Grum's Shed

[grum64]

16 hours ago, suffocation said:

The kids are going to love playing with it. Efferman's steering mod really takes it to the next level.

They will indeed but they’ll have a long wait if I keep making silly mistakes.

Edited March 13, 2019 by grum64

[grum64]

Build Day 2 - Building Time 4hrs 40mins - Total Build Time 11hrs

This maybe Build Day 2 but it’s actually the 3rd day working on this build. I spent what should have been a days building, almost 5hrs, putting right the stupid mistake I made on day one. As I’ve said before, I can assemble parts without too much trouble but dismantling is my Achilles heel. 

I can’t thank Zerobricks enough for his keen observation and for drawing my attention to the error as it’s likely I’d have not noticed until much, much further down the line if at all. Anyway, it’s all done now so it’s on with the build.

I’m really pleased with how things have gone today.

Building has mostly been centred around adding a couple of the PF motors, the XL for propulsion and an M for the steering MOD.

The XL went in OK, just the usual fight with the ever wilful cable. PF cables really do have a mind of their own preferring as they do to go where they want rather than where you want them to.

I found building the steering sub assembly around the M motor to be a somewhat frustrating experience and not because of the aforementioned cable. Initially the sub assembly is only attached to the M motor by a 10247 Plate, Modified 2 x 2 with Pin Hole which was at this point meant it was very fragile and so detached itself every time I tried to fit the rest of the parts around it. I found that building and assembling as much of it as I could and then fitting to the motor was the way to go.

When building the engine, the crankshaft presented its usual difficulties but as the Volvo has a straight six getting the pistons in the cylinders was a breeze. Oh the joy.

Today’s Pics. Sorry but there’s a lot of them.

Edited March 20, 2019 by grum64
Typo

[Maaboo the Witch]

Nice job Grum! Those PF wires can be tough to wrangle. For me, though, it's pneumatic tubing - it never behaves as shown in the instructions! 

Also, we need another Volvo set so we can have more of those green engine blocks. 

[grum64]

Build Day 3 - Building Time 4hrs 15mins - Total Build Time 14hrs 35mins

After a busy week it's good to get back out to the shed for a few hours building.

Even with the radio on it seemed quiet in there today however, the sense of quiet was soon broken when I realised, after fitting the 2 bucket lift actuators and a good many other parts, that I’d not routed the cables of the M and L motors that power the loading end of things. Oh, bugger! This was going to test my patience.

After removing the M motor and a few other parts I tried to squeeze its connector through the gap between the L motor and the surrounding structure but it was clear there wasn’t a hope in hell it was going to pass through, the gap just wasn’t big enough. Not wanting to get any more disassembled than I absolutely had to I used my large clamps to lever the obstructing structure away from the L motor to increase the gap. After half an hour or so (of increasingly rough treatment) the gap was opened just enough for the connector to pop through. Hip, hip, hooflippingray!

Thankfully re-routing the cable from the L motor was a much simpler task with just a couple of parts removed to allow the connector through.

The cables still aren't routed exactly as per the instructions which has caused another problem.

I had planned to use an Sbrick in lieu of the IR Receivers but due to my erroneous routing of the cables they’re a little tighter than I’d like them to be  when connected to its upper ports so I’ve had to go back to using the IR’s.

To be honest, I’m not sorry as this build is mainly for young George to play with and he prefers to use the original PF controllers rather than my mobile. So with Jake preferring the 8275 and George looking forward to being the loader driver it looks like I’m the designated driver of the Sbrick equipped U42009 when we start work on our construction site. All in all it's worked out well.

As for my patience. You may consider it well & truly tested!

Todays Pics

[suffocation]

Cable management is arguably the most spiteful thing about Lego. I first realised this with, you guessed it, 42030 - I was very thankful I'd learned Italian by then because I could resort to a bottomless pit of swear words unlike anything we Brits have.

[grum64]

13 hours ago, suffocation said:

Cable management is arguably the most spiteful thing about Lego. I first realised this with, you guessed it, 42030 - I was very thankful I'd learned Italian by then because I could resort to a bottomless pit of swear words unlike anything we Brits have.

PF cables are mean & hateful things and I can see where fluency in a language other than that of which one is native would be useful in dealing with them. That or ear plugs for those of a delicate nature who may be within earshot.

Edited March 28, 2019 by grum64
Typo

[1gor]

when I see your progress my friend it reminds me on Summer 2014 when I spent two sunny days (in summer which was more like like spring than summer) building 42030 set, but original set has not such good steering solution.

Keep up with enjoyable work.

Kind regards

[grum64]

40 minutes ago, I_Igor said:

when I see your progress my friend it reminds me on Summer 2014 when I spent two sunny days (in summer which was more like like spring than summer) building 42030 set, but original set has not such good steering solution.

Keep up with enjoyable work.

Kind regards

Thank you Igor. I’m enjoying building the 42030. I think it’s a great set marred only by the jerky steering but thankfully Effermans M Motor and mini actuator MOD sorts that out nicely.

[1gor]

48 minutes ago, grum64 said:

Thank you Igor. I’m enjoying building the 42030. I think it’s a great set marred only by the jerky steering but thankfully Effermans M Motor and mini actuator MOD sorts that out nicely.

Agree completely Clive

Kind regards

[Pvdb]

Wow you are putting that together fast.

[grum64]

1 hour ago, Pvdb said:

Wow you are putting that together fast.

Thank you Paul. Cable routing aside it’s been going really well.

[grum64]

Build Day 4 - Building Time 1hrs 30mins - Total Build Time 16hrs 5mins

Today’s been a particularly busy day but I’ve been able to get into the shed to build albeit not for as long as I’d like. With little time I’ve not gotten very much done but I guess any time building is still progress made.

The few parts that have been assembled and fitted today have really made a difference to the build, it’s starting to fill out now. It’s looking purposeful and nearer it’s finished look.

I really want to get this build finished by the end of this week as Jake, George & Penny break up from school on Friday and will be staying with us for some of the Easter Holidays. We’re going to be having a lot of fun playing with the Volvo, Bully and the U42009.

Today’s Pics

 

[Maaboo the Witch]

Nearly there! Talk about a beast of a loader.

[1gor]

you are almost finished because the rest is relatively straight forward build 

[grum64]

15 hours ago, Maaboo35 said:

Nearly there! Talk about a beast of a loader.

It’s a beast indeed. Bigger than I thought I’d be.

4 hours ago, I_Igor said:

you are almost finished because the rest is relatively straight forward build 

I’m getting there. Slowly. Just need to decide whether to connect the bucket tilt actuator to the first or second hole on the 32271 Liftarm, Bent to give a better range of movement. Hmmm...

Edited April 2, 2019 by grum64

[grum64]

Build Day 5 - Building Time 3hrs 30mins - Total Build Time 19hrs 35mins

I’ve spent most of this afternoon not building but trying to fit the flippin’ radiator grill/access door. As you can see from the first picture the ‘hinge’ is made up from pins with axles in 32013 connectors fitted to the door by pins but this meant applying the pressure needed to fix it in place just resulted in the pins etc moving back & forth. I’ll refrain from rambling on (call it my gift to you) and will just say I lost just over 2 hours trying to fit the blasted thing. Honestly, who does that? 

The really annoying thing is I think I’d have gotten this build finished today as the rest of the afternoon was problem free and pretty productive considering the building time I had left and looking at it, building the business end of the loader looks pretty straightforward (now there’s a  statement I hope I’ll not regret making)

On the upside, I do get another day to build and even with my playing silly buggers with that damn radiator grill it’ll still be completed ready for the upcoming school holidays  

Today’s Pics

Edited April 3, 2019 by grum64
Typo

[ctx1769]

I rebuilt 42030 using effermans redesign after I found out the lego one was not so good,  10 out of 10 for the redesign  works a treat. 

[Jeroen Ottens]

Jummie. I never bought this model myself as it just didn't spark my joy at the time. I thought it was just too much beams and too little gears. But seeing it evolve makes me almost regret my decision. It is a really nice build after all. Thanks for sharing. 

[grum64]

14 hours ago, ctx1769 said:

I rebuilt 42030 using effermans redesign after I found out the lego one was not so good,  10 out of 10 for the redesign  works a treat. 

  

4 hours ago, Jeroen Ottens said:

Jummie. I never bought this model myself as it just didn't spark my joy at the time. I thought it was just too much beams and too little gears. But seeing it evolve makes me almost regret my decision. It is a really nice build after all. Thanks for sharing. 

I’m sure you can find all the parts needed to build it from your vast collection. Try it, I think you’ll like it. 

Edited April 4, 2019 by grum64

[brickless_kiwi]

I guess the proverbial question is, which moc or set are you going to build next grum?

[grum64]

6 minutes ago, brickless_kiwi said:

I guess the proverbial question is, which moc or set are you going to build next grum?

I know there are far more intersting things in your life than wondering what I'm building next but since you ask it'll be Jurgens Ultimate 42082 and as I finished the 42030 yesterday (to be posted shortly) building will be starting soon.

With that in mind you may want to ensure your next haul is a long one. Make that a very long one. It's a big build 

[grum64]

Build Day 6 - Building Time 3hrs 20min - Total Build Time 22hrs 55mins

It’s taken just under 23hrs but I’m pleased to say the 42030 is now finished. Yes, 23hrs is a big ol’ chunk of time but I’m pretty sure it’s the quickest I’ve built a set with about this number of pieces so I’m chuffed.

I’m also chuffed because I’ve gotten it done in time for the Little Darlings arrival later today. With the 3 of them staying with us for the week the loader along with the U42009 and 8275 are going to get a lot of use. Just as well then that I’ve topped up my supply of Duracell’s with a goodly amount of eneloops and a couple of chargers so power won’t be a problem.

The 42030 is a terrific looking build. I know it has that glaring gap at the point of articulation and a few others elsewhere and that the front section, including the loading arms, could do with beefing up a bit to give more of the look strength like the real thing but you know something, I really don't care. I love this great brute of a thing. In fact I think it’s one of the best looking Technic sets ever. Improving an already great looking model are the wheel covers. Thank you to Marek Markiewicz for his idea.

If I were to be asked to describe this build in one word It'd have to be 'enormous!' A few years ago I built the 8265 and knew the 42030 would be larger but I wasn't prepared for just how much larger. I no longer have the 8265 so can't sit the two models side by side for comparison but I reckon, and it's only a guesstimate, the Volvo is a good 35% bigger. It really is huge.

I'll resist the urge to ramble on further about this build as much has already been written about it all of which make much more sense than anything I would write.

I’d like to thank efferman for his excellent steering mod. The jerky, unrealistic steering has now been replaced by a much smoother action more like that of the real thing.

I feel I must take this opportunity to thank Zerobricks once again for spotting my silly mistake in the very early stages of this build. If it wasn’t for his keen eye I’d now be faced with very disappointed 7yr old and have to get a good part of this build disassembled to correct my blunder.

I didn’t have time to install the batteries and so take pictures of the loader in various poses while doing it’s thing. Anyway, Penny (complete with her pink Paw Patrol hard hat and Bob the Builder tool belt) will be playing Foreman/woman/person and will be in charge of operations so she’ll want to pop them in and then maybe I’ll take some more pics and add them later. Those of you who can’t wait until later can satisfy the uncontrollable urge to see this magnificent build by heading on over to the excellent 42030 review by our esteemed leader, Sir Jim of Canon, where you’ll be able to ogle at it in all it’s beautifully lit and in focus glory.

Thank you all for your kind comments and for your support. I really am very grateful.

Edited June 15, 2019 by grum64
Typos. Restored missing pics.

[Maaboo the Witch]

Great job Grum! Never doubted you. 

[Pvdb]

Done already!  And with some good MODs. I agree that the wheel covers really enhance this model.  

[grum64]

5 hours ago, Maaboo35 said:

Great job Grum! Never doubted you. 

Thank you my Friend. 

5 hours ago, Pvdb said:

Done already!  And with some good MODs. I agree that the wheel covers really enhance this model.  

The Mods really do enhance it’s playability and appearance. You should build it, it’s great.