doug72

Is a mini figure OK ?

Where does the battery go, can we have some images showing all the PF components ?

Entry topic says there are 1L& 3 M PF motors but only one on the digital image ? Agree too many system parts.

Not 100% happy with the earlier engine housing shown above as it was too cluttered. Now devised an improved engine casing which has Air intake dome & exhaust pipe. Entry topic update IMG_8705

Dummy engine REMOVED. After a lot of ideas finally come up with a technic alternative. All dimensions remain the same at:- 30 L high x 20L long x 16.5 Wide = 9900 cu. studs Entry topic updated.

On BBC news today is an item about 3D printing schools in Africa. see this link https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-61588608

Juss: Thanks for your comments - its been an enjoyable process of gradual improvements, but I am finally satisfied. Came across Volvo video which shows the driver control cabin raising & lowering on 4 legs same as my build. SaperPL: I also liked the original boom but rules are rules !!. The final changes to the boom very closely match the narrow boom arm on a real Volvo machine with the full boom range in & out. Once contest is over it would be a simple matter to change it back the original boom design. re cabin , not 100% happy with it but it is 100% technic parts. re Engine:- engine blocks are used in many technic sets Came across Volvo Video that shows a Side Boom Pipe Layer being converted to digger by having the side boom removed & replaced by a digger bucket arm. Now that would be challenge to build !!

Boom upgrade:- At present the boom can only move between Vertical & 45 Degs. The real machine requires being able to move the boom from vertical to horizontal for loading onto a flat bed trailer for moving the machine on & off site etc Found that the linear actuator on my build was preventing full movement due to it touching the centre part of the three part pivot axle. Centre 3L sleeve now removed and two 3L friction free pins used instead at both beam pivots leaving a gap for the linear actuator to pass through at bottom of the boom as it reaches beyound 45 degs. IMG_8700 Boom now able to move between Vertical & Horizontal. ============================ Extra 7L beams added to the counterweight to prevent toppling when boom is fully extended & near horizontal.

The gearing to move the rack seems over complicated. A 1L worm does the job plus driven from the fixed end using two 2L axle connectors and a12T DBG gear

Side Boom Pipe layer :- Additional function added. Turntable now fitted allowing for 360 deg. rotation of the upper section and boom. Rotation is by hand. Turntable was fitted without increasing the height and after a lot of trial & error I achieved my goal of having the ability to slew the boom and upper section. Boom and pivot point improved and well clear of the track upper run. Counterweight, Control Cabin and dummy engine installed. Counterweight arms lengthened & extra 7L beams added to increase weight. All controls remain the same for boom luffing and hook hoist. New images :- Front view and partially rotated showing improved boom. IMG_8694 Rear View with Cabin & counterweight in operating position. IMG_8699 Side view with boom, cabin & Counterweight Stowed. IMG_8696 Dimensions checking box. Rotating part when aligned with tracks remain the same at ;-30 L high x 20L long x 16.5 Wide = 9900 cu. studs IMG_8697 Entry topic updated

Side Boom Pipe layer :- Additional function added. Turntable now fitted allowing for 360 deg. rotation of the upper section and boom. Rotation is by hand. The turntable was fitted without increasing the height and after a lot of trial & error achieved my goal of having the ability to slew the boom and upper section. Boom and pivot point improved and well clear of the track upper run.. Counterweight arms lengthened & extra 7L beams added to increase weight. Boom improved. All controls remain the same for boom luffing and hook hoist. Adding the turntable keeps the same dimensions as before. i.e 30L high x 20L long x 16.5 wide = 9900 cubit studs New image:- Entry topic to be updated. and will upload more images tomorrow.

Can someone define what is System and Model Team? Technic is easy to define.

Finally found the video that inspired me to make my TC22 contest entry. To see video see entry topic.See Entry Topic Shows how tracks are removed for transport. I plan to make a larger version using a track unit base I have from a previous lego model.

Go to page 36 https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/162511-gbc-akiyuki-train-system-type-2-mods-and-improvements/&page=36 and scroll down to Nov. 18th 2020 where it shows how the tilting ramp in box was made along with parts required. Re Lift tiles, The 8 x 1 tiles are attached to two 10 x 1 stud plates at top and bottom

Thanks for your comments & query. Sorry, There are no instructions & I have no idea how make them. Go back to page 39 Sept.3rd. 2021 and see how the build started and the problems encountered along the way. The lift itself is quite simple to build but the Train reverser was the biggest challenge as I needed it to allow 2 trips before train cart was released. Getting syncronisation was the hardest task eventually made using a 1:1 gear as discribed. It proved impossible for the lift carry 30 bals in one trip due to weight & lack of power from the train car but OK when 2 trips made of 15 balls. re train reverser:- Using two 24T gears for the train 8T gears to engage with helps stop gear chattering and give even ouput power. I still have the module intact, so if you need any further images let me know. Doug72

Finished the build & Entry Topic now made.

8. Side Boom Pipe Layer Based on a Volvo Side Boom Pipe Layer that uses a hydraulic cylinder to position the boom, and is used to lay large gas & oil pipelines. Multiple machines would be used’ to lower a long section of pipe into the pre dug trench. Functions:- all are manual operated. 1/. Revolving caterpillar tracks which are removable same as the real machine. See Volvo video. 2/. Boom luffing in and out by a linear actuator. 3/. Raise & lower the hook holding the pipe section. 4/ Shift counterweight between stowed & operating positions. 5/. Shift Control platform between stowed & operating positions. 6/. Turntable added to allow boom & upper section to rotate 360 degrees 7/ Dimensions:- 30L high x 20L long x 16.5L Wide = 9900 Cubic Studs 8/. Test frame made for dimension checking. Side Boom Pipe layer :- Additional function added. Turntable now fitted allowing for 360 deg. rotation of the upper section and boom. Rotation is by hand. Turntable was fitted without increasing the height and after a lot of trial & error I achieved my goal of having the ability to slew the boom and upper section. Boom and pivot point improved and now well clear of the track upper run. Counterweight, Control Cabin and dummy engine installed. Counterweight arms lengthened & extra 7L beams added to increase weight. All controls remain the same for boom luffing and hook hoist. New images :- Side view and partially rotated showing improved boom. Boom, cabin & Counterweight in operating position with section of pipe on the hook. Boom upgrade:- The range of the boom has been increased, can now luff between verticle & horizontal. See discusion topic for image and how achieved. Boom, cabin & counterweight in stowed position. Engine casing, After a lot of ideas finally come up with a technic alternative. Dimensions checking box. Rotating part when aligned with tracks remain the same at ;-30 L high x 20L long x 16.5 Wide = 9900 cu. studs Volvo Video:-

Update:- Ladder removed Added machinery room to the Control cabin deck.Only Technic parts used. IMG_8660

Added access to the control cabin along with a ladder. but ladder looks too large, I do not have a smaller legal Lego ladder. Ladder folds under to keep within dimensions limit. So unsure whether to keep it or remove it or try and make it smaller - see image. Comments & suggestions welcome. Ladder now removed

Improved Drivers Control cabin:- Built using Technic parts from the 42121 Heavy duty excavator set. Height when in operating position increased. Still able to be stowed to keep within dimension limits. IMG_8653

Progress update. Track unit modified by removing the Red 11L beam that supported the upper run of track links. Tracks now roll more freely using the stronger white 24T clutch gears. Re broken 24T gear, I had used the old type which has a weak centre axle hole. ] Top view of track unit showing the drive path from the control knob to the linear actuator. IMG_865 Boom redesigned which is the same height as before at 30L but is more rigid and triangular in shape. IMG_8652 Cubic studs remain unchanged at 30 x 20 x 16.5 =9900

Both Tracks roll OK as long as the surface has some friction. Adding another link makes the tracks too slack. Normally I would use small shock absorbers but at this scale its not possible. PS all functions are manual.

Track Problem ;_ The tracks used 24T gears at each end. The 3L track links are under tension, if I add another link they are too slack. Found one damaged 24 T gear which had broke at the centre axle hole. !!!!! Now changed the 24T gears with 24T white clutch gears which are much stronger.

As requested More images IMG_8643 IMG_8644 IMG_8645 IMG_8646 IMG_8647 IMG_8648

Progress Final update:- Finally satisfied with the build after some changes made to the boom and controls. Large pulley fitted to the head of the boom and Boom height reduced by 1L to 30L. 2 x 2 round bricks previously used a as control knobs removed and replaced by 20T bevel gears which give me a better hand grip. Boom, Hook & Counterweight fully retracted, and Testing frame adjusted to suit and dimensions confirmed.. Now 30 high x 20 long x 16.5 wide = 9900 cubic studs. Time to tidy up my Lego work area and return unsued parts to storage drawers !! IMG_8642