With valuable help from Zblj. The goal was to get a decent performance while changing as little as possible. No doubt can be done better by changing more.

That performs better than expected! Awesome that you included instructions as well, thanks.

I like the mods! You should continue mods and make an ultimate 42029

Thanks, but that's my only one. I'll leave 42029 to folks with more time on their hands :)

I like the mods! You should continue mods and make an ultimate 42029

Could this be a future topic, "MOD your 42029".

H

That's awesome.

You answered a lot of questions about full RC. Is there room for two IR receivers, so that tipping can be by remote also?

Maybe if you removed one seat from the cabin.

Any recomendations for good aftermarket wheels? I want better grip.

Good morning & evening,

I'm new to this Internet forum and must confess that the last time I built with LEGO was when PONG was the #1 video game for the home - 1974 or something like that. The issue is that I ordered the topic title's set for one of my sons and know for sure that, once it's built, he'll want to have that thing motorised in order to give it a spin outdoors. I dutifully watched some of this forum's members' videos (humbled by the sheer brilliance and imagination shown), but I'm still altogether in the dark as to what parts I must order in order to survive the motorisation ordeal sure to follow right after Boxing Day.

From what I gleaned, one should use the mightiest motor for the power train and a motor for the steering, apart from the remote control ancillaries. But - what else? How should I go about this? A gazillion of parts could be needed in order to find the right ones for the intended modifications, but not having touched LEGO for four decades, there is no big stock of parts to comb through for the right bits. I could buy a bagload of what look like necessary parts, of course, hoping the right ones present themselves therein, but most probably, that essential sprocket or whatever will surely be missing.

I'm not after a step-by-step instruction - that would be cheating and boring and remove all the joy for my son and myself - but some hints as to where to look and what to look out for would be very much appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance!

Edited December 1, 201410 yr by Useless User

Short of step-by-step instructions, it is pretty hard for anyone to tell you exactly what you'll need. Your best bet is to have a wide selection of parts on hand, and the way to do that is have a big collection. If you bought one of the big motorized sets you'd almost certainly have enough of whatever you needed to motorize 42029.

Apart from that, you could try building digitally. Download Lego Digital Designer first. If you are really feeling ambitious, build 42029 right there in the computer to familiarize yourself with the software. Otherwise just download the file from the database here on Eurobricks and then take it from there.

Sariel has a nice video on how to motorize it. I'm not sure how to embed a video, but here's the link

If it's an option, get 9398, it's on sale at Toys-R-Us ($160 or so). It should have all the motors you need, plus a collection of spare/additional parts.

Also, keep in mind that the 'new' technic is not the same as 40 years ago ... different buliding methods and a whole different set of parts.

Edited December 1, 201410 yr by DrJB

Thanks!

Well, I'm not so much of a "digital 3D builder" kind of person… I need to see and touch things. It's old school and boring but I'm ok with that. In my time, there was no LEGO Technic the way I remember it. Nevertheless, it really looks like there's no way around a reasonable collection of spare parts for us to begin with, but buying a 9398 only to harvest it for spares for a Christmas present half the price feels a bit over the top? I watched the video mentioned above (very enticing, looks ever so easy) and others I found; maybe I have to look closer to understand and identify what needs to be bought; sometimes, kids are much better figuring out what it's all about. Maybe I'm back in four weeks, if we hit a wall, which is almost certain, as beginners, I suppose.

I put the steering motor under the engine myself, the steering axle connects directly to the steering motor.

The 42029 is one of the best models to customize so use lego digital designer and buy some misc technic elements.

You should learn things by experimentation.

Not trying to convince you one way or another, but just giving you one perspective. You could of course buy the motors separately along with the battery box and the IR Receiver. From the Lego website, those are:

2x Large Motor - $28.00

1x Servo Motor - $25.00

1x Battery Box - $13.00

1x IR Receiver - $15.00

For a total of $81.00 + Tax and Shipping ... Let's say $95.00

But then, you may need some additional parts to motorize the truck, not sure which are those but there are sites (e.g. Rebrickable) that can tell you which parts you need.

Have Fun.

Much appreciated!

This is not the Internet forum to discuss parenthood, but let me say just this: Kids are very hasty these days and experience a much shortened attention span; I hope LEGO building will put back some persevearance back into the game. That said, to begin with, I now ordered

1 x truck 42029 - €70

1 x remote 8879 - €15

1 x receiver 8884 - €17

1 x battery box 88000 - €14

2 x large motors 8882 - €24

1 x servo motor 88004 - €25

which should arrive just in time for Boxing Day. Luckily, I found what appears to be a LEGO aficionado shop in town, where we could, presumably, buy all the ancillary parts as we find out missing. I very much hope to entice my oldest (10) to building and inventing rather than simply consuming ready-made toys as seems custom these days. This will be a fun endeavour!

Edited December 2, 201410 yr by Useless User

You may need more than just those, gears, axles, pins and connectors will be needed to integrate the motors, though that shop might help, 2 L motors should be more than powerful enough, the servo might be hard to find a home for, there is one flaw with your choices, you are probably getting a V1 receiver which from what I've heard, cannot supply enough current for 2 Ls, i like the idea of encouraging your kid to modify it himself though.

Thanks for your input!

Yes, we have to fail to learn; learning to fail better means learning faster not to fail worse. I'm almost sure, he'll figure it out much faster than I. It is just plain amazing what kids achieve with this book, for example. I probably have to buy that one, too.

Edited December 2, 201410 yr by Useless User

Much appreciated!

This is not the Internet forum to discuss parenthood, but let me say just this: Kids are very hasty these days and experience a much shortened attention span; I hope LEGO building will put back some persevearance back into the game. That said, to begin with, I now ordered

1 x truck 42029 - €70

1 x remote 8879 - €15

1 x receiver 8884 - €17

1 x battery box 88000 - €14

2 x large motors 8882 - €24

1 x servo motor 88004 - €25

which should arrive just in time for Boxing Day. Luckily, I found what appears to be a LEGO aficionado shop in town, where we could, presumably, buy all the ancillary parts as we find out missing. I very much hope to entice my oldest (10) to building and inventing rather than simply consuming ready-made toys as seems custom these days. This will be a fun endeavour!

I did not realize prices were higher in EU ... must be all the extra taxes (TVA?). In any event, I fully agree about the parenting comment. If I may share my experience. I started my son with Technic at 5 ... after so many sets (and $$$), I guess he's had so much of it that now (he's 10), that he does not want to touch it anymore. My point is, try to go slowly and do not buy all YOU think he's going to need ... and see whether he's curious for more or want to try something different. Kids have a very short attention span, and there is no point investing in many lego sets if they're not interested ... unless of course you're one of the AFOLs who just use their kids as an 'excuse' to buy more lego, and I assure you many of us are just like that. Happy building :)

Thanks!

Well, indeed, inching forward slowly does the trick. In the worst case, If he eventually tires of it - too early to tell - I could always start where I stopped 40 years ago ツ

Thanks!

Well, indeed, inching forward slowly does the trick. In the worst case, If he eventually tires of it - too early to tell - I could always start where I stopped 40 years ago ツ

Hehe ... All the best on that journey, I assure you, it's lots of fun.

Just a quick question: For outdoor driving fun, should I buy two L or rather two XL motors? From some videos I saw, it looks like two L motors will result in rather sluggish performance and two XL motors will fit in the front?

I shall be using 6 Sanyo HR-3U 2700 mAh rechargeable batteries and hope there'll be power left for the servo steering motor and LED lights.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

Edited December 4, 201410 yr by Useless User

The battery pack is able to supply power through multiple channels at once, they will be fine as long as they are not severely discharged, good luck stuffing two XL motors in there though mine has one XL in it and its fine with only a slight gear reduction unfortunately it can't handle off roading because its only 2 wheel drive.

Thanks!

I watched some online videos showing two XL motors fitted, that is why I thought: mo' torque, mo' fun! I'm near sure my son wants to take it for a spin at the backyard playground. A lame motorisation might not do the trick. If we fail fitting two XLs, I shall post a photo how we failed, so others can fail better (= succeed). I'm almost tempted to buy another LEGO Technic vehicle to "harvest" the necessary spares one likely needs to accomplish all RC/drivetrain modifications. As beginner, we won't have a clue as to which spares to buy from a brick shop - a full kit might yield all one needs? How do you builders handle that issue - modify and notice what could be missing, then wait week by week for single bricks to arrive, or do you "harvest" full kits, because you never know what could be needed in the first place? A live axle modification would be good for starters...

The 42029 arrived today, now hidden until Boxing Day. I'd like to assemble the kit myself, looks just too much fun!

Edited December 4, 201410 yr by Useless User