Pizzareno Posted June 29, 2014 Posted June 29, 2014 He folks. I have a question to ask regarding purchasing a 9v train system. I have some old 12v stuff and I have PF stuff but with the advent of ME models new track I am keen to look into 9v. The benefits as I see it are no batteries and the ability to make smaller locomotives or locomotives with small or narrow bodies without the need for a secondary wagon to house the extra PF parts. This is something I liked to be able to do with 12v but the track is getting harder and more expensive to come by. My track is also getting more brittle and more pieces are breaking. Unfortunately I don't have a permanent setup. Currently funds allow for the purchase of about $230NZD ($200USD) which includes shipping to New Zealand. I am banking on about $40NZD Shipping. So sets that include everything I need to get started within my budget look like 4561 and 4559. My question then.....which one would people choose given my situation? I do not think that either of these are LEGO's best efforts but as I say they seem to include everything in my given budget. Parts wise 4561 does look appealing for all of the windows. Any advice will be greatly received even if you think it is a waste of time going to 9v. I will be interested to hear/read your views. Quote
Lazarus Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) I would pic the 4559 if I had to buy them. The other is a really bad set and really ugly. I run a Large 9v set and I am in NZ. I would say the better option is to Buy just the track and a 9v controler. If you are in auckland I can give you one of mine I dont need any more. As you already have some of the beter looking trains I would not waste the cash on the old trains and put more cash into track. 9v streight section is about $4-5 nz and bends are about 50c and switches are about $15-25 all NZ prices from brick link. For any tips and that in regards to Lego trains, come out one of the AuckLug lego shows. We have our big show in October and doing a small one 27 july. I will be at both but at the small one I will just have my TMNT and Cars and Mixcels. Myself and about 5+ other people all use 9v still. Our web site > http://www.aucklug.co.nz/ Edited June 30, 2014 by Lazarus Quote
LEGO Guy Bri Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Definitely 4559. I got this as my first and only train as a kid and loved it, the colors, build, and playability. Like Lazarus said, the other is very ugly and has a very simple, bulky build look. I'd only consider that set if I could get it for under $50USD Quote
weeble1688 Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Funny you should say that BriGuy - that's what I paid for 4561 when I started my Lego train collection as an AFOL. It's not the greatest train, but it's not bad as a starter set if you like passenger trains. The 4559 does have more pieces though, if that helps you, Pizzareno, or you could get just 9V track & motors to "modernize" your older collection. Same for PF track & components if you want to "future-proof" your train collection, but I also prefer 9V to PF even if I do run them both. Hope my two cents helps your decision in some way! Quote
rsb0204 Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 I like 4561 better than 4559, but id go with what Lazarus said. piece for piece 9v track isn't too expensive, cost more than RC/PF track shure, but it would probably be more cost effective to by a 9v transformer and a loop of track (that's all you would get with the sets anyway) then put 9v motors in your 12v trains, you cant run 12v motors on 9v track so you would have to change them out at some point anyway. why not do it first and save some dough? Quote
Pizzareno Posted July 1, 2014 Author Posted July 1, 2014 Cool. I think my mind has been made up. Definitely looks to be better investment to buy the parts I want individually. Thanks folks for your help it has certainly changed my thinking on how to buy 9v gear. Lazarus. Thank you for the offer of a controller. I live in Christchurch so a wee way from Auckland. Though would you consider sending one at my cost to CHCH? Thanks, You can PM me if you like. Quote
fred67 Posted July 1, 2014 Posted July 1, 2014 I have two 4561 Railway Expresses... it was the first 9V LEGO train set I even knew existed, and I got two at Sam's Club (warehouse club here in the U.S.) for $75 each. Not knowing TLG was fully involved in trains, I bought a second one thinking I could expand the track and build my own stuff. Nice to have two speed regulators. I never bought another 9V complete set, so can't comment on the other. Knowing what I know now, I'm not a big fan of 4561. It's true there's a lot of windows, but the other colors are not particularly good for trains. I'm glad I got it, as it got me started on LEGO trains (eventually to give up N-Guage), but only because I discovered I could buy a bunch of other things ("build your own train" line). Quote
Redimus Posted July 1, 2014 Posted July 1, 2014 I have to say I'm not that keen on either of those 9v odd looking high speed trains. Quote
zephyr1934 Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 My first 9v train set was the 4561 and it soon turned into my first train MOC. Partswise 4561 is a little nicer than 4559 because it has two complete sets of trucks and couplers whereas 4559 has a shared motor truck on the first car. The drop baseplates in both of these sets are of limited use (very good for somethings, but not so good for many other things). I personally would recommend 4512 or 4564 as an entry 9v set. I think your choice of just buying the parts you want is a better decision than buying a set you don't like (way too much curves not enough straights). Keep an eye out for them at resale shops though, you never know when you might stumble on to a deal. I have 9v and I enjoy it and it will probably remain my dominant variant, but if I did not have any 9v I'd probably just stick with PF. Or at the very least, I'd hold off and see how well the ME metal track works out. Quote
Pizzareno Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 Maybe I can stretch my budget as 4512 does look like a very nice set. As I figure it out it isn't that much more than the original price. There seems to be a ton more useful parts in 4512 and I think it looks better than 4564. So now my mind is unmade again. Looking at the price of getting all the bits individually doesn't look like it will be much more cost effective if at all. With this set there is more wheels and buffers and also a set of points, or switches I guess depending on where in the world you live. All these parts will be rather useful. When shipping all the way to New Zealand it is always a balancing act between buying enough gear to make the shipping worth while and not having to go to multiple sellers and not getting too much so that the shipping gets out of hand. I've just made some queries on prices for shipping so will see what I get back from that. Quote
kofi Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 The set 4559 is great! Much better than the 4561 because it is much more playable than this blue train! Apart from that the set 4561 is really boring to build! If you are interested in a huge number of different parts then take the set 4512 with it's green bricks! I love this train! It is similar to the set 4564! But it is much prettier than the yellow train! So as a start up I would recommend the passenger train set 4559 and as a freight train the set 4512! Besides I love the 9V trains! As you said in your posts, there are much more possibilities to build than with the RC trains. Quote
Pizzareno Posted July 3, 2014 Author Posted July 3, 2014 With a super fantastic price on shipping I have purchased 4512 and it comes in almost exactly on budget. It is complete but doesn't have any instructions or box. Though I think I have seen the instructions on Brickset or LEGO®.com. So now am super excited for it to arrive. Thanks for everyone's help and opinions. Quote
Jorrith Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) I think you did ok getting the 4512 set. It looks like a good decent cargo train set, i still need to get one, but it's on the wanted list. :) Also i agree on the 4561 set, i have bought a incomplete set with alot of rails for a good price, but the train motor was used for a dutch type shunting engine since i did not like the modern look of this set at all. Edited July 4, 2014 by Jorrith Quote
Bricktrain Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 4512 is one of the sets I used to own, great set, it was the inspiration for me to build a grey and green version of 3677 loco. 4565 is my faovorite 9v set, I would like to have a PF version but havent yet worked out how to fit the battery box in. Quote
kofi Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Congratulations for your first train set! 4512 is definitely a great set to start! So next great trains are waiting for you! The amazing santa fe (10020) or the crocodile (4551) as well as the train building set 10183! I am looking forward to hearing from you which trains are your next!! Happy building! Quote
Redimus Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 You do realise what sort of money the Santa Fe and Crocodile set go for right? Quote
kofi Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Of course I know the prices! And it is definitely too much. But that's the matter if you are interested in 9V trains! You cannot buy them in the store but from my point of view you can build with the 9V ystem much more realistic trains than with the RC system or even the 4,5V system. What I wanted to say with the posting above: if you build up a big collection of 9V trains those two trains (Santa Fe and Crocodile) are nice options to buy - if you got the money! - like everywhere if you are interested in LEGO. If anyone is interested in buying the set 4551, here is my experience: The crocodile I build from my own parts. And I won' t do it again. After I finished the set with all the stickers and instructions it was nearly as expensive as a used complete one on bricklink! Quote
ScotNick Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 I also got the 4559 as my first 9V set and currently got an offer for 4511 and 4512 (both complete, motors work), each 80€. What would you say, is it worth it? Quote
kofi Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 4511 wirh instructions and sticker?! Worth buying it immediately! 4512 with instructions and sticker?! Buy it right now! Quote
zephyr1934 Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 With a super fantastic price on shipping I have purchased 4512 and it comes in almost exactly on budget. It is complete but doesn't have any instructions or box. Though I think I have seen the instructions on Brickset or LEGO®.com. So now am super excited for it to arrive. Thanks for everyone's help and opinions. Here you go... it should be a very good first 9v set. You do realise what sort of money the Santa Fe and Crocodile set go for right? The Santa Fe is a fantastic set. Even if it is price prohibitive, it is an excellent set to build a repainted MOD out of. I'd suggest downloading the instructions, get a copy of LDD or LDraw and build it in virtual bricks. Then change the colors, tweak the design both for parts not available in the new colors and to avoid expensive pieces where possible. It is an excellent adventure into a first MOD. There are several solutions for the windows, e.g., using clear stickers for the portholes. Quote
Dan-147 Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 (edited) The Santa Fe is a fantastic set. Even if it is price prohibitive, it is an excellent set to build a repainted MOD out of. I'd suggest downloading the instructions, get a copy of LDD or LDraw and build it in virtual bricks. Then change the colors, tweak the design both for parts not available in the new colors and to avoid expensive pieces where possible. It is an excellent adventure into a first MOD. There are several solutions for the windows, e.g., using clear stickers for the portholes. I did a repaint of it in VIA Rail colors (yellow, blue and black). I used this part http://www.bricklink...m.asp?P=2377c03 for the portholes. Although it is rather squareish, I like the results, plus it's pure LEGO. I have no idea how much it cost me. A lot of the parts came from my spares. Dan-147 Edited July 5, 2014 by Dan-147 Quote
Pizzareno Posted July 7, 2014 Author Posted July 7, 2014 As I tend to model trains from my country in LEGO it is unlikely that I would ever purchase the Santa Fe. But I can see a resemblance to a DG class that used to run here. I wonder how many of the parts are available in dark red..... Here you go... it should be a very good first 9v set. Thank you for the link. Quote
zephyr1934 Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 As I tend to model trains from my country in LEGO it is unlikely that I would ever purchase the Santa Fe. But I can see a resemblance to a DG class that used to run here. I wonder how many of the parts are available in dark red..... Definitely the best train to model is one from your home country. Here is the bricklink list of parts that were available in dark red (prices are goofy, some are really expensive some are really cheap) Quote
1974 Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 Definitely the best train to model is one from your home country. Here is the bricklink list of parts that were available in dark red (prices are goofy, some are really expensive some are really cheap) Also, be aware there's two distinctive dark reds (and loads of variations in between, sigh). No way to tell what parts you'll get from BL. Looks nice if you're building a house, not so much if you're doing a train (unless it's supposed to look worn and rusty) There are several solutions for the windows, e.g., using clear stickers for the portholes. I read that as if you have stickers you can put over a solidcoloured panel to create a clear window That would be all kinds of awesome Quote
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