New here..

[Grandadbrick]

Hi, Ive arrived here after getting a high speed train set in the black friday sales, set 60051.

Ive been on the dark side for nearly 40 years now but with a 4 year old grand daughter I got the green light to go get some lego :D

I'll be asking some daft questions soon as I fancy building some custom engines and trackside buildings. Just gathering track at the moment.

Im in Co. durham England and wonder if theres any train clubs or displays round here?

Cheers,

Steve

[stu808]

Welcome to the forum!

I have 60051 too and I recommend getting a least one more middle carriage/car for it, looks way better IMHO. See the picture from dr_spock from this post http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=117562entry2392964

That was the same image I found on a Google search that inspired me to get another middle carriage/car.

I did post-grad study, far as I know there is no such thing as a stupid question; except for certain forum admins/MODs/Trolls. But read the Train Tech Master Index very WELL, loads of really useful info!

I'm sure someone here can help with local clubs and point you in the direction of displays, I'm no help as I'm on the other side of the planet... even for me down here in NZ, far as I'm concerned the Auckland LUG is a branch of the Bavarian Illuminati

Stu :)

[Grandadbrick]

Thanks Stu, I have indeed ordered another middle carriage for me to guide the little boss through the build!

[Paperballpark]

Welcome Steve! Good to see another UK person getting into Lego again. There is a recognised Lego User Group (rLUG) in the north of England, called Northern Brickworks, which has members from Chester to Grimsby, Middlesborough to Manchester, and most places inbetween. There's a couple of small shows that some members organise up your way, including at Stockton on 20-21 August 2016. We're a fairly new club, but a nicely growing one (our year-on-year membership increased by 70% this year), and most of our members display at or help out at lots of different shows up and down the country.

I'm a Lego 'train' person too, and my flickr account is here.

Edited December 3, 2015 by Paperballpark

[Grandadbrick]

Cheers. I really like your green Flying Scotsman!

Did you build that yourself or from a kit? Any instructions anywhere for it?? Also where did you get the main big wheels from?

Steve

[Paperballpark]

Thanks! I designed and built it myself, so there's no instructions I'm afraid. If you're thinking "I couldn't do that!", bear in mind I only started with Lego trains two years ago, and have only been back into Lego for three years. The first train I built that was my design was very simple, and the second got dismantled ages ago, I was that unimpressed with it after a while. So you definitely get better with practice!

Everyone has different aspects of the hobby that they prefer. Personally, I'm utterly useless at designing something off the top of my head, completely from my imagination. But if I had plans and photos of something, I like to think I could have a decent bash at building it out of Lego. Others are the exact opposite, and some just prefer to build sets. There's even those who don't even build many sets, and prefer to collect them instead. There's room for everyone!

Anyway, the large wheels are the XL Driver wheels from Big Ben Bricks in America. They're the black ones, and I got the green colour printed onto them (along with the other decals on the train) by Minifigforlife down near Leicester. Any other questions, just ask.

Edited December 3, 2015 by Paperballpark

[marook]

Welcome to a wonderful world :-)

I'm also a bit 'new' after some 'grey' years, but I'm stocking up bricks again to be able to build.

It seems you are lucky, having a LEGO Store near by in Newcastle - remember to fill a PAB cup when you come around! :-)

And just ask.. there is no such thing as stupid questions - only stupid answers..