Train Moc Nightmare Xpress

[Takanuinuva]

Hey I'm new to the train topic. I was wondering if you guys would rate my custom train I built in Ldd. I want to know if it would work in real life on real track. Along with anything I could do to improve the design such as using fewer pieces.

It would be motorized with 88002 power functions train motor and 88000 power functions AAA battery box.

Here is a link to the Brickshelf gallery for all the pictures. (The gallery is public. Gallery also contains Lxf files for the train.)

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=497660

[Spitfire2865]

Where would the battery box be held? And would you not want to be able to control it via IR controller and receiver?

[Takanuinuva]

Where would the battery box be held? And would you not want to be able to control it via IR controller and receiver?

Battery box goes in the coal car right behind the engine. Think of the emerald night's power functions but with the engineer's cockpit still having detail hence the use of the train motor.

How would I be able to control it with a IR controller and reciever

Edited February 10, 2013 by Takanuinuva

[Spitfire2865]

You plug the motor into the receiver and the receiver into the battery. Simple! Then you use the IR speed controller to adjust the speed and direction remotely. Just like the Emerald.

[Takanuinuva]

You plug the motor into the receiver and the receiver into the battery. Simple! Then you use the IR speed controller to adjust the speed and direction remotely. Just like the Emerald.

Ok but those parts the battery and the train motor don't yet exist in Ldd. But what do you think of the train design.

[Daedalus304]

Hello Takanuinuva! That's a very intimidating looking ghost train you've got there, with a lot of clever design choices.

I don't know about parts availability, but design-wise there's a couple things that will hinder it's ability to run. I absolutely love those bone-shaped side rods (Ingenious idea, really), but unfortunately those ball parts are wider than 1 stud and are going to have serious collisions with both your wheels and drive rods. The second big thing is your engine's wheelbase, unfortunately thanks to LEGO track's tight curves you can't get away with that many wheels on a rigid frame. There are a lot of different ways you can articulate it that shouldn't change the aesthetics much at all, though.

Can't wait to see this whenever you get it built and running!

[Takanuinuva]

Hello Takanuinuva! That's a very intimidating looking ghost train you've got there, with a lot of clever design choices.

I don't know about parts availability, but design-wise there's a couple things that will hinder it's ability to run. I absolutely love those bone-shaped side rods (Ingenious idea, really), but unfortunately those ball parts are wider than 1 stud and are going to have serious collisions with both your wheels and drive rods. The second big thing is your engine's wheelbase, unfortunately thanks to LEGO track's tight curves you can't get away with that many wheels on a rigid frame. There are a lot of different ways you can articulate it that shouldn't change the aesthetics much at all, though.

Can't wait to see this whenever you get it built and running!

The front wheels of the engine are designed to turn. As for the bone shaped side rods. It attaches in Ldd so It might be able to run. I don't own any trains so this is only an idea. If someone could maybe test this with the emerald night then we can see if it will work.

[Spitfire2865]

The thing about the tight curves of L gauge is that, as he said, many wheel arrangement's wont work.

As with your train, Steam locomotives do not have rotating bogies such that diesels do. A steam locomotives drivers are fixed and the front and/or rear truck(s) have to adjust for this. I can not see in your model if the front truck even rotates at all. And if it does, It has to rotate over 2 axis. This allows it to "swing" to navigate a turn.

And the bone shaped side rods. He means that just because they fit in the digital model, It may not rotate completely in real life. It may hit something like the pistons or the track itself.

And what I was saying about the IR receiver and transmitter is if you were to build this in real bricks. I know it would not do much in a digital environment.

But I have to say, about the design, its a bit of an overkill with the sheer amount of bones.

Though I do like how you can put a PF bogie to connect to the drivers rather than hiding the motor in the tender. Something about Driver driven locos in Lego just seems like a bit of a win.

[Hrw-Amen]

The over all theme is well established and the contrast of black and white do look good and rather ghost train like which I am assuming was what you were going for, so it is a very good effort especially as you say you are not into trains. As a themed engine and trucks it is very nice. What fate is awaiting the prisoners?

I can see what the others are saying about those balls on the roads and I agree that they will not work in the real world as they are too wide to allow it all to turn. That said the train will not loose much character without them as it has a very strong theme. As to the front truck turning, yes it will have to do this if you wanted to run it on LEGO L Gauge track. It is a little hard to see from the images but you will have to off set the connecting rods by ninety degrees as well. (it looks as though this has not been done from what I can tell, although it is hard to see admittedly.) This is an easy thing to fix.

The wheels in the tender are easy to make work if you wanted to, either by using the PF train motor (Which pivots.) and a stationary front/real wheel set to get six wheels. or if you prefer to put a motor to drive the drivers then you can easily make the middle set of the tender wheels float so they ride in or out with the curvature of the track.

It is a nice thing to do if you can get a motor to work the drivers, but to be honest it is a lot easier to use a train motor to power the tender. There is no real right or wrong about it and it is down to personal preference.

[Takanuinuva]

Thanks for all the tips. Here is pictures of the engine with redesigned bone side rods. Also the front wheels Can now turn a full 360 if need be

http://www.brickshel...ss_engine_1.png

http://www.brickshel...ss_engine_2.png

http://www.brickshel...ss_engine_3.png

http://www.brickshel...ss_engine_4.png

Also you guys are free to play around with the design of the engine if you have any ideas on how to make it work better That is why there is an Lxf file for the engine. Though with the new pic the gallery is no longer public so it will be a while for it to approve.

I'm also a huge fan of trains. I've just never owned a lego train cause I don't have the money to spend or the space for the track atm.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Takanuinuva

[Spitfire2865]

Still wont work. The pilot truck needs to pivot on 2 axis. Not one like a normal bogie.

[Takanuinuva]

Still wont work. The pilot truck needs to pivot on 2 axis. Not one like a normal bogie.

So I should design the front wheels like how they are on the emerald night then?

[Takanuinuva]

Hey how many studs tall is 88002 power functions train motor. I may have built my drive wheels too tall.

Ok I've made another change to the train engine design. The front wheels now rotate like the one on the emerald night.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/takanuinuva/NightmareXpress/nightmare_xpress_engine_1.png

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/takanuinuva/NightmareXpress/nightmare_xpress_engine_2.png

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/takanuinuva/NightmareXpress/nightmare_xpress_engine_3.png

The gallery also now has an Lxf file for the entire train. Its placed on track and all of them line up with each other.

Edited February 11, 2013 by Takanuinuva