42100 Model B – Vibroseis Vehicle

An alternate model of the #42100 Lego Technic set, featured motorized drive and articulated steering, operated vibrator, fake engine with speed control, pendular tracks and central articulation, with openable elements, remoted control with PoweredUp or Brickcontroller2 app and building instructions.

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Direct purchase of the instructions (Tracked Version, wheeled Version, 42100 other alternate : tracked carrier)

42100 Model D – Container Handling Vehicle
15,00 36,00  -Excl. Tax
An alternate model of the #42100 LEGO Technic set - Liebherr R 9800, as a Container Handling Vehicle. With motorized functions : All Track Drive with articulated tracks, steering with working steering wheel, 2-section container arm, locking container device, remote controlled with PoweredUp App. Manual functions : tilting cabin, openable hood and doors with automatic ladders. PDF Instructions for sale with PoweredUp App Tutorial included.
42100 Model C – Tracked Carrier
15,00 36,00  -Excl. Tax
An alternate model of the #42100 LEGO Technic set - Liebherr R 9800, as a heavy tracked carrier. With motorized functions : tracks, outriggers, rotating and operating crane, fake engine with speed control, remote controlled with PoweredUp App, and with openable elements and playable loads.
42100 Model B – Vibroseis Tracked Vehicle
15,00 36,00  -Excl. Tax
An alternate model of the #42100 LEGO Technic set - Liebherr R 9800. Features : motorized drive and articulated steering, operated vibrator, fake engine with speed control, pendular tracks and central articulation. With openable elements, remoted control with PoweredUp or Brickcontroller2 app and building instructions.

Context

In the 42100 Review I have posted here, I wrote : “The design choices made the inventory specific and hard to re-use without having other set.” Indeed, it was very difficult to find something good to do with this large inventory almost a year after the release. Why ? Because other builders have published cool creations like a snow groomer of a bulldozer. Each time I have these ideas in mind and had to change my plan because I was too slow to release the creation before. Therefore I have searched a new idea to do and find this exotic vehicle : a Vibroseis Tracked Vehicle

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This vehicle is used in oil and gas exploration, by making the ground vibrated with a large vibrator. The vibrations propagated in the ground, bounce off the internal elements and are picked up in return by sensors on the ground in order to create a 3D map of the underground resource.  In consequence, the model is equipped with large tracks for rough surface with articulated suspensions. But also a large diesel engine and oil pump with massive cooler at the rear. It results in a rugged and adventurous look which fits well the Lego field. I present you here the Lego interpretation of this vehicle.

Functions

The functions were very important for this set. I wanted to make something more playable than the slow functions of the original 42100 and use all the motors. Considering the scale, it was not easy to put in 7 motors in it. Here is the layout :

The first group of functions is the drive and steering. The drive is operated by two XL motors, on for each axle. They are placed as low as possible to keep the center of gravity lower, and power the track with 12/20 – 12/36 gears. The Articulated steering is operated by a L motor placed on the rear, which drives two small linear actuators. Each tracks are mounted on a small turntable to create pendular tracks with end stops, and the central articulation has a longitudinal pendular pivot using a cradle construction and placed as low as possible to have a better stability.

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The second group of functions is linked to the vibrator. A L motor placed on the rear drives two big linear actuators though linear clutches, which make going down/up the vibrator assembly. Then a L motor placed on the center and attached to the assembly makes rotate at high speed an eccentric mass to create the vibrator functions. 

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Next functions is a front winch. It is operated by a L motor placed between the two seats and drive the winch with 12/20 – 8/24 gears. The rope used is the only one part which is not in the set but every rope/cord/string of about 50cm can be used. 

Design

The last functions is linked to the design, as it is the fake engine. This engine as the particularity to be massive on this vehicle in real life, as it powers the vehicle on rough surface using hydraulic machinery but also the vibrator and actuators. That is why I wanted to make a dedicated functions for this one, in a realistic look. The fake V8 engine is powered by a dedicated XL motor placed at the rear which drives also the 4 fans on the big rear cooler. It gives the possibility to make running the engine even if the model do not move, like idle or in charge function using the possibility of proportional control.

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I wanted also to add the maximum of details on this engine to make a powerful and detailed look, like the exhaust, turbochargers, fan cooler but also hoses connected to the different actuators.

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The rear cooler can also be opened to see the drivetrain of the fans and some details. The front doors can be opened to see a detailed interior with seats, control and dashboard. To finish, the whole model is equipped with details like ladder, guardrail, mirror and light. You can note also that both control+ hub are removable to change the battery which were not the case on my 42082 D model.

Conclusion

Considering the scale of this creation which makes a 52cm length, but only 19cm width, 21cm height, and 2.4kg, it was not easy to put all the motors and functions (especially the pendular articulated steering), but I am very happy with the result, which gives a nice vehicle in a homogeneous design. The overall look can be weird, but it represents the industrial interpretation of functions before design. On the playability side, I am very happy with the result, as it is my first creation with new control+ motors.  I have used Brickcontroller2 + Bluetooth gamepad for control it, and this is marvellous. This a dream from 10 years ago to use a responsive physical gamepad to control remotely a Lego creations, instead of using infrared which have delay and does not work well in sunlight. I will certainly re-use this type of control for future creations. Of course, if you do not have a Bluetooth controller, you can use the PoweredUp App tutorial, you only need a compatible smartphone.

 

Pictures and Video

You can also see the Design secrets of this creation which is a condensed spoken English video of the article. (youtube)

Building Instructions

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Of course as it is an alternate model, I had to make the building instructions ! 405 pages for 2387 parts. As usual, the instructions are step by step high resolution computer generated instructions with partlist, color coded cable with layout, flexible parts in the same way as official Lego one. It also includes two step by step tutorial PDF to configurate the model for PoweredUp app (gamepad not required) or Brickcontroller2 app (gamepad required) (available for Android and iOS). Please ensure you first that you smarpthone is compatible with the app and test it on your 42100.

Regarding the bill of material, as an alternate model, if you own the #42100 Lego set, you have all the needed parts. But you can checked the exact bill of material on Rebrickable and export in whatever format you want :

Want to know if you can build the 42100 Model B – Vibroseis Tracked Vehicle ? The model has been indexed to rebrickable, check it !

 
You can buy the instructions on the shop for 15€. You can also buy other building instructions and get an automated discount, 15% off for 2 PDF, and 20% off for 3 PDF on the total). The automated discount is available for all the instructions for sale on nico71.fr. You may be interested by the other alternate I have done with the 42100 sets : the Tracker Carrier, or the wheeled version of the vibroseis trucks.

See them on the shop :

42100 Model C – Tracked Carrier
15,00 36,00  -Excl. Tax
An alternate model of the #42100 LEGO Technic set - Liebherr R 9800, as a heavy tracked carrier. With motorized functions : tracks, outriggers, rotating and operating crane, fake engine with speed control, remote controlled with PoweredUp App, and with openable elements and playable loads.
42100 Model B – Vibroseis Tracked Vehicle
15,00 36,00  -Excl. Tax
An alternate model of the #42100 LEGO Technic set - Liebherr R 9800. Features : motorized drive and articulated steering, operated vibrator, fake engine with speed control, pendular tracks and central articulation. With openable elements, remoted control with PoweredUp or Brickcontroller2 app and building instructions.

After your payment, you will be redirected to a page for downloading your instructions, and will receive also the link to download by email. Please check the spam box and be patient to receive it. If you have trouble to download your copy of the PDF after payment or open the document, do not make a paypal dispute, please contact me using the contact form. The link to download the instructions expires within 24h. Contact me if you have lost your instructions. Note that you can print it, but not copy or distribute. Thank you for supporting my work 🙂

Here is some preview of the building instructions :

Changelog :
28/01/21 : First Revision
04/02/21 : Revision on page 215 for easier cabling of the vibrator motor, no change on the parlist

12/07/21 : removing buwizz file as buwizz no longer support the Control+ Technic Hub, and adding a Tutorial for the official Lego app : PoweredUp to replace the buwizz profile.

 

(6) Comments

    […] loads more to see of this remarkable creation at Nico71’s website by clicking here – where building instructions can also be found so you can use this giant vibrator for yourself […]

    Wow ! J’avais déjà acheté vos trois précédente créations qui ce font avec les pièces de la grue rouge tout terrain !

    J’ai envie de me procurer celui là wow !!

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