Original Year	1989
# of pieces	188
Categories	Other: Universal Sets
Dimensions	various
Models	Truck Helicopter 6 Wheel Car Car

8034 Universal Building Set

Set 8034 was released in 1989. It is somewhat larger than 8024, released the same year, and does not have any special additions like motors or pneumatics. It includes full instructions for 4 models. There are a number of parts left over when any of the models are built.

The models in this universal set cover traditional Technic subjects. Helicopters, cars, and trucks can be found in virtually every universal set. The only innovative function is the 4 wheel steering of the 6 wheeled car. These models are deceptively large given the part count of this set.

I find the Truck the most interesting, and it is the model I chose to keep assembled for my display of this set.

1^st Model: Truck
This truck has rack and pinion steering and a ratcheting rear boom. The front wheels can be steered using an overhead "hand of god" wheel. The wheel drives a pair of 8 tooth pinions through a set of 24 tooth gears. The pinions drive the steering rack. The steering mechanism itself uses steering arms and toothed links. The rear boom can be raised via a crank on the left side. The crank drives through two stages of 24 tooth crown and 8 tooth pinion gears, reducing 9:1. A pawl on the last stage crown gear causes the system to ratchet to support the weight of the boom. A worm gear could have been used instead, but wasn't.	Click to download the LDraw file of this model. Model by KWON Click for an animation of the steering in motion. Click for an animation of the boom in motion.
2^nd Model: Helicopter
This helicopter works basically the same way as all of the other universal helicopters up to this point. A crank on the left side drives a 24 tooth spur gear. This gear mates with two parallel 24 tooth crowns: one goes to the main rotor and one to the tail. The tail rotor uses a crown gear as a bevel to change the direction of the torque, but then cancels out the gear reduction with another 8 tooth pinion. The final gear ratio of both the main and tail rotors is 1:1.	Ldraw file courtesy of Benjamin Wendl. Click for an animation of the rotors in motion.
3^rdModel: 6 Wheel Car
This little car has 4 wheel rack and pinion steering. This is the second Technic model to have 4 wheel steering (and six total wheels), but this one accomplishes it in a totally new way. The front and rear wheels can be steered using an overhead "hand of god" wheel. The wheel drives an 8 tooth pinion into a 24 tooth crown, which then drives back into another 8 tooth pinion. At this point, an axle runs the length of the vehicle to turn the front and rear wheels in parallel. A final 24 tooth crown at both the front and the back turn pulley wheels. The pulley wheels are attached via connectors to steering arms. As the pulleys rotate, the side to side motion causes the steering to pivot about holes in the frame plates. The up and down motion simply causes the connector to slide on the vertical axle (see computer image and animation).	Ldraw file courtesy of Benjamin Wendl. Click for an animation of the steering in motion.
4^thModel: Car
This little car is wholly unremarkable other than a nice use of beams at non-right angles to give the body shape. The front wheels can be steered using a wheel at the driver's position. The wheel drives a 24 tooth gear. The gear drive the steering rack. It is somewhat unusual for a 24 tooth gear to drive the rack since usually an 8 tooth pinion is used for this purpose. The steering mechanism itself uses steering arms and toothed links. The rear axle has two wheels on each side. This model was clearly intended to be motorized, and such instructions are included.	Click for an animation of the steering in motion.

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