Torpedo Wagon

Thank you for your interest in my project: Torpedo Wagon
 

The idea was to create a unique type of wagon that is worth displaying and still has the playability of a Lego train. Scale and detail level are based on the Maersk train and the Horizon Express. Other goal was to create a set that would be affordable.
 
I hope you like it and don’t forget to vote and to share to spread the word so finally a train set will achieve 10.000 votes. Enjoy the video I made with rendersmade in POV-Ray, 3D MAX and Lumion

A torpedo wagon is one of the largest and heaviest cargo wagons in the world. It is used to transport hot liquid iron. At the iron works ore is converted in to liquid steel after which it is transported to the foundry where the liquid iron is poured in to molds, plates, tubes etc. An iron plant is huge, so therefore these wagons are used.
The torpedo is filled through an inlet on the top of the torpedo. To empty the torpedo it rotates about 170 degrees and the liquid iron pours into a canal and flows to the foundry.
Torpedo wagons come in different sizes and are used all over the world, yet not much is known about this remarkable piece of engineering. This model is copy of the torpedo wagon used at the ThysenKrupp in Germany.

Pricing:
Not only the type of wagon is unique, but also my concept 1+1=1. If you buy 2 wagons, you can make the really huge version. The shop set contains only some extra bricks to create the big one. When you create the big version only a few other bricks will be unused. With the left over bricks you can make a tank installation.
It is not my purpose to promote a new marketing strategy. It is just a way to produce an affordable set and if you like, you buy 2 so you can build the masterpiece shown in this entry.
 
Specs of the real thing (the large one):
Netto weight                        210.000 Kg =231 American tons =463.000 English pounds
Load                                    160.000 Kg of liquid steel =176 American tons =353.000 English pounds
Temperature                       1400 degrees Celsius (=2552 degrees Fahrenheit)
Torpedo length                    17 meters (=57 feet)
Torpedo insulation               asbestos and firebrick (you can stand near it without getting burned)
Number of axles                 18 (36 wheels)
About 10 pieces manufactured for Krupp (nowadays ThysenKrupp) in the late 1960’s.
 
Spec of the large model:
Undercarriage                     6 studs wide
Platform and engine room   6 studs wide
Torpedo                               8 studs wide
Length                                 100 studs = 800 mm (buffer to buffer)
Number of axles                 18 (36 wheels) and can take standard LEGO curves and switches smoothly.
Number of bricks                873
Number of left over bricks  91 (from the two small models) When building the tank installation only 5 bricks left over
 
Spec of the set model:
Undercarriage                     6 studs wide
Platform and engine room   6 studs wide
Torpedo                               8 studs wide
Length overall                      56 studs = 450 mm (buffer to buffer)
Number of axles                  8 (16 wheels) and can take standard LEGO curves and switches smoothly.
Number of bricks                461
Extra bricks                         25 (to create the large version)    

The design:
The model is redesigned and redesigned in LEGO Digital Designer to meet the form and measurements of the real on (sorry I am not allowed to show images of the real thing but you can find them on the net). Much time was spent to get the undercarriage lower and lower as in the real one, but still usable on standard curves. Some smart pivot points were built in to achieve this.
Another challenge was the torpedo. Inside some interesting building techniques are used to connect the reversed scales and to create the inlet on top. The machine room is tilted as in real life.
After my approval it was redesigned again for the 1+1=1 concept. It was quite a task to create two identical models from the big one. Only some small alterations were made to prevent an overdose on extra bricks in the future shop set.
 
Hope you like it, and don’t forget to vote!