If I didn't have enough to do in life already, so I started another TC26 build. The other one is disassembled not to be finished as I was having no fun with it and had no real direction and was becoming too serious a build.

So start again with something more fun for me and relevant to the arctic area (perhaps...I don't live there so no idea really ) a porpoise carrier towing rig...or hopefully will be if/when I finish it. 

I never built an articulated steering rig before so I started with that as I want front wheels and rear tracks. I also wanted suspension and driven wheels linked to the tracks so for me this was a nightmare (enjoyably challenging) to come up with in a smallish scale. 

 

 

suspension travel goes up, 'down' and 'angled'? like a solid axle (?) took me ages to figure out the shocks and worked like crap until I realised I needed a pan hard rod 

There will be extra support on the 8l vertical axle at the top to stop things sliding off under suspension compression and bending under load as per the below photo.

 

 

 

and of course turns, hopefully like an articulated steering should.

 

 

That's all for now hope I can get somewhere with this...

 

 

Edited January 3, 20241 yr by MangaNOID

Looks like a good start… not sure if a porpoise would like being towed on purpose though. Would suggest a sling/cradle for Porpoise carrying, perhaps on a crane arm of a arm like a skip lorry 

On 12/23/2023 at 9:04 PM, Seasider said:

sling/cradle for Porpoise carrying

I was thinking more of a tray back for the dead hunted porpoise but a sling and rescue might be better! 
 

Although I might change idea as I go, but at least a basic chassis is complete…

The tracks ended up being lots bigger than I expected to get an engine and diff in so I’ll change the overall scale a bit.

I may change this to be a first responder medic vehicle single seat drive and a stretcher thing on the back…who knows.

The engine configuration is an eye catcher! I wonder what the gears left and right of the differential are for?

But the most important: Has unicorn exploded on your table? Very colorful!

4 hours ago, pow said:

wonder what the gears left and right of the differential are for?

 … Has unicorn exploded on your table?

Haha, kids painting…

gears are 2 16T stacked each side like a portal axle to lift the diff higher as the tracks are very low and also I needed to align the driveline to the front diff.

One extra thing I quickly did today was add in-cabin tank steering linked off the articulated steering, can’t believe how easily it hooked up!

Hopefully see a gif in the hidden contents below.  I'll try get a photo tomorrow of the link for anyone interested as you cant see it in the GIF :(

 

Spoiler

 

Edited December 29, 20231 yr by MangaNOID

That steering lever solution is pretty cool!

16 hours ago, MangaNOID said:

I quickly did today was add in-cabin tank steering

Damn that's super smart!

A) the implementation is simple and sweet.

B) having this idea in first place is super clever!

My MOC will get a modern contactless steering a.k.a. no steering inputs at all^^ ...despite the HOG of course

 

 

Ooo! Lots more entries popping up so I have to put in extra effort now 
 

Small update… getting the tracks moving independently for better traction on uneven surfaces, crests or troughs. Simple but I think it works??

Design wise I’m struggling a bit as usual but I think Inhave a can sorted and I’m now going for a first responder first aid with a stretcher on the back. I’ll take some photos in the morning with better light and I’ll hide the gif so we don’t have to look at it all the time…

 

 

Name change and now I have final direction on what I’m building 😅

Here is the progress so far. a bit more structure rigidity to the rear chassis needed. and I’ll put two stretcher beds on the back that will be lifted on and off the responder by a crane (for lack of ideas for any other idea) 

Pneumatic functions will be cabin lift and the crane.