NXT Hauler v2 Finally up!

I finally got around to putting photos of the NXT Hauler v2 on the MyROTFL site. Just go to the Albums section to see the photos. Overall I like the v2 at least as much as the v1, but because of the nature of how the trailer is connected to the cab (via a Technic Turntable, and the heavy NXT cables) I do not feel the model turns very well. Next think I will try various implementations of using a caster like the one Brian Davis designed several years ago to eliminate the trailer wheels.

Until Later,

If Life Gives You LEGO®, Build ROBOTS!

Andy

NXT Hauler v1 Complete

I completed the NXT Hauler a few days ago, but I just got around to putting up the photos on an album page on the MyROTFL site. Go to the Albums section to see more photos of my NXT Hauler.

Overall this was a fun and project and I learned a number of things about rearranging a model to do a NXT conversion. But because of the NXT in the trailer and the wires necessary to run the motors the trailer does not go up and down.

I have since removed the linear actuator and motor and shortened the trailer to make version 2 of the NXT Hauler. I will post photos as soon as I take them.

Until later,

If life gives you LEGO®, build ROBOTS!

Andy D

Progress Photos

Here are a few photos to show the progress of my NXT Hauler.

The first photo shows my reference model and the NXT Hauler cab. You can see that the hood is a little longer and wrap around bumper is a little longer and wider than the "stock" 8264.

The second photo is a close-up of the right side of the cab of NXT 8264.

The last is of the left side of the cab so you can see the NXT servo motor more clearly.

Back to work,

If life gives you LEGO®, build ROBOTS!

Andy D

First Construction Post!

My goal was to get started on this BLOG (and companion web site) during the first quarter and I’m a whole month early!

A few of days ago I started a new model. I decided I wanted to make a NXT powered model inspired by the 8264 Hauler. I like the way the cab portion of the model looks. I had long since disassembled the model to use the parts on other models (long since disassembled as well) so I decided to build the cab out of grey and other light colors to use as a reference as to how the NXT motors would fit. I also decided I wanted to use more yellow that was in the original model so I purchased about 50 yellow beams and lift-arms of various sizes to get started. Purchased from “Little Plastic Bricks” store on Bricklink, I’ve had a good experience with "Little Plastic Bricks", I hope you do too!

I quickly discovered that the NXT servo-motors would make the cab wider and longer than the 8264 so my choice to make a reference model was a good one. I am tying to keep some sections of the model at the same dimensions as the 8264 as much as possible and only making things different where they need to be to accommodate the NXT pieces. It seems easier to compare the NXT model at each stage of construction to the reference model and make adjustments a couple of studs wider, a couple of studs longer.

Back to work!

If life gives you LEGO®, build ROBOTS!

Andy D

Coming soon!

MyROTFL is coming soon. Well as soon as I get some more free time in the first quarter (I hope) of 2010. Everything is in place, now I just need to do the work.

If life gives you LEGO®, build ROBOTS!

Andy