The requested URL /spip.php?article823 was not found on this server.Before you can vote for cool new LEGO sets, or submit your own you'll need to sign in with or register for a LEGO ID: You're currently signed in to LEGO ID as . Would you like to sign in to LEGO Ideas with this LEGO ID? LEGO Ideas is designed for older builders. We’re sorry, but based on the birth date we have on file for you, this means we can't let you have an account here. Create and Share Galleries as a place to share your models with other LEGO builders like you. Are you sure you want to log out of LEGO Ideas? Superheavy Multi-Axle Transport Rig Official LEGO Comments 1 This model is a 19-axle superheavy transport rig. If you've ever seen one of these rigs roll down the highway, you'll probably never forget it. This set in particular (including the color scheme) is based on a configuration that is operated by the Hallamore Corporation (based in Holbrook, Massachusetts, not too far from where I live).
Transports of this type are typically used to move heavy equipment for the power and mining industries, such as transformers, wind nacelles, hydro-electric turbines, nuclear containment vessels, and parts of large excavating equipment (such as bucket-wheel excavators). The idea behind these transports is to spread the weight of a heavy load so that the per-axle load meets the permit requirements for highway travel (i.e. so that the transport doesn't tear up the road).There have been a few offical LEGO sets with heavy haulers, including the 7747 Wind Turbine Transport and the 7900 Heavy Loader, but I don't think there is anything quite like this model. It is built at minifig scale and it is almost 200 studs long -- that's about 1.6 meters! This model would pretty much grind those existing sets under its wheels :-). I have put a length comparison graphic in the main graphic to make it easier to visualize the difference.Below is picture of a real 19-axle transport in action (not Hallamore's unfortunately -- I couldn't find a good picture of theirs).
This set is loaded with detail and functionality. It includes the tractor, the 15-axle trailer, two escort trucks, a large wind turbine (the cargo), and five minifigs. I am going to have a hard time doing it justice with just the few pictures here.Let's start with the tractor. It is based on a 50-year-old Mack M-series truck that is meticulously maintained and operated by Hallamore (although I have chosen to build a 3-axle model, and I think Hallamore only has 2-axle models). The M-series trucks are pretty much the epitome of what a truck should be: big, ugly, and powerful. The truck is 10-wide (that is to scale -- the M-series trucks ranged from 10 to 16 feet wide) with two working features: steering via a HOG knob on top of the cab and a working drop axle that is raised/lowered via a knob behind the cab. The picture below shows the fronts wheels and drop axle in two different positions.Here's a picture of the Hallamore truck on which this model is based:The trailer is based on a 15-axle Trail King 175-ton trailer.
Believe it or not, it is only Hallamore's "mid-size" heavy haul transport. They also operate a 32-axle, 400-ton rig.All of the gooseneck couplings on the trailer have two degrees of freedom (they can swivel and tilt front-to-back). Also, all of the trailer axle groups except for the front one have hydraulic steering. I have simulated these steering mechanisms with friction rams. There are two operators, one situated on the front of the trailer and one at the back, to run the hydraulic steering mechanisms. There is also a drawbar attached to the third axle group (the one immediately behind the flatbed). This drawbar may be attached to the flatbed for highway travel and then, when tight maneuvering is required, unhooked to allow the axle group to be steered independently.The structural components of the trailer are composed primarily of cantilevered technic beams, so the trailer is fairly robust.Additional picture of this model are available on my Flickr page.If you like this project, you might also like some of my other projects, including:F/V Andrea GailUCS Double-Ended FerryNew England Fishing VillageBusy Micro SeaportApollo-Soyuz MissionNutcracker FigurinesThanks for taking a look at this idea!
Octan is a fictional gas station brand that has been appearing in various LEGO themes since the early 1990s. It was also featured prominently in The LEGO Movie, with President Business as the Octan Corporation’s head. There are many interesting sets containing the Octan logo either prominently or in a hidden way, and they have become quite popular with collectors. Today we will take a brief look at Octan’s history, and some of the most recent sets featuring the Octan brand. In pre-1990s LEGO sets, the most popular gasoline brand was Shell. While LEGO still releases Shell-branded sets from time to time, LEGO introduced their own gas station brand called Octan – a playful reference to Octane (a component of gasoline) and Octane Rating (a gasoline rating system). The Octan logo is red and green on a white background, and looks quite sporty. It also got sort of a yin-yang sign look, which may be a reference to gas companies having both a good and evil side – but this is just my own speculation. 🙄
The very first Octan branded set were introduced in 1992; the #6397 LEGO Gas N’ Wash Express (see above), the #6594 LEGO Gas Transit (see below), and a few small race cars with Octan as their sponsor. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s a number of Octan gas stations, tankers, and race cars were released, and the brand was also introduced in LEGO DUPLO (#2621 LEGO DUPLO Motocross Racer), and in LEGO Technic (alternate model for the #8880 LEGO Technic Super Car). LEGO DUPLO and LEGO Technic continues to release sets featuring the Octan brand to this day. Just like real-life gasoline companies, Octan sponsors both good endeavors and some shady activities in the world of LEGO. In 2012 LEGO released the #7747 LEGO City Wind Turbine Transport with the new Octan Energy logo, indicating that the company branched out the renewable energy. The Octan Energy logo is even more prominent on the #60016 LEGO City Tanker Truck (see below). Perhaps the company was attempting to clean up their image, and show that they are trying to go green. In
the meantime, Octan remains a prominent sponsor of LEGO race cars, and they also have some type of connection with the notorious Skull Twins – badguys from the 2009 LEGO Space Police III sets. While sets featuring the Octan brand always looked good, they really became excellent starting in around 2010. The #3180 LEGO City Tank Truck from 2010, the #60016 LEGO City Tanker Truck from 2013, the #4207 LEGO City Garage from 2012, and the #60132 LEGO City Service Station from 2016 are all exceptionally well designed sets. The Octan brand also appears on LEGO City trains, like the #7939 LEGO City Cargo Train from 2010, and the #60052 LEGO City Cargo Train from 2014 – both carrying Octan tank cars. And Octan remains a sponsor of car racing, as demonstrated in the very popular #60025 LEGO City Gran Prix Truck from 2013, the #60053 LEGO City Race Car from 2014, and the #60115 LEGO City 4×4 Off Roader from 2016. A lot of LEGO fans collect these great looking vehicles, building up a whole racing team.
Octan also sponsors motorcycle racing, as can be seen in the #60084 LEGO City Racing Bike Transporter from 2015. Octan supports soccer as well, as evidenced by the prominent logo on the LEGO Collectible Minifigures Series 4 Soccer Player’s jersey. LEGO minifigures featuring the Octan logo on their clothing are also fun to collect. Most of them are gas station attendants or race-car drivers, and of course President Business carries around his signiture red cup with the Octan logo. After all, he is the big boss of the whole operation! Speaking of President Business, it seems that he really expanded the Octan brand, and pretty much everything in Bricksburg is owned, operated or sponsored by Octan. The Octan logo can be seen on the #70804 LEGO Movie Ice Cream Machine (ice cream truck), the #70805 LEGO Movie Trash Chomper (garbage truck), and the #70811 LEGO Movie The Flying Flusher (plumber van). And Octan also branched out to space travel, as you can see in the #70816 LEGO Movie Benny’s Spaceship set.