Komatsu WE2350

First introduced at the 2000 MINExpo in Las Vegas as the LeTourneau L-2350 it is the world's largest wheel loader. Joy Global took over LeTourneau and the machine became the P&H L-2350. In the meantime Komatsu Mining is the new owner, thus the new designation WE2350 to distinguish the LeTourneau derived products from the Komatsu wheel loaders that bear the WA designation.

 

At 270 tonnes, the wheel loader carries a 41 cubic meter bucket and features a Diesel electric drivetrain with a 2300 horsepower engine and four electric wheel hub motors. It is designed to center load ultra-class haulers of up to 400 ton (363 tonne) payload.

 

My model at a scale of 1/28.5 is fully remote controlled via bluetooth and the Brick Controller 2 app using two SBricks. The following functions are powered:

 

- All-wheel drive: one Power Functions XL motor per axle

- Steering: one Power Functions M motor and two large linear actuators

- Loader boom assembly: one Power Functions XL motor and two XL linear actuators (from CaDa because they come in black)

- Bucket: one Power Functions L motor and two large linear actuators

- Work and tail lights, using three pairs of Power Functions LEDs

 

Power comes from a Power Functions battery box hidden in the radiator compartment.

 

Furthermore, the model sports the following features:

 

- Oscillating rear axle

- Deployable acces stairs

- Openable cab doors

- Extendable work platform on the inverter cabinet

- Deployable ladder on the right service platform

 

The challenge with this model was that it features huge wheels, being the largest tires on any machine in the real world. To overcome this hurdle, I used brick-built wheels with a diameter of around 18 studs and a width of eight studs. The 22-sided brick cylinder is reinforced by a layer of rubber connectors, at the same time ensuring a smoother ride. The original design to these wheels comes from Milan of Eurobricks.

Done