Fx Bricks (Michael Gale) announces Fx Track system

[dtomsen]

Some strange arguments against 9v...

“9v is dead and not in production anymore and one should migrate to PF. The sooner the better”.

Buf PF is also dead and not in production anymore?!?

The only remaning parts also used in PU are plastic tracks. But 9v tracks work fine for PU too?!?

What we need is a whole train system aimed at us train enthusiasts with focus on sustainability; motors, pickups, control, power, tracks and so on. FX Track System promises that.

Edited July 7, 2019 by dtomsen

[Matt Dawson]

On 7/1/2019 at 9:38 AM, Chromeknight said:

If you read the document released, that’s not the plan.

Michael and the backers aren’t simply aiming at AFOLs but at a range of people interested in train modelling who are weighing up which gauge track system to go with. 

To be a valid and competitive choice in that space, L-gauge track needs an expanded geometry and improved power and control systems. That’s what the plan is intended to provide.

Unfortunately that boat has long since sailed. Aiming does not equal sales - I've not seen toy stores OR model train shops selling aftermarket LEGO parts, only LEGO traders at exhibitions - if they even stock LEGO's own train line!

To that end, that will likely mean online only sales, which as anyone who has half an economic brain means two things:
1. less sales (less visibility, no chance to try-before-buying unless you see it at a show), although that's offset by

2. No "brick & mortar" overheads

9V - as I've said before - has come under increasing legislation weight as a product with exposed electrical contacts (the rails) - switching to battery powered stock not only frees people from the problems of return loops, cost of track, requirement to have a mains supply accessible but also means a lower overall cost (subject to battery costs/type). 9V is a dying breed save for the diehard AFOLs and I personally doubt there will be many newcomers wanting to invest in an aftermarket system for 9V when they can get plastic track - either LEGO's own, Bricktracks, 4DBrix or TrixBrix - for less of a cost and at greater availability. The only reason a powered track system would make economic or physical sense is for on-track hands-free recharging of batteries, but that wouldn't require the entire layout to be recharged - and you could get away with existing LEGO produced 9V track for that.

Personally, the only reason I am keeping some 9V behind is for a trolley/light rail system as the battery box will be too intrusive.

On 7/3/2019 at 11:59 AM, Henry 991 said:

Even Lego Group’s brand new layout in LEGO House of Billund runs on 9V track. I was stunned when I realized that a couple of weeks ago.

This is false. the LEGO House's trains run on rechargable batteries recharged through an induction pad on the first wagon/coach - the Santa Fe train is a prime example - the first coach stops over a walkway at the station which houses the charge coil. The metal rails are purely for aesthetic reasons, and even then they struggled to do a proper reverse loop with their own geometry.

[dr_spock]

There is still a lot of 9V in use out there.  Michael is trying to fill some of that market's needs.  People and LUGs with big investment in 9V do want to be able to keep their ecosystem going as long as possible.

RLUGs new into train displays will most likely go with the current available system since those items can be LUGBULK.

[Matt Dawson]

2 hours ago, dtomsen said:

Some strange arguments against 9v...

“9v is dead and not in production anymore and one should migrate to PF. The sooner the better”.

Buf PF is also dead and not in production anymore?!?

The only remaning parts also used in PU are plastic tracks. But 9v tracks work fine for PU too?!?

What we need is a whole train system aimed at us train enthusiasts with focus on sustainability; motors, pickups, control, power, tracks and so on. FX Track System promises that.

9V isn't dead but is dying a slow death. PF isn't produced anymore, but the last I checked obtaining PF items was still more affordable and accessible.

Plus PF items (batteries and motors) can be used with not only the PF system, but PFxBrick, S-Brick and BuWizz - and aren't exclusive for train fans to use. Matt Csenge has used two train motors combined with Emerald Night wheels to produce a New Haven electric, something not achievable with a fixed wheel size 9V motor.

Whilst typing, I did remember there is one reason 9V has advantages over plastic track, and that's interior coach lighting as that could use a lot of power. Again, I'm pretty sure something like Brickstuff could fill this niche better as it wouldn't require pickups, would work off plastic track and is more aimed at the experienced hobbyist (especially where modified elements come into play...)

Edited July 7, 2019 by Matt Dawson

[Tcm0]

32 minutes ago, Matt Dawson said:

Plus PF items (batteries and motors) can be used with not only the PF system, but PFxBrick, S-Brick and BuWizz - and aren't exclusive for train fans to use. Matt Csenge has used two train motors combined with Emerald Night wheels to produce a New Haven electric, something not achievable with a fixed wheel size 9V motor.

That's why a power pickup would be really interesting. You could run whatever motor you'd like and you only need a tender with one power pickup wheel to power it. No need for a fixed size motor.

[The Brick Boss]

While 9V isn't in production anymore, there are grown brickheads who still use them. So they're far from dead. 

However, I do prefer PF as it's easier to keep up and use in my opinion. I say that from experience. Not out of bias. 

Edited July 7, 2019 by pooda

[Roadmonkeytj]

4 hours ago, Matt Dawson said:

Whilst typing, I did remember there is one reason 9V has advantages over plastic track, and that's interior coach lighting as that could use a lot of power. Again, I'm pretty sure something like Brickstuff could fill this niche better as it wouldn't require pickups

I can say this when I added custom lighting to my Emerald Brickstuff was extremely easy to work with . . .The super tiny LEDS not so easy with my big fingers lol.

 

But you can acheive carriage lighting quite simply.  Add a baggage car or a combine car ... Put a second battery box in and power the carriges with extention cables ... If you leave a short loop between the cars it looks like air lines.

 

 

[legotownlinz]

On 6/24/2019 at 8:43 PM, Roadmonkeytj said:

My personal opinion is 9v track looks better in a layout even if running 9V trains.

Do you mean it looks better because of the metal on top so that it is glossy like a real rail? That's indeed a small advantage. But since most other parts that would be metal in the real world are made out of plastic in the Lego world I don't think it is a strong argument from an aesthetic perspective.

I say plastic tracks look better. 9V layouts look silly because of Lego's strange track geometry and the limitation to a single type of switches.

 

Edited July 8, 2019 by legotownlinz

[Roadmonkeytj]

5 hours ago, legotownlinz said:

Do you mean it looks better because of the metal on top so that it is glossy like a real rail?

Maybe its because I started trains at the end of 12V and had my dark ages before PF came out ... 9V track just looks more appealing to me.

However I am using Pu for my new layout with PF track.

[Ludo]

On 7/8/2019 at 10:44 AM, legotownlinz said:

I say plastic tracks look better. 9V layouts look silly because of Lego's strange track geometry and the limitation to a single type of switches.

 

@legotownlinz,

This is exactly what Michael want to obtain wit his project.

Larger radii, better and more points, just like the BT tracks, but for 9V. 

I'll stay with my 9V track, easy to adapt the track, like the model train fans, in sections, make it possible to run multiple trains on the same track.

Or integrate DCC decoders into the train motor, remote control of the points, ...

There's indeed a potential use for those tracks.

 

[Toastie]

3 hours ago, Ludo said:

I'll stay with my 9V track

@Ludo

I'll for sure do the same! Power everywhere (where track is that is, but here is track everywhere) as I do the pickup thing from the track, which is 15 V DC - 15 V simply because nobody else is doing it - it sounds cool to claim that). All the best! Thorsten.

[zephyr1934]

18 hours ago, Toastie said:

I do the pickup thing from the track, which is 15 V DC - 15 V simply because nobody else is doing it - it sounds cool to claim that).

Forget about going to 11... this one goes up to 15!

[Roadmonkeytj]

On 12/6/2019 at 3:05 PM, Toastie said:

@Ludo

I'll for sure do the same! Power everywhere (where track is that is, but here is track everywhere) as I do the pickup thing from the track, which is 15 V DC - 15 V simply because nobody else is doing it - it sounds cool to claim that). All the best! Thorsten.

Will you be installing block controls?

[bricks n bolts]

This is all very intriguing and would be nice to get a progress update on which elements will be available first.

I think a lot could be achieved just by having new 9V compatible wire and plugs, the old plugs are too hard to rewire and the quality of the wire was always deficient along with the coating perishing in comparison to 12v wire which is for the most part still good.

Edited December 8, 2019 by bricks n bolts

[Toastie]

On 12/7/2019 at 11:11 PM, Roadmonkeytj said:

Will you be installing block controls?

No. The whole track system is powered with 15VDC. When there are loops leading to polarity issues, a non-conducting PF track piece is inserted. Regardless of what is getting power from the track (trains, lights etc.) is doing that via a bridge rectifier, so polarity issues become obsolete on the device connected.

Any automation (I don't do that as of now) needs to be software driven. The train automation project here on EB serves as example. As trains pick-up power from the track and are then controlled by on-board electronics (RF -> PF, PuP, RF -> PBricks ...) control is pretty much software based (= my laptop)

All the best,
Thorsten 

[Roadmonkeytj]

3 hours ago, Toastie said:

No. The whole track system is powered with 15VDC. When there are loops leading to polarity issues, a non-conducting PF track piece is inserted. Regardless of what is getting power from the track (trains, lights etc.) is doing that via a bridge rectifier, so polarity issues become obsolete on the device connected.

So basicly pf control with power pick up ... You using a capacitor to get you over the isolated sections?

[Toastie]

8 hours ago, Roadmonkeytj said:

So basicly pf control with power pick up ... You using a capacitor to get you over the isolated sections?

Basically yes. There is a little more to it. Here is a link discussing some aspects:

In principle, I am using rechargeable battery "boxes" (8878 directly, started a thread on this as well on EB, modified 88000's, modified RC train base etc. etc.): The power from the track goes first into a voltage regulator (15 V -> 9V, to be on the side safe) and from there via 2 ... 3 diodes into the NiMH rechargeables - "to trickle charge" them, when not powering any further devices. The latter are also coupled in parallel to the rechargeables. 8878/NXT/RCX1.0 are fed directly with 15V. So any stretch of unpowered track is not a problem at all.

Best
Thorsten     

 

[TuxTown]

Anyone knowing whether this Fx Track system is still expected to arrive the coming months?

 

I'm new here. I have 3 PF trains and 1 PUP train. I'm reading/googling about ways to automate things and looking at SBrick plus, Lego WeDo, the Brick Automation Project, etc. (Is cosmic42 still around? He seems silent for a few months already).

 

Now I've read this thread about  the upcoming Fx track system and don't know what to anticipate. Not having to change batteries every few hours seems to be a big plus, as is having power all around. However I also want to oparate several trains on the same track at the same time, for which bluetooth seems to be the most flexable way. It would be nice if someone has a bit more info on what kind of solutions Fx Bricks is planning to to bring at which moment. Don't  they have someone around on this forum?

[legotownlinz]

On 12/28/2019 at 2:32 PM, TuxTown said:

Anyone knowing whether this Fx Track system is still expected to arrive the coming months?

Latest news can be founds at https://www.fxbricks.com/fxblog/

The double straight might be released in 2020, but it will take years to complete the entrie track system.

Lego still sets the standards in the brick world and they decided to use plastic tracks. Which imho was a good decision when taking a look at the hugh number of third party tracks elements currently available from BrickTracks, TrxiBrix and 4DBrix. And all of them can be combined! You certainly don't want to miss these nice switches and crossings. It either takes months or years for these elements to be available from FXBricks or they won't be available at all.

What's really needed is an automatic recharging system for pro users. It could be based on metal tracks that are used for the station tracks. Metal rail switches would not be required in such system. Power pickups and rechargable PoweredUp hubs are the parts that are really missing and should be the focus of FXBricks.

 

Edited December 29, 2019 by legotownlinz

[ALCO]

@legotownlinz I agree with you. I would also love to see a wifi controller using 5Ghz as this band will have less interference and the range should be adequate for shows.

[dr_spock]

1 hour ago, ALCO said:

@legotownlinz I agree with you. I would also love to see a wifi controller using 5Ghz as this band will have less interference and the range should be adequate for shows.

Less interference at least for now.  I think when the price of 5GHz components go cheaper and more wide spread, we'll back to radio spectrum traffic jams.

 

[Ashi Valkoinen]

However this topic is basically for FXBricks to share their infos with the community I'd like to throw my opinion here as well, maybe a little wall of text, but context is also needed.

I started with RC (remote control) which was only produced between 2006 and 2009, with two trains, it was silly, weak, and I found the limitation quite quickly. People around me were using 9V, so I started to invest into 9V track, 9V motors - now I have a great collection of there tracks at my train station and layour (~400 straights), however no of my train run on 9V by now. As a person going to many events a year (both LEGO-based and railroad modelling events [it is nice that L-gauge is accepted here in Hungary by traditional modellers]) I found 9V-motors not sustainable and not fitting my needs - connectors inside wore out, the speed regulators can handle not that long trains I definitely need and also I have no great solution for functions - I hate when my train has lights only when its moving. I upgraded to SBricks and big AA-bettery boxes with PF-train motors, these items (and not mentioning PF-led lights) are almost indestructible, my trains ran hundreds of real kilometers during shows (and since December of 2017 they run at permanent exhibition opened every day) and only one or two PF-motors from my trains should retired since then. So this works fine for me, so why I'm keen on for 9V? 

Because many LUG-mates still prefer 9V, and putting a plastic-only track to my layout will end their journey there. A young club mate just brought a 4DBricks double crossover of R148 just here today for some durability test, I really love how my trains cross on there, but no 9V - no play for others I do respect and were there when I started the hobby. Also metal tracks look simply better. Plastic and 9V can't be compared, you can do the best looking ballasting but plastic still won't look as good as 9V. So I prefer the metal.

On shows I do alone and no 9V player is on the loops, metal still gives advantage - you can put continuous 9V to the track with one speed regulator and power from the tracks the lights of your buildins or streets - just pick down 9V from track where you need to enlight some PF-leds. No cables needed under the table, no batteries, just connectors and lights and as you assemble the layout the lights' wiring is done as well. 

My MOCs are all 8wide and my waggons have some length-compaction - it is necessary to make them run on R40. But after a complete new system of 9V track with R104 or so will be released, finally I can go for the best proportions and make my trains looks as I always wished for.

So, go on, please, make it alive!

[Ashi Valkoinen]

Other question - are there any BlueBrick parts designed for FX track system to plan future layouts?

[Andalo_an]

8 hours ago, Ashi Valkoinen said:

Other question - are there any BlueBrick parts designed for FX track system to plan future layouts?

As of now, not specifically. Michael is the one who posted the most recent library addition on L-gauge for BlueBrick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelgale/48955743647/in/dateposted/) and "[He] will add those items in future releases..."

 

[michaelgale]

Happy New Year to All!  

I am glad to hear we are still stimulating discussion in the community!  Apologies for the lack of updates on our site and other platforms.  Rest assured, our silence is totally due to how busy we are developing our new product system and the enormous amount of work ahead.  Here is a summary of our status and goals for this year:

1. Fx Bricks now has teams in both Canada and Hong Kong.  The Canadian team is responsible for engineering and design and the Hong Kong team is directly connected to our manufacturing partners in China and manage production and distribution.

2. We have 2x manufacturing partners in China:  i) a specialist model train manufacturer in Shenzhen and ii) a plastics manufacturer in Shanghai.  

3. We are about to commit to full production for the S8, S32 straight track elements and R72, R88 curve track elements.  The R56, R64, R104, S16 will be next in the pipeline.  We have given pre-production samples of the S32, S8, R72 and R88 elements to Lego train fans at Brickworld Chicago, Skærbæk Denmark, and STEAM UK.  We have received much valuable and useful feedback from our "fan testers" and have incorporated many suggestions into the product.

4. We hope to officially release at Brickworld Chicago 2020.  We hope to have at least 3x straight track and 5x curve track elements available at launch.  We will have a full demo layout showcasing our track products at Brickworld.

5.  PFx Brick: We have received 1000x new assembled electronic circuit boards and are waiting for new plastic injection molded cases.  We hope to have new stock in the store soon!

6.  We are still working out how to perform global distribution, in particular regional distribution for our customers in the USA and the EU.

7. We have a great deal of product development in the pipeline--including items which we haven't been public about!

We don't like to "hype" our development too much, but since it is the new year and a new decade, here is a teaser of what is coming...