road train

[Gelrir]

Originally Posted by kato13

Very cool. Curious at to what program you used for the vehicle graphics.

Plain ol' free Gimp, both for the plan drawings and for altering photos.

--
Michael B.

[Gelrir]

The printed plans for the "classic" Scientific-One vehicle give dimensions as follows: 21.366 meters long, 5.876 meters wide, 5.793 meters high. There's also a small trailer with a dismantled Airscout and a six-wheeled ATV.

If we assume the "6-wheeled ATV" is am Amphicat (a typical 1970s choice), then the trailer is probably 3 meters long, plus a meter for the towing bar, hitch arrangements, etc.: so the total Scientific-One, on the road, is about 24 meters long.

Regarding the Amphicat, here's a useful site: http://www.joesgarage.us/amphicat.htm

Converting it's stats to metric, and assuming a fusion reactor:

"Six-Wheeled ATV"
Maximum gross vehicle weight: 436 kg; cargo and crew capacity: 218 kg.
Dimensions: 2.05 m long, 1.35 m wide, 0.86 m high, ground clearance 0.15 m.
Propulsion: 12 kW electric motor, powered by Mk 1 fusion reactor. The motor provides power to a simple transmission (forward, reverse); all six wheels are driven; steering is by wheel brakes.
Performance: top speed on flat ground, 19 kph; in water, 2.4 kph. Fitted with a low-power outboard motor (not provided by the Project), it can reach 4.2 kph. It will climb a 35 degree grade when fully loaded; when lightly loaded, driver skill determines the maximum grade that can be traversed. The ATV can easily be flipped on steep hills. When fully loaded, the vehicle floats with a freeboard of 0.4 m.
Suspension: there is no suspension as such; the low-pressure tires absorb shocks; the seats have foam cushions also. The tires are 11.5x20 tubeless, bonded to the wheel
Accessories: two headlights; the reactor can output electrical power at various standard voltages, frequencies, etc.
The Six-Wheeled ATV is a light survey and exploration vehicle, normally provided to large Science teams. A simple rectangular frame supports the power supply, engine, and ABS plastic body. It has two seats, and a small cargo deck which could hold another person -- very awkwardly. Steering is accomplished by braking all the wheels on one side -- very inefficient, but it does allow the ATV to skid-steer in a zero-radius circle. There isn't a steering wheel, but instead two brake levers.

--
Michael B

[kato13]

Originally Posted by Gelrir

Plain ol' free Gimp, both for the plan drawings and for altering photos.

--
Michael B.

Very nice work without using a purpose built tool. I've been looking for something to do floorplans (beside the adobe suite and visio) and your stuff looks great. I just have to put in the hours I guess.

[northdoc]

You know, I live just a few miles from the snow train. I could take some pics after Christmas if anyone cares or wants it for a game.
I always liked the SUSV also, they use them around here as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bv206

[Gelrir]

A video of yet another of LeTourneau's various road trains:

http://youtu.be/Uio3HgeSRTI

Note the two big diesel generators mounted sideways on the control car. Here's a short video of the actual Overland Train:

http://youtu.be/S3Z8I4ZZDmM

And another one, in color:

http://youtu.be/shBMzG7SNQQ

--
Michael B.

[AF Dude]

Back in the '80s, one of these was found abandoned in a Seattle scrap yard. The 10' tall wheels and tires were immediately purchased and shipped to Missouri where the wheels and tires were used to build the infamous Bigfoot 4 monster truck.

...and this has been your redneck moment in history.

[Gelrir]

Here it is seven years later! A couple of data points for our local "classic era" campaign:

• One of our player groups is an Engineer team; they have a bunker in the Mojave where their "overland train" was stored, along with lots of modular bridge-building components.

http://asmrb.pbworks.com/w/page/130188327/E4%20Bunker

http://asmrb.pbworks.com/w/page/1301...am%20Equipment

• I recently bought a photo of a LeTourneau "crash pusher" -- the Air Force bought two of these in the 1950s to clear wrecked bombers off the runway in the event of a boo-boo during a mass takeoff.

http://asmrb.pbworks.com/w/page/5307...ungleDestroyer

It was also "marketed" by LeTourneau as a "jungle destroyer" -- back when destroying tropical forests was a good thing.

--
Michael B.

[Gelrir]

We have a couple more pictures of the Overland Train.

http://asmrb.pbworks.com/f/157932189...0Texas%201.jpg

http://asmrb.pbworks.com/f/157932189...0Texas%202.jpg

... both from the Illustrated London News, oddly enough.

--
Michael B.