This is a second alternate for the 42144 “Material Handler” (but the first one I built for this set). The model is a tribute to the first Lego Technic set I ever owned, the 8852 robot from 1987! A time when Transformers appeared as a popular cartoon on TV… The 8852 set featured a transformable truck. By turning a gear at the back of the truck, the chassis would shrink while the body would raise, thanks to a clever set of gear racks. The set would also feature functional steering via HOG.
I tried to transcribe the spirit of this model as an alternate for the 42144 set yet in a modernized design. The truck is now a Firetruck. This is kind of imposed by the colour of the set, but it is also convenient as it allows the integration of the pump into the design of the truck. The functions are the same: steering by HOG, and the transformation is identical, besides using pneumatics. It is controlled by a single switch: when pushed in one position, a first LA shrinks the chassis, tilting the hood. The HOG has to be removed before transforming (which was not the case of the 8852, so it is kind of a step backwards :s). When the LA is compressed, it activates a second pneumatic switch that extends a second LA, raising the body up. Compared to the original 8852 model, a set of two parallelograms leads to the transformation of the cabin, freeing the head of the robot (in the 8852 set, the cabin is the “head” of the robot).
Pushing the switch in the reverse position transforms the robot back into truck mode. The reverse transformation is similar, with the exception of the mini-LA pulling the hood back in place. It is only connected by its top entry. In the transformation into the robot, the mini-LA is extended automatically by the weight of the hood.
The robot arms form the body of the truck. They have to be unfolded and refolded by hand, like in the 8852 set. Special care must be given when transforming into truck, as they may go in the way when the body comes down. They are secured in place by the back hatch of the truck.
Photo Galery: https://bricksafe.com/pages/jyd80/42144-alternate-firetruck-transformer
Instructions on Rebrickable.com: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-157836/alter-lego/42144-alternate-transformer/