[MOC] Mercedes Atego Expedition Camper - an 42175 B-model

[Timorzelorzworz]

Thanks to the engaged forum user @R0Sch the inventory for the LEGO Technic Volvo Truck & EC230 Electric Excavator (Set 42175) was shared on a legal way two months before the official set release, so I was lucky to start a B-model design very early. No, I had no early access to the physical set like others and bought the set at day one, August the 1st. in my local store.

The model I made is a Mercedes Atego Expedition Camper, only with parts from 42175 Volvo FMX Truck & EC230 Electric Excavator as alternative build (B-model). The main set provides all the parts to build, no spare parts or other parts outside this set are required. Designer love to put easter-eggs inside, isn't it? So this model uses exactly 2024 parts as an easter-egg for the release year.

Pneumatic Functions

• foldable stairs to access living cabin
• lifting platform to carry Quad

 

Functions & Features

• HoG-steering
• working piston engine
• openable doors for drivers cab
• pendular suspension with turntable
• openable door for living cab
• openable sidedoor to access equipment
• foldable sunroof
• twin tires in the rear
• cargo-area to store equipment
• many equipment included (read below)
• upgradeable with other wheels and MB-star (from 42177)
• measures (all closed) 40cm x 17cm x 19cm

Model in Action

 

Some Impressions

Some Outdoor-Shots

Cabin Details

 

On top of the drivers cab you can grab a wheel to steer the truck with a pretty good steering angle. Both doors of the drivers cab can be opened to watch inside. Between the driver seats you can find a working 4-cylinder piston engine that is connected to the rear twin tires. 

 

 

The model comes with pendular suspension, using a turntable from the set between the drivers cab and the living cab with drivetrain through that turntable. The pendular angle is limited to approx 7.5 degrees per side.

 

Pneumatic inside

 

Like the 42175 main set, this alternate build has cool Pneumatic functions inside as well. The pump is controlled from the top of the living cab; the valves from the side.

 

Basically the living cab is divided into 2 sections: At the first half all the Pneumatic stuff and the working stairs is placed. The second half provides enough space to safely store and transport all the equipment that comes with this model.

 

 

Foldable stairs (Pneumatic)

 

Once the door for the living cab has been opened, the stairs can be pumped down to fully reach the ground and to access the cab.

 

The door closes even when the stairs is completely down, which is a pretty nice feature I'm happy with.

 

Track links from the main set are used for the steps to make a solid staircase with some refreshing design never seen before.

 

Lifting Platform (Pneumatic)

 

The Mercedes Atego has a quad on his trip, that is carried by a lifting platform. When the Pneumatic cylinder is fully extended, the platform reaches exactly the ground and the quad can enter on this.

 

Luckily the Pneumatic has enough pressure to lift up and to hold the whole platform with the weight of the quad.

 

Additional chains can be used to secure the platform and the bike while driving around and going on vacation with this model.

 

Sunroof

 

In case it is getting hot inside the living cab, a sunroof is openable up to 30 degrees with a crank mechanism. This also provides more space over the head for people inside the living cab. When the sunroof is closed, it is completely hidden inside the frame of the Camper.

Equipment included

 

The mentioned quad with working steering

 

Camping chairs & table...

 

...they are all foldable to stack

 

Smoker BBQ-grill and fire-barrel...

 

...with openable lid for the grill

 

Mobile satellite dish that fits on the table...

 

...and even better on top of the Camper

 

ALL of the equipment can be transported with the Expedition Truck itself and nothing stays back during vacation. The equipment is accessible through a large openable sidedoor in the living cab.

 

Borrow them a real star

 

By design, it's very easy to spend the model a more realistic looking Mercedes-Benz star. Just pull out the axle with the 2x2 round tile with hole and replace them with a custom 2x2 round tile and pin with snap.

 

 

The actually best match for a real star on this Atego is with the set 42177 Mercedes G-500. Either the 2x2 round tile with print or the one with sticker in the back can be used here for a Mercedes brotherhood.

 

When the street is not enough...

 

...then give the Camper your own rims and offroad tires. By design, the model is made to easy swap wheels up to 56x26 Tractor tires with no rebuild required.

 

Based on the real thing

Front and drivers cab are highly based on second generation Mercedes-Benz Atego from 2013 with 4-cylinder diesel engine.

 

Final note 

 

A Camper was on my personal B-model wishlist for a long time and now thanks to the inventory of the set 42175 it was possible to make it. A lot of summerlove was spent on this one and the whole model feels like endless vacation. Just pack some things and go on a trip for a long time. A heart-project I was working on from beginning of June to end of August this year.

 

Have fun with this Mercedes Atego Expedition Camper alternate build.

You can find PDF Instructions to build your own on my rebrickable following this link.

 

See you next tim(e)

 

 

Edited September 2, 2024 by Timorzelorzworz

[R0Sch]

Now that's a really creative, out-of-the-box thinking alternative model! Love the little foldable chairs, grill and ATV too! The pneumatic function integrated so well and the truck is instantly recognizable, even though you had just limited parts.

P.S. Thanks for the shout-out!

[astyanax]

Very very impressive. So many functions in this package, amazing! 

[Timewhatistime]

This is a great alternate model with very charming and clever accesoires built of the "leftover parts" (chairs, grill, quad). It gives some nice summer-adventure-outdoor vibes.

I'd prefer some colored accents on the living cab (though it matches the real vehicle's cabs very well) in order to make it appear a little bit less bulky, but I cannot estimate if there are any suitable parts in the set.

Edited August 31, 2024 by Timewhatistime

[Timorzelorzworz]

6 hours ago, R0Sch said:

P.S. Thanks for the shout-out!

You are very welcome, compatriot! Your early post in the 42175 topic was the initial ignition to do this, and without them the model wouldn't be here now. So I'm very thankfull for this :) 

@astyanaxThank you. It was hard but also fun. Similar for doing your profile pic in reality :)

Edited August 31, 2024 by Timorzelorzworz

[astyanax]

2 hours ago, Timorzelorzworz said:

It was hard but also fun. Similar for doing your profile pic in reality :)

Ehehe first time anyone mentions my profile pic. Cheers mate! 

[Timorzelorzworz]

44 minutes ago, astyanax said:

Ehehe first time

This actually makes me wonder. Your pic is awesome. It perfectly shows the differences between the digital and the real world of building. Some legends say that still today some blond women are trying to build it.

[trekman]

This is one super creative build.  I love all the detail in the model, and it does require some forward planning when you are trying to work within the parts inventory of the set.  Your creativity shows us that you certainly did enjoy the building experience through the summer.  Well done.

[Timorzelorzworz]

18 minutes ago, trekman said:

that you certainly did enjoy the building experience through the summer

You nailed it! It was indeed a great pleassure to do it and once the inventory was out, I built and tested the model with own parts in random colors before the set release. Its hard to transport all the feelings and emotions at the end to an article, so you're absolutely right with your comment, that means alot for me. Thanks you.

[Timorzelorzworz]

On 8/31/2024 at 12:11 PM, Timewhatistime said:

accesoires built of the "leftover parts" (chairs, grill, quad).

Thank you. It's interesting that you mentioned this :) Funny thing is that the accessoires were not built at the end. Actually I made the equipment (chairs, table,...) at the very first stage to keep important parts for the truck. I uploaded a very first sketch image from June for you. It looks crude, but as you can see some equipment is already made at first.

 

 

[Timewhatistime]

Thanks for the insight into the building process. I didn't expect the accessoires to be built at first. But I think they were worth it, especially the instantly recognizable grill. Well done! (pun intended)

[Timorzelorzworz]

On 9/2/2024 at 3:43 PM, Timewhatistime said:

...especially the instantly recognizable grill

You're welcome. I can't share much about building process insides, 'cause this would end in too much text. But when someone is interested in it, I'm happy to do. For accessoires, there was first a E-Scooter planned. I wanted to include the small wheels given with the inventory anyway. Later I skipped the Scooter and decided for the mentioned grill to include for this set.