Hi everybody!

First let me wish you the very best for this new year. Best wishes my friends.

 

I actually have some trouble with my cloud storage for pictures so it is still not possible for me to post proper pictures of the moddel, i hope this will be solved within this evening.

So, let talk a bit about this model. Since the competition was launch, i immediately new what to build. One of my very -very- best moment in my chilhood was this Christmas day when i received this incredible set. Yes, this is the moddel i pass the most time playing with in the whole lego technic  lineup i ever had.

Looking at this particular contest rules, there was however a little problem, as this polar station is not a proper vehicule. It can ride, but not steer at all and this issue was in my opinion so strong that it could not had been elligible for the contest.

 

So, i decided to build a carrier based on four tracks, that can run and steer and next build the station upon this base.

The main functions on the reference set had to be kept, so there are two more functions that are the elevation of the rear plateform and the main ramp.

 

After testing it it appear quickly that the tracks didn't run well on flat surface and i decided thus to motorized them.

Here is the actual configuration of the functions (PFS-RC)

There are two medium motors connected to a dual gearbox. One clutch for each motor.

On the first mode, the tracks and steering are motorized, on the second the two other functions are activated. The switching between both of them is achieved by a manual lever.

I do work next on the overal proportion of the station, this MK2 version is longer and get a extra inner space and a 60' look. I used the front section to add two laterals doors, one for the technic figs acces, the other for acces to the battery box.

A small  ULM helicopter is also build and if i get the enough time i perhaps will manage to build a little snow groomer.

 

I hope beeing quickly able to post you the first pictures of it.

S.

 

Edited January 2, 20241 yr by steph77

I'm happy you are joining the contest. I look forward to seeing your result. 

Ok,

i had to get a tempory flikr acount. Lets see if it work:

Yes! ok, 3 other ones, this project is in a WIP stage

Not perfect, i still needs to get control on the pictures size, but well, it works.

Let's talk about the project now.

S

Something red with blue seat at the top of station has revield the reason you chose this for TC26 

It looks cool in technic BTW

42 minutes ago, 1gor said:

Something red with blue seat at the top of station has revield the reason you chose this for TC26 

It looks cool in technic BTW

:)

maybe it is the original Set who has affected my building skill later. Who knows. BTW this helicopter is the subject of this evening build session. Thx

Edited January 2, 20241 yr by steph77

Yesterday build session wasn't that productive,

However i managed to realize some things.

 

First, i finalized the direction system. As it is motorized and use the standard racks and gear system, i had to insert a clutch in the power line.

I finished wit a solution with two clutches, (the new ones - inline clutches), one for each steering racks front and rear. I add a small knob on the outter side and managed so to realized a build in crab mode for the direction. You can actualy turn the gear and the tracks will steer manually, place theme in a crab mode and have fun. The reset is automatically reallized if you let the motor turn, the two pairs of rack re-align due to the and-of-course clutches.

Cool function.

Second i had a look at the little helicopter wich is now sturdy and fiabilized:

Third, i relocalized the battery box for more convenient acces and begin to search a solution for a proper integretion of leds.

 

Some night taken pictures, (sorry for that)

the heli:

The battle field late night:

And as i was working on the station, the crew has begin it's observation work of the environnement:

Edited January 3, 20241 yr by steph77

I look forward to hopefully seeing a video (?) of the link system working for the blue deck that goes up to the roof. It looks very nice.

4 hours ago, MangaNOID said:

I look forward to hopefully seeing a video (?) of the link system working for the blue deck that goes up to the roof. It looks very nice.

Tanks.

Here you go:

s.

 

Edited January 3, 20241 yr by steph77

Wow, the functionality is really cool!

Tanks. The HD video is uploading. I'll replace the 360 dpi as soon the hd is online.

edit: done

Edited January 3, 20241 yr by steph77

Looks great.

We just need three more last minute entries to complete the theme!

Edited January 6, 20241 yr by Burko-uk

 

[TC26] POLAR STATION 8680 MKII

This is the end result of my work on this contest project.

Concept

I do pass the last ours on this contest to optimize the build but also i tryed to have a complete reflexion on the concept.

The main modification i introduce in this last iteration is the notion of a front and a rear end to this polar station.

Thinking at it, it appeared as a non-sense that once the front door is closed, it was impossible to drive the machine as it was impossible to look frontwards...quiet dangerous to drive.

Even like this, i mean after adding a piloting area in the front, sometimes unexpected things happend...

The concept is based entirely on the memory of the exceptional playing quality of the original set. From then on, I focused on the realization of functions and accessories, all coordinated with a view to obtaining the most complete gaming support possible.
For example, I installed a winch under the lifting platform at the rear. This winch enables objects to be loaded from the ground onto the low floor of the polar station. These objects can then be transported on the roof or inside the station.

I paid attention at every detail i could.
As an exemple, i wondered about the cable length of this winch, for example. By choosing a very long cable, once the rear platform is in the up position, this cable can be deployed across the station, and the helicopter or train can be winched up the front ramp.

These are the whole  accesories embeded in the station

- an u.l.m. helicopter
- a sleigh
- a camera and two accessory boxes
- two pairs of skis and poles
- extra rope
- four seals
- a tool kit, always indispensable in the far northern 

Overall view of the model:

 

From the technical realisation point of view.

The build is modular. they are threee principal parts:

- The undercarrier,

- The station's floor

- The upper body.

Lets have a look at the undercarrier who is the most technical part of the model as it received the main gearbox that power the two upper structure functions and the propulsion and direction mechanism.

The gearbox is a dual clutch one. The two clutches move together and it results in a two couple of functions that are grouped like this:

- Direction and propulsion

- Opening ramp and lifting deck

This setup is the best combo i find to optimize the gaming experience.

The two medium motors are located on the two outside ends and they are RC commanded based on the power function system. This offers a physical command that is absolutely mandatory in my mind and in the present play set build.

The model is also colored as it is not strictly symetrical. 

The tracks are the small ones. These tracks offer a way smoother run on flat surfaces. Speeking of this, the station is 4X4 powered, but it has no crossing abilities. I made this choice in order to have a reliable build.

The steering radius is quiet good without beeing exeptional. The model embed the crab drive possibilities, by moving the 24T black knob visible on the upper axle on the picture below

The undercarrier is very sturdy, all mechanism are packed into frames and they are no cracking gears here.

Viewed from the top, the main structure is visible  with the use of oblique support beams.

The rear deck lifting is build as it is visible below:

The rotation is transfered from the gearbox to the lateral side where it will be transfered to the roof and it's linear actuator.

I tryed to used as many differents building technics to transfer the movement. The original set used pneumatics, worm gear and racks. I made use of worm gears, gearboxes, racks and gears, originals 90° gear orientations, clutch gears in original use, etc... 

The final room inside ended as very limited, but i managed to squeeze all the functions in a very efficient and clean build.

 

Some other views of the finished model:

openable roof for easier acces:

lateral door and ladder

Pilot place and extra rope

I hope you enjoyed it.

The madatory video:

 

Edited January 7, 20241 yr by steph77
typing

This is exactly what I was looking for. You totally grasped the spirit of the contest. Well done.

4 minutes ago, Jim said:

This is exactly what I was looking for. You totally grasped the spirit of the contest. Well done.

Excellent job @steph77 as this is a perfect recreation of 8680. I love all the features, and the integration of PF. But my favorites parts are the seals, the sled, and the little helicopter.