
                ***  The Joker ***   (3-30-03)
   (A custom turboshaft-powered Dodge Ram Sport monster truck)

  - 3 truck set -
  by ZOtm_BigDOGGe

 This is a super-trick custom monster truck built to modern MT specifications and competition requirements. While turbines are not yet allowed, perhaps seeing this truck would convince someone to have a change of mind. 

 A Dodge Ram body from 4x4 Evolution-2 was modified for the project, fiberglassing and repainting the body, enlarging the wheelwells, and cutting open the front grill. A "bonus was added behind the grill.....those are Jack Nicholson's  eyes staring back from behind it (he was the Joker in the Batman movie).  A custom razorback spoiler, modeled after an actual razorback I saw in a Summit Racing catalog, was mounted behind the cab. The non-league-play versions also feature a tachometer and gauges for the driver.

A patrick-style frame was rebuilt for this rig, designed to support the engine, drivetrain and body. A fully custom drivetrain was designed, created and installed. Power is delivered from the engine through an external gearbox on the lower turbine-casing to a primary driveshaft. This shaft delivers the high-RPM torque to a large centrally mounted speed-reduction gearbox mounted in the lower middle of the frame. This transmission also contains a custom eletric clutch-assembly (the primary output driveshaft is always rotating, as the jet engine has no clutch itself), and splits the power between the front and back axles as well as rpm-reduction and clutch duties.

 The power-plant of this beast was inspired by the turboshaft jet engines used on helicopters like the AH64-APACHE, tanks like the M1-A1 Abrams, and seen on competition sled-pulling tractors by ART ARFONS' Green Monster series and several other progressive racing machines. Turboshafts (or turboprops when a propeller is used) are similar to a standard aircraft jet engine, but are usually shorter, and have a mechanically-geared output shaft for driving propellers and wheels and whatever.  Power-shaft output of Joker's gas-turbine is estimated to be around 2000-2500 horsepower, as this is the power of real turboshaft engines of similar size. Turbines weigh about HALF as much as a piston engine of equal power, so I was able to mount it closer to the rear of the truck without penalty. You don't see them on every vehicle because turbines are quite expensive and fuel-thirsty!

The 1800 degree-F jet exhaust is directed upward by a 90-degree bend tailpipe, as used by the before-mentioned Art Arfons (The King of the Jets, as he is known).  

Texture animation was added to the turbine inlet fan and the exhaust "flame" as well as the primary driveshaft.  A safety basket is mounted over the intake to prevent ingestion of debris and clumsy track marshalls.  ;-)  

The paint is inspired by the super-villian JOKER, a nemesis of the cartoon hero, BATMAN. The custom WAV file is of Ceasar Romero saying "the Joker" as he plays the Joker role himself on the 1966 TV show. The joker's face graphics on the truck-body are from various BATMAN and JOKER fan sites.

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      THREE TRUCK SET - 3 PODS

3 different trucks are included in the ZIP file:
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1. HIGH DETAIL SHOW VERSION - JOKER.POD
 2564 vertices
-animated engine textures / detailed interior-
 This truck features a fully detailed body and chassis, including the JOKER himself in full driving suit and helmet. The engine intake-fan, exhaust flames & power-output shaft are animated.



2. ONLINE LEAGUE LITE VERSION - JOKELITE.POD
 1215 vertices
-no animation / enclosed cab-
 I made this low-lag version for online drags and freestyles. The body vertices were merged, so the paint will appear a little duller than the detailed truck. Some parts were deleted to acomplish this vertix/face reduction, but you have to look close to tell. Great for slower computers!



3. BODY-OFF VERSION - JOKECHAS.POD
 1736 vertices
-animated engine textures / exposed chassis-
 A version of the truck with the body removed, so that gamers can view the animated drivetrain details close up!


Enjoy!

ZOtm_BigDOGGe
(ZOtm_BigDOGGe@yahoo.com)
