Lego CC: Mercedes Unimog U400: You BET It Hauls!

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“Mr. Edward Mann”, formerly know as long-time CC reader and commenter alfasaab99, is a thirteen year-old home-schooler, and CC is part of his liberal education. This is his first (but probably not last) CC.

Amazing. That’s the one word I can use to describe this Unimog. Its crane can pick up objects. Its winch actually works and can probably pull it out of a small pit. Its suspension is fully functional. I could just go on and on and on about it. So I will.

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The interior, just as detailed as the exterior, has many more features or “abilities”. These “abilities” include a nonfunctional gear stick (my addition) and a nonfunctional steering wheel. There are many working functions in the Unimog’s interior as well. They include a working (reciprocating) diesel I4 and working steering on the roof.

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Knowing there are many engineers and mechanical design fanatics in the CC commentariat (myself included), I’ve decided to give a treat for you, for me, and for all the people here at CC: raw Unimog guts! I think you’ll be pleased with my treat for thee!

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Yes commenters, I know you probably wanted to see the Unimog in action but the video file I had for it was too large and similar videos can be found on Youtube, like the one below. On the bright side, you still get to see a photo of the ‘Mog in action while carrying a plastic egg to safety without an operator!

Fortunately for the winch, I was able to get a quick video (capturedvideo) of the winch in action pulling the ‘Mog for everyone. If you don’t believe me, buy a used Lego Unimog from Amazon.com or Lego.com for $200.00 or from the occasionally dreaded Bay Of E for $260.00+ (Yikes)! If you do believe me, just watch the video and enjoy watching it.

The Unimog shows everything it has

The Unimog shows everything it has

The Unimog is a natural show off. If it were not a show off, why would it be painted bright orange? Why would it have tons of lights? Why would it have a crane? Why would it have a winch? I could just bore you to death or to sleep with reasons it is a natural show off.

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At the heart of the ‘Mog is a Lego Power Functions (PF) Box and a single-cylinder electric air compressor. The air compressor produces the compressed air needed to make the crane functional (move). The PF box and a Lego PF electric motor power the winch and rotate the crane (output determined by setting on “switch box”).

Photo by Darkone @ Wikimedia Commons

Photo took by Darkone @ Wikimedia Commons

I have run out of thing to say about my own Lego Unimog, so I will proceed to talk a bit about the history of the Unimog, to help put things into perspective about the model. Here goes nothing.

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Unimog was started in 1947 by a Mercedes-Benz engineer as UNIversal-MOtor-Geratet (Universal Motor Implements in German). The first Unimogs looked like this, an early Unimog, just without a soft top and less color variation than the above example. These early ‘Mogs were mainly advertised as farm vehicles in early Post-WWII Germany, which was initially planned by The Allies and stayed mostly in that role until the 1950s due to eased restrictions. After these restrictions were lifted, Unimogs started being advertised as buses, trucks, tractors, etc. Eventually, these early ‘Mogs gained 4WD, a more flexible chassis, and many other revisions to become the Unimog of today, real or Lego.