jensbrix: I apologize man, I really was overreacting. What you said later is far better info, but you better listen to allanp. Oh and about that dinner: Wait until your girlfriend becomes your wife :-P (just playin')

@jensbrix: How convenient for you You know, but you can't tell? You know but won't tell? Or did you just have a revelation from above? It really makes me wonder... Such info as you provided serves no one, it is like my wife would've told me, she might knew what she'll cook today for dinner, so I'd better get excited... Thanks for the info

I'm more on the nutter side - A to the Z and many times back form Q to E Every once in a while I even manage to build a module or two, but then I must redesign them, cause they don't fit in the whole. There is nothing left from modularity after the redesign is finished of course .

Well, Milan provided us with even bigger one in the very first entry! Let's get ready to rumbleeeeee!

16. The Sandstormer (Bandits) FUNCTIONS Normal / Stealth mode: - Propulsion: 2x PF L motor (1 for each track) - Steering: 1x PF L motor (each front wheel is steered by its own small linear actuator) Battle mode: - The sides of the halftrack turn into wings. - Wings lift: 1x PF M motor & 2x large linear actuator - Wings rotate in to final position and the tail extends: 1x PF M motor - Adjusting the midle and rear wing (manualy, rear wings by a worm gear) - Two pneumatic claws operated by pneumatic autovalve (1x PF M motor): The claws keep the ground propulsion unit attached to the main truck while in normal mode. In battle mode, they are separated making a deadly couple in the air ("The Storm") and on the ground ("Sand Wrath") 1. The Storm (airborne unit) - Rear landing gear of the airship adjustment: 1x PF M motor - Front wheels are rotated downwards and work as vertical thrusters or upwards releasing a devastating H-bomb which is hanging inbetween the wheels (1x PF L motor) - Two huge miniguns pop out from behind the front grille. - Additional two double machineguns on the lowered front bumper - The wings are weapons-hot as soon as they are deployed, two double laser guns near the hull and triple rocket launchers near the tip of the wings. 2. Sand Wrath (ground unit) - Propulsion: 2x PF L motor (1 for each track) - the unit is remotely operated by a copilot sitting in the airborne unit. - Pendular suspension of the tracks. - Manually operated two big calliber long range guns, huge minigun and double machineguns on the side of the tracks. Video Discussion topic

@VFracingteam: So do I, I was hoping he would make a move by now, oh well, I guess I'll have to endure this uncertainty a bit longer Thanks again for nice comments and best wishes from you, the video is finally up down, I hope it stands up to your expectations... C U on the battlefield!!! I'll embed the video here as well in case you're not up for scrolling

This is a great video, I sure feel inspired now, and encouraged - the Bandits will be victorious

Oh no you didn't!? How could you?? Just kidding... nice experiment but I cannot agree with you here - to me Black Champion racer is one of the best looking smaller OOB's and that off road version seems a bit sillyish. That carpet race track seems quite thick, so there I think is the disadvantage of the original (and probably some other laws of physics, that I can't recall right now , although I hear some words like inertia, wheel diameter, friction and such strange words somewhere in the back of my head . Thanks for posting

Woow, this is really a lot of functions - did you have to write them all down, so you wouldn't forget some Really impressive, everything is well thought off and I really like that all your weapons are actually working and are not just mock-ups, like mine for example . Ejector seats and working turbine are my favourite. That poor enforcer sucker car looks quite nice too. Congratulations on the whole project and best of luck!

HI, I really like the aggressive stance of this pickup! It certainly screems bad attitude :thumbup: . I also like your video, editing is very dynamic and I like that your cuts ar synced with music. Well done!

That is indeed a surprising transformation! I like your little action story ;-) Is there no chance that the arms would be bigger?

I am sure that if the bucket wheel excavator is actually on the list, TLG did its research and didn't put it there for no reason...

Hi guys, I appreciate your kind words very much, thanks a lot! I have rewritten the original post, so any of you willing for a soapy horror story, be my guest, I'll be happy to hear your thoughts on it . The only thing missing now is the video, but I had to get this "smallish" writting done first. The photos are more or less final. I believe there is not much more that those turntables could take and I already had quite severe problems for one M motor to rotate the wings and extend the tail simultaneously. If I could squeeze an XL somewhere in there, it would purr like a kitten, I've tried it, but there was no room for the LA's then. Oh and yes, the wingspan is approx. 78 cm (97 studs) Well, let me guess: Jeroen? Thanks man, where you've been? It seemed a little quiet in you workshop lately... To be honest, I like the half-track better too. It seems more plausible and looks a whole lot meaner . Bulbous is a fantastic word for my humming bird. It reminds mea bit on those deep sea fish, with a huge mouth and tiny megablocks, well, it sure seem someone bit a nice chunk of that planes megablocks off Thanks again. Regarding the dilemma of two battle mode vehicles: I think that the terrestrial unit is not just something you take off or put on, like a shield or sun shade, but it has a higher purpose. It provides drive in normal mode and eliminates "those self righteous enforcers" in battle mode. Similar would be ( I agree, not so disputeable) an example of a tractor truck with a trailer (2 separate parts) like this fine specimen from my Bandit brother jono.rocky. It is a more common pair so it is definetly undisputeable, I agree my setup is more on the edge - I guess Jim will have the last word it. Either way, I had a lot of fun building this brick/motor/cable clutter and hold no hopes for the high spots, cause there are entries far better than mine already published and some still to come. Best regards, Miha

That is one interesting truck and as the axles setup indicates, that precious cargo shouId be quite heavy. I really like the bodywork - kinda model team style but nicer, less studs :-) Great use of the steering system that allows nice tight mudguards. The custom switch on the BB seems very usefull and makes operating much easier. Those AA guns sure look great and very intimidating while they dance simultaneously. That computer image of the mechanism inside is a really nice touch and I kinda envy you the knowledge of producing it. I just can't get myself to start and learn those 3D programs. Did you build the whole chassis in 3D or just those mechanisms? Good job overall, see you on the battlefield ;-)

3 to 4 days???? Are you even human??? ;-) You sure are quick and a very fine product you made, I especialy like the front axle solution.

Greetings fellow combatants! I would like to introduce you one mean notorious bandit: The Sandstormer! As you can see, it's a half-track, roaring over the dried salt-lakes plains, camouflaged into a supplies transporter, but when the heat turns up, it transforms into... ...flying assault bomber called "The Storm"... ...and remotely controlled tracked ground unit called "Sand Wrath", which is guided by the co-pilot on the bomber. PLOT Bandits! Fear not, air support is here! We shall stand victorious and no enforcer will ever be safe in the Desert!!! But first let's take a closer look on this monstrosity, forged in the heart of the Desert by some crooked eyes mechanic called Furious Majkl. If you'd known him, you wouldn't be surprised that some things didn't came out just as they should, but this poor fella couldn't do any better on such a short notice and with a gun on his head. The Dusty Lord of the Desert was ruthless, as the day of the final battle with the Enforcers was aproaching with a speed of the sandstorm... The necessity for an airborne unit among Bandits was great and what is more devastating than a heavy bomber, carrying deadly cargo. In order to keep it secret, the idea was, that the combat vessel turns airborne from a somewhat common desert vehicle whit big enough sides to turn into wings - logical choice: A truck. Next, the choise of on ground propulsion system - treads, can there be anything more universal? A half-track! Lets take a look at the specs: NORMAL MODE - HALF-TRACK ("The Sandstormer") Dimensions: L/W/H = 54 cm / 20,5 cm / 20,5 cm (67,5 / 25,5 / 25,5 studs) Weight: 3,2 kg Main features: Drive (tracks - 1x PF L motor each = 2 all together) & steering (1x PF L motor) Battle options: Two double huge miniguns on front + 2 double barrel machine guns behind the front bumper when lowered + Infantry reaper on front bumper when lowered. BATTLE MODE - FLYING ASSAULT BOMBER ("The Storm") + REMOTELY CONTROLLED GROUND UNIT ("Sand Wrath") The Storm: L/W/H = 66 cm / 78 cm (wingspan) / 17,5 cm (once airborne) (82,5 /97,5 / 22 studs) Weight: 2,3 kg Power: Nuclear AAA BB core (+good ol' kerosene of course) Transformation: 1. The sides rise up and turn into wings - 1x PF M motor drives 2 large LA's that firstly push the whole panels sideways and then they rise them into horizontal position. 2. Risen wings rotate into final position and the tail extends - 1x PF M motor (suffering as hell due friction, but there is just no space for anything bigger) 3. Tail wings and middle wings are put into final position manually (tail wings by a worm gear) 4. The Storm and the Sand Wrath separate: Two "claws" operated by small pneumatic cylinders driven by an auto pump (1x PF M motor) release the ground unit so it is set free. The rear landing gear is of-course already in position for take-off (1x PF M-motor drives two large LA's) 5. Once the Storm is airborne, the front two wheels are turned downwards (1x PF L motor) so that the wheels turn into extra thrusters for faster rising. 6. Armaments: As the wings unfold, they are already weapons-hot, carrying triple rocket launchers on each wing and a double laser gun on each side near the hull. In addition the front hood can be risen and two huge miniguns pop-out, escourted by two double machine guns when the front bumper is lowered. Total mayhem is achieved by a hydrogen drop bomb, which is carried inbetween the front wheels, which turn upwards to deploy the deadly cargo... As already said, the constructor - Furious Majkl was in a hurry, therefore the fuel lines for the thrusters on the main wings is supplied via "external" hoses, which makes it somehow vulnerable, but it is a minor problem due to huge fire power not letting anyone near those "blood" vessels. The Sand Wrath: L/W/H = 24,5 cm / 20,5 cm / 20 cm (with mini gun in top position) (31 / 25,5 / 25 studs) Weight: 0,9 kg Power: Nuclear AAA BB core (and some good ol' diesel) Drive: 2x PF L motor, 1 for each track Transformation: Once detached from the main unit, it goes berserk and due to each track being pendulary suspended, there is no obstacle it cannot overcome (well almost, due to lack of road wheels sometimes overcoming obstacles in reverse is a problem ) But still, it is a lot of fun to drive it remotely from far above on the Storm - yes, the Sand Wrath holds no crew, just deadly weapons... Armaments: The connection platform with the Storm turns into a huge minigun and underneath it there are two deadly long range cannons. For close combats, pursuits and drive-bys it reveals additional double machineguns on the sides of the tracks. That would be all the glorry for this war machine, you can check some details/mess from following photos of the guts below... Pneumatic autovalve... And now to conclude this epic poetry with the ugly truth about this model: There is still a ton of things to improve: I, well Furious Majkl of the Desert seems to have a leaking small pneumatic cylinder and that results in a rather poor functioning of the detaching claws betwen the two units. Perhapse the small pump just cannot provide enough presure - I've tried with big manual pump and it work like a charm. To me, this detail is the biggest fail of the whole MOC. You can realise, that remotely reataching both units back together is even worse . Oh well, it's only LEGO they say, you can't achieve it all, they say... Seems they're right though. Anyway, this attachement detail should be reworked totaly. Another rather "notsoamazing" thing is driving the normal mode vehicle. Slipping tracks are the least of the problems. What remains is steering of course. Due to rotating design of the wheels around the longitudinal axis the front is rather flimsy - you all know how little bending the turntables can take. Well, since this baby is one heavy child, I had to use stroller wheels on the bottom of the belly, so it can steer and drive at least a little... Nevertheless, I hope you like this lovely "pile" of bricks that me, myself and Furious Majkl of the Desert put together Best regards and good look to all you feisty petrol-head warriors! Make sure to vote for your favourite contestant, because those without a voting ticket will be left in the Desert! I must thank my friend Peter for letting me use his camera and studio and for helping me a bit with the setup , I couldn't have done it in my tiny LEGO room ! Here's another to go... ...and finally - the video!

Pure genious - the jet looks fantastic and it is realy amazing how everything fits during transformation. This enforcer got me really doubt my entry... I guess it wasn't simple to design it, but it looks so simple and that is simply amazing Good luck