grum64

What an epic build. The attention to detail is mind blowing. If this doesn’t go into the HoF I’ll eat my BWE (Alasdair, Jim this is not a challenge )

Sounds like you just might be a contender for the LEGO part speed & distance record Hope you got the Saturn V finished with no more mishaps. Thank you for your kind wishes.

Thank you Andy. You’re right of course. We all find better ways to do things as we go through and learn from life.

I was more disappointed than anything else. It was something I thought might happen given its size but as the build progressed I think I just got a tad complacent. As for mounting the arm, that'll require a bit more thinking about and a lot more care. My whole life's a work-around

Thank you Bart. I'm very lucky that there wasn't more damage as it hit the floor with quite a wallop. It's back together now but I'm going to recheck that all the joints are nice & tight then 'power it up' to double check the wheel alignment before going any further. Best do it now than get it all done and find problems. One good thing to come out of this mishap was using my 'chairs raise/lower function in fitting the gearbox to the arm. I can raise the seat height by 18" which by my reckoning would put my laptray about 15" above tabletop level. This started me thinking that it might be the way to go to mount the digging arm. If I can get the chassis positioned at the edge of the table and (safely) overhang the arm from my laptray I might be able to lower one onto the other. It's souds crazy but it's just a thought at the moment. As I said to Jake, nothing ventured, nothing gained. His reply? Fools go in... I'll find out soon enough .

Build Day 30 - Days build time 3hrs 50mins / Total build time 75hrs 55mins Today was a day that started really well... ... but ended otherwise. More of that later. With the gearbox/counterweight complete it was time to attach it to the digging arm. Due to the combined size of two assemblies there was no way they'd both fit on my laptray so it was time to try a different approach. I flipped the digging arm onto it's side and slid it so that the end to receive to gearbox was overhanging the edge of the table. With the gearbox on my laptray I manouvered my wheelchair so I was facing the table with the edge of the tray almost against it. With the digging arm now overhanging my laptray it was time for what Jake, George & Penny say is my 'chairs party trick. With a press of a button and a pull back on the joystick the seat raised up until my laptray was at the same level as the table with the end of the digging arm resting upon it. All I had to do was line up the axles with their respected orifices and press the two assemblies together until they were connected. It took a while but eventually it was done. All that remained was to fit the liftarms and panels that tie and brace the joint. I'm not very good at written explanations so I hope the above makes sense. Now for the aforementioned 'otherwise'. With this part of the build done I wanted to take some photos so I slid the now complete digging arm into roughly the right place, lowered my 'chair and moved alongside the table to adjust the arm into a better position. As I was doing this the 'chair's controller brushed gently against the arm. Gently it may have been but it was enough to... Well, it's said that a picture's worth a thousand words so I'll let it tell the rest of the story. Gutted would be a big, a very big understatement but there was no point crying over spilt LEGO so after my Son picked it up for me it was time to set about repairing it. It's a testament to the strength of the build that other than the digger ring coming apart the only other 'damage' was one half bush that came off and a few joints that needed tightening. Remarkable.

I like this a lot. It's a great little build with plenty of functionality.

After fitting each gear I checked that it turned freely to minimise friction. Also, I ensured that the bucket wheel rotated freely and ran straight & true. All this should, I repeat, should ensure that there are no problems. It won't be long until I find out. Ah yes, mounting the arm. Unusually for me I've not put too much thought into fitting it as I don't thunk it would help very much. It's something I'll work out when I get to it .

This is a good looking build with some nice features. Great work.

Build Days 27/28/29 - Total days build time 6hrs 50mins / Total build time 72hrs 5mins After a little bit of work on the digging arm I've now gotten to a stage of the build where, for a little while at least, I have some respite from the frustrations of fighting with it and move on to the gearbox/counter weight. Building the gearbox was progressing really well right up until the moment I noticed a bit of a problem. Stage 501 requires that a 4L with stop be used and stage 505 a 5L with stop but while building I'd used the 5L instead of the 4L and vice versa. I only realised when I was about to fit the second clutch onto the axle and found nothing for it to fit to . Thankfully it didn't take too much to put right but it took well over an hour. Lesson learnt.

Nice build Bart. Is it just me that thinks it looks a little like an evil tortoise

Excellent work. I think designing small models must sometimes be just as difficult as designing larger ones.

Very nice build. It looks great (except for that missing light of course ) and functions well. Well done.

You and me both .

Great review, thank you Milan. I was bought this set recently and although I will build the main model it'll be the B model, the buggy, that'll find its way onto a shelf. I think it looks better than the rally car & has real character.

You've been rumbled Paul

Brilliant little buggy. Good luck in the competition.

This I like very much, it's such an amazing performer.

This... ...and it worked a treat. Thank you Bart.

Thank you Edwin. Slowly’s the way to go with all building. I think you enjoy the process more. Thank you.

Build Days 27/28 - Total days build time 4hrs 15mins / Total build time 65hrs 15mins Just a quick update which will no doubt come as good news to those of you wanting to stay awake. Building had been going really well for a good while now but knowing there were 66 track links to join I knew this situation wasn't going to last. Today proved me right. After almost 2hrs, 64 links were joined. With my frustration levels in the red trying to join link 65, a well aimed Grum knock resulted in what must surely be a speed & distance record for a LEGO track link. Honestly, one minute it was on my laptray the next it shot past my ear at a considerable rate of knots, hit the far wall of my shed covered the same distace back again and landed on the floor next to my wheel. By my reckoning it had covered over 30ft! It was while pondering the significance of this achievement I remembered (better late than never) that our good freind Bart had suggested a technique to join links that he's used to good effect. I gave it a go and hey presto, the last 2 links were in place. It was quick and much easier so thank you very much Bart. I just wish I'd remembered it sooner. Carassius auratus retinentia. With the eleven 5L liftarms attached and all 66 links joined I had a conveyor in place.

Love this, especially the working water canon.

Very nice little build. I very much look forward to seeing it when finished.

Terrific build. I agree with mocbuild101 about it’s performance on the snow, it’s very impressive.