Red liftarms are additional parts required to link lowering and telescopic extensions. The back linkages pass the centerline to the otherside, so they are properly locked. A minor drawback is that the telescopic movement doesn't get to full 9 studs, but only 8 studs. Therefore, there are two configurations for this mod.

First version: 8L linkage. Full retraction. Miss full extension by 1 stud.

Folded:

 

 

Extended:

 

 

 

 

 

Second version: 9L linkage. Full extension. Miss full retraction by 1 stud.

Folded:

 

 

Extended

 

 

 

 

 

I prefer the second option. Missing full retraction doesn't really matter because the T 3x3 beam at the end will stay squarely in the grid, which looks better than leaning inward.

This mod isn't very compact, but to me it has better usability and playability. 

Ain't it good? 

Edited June 2, 20195 yr by Ngoc Nguyen

Tch, this thing hasn't even been released yet and already it has an improvement topic. We're never satisfied. 

Seriously though, nice job with the outrigger. 

The third version manages to get the full 9L movement, but can be too tall for some people's tastes. I increase the height by 1 stud by replacing the top 2x4L liftarm with a 5L liftarm.

Folded

 

 

 

Extended

 

 

I still prefer the second version. The use of only 1 extra 2x4L liftarm and 1 extra 9L liftarm makes this MOD blend well with the existing design language.

I hope my MOD appears in Sariel's review video. 

Edited June 2, 20195 yr by Ngoc Nguyen

It's significantly wider, which may cause clearance problems in the folded situation. But I definitely agree it's a more playable design.

48 minutes ago, pleegwat said:

It's significantly wider, which may cause clearance problems in the folded situation. But I definitely agree it's a more playable design.

I tested option two (missing 1 stud retraction) on two outriggers that are spaced exactly on one side in the distance of the real model. And guess what happened?

 

 

 

They fit so perfectly OMGG 

I'm definitely gonna put this mod on my model.

Edited June 2, 20195 yr by Ngoc Nguyen

What is the long grey brick name or number? 

17 minutes ago, Malek83 said:

What is the long grey brick name or number? 

You mean this part?

https://brickset.com/parts/6173197/housing-2x15x3m-f-gear-rack

Yes, this one. I was wondering in what sets it appeared before.

5 minutes ago, Malek83 said:

Yes, this one. I was wondering in what sets it appeared before.

Go to that page. Click on the words "5 sets" in blue next to the "Appear In".

Yeah, got IT:)

 

The outriggers of the real spider crane also have diagonal bulks behind and on top of them, so my mod is also realistic in terms of appearance hehe.

When you google spider crane, most results will give you black-and-red ones. Since I have left over parts from 42082 B, which mostly consist of parts that form the boom, I immediately knew I had to build a black and red 42097. It's also a chance to test my outriggers MOD.

It's a nice coincidence that the Bricklink orders for pieces for my own red & black 42097 arrived at the same day as the reviews for 42097 is no longer under embargo (July 17th). Before Sariel uploaded the review, I had been able to reverse engineer and replicate 80% of the real model.

My intention is to use the color scheme of 42082, so black and red are prominent colors. Yellow is reserved for accents and highlights of moving parts. I don't have the black 5x7 frames at the moment, but I'm ordering them and will try them on later, to see if the black frames fit better than the LBG ones.

So now I proudly present to you guys:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is how big the fully extended Spider Crane is:

 

Edited July 17, 20195 yr by Ngoc Nguyen

All the mods I've incorporated are:

 

 

- New outriggers design. I've got rid of the knobs that extend the telescopic racks through the worm gear, and attach linkages that lower the outriggers and extend the telescopic racks and lower in one movement. The outriggers went down quickly and snap with a click on the table, and that's how I expect them to function. The snap sound serves to notify that the outriggers are locked. The ideal length for the linkage beam is 8L.

- I replaced the knobs that lower the outriggers with black technic pole reverser handles (part code 6553). This choice was inspired by the handles for the outriggers in the trailer of 42078 A. I added the yellow half bush to highlight.

 

 

 

 

 

- I added dual side knobs for the winch. I also added a bigger ratchet that uses the rubber 2L liftarm. This works much better than the flimsy ratchet in the original setup. As the original ratchet is connected to a tan frictionless 3L pin, sometimes it flip backwards and as a result point downward instead of sitting on the gear.

 

 

- I added dual side knobs for the LA.

 

 

 

- I added dual side knobs for the fly jib.

 

One of the big problems in the reviews (I haven't checked if the local stores have any yet) is the rigidity of the 'platform' on which the outriggers sit. I see two immediate candidate ideas to remedy this:

• Connect the outermost part of the platform to the outside of the threads. Not realistic, and may require yet more bracing to prevent parallelogram deformation.
• Double or triple the platform height. This makes the crane significantly higher at least in folded position, but gives an appearance more similar to photos of real spider cranes we've been using. This may also allow eliminating the extra step-up of the superstructure, by attaching it to the upper platform layer while the outriggers remain in the lower one.

@Ngoc Nguyen Is the lifting capacity improved with your fixed outriggers, or is it still limited by the weak connection to the chassis?

23 minutes ago, vectormatic said:

@Ngoc Nguyen Is the lifting capacity improved with your fixed outriggers, or is it still limited by the weak connection to the chassis?

I didn't test lifting capacity. I don't know how to do it properly either.

Edited July 17, 20195 yr by Ngoc Nguyen

Here's a video showing how my outrigger mod works. Turn on the sound to hear that satisfying snap click.

 

I was watching sariels review and noticed that the outrigger rotation can easily be altered by accidentally knocking them. So a mod id like to see is to have the mini turntables driven by worm gears not by bevel gears. That way they are locked in place if knocked.

Also to make the jib unfolding less of a co-incidenal feature and more of a reliable feature

Edited July 18, 20195 yr by SNIPE

Oh damn, that looks SO much better. How's the outrigger stiffness compared to the official model?

13 minutes ago, Bartybum said:

Oh damn, that looks SO much better. How's the outrigger stiffness compared to the official model?

Doesnt improve much, because of the flimsy mounting point with the main model. But the outrigger mod improves the usability a whole lot.

Hi. Is it possible to have a part list? Thanks

4 minutes ago, Matias77 said:

Hi. Is it possible to have a part list? Thanks

Part list of what?

This is my slight modification, using only parts in the set to make the outriggers stable, strong, AND better looking, how the designer didn't think of this is beyond me.

The L just flips down into the gap in the turntable

@Ngoc Nguyen I must admit that your red version looks better than yellow original, but it has very desirable yellow parts; so far I see it as good parts pack...

1 hour ago, I_Igor said:

@Ngoc Nguyen I must admit that your red version looks better than yellow original, but it has very desirable yellow parts; so far I see it as good parts pack...

I know right? My original plan was to build my own red and black, and then buy the official yellow one. When I completed my red-and-black version, I thought that the red-black color scheme looks horrible at first, but it's grown on me. Now I'm not even sure if I'm gonna buy the official set or not. 

I intend to build the B model in LBG, based on the LBG gear rack holders.