[WIP] White Motorized Excavator

[fresko]

Hi all!

I'll sumbit my alternate 42004 excavator soon as possible, once I got some time. It are busy days, and making the instructions is more difficult then I tought.

Anyway, here is a WIP where that I have been developed for a long time, after my Red Mini excavator.

I tought it could be motorized better, or rather remote controlled better at that scale. And we all know: Remote control at small scale = (m)LA instead of pneumatics. Building in 3 or 4 motorized valves isn't feasible in a 12 studs wide space.

In the first place I just wanted to do some small changes to my Red Mini Excavator, and 'converse' it into a full motorized version. It turns out quickly the 'superstructure' of that excavator wasn't a good base.

It has the same functions as the ultimate 8043, or as many other motorized excavators.

-Driving (2 M-motors)

-Boom raising and lowering (1 M-motor, 2 mLA)

-2nd Section of the boom (1 M-motor, 1 mLA)

-3th Section of the boom (1 M-motor, 1 mLA)

-Turning (1 M-motor, with worm, gear ratio 1/46,6)

As battery box I first tought about the rechargeable Battery Box, but it turned out it was to big. Instead of that one, I used the smaller 9V Battery Box (with the aluminium foil trick for powering the receivers).

I hope it will last a little while and it won't run out fast.

History:

The first thing I did, from the 'conversion' of the prevoious excavator was changing the pneumatic cylinders to mLA's. In the first case I used a single mLA for the raising and lowering of the boom. Later I replaced it with 2 mLA's for a more realistic look.

To motorize those functions I had to chose between M-motors or Mini motors .

I was in doubt because I tought M-motors are a bit long (6 studs), while Mini motors are only 4 studs long. On the other hand Mini motors are 4 studs wide, while the M-motors are only 3 studs wide. I was afraid the excavator would be too long, because the behind the motors would I need to place the battery box and receivers, which toke about 8-9 studs. I made the decision to use M-motors, to simplyfy the design of the side bodywork.

Because I had to place 3 receivers, 1 battery box and 3 motors in the superstructure, the most logical choise was to place the turning motor in the undercarriage. It seems the receivers and their cables sometimes block the turntable, which has 'dramatic consequenses': the undercarriage is pulled apart, trought the worm screw.

What I still need to do:

-The boom (color, firmness, 3th section)

-The weight distribution of the superstructure (so it doesn't 'hang over')

-A cabine (at the right scale - any suggestions?)

-The turning system (especially the wormscrew)

-Give the backside of the excavator a more realistic look (eventually with lights)

And to end...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsyRDvk1JaA

If you have any suggestions, questions or comments, don't hesitate to say!

Fresko

(more images in my Brickshelf folder, when made public)

[tibivi]

I think its nice , those functions in a relatively small package

[Lakop]

You've packed a lot into this one.

H