The Landmaster.

Okay. I'd be the first to say that this was only a flippin' movie, but I distinctly remember watching this film (1977) as a kid wondering if that wheel design would really be worth it.

After all, if there was something to this design, I'd think some kind of military vehicle or land rover somewhere would have adopted it.

So, could there be some kind of replica of this thing made (on some sort of scale -- possibly scaled down) to see if triple turning wheels would be of any benefit for 60 degree inclines, rocks, etc.

Damnation Alley (1977)

quote:

They set out across the United States in two Air Force "Landmasters" (giant 12-wheeled armored personnel carriers capable of climbing 60-degree inclines, as well as being able to operate in water) across "Damnation Alley"

As I recall, they were props built for the film on truck chassis's. They worked well enough for the filming, but broke down constantly and were a maintainence nightmare. There is a sort of similar vehicle used in the far north; I think it's called a Rologon.

One model of Rologon

I couldn't find the model you were talking about - no surprise, my google talents aren't as sharp as some, but I did find the one above. It must be a more current model, were they went back to regular wheels or something like that.

I guess I had better state a clearly stated myth statement for this thread, or else run the risk of having too vague an idea. It helps to be specific I suppose.

I'll get a copy of the movie and try finding a scene depicting the Landmaster getting out of some bind due to its innovative wheel arrangement.

As of now, I can remember a scene where the Landmaster rolls over a huge rock and the only thing that happened was the wheel rack spun over once - the entire personnel carrier just rolled along as though it went over a pea. I'd say that has to be a big bit of movie mythdom. I'd think it would have jarred around more violently (in a 'real' situation) and probably lost something important too.

Should be possible to build a replica of one of these - somehow... to some scale. Might be fun?

Also, I suppose expecting the Mythbusters to surpass the abilities of engineers from some fictional movie-land future is a bit of a shaky foundation to start this one out on, but maybe after screening the film, there might be something usable?

Well, in essence, that's exactly what the MBs did in their prior careers; building movie props. The actual vehicle in the movie was built by an earlier prop builder and customizer, but , as far as I can find, it was the only one ever built with that design due to it's complexity. There is a company that builds track systems for all types of motor vehicles that replace the wheels with triangular, independent track drives that appear sort of similar, but don't rotate fully around the pivot axis.

Right. I think it was supposed to be that the fully rotatable wheel assembly was supposed to be a superior design to just having a single, large wheel (of the same diameter as the entire tri-wheel assembly), or the type of track you just described, dfez.

I’d say that a large, single wheel design of same diameter (as the entire rotating wheel assembly) would be just as good, or possibly even better than this fictional design - no matter how well-built the rotating assembly is made.

It came back to me that the guy who invented the Seque also designed a stair climbing wheelchair that used the rotating bogey concept. Because he added that active stabilization system to it, he only used 2 wheels on each bogey though. It was called the IBOT and was produce commercially for a while, but was discoed for lack of sales.

IBOT

didnt the landmaster use the rotation as a kind of paddle-wheel in a water scene?

and omg that movie was horrible even 30 years ago. the roaches on fishingline getting caught in the dirtbikes wheels.

quote:

Originally posted by Lex9:
didnt the landmaster use the rotation as a kind of paddle-wheel in a water scene?

and omg that movie was horrible even 30 years ago. the roaches on fishingline getting caught in the dirtbikes wheels.

True! And good point. Maybe this one could be part of a Mystery Science Theater 3000 homage - lol.