[TC12] Fire Ant - One-minute pitch

[BrickbyBrickTechnic]

Awesome. But a few pinholes aren't filled 

[offroadcreations]

Wait, so will you still be using the Porsche tires?

Also, It's looking pretty cool, it reminds me of an F1 Racer. But what I don't really like is the way the #22/23 panels in the back are oriented. I think they might look better facing forward. But that is just my opinion, don't take it as criticism.

[aminnich]

Is the only wacky function the method of steering? 

[Andy D]

@Didumos69 This just keep getting better and better! I'm really liking the front and rear spoilers.

Andy D

[mocbuild101]

I might be the only one, but... I really like those old tires!

[doug72]

3 hours ago, mocbuild101 said:

I might be the only one, but... I really like those old tires!

Agree and much better for anyone wanting  skid steering.

Edited September 24, 2017 by Doug72

[AttentionSpanner]

3 hours ago, Doug72 said:

Agree and much better for anyone wanting  skid steering.

Yes!!! I thought I was the only one that thought the old tires looks awesome!! IMHO, they look better than the modern wheels on this one, but maybe I'm just weird...  I almost wish LEGO had a line of whacky cars if they could make them look and function this well... But then again, I'm afraid this complaint is for another topic.

[Aventador2004]

6 hours ago, mocbuild101 said:

I might be the only one, but... I really like those old tires!

You are not alone.

[Didumos69]

22 hours ago, Isamudyson said:

Wow with that new front it now looks like a ramp you can just plow through opponents. It also looks small/ simple enough to even be a actual technic set kids would enjoy

Thanks! It is a completely legal 'in system' build, so it could be a set, al though I doubt whether LEGO would ever pay so much attention and - so many parts - to form-locking. Apart from the steering wheel, the wheels and the small panels, nothing can be removed easily.

11 hours ago, Offroadcreat1ons said:

Wait, so will you still be using the Porsche tires?

No not the Porsche tires, but the 15038 rims and the 44771 tires.

11 hours ago, Offroadcreat1ons said:

Also, It's looking pretty cool, it reminds me of an F1 Racer. But what I don't really like is the way the #22/23 panels in the back are oriented. I think they might look better facing forward. But that is just my opinion, don't take it as criticism.

I played a little with the orientation and in my perception the orientation makes the difference between a spoiler and a wing. And I preferred the spoiler, because it looks less like a F1 racer. Still I think you're right that it has a little F1 to it, but it remains to be a go-cart.

8 hours ago, Andy D said:

@Didumos69 This just keep getting better and better! I'm really liking the front and rear spoilers.

Andy D

Thanks! The new front spoiler also created the opportunity to install bigger headlights. Btw, did I mention that this car has steering controlled head lights .

8 hours ago, mocbuild101 said:

I might be the only one, but... I really like those old tires!

5 hours ago, Doug72 said:

Agree and much better for anyone wanting  skid steering.

1 hour ago, AttentionSpanner said:

Yes!!! I thought I was the only one that thought the old tires looks awesome!! IMHO, they look better than the modern wheels on this one, but maybe I'm just weird...  I almost wish LEGO had a line of whacky cars if they could make them look and function this well... But then again, I'm afraid this complaint is for another topic.

1 hour ago, Aventador2004 said:

You are not alone.

I agree the old wheels suit the car well, but what you can't see is that they slide off the axle very easily and also the tires slide of the rims all the time. So I will hold on to the 15038 rims and race tires, also because the model has been built around them and needs the extra ground clearance to avoid the tilting bottom from touching the ground.

It could be build with LBG rims though:

13 hours ago, BrickbyBrickTechnic said:

Awesome. But a few pinholes aren't filled 

Thanks! Hahaha!

Edited September 24, 2017 by Didumos69

[mocbuild101]

1 hour ago, Didumos69 said:

It could be build with LBG rims though:

That actually looks quite good, as the grey contrasts nicely with the black disks and the tires.

[Thirdwigg]

I like the new tires, and the black looks sharper. I'm really liking the spoilers. 

[DutchChris]

If you throw some off-road tires on it, you'd have a wicked Dune buggy.

[Didumos69]

On 24-9-2017 at 3:50 AM, aminnich said:

Is the only wacky function the method of steering? 

Yes. Maybe to a certain extent also the nose that serves as a ramp to plow through opponents . But seriously, this model is all about a wacky experience for the driver.

On 24-9-2017 at 4:41 PM, mocbuild101 said:

That actually looks quite good, as the grey contrasts nicely with the black disks and the tires.

On 24-9-2017 at 6:13 PM, Thirdwigg said:

I like the new tires, and the black looks sharper. I'm really liking the spoilers. 

So I will eventually install LBG rims. I also like the contrast between rims vs. tires and discs.

On 24-9-2017 at 9:30 PM, DutchChris said:

If you throw some off-road tires on it, you'd have a wicked Dune buggy.

I'm afraid that won't work. The turning feature doesn't allow for bigger diameter wheels. Using smaller rims with off-road tires is also not an option as I need the space inside the 15038 rims.

Update: I installed the new headlights, added a modest dashboard and I added two silicon bands to stabilize the rear segment. This adds just enough straight line stability without troubling steering, but more importantly, it holds the rear segment in place when you lift the model. Now both the front and rear segment are stabilized.

Edited September 26, 2017 by Didumos69

[Didumos69]

You can watch it in 3D here: https://skfb.ly/6tSvp

[Didumos69]

1 hour ago, martin66george said:

wow, great video, i like it very much, everything is clear and I understand how to do that

Thanks a lot) 

You're welcome! It was not intended as instructions though. I might make further changes. But if you wish you can use it. The blue parts for the seat and the tires have finally been shipped and as soon as I receive them I willl finish the model and make proper instructions.

Edited September 25, 2017 by Didumos69

[Didumos69]

Done. A big thank you to everybody involved in this topic! Here's the LXF-file of the final model (it misses the silicon bands: 2 white and 1 red band). Instructions will follow.

 

Edited September 29, 2017 by Didumos69

[Thirdwigg]

First one up. Well done. Time to get started on your next project. 

[Ivan_M]

I have checked the LXF file very quickly to see how difficult it would be to make instructions in LPub and I have some questions - the 44809 2x2 perpendicular piece with 1/2 pin at the back section - you first put the half pin into the connector and then attach it to the 3L pin and slightly force it (1/2 pin) into position, locking it with 3L pin with bush?

[Didumos69]

1 hour ago, Thirdwigg said:

First one up. Well done. Time to get started on your next project. 

Thanks! And thanks for your contribution!

43 minutes ago, Ivan_M said:

you first put the half pin into the connector and then attach it to the 3L pin and slightly force it (1/2 pin) into position, locking it with 3L pin with bush?

Correct. The rotational step doesn't require much force though, not more than pushing a pin in a hole. I'm afraid making instructions with LPub will prove hard. I used many more rotational steps, also for instance to rotate the steering column into place. I'll share a photo sequence soon, that should give you more insight.

It can also handle quite some dislevelment btw , although it does suffer from bump stear.

Edited September 27, 2017 by Didumos69

[Ivan_M]

4 minutes ago, Didumos69 said:

Thanks! And thanks for your contribution!

Correct. The rotational step doesn't require much force though, not more than pushing a pin in a hole. I'm afraid making instructions with LPub will prove hard. I used many more rotational steps, also for instance to rotate the steering column into place. I'll share a photo sequence soon, that should give you more insight.

There is a way to build steering collumn without rotation, I think that the 2x2 perpendicular connector with half pin is the only part where it cannot be avoided. I think I will give it a go (if you don't mind).

[Didumos69]

Just now, Ivan_M said:

There is a way to build steering collumn without rotation, I think that the 2x2 perpendicular connector with half pin is the only part where it cannot be avoided. I think I will give it a go (if you don't mind).

I certainly don't mind, I actually appreciate your attempt. Don't forget the silicon bands.

[Didumos69]

@Ivan_M, I don't know if you use the latest ldraw.xml to export to ldraw format. This is my ldraw-version which I exported from LDD using the latest ldraw.xml.

[Didumos69]

Cool! Thanks @LvdH! You seem to be a walking parts inventory index .

2 hours ago, LvdH said:

And for all of these, you have to remove the 3L smooth driving ring connector, it doesn't look like it will change the rigidity too much.

Not rigidity but it does serve as stopper for the rear spoiler to avoid it from dropping too low. Without the driving ring the rear spoiler would rely on friction only. As an alternative you could replace the driving ring with two bushings.

Edited September 27, 2017 by Didumos69

[mocbuild101]

11 hours ago, LvdH said:

Which reminds me, I forgot black

Me like!

Also, am I correct in thinking that the black version doesn't need any parts replaced?

[Didumos69]

13 hours ago, LvdH said:

I tried replacing it with a #2 but it wouldn't fit. A bush could work, or for the blue one you could just do 2 axle pins. Perhaps you could make a triangle holding the wing up. Something like this (excuse my ''alligning'' skills):

A #2 connector does indeed not fit. I tried to support the spoiler the way you suggest, but I didn't like the looks of it. In order to move the rear spoiler in the setup I have now, it needs to slip over the studs of two firmly secured 3L axles with stud, which involves a lot of friction. Good enough imo,

I only thought it would be nice to somewhat confine the rear spoiler movement, hence the driving ring. To replace the driving ring with something black you could also use two .

As for the color variants; I think DBG would look better for the seat for the white, orange and black version. And the blue version would look great with a red seat.

1 hour ago, mocbuild101 said:

Me like!

Also, am I correct in thinking that the black version doesn't need any parts replaced?

Correct.

Edited September 28, 2017 by Didumos69