suffocation

Thank you, Allanp That's a lot of valuable input! Not sure I'll be able to work in all those details with my limited skills but I'll do my best. The superstructure is coming along nicely. I've decided to go for a 8043 approach - sure, there's room for a motor for each function, but one of the reasons why I like to mix RC and manual switches is to have a nice gearbox in the set. A three-motor solution for the six functions I need will make it more interesting and full RC at the same time.

Ransacking my collection of #3 black connectors has led to this: Just a very, very rough sketch to get a basic idea of the measurements and what I need to factor into the superstructure.

Thanks I haven't got any specific model in mind; in fact, all the models I've seen are kind of boring - very square and flat-looking, if you ask me: https://www.liebherr.com/en/ita/products/mobile-and-crawler-cranes/mobile-cranes/lrt-rough-terrain-cranes/onepager_lrt_krane.html so I was just trying to come up with something cool-looking (and seem to have failed miserably so far, but hey, that's part of learning, right? ) Thanks for the constructive feedback, Erik! Yeah, the more I look at the carrier as it is, the less I like it - and "boxy" is definitely the right word, so it's back to the drawing board here. Following your and amminich's advice, I looked around a bit more and found this: https://rtlequipment.com/equipment/2015-grove-rt890e-rough-terrain-crane-2/ which, while I would never be able (nor want) to replicate it, does give me a few ideas on how to round off the bodywork a bit and play around with the colour schemes you suggested. I'm working on the superstructure now (and trying to Lego-solve the turntable issue) while the carrier ideas set in, so more updates to come soon, hopefully.

Thanks for the feedback Care to elaborate or offer alternative ideas?

Thanks, Doug! Talk about taking photography to a whole new level of execrable, but at least it gives a vague idea of what the model would look like with the Porsche arches and some other orange beams thrown in: And a back shot:

Hi Doug, thanks, I'd forgotten about Efferman's 3D-printed parts. I'll check them out if I can't find an all-Lego solution. I wish they'd introduce mid-size quadrants or turntables - standard turntables are 7 studs wide, current quadrants make for a 23-stud circle so something in the 11-15 range would be nice. WIll post an update tomorrow.

I'd love to use them but they're probably too big for this model. And their yellow glint would be an eyesore amidst the colour combos I have in mind So I guess I'll have to figure out another way to keep the superstructure in balance. Thanks, Erik! I was hoping you'd pitch in because I love your models and I think you're among the very best designers here You're right - I should start with the wheel arches and work from there. I actually had a go with a white and blue combo (one of my favourite) but couldn't pull off anything remotely acceptable. I do love DBG and have plenty of it (thanks, Mack), so that may be a good place to start since it does seem to mesh well with pretty much any other colour. In terms of orange, do you reckon the Porsche wheel arches would look out of place on a model like this? As for the suspension, that's where I bless the day I came across a random picture that gave me the idea to do something like this: So the suspension travel (or rotation, rather, since it's pendular) is around three studs, or something like this: I do but they work only with CV joints, which are fragile and limit steering angle too much. Also, I wanted at least some sort of hub reduction. This thing is going to be heavy.

Ha, I'm a sucker for red and black, too But I already used that combo on my tow truck so I wanted to try something different. White and classic blue wouldn't be bad, either, but classic blue is scarce As for orange, I have a ton of panels from multiple copies of 8110, 42038 and 42056. Which is dark azure? I do have a variety of blues from 42066 and 42070 (one copy each).

This is the carrier of a very basic rough terrain crane. Just the usual stuff going on: - 2 XL motors for driving - 2 independent servos for steering --> four steering modes: front, back, front & back, crab - 1 M motor for gear shifting --> high gear 1:7, low gear 1:21 These five motors are powered by a BuWizz unit. Both axles are pendular, hence this carrier can handle a LOT of weight. This kind of crane should have planetary hubs rather than portal hubs but all the solutions I came up with had too much friction, so back to the good old Unimog hub it was. The outriggers will be driven from the superstructure - kind of like on 42009 but single-stage - with its own battery box. Yes, the model is going to be part remote, part with switches. That's how I like it :) Having solved the technical part, now I've hit the proverbial snag - the bloody aesthetics. So here's where I need your guys' help - how can I dress this chassis up so that it doesn't look like yet another bubble truck from yours truly? I rather fancy the idea of a mostly orange, black and white livery (in which case I'd ditch the red hubs, of course); oh, and I have very few System bricks and can't afford any major Bricklink orders at the mo, so the livery should be mostly if not entirely Technic. Here are some rubbish pictures (thanks, lousy Samsung J3). (same pics in hi-res here: https://bricksafe.com/pages/hateofallhatreds/rough-terrain-crane)

Your "still-need-improvement" models are a million times better than any of my "finished" models. It seems to drive very smoothly. How many driving wheels are there? How many driving motors and with what reduction?

Always used a Samsung J3 with the bare essentials running - it gets used as an alarm clock, to take pictures and, well, to run the BuWizz app. I just ran a system clean to close/delete any junk and the lag is still atrocious.

Anyone else having lag issue? I had them for a while with both units, then one day they seemed to disappear (presumably following an update) and then, one month later, came back with a vengeance (another update?). I'm talking lag times of up to fifteen seconds, which make my BuWizz models competely unplayable.

After seeing your beyond-amazing model and the original side by side, I can say that yours looks way better.

The minute you stop experiencing childlike wonder (not "childish wonderment") is when the most precious part of you dies.

I reckon a few mishaps were to be expected with such a cumbersome, unwieldy build. What astounds me every time is that you always figure out a work-around. Keep it up, mate!

The motor could be in the substructure - think 8043 but in reverse. Of course, this solution would be needlessly complex, so I think it's more likely the coaxial shaft is derived from the superstructure.

Not necessarily. The gear ring could be used just to provide support, with the superstructure being driven via a Z60 turntable; or there could be a coaxial solution.

Still trying to figure out whether this set comes with an L or XL motor.

Hi Doug, the coaxial XL is free to power any function in the superstructure. I only modded the carrier since I wanted it for another project of mine and thought it was a pity to leave one of the BuWizz's four channels unused, hence the extra motor.

This is a basic mod to the undercarriage. Features 2 L motors per track (1:25), 1 L motor for superstructure rotation (1:36) and 1 coaxially mounted auxiliary XL motor, all powered by a V1 BuWizz unit. Everything runs pretty smoothly with up to 4 kg of ballast, so that leaves a LOT of doors open for the superstructure.

What a work of art, Sariel I wouldn't be able to pull this off in three decades, let alone three years. The looks, the mechanics, all the little details are phenomenal. And I'm surprised that three out of four gears work reasonably well on such a heavy model, given the limits of Lego. What are the various reduction ratios from motor to wheel?

Amazon.de is selling the Mack for €105.

Great to see you building again, Grum. The BWE truly is epic - you'll be amazed at how huge it is.

Ha ha, love it! Although red wine should be bottled in dark glass...

Hi teknix1, I believe this is the part LvdH was referring to: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=15459#T=C&C=86