Building a JD Forwarder Model, and Have Questions About the Bogies

[twinotter]

I thought I should update this thread.   I'm making some progress, but I haven't had much time to work on the forwarder.   The chassis is almost complete, and I've been able to include planetary gears in each bogie.  I've got a bit more work on the chassis, then I'll be moving to the boom.

I have another question though.   Does the boom base have sideshift capability?  What are the cylinders in this picture for?  Are they some kind of hydraulic cylinders?  Picture is the base of the boom.



Thanks!

[Jeff]

I'm not positive, but would bet that is the double  hydraulic rack and pinion assembly that turns the boom. The racks slides back and forth in those housing, turning the pinion. A rack on each side of the pinion gear, moving in opposite directions to turn the gear/boom.

[beenthere]

Like Jeff said, and here is what is inside (to skew, according to jdparts).
 

 

[twinotter]

Thanks!  I've been in a debate with a guy who claims that it is part of a side shift, but I haven't seen any evidence of that in any research that I've done.  You guys have just confirmed what I was thinking.   

That's an interesting skew mechanism.  Pretty cool.

Thanks again!
Daniel

[mad murdock]

All I can say is WOW twinotter! That is some awesome modeling you got going on
I can't wait to see the forwarder in action! BTW, your handle wouldn't be in reference to a DHC-6 by chance? Just wondering.

[twinotter]

All I can say is WOW twinotter! That is some awesome modeling you got going on
I can't wait to see the forwarder in action! BTW, your handle wouldn't be in reference to a DHC-6 by chance? Just wondering.

Thanks!  Yup, twinotter is in reference to the DHC-6 twinotter.  Dhc6twinotter is the username I usually go by on other forums, but not sure why I went with the short version here.  I'm never good at picking usernames, so I just go with the name of aircraft.   

[mad murdock]

I had a suspicion ;)I worked in bush Alaska for a few years, worked on the -200 and -300 'Twotter.  Great aircraft.  Got a chance to fly a few times in a re-engined DHC-3 (big russian radial and 4 bladed prop), that was a FUN plane, and quite a HOSS!  How long does one of the LEGO creations take to build?  I find it quite incredible the level of detail and realism that is present in your models!  Thanks for sharing your craft on the 'Forum.

[twinotter]

The time depends on the model.  I just got back into LEGO after finishing school, so I'm still in the learning process.   My tractor was my first model, and that took probably 70 hours or so.  Everything on it had been rebuilt at least once, and some of it I rebuilt about 20 different times.   The backhoe took about 80 hours or so, but that is much, much more complex than the tractor.   The little radial engine with variable pitch prop I built took about 7 hours.   I usually only get 1 or 2 major project done in a year.   I watch very little TV and don't play video games, so this is pretty much what I do on my downtime (along with posting on several forums). 

I've never had a chance to fly on a real Twinotter.  Back at my old place, a local parachute outfit used to fly one out of a grass strip down the road.  They'd buzz the trees around the house sometimes.   Very cool planes.  I think they are using a Sherpa now, but not sure. 

I'd like to build a few aircraft too.  Grumman Avenger is at the top of my list, and I'd like to build a P-38, B-25, and a DHC2 Beaver on floats as well.   They would include working flight control surfaces, and whatever other functions that particular plane has. 

I'll post up some progress pictures in a few days. 

Thanks!
Daniel