2019

December 31, 2019 1 Comment


The final year of the decade closed here in thirdwiggville. As in years past, I am creating fewer MOCs than in years past, but with each completion, I am happy with the result. For 2019, I completed the following: Hunter Mk.III, John Deere 6130R, LEGO 42098 Car MOD, Iveco Skip Loader, Porsche 911 RS, and the 8081 110.

Again, I would have liked to complete a few more builds during a year, but I did increase from 2018, and small win.

Of the 2018 goals, here is what I accomplished:

  • A tractor (completed)
  • Car (Yep, two, and another tomorrow)
  • Skip loader truck (completed)
  • Something PF (Nope)
  • Another contest build (completed, Hunter MK. III)
  • An LMP car (Nope, but something is in the works)

I was very pleased with the Deere and the Skip Loader projects. Both were started in MID 2018, so it was nice to complete them. Both received lots of praise, which I was happy with.  I hope to create a couple more implements for the Deere before I take it apart. I was also great to do another 8081 MOD. Maybe more… Last year’s 3T Sports Sedans turned out a great, and Thirdwiggs Motors will be release another car tomorrow to flesh out the offerings a little more. Hopefully another MOC can be added in 2020.

For the third year in a row, I have completed only Bricklink.com order per month. My volume of parts is not expanding very quickly any longer, which is a great exercise in restraint. I only bought one set last year. I started using LEGO’s Pick-a-brick in 2018, and I am finding this more useful. Late in the year LEGO purchased Brinklink, and I am a little concerned about the changes that are coming. Bricklink.com has been one of the most significant websites to me, and I hope it will continue to be so.

For 2020 here are my goals:

  • Another Unimog!!!!
  • Something PF
  • An excavator
  • A mini helicopter
  • An LMP car
  • Thirdwigg Motors first EV!
  • 7 completed builds

My life is busy, so we will see how long I keep making MOCs. I am still motivated, and enjoy the builds. As always, check The Queue to see what’s coming. On to 2020, and another decade. Happy building.

 

Filed under Planning

8081 110

December 15, 2019 2 Comments


I have made it clear on a number of occations that I love LEGO set 8081. To celebrate this little unloved set, I created another MOD of this set.

Full gallery may be found here.

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A couple of years ago I did my first MOD of 8081, the 8081 4×4. It was the same bodywork of 8081, but I added 4 wheel drive, a front mounted V-8, and rear seats. It was a substantive change to the set. Likewise this MOD is so different from the first set, I am not sure if this is a MOD, or a MOC. I keep the design features of 8081, but not much from the original set still remains.

I took from front end of the 8081 4×4 which mounted the V-8, and the front bumper. Then I lengthened the chassis to accommodate a 4 stud longer wheelbase. The rear axle is the same, but the front axle needed to be modified to handle the increased weight of the truck. The center differential powers the V-8.

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Both axles are live axles that are suspended with a hard spring at each corner. Each axle has two stabilizing links on the bottom, and a Panhard rod for each. Steering is on the front axle. Combined with the Fischertechnik tires, the truck has significant suspension articulation.

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I added the bodywork last, but this did not take long as much of the design work followed themes determined by set 8081, though the pickup body style was planned from the beginning. The truck looked too big and black when I was done, so I added the roof rack/roll cage, the running boards, and a bull bar (though its little clunky).

The truck works well, and looks pretty tough. The suspension works much better than the first 8081 4×4. The new wheel hubs help the front a lot. Also the front suspension is better supported laterally than the first iteration. The Fischertechnik tires work great on this model, and while not LEGO parts, they are quickly becoming a favorite addition to my builds.

Throughout the whole project I kept asking myself, when is a build a MOD, and when is it a MOC. This project felt a lot like the later, but still connects to 8081.

Happy Building.

Filed under Cars, MODs Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Porsche 911RS

December 7, 2019 2 Comments


There is a part of me that finds LEGO 42098 a little gimmicky: buy this truck that fits 5 cars but comes with 1 so you you build or buy more to fill the truck. But, these wheel arches are so awesome that I am going to do just that.

Full gallery including instructions may found here.

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After a rough first draft it was clear I was going to be able to steering and a Flat 6 into the car at a scale that would work for 42098, so most of the early work was on figuring out the shape of the car. I knew the car was going to be orange, and I wanted the little ducktail spoiler, so I modeled the car after the 964 version of the Porsche 911. The rear differential is placed two studs in front of the rear axle to allow for more room for the rear engine. I kept the normal LEGO engine parts rather than an axle engine like in 42098. The steering is simple in all in front of the driveline.

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The body work continued to take the most time. I used a great 911 MOC from Paave for many ideas including the seats and the front hood. Eventually, it all came together, after a lot of work on the doors, the roof, and the rear deck. The 911 is a beautiful car and getting all the details is so tricky. I almost feel bad for how critical I was of LEGO 42056. Almost…

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One thing you will notice is my use of both the 43mm and the 49mm tires for the rear of the car. I go back and forth on which ones I like best. Also, there was no way is was going to use the skinny 43mm tires for the front. They look silly.

This little car worked great, and functioned as intended. The shaping was off a little particularly with the rear quarter panels, the roofline, and the front headlights. But the shape of the 911 is so iconic that get all the details that have been refine over 50ish years is tricky. Either way if fits on the back of 42098.

Happy building.

Filed under Cars Tagged with , , , , , , , ,