Tow Truck XL

[Sariel]

I may be wrong, but I thought the outriggers and drop axle were controlled by a switch on the truck.

You're right. There was simply no way to control all the functions through 8 PF channels.

[KirTech LAB]

You're right. There was simply no way to control all the functions through 8 PF channels.

i don't know for this particular model, but in general this is not entirely true! There are some ways to increase the number of independent RC functions. I faced with the problem of "8 channels" during my Grader creation. Some variants i suggest here - http://www.doublebrick.ru/articles/kolichestvo-funkciy-v-sisteme Unfortunately, at this moment the article exists only in Russian.

[Kwon]

That's Impressive!

[Blakbird]

It was incredibly painful, but I finished modeling the pneumatics. Now for the electrical wires.

[skriblez]

Thanks for that Blackbird. Great work and presentation as always :)

[Doc_Brown]

Wow, I really like this truck, the blue colour and length of it! Sweet. :thumbup:

I like the bonnet design, with plates on top. Excellent details, well done!

[Kumbbl]

It was incredibly painful, but I finished modeling the pneumatics. Now for the electrical wires.

thank you a lot, Blakbird, as for all you incredible renderings and work so other people like me, who are not so firm with this rendering-, CAD- and instruction-making-stuff, can build these great MOCs... :thumbup:

[750ACE]

@Blakbird: how much more progress has been made?

I do not recall a mention of part cost in USD. What cost would you estimate in blue and would a substitute color be an option?

[timslegos]

What cost would you estimate in blue and would a substitute color be an option?

How about a white truck of this size, now that would be awesome!

tim

[Blakbird]

No further progress. I still need to do the wires. Finding it hard to get motivated for that.

There has indeed been a price estimate, which was about $1000 if you are starting from scratch. I have no idea what you could color substitute. You'd have to do that research and see if it would help. I'm sure black or red would be possible.

[Blakbird]

At long last, I have finished synthesizing the more than 30 individual wire runs. The result is shown below. You can see 2 XL motors, 7 M motors, 4 pole reversers, 8 LEDs, 3 receivers, 8 extension wires, and a battery. You can't really appreciate the difficulty in simulating the wire runs from this image alone because they look so tidy, but making them so tidy without interfering with any parts or themselves was the hard part.

I can't pass up the opportunity to show the other pictures as well. Below is the mechanical image which shows the 78 gears and 3 linear actuators inside the model.

And here is the pneumatic layout. There are 7 pnuumatic cylinders, a compressor, and 3 switches as well as all the associated tubing.

So what does all this glorious complexity look like if you put it all together? I asked myself the same question and couldn't resist making this combined image since I'd already put all the work into making the CAD.

I'm putting the finishing touches on the instructions now.

[legomuppet9]

Stunning images, nice work Blackbird

[Alasdair Ryan]

Nice job Blakbird,as someone who uses LSynth quite regularly I know how hard adding all those flexible parts is.

[1974]

Totally OT; but how does these monstertrucks without steerable backwheels actaully maneuvre on common roads?

Wonderfull MOC btw .. I'm tempted (allthough I've never seen anything like that in the EU. I work close to a major truck repair center and the bigass rigs that haul in trucks look a lot more like the new green one from TLG .. but these US monsters just look so much more business)

[leksivalen]

No further progress. I still need to do the wires. Finding it hard to get motivated for that.

There has indeed been a price estimate, which was about $1000 if you are starting from scratch. I have no idea what you could color substitute. You'd have to do that research and see if it would help. I'm sure black or red would be possible.

I haven't yet done gathering additional parts for Grazi's Tow truck (85% done) and now this awesome truck again ... I think I need to work 12 hrs a day just to have extra budget...

[dhc6twinotter]

Really amazing job with the renders. I wish I had those skills.

[skriblez]

Really great work as always Blackbird

[750ACE]

This is fantastic. I must build this.

[Rishab N]

Amazing renders Blakbird!

[Blakbird]

Instructions are finished and rendering now. Final stats:

• Parts: 4200
  
• Pages of Instructions: 301
  
• Lines of text in the LDraw file: 24548
  
• Number of LPub meta commands: 1526
  
• Number of LSynth runs: 58
  
• Time invested: ~8 months
  

I'll put in some inset views to clarify all the wiring runs, and the instructions should be ready by the end of the weekend.

[Deek27]

I have just returned to Lego after a break of around 20 years. I have been amazed at the progress technic sets have made in the intervening time (busy buying lots of the new sets and some of the older sets too to restart my collection). However, this MOC is astounding and really shows the capabilities of Lego allied with a builders imagination. The fanastic work by Dikkie Klijn and Blakbird has inspired me to immerse myself back into Lego, particularly Technic. Great work guys!!

Edited August 17, 2013 by Deek27

[dikkie klijn]

Totally OT; but how does these monstertrucks without steerable backwheels actaully maneuvre on common roads?

They don't? But I have to say that it's turning radius is quite good. It is about the same as the length of the truck.

This one is my personal favorite

[dikkie klijn]

With many thanks to our friend Blakbird instructions are now available for my towtruck xl.

The instructions can be bought on Crowkillers webstie for 15$.

http://www.crowkillers.com/instructions.php

[Alasdair Ryan]

That is great news that the instructions are ready,I hope to see a few replicas appearing soon.

[Rishab N]

I hope to see one of these in black or red