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LIME

September 25th, 2011 Leave a comment Go to comments

Simple vehicle created to test the RC unit and some other elements. Features suspension, 2-speed remotely controlled gearbox and on-board speed computer.  

Datasheet:

Completion date: 24/09/2011
Power: electric (RC unit)
Dimensions: length 63 studs / width 41 studs / height 20 studs (not including antenna)
Weight: 1.314 kg
Suspension: full independent
Propulsion: 2 x RC geared 1:3
Motors: 2 x RC, 1 x PF Medium
Top speed: 13.8 kmph

I’ve had the LEGO RC unit for a while, but only one opportunity to play with it. So, when I bought a couple of the big Exo-force wheels, I decided to use them in combination with the unit and with the RC motors’ output selector that would act as a remotely controlled gearbox.

The vehicle consisted pretty much just of the RC unit with the steering attachment, two RC motors and the gearbox. The front suspension was based on the steering attachment, and the rear suspension used wishbone arms. The rear axle also included a differential for better handling, and was quite wide for improved stability. It should be noted that the vehicle was so low that it could drive upside-down with the antenna removed.

The vehicle also included on-board speed computer that measured speed just near the differential and showed it in RPMs, as it was unable to calculate the final speed for wheels of that size. I had to calculate the speed manually using the wheels’ circumference. The vehicle had no body whatsoever, and it carried two camera mounts: front and rear one.

The final performance, when tested outdoors, proved disappointing in terms of speed. The vehicle was able to go barely 13.8 kmph in perfect conditions. On the other hand it handled excellently and proved quite robust; it also attracted a great deal of attention from a number of wiener dogs. My final conclusion was that the gearbox was needless, whereas the differential was crucial. Without the differential, the vehicle was prone to doing unexpected U-turns when trying to turn at high speed.

Photos:

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Video:

Categories: Cars Tags:
  1. Sariel
    May 14th, 2013 at 09:17 | #1

    @Ghone
    Nope, their size is beyond scale.

  2. Ghone
    May 14th, 2013 at 07:14 | #2

    I’m curious about the speed computer. Can you program it for 94,2mm diameter wheels?

  3. Sariel
    February 20th, 2012 at 16:41 | #3

    @Ryuduck
    It would go slower in a 4WD version. More weight, more moving parts, more friction.

  4. Ryuduck
    February 20th, 2012 at 16:37 | #4

    nice model, for me the rc unit is THE BEST of rc 9v old motors because they are more powerfoul and faster then new power+functions
    why didn’t you make the lime 4wd?

  5. Sariel
    December 19th, 2011 at 08:26 | #5

    @Racer
    No, RWD.

  6. Racer
    December 19th, 2011 at 01:23 | #6

    Was it 4WD?

  7. Sariel
    October 16th, 2011 at 09:45 | #7

    @mindstorm addict
    I don’t know what is the range of “normal” RC receivers, and it works fine with rechargeable AA batteries.

  8. mindstorm addict
    October 16th, 2011 at 02:52 | #8

    I dont know what by to build fast cars whith the rc motors…

  9. mindstorm addict
    October 16th, 2011 at 02:46 | #9

    Is the RC Race Buggy Battery / Receiver Unit with Auxiliary Output lighter than 2 power fonctions rechargeable battery and does it needs normal AA batteries. And is the range of reception of the RC Controller Racer Buggy bigger than for normals rc receivers

  10. Sariel
    October 15th, 2011 at 18:48 | #10

    @EpicTechnic
    You need to go there to click the “Ideas” category and see the various ideas for suspensions. You asked about suspensions. I recommend reading what you find in that category.

  11. EpicTechnic
    October 15th, 2011 at 17:20 | #11

    @Sariel
    Yeah, Im not blind, but why do I need to go there? anyway forget about that. I was just suggesting an idea. Another question, do you recommend front and rear steering on a 6×6 like on the BMR?

  12. Sariel
    October 15th, 2011 at 00:17 | #12

    @EpicTechnic
    Dude, seriously… use your eyes. There is “Categories” list in the upper right corner of this website, that’s what I’m talking about.

  13. EpicTechnic
    October 14th, 2011 at 23:42 | #13

    @Sariel
    to suggest an idea?

  14. Sariel
    October 14th, 2011 at 16:58 | #14

    @EpicTechnic
    May I suggest you look at the upper right corner of this website?

  15. EpicTechnic
    October 14th, 2011 at 16:36 | #15

    @EpicTechnic
    abou the ideas catagory?

  16. EpicTechnic
    October 14th, 2011 at 16:35 | #16

    @Sariel
    What do you mean?

  17. Sariel
    October 14th, 2011 at 12:40 | #17

    @Liquid Snake
    And I’m not really interested.

  18. Liquid Snake
    October 14th, 2011 at 12:29 | #18

    @Liquid Snake
    For non-Polish speaking people: I asked Sariel if he could build Metal Gear RAY from Metal Gear Solid 2.

  19. Liquid Snake
    October 14th, 2011 at 12:20 | #19

    @Sariel
    RAY Saber-Scorpiona to chyba jedyny ładny RAY z LEGO, a wydaje mi się, że można by go zrobić lepiej…
    I istnieje lepszy REX od tego:
    http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=65963

  20. Sariel
    October 13th, 2011 at 10:34 | #20

    @Liquid Snake
    Widziałem kilka całkiem ładnych wersji z Lego. Np. http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/42001 albo http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/3228

  21. Liquid Snake
    October 13th, 2011 at 09:09 | #21

    Witam!

    Czy zna Pan może serię gier Metal Gear Solid? Mam pewną prośbą, a wydaje mi się, że jeżeli istnieje ktoś, kto może to zrobić, to na pewno Pan. Otóż, z tego co wiem, nikt jeszcze nie zbudował z LEGO (porządnego) modelu Metal Gear RAYa z MGS2. Jeśli nie grał Pan w tę grę, to może wystarczy zapoznać się z dostępnymi w Internecie zdjęciami lub filmikami z gry pokazującymi RAYa?

    Z niecierpliwością czekam na odpowiedź.

  22. Sariel
    October 12th, 2011 at 11:08 | #22

    @EpicTechnic
    Did you try checking the Ideas category?

  23. EpicTechnic
    October 11th, 2011 at 22:14 | #23

    @EpicTechnic
    —DON’T mean to bother you! sorry for the error!

  24. EpicTechnic
    October 11th, 2011 at 22:13 | #24

    @Sariel
    Thanks! I love your creations! I am working on lego pneumatic engines, I hope to put one in a vechile of some sort and make it extremely powerful. Have you ever tried this? Again mean to bother you, But do you think you could post a suspensions tutorial? I would like some advise on steering with independent suspensions. I have one way, but it is pretty bulky and odd. Again I dont mean to bother you, but you are an amazing builder and I always look at this site when I am looking for ideas and tecquniqes(i dont think I spelled that correctly).

  25. Sariel
    October 11th, 2011 at 08:17 | #25
  26. EpicTechnic
    October 11th, 2011 at 01:59 | #26

    @EpicTechnic
    Im sorry to be a bother but is it possible to post a picture of what you are talking about? also, do I need to buy 9v extension wire and pf wire?

  27. EpicTechnic
    October 11th, 2011 at 00:03 | #27

    @Sariel
    I am a little confused by how that works, is ther a conversion wire or something?

  28. Sariel
    October 10th, 2011 at 23:22 | #28

    @EpicTechnic
    It works if you connect it through PF extension wire and 9V wire.

  29. EpicTechnic
    October 10th, 2011 at 22:12 | #29

    Hello, I want to buy a micromotor off bricklink, but I need to know if it works with the Power Functions battery box. If it does not,then i will not purchase it

  30. Sariel
    October 10th, 2011 at 14:52 | #30

    @Michael304
    Three are maximum, I think.

  31. Michael304
    October 10th, 2011 at 14:47 | #31

    Hoe many motors can you add on RC unit

  32. Sariel
    October 4th, 2011 at 11:05 | #32

    @TheTechnicKiwi
    Yes, it’s clearly something like that. The RC unit was designed specifically to unleash the RC motors to their full power, it drains batteries pretty quickly.

  33. October 4th, 2011 at 11:00 | #33

    geeat model
    The thing that confuses me is the rc unit takes 6x aa batteries and the normal power functions BB takes 6 but can’t handle the rc motors… Is it the current limiters or what?

  34. max
    October 3rd, 2011 at 22:25 | #34

    nice

  35. Sariel
    September 29th, 2011 at 14:10 | #35

    @shawn
    Of course.

  36. shawn
    September 29th, 2011 at 14:10 | #36

    I just completes a 2 NXT-motor transmission using the same basic idea, and quite a strong construction, so I suppose it can be done.

  37. Sariel
    September 29th, 2011 at 08:15 | #37

    @shawn
    Sure.

  38. shawn
    September 28th, 2011 at 22:34 | #38

    I was looking at your brickshelf folder, and I noticed that you got the 8435 4wd (not really) tow truck set! That was my first Technic set!

  39. shawn
    September 28th, 2011 at 22:31 | #39

    A bit off-topic, but could your 2-speed heavy duty gearbox easily be adapted to a 2 NXT-motor design?

  40. Sariel
    September 28th, 2011 at 00:17 | #40

    @Zach
    There are links in the description, just click them.

  41. September 27th, 2011 at 23:21 | #41

    what set are those wheels from 🙂

  42. Sariel
    September 27th, 2011 at 21:14 | #42

    @Arnau
    Well, it has one more output than you thought.

  43. Arnau
    September 27th, 2011 at 19:47 | #43

    Very nice. How did you connect the motor for the gearbox to the RC unit? I had always thought it only had enough outputs to be connected to the steering attachment and to the RC motors. And anyways, I also thought that the remote only had two joysticks, for steering and for driving.

    Thanks

  44. Sariel
    September 27th, 2011 at 16:56 | #44

    No.

  45. michael304
    September 27th, 2011 at 16:52 | #45

    Nice

    is there a review of smyk’s vehicle too

  46. matt
    September 26th, 2011 at 22:11 | #46

    @Sariel
    Thanks 🙂

  47. Sariel
    September 26th, 2011 at 00:22 | #47

    @Matt
    It was designed for the main RC receiver back when Power Functions did not exist. It can be used with pretty much anything though.

  48. Matt
    September 25th, 2011 at 22:49 | #48

    Great model, and one quick question;

    does the RC steering unit have to be coupled with the RC main receiver unit or can it be used only with Lego power functions?

    Thanks

  49. john
    September 25th, 2011 at 21:28 | #49

    you need stronger frame, suspention isnt working quite well. its mostly the frame twisting

  50. jade2448
    September 25th, 2011 at 19:35 | #50

    Nice!

  51. technikfreak
    September 25th, 2011 at 19:30 | #51

    Cool xD

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