Tow Truck -------------------------------- This magnificent Tow Truck MOC is the work of grazi ( http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=74562). It is clearly based on the general look of the 5571 Black Cat rig, but it expands on the original in every way. Besides being much bigger, it is packed with Technic functions. It is even larger and more functional than the 8285 Technic Tow Truck and has many more pieces. Putting together the parts for this and cleaning up the MPD files was a huge undertaking. I modelled in such a way that the configuration can be easily changed so that any of the functions can be shown as stowed or deployed correctly. The list of features on this is long: - Front Wheels: Steer via HOG through several u-joints. Entire front axle is pendular from front ball joint and sprung in the rear allowing for both vertical motion and roll. Steering linkage telescopes to accomodate the suspension travel. A u-joint is used as a slip fitting. A lateral link is used to prevent rotation of the entire assembly. - Rear Wheels: Dual rear axles each with dual tires. Entire 8 wheel assembly is pendular front/back and side/side. Each individual corner is also sprung on a longitudinal swing arm. Two rear differentials. - Mid Wheels: Can lift or deploy via pneumatics. Two sides share a common pneumatic source so they are self-balancing. - Engine: V-6 located under opening hood. Connected via drive shaft to rear differentials. Drive shaft takes a circuitous non-linear path through the body to avoid mechanisms in the way. - Crane: Lifts via 4 pneumatic cylinders arranged in pairs end-to-end. Telescopes via an electric motor geared down immensely. - Winch: Dual drive winch driven by an electric motor. 2 hooks. - Rear Pad: Liftarm raises via a pair of pneumatic cylinders. Pad folds out via pneumatic cylinder. - Outriggers: Dual rear outriggers deploy via pneumatic cylinders. Powerful enough to lift rear of vehicle. - Compressor: Driven by dual motors and dual cylinders hidden in sleeper. Power cut-off by pressure regulator using a cylinder and pole reverser. Compressor feeds hidden air tank. - Body: Hook opens by pivoting forward. Doors open. Cab includes coffee maker, television, gauges, steering wheel, and seats. Sleeper includes tool kits and skylights. Fuel tanks hide the battery box. - Control Panel: Left side contains a hidden control panel with 2 pole-reverser electrical switches and 5 pneumatic switches. - Statistics: Over 4000 parts. 12 pneumatic cylinders, 2 pneumatic compressor pumps, 5 pneumatic switches, 1 airtank, over 20 T-fittings. 4 Electric motors (2 high speed, 2 low speed). 12 rare Black Cat wheels and tires. I've included a parts list in case anyone would like to procure the parts to reproduce one of these like I did. I made a number of renders of this model which are described below: - 1.jpg: This angled shot uses perspective to show the great bulk of this vehicle. I utilized both the LGEO library and a number of Anton Raves' parts. Lighting uses the Eucalyptus Grove HDR light source, radiosity, and a large area light. - 2.jpg: In this case I just used a white sky sphere with radiosity. I placed mirrors behind and below the model so you can see all sides including the details underneath. The following rnders are part of a 3-view (or more) I made to show the model from every angle. All used quick radiosity with a white sky sphere and no other light. - back.jpg: Can see large rear wheels. Outriggers are stowed. Can see at least 4 pneumatic cylinders in the internals. - bottom.jpg: Can see front and rear swing arm suspension, battery box, air tank, and differentials. - front.jpg: Can see chrome stacks, hood ornament, grille, bumper. Notice low ground clearance between wheels. - iso.jpg: Self explanatory. - left.jpg: All features stowed. Note rare black crown gear on boom. - right.jpg: All features deployed. Hood open, crane raised and telescoped, pad opened and lifted, mid wheels lowered, outriggers down. - top.jpg: Can see skylights in sleeper and pole reversers on lower center of image. The following two images were made to show the relative scale of the tow truck with the 5571 Black Cat Rig. - double.jpg: Iso view of both models. Plain floor, default lights with radiosity. Blue sky sphere gives all chrome a blue reflection. - double3.jpg: Sky sphere with clouds for background. Ground uses granite with a turbulence applied to look like sand. Each truck has a small amber light in the cabin so the internals will be illuminated. High overhead area light. Finally, electric_schematic.jpg shows a color coded representation of the wiring. Note that this is not the same wiring diagram used by grazi. Battery box (yellow) goes to splitter. Pink goes to pressure regulator. Pressure regulator output (red and blue) feeds the motors for the compressor in parallel. Green wire from splitter feeds both pole reversers. Orange and tan wires run switched crane motors. - Blakbird 2009