[MOC] WCS Communication Tower

[Exetrius]

WCS Communication Tower

 

 

Background

Two decades ago, the West Coast State Communication Tower was abandoned. Due to technological advances coupled with drastic population decrease, it was no longer economically viable to keep it operational. Maintenance stopped at once and the tower was left to ruin. 

However, after twenty years of desertification, tropical storms and physical weathering, the WCS Communication Tower is returning from retirement! A small team is working hard to repair the damage and get the systems working again. 

 

 

Inspecting the receiver and transmitters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Features

The build is 120 cm tall (antenna included). The elevator platform can be brought up and down by hand. Its 'claws' can be adjusted for extra grip, so that the platform holds itself at any place along the rail, or for free movement, to enable motorization. The antenna can be pulled out, which allows the square roof section to be removed. 

 

Builder's notes

Building something this tall has been a childhood dream come true! I've tried doing this before, but never succeeded due to structural instability. The train track technique solves that. Not only is it sturdy and fairly lightweight, it is also easy to modify and expand. Perhaps my second favorite technique in this build is in the claws of the elevator. Each claw has a pair of minifigure ice skates, which slide through the 1x2 grille plates. The floor and the roof were the most challenging parts of the build, being partly rectangular and triangular at the same time, and I tried to make as little compromises on interior, sturdiness and accessibility as possible. I will think twice before doing another triagonal/hexagonal build, without having nexogons or other studded geometric facilitators! 

 

 

Thank you for looking!

Comments, suggestions and criticism very much appreciated!  

 

 

[Littleworlds]

This is super impressive! It looks like a film prop, or from a fallout-game. I also wouldn't have noticed the train tracks. Knowing they are there makes them quite obvious, but its not like they telegraph their existence. Very subtle but very efficient building technique.

[Exetrius]

19 hours ago, Littleworlds said:

This is super impressive! It looks like a film prop, or from a fallout-game. I also wouldn't have noticed the train tracks. Knowing they are there makes them quite obvious, but its not like they telegraph their existence. Very subtle but very efficient building technique.

Thank you very much!  I have seen many great post-apocalypic/cyberpunk MOCs, so I wanted to build something in that genre myself.