Home > Military, Truck Trial > RG-35 4×4

RG-35 4×4

August 22nd, 2011 Leave a comment Go to comments

Model of a South African MRAP vehicle. Features pendular suspension, 4×4 drive, 2-speed gearbox and lights.  

Datasheet:

Completion date: 18/08/2011
Power: electric (Power Functions)
Dimensions: length 41 studs / width 24 studs / height 22 studs
Weight: 2.074 kg
Suspension: pendular
Propulsion: 1 x PF XL geared 4.2:1 (low gear) / 2.5:1 (high gear)
Motors: 1 x PF XL, 3 x PF Medium

RG-35 4×4 is a modern small MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle developed by BAE Systems South Africa as a smaller variant of base RG-35 6×6. It belongs to the second generation of the MRAP vehicles, which means that it combines high level of crew protection with impressive off-road capabilities. It was introduced in the first half of 2011, which means that it’s just starting to enter service, with the Canadian Army considering a massive order.

The model was built primarily to test the wheels and gear blocks from the 8110 Unimog set. It consisted of a short, fully studless chassis enclosed in a studfull body. Both axles had pendular suspension with 4 short shock absorbers on the rear, and 4 long shock absorbers on the front axle. The front axle had a Medium motor for steering integrated into it. The 8110’s set ball joints were used to attach axles to the chassis, as I expected them to support at least part of model’s weight thus reducing the friction on the driveshaft. Both axles also included differentials, as I expected them to be necessary for a vehicle with that short wheelbase. However, the presence of the differentials had a bad impact on model’s off-road capabilities.

The chassis, despite being very short and housing tall suspension modules, housed a remotely controlled 2-speed linear gearbox, a straight six piston engine with a separate Medium motor to drive it, and it even housed a motorized front winch unit until I decided to remove it to lower the model’s centre of gravity – and all of this with the right side of the hull recessed to accommodate for a spare wheel. The model had to weight at least 2 kg to be allowed to an outdoor Truck Trial race, and I achieved this weight by adding approximately 0.25 kg using weighed bricks. They were located at the very bottom of the body, thus lowering model’s centre of gravity.

The model turned out to have very soft suspension and additionally I have somehow mistaken the set-up of the gears in the drivetrain, resulting in an unusually low gear reduction. The latter rendered the model practically unable to drive outdoors, and it was eventually destroyed in an accident while I was driving it downhill. The short chassis was a disadvantage when climbing or descending, and the model tumbled forward over its front wheel and crashed.

I believe the model had a great potential, excellent ground clearance and one of the most effective chassis I’ve ever built. This potential was wasted due to my simple error in drivetrain’s construction and due to disadvantages of its short wheelbase.

Work in progress photos:

1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg

Photos:

1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg dsc05168.jpg dsc05180.jpg dsc05184.jpg dsc05187.jpg dsc05195.jpg dsc05203.jpg dsc05204.jpg dsc05209.jpg dsc05213.jpg dsc05223.jpg dsc05227.jpg dsc05230.jpg original1.jpg original2.jpg original3.jpg originalversions.jpg

Video:

Categories: Military, Truck Trial Tags: , , ,
  1. Sariel
    October 13th, 2014 at 20:00 | #1

    @Artwodeetwo
    1. Yes.
    2. I’ve made plenty of 6×6’s already.

  2. Artwodeetwo
    October 13th, 2014 at 14:07 | #2

    Hi, in the last picture it shows a 6 wheel version;
    A)Is this 6 wheel drive
    B)Why didn’t you make this instead?

  3. Reinhard
    June 26th, 2014 at 09:53 | #3

    Wow thats is such a nice MRAP. Theres only on problem where My real house is (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) there are no nice militar vechles. You have done a very good job! I would like to try make one, but with 42009 wheels, any advice?

  4. Sariel
    June 9th, 2014 at 11:37 | #4
  5. Natasha
    June 9th, 2014 at 11:29 | #5

    Do you sell these models?

  6. Sariel
    February 16th, 2014 at 06:15 | #6

    @matty
    Sure.

  7. matty
    February 15th, 2014 at 16:03 | #7

    could i make a copie of this model

  8. gabry
    June 30th, 2013 at 15:19 | #8

    Hi Paul, I told you about my version of the Rg.. well an inspired vehicle is what came out XD A friend of mine has put some pictures on his website, if you are interested give a look… What do you think about it? http://gtathecompletesaga.altervista.org/blog/lego-rg-35-4×4-rc/

  9. Jake
    June 27th, 2013 at 20:09 | #9

    I love the way it performed outside in the video XD

  10. Sariel
    June 19th, 2013 at 22:20 | #10

    @TwentyLeggedHen
    No to the first question, yes to the second.

  11. TwentyLeggedHen
    June 19th, 2013 at 22:03 | #11

    In pictures 6 and 8 the drive axle looks like it is slipping out of the bevel gears in the differential. Was that a problem? Also the problem with the drive train was the 20t and 12t gears switched, right?

  12. gabry
    June 18th, 2013 at 09:32 | #12

    My rg was a disaster, it was too heavy. It was the first time I’ve used a studfull body. The truck was 2.3 kg heavy and the live axles were uneusful, ’cause the springs couldn’t fight all that weight. Anyway the truck had good on-road ability, so I haven’t lose time. Thanks for the tips you gave me.

  13. Sariel
    May 29th, 2013 at 09:14 | #13
  14. Lamboguy59
    May 29th, 2013 at 02:41 | #14

    Could it be made with rubber bands instead of the spring loaded hockey piece or shock absorbers?@Sariel

  15. Sariel
    May 29th, 2013 at 00:45 | #15

    @Lamboguy59
    Preferably pendular.

  16. Lamboguy59
    May 28th, 2013 at 22:36 | #16

    Do you know which supension type to use for a simple trial truck?

  17. gabry
    May 20th, 2013 at 18:33 | #17

    @Sariel
    Ok, don’t steal fun from the Lego hobby 😉

  18. Sariel
    May 20th, 2013 at 08:51 | #18

    @gabry
    Well, you have to work it out.

  19. gabry
    May 20th, 2013 at 06:58 | #19

    @Sariel
    Back to the shocks, wich angle do you recommend?

  20. Sariel
    May 19th, 2013 at 20:49 | #20

    @gabry
    How hard the shocks are depends on what angle they work at. The mistake was simply installing one pair of gears the other way around.

  21. gabry
    May 19th, 2013 at 19:31 | #21

    @Sariel
    I’ve already tried 2 times, but the probleb is that these shocks are too soft for heavy trucks. I’ll try new ways and tell you the results, if you’re interested. Ah, I wanted to ask you something about your model: which is the mistake in the drivetrain mentioned in the description?

  22. Sariel
    May 19th, 2013 at 19:20 | #22

    @gabry
    There is no easy way to put 4 shocks on a live axle. Perhaps your problem is that shocks are too close to each other – try setting them further apart.

  23. gabry
    May 19th, 2013 at 18:52 | #23

    @Sariel
    I’m trying to build a replica of the rg35 but I have a problem: I have used live axles, but, with a weight of 1.75kg for the unfinished model, the suspension is very very soft and on inclinated surfaces the centre of weight of the model usually gets on one wheel per axle, so in most cases differentals make the truck unable to move, and sometimes it falls (with inclinations over 50°). I’ve used 8110/9398’s shocks, in a suspension system like 9398’s one. Could you tell me, if U know, a way to put 4 shocks per axle keeping live axles?

  24. Sariel
    May 1st, 2013 at 00:12 | #24

    @gabry
    Nope.

  25. gabry
    April 30th, 2013 at 21:50 | #25

    This truck was very nice, but didn’t the front wheels bend?

  26. Sariel
    April 30th, 2013 at 21:26 | #26

    @artur
    1. Nie wiem. 2. Nie wiem.

  27. artur
    April 30th, 2013 at 20:46 | #27

    @artur i jeszcze takie dziwne pytanie: ile wydałeś pieniędzy na klocki, i ile średnio kosztuje udany projekt?

  28. April 22nd, 2013 at 22:13 | #28

    no tak. w sumie to wkurza mnie ostatnio lego. nie dosc ze nic nie dziala to jeszcze masa innych problemow

  29. Sariel
    April 22nd, 2013 at 18:27 | #29

    @artur
    Stąd, że szukałem aż znalazłem zamiast zwalać to na innych: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=64179

  30. artur
    April 22nd, 2013 at 17:14 | #30

    @artur
    nie wiem skąd ty masz te ramki 9×5 chyba takich wymiarow

  31. artur
    April 22nd, 2013 at 16:59 | #31

    @Sariel
    a to to już widziałęm, nie ma prawie żadnej z części których potrzebuje

  32. Sariel
    April 22nd, 2013 at 16:58 | #32
  33. artur
    April 22nd, 2013 at 16:56 | #33

    @Sariel
    3. daj linka

  34. Sariel
    April 22nd, 2013 at 16:46 | #34

    @artur
    1. Nie mam.
    2. Różnie.
    3. Jest.

  35. April 22nd, 2013 at 15:25 | #35

    i jeszcze jedno: ile kosztuję transport części na bricklink.com i czy jest jakiś polski sklep z częściami?

  36. artur
    April 22nd, 2013 at 15:03 | #36

    @Sariel a masz może jakiś chat, coś na styl skype lub gadu-gadu? bo wygodniej by było pisać
    PS książka jest świetna, tłumaczy nie tylko mechanikę w lego, ale też ogólną, czyli jakie siły gdzie działają itp.

  37. Sariel
    April 22nd, 2013 at 14:19 | #37

    @artur
    Mi się nie zdarzyło przeskakiwanie. Widocznie faktycznie masz problem z ramą.

  38. artur
    April 22nd, 2013 at 13:24 | #38

    @Sariel heh racja, lecz moim głównym problemem jednak jest brak pomysłu na to jak by tu połączyć te mosty. plus: most z twojej książki, ten heavy duty pendular axle ma pewien błąd, a mianowicie zębatka odpowiadająca za skręcanie czasem
    przeskakuje, jest to problem gdy do sterowania używa się serwa.

  39. Sariel
    April 22nd, 2013 at 09:59 | #39

    @artur
    Więc dobrze, że kolebki nie wymagają CV jointów.

  40. artur
    April 21st, 2013 at 21:39 | #40

    @Sariel tak, że kolebki są dobre wiem, ale wymagają stabilizacji, która z kolei wymaga bardzo mocnej ramy, która jest dla mnie czasem problemem.
    i jeszcze słyszałem że cv joint jest dość słaby.

  41. Sariel
    April 21st, 2013 at 21:33 | #41

    @artur
    Tak, użyłem CV jointów. Najlepsze do TrTr są kolebki.

  42. artur
    April 21st, 2013 at 21:06 | #42

    @ Sariel
    1.polski jezyk lepszy 2. raczej bardziej chodzi o rame pojazdu, oraz poprawne zamocowanie mostow. 3.w kategorii zawieszenia sterowanego oraz napedzanego sa tylko 2, i obydwa nie sa dla mnie za duze 4.nie wiem jaki typ zawieszenia jest najlepszy 5.w alvis stalwart uzyles CV joint?

  43. Sariel
    April 21st, 2013 at 20:35 | #43

    @artur
    My book had instructions for complete suspension systems in it. If that doesn’t help you, there is nothing more I can do.

  44. artur
    April 21st, 2013 at 18:30 | #44

    hey, i am sure that you can help me:
    i tried to build a trial truck a lot of times, but ALWAYS stopped at same step, at suspensions and sterring. i have your book but it dont helped me

  45. nitwity
    April 19th, 2013 at 09:28 | #45

    Love your outdoor testing, I think the suspension worked well on the terrain…

  46. gabry
    April 3rd, 2013 at 20:01 | #46

    @Sariel
    Ok, sorry, I didn’t read accurately O.o what about music? I think it would be nice to hear some Really good music, such as The Who, Pink Floyd… or Giorgio Gaber! I’m joking… but it would be seriously interesting to hear gears and motors working, let’s think about it… have a nice time 😉

  47. Sariel
    April 3rd, 2013 at 19:00 | #47
  48. gabry
    April 3rd, 2013 at 18:45 | #48

    @Sariel
    Cool… tell me, please, that you’re going to use live axles, I’m angry with pendular suspension!

  49. Sariel
    April 3rd, 2013 at 18:11 | #49

    @gabry
    I have just put some info on it on the Future Projects page, thanks for reminding me.

  50. gabry
    April 3rd, 2013 at 16:38 | #50

    @Sariel
    Yeah, it’s cool… and.. could you tell me something about the dakar truck you planned to build? Do you have any ideas?

  51. Sariel
    April 3rd, 2013 at 16:00 | #51

    @gabry
    Personally, I like his Tow Truck the most.

Comment pages
1 2 2050
  1. No trackbacks yet.