Digital Rock Raiders' Tunnel Drilling Machine [v1.105]

[alan]

Hey there!
 
I haven't built anything with LEGO for ages (really!). But yesterday in the evening - when I brushed my teeth - I designed a concept for a Rock Raiders vehicle in my head (yes, yes... a weird place for inspiration). The name of the vehicle is
 
Rock Raiders Tunnel Drilling Machine
do you have a better name for it?
 
It is my first LEGO creation in LDD (4.6). The concept is based on these  mining vehicles which I know from the movie Ocean's 11 (12?, 13?) where Ocean and his fellows cause earthquakes to damage the statics of the casino.
 
Parts: 810
 
Screenshots:

 

All the screenshots are broken, better see the images in my gallery

 

For more screenshots and changes go through the thread. 

 

 

I tried my best to keep the classic Rock Raiders style.

I would like to hear read some feedback and I hope you like it. If you have any questions about the model (ect.) feel free to ask.

[lol username]

Certainly looks very Rock Raiders-y. I haven't really inspected every inch of the vehicle, but if there's one thing I'd change it would be the guardrails on the upper level - why are they offset like that? Seems they'd fit much better if right next to each other.

[Lair]

I honestly think this is very sloppy looking, either from being too skeletal or too mashed with its colors (even for RR? maybe it would look better if it were IRL bricks). I love the COncePt, though, just think it needs to be reworked somehoW (I DOn't know how)

[Tauka Usanake]

I don't think the drill is very practical if you ask me. Traditional drills are designed to pull away what they are drilling from drill spot. This looks like it will only grind at the wall and make more resistance than nessecary for a tunnel boring machine. Otherwise I can't say it looks very bad. A strange design but I can't put down why, but it's okay

[alan]

I don't think the drill is very practical if you ask me. Traditional drills are designed to pull away what they are drilling from drill spot. This looks like it will only grind at the wall and make more resistance than nessecary for a tunnel boring machine.

 

I'm not very common with Lego Technic and it would have become too complicated if I had built holes into the drill so that the rocks can be transported to the container (see picture description in my gallery).

[Cirevam]

The drill (is that what it's called for a TBM?) is very nice, but I have to agree with Lair somewhat that the main body feels too skeletal to me. Something about it feels incomplete, but it's a very nice base design. I like the attention to detail with ladders leading up to different portions of the vehicle. It also looks like the two sections of the main body are hinged, but it's hard to tell from the pictures.

[Jimbob]

This is a great idea and I think you have constructed it pretty well. There are a few things that look slightly... Power Miners-y(?), for instance the design of the cockpit area. But that may just be me, or a necessity to power that huge drill. I always wondered if the Rock Raiders used some special tool to drill the round tunnels - the ones shown in the menu and cutscenes of the PC game - and I think this fits the bill.

[Cyrem]

Decent creation, as already stated, a little skeletal.

 

Not trying to be picky, but the twin axles should be on the drill end(I'd even be pushing 3 axles). There is a whole lot of stress on that single axle at the moment.

 

@Tauka Usanake, I believe this design is from actual real world large tunnel drilling ( for roads etc.).

[alan]

maybe it would look better if it were IRL bricks

 

What do you mean by IRL bricks?

 

 

It also looks like the two sections of the main body are hinged, but it's hard to tell from the pictures.

 

Sorry, I have no idea what you're meaning... 

 

 

There are a few things that look slightly... Power Miners-y(?), for instance the design of the cockpit area.

 

I didn't copy any design from Power Miners. If there are some similarities they happened accidentally... The cockpit(s) are made to control and check the mechanics of the TDM.

 

 

Not trying to be picky, but the twin axles should be on the drill end(I'd even be pushing 3 axles). There is a whole lot of stress on that single axle at the moment.

 

Yes, I also took that into account when I was constructing this part. But the driver has to sit somewhere and there wouldn't be enough space for him when there were 4 vehicles at the front. Furthermore I didn't want Axle to sit at the back because he maybe has to communicate with Docs in the controling section. And at last I wanted to keep as close as possible to my concept.

 

 

@Tauka Usanake, I believe this design is from actual real world large tunnel drilling ( for roads etc.).

 

The concept is based on these  mining vehicles

 

Yes, the concept should be different from the Chrome Crusher.

 

 

The drill (is that what it's called for a TBM?) is very nice, but I have to agree with Lair somewhat that the main body feels too skeletal to me.

 

So... what should I add??

[Drill Master]

This is a good start. My opinions?

Again somewhat skeletal.

I'm pretty sure the 2nd level needs to be covered. I believe IRL machines have top plating (correct me if I'm wrong) that is capable of withstanding most cave-ins.

Also the weight balance needs to be accounted for as Cyrem stated with the single axle.

[BobaFett2]

It's a good start, but I recommend improving it. Use some SNOT techniques, add armor plating, make it smooth, add more details.

[alan]

Also the weight balance needs to be accounted for as Cyrem stated with the single axle.

 

That is nearly impossible because where should the driver sit and control?

 

Use some SNOT techniques,

 

???

 

add armor plating, make it smooth, add more details

 

When you examine the pictures closely you can see many details, there cannot be more. Additionally if I add armor plates those details are invisible as well... 

[Drill Master]

For understanding of SNOT, Click Link.

 

http://brickplayer.com/blog/2008/03/27/lego-snot-building-tips/

[BobaFett2]

...

 

"SNOT" means "Studs Not On Top" - that is, not just stacking bricks on top of each other. It makes for much better and complex models. There are hundreds of SNOT techniques.

 

There are internal details, which are cool and all, but at the end of the day, I'd rather not be killed by falling rocks caused by my drilling. If you add armor plating, you can add external details. You only need it on the top, so you can still have the internal portion beneath it. That said, I think it would look better with armor plating over any portion on which minifigures work.

 

I'm not sure if these would fit, but attaching 4x4 radar dishes to the wheels would make them look more sturdy.

 

The back is rather boring - it's a lot of slopes. It's not bad, but it's not very interesting. There's a lot of room to add cool details.

 

The colors work, but I recommend changing around the yellow parts - make yellow shapes, not just random spots of yellow.

 

I would remove the crate (I can't remember what it's called) in the back and raise  the back portion, then add a vehicle which can be removed (a small flyer or land vehicle) or a small detachable non-mobile object - say, something like a rock raiders base piece - a geological center, a communication station, a mechanic's tool store - whatever. It would be far more interesting.

 

There are a lot of places where there are plates beyond the other stuff. I recommend adding details there.

 

The part with Axel doesn't make sense to me. What's it for?

 

 

This is what I'd do. That said, any cool functions and armor plating makes a lot more sense in real life where you can actually open/close and detach things smoothly.

[alan]

I'm not sure if these would fit, but attaching 4x4 radar dishes to the wheels would make them look more sturdy.

 

That does not work, you can't expand the connector peg there to get something attached to the wheels.

 

The back is rather boring - it's a lot of slopes. It's not bad, but it's not very interesting. There's a lot of room to add cool details.

Maybe not visible in the screenshots, but you can pull out the container and there's some part of the engine:

 

I would remove the crate (I can't remember what it's called) in the back and raise  the back portion, then add a vehicle which can be removed (a small flyer or land vehicle) or a small detachable non-mobile object - say, something like a rock raiders base piece - a geological center, a communication station, a mechanic's tool store - whatever. It would be far more interesting.

 

The large drill in the front causes much rubble that has to go somewhere instantly (or you will never come forward). The black hose between the front and the back part transports the (already) crunshed rocks and puts them into the container. If this one wouldn't exist there would be no place for the rubble and the whole vehicle would become senseless due to the already mined rocks that are in the way. I would love to build something different there at the back but this would be senseless!

 

The part with Axel doesn't make sense to me. What's it for?

You're actually right about that one... He can't see the front anyway... well that part still remained of my concept in which the driver sat at the side.

[BobaFett2]

Is that how the drill works in real life? If so, why not just leave the rubble behind it? The tube seems insufficient - perhaps another? Regardless, why not just have it dump the rubble behind it? If it generates a large amount of, it would need to dump the rubble quite often, so why not just do that?

 

The engine alone does not make the back interesting. It's a small feature not easily visible from outside. I still recommend adding more detail. Greebles, perhaps (http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6169/6132336731_8b82b60b8b_z.jpg)? And what about armor? Or maybe just move Docs inside, so that he doesn't get killed by falling rocks?

[alan]

Is that how the drill works in real life? If so, why not just leave the rubble behind it? The tube seems insufficient - perhaps another? Regardless, why not just have it dump the rubble behind it? If it generates a large amount of, it would need to dump the rubble quite often, so why not just do that?

 

Ok, you're right, I now got 2 instead of 1 tube and 8 wheels (totally). Additionally I have brought Axle and Docs under a custom brown rollcage on the upper level.

I now edit the back before I post new pictures.

[MCHover]

I seriously think this is a great model. In my opinion you have captured the Rock Raiders look and feel very good. I like your concept and I think you have done a great job in transforming it into brickformat.

 

The only thing, I would point out is the already mentioned lack of wheels in the middle part, but I see your point about that there isn't enough free space for them.

 

Great work. Nothing more to say.

[alan]

So, here's V 1.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now updated:

• brown roll cage (custom design due to its length and height
• Axle's position is now under the roll cage on the upper level
• design of control center
• back of the control center
• 2 pipes leading to the back and exhausts for the rubble at the very back (the rubble can be cleared by Loader Dozer)
• 8 wheels totally instead of the wobbly 6
• new loading area at the back, including a small scanning vehicle

 

So... what do you think now? Still too skeletal? Anything else to improve?

[BobaFett2]

Better, definitely better.

 

I would replace those slopes up to the chair and steering wheel for the smaller vehicle with something flat...and add more details to the side. Perhaps some lights. I would also replace the thing in the back, although I'm not sure what with. It might be better if it had a rotating, dish that could be angled up and down in the back and the controller in front of that.

[alan]

It might be better if it had a rotating, dish that could be angled up and down in the back and the controller in front of that.

 

I do not quite understand what you mean but it sounds like it would enlarge the vehicle. But I have to watch the length and height of the loading area at the back of the TDM. 

I'll post pictures of the updates later...

[BobaFett2]

More like this:

http://lego.brickinstructions.com/01000/1180/main.jpg

[Cirevam]

This feels much better. The main control area under the roll cage is very well done. I'm not sure if the radar vehicle needs a moving dish. Tunnel boring machines can only drill in one direction so the radar only needs to point forward. The engine looks too small in my opinion, but there's not too much room in that section of the machine.

When I said that the vehicle was hinged, I meant that it looked like it steered by rotating part of the vehicle, like this:

[Tracker]

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/107/d/2/deepbore_1_by_raiderzulu-d621nn3.png Not the first, but you got a lot closer to a TBM than I did. That said, mine has a working head.

[alan]

More like this:

http://lego.brickinstructions.com/01000/1180/main.jpg

 

Here's the new version:

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure if the radar vehicle needs a moving dish.

 

Included... but the main idea was that you get the vehicle out and then you can turn it around to scan the caves. I can't place the vehicle the other way round because the scanner collides with the parts of the TDM.

 

The engine looks too small in my opinion, but there's not too much room in that section of the machine.

It is only one part of the engine, ... and now this engine part could be seen as the power source for the scanning vehicle ("docking station").

 

When I said that the vehicle was hinged, I meant that it looked like it steered by rotating part of the vehicle, like this:

Yes, it does, but only a bit. I copied this axis of this one because it connects two chassis (what's the plural?) of the same type as Chrome, Loader Dozer, LMLP.

 

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/107/d/2/deepbore_1_by_raiderzulu-d621nn3.png Not the first, but you got a lot closer to a TBM than I did. That said, mine has a working head.

I didn't know about this one. Good work on a functional drill. I'm not common with Lego Technic.