[MOC] MINI Countryman Cooper S

[falconluan]

Hi, all, this is my second MOC and my first car MOC

I want to build the one below: 2013 MINI Countryman Cooper S.

It will have:

McPherson front suspension

2 link rear suspension

Sariel's 4 speed sequence gear box

Unibody chassis with structural A, B, C, D pillars

Detailed interior

2 L motor for drive and 1 M motor for steering

81mm tire from 42000, so the scale is approximately 1:8

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Have finished several days ago and finally got time to shoot some photos of it

The RB link is up at:

http://rebrickable.c...er-countryman-s

Modular design:

Chassis:

I made a black roof as well, which color scheme do you prefer?

There are more photos at:

http://www.brickshel...ry.cgi?f=560193

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WIP content below starts from August 20th.

I devided the whole project into multiple parts as:

unibody chassis

front passenger door

rear passenger door

trunk door

engine hood

front bumper and grill

rear bumper

dash board

4 seats

front suspension

rear suspension

gear box

power unit

fake engine(if have enough space)

Having been working on it for 1 month and it looks like this now:

I tried to replicate the neg camber of the rear wheels and it turned out like this:

As you can see, the doors, engine hood, front grill, front and rear suspension, roof are nearly done, and there is still lots of work to be done.

Thanks for watching and please comment below, really need your suggestion.

Edited November 24, 2015 by falconluan

[Jeroen Ottens]

instantly recognizable (even through the colourjungle ), well done

May I suggest to use flexaxles for the wheelarches? There is nothing that captures that nice round curve like a bended flexaxle.

Keep us posted...

[JunkstyleGio]

So far so good!

Keep those updates coming!

[falconluan]

instantly recognizable (even through the colourjungle ), well done

May I suggest to use flexaxles for the wheelarches? There is nothing that captures that nice round curve like a bended flexaxle.

Keep us posted...

Thanks and I'm thinking using flex axles too.

Agreed that nothing beats them to form a nice round curve.

[Victor Imaginator]

Nice sculpting. May you show how you achieve that camber on rear wheels?

[falconluan]

Now, some detailed photos:

inner side of front door:

Real one:

Again, I think flex axle will do better here, will try that later

Grill:

Real one:

I tried hard to make a proper "sad face" here.

Rear suspension:

Real one:

Don't have much talent o knowledge at this aspect, the setup right now has unintended toe out effects, so I may try to improve it,

but for now, I'm pleased with it

Again, your suggestion is well welcomed

Nice sculpting. May you show how you achieve that camber on rear wheels?

Please look at the upper post

[syclone]

Nice details , something amazing for a second MOC

And the door looks like a real one.

[Victor Imaginator]

Thanks. It wasn't clear at upper post, now i see) You can try to add diagonal links to negate toe-out.

[falconluan]

Thanks. It wasn't clear at upper post, now i see) You can try to add diagonal links to negate toe-out.

Can you please use some pics as reference? I don't know much about the suspension things but really interested in your suggestion.

I think the connector of the trailing arm of real thing has 3 dimensions freedom unlike mine model which only have 2 dimensions,

on the other hand, the connectors of the 2 linkages on the real thing have more limitation in movement compared to mine model which uses ball joints.

[Victor Imaginator]

Not a solution, just an idea. Ball joint at pink arrow must be fixed to prevent sliding off the axle, grey 9L axle should be fixed to frame. Sliding U-shaped connector along the axle will adjust toe-in/out.

Edited August 20, 2015 by Victor Imaginator

[falconluan]

Not a solution, just an idea. Ball joint at pink arrow must be fixed to prevent sliding off the axle, grey 9L axle should be fixed to frame. Sliding U-shaped connector along the axle will adjust toe-in/out.

Thanks a lot! I'll try this setup out. Using the steering link as trailing arm may introduces left/right swing movement of the wheel hub, maybe it is limited by the 2 links, anyway, I'll try this

[Alasdair Ryan]

Your car looks very good,do you plan to improve the colour scheme at all?

[falconluan]

Your car looks very good,do you plan to improve the colour scheme at all?

Yes, and I've got 3 options:

I think I'll choose red body, black roof first, then maybe turn it into white body, black roof.

Pity that I don't have 41999 rims, they match the color scheme perfectly.

[JJ2]

Very nice I really like the front to me it looks better than the real car. I also would go for the red body, black roof color scheme. Keep updating! I need to see more

[Superfield]

Great progress! I like it very much. I was thinking about suggesting you post the work here in EB when I first saw it on lelezhen. You will get more constructive feedbacks here. Now here you go! :) Btw, if I can vote for the color scheme, I will definitely vote for white and black.

[falconluan]

Great progress! I like it very much. I was thinking about suggesting you post the work here in EB when I first saw it on lelezhen. You will get more constructive feedbacks here. Now here you go! :) Btw, if I can vote for the color scheme, I will definitely vote for white and black.

Thanks and yes, I post it here expecting get more feed backs and I've already got some.

Edited August 21, 2015 by falconluan

[Rockbrick]

This is how great MOCs start and evolve - with feedback and participation from others...

shame you're not doing it 4x4 but who knows as you have not finished yet

[Block_Smarts Lego Technic]

I love it! Really nice shape to it!

Edited August 21, 2015 by Block_Smarts Lego Technic

[DamonMM2000]

Not bad, it's nice!

[falconluan]

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.

A little update now:

The front suspension is finally done, at least the geometry part. Obviously, I copied the McPherson strut design of Nicjasno, his suspension tutorial videos help a lot

This is the 7 or 8th version of iteration. I used the new 5L suspension part as the lower control arm(extended it into a 6L one) at first, and had a hard time to make the steering geometry right. Then I switched to the 5.5L "old" one, and finally I can keep the steering link parallel with the control arm.

There are still some problems with the current setup, it is a little wobbly, but for now, I think I should move on to other things.

I built Sariel's 4 speed sequence gear box and really like it. The new driving ring works like charm. The gear change is crisp clear and firm.

The only problem is its size. The countryman at this scale is really not big. I tried to put the gearbox under the hood, but failed due to the height limitation.

So, it is moved to the position as above, between to two rear seats (it will have really narrow rear seats I'm afraid).

I think I'll put the 2L motors under the front seats, a fake L4 engine into the engine bay, battery box under the trunk, and probably make a 4 wheel drive version cuz the location of

gearbox make it easier to be AWD.

How do you think? please comment below.

Edited August 24, 2015 by falconluan

[Jeroen Ottens]

Looking good!

How do you plan to increase the stiffness of the frame? Are you going to build a torsionbeam through the center of the car, or are you going to try to use the bodywork as a structural element?

[Technic Jim]

That front suspension looks really good and I agree; you should make it 4WD. Keep posting updates please

[falconluan]

Looking good!

How do you plan to increase the stiffness of the frame? Are you going to build a torsionbeam through the center of the car, or are you going to try to use the bodywork as a structural element?

The frame here you saw in the pics is merely used to support the bodywork. I'll build something strong in the center of the car as well as the lower potion of both side.

Like the real car, I aim to make the body frame like a strong cage.

[falconluan]

Continue updating:

Began to reinforce the front part of the frame. Also, the power steering unit is installed.

Yes, the design credits to Sheepo, I learned that from his gorgeous mustang. It's modular, compact, effective and easy to change gear ratio.

One of the MINI's unique feature: the headlight frame moves with the engine hood

[Block_Smarts Lego Technic]

Continue updating:

Began to reinforce the front part of the frame. Also, the power steering unit is installed.

Yes, the design credits to Sheepo, I learned that from his gorgeous mustang. It's modular, compact, effective and easy to change gear ratio.

One of the MINI's unique feature: the headlight frame moves with the engine hood

I cant wait to see more progress!