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Creative => Customs Gallery => Ships & Vehicles => Topic started by: Tim_w on July 16, 2006, 20:49:15

Title: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 16, 2006, 20:49:15
Hello  All  :)
 
It has been a long time in the making but finally after about 5 weeks doing a couple of hours work in the evenings here it is. I must say it has been a really frustrating project and has caused its fair share of problems. There are a few finishing touches left to do but i thought i would share it with you anway, as the rest of the work can wait for now. I would appreciate it if these pictures stay on PlaymoFriends for now as i intend this to be an exclusive for our website :). Now lets get down to buisness:

Technical Information:

This my Playmobil Road Sweeper or what we refer to in the trade :lol: as a Channel Sweeper. The primary role of the vehicle as most of you  know is sweeping out the gutter's or channel's at the side of road's. It has 3 brushes in total, one at each side and one in the centre. The one in the centre is not used very often but sweeps dirt out of the middle of the road pushing it into the path of the side brush and pick up which is just like a hoover.

Here are the first couple of pictures which show the vehicle itself, the light bar with Recycling lettering is just temporary :lol: :
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 16, 2006, 20:50:00
The first picture shows the brush mechanism and Pickup in their raised position.

This second picture shows the brush in its operating position. In real life the brush can be moved and adjusted from inside the cab. My version work’s using a couple of joint’s and a hinge. There is also a small jet which spray’s water out onto the road for dust suppression.

The third picture shows the brush being used to sweep a road.
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 16, 2006, 20:50:39
Here is a picture showing the rail which spray’s water into the centre of the road. This is used to keep the dust down when the centre brush is being used.

This picture shows the centre brush, which can be turned from side to side. When not in use it is raised off the ground, being lowered when needed.
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 16, 2006, 20:51:15
Once the sweeper is full the tank can be tipped so it can be emptied. There is a rubber seal running along the base of the door to keep any water in. When the tank gets full of water it can be drained off using the pipe in the back door.
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 16, 2006, 20:57:34
Hello  All  :)

Thank you for taking the time to look at my pictures :)9.

Kindest Regards  Tim  :wave:
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: playmofire on July 16, 2006, 21:28:42
 :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:

Speechless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How do you do it?

Fantastamazing!
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Little Jo on July 16, 2006, 22:23:48
Wow, that's pretty cool :o

And that many details, that are actually working. Compliment.
I always thought that the 3790 (http://www.collectobil.com/catalogue/items/3790.htm) mini road sweeper wasn't that realistic because I also just know this variant you customized (in Germany differing in some details, but in principle exactly that), so I never bought the 3790 (although I thought many times about doing so). But I never thought to customize one and that one will be possible with that many details.

Very well done Tim.
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Little Jo on July 16, 2006, 22:25:22
Didn't you used the yellow brushes from the mini street sweeper?
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: FireChief on July 17, 2006, 00:51:25
Hey Tim,

That's really cool. It looks like the real thing  :o Good job Tim, and thanks for sharing.


Ben
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: cachalote on July 17, 2006, 01:51:54
i am a pirate fan but i have to say one thing:
fantastic
  ;D
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 17, 2006, 09:05:23
Hello  Gordon, Little Jo, Ben and Cachalote

Thank you all very much indeed for your kind feedback and words of encouragement. As allways its very much appreciated. Here are some answers to a couple of questions.

Gordon   :)

I don't know where the ideas come from they just seem to come into my head. I look at real vehicles and think "One of those would look really good in Playmobil" and then go out and start to make it. I look at all the different parts on the real thing and try and find a piece of Playmobil which looks similar or even better the same. Sometimes its more difficult because you need a few parts to make one 'NEW' part and some bits get cut up and not used. A childhood dream of mine was to own a working Playmobil Gully Sucker which is allmost certainly next on the list.

Little Jo :)

Thank you for the kind feedback. The small Playmobil sweeper would certainly be a good investment. We had a similar piece of equipment at work for doing path way's but it was not even half as good !! If i get chance i will take a few pictures of it for you. The brushes are indeed those off the Mini Street Sweeper 3790. They solved one of my main problems and infact the whole vehicle was built around two parts (brushes included) http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-21-6070 (http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-21-6070) and http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-04-4680 (http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-04-4680)

Kindest Regards  Tim

Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Jimbo on July 17, 2006, 18:36:35
Hi Tim,

The pictures of your EXCELLENT sweeper are great.
You are a Master Builder, and an inspiration indeed! :wow:

Jimbo
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tiermann on July 17, 2006, 18:39:59
That's really fantastic Tim, I think you've managed to top your crane with this one.
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Richard on July 17, 2006, 19:03:56
INCREDIBLE !!!

Magnificent customisation, Tim ...  :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:

However, I have one concern. I hope that's not the same driver that was operating your refuse truck ... :lol:

All the best and thanks for sharing,
Richard
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Dan on July 17, 2006, 19:15:45
It is gobsmackingly good.

Just so we can really appreciate it - what was the basic body you built all this on to?
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 17, 2006, 20:29:13
Hello  Jimbo, Tim, Richard and Dan

Thank you all very much indeed for the kind feedback and words of encouragement. Don't worry Richard the driver of the refuse truck has been banned from driving for 2 year's and subsequently lost his job :).

Dan  :)

The chassis i used for the sweeper is taken from the Large Tipper Truck 3141 shown here http://www.collectobil.com/catalogue/items/3141.htm (http://www.collectobil.com/catalogue/items/3141.htm) The chassis was ideal, i just needed to remove a set of wheel's.  

Kindest Regards  Tim
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: pastifi on July 18, 2006, 19:10:36
As always a great custom Tim and you have taken care of every little small detail!
Amazing work!

Thanks for sharing all the details and tricks with us

best regards

Panos
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Captain Henry on July 19, 2006, 20:50:38
What can I say Tim, that has not already been said. Each of your designs is amazing. Your fleet of specialized, customized trucks is truly astounding!  :wow: :wow: :wow:
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 20, 2006, 09:47:41
Hello  Pano's and Captain Henry

Thank you both very much indeed for your kind feedback and words of encouragement on my Road Sweeper  :). Needless to say i plan on a lot more vehicle conversions in the near future  :).

Kindest Regards  Tim  :wave:
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Sir Gareth on July 21, 2006, 21:19:14
Hi Tim,

 That is a really neat custom and as always a very clever use of Playmo parts and I couldn't believe it when I looked through the photos and saw that the brush arm swings out. :o :).
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on July 23, 2006, 10:55:09
Hello  Rob, Garry  :)

Thank you both very much indeed for your kind feedback and thank you for taking the time to reply :).

Kindest Regards  Tim  :)9
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Sylvia on July 28, 2006, 08:06:28
Yet another superb conversion, Tim!  :wow:
I'm always blown away by the attention to detail and the high quality finish you manage to achieve with each creation. Simply wonderful! 8-)
Thanks for taking the time to explain it and photograph it. :)
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Tim_w on August 01, 2006, 16:41:45
Hello  Sylvia  :)

Thank you very much indeed for the very kind feedback on my road sweeper :)9. It was certainly a big project, made more difficult by all the working parts. I have another project in the pipeline but i am still looking for the parts :(.

Kindest Regards Tim  :wave:
Title: Re: NEW Custom Mechanical Road Sweeper
Post by: Morgan on August 08, 2006, 19:14:30
WOW!!!

This was great work. Very detailed and looks realistic as never before  :) You have thought about everything. Pretty sure you have the cleanest streets in the whole klickyworld  ;D