This is my Super Crane Truck - the first that I'm really proud of. The crane is made after seeing pictures of the not yet released set with number 8421, the large crane truck from LEGO. For questions and comments, mail me at erikleppen@hotmail.com. This crane features the following: All eight wheels have independent suspension. The front two axles use the small springs. If I had four of the stiff ones (from 8435) I'd use them, but I only have two so the front axle uses weaker springs (from 8448). The rear two axles use the big springs from 8880. They are way too strong, so you have to push quite hard to push the suspension down. This was because I had almost all the small springs in use. The front two axles are steered through the two flashlights on top of the cabin. I wanted the fourth axle to have steering and the third to drive a piston engine, however the double back tyres (which I thought were needed and kinda cool too) prevented me from doing this. I could not make driven suspension so small while keeping the chassis sturdy. There are four outriggers. The crane rotation table is in the middle if the four outriggers. The outriggers can be extended in pairs, the front two and the back two are connected. I wanted to connect them all four, but there was no space left in the chassis to let axles go to the back. Unfortunately the turning wheels for the outriggers are on unhandy spots, but only LEGO models are perfect, aren't they? At least there's a reason to make another mobile crane in the future. Another thing is that the outriggers do NOT lift the wheels off the ground. The crane has actually the same functions as 8460's. The crane can rotate, extend and has a hook that can be lowered and raised. There are a few differences. First, the new flat turntable is used. That was not intended, but it fitted perfectly so I did use it. That is the reason that there is a bit of studless used around the turntable and in the superstructure. Unfortunately I couldn't get it very sturdy, so there is much slack. If anyone can make it better without making it uglier, please tell me. Second, I used three pneumatic cylinders instead of two, just because the crane is longer and heavier. I did only connect tubes to the side that extends the cylinders because there's no air pressure needed to lower the crane. Third, the turning wheel for the rotation of the superstructure is on the superstructure itself, because there was no room in the chassis. I know, I keep saying there is no room in the chassis, but the suspension and double tyres are taking a lot of space. Fourth, and most noticable, there are three booms, so there are two extending points. I spent a while thinking how to make the two parts extend simultaneously, and this was what I came up with: the turning wheel is on the first extending part, that is the middle boom. Now I know that 8421 uses a chain, but at the time I didn't know. There are still a few things the crane doesn't have. Next time I want the fourth axle to be steered and the third axle to drive a piston engine. Therefore I will probably have to remove the double back tyres. The chassis can then maybe be widened by a few studs, which makes place for axles for the outriggers and turntable. I think I'll see first how LEGO solved all these problems in 8421. The pictures show the following: Picture 01: the entire truck from the left; Picture 02: the entire truck from the left front; Picture 03: the cabin; Picture 04: the small cabin next to the crane; Picture 05: the yellow stripes, which are made up of yellow and black plates; Picture 06: the rope pulley. I used the string of 8460, but I recommend a longer one if you have one; Picture 07: the turning wheels for the outriggers; Picture 08: the base of the superstructure; Picture 09: one of the flashlight that steer the front two axles; Picture 10: a view through the superstructure; Picture 11: a view from underneath, which shows how thin the chassis is and shows the suspension; Picture 12: a side view with the crane raised; Picture 13: the end of the crane, extended a little to view the three booms; Picture 14: the crane is fully extended. It only bends very little, I'm happy with the result; Picture 15: the three pneumatic cylinders, which are unfortunately not exactly in-line when the crane is raised; Picture 16: the three pneumatic cylinders again; Picture 17: the second boom and part of the third, so you can see how they connect; Picture 18: an extended outrigger. When the crane is faced sideways, fully extended and lifting something, the other end outriggers can come off the ground. I don't like this, so in a next effort, I'll try to change the outriggers too; Picture 19: this is what an ant would see; Picture 20: this is what that ant's brother would see; Picture 21: part of the superstructure; Picture 22: front half of the chassis from underneath, you can see the steering mechanism and the suspension; Picture 23: rear half of the chassis from underneath, you can see the suspension; Picture 24: front half of the chassis from underneath; Picture 25: rear half of the chassis from underneath; Picture 26: how the front wheels areconnected to the suspension, making them able to steer; Picture 27: a non-extended outrigger. Again, for questions or comments, please email to erikleppen@hotmail.com