Lego 46 Model 42055

Now, the final communication. Here’s the bucket wheel working:

Here’s the machine turning the bucket arm:

Moving forward:

And general operation:

Overall this was great fun and very relaxing. Hour for hour entertainment it was about the same as watching an IMAX film.

Lego 46 Model 42055 Part 10

This is the final push. The operators cab and safety railings is built. Along with adding lights and ladders this now completes the Bucket Wheel Excavator.

Model Complete!
Model Complete!

This was probably another hour and a half so total build time is roughly 11 hours. I would argue it was worth every penny.

Some detail photos for you now:

Operator's Cab
Operator’s Cab
Buckets
Buckets
Power Unit and Gear Box
Power Unit and Gear Box
Ready To Dig
Ready To Dig

Lego 46 Model 42055 Part 9

This part of the Bucket Wheel Excavator is to build the power section. This includes a motor, battery pack and the gearing system to turn on and off different drives.

Motor Unit and Gear Box
Motor Unit and Gear Box

This was another hour after a few mistakes were made! Then I had to connect it to the main bucket wheel arm.

Bucket Wheel Arm
Bucket Wheel Arm

A top view:

Bucket Wheel Arm with Motor and Gear Box
Bucket Wheel Arm with Motor and Gear Box

Then this arm had to be connected to the main body.

Initial Mating
Initial Mating

Then the bucket arm was secured and the top superstructure was built.

Top Superstructure Now Included
Top Superstructure Now Included

Current total time: 9 hr 15 mins

Lego 46 Model 42055 Part 8

The next section of this mammoth build was the conveyor away from the bucket wheel.

Conveyor
Conveyor

This was another hour. So current total time is 8 hr 15 min.

Reverse View
Reverse View

And, one more for luck.

Reverse Bucket Wheel
Reverse Bucket Wheel