42078 Mack Anthem Mods and improvements

[fosamax]

@Void_S

Thank you very much for taking the time to build Grohl's snowplow and sharing the ldd with us

@M_longer

Your model looks awesome too, with a great playability, given the added accessories.

So much great models to build with not enough time...

Edited May 28, 2019 by fosamax
typo

[Void_S]

You're welcome! It was the smallest thing the I was able to do to support this amazing C-Model and its creator (ghm... and the original set so-creator BTW).

Now, it's time for some imagination… Have you ever heard about the bird tri-drive trucks? They are very common in Australia and barely legal is some states and provinces in NA creations with three driven rear axles. The purpose is a better weight capacity (three axles can handle more load) and better performance on non-asphalt roads in countryside.

Let me present my modification for Mack Anthem A-Model: tri-drive rear half-frame. It is fully compatible with the original model and many other mocs and mods based on it (including the famous Grohl's Granite) and works the best with RC mods.

https://bricksafe.com/pages/Void_s/42078/truck-mod-tri-drive

You can find a building instruction (only steps for a modified subassembly) at Rebrickable for free: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-27224/VoidSerpent/42078-mack-anthem-tri-drive-mod/

As a teaser, I'm trying to make more modular mini-mods easily compatible with the official model (and others that share the same subassemblies) like: Daycab + shorter rear half-frame, flattop 48" sleeper, side steps and gas tanks without aeroskirts (with optional tank protection rails), frame extension (why not to make even longer?) and a front bumper that Mack company calls as "basic chromed" instead of a default aero one. No side skirts and smaller bumper makes it better ready for a heavy-duty work increasing a road clearance...

Edited August 20, 2019 by Void_S

[WvG_853]

I had completely missed the instructions video by @grohl for his great C-Model. Thanks for the lxf file @Void_S! This set is turning out as a treasure for people who like building alternative models.

[Raystafarian]

@Void_S you're unstoppable.

[Void_S]

Well, why not to keep making something while there is a such possibility...

Almost forgot to add the main thing here: it's a just +1 one axle, but I tried to reduce the stress on the diffs (as it fully compatible with all RC mods) and made it as close as possible to the reals trucks where each diff takes the toque load for only its axle and is not engaged into torque transmitting to other axles. It is not as critical for the default tandem axle model but tri-drive mod that is supposed to manage with a bigger workload mustn't chew the diffs and gears if motorized.

So, here is a parallel connection of the 1st driven axle (2nd if take into account the undriven front steer axle) and the sequent tandem of 2nd+3rd (like in the official model). Too bad the diffs size and the fifth wheel position doesn't allow to make the same for the 2nd axle, so far...

Edited August 22, 2019 by Void_S

[Void_S]

A one more thing is ongoing... It's still in progress as I'm not satisfied with some solutions, but should be more or less done when I find out how to have all at once:

• working engine (ideally with zero changes to the original model);
• working steering wheel (with less changes) + HOG, will be fixed on the frame, as kind of air intake; 
• raiseable cabin (uses the same pivot points as the original model).

Now the cabin tilting makes the steering wheel linkage (I try to follow the original scheme with links, no gears and racks) a kind of headache 

Yes, the main purpose here to have "openable" cabin by any cost and keep all existing functions with no compromises. So, please welcome a draft (so far) of Mack F-700!

The plan is to keep as much as possible solutions from the original model and to bring it to a C-model (ideally), or a mod, at least, using a few additional parts. So it can be compatible with existing mods like RC, longer/shorter frame, etc. (here you can see that these things came with no changes: front bumper, grill, tanks, doors, front frame with the engine).

Edited November 9, 2019 by Void_S
Image links correction

[1gor]

@Void_S this could be the coolest mod so far 

[WvG_853]

10 hours ago, I_Igor said:

@Void_S this could be the coolest mod so far 

Absolutely! And it so obvious that it is surprising nobody thought about it so far ... Bravo!  Would be very interested building this. The Mack has become the set with some of the best C-Models

[1gor]

6 hours ago, WvG_853 said:

Absolutely! And it so obvious that it is surprising nobody thought about it so far ... Bravo!  Would be very interested building this. The Mack has become the set with some of the best C-Models

I'll reveal you one secret, something like this was my plan after I saw @efferman's Kenworth K100, but I could not afford it ...

[Shiva]

Void_S, that 1 looks better than the real 1!

[Void_S]

37 minutes ago, Shiva said:

Void_S, that 1 looks better than the real 1!

Well, I'm doing my best keeping it "as better as". Thank you, @I_Igor, @WvG_853, @Shiva, guys, now I see I have no chance to give up!
Really, it was just an accidental idea to try to make a CoE model when I saw the Daycab mods for the first time: "hey, we do have a lot of European trucks, American conventionals, so where are the 70's American COE "shorties" with wide brick-shaped cabins?" So it started...

For good news, seems I solved the puzzle with "linked" steering wheel that works even with tilted cabin. It came as the easiest way behind other overcomplicated assembles with questionable rigidness... Let me take some days to visit my family and then I will finish it and publish all the details.

Interesting, that Mack's F-7xx series (I just took it as the most iconic Mack's cabover series, with no background idea) is a version of Rubber Duck's "longnose" RS-712 (The Convoy movie). What a surprise!

[Void_S]

Now it's finally solved: the steering wheel work perfectly!

• Dark-blue - the static frame+engine part;
• Blue - the cabin, tilts on the "white" 2x4 L-liftarms, like the original hood;
• Red - the main steering system, wheels+HOG;
• Brown - attachment for the left steering hub;
• Yellow - "working steering wheel" linkage, tilts together with the cabin.

The main trick that the yellow ball joint is very close to center of the cabin rotation, so it works without a lot of universal joints, gears and other complicated solutions. Initially I was trying to use a real-life steering linkage closer to the wheel hub but scale limitations forced me to move the brown ball joint significantly upper...

Finishing the interior and cabin tilting assembly, and then will come with the finished model.

Edited November 7, 2019 by Void_S

[Ivan_M]

Such a neat idea! Bravo

[Void_S]

The cabin is done, finally, and I'm glad to say that it really comes close to the C-Model, as with each new iteration existing parts replace foreign ones (now it's ~90% made of 42078 parts). Now I have to finish the middle part with HOG steering linkages, as I put them lower and they must me embraced in a different manner.

A little preview on how the cab is mounted:

 

 

A little Easter egg: you may see even the "nose" of the golden bulldog behind the windshield central pillar). Yes, it does have this figure 

[1gor]

Beautiful @Void_S with new 68.7 x 27 tires you are now tempting me to make it in 1:15 scale. Only have to figure out what to attach to truck instead of semitrailer ...

[Polarlicht]

On 5/14/2019 at 9:04 PM, Void_S said:

So (I would ask the purists not to blame me, please) I sacrificed two scratched enough wheels to get the center part that perfectly replicates this look: outer holed dish with raised center and fake nuts:

And the assembled wheel:

Off course, I don't ask you to repeat it. It was my idea, my decision and only my result, whatever they good or bad are, that I just wanted to demonstrate.

Try to remove the little offcenter hump on the ring in the middle, and maybe use a pointed punch to add a 10th dot to that ring to get 10 "lug nuts".

[Void_S]

3 minutes ago, Coolusername said:

Try to remove the little offcenter hump on the ring in the middle, and maybe use a pointed punch to add a 10th dot to that ring to get 10 "lug nuts".

Hmm, really.. I have never thought about that as was focused on the "outer edge" but it sounds very reasonable. Thanks for the idea!

[Void_S]

I'm not sure if it deserves a separate topic, so let's keep running this one...

Now the F-700 is finished and I'm happy to say that it consists of 1256 parts, where 1250 of them (more than 99.5%) are from the original 42078 set. So decided on my own risk to claim is as a C-Model.

• The model: ready. Turned into the 42078 alternate (C-model)
• The building instruction: ready.

I have published it on Rebrickable with the PDF instruction that, as usually, took the time comparable with the model designing: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-31395/VoidSerpent/42078-mack-f-700-f-series.

Comparing with the previous iteration, it got only some visual changes like different front panel and signal lights on the roof, plus some recolors. It has no green parts, despite my attempts to cut some corners and use them without a total rebuild. It also perfectly follows the original model's stickers - have never built it physically in Anthem's parts, only technical "color vomits" yet, but will do that and share to demonstrate how it perfectly looks .

Here some current rending's: https://bricksafe.com/pages/Void_s/42078/mack-f700

So far I'm preparing more details on this model, as the it's the part of the biggest plane to have a family of Anthem-compatible modular models. This one, particularly, has a wheel base shortened by 8 studs:

• Front half-frame - shortened by 2 studs. It was an original Anthem's subassembly but now it rearranged a bit for cabover builds.
• Rear half-frame - shortened by 6 studs and equals to Anthem Day cab modifications that have shorter 172" frame.

Both these subassemblies have unchanged mount points so this F-700 can also get Anthem's frame (to make it Custom F-700 with longer frame), or even Tri-drive rear end for some extra heavy-duty applications. So technically, this model is a combination of a new cabin, modified front end of the frame, and modified steering linkage.

 

[WvG_853]

@Void_S  Really cool that you managed to build it as a C-model. Thanks for the instructions! Bought them already ...

[1gor]

@Void_S I'm really impressed with your version; but there is one question - did you find other use than (as our friends over big pond say) semitrailer tractor version; is there tow truck or hook loader version?

Thanks

Edited November 17, 2019 by I_Igor

[Void_S]

16 minutes ago, I_Igor said:

@Void_S I'm really impressed with your version; but there is one question - did you find other use than (as our friends over big pond say) semitrailer tractor version; is there town truck or hook loader version? 

Thanks

Well, I was looking for them and it comes mostly as a tractor due to a short wheelbase (the time when the total length tractor+trailer was limited) but as for the tow trucks, there are a lot of different variations as well. Some interesting examples of them:

A "big one" with a sleeper cabin, like in my model, and hydraulic arm for the front axle lifting (not so interesting in my opinion): 

 

But this rusty one looks way different:

• day cab
• hydraulic (and possibly rotatable) arm with a hook or wheels "handler", Notice the operator's set at the top of this constrcttion
• static crane with ropes and hooks

 

Edited November 17, 2019 by Void_S

[1gor]

Thanks @Void_S. I have found that those old trucks have 8.25-20.00, 9.00-20.00 or 10.00-20.00 tires, so I can make realistic 1:15 tow truck model

First posted could be done in dark azure

[Void_S]

Now it's time to change something else: as you remember the Anthem belongs to "set-back" trucks configuration that have front axle moved backward (has a significant space between the wheels and front bumper surface, like in EU trucks), whereas the Granite model comes in "set-back" and "set-forward" (more popular configuration for US trucks, even cabovers).

The existing MODs and C-models by @grohl, @M_longer and @grego18f are perfectly shaped and have great functions but they all are still "set-back". So now it's time to move the the "set-forward" configuration:

Surprisingly, it's was an easier that I expected to move the front axle 3 studs forward, so I'm finishing some moments and will share the "Set-forward Granite" modification fully compatible with Anthem and related modifications, including the RC mods .

Hope I will have enough time to finish the full classification of existing MODs here and mark the compatible groups of these modifications.

[grego18f]

Wow, this version is amazing. Before seeing this, I could not think of a smoother version. I also like the area in front of the bulldog, which is very characteristic. This reminds me of the trucks I saw when I passed 4 months in Québec (along with the axle back ones). 

I Will certainly build it one day! 

One question: You always present your MODs using HQ renders. I love them but I wonder, do you build them in real life before or are you one of those peoples who are able to create working models digitally? 

Edited December 6, 2019 by grego18f
Additional content

[Void_S]

3 hours ago, grego18f said:

One question: You always present your MODs using HQ renders. I love them but I wonder, do you build them in real life before or are you one of those peoples who are able to create working models digitally? 

Well, it's complicate... I prefer the digital building in Studio as there i'm ulimited in the number of attempts and constant search of the perfect enought solutions. Next, I build the necessary assemblies physically to ensure that it works as supposed  and see if I have missed someting and over or under complicated some ideas. The second step is digital again, the building steps, that immideatelly followed by the physical test to see if the parts sequence is correct and has no deadlocks. And... The looong rendering!

The reason I still have never posted the real photos - I have no appropriate place for taking good photos (space, light, camera, etc...) and some parts I have, they aren't proper colored, so I wouldn't publish these "parrots" with red/yellow/gray livery