[TC26] Arctic Transport Base

[Alex Ilea]

Hi everyone,

 

I would like to show you my entry for the Arctic Vehicle Contest. I will preface this by saying that this is my biggest MOC ever, therefore a new experience that was worth the work.

 

So I built, what I call an Arctic Transport Base. The concept is quite simple, it is machine that has a "garage" built in it and can store a small Tracked Explorer inside it and can carry it around wherever needed.

 

 

The building of this behemoth has been interesting, and I will try to explain as professionally as possible how it works. There is the mini Tracked Explorer that can be stored inside of the Base, and it contains all of the electronics:

- 3 Large Powered Up motors

-1 Medium motor 

-1 BuWizz 3.0 brick

The 3 L motors operate the "big functions" and the M motor operates a switch box (via a small liniar actuator) located in the rear of the Tracked Explorer. On it's own, in the first position of the rings, it can drive the two tracks and operate the powerful winch in the front:

 

 

Notice how I used the 20T clutch gear for perpendicular drive to the tracks. There is also a small interior present.

The Base has a height adjustment + ramp raise/lower system that is controlled with the motors inside of the Explorer. And the Explorer can self load inside of the Base, use M motor to switch the rings and control the functions of the base. I know, complicated ;)

You will see the 3 blue gear in the rear of the Explorer, that will mesh with the azure gears inside of the Base to operate the other functions:

 

 

The ramp and garage have guidance channels to facilitate easier loading. Once the Explorer self loads (the ramp and the whole Base is lowered) the switching happens and the left and right motors control the 6 tracks of the Base and the middle L motor controls the height adjustment and opening of the ramp (see video for better visualization):

 

In the Base, the L motors that operate the tracks also operate the two satellite antennas, two V8 engines and two fans in the front. There is also a detachable cabin to expose the internals:

 

 

Now, based on the discussions here, @Jim said it is ok to build such a thing, where the smaller vehicle fits inside the big main build, but I still need the seal of approval before I post it in the entry topic (because I can see it could spark some discussion). Please let me know :)

 

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy this build!

[gyenesvi]

Ha, you cheated, 7L flip-flop beams don't exist in LBG! 

Seriously, I love this. Cool idea, nicely designed, and the mechanical side is really clever!

[Alex Ilea]

1 minute ago, gyenesvi said:

Ha, you cheated, 7L flip-flop beams don't exist in LBG! 

Seriously, I love this. Cool idea, nicely designed, and the mechanical side is really clever!

It might be the color grading, they are DBG from the E-tron set. Appreciate the compliment, this project has really beed a mind twister!

[n8walker]

Nice! I like the idea of the docking system. This is really clever. The height adjustment looks cool as well. 

The base movement looks a little bit halting. Is this due to the high mass and resistance of the many gears necessary or might it be, that there are misaligned cardan joints somewhere? This is no criticism, models of that size are always difficult to motorize, and you need a lot of gears which have a lot of friction.

[2GodBDGlory]

Wow, that's a super impressive entry! That's probably one of the best-executed model-in-model MOCs I've seen, and the idea for switching between control of the main and sub models is really clever!

[2GodBDGlory]

One question, though:
Why did you use the spur-type 12T/20T gears for the engagement between models rather than the double-bevel ones? I'd think those would allow for an easier engagement between the models.

[Jurss]

This is really impressive technically and visually.

For base there is some lack of power for smooth run. 

Does the big base steer?

[Alex Ilea]

8 hours ago, n8walker said:

The base movement looks a little bit halting. Is this due to the high mass and resistance of the many gears necessary or might it be, that there are misaligned cardan joints somewhere?

 

3 hours ago, 2GodBDGlory said:

One question, though:
Why did you use the spur-type 12T/20T gears for the engagement between models rather than the double-bevel ones? I'd think those would allow for an easier engagement between the models.

 

10 minutes ago, Jurss said:

This is really impressive technically and visually.

For base there is some lack of power for smooth run. 

Does the big base steer?

Thank you guys! The truth is, this whole build is just beyond the limit of what the Lego system can do (plastic is plastic). Yes the Base can steer, but it is very very slow. 

You are right, the bevel gears (which I tried) join better when self loading, but they are just ever so slightly smaller in depth contact between them and would skip more than the straight teeth ones. In other words, the ones I used just mesh better than the other ones.

[Seasider]

That’s an impressive model, and great how the 2 vehicles link. But a shame it’s not very smooth in the large vehicle, it kind of makes the smaller model the main model.

I think to fit the theme better a splash of red and yellow would really lift this model further.

Otherwise very impressive 

[pow]

The word mothership takes on a whole new meaning as soon as the little Galileo ferry on tracks sails out the back. Really impressive!

I assume the majority of the parts come from 42100?

Edited December 31, 2023 by pow
typo

[SaperPL]

I was thinking about doing something like this (small RC model connected to the base) for this contest, but this is a near perfect execution - the drive train is a bit overcomplicated on the bigger mode/base, but thanks to that whole thing looks awesome. Great job!

[Alex Ilea]

On 12/31/2023 at 10:23 AM, Seasider said:

That’s an impressive model, and great how the 2 vehicles link. But a shame it’s not very smooth in the large vehicle, it kind of makes the smaller model the main model.

This model really pushes the limits of plastic, so it was the best I could do without making it ULTRA slow. It was never my intention to make the small model the "main one", but the small one was the logical choice as the housing for the motors.

 

21 hours ago, pow said:

The word mothership takes on a whole new meaning as soon as the little Galileo ferry on tracks sails out the back. Really impressive!

I assume the majority of the parts come from 42100?

Hahaha! And no, I don't even have the 42100 set unfortunately...

 

20 hours ago, SaperPL said:

I was thinking about doing something like this (small RC model connected to the base) for this contest, but this is a near perfect execution - the drive train is a bit overcomplicated on the bigger mode/base, but thanks to that whole thing looks awesome. Great job!

Thank you all for the feedback and positive coments!

[Timewhatistime]

On 12/30/2023 at 11:29 PM, n8walker said:

Nice! I like the idea of the docking system. This is really clever. The height adjustment looks cool as well. 

The base movement looks a little bit halting. Is this due to the high mass and resistance of the many gears necessary or might it be, that there are misaligned cardan joints somewhere? This is no criticism, models of that size are always difficult to motorize, and you need a lot of gears which have a lot of friction.

Yes, the 5th picture (just above the video screenshot) shows two misaligned cardan joints which are (part of) the reason for the wave-like movement of the mothership.

Besides that, it is a great moc with clear lines and an innovative mechanical concept.

[Alex Ilea]

1 hour ago, Timewhatistime said:

Yes, the 5th picture (just above the video screenshot) shows two misaligned cardan joints which are (part of) the reason for the wave-like movement of the mothership.

Besides that, it is a great moc with clear lines and an innovative mechanical concept.

Those cardans control the satelites, so they don't influence the power to the tracks that much.

[Jim]

On 12/31/2023 at 9:23 AM, Seasider said:

I think to fit the theme better a splash of red and yellow would really lift this model further.

Agreed. The color scheme could match the oldskool theme better by adding some red and yellow.

The model with additional vehicle is allowed btw. 

[Merlins_Technic_Garage]

Wow this is really amazing! Congratulations, I was thinking of doing something similar with the mothership kind of idea, but I decided against due to my time constraint . I love the loading feature where the whole base just lowers; its so cinematic!! 

[Lixander]

Interesting model duo :)

I really like the small model more, but the base is good too. Both are packed with functions and the link between the 2 models is a very clever solution.

Keep up the good work!

 

Edited January 2, 2024 by Lixander

[braker23]

Awesome model, unique idea and very cool features, I just love it! 

[Alex Ilea]

I am really proud of this build. Thank you so much everyone!