[MOC] LiuGong 856HE MAX

[Bricksley]

Hello :)

Bright green is not the most popular color in LEGO but in the world of construction and agricultural machinery it is not so rare, it looks different in LEGO and although in recent years the range of bricks has expanded significantly (for example with the help of series with the mustachioed plumber) there is still a lack of almost basic bricks such as slope or wedge plate, and others appear in a limited number of subtypes, which ultimately translates into unconventional thinking. And while the shape will somehow come out, it is worse with durability because the lack of certain bricks cannot be replaced. The consequence of all this was large transitions in some elements and not all shapes could be rendered as well as they would have been with a different color, nevertheless I am pleased that I managed to tie it all together :)

Just a few words of introduction about the machine, it is a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) version, i.e. an electric car. For those who are not familiar with it, there is already quite a large selection in the world of construction and agricultural machinery in the segment of small and medium-sized machines (i.e. specific applications (e.g. urban, technological lines, farms). Without going into all the politics, etc., in the above-mentioned segments, contrary to appearances, such machines have their place, especially when we take into account the significantly reduced noise and vibration emissions, lack of exhaust fumes, compactness and non-continuous operation. The selected model is not the beginning of production, prototypes were shown in 2019, and over the following years the version was tested and adapted. A keen eye will notice that machines from 2-3 years ago have cabins from H series loaders (diesel) and steps and handrails in the body color, while those from the last few months have already received cabins from the incoming T series (diesel), as well as changed handrails and steps, which have gained orange color. I like the newer one more, hence it ended up in the workshop.

Getting to the point, the model is based on the C+ system with the Mindstorms HUB. This is the result of the need to have two additional ports, the functions I wanted to have and the ability to control the pad/Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the Mindstorms HUB itself has a significant drawback, which I will discuss in a moment.

So: drive using XL on 4 wheels, rear axle pendular, the obtained speed is satisfactory. Turning small actuators on the L-motor, the speed also seems to be ok. The arm is also powered by the L-motor, and the bucket by the M-motor. While XL and L in the C+ vs PF version have similar parameters, the M is much more behind, and if we add the lack of 9V voltage, only 7.3V, the difference is already quite large and what worked well on the PFs is now too slow. Or at least in the context of a model for an exhibition - it is enough for playing in a room.

Additional functions include a backup alarm and reverse lights coupled with reverse gear, manually switched front lights and a horn ;) And I also the charging socket through an extension (yes, not original) to the exact same place where the charger socket is in the real machine ;)

The look is a subjective matter. Personally, despite the fast pace of construction and the limitations resulting from the color, I am pleased with the level of detail that was included. I have some quibbles about some parts from bright green, but I can't get over the lack of bricks.

 

All photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/97083384@N04/albums/72177720320731460/

Movie: 

 

Compare with my previous model - actually the same scale, for bricks conditions exactly the same :)

 

Edited October 1, 2024 by Bricksley
Correct title

[Milan]

Frontpaged.

[bruh]

Wow! This is incredible! Also, FRONTPAGED! Congrats!

By the way, what is the drawback of the Mindstorms hub? Is the drawback the 7.3 volts instead of 9 volts?

Edited October 1, 2024 by bruh
wanted to ask a question I forgot to include

[Bricksley]

11 minutes ago, bruh said:

Wow! This is incredible! Also, FRONTPAGED! Congrats!

By the way, what is the drawback of the Mindstorms hub? Is the drawback the 7.3 volts instead of 9 volts?

I'm glad that You like it :)

Yes, low voltage is a disadvantage, it will indicate motors should work on 9V, and in this way we have losses and slow operation. In addition, the HUB is interesting, compact, 6 inputs/outputs, replaceable battery with high capacity or the possibility of charging.

Edited October 1, 2024 by Bricksley

[bruh]

So, was the hub advertised as being capable of producing 9V and not producing it, or does it just not produce 9V? Also, do you like it more than previous hubs?

[Bricksley]

13 minutes ago, bruh said:

So, was the hub advertised as being capable of producing 9V and not producing it, or does it just not produce 9V? Also, do you like it more than previous hubs?

The Mindstorms Robot Inventor HUB has a dedicated battery (although replaceable - because it is a separate brick), which is factory-set to 7.3V. I don't know if it will work properly on 9V - I haven't checked (I haven't read about it), but you can't put separate batteries in it anyway, so to power it (potentially) with 9V you would have to build some kind of adapter from a custom battery cell ;) I don't have any experience with previous Mindstorms HUBs, i.e. EV3, NXT. I used to play with RCX a long time ago, but that was a long time ago ;)

Of course, there is a Technic HUB with 4 inputs into which you can put batteries, but it is too big for many MOCs. There are also small train HUBs (that's what I used in my Liebherr loader), but there was no space for 2 of them in the model, besides, I wanted to have the functions offered by the Mindstorms system.

Unfortunately, we all know well that the Mindstorms Inventor/Control +/Powered Up/Boost/We-do system, although it has common system elements, did not turn out to be LEGO's best - a lot of inconsistencies and problems.

[jorgeopesi]

Looks very good, I would like more realistic travel of the arm but anyway it is more for display nor play.

[bruh]

56 minutes ago, Bricksley said:

The Mindstorms Robot Inventor HUB has a dedicated battery (although replaceable - because it is a separate brick), which is factory-set to 7.3V. I don't know if it will work properly on 9V - I haven't checked (I haven't read about it), but you can't put separate batteries in it anyway, so to power it (potentially) with 9V you would have to build some kind of adapter from a custom battery cell ;) I don't have any experience with previous Mindstorms HUBs, i.e. EV3, NXT. I used to play with RCX a long time ago, but that was a long time ago ;)

Of course, there is a Technic HUB with 4 inputs into which you can put batteries, but it is too big for many MOCs. There are also small train HUBs (that's what I used in my Liebherr loader), but there was no space for 2 of them in the model, besides, I wanted to have the functions offered by the Mindstorms system.

Unfortunately, we all know well that the Mindstorms Inventor/Control +/Powered Up/Boost/We-do system, although it has common system elements, did not turn out to be LEGO's best - a lot of inconsistencies and problems.

Ok, I see. Thanks for the input! I personally have both the Spike Prime HUB and the Control+ HUB, so that info is good to know. 

[Bricksley]

7 minutes ago, bruh said:

Ok, I see. Thanks for the input! I personally have both the Spike Prime HUB and the Control+ HUB, so that info is good to know. 

In general, the Spike HUB is almost identical to the regular Inventor HUB, the difference is that in the case of Inventor HUBs, one HUB can be a controller for the other (e.g. using a gyroscope/accelerometer) and the Spike HUB cannot be used in this way (as a controller) even though it has sensors in itself. Oh, and they are different in color :D

[bruh]

Oh, sorry. I have the Inventor HUB and the Control+ hub, not the spike prime hub.

[mdemerchant]

This looks great, really well done.  I like that it has a few functions that are beyond the standard 4 function loader.  My current project also happens to be a loader but I can safely say it's unlikely to look nearly as impressive as this one.

[2GodBDGlory]

Looks very nice! Are you using some kind of consumer USB extender in there for easier charging?

[gyenesvi]

Very nice build, great mix of technic and system building, and nicely hidden electronics inside. Wish Lego would provide a proper hub for things like this; 6 ports in the size of the technic hub, and a proper rechargeable battery that provides 9V..

To improve the play experience a bit, you might want to try PyBricks, that allows you to connect the Xbox controller to the hub directly, without the intermediary phone, and to program it really flexibly in Python. The program will be stored on the Mindstorms hub, so as long as the hub stays inside this build it should keep working without worrying about software updates on the phone; it is worth exploring.

[bruh]

1 hour ago, gyenesvi said:

Very nice build, great mix of technic and system building, and nicely hidden electronics inside. Wish Lego would provide a proper hub for things like this; 6 ports in the size of the technic hub, and a proper rechargeable battery that provides 9V..

To improve the play experience a bit, you might want to try PyBricks, that allows you to connect the Xbox controller to the hub directly, without the intermediary phone, and to program it really flexibly in Python. The program will be stored on the Mindstorms hub, so as long as the hub stays inside this build it should keep working without worrying about software updates on the phone; it is worth exploring.

Yes I agree. I have tried PyBricks before, but the only thing is, it’s not entirely free, if I’m remembering correctly. The software to download onto the hub is, and the secondary coding language is, but the blocks, which are basically more advanced Scratch blocks, are not, although I think it’s like 2 bucks a month for it.

[gyenesvi]

1 hour ago, bruh said:

Yes I agree. I have tried PyBricks before, but the only thing is, it’s not entirely free, if I’m remembering correctly. The software to download onto the hub is, and the secondary coding language is, but the blocks, which are basically more advanced Scratch blocks, are not, although I think it’s like 2 bucks a month for it.

Well, if you program in Python, it is free. Actually that is the primary language, and the code blocks are only a visual mapping to that :) But yeah, the blocks coding isn't too expensive either.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Wow what professionalism in reproducing this machine!

I like the bright green livery and the large front bucket.

Magnificent details and perfect stickers! Great video ...thanks for sharing!

[eric trax]

On 10/1/2024 at 10:30 PM, Milan said:

Frontpaged.

I am not surprised at all.

It is a great opponent for my Doosan! The huge amount of details and the exotic bright green color in the world of loaders do not allow you to take your eyes off it. Congratulations on another great machine!

[Bricksley]

On 10/2/2024 at 6:26 PM, 2GodBDGlory said:

Looks very nice! Are you using some kind of consumer USB extender in there for easier charging?

Yes. From the top of the superstructure there is access to the charging socket and it's quite easy, but I wanted to have it in a place like in a real machine, so I used a short extension and built it with bricks :)

On 10/2/2024 at 8:56 PM, gyenesvi said:

Very nice build, great mix of technic and system building, and nicely hidden electronics inside. Wish Lego would provide a proper hub for things like this; 6 ports in the size of the technic hub, and a proper rechargeable battery that provides 9V..

To improve the play experience a bit, you might want to try PyBricks, that allows you to connect the Xbox controller to the hub directly, without the intermediary phone, and to program it really flexibly in Python. The program will be stored on the Mindstorms hub, so as long as the hub stays inside this build it should keep working without worrying about software updates on the phone; it is worth exploring.

I read a little about PyBricks, but since I didn't have much time before the exhibition, I saved myself with what I know, the Mindstorms app. But connecting the pad directly to the HUB sounds interesting, so far I've used different smartphones (one many years old, the other one brand new) and you can notice minimal lags, and that would be ideal. In Minstorms app the program can also be saved on the HUB. I need to explore the topic more in my free time ;)

Thanks for good words :)

[_TLG_]

Cool and clean build!

[Toastie]

I am disqualified making any comments on this machine - other than loving what it can do - LEGO Technic wise. This is in a so many levels above my league.

However all these very nice System bricks in a Technic MOC, giving it - what it deserves. And not only that, adding to the technical functionality.

For me, this is LEGO Technic. The LEGO part includes everything TLG makes, the Technic part makes the functions. Well both do/aid - hmm I am confused ... but wait: Technic is LEGO, System is LEGO, electronics is LEGO ... yes, this makes the difference ...

Your model is beyond anything, I can comprehend, but to me, it is the perfect way of doing Technic.

Thank you very much for sharing!

All the best,
Thorsten

Edited October 11, 2024 by Toastie