WOW! If you have not seen "The Dunechaser" entry by Conchas (Fernando Correia), head over to this TechnicBRICKS article to learn all about it! SUPPORT IT in the 2012 Lego Technic Competition Gallery if you would like to see it in the FInals! Many pictures are in his Flickr photoset.

LOL

Didn't manage to find the time and put it here before you... Still making small additions to the original post at TBs.

Although I still intend to replicate the TBs post over EBs, hopefully still this night.

Thanks anyway!

@ Conchas: Yours is an EXCEPTIONAL entry -- I'm sure it will garner hundreds of votes very quickly! Best of luck!

Edited December 13, 201212 yr by DLuders

"Garner" - Learning new words everyday...

Although I forget two words for each new one learned...

Thanks for the compliment!

This is by far one of the best I,ve seen so far. I,d like to see instructions for this someday, I,m thinking in all red this thing would look tough.

Now with some time available, here for EuroBrickers too!

As David started this thread, I decided to complement it, rather then creating a new one.

You can read and if you like my proposal, please leave your support to help it reach the next phase of the competition.

The Model

As the competition rules dictate, I've created a new shell to go on top of the 9398 4x4 Crawler chassis. It comes with some extra functions and also a rich set of proposals for new and exclusive LEGO Technic elements.

The model is inspired on the cars running at the Dakar Rally, but does not represent none of them in particular to avoid infringement of any third party property rights. Hence it intends to represent a generic competition Off-Road vehicle that crosses the dunes of a desert nearby...

No, it is not orange!...

But hopefully I've managed to take some fundamental aspects in consideration, that are objectives of this competition:

• Overall coolness
  
• Inspired design details
  
• Design that people will purchase
  
• An appealing color scheme
  
• Cool electrical and manual functions
  
• Buildable using current existing LEGO Technic elements, albeit some in exclusive colors or decorations
  

The Dunechaser includes some extra functions deployed on its top cover, relative to the original 4x4 Crawler. Some are common active functions powered by existing PF elements, other are just simple features to be handled manually or some decorative details. Although decorative stickers were not developed at this point (future work if getting into the next phase of the competition).

• PF double headlights, Bi-Xenon style
  
• PF motorized winch hidden below the hood and accessible behind the front grill (which opens manually)
  
• A couple of spare tires in the back, that can be lowered or raised manually on their support structures
  
• Adjustable tilt for the top rear aileron
  
• Large driver's seat with adjustable seatback and headrest (cables go in place of the co-pilot's seat...)
  
• Adjustable rear view mirrors with silver chrome tiles
  
• Large roof and hood air intakes, simulating high performance filters to get rid of all dust in the air of the desert
  

The functional doors and tilt body for easy replacement of batteries, are kept as in the original Crawler.

As we know the overall coolness of the model that will outcome of this competition, is one of its major intents. The Technic Team has emphasized they are seeking ideas for special and exclusive elements.

In order to address this objective, probably the most interesting aspect of the Dunchaser besides its color schema, shape and functions, is the menu of several proposed exclusive elements to be considered by the Technic Team. If they will ever look twice at this...

And here are the proposals of some exclusive elements for you to pick those you like...

Hope to delight you with these, and gather your support.

• Trans-clear fairing panels (#3, #4) to be used in the headlights (see in the picture above)
  
• Some of the fairing panels never before released in Blue color (#13, #14, #17, #18, Plate 11x5 and Curved 3x11)
  
• Some of the fairing panels never before released in Dark Bluish Gray color (#5, #6, #13, #14, #17, #18, Plate 11x5 and Curved 3x11). At some of the images here, we see the correspondent already existing LBG panels in use.
  
• Painted tires to simulate the dirty with sand and dust. Mud splashes is also an alternative option to be considered (will add a photo later on).
  
• Black Chrome rims for the wheels, with Blue half bush detail at the center - the predominant color of the model.
  
• The rear view mirrors, use Chrome Silver tiles, to increase realism and elements exclusiveness (they were never released in a LEGO set before)
  

In some days I should be releasing also one video to showcase the model features and some surprise photos. Stay tuned!

The Build Experience

Now, some highlights about the conception of this model.

After removing the Crawler cover, only a few parts for the front mudguards and side skirts had to be removed. Then some fairing panels were added to the central bottom sides, to care about the aesthetics.

Realize on the custom painted tires to give an exclusive look to the model and place it in the proper environment. It would be really exclusive and of great use in some MOCs. Black Chrome rims have been used here too.

Yes, I've replaced the original Crawler tires with those from the 8110 Unimog, because I think they better fit this type of vehicle. Hope that such simple and easy modification won't turn into a disqualification...

One additional PF IR receiver was included, as we are going two add two extra electrical functions (headlights and front winch).

If you noticed I'm using the PF Speed Remote instead of the Bang-Bang Remote. This one is the most convenient to precisely control the steering function (via the PF Servo) and also to turn on the lights and keep them lighted.

Obviously it continues with the body work. Here the predominant elements are the huge air intakes on the hood and roof, the rear top aileron which can be tilt at the preference of each one, the front grill that opens manually to give access to the winch hook and last but not the least, the rear compartment where two tires can be stored to serve the needs on the way...

Oops... there are still some decorative rear lights with blinker. Cute, aren't they!?

One can easily see here, the movement of the doors and how the front grill opens.

And Yes! The panels which are not yet available in Blue color, were recolored with Photoshop.

Because LDD does not yet allow to flex 19L soft axles, I've used an alternate part with the same lenght (57539) on top of the front wheels, which LDD allows to flex. On the physical model that I built, I've used the correct 19L soft axle.

On the doors frame, I had a similar problem. LDD doesn't allow to flex a 16L softaxle and these also do not exist in blue. Then to avoid recoloring also these in the photos, I've again used some 19L blue soft axles in the doors of the physical model (the extra length is hidden behind the doors' front panel) and again the 57539 axle at LDD (extra length also hidden behind the doors - it was quite a challenge to make it work in LDD...).

Sorry Paul (Crowkillers), for not having used here the Black 19L axles, whose the return into production you wish so much!

Although here it is one version specially dedicated to you! We never know where this could lead us...

Now some detail pictures about the motorized winch and front grill opening door, to access the hook.

Notice the white panel is here replacing the proposed trans-clear panels for the headlights, as these does not exist yet.

Even though we can imagine from the images below what the effect would be, if we had the trans-clear panels (see the dimmed light spots behind the panel - first photo).

Below without the white panel in front of the LEDs, we can also observe the simulated Bi-Xenon light bulbs (from the white bluish tone), and have a better vision of the effect achieved if the trans-clear panels would be produced by TLG.

The blinker does not lit.

Now let's take a look at one of the main features in this Rally Car - the spare tires compartment.

The photos show a series of movements that pretends to represent how the tires could be lowered from their storage position, for easy removal an replacement by the pilots or who's gonna play wit with this model.

There is an independent 4-linkage mechanism for each tire, that holds the tires in place and allow to lower them nearly to the floor level. The 4-linkage mechanism provides a manual locking feature that keeps the tires stored in upper place while not needed.

Now the same set of images (almost), but from a different perspective.

Once lowered each tire can be easily detached from the support and reinserted again,

The LDD Experience

This was my first relevant build experience with LDD.

I became an LDD fan, for the easiness of its interface to build and automatically place the elements at place you want them to be. Although I found the hardest way, that I won't be able to do certain things that I could do with real bricks - some of them really valid building techniques. I managed to overcome most of these, but some at the expense of quite hard time consuming and hard work...

I found that LDD has some problems or limitations with the Hinge Tool. Above certain levels of complexity it doesn't work (likely when having too many parts connected to each other, to resolve the movement equations and constraints). Also found the Hinge Align Tool, barely works, at least with such a large and complex model.

But, difficulties apart, I've finished my model with a few limitations. Probably some due to my small experience with LDD real projects.

• Didn't find the PF Speed Remote in the library, thus I had to use the conventional one.
  
• Was not able to completely close the doors, because the locking bricks will overlap or stress a bit.
  In fact a different solution, but similar to that used in the original 9398 4x4 Crawler.
  
• I didn't find out how two wind a piece of rope around the winch reel, to attach the hook to the end (I simply cannot leave it hanging). Thus I ended no placing neither the rope, nor the hook.
  There might be one way, I just didn't find how.
  
• The windshield slightly differs between the brick built and LDD made versions. There is a length which is not exactly a multiple of one LEGO Unit and because of this, the two versions have 1L difference.
  Was not able to reproduce exactly the same as in the original into LDD.
  

Although, LDD is still a great tool and really hope to see some of its limitations addressed in further versions.

I've also used LDD to POV-Ray Converter, which was of major utility to produce the nice photo-realistic renders you can see at some of the images above.

Conclusion

The whole set of pictures at my flickr account.

Please support! And feel free to leave your comments (either at the respective competition page or here).

There is not much time left and this racer has just arrived to the departure line!...

what a great entry Conchas, you got mine vote.

this is a propper dakar race car

This is a really great entry. You got my vote.

Now I see, what does it means to design a set with exclusive parts. You move it to a completely different level and give an inspiration.

Edited December 13, 201212 yr by hrontos

what a great entry Conchas, you got mine vote.

this is a propper dakar race car

Love your truck versions with the spare tires on the backside too!

If this only was the original 9398 i would have bought it. Looks really awesome. Something you would drive through your livingroom sanddunes...

@ Conchas: Yours is an EXCEPTIONAL entry -- I'm sure it will garner hundreds of votes very quickly! Best of luck!

Is this a POV render or real construction?

Edited December 13, 201212 yr by rm8

Is this a POV render or real construction?

A real one, you can see paper backdrop

Supported! I think this one matches the idea of the contest the best!

Love your truck versions with the spare tires on the backside too!

Thanks Conchas

Cool creation with strong rationals! Nice!

Some people has been making questions and comments through the my entry page at the LEGO Technic website.

However I realized that I can't post there external links to support my answers, so I'll try to address some of this questions here.

Some has commented about the body blue color schema and red chassis contrast. From the physical model that I built, I feel it works nicely and produces a pleasant contrast. Others may think otherwise of course.

So I'm adding a render image from a near front view where you can see both.

One mentioned there are no real Desert Racers like this.

It doesn't need to be, as there is space for imagination and cool functions. Although they are.

Below one example of such car with the spare wheels visible from the outside and mounted on the rear top.

Unlike the other Dakar cars that usually hide them inside a fiber cover.

Let them talk Conchas, your Dunechaser looks great and in the old days off Dakar almost all cars and truks juse quick tire relase systeems just mine Daf dakar truck.

Maybe change only the tires on the chassis for the rules off the contest

i'd buy two of these!

awesome creation

Let them talk Conchas, your Dunechaser looks great and in the old days off Dakar almost all cars and truks juse quick tire relase systeems just mine Daf dakar truck.

Maybe change only the tires on the chassis for the rules off the contest

Yeap!

I used these tires as I felt they fit better with this kind of vehicle. Doesn't seem to me a very relevant break to the rules, bu we never know...

Also there is a problem. The Crawler tires are wider and two won't fit into the available space.

Of course in the end the Designers could change a lot of things to make it the way they find more adequate.

One thing that is not satisfying me, is that I need to manually remove the car rear mudguards, to be able to raise the body top and replace batteries.

Not a big deal, but would prefer that it works differently.

Didn't found a functional solution that would allow me to solve this.

WOW, OMG. Realy realy nice man. I will buy it, if it will be produced.

Hold my vote;) Conchas. Great work. Great moc, and greater description support:) Want to see it in action, especially at the ocean shoreline;)

Edited December 13, 201212 yr by rm8

Hold my vote;) Conchas. Great work. Great moc, and greater description support:) Want to see it in action, especially at the ocean shoreline;)

LOL

Nothing that I didn't thought already!... :)

Should have learned something though...

Only change the tires off the car, not the spare tires

Only change the tires off the car, not the spare tires

LOL

At least it a common solution for street cars nowadays.

As I said in the other forum I already voted. But here it is, once again, congratulations!