Subject:
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Re: Question about building an AT-AT
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.starwars
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Date:
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Mon, 22 Apr 2002 18:15:33 GMT
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Viewed:
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380 times
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In lugnet.starwars, Mychal Zimny writes:
> I'm just looking for some input from people who have built one. How does
> one hinge the leg and hip joints? I suppose there's always click hinges but
> I was looking for another way. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.suave.net/~dave/images/atat/walking/knowyouratat.GIF
Part of the problem is that in the "real" thing all the weight is apparently
supported on joint alpha (see diagram). And unfortunately, that creates a
whole heck of a lot of leverage on that joint. Enough to snap and/or
severely bend a lego axle (assuming we're going for MF scale). Hence, you
kinda need to cheat.
Cheat #1:
What I did was simply to have joint beta hold the weight similarly to
Shaun's model. The top of the upper hip (A) simply rests on the underside of
the body... There's a lot less tension on beta since it just goes *straight*
down to the foot (when the knee is straight), so it can just have a technic
axle/friction peg/whatever.
Cheat #2:
Support the upper hip (A) with hidden beams, and make these effectively the
load bearing supports. This was done with a very cool walking model I saw a
while back wherein the lower hip (B) was extended upwards into the body,
where it could be further supported without appearing very wrong from the
exterior.
There may be a way *not* to cheat on the hips, but I haven't discovered it :(
As for strengthening joints-- using worm gears is probably one of the
sturdiest, yet most annoying solutions. 1st off, AT-AT legs are really thin.
about 1-2 studs wide "really". So hiding a worm gear mechanism is kinda
tough, though doable. More annoying (I would imagine) would be adjusting
them to make the model stand... Even without taking the time to turn joints
bit by bit, it still takes me several minutes to set up my AT-AT... I can
only imagine it would take me longer if I used worm gears in the lower hips
(joint beta). Dunno though-- maybe it would speed things up?
Additional thoughts I've had and/or seen:
- pneumatics (very strong! very long to adjust!)
- technic 'rod' support buried inside the leg through technic beams (strong
enough, but tricky to adjust and design)
- gear racheting (not really as strong as it should be-- and again,
difficult to adjust)
- friction peg lattice (a la Shaun's neck mechanism) wherein bending forces
lots of friction pegs to move-- easy to adjust, but hard to work into the
confines of the leg & still have it be sturdy (can enhance strength of
friction pegs w/ saran wrap/paper/etc)
HTH,
DaveE
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Question about building an AT-AT
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| <<snip>> (...) One thought I've had is to have a Technic 9V motor with a cross axle connector to spin the wormgears. Just attach the motor, power it up 'til the joint is in place, detach the motor and work on the next joint... /Tobbe (URL) (22 years ago, 22-Apr-02, to lugnet.starwars)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Question about building an AT-AT
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| I'm just looking for some input from people who have built one. How does one hinge the leg and hip joints? I suppose there's always click hinges but I was looking for another way. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (22 years ago, 21-Apr-02, to lugnet.starwars)
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