FERIS Wheel
The Further Exploring & Roaming Integrated System Wheel was designed by the infamous Vehicle Design Department of Llwyngwril Systems. Frequent claims had been made that the designers were unbalanced and so the they set out to produce a vehicle that was all about equilibrium. The Tarren Trade Authority commissioned a machine that could carry two people across rugged terrain on unexplored planets. They specified that it should have large wheels, capable of rolling through or over large craters.
The FERIS Wheel used the weight of its 8848 engine, hanging from the drive axle to help balance its twin cabs. The unusual wheels gave a natural spring/suspension to the ride. The drivers' cabs were access by hinged roofs, in true Classic Space style. Drivers had to be careful to dismount simultaneously, in order to keep the vehicle balanced.
These distinctive vehicles were retired after only a short service life. They had limited cargo carrying capacity. Such cargo as they could carry always had to be loaded in even numbers, half in each cabin. This meant that items such as single packets of Rich Tea biscuits, had to be split open in order to be transported and were frequently eaten before they arrived at their destination.
Worst still, some drivers were more susceptible to biscuits than other (especially when chocolate digestives were involved). These drivers put on weight from biscuit snaffling and eventually became too heavy to balance their co-drivers. Faced with putting its staff on crash diets or buying a more sensible vehicle, the Tarren Trade Authority opted for the latter solution.
Film of the vehicle in action can be seen here.
FERIS Wheel
The Further Exploring & Roaming Integrated System Wheel was designed by the infamous Vehicle Design Department of Llwyngwril Systems. Frequent claims had been made that the designers were unbalanced and so the they set out to produce a vehicle that was all about equilibrium. The Tarren Trade Authority commissioned a machine that could carry two people across rugged terrain on unexplored planets. They specified that it should have large wheels, capable of rolling through or over large craters.
The FERIS Wheel used the weight of its 8848 engine, hanging from the drive axle to help balance its twin cabs. The unusual wheels gave a natural spring/suspension to the ride. The drivers' cabs were access by hinged roofs, in true Classic Space style. Drivers had to be careful to dismount simultaneously, in order to keep the vehicle balanced.
These distinctive vehicles were retired after only a short service life. They had limited cargo carrying capacity. Such cargo as they could carry always had to be loaded in even numbers, half in each cabin. This meant that items such as single packets of Rich Tea biscuits, had to be split open in order to be transported and were frequently eaten before they arrived at their destination.
Worst still, some drivers were more susceptible to biscuits than other (especially when chocolate digestives were involved). These drivers put on weight from biscuit snaffling and eventually became too heavy to balance their co-drivers. Faced with putting its staff on crash diets or buying a more sensible vehicle, the Tarren Trade Authority opted for the latter solution.
Film of the vehicle in action can be seen here.