doug72

My home page is the same, plus I often check the Trains Tech forum, never even noticed that the Scale Modelling forum had moved.

Over the years I have amassed a lot of black technic parts from sets - now broken down. I decided to use them for my latest MOC for as many parts as possible as running low on other colours. Same with Red left over from a super car set. edit. Black connectors also seem less prone to cracking.

Totally agree with this statement, there are some of us good at aesthetics and others good at the technical side with some OK with both. Personally I find the aesthics the hardest part of any MOC I build. I enjoy the challenge of problem solving when trying to devise mecahisms and then fit it into the space available and the actual build process. Only my better builds are kept for display but eventaully all will be broken down to build something new. On a lighter side there are lots of holes in Lego technic - we couldn't build without them !!!!

This is a problem in TC contests when looks out-way technical merits, when voting is open to non technic forum members. I also feel supercars are should have a sub forum. One solution is how the TC contests are organised i.e. a WIP topic with A Completed topic to show it in action etc.

I congratulate you on in getting four steering modes. Doug

For a long time I have had four sets of LEGO Housing 2 x 15 x 3m F/gear Rack (18940) and LEGO Gear Rack 14 x 2m with groove (18942) in my spares boxes but never used ! Time to find a way to use them. I have come up with two ideas that could be integrated into and become part of the structure using one M motor to move outriggers in / out and a 2nd M motor to raise / lower the support legs and linked so four units operate in unison. Version 1:
 Both gear rack and drive to support leg small L.A. by worm gear drive and uses the red 8T sliding gear to allow outrigger arm to extend / retract.
 Takes up a lot of space and would be hard to build into a chassis. Proved quite hard to find connection locations & support for the various components. Rejected. Version 2
: More compact and uses a 1L worm gear to actuate the gear rack.
 (yellow input) Drive to support leg small L.A. Is via a right angle gear housing but does not use the red 8T sliding gear.
 (red input). Found that a 12T single bevel gear allows the drive axle to slide though, as the outrigger arm is extended or retracted. The 12T bevel gear is prevented from moving within the LEGO Technic Connector Toggle Joint Smooth Double with 2 Pins (48496), by a 1L beam and and 1/2 bush that has lost its grip ! A much simpler build. Note: the small L.A. drive 8L axle with stop should be a 6L axle.

With all wheels NOT in contact with the ground, do all wheels rotate the same way ? If not try disconnecting rear most axle to see if 4 wheels rotate the same way. I think I recall there was a similar problem with a previous Lego set where it was possible to build a sub assembly correctly but then insert into the build upside down. ============================================== I have made a test rig to check correct position of all differentails - see image. When pushed by hand all wheels rotate in same direction together. Suggest that when reach step175 it should be tested to ensure all wheel rotation in same direction before moving on with the build. Instruction book Step 192 shows the four diffs. and the position of the Z28 gear on the 3 axle diffs.

It works fine raising and lowering the legs, red seems a bit bright, might change it to dark grey. I had a look at the 42009 outriggers but they take up a lot of space and would need an undercarriage re-build. I been looking at the new rack with housing and have come up with a compact version with both functions power driven. When tested I will put it in the Outrigger topic as could be useful to other MOCs.

Not really happy with the "X" outrigger layout - now working on an alternative and open to ideas. Slewing arrangment sorted - the 12T gear gives a nice steady rotation. Started work on the crane tower

I recently tried to buy one, but all sold out in the UK unless from eBay at ridiculous prices.

A mobile Dockside CRANE uses a rope hoist to lift cargoes on & off a ship.

 A mobile ship loader CONVEYOR generally can only load a ship. ====================================== Outriggers now installed to raise & lower legs in unison using one M motor. Outriggers based on a design suggested by mocbuild101 as shown in Outrigger HELP post. Swinging in & out for each leg is by hand. Took a while to get a decent speed & at same time still have protection for over travel using a 24T clutch gear in addition to small L.A. internal clutches. Underside view:
 Close up of drive path:

Update: Outriggers now being installed usings a design based on mocbuild101,s suggestion. (see outrigger help post) Feet are raise & lowered by M motor, still working on a way to swing out outriggers using an M motor, at present only by hand. May build the upper rotating part of the crane as per this Kone Cranes example, much easier to build a square tower than Liebheer version with its round tower. I also like the outriggers which could either use the the gear rack (18940) with housing (18942) or use the outrigger system on the 42009 mobile crane, but no space in under carriage for either without a full re-build of the under carriage.

Many thanks - will add to my boolmarks. Doug

Thanks for that so it was coincedence !! Tried looking for a Eurobricks facebook page but couldn't find it, can you post the link to it.

Thanks for the comments - its a difficult build and learning process. I find your comments about 3 post confusing !!! Almost stopped any further work on this MOC. Post 1 Mobile Dockside Crane Post 2 Outriggers, posted seperatley as wanted to reach a wider range of veiwers to obtain help, which was quicky provided allowing progress with the build. Post 3 where ?????? If you are refering to the mobile ship loader converyor that was an seperate topic and MOC which is now dis-assembed to allow buiding this MOC. It also had unresloved issues with steering but was a good learning curve as it allowed me to not hit as many dead ends during this build especially with the steering.

I know this is the wrong place to post this but don't know where to post this - can moderator please shift it the to correct the forum. Last night I downloaded the latest Apple Mac OS software update and after installation found that I could not connect to Eurobricks as kept getting: "Cannot make a secure connection to the server." Happened on both iMax and iPad devices running HIgh Serria OS. Seems to be OK this morning - anyone else using Mac had any problems

I have modified it by removing two uni couplings and use an axle with two 8T gears Instead. ( I have lots of broken uni. couplings ! ) Don,t intend to actually try & lift the crane, just for feet to touch the ground. The linear clutches will ensure all L.A.s can go full travel even if they get out of sync. Edit: Also when arms are folded in the uni coupling axis are at approx 90 degs. The L.A prevents inadvertent rotation if power applied.

Thanks for all the ideas & suggestions. I come up with this and made a test rig to ensure it can swing 45 degs OK. I would have liked to put uni-coulplings on the underside but not yet managed. Linear clutch fitted to prevent damage to the uni-couplings. Should be fairly easy to build this into my MOC and use and M motor to drive all four legs and another to swing the arms in & out.

Great idea, finally a use for my collection of un-used brick seperators, as I use different more effective ways to seperate technic parts. How are they connected to the centre hub ?

Many thanks - that’s exactly what I was looking for. Will try to fit something similar into my crane MOC.

Thanks: Pnumatics would mean a compressor but might be able to squeeze on in. Heres what I have at the moment - using four small L.A. with a lowered battery box to allow yellow axle to pass over. Red axles only to show hinge points. Space between side frames is 3L Thanks - that might work for the support legs if use uni-coullings instead of knob gears and use small L.A. to swing it out. Also could use a frexible mount for the foot at end of L.A. ram. PS started a seperate topic as information is usefull to others.

Outriggers:
 Seeking ideas & suggestions for a four arm outrigger system power operated if possible operated by PF switch(s) Outrigger arms need to swing out 45 degs, a give a X layout and lower support legs which will use 8 x 8 discs with centre pin hole as feet. At the moment can only come up with a fully manual way to achieve this.

To show WIP, the problems encountered and seek comments / suggestions and solutions found.

Some very interesting machines that could be replicated in Lego Technic.

Some cradles to drop pipes into & secure them would work.