Metal Construction
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Metal Construction |
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The model of the year 1999 was a semitrailer truck with a low-bed trailer in the
scale approx. 1:10. Also this model was provided with a hinged driving cab, hinged doors, Ackermann-steering (see "Other Projects"), independent wheel suspension and the well-proven radio control. Until its demounting in autumn 2001 it had run a couple of kilometers on the street without problems or exceeding abrasion.
The problem of the wheels already was mentioned in the description of the Nostalgic Motor-lorry; at this place hence the reference to the today available wheels from METALLUS. The specialty of the 4 axial truck tractor was, that 3 axles were steerable, every wheel with a different angle. Only the rear suspension was stiff, because it supported the drive. How described in "Other Projects" the inner wheel has to be more steered than the outer wheel. Also the wheels behind the front wheels have to steer less than the front wheels. The construction of this steering mechanism seems to be difficult, but was in practice very simply.
In the present case the reduction of the steer angle was realized in this way, that the steer movement was transferred from a shorter to a longer lever. The adding clearances were reduced by "thicken" of the bolts of the joinings with a piece of hose. Into this model for the first time the selfmade motor drive was built (see "Other Projects"); with this the model had an adequate power reserve. Sadly also at this model was no space for a differential, so only one of the 8 wheels could be driven. The semitrailer had 3 axles, whereby the 2 rear suspensions also were steerable in dependence of the angle between truck tractor and semitrailer. Like as the truck tractor the one after another placed wheels have to be steered with different angles, in fact the more the further the wheels are placed behind. Also this construction was significant simplier then firstly supposed. Because of this steering mechanism the 1,6 meter long model got an astonishing mobility. As loading sometimes a Wilesco steam roller was used which regarding colors and size matches very good to the truck.
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