Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Post Apocalyptic GB => Topic started by: apophenia on September 06, 2021, 10:40:23 AM
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The PowerTraxx Snowstar Saga
In the frozen wastes formerly known as Central Canada, travel has always been difficult. Now that Winter lasts throughout the year - a full 2.5 months longer than back in 2021! - full tracks are the only way to go. Fortunately, PowerTraxx Vehicles Inc. of Whitefish, Ontario, are up to the task.
Whitefish - a town of just over 200 souls (mainly of hardy Finnish stock) - is located near the western terminus of the Highway 17. Perhaps because of this isolation, the town and its keystone industry have survived 'The Great Upheaval'. Without access to its pre-apocalype suppliers, PowerTraxx has found new production to be impossible. But the canny folk at PowerTraxx have become masters of scrounging and the recycling of usable components.
A case in point in the vehicle illustrated here - the PowerTraxx Snowstar LS (Luxury Survivalist). [1] The underpinnings are based on a reclaimed PowerTraxx PT 15SW-H tracked carrier. Mounted on top is the salvaged upper portion of a gutted Winnebago Sunstar RV. Power is provided by a Cummins B 5.9 multi-fuel diesel mated to an Allison 6-speed transmission. The resulting PowerTraxx Snowstar LS is a comfortable and secure back-country crawler ... although the Snowstar is no speed-demon. [2]
A few Snowstar LS features are worth noting. The powerplant has been moved down into the frame/track support structure. This allows for easy maintenance access though interior floor hatches. It also means that, whilest running, the engine helps to heat the interior spaces. This placement also freed up the former Winnebago engine bay at the rear. PowerTraxx has converted that space into a snowmobile 'garage'. [3] Also at the rear, the Snowstar LS features an optional meat locker - intentionally kept separate from the living quarters in case of any 'close encounters' with Grizzlies (or nanulak hybrids coming south). [4]
The PowerTraxx Snowstar LS's living quarters will sleep four very comfortably (in two bunks). There is more than enough space to position another mattress on the floor. A 3-piece washroom is provided along with a kitchen with full cooking facililites and generous food preparation surfaces. By anyone's standards, the PowerTraxx Snowstar LS has been well appointed for those extended provisioning outings in the frozen North.
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[1] The illustrated vehicle is the PowerTraxx Snowstar LS Deluxe - outfitted with the optional vinyl wrap (in 'Rural Vista' camouflage scheme) and patterned, low-visibility, retractable awnings.
[2] If 'heritage' diesel could be found, a Cummins B 5.9 in good tune can produce up to 275 hp. Using recycled B100 vegetable oil, the Cummins will still generate at least 225 hp but this drops to about 175 hp when burning the more commonly available rendered moose fat-based fuels.
[3] Accessible from inside, the entire snowmobile bay is hydraullically lowered to ground level for launch and retrieval.
[4] For other emergencies, a 'bug-out' hatch leads directly from the cab to an external ladder. This emergency exit assumes situations where there is insufficient time to deploy the normal access scissor stairs.
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Nice! It's even camouflaged! ;) :smiley:
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One of those Tiny House things.. but self propelled :smiley:
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:-* :-*
Mog
>^-.-^<
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:smiley:
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Thanks folks!
Nice! It's even camouflaged!
Yep, I've become enamoured of the vinyl wrap idea lately (in reality, they're mostly ghastly but 'digital wraps' are fun for whiffing).
One of those Tiny House things.. but self propelled :smiley:
You have anticipated me ;) But first, another track-y thing ...
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PowerTraxx Vehicles Inc. of Whitefish, Ontario, is best-known for its Snowstar LS tracked motorhome. But, of course, not everyone has sufficient trade/salvage resources to score a Luxury Survivalist for themselves. As a result, PowerTraxx produces a range of Winter off-road carriers suited to almost any barter budget.
A case in point are the new PowerTraxx Survivalist Shuttles which are based on reclaimed long-trackbase RT417 or short-trackbase RT15R crawlers. Atop the tracked chassis is a recycled and refurbished shuttle bus body - hence the 'SS' branding. PowerTraxx will supply Survivalist Shuttle models as DIY shells or generously outfitted for extended Winter foraging excursions.
Illustrated here is the longer RT417 Survivalist Shuttle.