Blizzard Blazer Update

June 23, 2024 Leave a comment


Sometimes I need to do a small MOC to reset my creativity.

Free instructions may be found at Rebrickable.com.

I have been working on a number of MOCs for the last couple of weeks, and each of them have been stuck on some part. Sometimes when I get into this situation, it is helpful for me to put each of them aside, and design something small, simple, and quick. It helps me feel like I still have some creative ability, and satisfies the accomplisher in me.

This little tractor was the result of three days of designing and building. It was modeled off the 6524 Blizzard Blazer set from 1988, which to the best of my memory, was the first set I ever acquired. This little tractor has a simple steering design, with a HOG on the top of the cabin. Additionally, a little PTO is run off one of the rear wheels and can power an attachment. Finally, a mount for a front attachment is included, as is an attachment and hitch at the rear of the tractor.

To demonstrate the versatility of this small tractor, I built a hay wagon, and two attachments. Naturally, a little snow plow was built for the front. A little hay tedder was built for the rear which is powered by the PTO. Finally, the hay wagon connects to the rear hitch and has a steerable axle. Free instructions for the wagon are also available at Rebrickable.com.

While this is not one of the best builds I have made in the last couple of years, it served a specific function of clearing my creative head. It accomplished this. It was a fun little build, and I’m sure there will be more like it in the coming years.

Happy building.

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John Deere Gator

February 20, 2024 Leave a comment


Another little helper for the Thirdwigg Farm.

Instructions may be found at rebrickable.com.

I get ideas from all over the place, and recently I saw a little John Deere Gator at a local park, and decided that was just what the Thirdwigg Farm needed running around and moving supplies. Plus, with each passing year, the addition of new green parts, makes additional John Deere builds possible.

As I alway do, I started determining the size tires needed for the scale. I settled on the 37mm balloon tires, but this presented a problem right away. These tires, need a 18mm hub, but this wheel does not come in yellow with an axle hole. After some tinkering, I found a little solution. I would use the yellow wheels with a pin hole, and mount the wheels on a Technic Pin with Bush Stop. Not only would the bush stop be able to connect to an axle and transmit power to a fake engine, the friction connection of the pin would allow for slight slippage between the axle and each wheel to function as a differential. Quickly I was then able to add in a little one cylinder engine, and a simple suspension on the rear axle.

The front was a little easier. A simple steering rack is design, covered by the hood and a little grill guard. The HOG is mounted on the top of the roll cage, and bisects the two front seats. I took some time to get the wheel fenders to look the way I wanted while still allowing for tire clearance as they turned, but I was able to make it work by using a half stud offset.

Finally, I added simple opening doors, and a tilting rear bed. Both are simple in their design, but allow for additional play features. I’m especially proud of using Part 85940 as a stop so the rear bed does not overtip.

Big MOCs get all the glory, but it’s the smaller ones that I like and I’m most proud of. Anyone can add suspension to a car that is 31 studs wide, but figuring out how to stuff suspension, a differential, and an engine in 20 cubic studs, its what keeps me building. This little MOC was a great project, and I am so happy with all the functions I was able to include. I hope you enjoyed it too.

Happy building.

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Mini 8063

February 18, 2024 Leave a comment


Another build that harkens to an older set, and this time for a contest.

Free instructions may be found at Rebrickable.com.

I participate in a number of Technic build contests at Eurobricks.com, the TC25 contest was another one that I was excited to join. This contest asked you to rebuild a Technic set, but smaller. After selecting a couple of sets for my shortlist to explore, I went though each to determine what I had parts for, what interesting features I could keep or add, and what I would be motivated to finish. Through this process, I decided on LEGO set 8063 from 2009. After numerous tractors for the Thirdwigg Farm, I decided I would be well suited to update this tractor.

I stared with the trailer, and added suspension for the rear axles. The tipping of the bed uses a linkage so the little mini linear actuator can use its full movement to tip the bed. The control for the tipper is on the left of the hitch. A simple rear tailgate and trailer hitch support is included as well.

The tractor is similar to my other designs in that there is steering, an engine, and a rear PTO. But this tractor also included front suspension as 8063 does. To make this work, I used small 1/2 pins with a yellow round tile on the top for pistons, and ran the steering axle below the engine. The front axle is mounted on a pivot to allow for the pendular suspension. Steering is controlled by a HOG on the cabin roof. A rear PTO was added, and a three point hitch using the Thirdwigg Farm standard.

I always love building tractors, and this scale is my favorite. I would have rather used the newer tractor tires for this MOC, but it did not match the feel of 8063, so the balloon tires were used instead. All the functions worked well, and it was nice to include all the functions of the original 8063 as well. And the red and green compliment each other so well on this build. I hope you enjoyed another little tractor until I build another one.

Happy Building.

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Zero Turn Mower

May 25, 2023 Leave a comment


Sometimes I see something, and quickly turn it into a build.

Free instructions at Rebrickable.com.

Recently, there was a little John Deere zero turn mower in my neighborhood, and after building some other machines for the Thirdwigg Farm, I decided maybe a little mower for the farm would be a nice addition. A quick afternoon later, I had thrown together a little chassis and had the rough idea for the build.

For something this small, features can be difficult to add. I wanted to have mower blades connected to the drive wheels, and an engine if I could figure it out. The result was one drive wheel on the rear of the mower which powers a single cylinder engine hanging off the rear of the mower. The same drive wheel turns a couple of gears to drive two mower blades. The rotation speed is sufficient for both, and spin well with a little movement of the mower. I used the little airplane nose wheels as front casters for the mower, which resulted in a perfect ride height for the mower blades.

Then I styled for the mower. I love the look of orange parts, so that was the decision for the mower. I used the round macaroni parts for the blade guards and for the roll-over structure which gives it a playful look. A simple fender was designed and a rear bumper and the build was done. Quick and 157 parts.

I do not usually build this small, but it was a fun little project; a little palette cleanser from some of the more complicated builds that I sometimes do. We’ll see if I do more like this.

Happy Building.

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Atmos Tractor

December 19, 2020 4 Comments


I guess I am on a little bit of a tractor kick lately.

Instructions for the tractor may be found here, which links to instructions for attachments, implements, and trailers.

Atmos Tractor

I had recently rebuilt my 9393 MOD, and as I took it apart, I wondered if I could make another tractor with the same implement attachments, improve the esthetics, and use different sized front and rear wheels. Then I thought maybe a pneumatic pump would be fun. My builds as of late have become much more dynamic, in that I like to be able to quickly change them or add a feature. Tractors work great for this, as adding a new trailer or implement can change the build dramatically. Additionally, I enjoy the challenge of making a system that supports lots of additions, while retaining the mechanics that my builds have always had.

Atmos Rear

The tractor came together very quickly for me. In 10 days I went from having a size draft of the tractor to a final MOC. I used the same driveline, albeit stretched, as the 9393 MOD so the mechanical parts were easy. Direct steering is used, and goes through a rear wheel drive system that connects to a two cylinder engine. A PTO is present at the rear of tractor, but not at the front. Adding a pneumatic pump required a stronger frame which was quickly modified, as well as a hose running to an attachment point at the rear.

The bodywork took the most time; about four days. I wanted to keep a simple hood, so I kept the design of 9393. I added some headlights to dress up the front, and the interior left some room for a steering wheel. Shaping the roof and the cabin was a little tricky due to all the half-stuff offsets of the front windshield. The fenders are simple, but match well. Just like that on day ten, the tractor was done. At the time of writing, the tractor can be built in orange, lime, white, and black.

Atmos with Mower

Part of what attracts me to building tractors is all the options one can present with a tractor: implements, trailers, plows, and on and on. The design of the tractor needed to support all of these possibilities. There is a hard point on the front, a hitch on the rear, and a three-point hitch on the rear.

Once these hard points were set, I began to spice it up. It’s no secret that set 8049 is one of my favorites, and since this tractor had a pneumatic pump, I thought a forestry trailer was needed. But then I wanted a snow plow, and a hooklift loader, and a dumper, and some farming equipment. So of course I built them all. You can find links to instructions for the tractor and most of the additions in my instructions tab.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSpEaas51i4&feature=youtu.be
Atmos Tractor with Trailers

The build was great little addition to my portfolio. The system supported a lot of different trailers and implements, some of which are still coming. The design language is consistent with my other builds, and the size is right in my sweet spot. I hope you enjoyed it too. Until the next build, happy building.

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