MOD: How the Western Train Chase Was Won - 7597

[AussieJimbo]

Wanting to do something a little different with my extended Toy Story train, I set upon the great train chase scene from the American movie "How The West Was Won". I've also been impressed by some of the earlier extended TS MODS posted before so I've probably been influenced by them, though not deliberately.

Usually I'd have a reference image or two but this time to get started I recommend you have a look at the youtube clip from the movie below so you can check out the train and the action I've tried to model:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfAk8ljuEcQ

I've added a tender to the TS Loco, extended the passenger cars into an "express" car (baggage car) and a longer passenger coach that conceals the dual motor RC system loco that powers the train. I extended the caboose and added a few freight cars with interesting cargo as in the film.

For added fun I included a few play features which you'll see below: a hinged barricade you can "smash" through, a timber car with shifting load and the traction engine which falls off the train near the end of the scene.

So here are few photos of How the Western Train Chase Was Won.

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Engineer there's a barricade ahead, open it up, wide open!

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A closer look at the custom wagons:

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Wagon with traction engine.

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Wagon with steam winch and boilers.

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Timber wagon.

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One loose chain and it swings out a little.

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Two loose chains and the load of logs tumble.

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I hope you like it.

:classic:

Edited May 12, 2011 by AussieJimbo

[WesternOutlaw]

Really nice AJ. It's great to see an extended version of a fine Western Train. Would you believe that I purchased one of these upon release and still didn't build? I love your Wild West backdrop. That would be great for adding a small strip of Western buildings along the track.

Overall, a very nice diorama and I like your additional rolling stock.

[AussieJimbo]

Thanks Brickster.

The backdrop is cobbled together from Monument Valley pics I found on wikipedia.

Hope you get round to putting your original set together. It's a nice fun build.

:classic:

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Great scene 'AJ'. The design of the train looks exactly like those of the train from the movie, minus the colors. Still, a great setup none the less

[AussieJimbo]

Thanks LGG.

I had fun putting this together. One thing I would like is red wheels on the tender but I need to have a look around for brick built bogey designs.

On at technical level, the dual motor "loco" (passaneger car) in the middle I didn't think would be ideal but it actually works really well and I've had no trouble running the train through complex track work and minor grades.

:classic:

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Well thats sounds like a neat, relatively easy solution to adequately powering this train. I'm guessing the are XL motors?

[AussieJimbo]

No, just two RC (not PF) train motors on the standard RC integrated receiver/battery box train base with a passenger car body.

I've tried powering the loco directly before with a train motor powering the large driving wheels directly but wasn't happy with the results.

:classic:

Edited May 11, 2011 by AussieJimbo

[WesternOutlaw]

On a side note (not to get too far off topic): thanks for sharing that video reference. I never saw How the West Was Won and I know it's a classic. I was always partial to Breakheart Pass with Charles Bronson - great train movie. Always inspired me to build a Wild West train.

[Trent]

There are some really nice little details in this, and I really like the traction engine.

[lightningtiger]

Now that's really excellent, cool and fantastic all at once 'AJ', dude what a train !

Keep up the great work and totally Brick On !

[AussieJimbo]

On a side note (not to get too far off topic): thanks for sharing that video reference. I never saw How the West Was Won and I know it's a classic. I was always partial to Breakheart Pass with Charles Bronson - great train movie. Always inspired me to build a Wild West train.

Looks like some great action from the trailer, I'll check it out if I can find the full movie,

There are some really nice little details in this, and I really like the traction engine.

Thanks mate, I'm really pleased how the traction engine turned out too.

Now that's really excellent, cool and fantastic all at once 'AJ', dude what a train !

Keep up the great work and totally Brick On !

Cheers, LT.

Whilst it was tricky getting a good shot, here's a pic of the interior of the "express" car for you. -wink-

(This time I was ready for you but you didn't ask) -laugh-

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:classic:

Edited May 12, 2011 by AussieJimbo

[SavaTheAggie]

Great extended version of the set. The locomotive from the set has always bugged me - the cab is too tall for the proportions to the locomotive (done because it isn't supposed to be a "real" train), but aside from that it looks really slick. I love the little tractor on the flatcar. The backdrop really makes it though, I ought to do something similar.

I've actually built the locomotive from "How The West Was Won".

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53570

Perhaps I should borrow your idea and do something similar. It would be fun - haven't done a "Scenic Tour" photo in a while.

--Tony

[AussieJimbo]

Hi Sava, thanks for your kind words.

That Mikado of yours really is a beauty and now that you mention it, I think the reference to the movie might have been what put me on to it in the first place.

I agree with your comments about the stock engine. It is a bit too high, as are all the cars due to the use of standard framed doors at each end and the cartoony look of the original from TS3. I think the design was also made this way to accommodate the taller than usual Woody minifigure.

The tender mitigates this a bit as do the longer cars so I decided to leave it as is.

I note that your 400 needs a motorised passenger car so I've got you covered there. Your loco would look awesome pulling this consist. Did they use the Vanderbilt tender in the movie?

I thought it was more of a standard wood hopper. Oops, it is a coal tender in the movie. I used wood fired because it seemed right for the TS train with that big wide funnel and I had a few small brown bricks on hand. :-)

:classic:

Edited May 12, 2011 by AussieJimbo

[SavaTheAggie]

Thanks. I don't know why they didn't use the Vanderbilt tender from the movie, in fact it caused quite a bit of confusion with me while trying to find photos of the #400 while I was building it. But photographic evidence shows that it always had the Vanderbilt tender, so it was a decision of the movie producers not to use it, I guess. Perhaps they thought a Vanderbilt tender was too "out of the ordinary" and didn't want it drawing attention.

I also don't know when (or even if) the locomotive was switched over to burning oil over coal - wouldn't it be funny if they placed decorative coal on top of an oil tender for the movie.

Indeed, I think my #400 would look great in your scene. Ever since I posted earlier my brain's been on active thinking about copying your idea here.

[AussieJimbo]

I also don't know when (or even if) the locomotive was switched over to burning oil over coal - wouldn't it be funny if they placed decorative coal on top of an oil tender for the movie.

-Laugh- Yeah, they may well have done. That's Hollywood.

Indeed, I think my #400 would look great in your scene. Ever since I posted earlier my brain's been on active thinking about copying your idea here.

Awesome, good luck with it. Look forward to seeing that.

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