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Everything posted by bricks n bolts
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I had a whole stack of broken 12v light bricks where the bulb had gone. In particular they don't last that long when set in lamp posts. Sick of buying more so needed a way of replacing the bulb with a longer lasting LED. The first difficultly was finding the right LED with a built in resistor so they can run straight off the 12v power supply. I hadn't found 3mm white/clear LEDs before, just coloured ones, but found a supplier here for what I needed. These should also work fine for 9v. Then the other tricky bit was to open up the light brick without breaking it. This wasn't as difficult as I first thought, so here is the guide - no soldering and no glue! The tools used (almost common household items!) excluding the light brick and LED are : 1. A micro-screwdriver. 2. A bent curtain hook. 3. Some sharp nail scissors. Step 1. Using the screwdriver scrape off the plastic tab that helps hold into place the inner part of the light brick : Step 2. Using the holes for the plug as an anchor lever out the inner part of the light brick with the sharp end of the bent curtain hook until you can get under it : Step 3. If the inner part is still not loose rotate the other end of the curtain hook in the space made at the bottom : Step 4. Take out the inner part : Step 5. Use the micro srewdriver to remove the old bulb and contacts until the inner part is clear : Step 6. Throw away the old bulb and wiring and Insert the LED : Step 7. Bend the LED wires around the light brick making sure the LED is centred : Step 8. With the screwdriver continue to bend the LED wires into the plug contact holes : Step 9. Re-insert the metal contacts. This may take some force, but it will be this additional friction which means the removal of the plastic tab earlier doesn't matter : Step 10. Trim off the excess LED wires with the scissors : Step 11. Re-join the central part of the light brick with the cover (remember which way is up!) : Complete! Remember as it's an LED it won't work plugged in either way to the power supply, but that doesn't bother me in the slightest as you just turn the plug around / swap the pins if it doesn't work For train lights where the power will be reversed when you reverse the train I can recommend Janco's light bricks which are superb
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TUTORIAL Replace bulb on 12v light brick
bricks n bolts replied to bricks n bolts's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Am still here Wonder if you have an older style light brick? But you can see that my contacts were hollow tubes, so the micro screwdriver could reach all the way to the bottom of the contacts and they just fell out. They were loose at that point, only the friction against the LED wire made them tight again. -
A review of circuit cubes without mentioning the elephant in the room
bricks n bolts replied to zephyr1934's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Great find and build, thanks fpr sharing! -
A review of the first elements from the FX Track system
bricks n bolts replied to zephyr1934's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Seconded, that would be the critical thing for me to start considering the system. -
That'll be one of mine :
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Fx Bricks (Michael Gale) announces Fx Track system
bricks n bolts replied to HoMa's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Totally agree. The electrical system I'm probably more interested in at this point, the 9V connection system has never been surpassed (just look at conductive plate!), and to see some new components to give it life again would be awesome. As well as not ageing well the 9V wires/plugs don't lend themselves to re-wiring, so if the system did a better job on that then the originals it would be doubly awesome. Also agree on that.. would prefer one wide sleepers, can still be Lego compatible. -
Fx Bricks (Michael Gale) announces Fx Track system
bricks n bolts replied to HoMa's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Even just the wires would be amazing... -
Or the other possible solution is to change the internal 9v motor to 12v, can get the right motor from here - https://www.conrad.com/p/miniature-brushed-motor-motraxx-x-train-263-h0-6440-rpm-229021 have done this myself but in the end I just swapped most my 12v motors to 9v so I could just adjust the input power.
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BrickTracks: different curves, PF/9V compatible
bricks n bolts replied to JopieK's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Wheely wheely good! Great concept realized, can't wait to try them -
NSB Type 49 Dovregubben (Mountain King)
bricks n bolts replied to HenrikLego's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Great to see it running. Also interesting regarding the other thread, that TrixBrix switch there keeps bumping one of the carriage bogies almost off the track each time it goes past. -
Lego acquiring Bricklink - Problem with 3D-printed parts?
bricks n bolts replied to ScotNick's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Yes, guess we are. That may be a way forward, we re-base the hobby with no allegiance to any one manufacturer. Some new BL with a brick quality score, based on manufacturing technique, plus age, etc.. who knows, small steps. Question, is the BL catalogue still considered open source as it was based to a large extent on user input? If so, any new site could adopt it as a base. -
Lego acquiring Bricklink - Problem with 3D-printed parts?
bricks n bolts replied to ScotNick's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Well they initially gave @coaster an exemption on that basis. Again, old Lego molds/ components not made anymore (a lot of stuff on BL) will not be continually QA tested either by TLG so not sure how that can stand. -
NSB Type 49 Dovregubben (Mountain King)
bricks n bolts replied to HenrikLego's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Such a beautiful build, from the valve gears to the carriage curtains.. deeply in awe. I hope the museum give you a mention somewhere. -
Lego acquiring Bricklink - Problem with 3D-printed parts?
bricks n bolts replied to ScotNick's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Very upsetting the objection to even the mention of BBB wheels in Tony's MOC instructions as well as the deletion without notice. BBB wheels should not be a target for them. They are not clones and not 'unsafe' as they are injection molded. The 'unsafe' argument I'm sure could be used against TLG's own items that BL sells that are no longer made, such as '70s transformers and battery boxes not meeting current regulations, etc.. -
LegoTrain Set Through 12 inches of Canadian Snow
bricks n bolts replied to TinyTrainTrack's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Like it, looks like a scene through a frozen valley. That's the Ausini light grey track -
4.5V TypeC 1976-80. The red bit on the top should confirm the voltage. https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=x469b&name=Electric, Motor 4.5V Type C 12 x 4 x 3 1/3&category=[Electric, Motor]#T=C 12v versions existed but the red bit was yellow.. https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=x550b&name=Electric, Train Motor 12V 12 x 4 x 3 1/3 Type C Old&category=[Electric, Train]#T=C You can though switch out the internal motor to change voltages as well as add pickups for 12v track ( https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?id=68920#T=C&C=11 )
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Fx Bricks (Michael Gale) announces Fx Track system
bricks n bolts replied to HoMa's topic in LEGO Train Tech
I'm hoping it's just an administrative glitch and no reason to cause mass panic among AFOLS... but all mention of the new track system has gone from the Fx Bricks website. -
Do Big Ben wheels need added traction?
bricks n bolts replied to Carefree_Dude's topic in LEGO Train Tech
@Toastie 's method worked well for me, wheels are still good. Using just a small angled file and a locked down Lego motor essentially. -
That's cool! So does this mean you can do tight bends at speed?
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Fx Bricks (Michael Gale) announces Fx Track system
bricks n bolts replied to HoMa's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Hoping the pickups will not be the size of the motors, the flyer @michaelgale posted just said it was an add-on item to the motor, doesn't mean they are the same size, the outline pdf here has some looking virtually the same as what @coaster proposed here. Agreed a more generic wheelset could be designed to hold bigger wheels, but then we would need a supply of metal wheels beyond 3D printing, so not sure on the practicalities. Looking forward to news regarding anything that uses 9V contacts, wires, etc, surely the PFx brick itself will need 9V stud contacts too...? Also think people are avoiding anything that could be deemed a clone of a Lego piece, even if retired, why risk it... -
[MOC] 12v and 4,5v trains ideas - let's keep alive the "Gray Era"
bricks n bolts replied to Paperinik77pk's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Wow, that's tight, nicely worked out. You managed to gram a lot in there. Never had those big wheels (and too expensive now) so not sure what they are like on points. The V80, although I think I see what you have done there now too (was looking at the rendering further down), the magnet holders are connected to the baseplate rather than the motor bogies themselves which is what I first thought.. so we are good. -
[MOC] 12v and 4,5v trains ideas - let's keep alive the "Gray Era"
bricks n bolts replied to Paperinik77pk's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Happy New Year, these are all very nice renderings... we could be looking at an early '80s catalogue! Although I bet at the time they would have made that level crossing 4.5v with all the new gizmos thrown at 12v layouts. Just in case you get tempted, I'm sure you also know you don't want to build the BR50 as it won't make it round curves with so many fixed drivers? The red cargo also might have a wheel jamming problem as the bogies are built right up to the baseplate. -
Excellent work, not sure but it looks to me like you are extending your layout with some more tables at the front?
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Question about 0-Gauge Metal Train Wheels
bricks n bolts replied to BrickMusher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
There definitely used be some from https://nwsl.com/ but I can't find them there anymore either. They were the NWSL /210 33" 0-scale as discussed on @alainneke power pickup topic - -
Lego acquiring Bricklink - Problem with 3D-printed parts?
bricks n bolts replied to ScotNick's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Good point, no idea then...