Most RC cars replicate real-world race cars or fantastical off-road buggies for outdoor escapades. [diorama111] is an expert at building tiny desk-roaming models, though, and built this exquisite micro semi-truck and trailer.
Based on a 1/150 scale truck and trailer model, the build starts with the tractor unit. It’s disassembled, and its plastic wheels are machined on a tiny lathe so they can be fitted with grippy rubber tires carved out of O-ring material. The front wheels are given hubs and mounted to a motor-driven screw-type steering assembly. A photodetector is used to aid in self-centering. The rear axle is fitted with a geared drivetrain, running off a small DC motor. Multiple gear stages are used to give the build plenty of torque for pulling the trailer. Remote control of the model is achieved over Bluetooth, with an ATtiny3217 tucked inside with motor drivers to run the show.
The microcontroller also runs a full set of driving, tail, and indicator lights. The trailer is fitted with an infrared receiver and a battery of its own. It receives signals from an infrared LED on the tractor unit, which tell the trailer when to turn on the taillights and indicators.
There aren’t too many modelers working in the RC space at the 1:150 scale. [diorama111] has form here, though, and we’ve featured a previous Toyota Crown build before.
Fantastic workmanship!
That is super impressive. I don’t even come close to having the temperament required for that kind of delicate work.
Really nice!
Love it.
Where does one fine all of these tiny gears? I bought a bunch of microsteppers using in cameras for a project and I need to make a lot of reduction gears and transmissions.
Wondering the same.
I don’t know the original creator’s source, but I found a lot of tiny gears in the lens assemblies of point-and-shoot cameras that I tore down. Same for tiny stepper and DC motors.
Nice craft!!
And I’ve been putting off converting an N scale train to DCC…
Very nice
Well, with the price of diesel I can see the practicality of this truck.
Check out the Hot Wheels RC cars they are 1/64 scale and turn like a tank. My 5yo loves making them do donuts they spin right on their center and can make them do “battle Bots” while they’re spinning and it sends the other car flying. The Tesla cyber truck is fastest one so far and will go in the bathtub like a skateboarder! The Buzz light-year truck is pretty awesome too and will pop wheelies from a stand still with good traction.
Would be a good base for a small fast robot, they can definitely carry some weight! We’ve put wings on the Cyber truck and made it glide off of stuff.
They go on discount pretty often can find them for $10 sometimes!
Now we are talking! Wow
That’s Amazing, I want one of those lol.
It’s refreshing to see all the positive comments. This is a real work of art as well as engineering. He uses no 3D printer. I have no excuses. I better go build something now.
Sometimes seeing that old-fashioned hand craftsmanship is really inspiring, right? I could watch this guy build models all day
My eyes are only up to HO.
Yes, amazing work by [diorama111].
This reminds me of the work of med_mahiro he havent post it since 2021. But great work none the less.
Wonder why anybody hasnt tarken this motors and made really small robots