Tired of shoveling snow? There’s always a creative solution to be found, and while this particular one isn’t very practical, it’s fun to watch. And hey, if you have lots of Lego train tracks and a bit of snow to clear, this could be your ticket to clearing sidewalks with minimal effort.
Check out the Lego sled snow thrower, coming to you by permission Brick crafts Youtube channel. Yes, the title of the video says this is a snowplow, and there’s definitely a bit of piracy going on here. However, without the small, rotating three-blade propeller at the front, this scale model choo choo would not be able to travel far in deep snow. And by deep snowby, we mean over three inches, judging by the size of the carriage. We’re not kidding when we say it’s impractical. But the Lego project was built because it’s cool, it’s impractical.
This means that it’s impractical unless you downsize the Lego. Then it becomes very effective, able to clear snow almost as high as the train. The design is relatively straightforward, with the pitcher being powered by a small motor. As the train moved forward, snow was thrown out. In theory, anyway.
The first attempts to clear the snow did not go well. The guard around the thrower clogged, and the distance between the thrower and the front of the train was also problematic. With a few modifications (mainly removing the guard) performance was improved but throwing heavy wet snow was no easy feat. In other words, it works exactly like most real snowblowers.
In order to properly measure the effectiveness of the design, a second test was conducted in the lighter snow found at higher elevations. That’s where this little machine can come into play. With the help of the second thruster, the thrower easily penetrates deeper into the snow. Again, not very practical but hey enjoy the simple things in life.
Alternatively, you can always get a radio-controlled Mercedes Unimog snowplow and clear a path from your living room.
