[MOC] Ultimate Volvo EW160E - instructions done

[Ivan_M]

EDIT: Finished pictures and video:

Finished model

Finished model

Finished model

Finished model

Finished model

Finished model

 

 

42053 is very nice set but I cannot justify buying it when I have all the necessary parts in my collection. In the end I tend to be dissapointed by the official sets due to my overexpectations. So I decided to build by own Volvo wheeled excavator. As usually I build in scale to blueprints, this time the setter wasn't wheels as usually, but length of the main cylinders. This is primary to achieve the best movement range of the arm. In the end the wheels 49,5mm fit precisely and the scale is (my usual) 21,5:1. Width is 15 studs like in the set, wheelbase is 15 studs as opposed to 17 studs in set. I want it to have 7 pneumatic features:

1) bucket emptying

2) arm movement

3) + 4) two piece boom

5) cabin lift

6) front blade

7) rear outridges

Additional features:

8) front pendular axle, steered by HOG

9) superstructure rotation by knob

I started with the arm and 2-piece boom. The bucket is by far the biggest drawback of the build with its poor shape and mounting points. I have considered other buckets (I have all TLG produced) but this is the best out of bad. Maybe I will try to build better one from bricks in the end. Everything in real machine is very thin when translated to my scale so the arm is build from technic bricks, arm is 1 stud wide with some plating on sides for looks. The two section boom was quite a challenge due to width. I started with dual thin cylinders at the base but they struggled to lift the boom when it was in full reach. The whole boom had to fit within 5 studs so the first section is actually 2 studs wide and second section is 3 studs wide. Fortunatelly it is not very visible because it is covered by cylinders. The arm movement range is very similar to real machine, the only angle that is smaller is between booms due to the length of the old pneumatic cylinder.

The next step was undercarringe. This was quite difficult as well, mostly rear outridges. The range of movement for small cylinders is very low and it had to fit in very little space. The reach is not perfect but it is acceptable. They are weak as kitten of course, fron blade as well, but I wanted them operated with pneumatics. There is also drawball connector to mount trailer behind the excavator. The front wheels use my usual setup with small hubs for great turning radius and ackerman geometry. The disadvantage in this case is that the wheels are mounted "wrong" way, with the shallow part facing outwards as opposed to rear. I can live with that however, I just cannot build without ackerman anymore.

Last thing I have is the cabin. It is also 6 studs wide as in the set and it is quite similar to that one but more detailed. I have added brick build front lights and some greeblings. The roof is supposed to be yellow of course, I don't have the bricks yet.

I'm now working on body.

WIP - Arm reach

WIP Arm folded

WIP - Arm reach upper

WIP - Arm reach lower

WIP - Cabin

WIP - Cabin

Edited January 21, 2018 by Ivan_M

[1gor]

Very interesting - specially with my favorites tires (so far) 

It could be set that is almost good as 8455 when we speak about pneumatics, one suggestion - if you can put new black frames on chassis structure 

Edited December 19, 2017 by I_Igor

[Aventador2004]

I see that you are in fact doing the 4 part boom, I noticed this online, and the lego one doesn't have it!

Good start, your experience will help.

[Ivan_M]

The boom is available in 3 variations - a solid piece (as seen in lego set), two piece boom and two piece boom with articulation (the upper part can slew +-30°). The arm is always in one piece and available in different lenghts - 2m, 2,45m, 2,6m, 3,1m and special arm for claw 2,95m long. The configuration is optional and varies on buyer - what kind of jobs he expects and of course what his budget allows. Shorter arm and solid boom have better tearout force while it struggles in tight space.

[Aventador2004]

Just now, Ivan_M said:

 Shorter arm and solid boom have better tearout force while it struggles in tight space.

I thought they measured in breakout, not tearout. I do understand that, but almost all have the 4 boom.

[jotta93]

Being a huge pneumatics fan, I can only say I love it so far! Can't wait to see the final product (and hoping for instructions, or LDD at least ) 

Keep it up! 

[degenerate]

I loved building 42053, and after I added a PF kit my 10yo cousin had tons of fun with it, great set.

Only thing I don't like is the clamshell bucket, not had the time to sit down and mod another bucket on it, only managed to build a small trailer for it so far.

Will be following this with much interest, looking great so far!

[Leonardo da Bricki]

Love the looks of this MOC so far! Making the 4-stage arm is a great improvement, I'll definitely follow this topic!

[agrof]

Wow, that looks GOOD so far! Nice, clean design, exceptional working range! 

Edited December 18, 2017 by agrof

[Ivan_M]

Thank you very much pals, I will make instructions for sure, but I'm not sure it will appeal to many given the amount of pneumatics.

@agrof thanks, funny is that your wheeled excavator gave me an idea for this build, you should finish it, it is also very nice and I have build it just for the awesome gearbox!

[agrof]

I agree, I should finish it! Your project looks like a good motivation. 

I have plenty pneumatics from a discount, nudge, nudge? 

[Lenivkin_Eugene]

Excellent model, I'll look forward to the instruction with impatience.

[Ivan_M]

I have started with bodywork, the back is based on set, the rest will be few panels and liftarms, there is not much space or need for some complex structure anyway. There is shell from small BB full of steel washers serving as counterweight. That is really necessary as box with batteries weights around 100g, while this counterweight is around 200g. I have also routed tubing for the boom, as you can see it is not very tidy anymore. I have lost a little bit of the movement of first boom section due to tubing, but nothing serious.

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[agrof]

That is a quick growing MOC! Would the main arm work with 2 pcs 1x11 cylinders too? I have 4 of them, and if I overhaul my 42053, I would like to use them rather.

[Ivan_M]

7 minutes ago, agrof said:

That is a quick growing MOC! Would the main arm work with 2 pcs 1x11 cylinders too? I have 4 of them, and if I overhaul my 42053, I would like to use them rather.

I had them there in first design but they were not able to lift the arm when it was in full reach. The tubing added a lot of resistance so it is not possible at all. I would like them more as well but they are 4 times weaker. It was pain to modify the boom to fit dual 2x11 cylinders to same sapce as dual 1x11..

[Leonardo da Bricki]

Awesome work! It's coming along very nicely.

[agrof]

Thanks for the note, that saves some bad experiences already. Go on with the build! 

[Ivan_M]

A long overdue update - I was waiting for some parts to arrive, do not order anything few days before Christmas. The worst thing is that I still miss few bits. I have bought a sticker sheet from the set to enhance looks and to make it more appealing, the bodywork is also almost finished, few yellow thin liftarms are missing. The biggest change is bucket - I have bought two pieces from BWE and they are better than one 10x3 bucket as they are not that wide, overal shape is a little bit better as well. Its a shame they are yellow, but the connecting points are same so it is very straightforward to swap them. All hoses are routed and connected so everything is working fine. The gear on top serves for rotation of superstructure.

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[anatem]

On 12/18/2017 at 11:06 PM, Ivan_M said:

Thank you very much pals, I will make instructions for sure, but I'm not sure it will appeal to many given the amount of pneumatics.

@agrof

This is one of my favorite Technic sets all-time and I have an extra one unopened laying around, so I'd love to build any Ultimate version.

New updates looking good, although I'm not a fan of the 42055 bucket.

Cheers.

 

Edited January 10, 2018 by anatem

[doug72]

I recently tried to buy one, but all sold out in the UK unless from eBay at ridiculous prices.

 

Edited January 10, 2018 by Doug72

[Johnny1360]

Looks great, congrats on a well built model. One thing that does look odd to me though is that extra hinge point and cylinder on the arm. Never really seen that in real life and seems like it would overly complicate the control mechanism. Still like it a lot though, well done. 

Edited January 10, 2018 by Johnny1360
Finished post

[Leonardo da Bricki]

Been waiting for an update, it looks great, though I also am not a huge fan of those buckets here.

[Aventador2004]

Love it, I think a better bucket may help though.

[Ivan_M]

4 hours ago, Johnny1360 said:

Looks great, congrats on a well built model. One thing that does look odd to me though is that extra hinge point and cylinder on the arm. Never really seen that in real life and seems like it would overly complicate the control mechanism. Still like it a lot though, well done. 

thank you, the two piece boom is quite common for small excavators like EW160, it adds much better range in tight space

2 hours ago, Leonardo da Bricki said:

Been waiting for an update, it looks great, though I also am not a huge fan of those buckets here.

1 hour ago, Aventador2004 said:

Love it, I think a better bucket may help though.

Thank you. The bucket is such a pain, 42053 & 42055 were such opportunities to bring new bucket with right shape and TLG missed it, what a waste really.. I tried brick build bucket but I either build it too bulky or too weak.

 

Edited January 10, 2018 by Ivan_M

[Aventador2004]

16 minutes ago, Ivan_M said:

Thank you. The bucket is such a pain, 42053 & 42055 were such opportunities to bring new bucket with right shape and TLG missed it, what a waste really.. I tried brick build bucket but I either build it too bulky or too weak.

Yes, missed opportunity. your version looks great next to the picture!