Lego Otaku

I was reading through The Brick Journal Compendium (issue 4-5 in one) and on page 214 there's an instruction for making rail crossing using 1x4 light bricks for flashing light and 2 motors for gate crossing, all controlled by RCX The only problem is it'd take 1 RCX per rail crossing, which could get a tad expensive for multiple crossing. Is there a creative auto rail crossing plan that is a bit cheaper than 1 RCX per crossing?

Only thing I found Lego related is a Duplo bin #2997 at Goodwill for $19.99 (ouch). I checked inside and all I saw were some non Lego toy.

6861 X1 Patrol Craft Theme: Space - Classic only released in the USA. It was my first Lego set I owned so naturally I had a reason to recreate this. Updated with LDD 4.3.9 All previous "fixes" were removed since LDD included all the correct parts and printed torso added. Still no printed 2x3 slope. 6861-1 download

3739-1 Blacksmith Shop Changes: --bad color fixed, many incorrect parts replaced now that they are available in LDD 4.5 they should be more accurate. --front door was replaced with something very similar. I had to raise the 1x1x2 hinge brick by 1 plate because the door was hitting the studs on the baseplate. I left the second hinge brick in place for accuracy. (UPDATE: door still NOT in LDD 4.5 so not changed) --Bugle still would not go on the clip by the stairs so it is sitting on the anvil. --1x2x2 windows not correct --2 minifigs do not have face or torso decoration and female minifig has different wig set, it's as close to original as I could get. --flame element still won't fit in fireplace due to collision, same as bugle. LDD Download

I found a picture in the Brick Issue #11 from Brickish Assocation. Designing a 3 or 4 level Monorail layout with TDD would be a challenge, keeping track of which tracks are at which level. Is there a 3D type program for Windows that can do Monorail tracks, is not convoluted to use, and can print a quick part list like TDD? PS I'm guessing towball connectors to make that train 6 cars long?

It's already out... if you don't mind spending $130 for the train set. Or on BL for about $15 to $25 Officially they should be available separaely when Lego decides they've milked us enough with rechargeable box and power supply.

Pretty sure you won't see any war themed minifigs. Lego seems to be avoiding war themed sets for a good reason. The closest you can get to official Lego WW1 or WW2 army is the "bad" men in Indiana Jones set

About half done on 3739 Blacksmith, one of the first My Creation released by Lego. I took a break after LDD refused to play nice with a barrel. SO far the changes I made due to missing parts in LDD: green 4x4 hinged plates (2 of them) were replaced with similar 4x4 plate with locking hinges. 1x2x2 red windows replaced with similar looking piece. The original (maybe I had poor quality manual scan?) looked like 1970 era window to me. I couldn't find the flame element #6126b if it is in LDD, someone tell me what it's under. I couldn't mount a trumpet on the clip so it's sitting on the anvil for now. Work was halted because I couldn't get the lid on the 2x2x2 barrel. It's a bug with LDD preventing a legal move from working. I may leave them sitting and in pieces, and put a note with the finished work about proper setting of the barrel. Or use 2x2 brown round bricks instead of barrel. I should be able to get the rest of the set done by evenings (about 12-16 hours from now) I need sleep. LDD can be fun but rebuilding an older set when some of the pieces are not in LDD (even in universal mode) can be a bit challenging. EDIT: Done: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=41226&view=findpost&p=817244 found the flame element but they won't fit! other modifications listed at the page.

I didn't see this on the first page so I am recreating 3739 Blacksmith Shop. A few minor issue so far but unless something happens I'll have it done tomorrow evening.

Any reason I'm not allowed to put a lid on a 2x2 barrel? It's used in a lot of manual but no matter how I tried, the round 2x2 plate never fits on top of the barrel. Every time I try to move the 2x2 round plate onto the barrel, LDD tries to place it under the barrel. I tried flipping both barrel and plate and tried sitting the barrel on top of the plate, LDD tries t place the barrel below the plate!!! If it was an illegal design, then some 100's of instruction broke that rule

I've gotten a total of 15 items in one trip. The receipt shows $0 on the 5 cheapest stuff so there are no limit. I have not tried the collectible minifigs though,only 1 local Toys R Us has any and they all have the same bar code. I'd guess someone bought out the lots and returned the least desired minifigs for refund.

Can we have all of Monorail track parts? That way I could build a complex 3D layout. Track Designer is only 2D and it gets tricky keeping track of which part of the track are at which level, especially if you throw in a few switches and go for 3 or 4 layers high. I'd like to try and see what I can do in area of 4 feet by 8 feet, up to 8 feet high (if needed), using all 6 switches and 42 straight long tracks. LDD already handles 3D and many of LEGO parts so if track can be offered, I can go crazy without making a big mess.

I'd like to see a much improved instruction building engine. Right now the 3.x builds in an impossible order if you build something large. Like my recognizer that takes about 1400 bricks. The instruction suggested building one leg, then everything on top, the other leg last also a complete part list for someone who'd rather raid BL and personal collection than to buy all from Lego. Also itemized buy list if someone wishes to buy the creation that is all 100% available at Lego store (ie no Universe mode)

Hi, I'm Eric, from Michigan. I live in the Thumbs area and last I checked, there aren't any local LUG within 2 hours drive. (I detest driving into Detroit area anyway and that is 3 hours drive) I just got back into Lego after about 10 years absence caused by unemployment and then forgot about Lego. It's actually my third Lego age. The second Lego age was from 1999 to 2001 when I had money and picked up some Lego. Before that, I used to play Lego quite a lot until I started in High School which kept me busy in 1990 and I quit Lego. I still have everything from those 30 years of Lego (save a missing 1x2 brick here and a minifig head there, to name a few pieces) I'm putting together my train sets and I'm also planning an original theme from 1700's in North American. Mainly the forts and some local dwellings and some indians. Not the same as the western theme set that came out some years ago, this would be before USA declared independence.

Mid 1970s, when I was in pre-school I remember playing with giant bricks that came in red, yellow, and blue. They all looked like typical 2x4 Lego bricks but they were a lot bigger. When I could read, I remember seeing "LEGO" on each of the studs, just like a normal 2x4 brick. It is not Quatro as those had open studs and didn't come out in 70's or 60's. It is much bigger than Duplo. AFAIK they were only available in 2x4 red, yellow, and blue. Anyone remember this and know what series it was?

Isn't that next month? This month is September not October. I would love to swing by but it's a 6 hours drive and I got no reason to drive that far. I'd have to wait for a closer gathering. (oh say, Flint or Saginaw would be close enough!)

I have gathered all of Monorail tracks I got from set 6990 and few expansion sets when they were out some 20 years ago, and I noticed that both switches: Monorail Track Point Left and Monorail Track Point Right Both of the switches I have aren't working well. It's kind of hard to manually slide the lever and the little pin that monorail train uses to auto-switch doesn't move freely either. I suspect it's a buildup of dust and crud inside the switch. Is there an easy way to take it apart for through cleaning? I may add a little petroleum jelly to the moving parts so they'd never stick or jam for a while. Or is that bad idea? TIA PS why no new monorail anything at all? I saw a picture of what appeared to be underwater themed set and a patent for a 4 way cross with auto switching. EDIT: had link for 2 left and no right by mistake.

I would gladly buy new switches if someone can make them in decent quality (preferable not glued together!) and also the Y switch (looked like 2 quarter circle track overlapping) and the cross track. Also extra cars and bogies to see if I can aim long monorail train. I'm not sure if 9v track can be made. Lego is still using more or less the same mold for current RC tracks, just no metal rail or tab to fasten rail in place. If anyone tried to clone the tracks with the connectors currently used, Lego may be a bit unhappy.

Lucky!!!

NICE!!! Looks like fixing the switch should be a last resort since they are glued together. I'll try the compressed air can to see if that clears the jam. Interesting to see different versions of Y switches, and to see Lego had planned to extend Monorail with additional cars. Too bad they never released those, or we could have had a contest to see who can build the longest Monorail trains. Is there a plastic molding expert around? Can someone make the missing monorail cars, bogies that goes in between cars, and cross tracks? Ok cross track may be a bit complex.

All of my local Goodwill knows Lego = big $$$ and overprices them all. I saw old Mindstorm 1.0 (from 1990's) missing everything important to Mindstorm, $200 used. Cloud City 7119 in a worn box, heavily taped, and sounding like it's missing half of the box for $100 and a bin of Duplo bricks for $60 or so. I gave up looking for Lego there. I have tried Craig's List but everytime I see something good, someone already got it. I'd like to know how it can be sold in less than 3 seconds after it gets posted Bet there's Lego resellers somewhere who spends 24 hours a day hitting refresh on browser window. I do get my deal elsewhere. Such as Mindstorm 1.5 from Walmart in 1998 for $25 (new!! complete!!!) and several Znap sets from Toys R Us for $10 (that's 2 motors per $10, can't beat that!!). And box 4404 (missing few pieces) free, boxed 8386 complete, only half assembled then abandoned for $2, and a huge 50# bin of assorted lego bricks including a complete 7898 and some 50 instruction manual from 2002-2006 for $200. If I parted that bin out and matched everything to the included manual, that was easily over $1,000 based on Bricklist average price. All from garage sales, yard sale, porch sale, barn sale, rummage sale, church charity sale, boot sale, etc.

Sale is for construction sets, not game or anything else. Also Star Wars and tub sets are not included. Clearance sale Lego can be included in B2G1F deal so if you see cheap red tagged set, get em. Series 2 minifigs can be used in B2G1F as well but chances are it's already been picked clean of good minifigs and it'd be all cops or something junky.

you forgot a couple things: RC advantage: can be used anywhere, can be used even in power failure. Track layout limited to available space, that is you could have track a mile long with turn around at both end and it'd keep going. Also could use any tracks made by Lego in the last 30 or 40 years RC con: no official "+" cross track like 9v has. Either put up with metal rail or older grey or blue 4.5v version. 9v disadvantages; can't do turn around loop (single track switch, circle tracks to both end) without shorting both rails together, and can't do really large track layout without needing more power units. Most defiantly can't do a mile long track layout. Also no double crossover track like RC has, #7996. 9v is probably best for long play or for showroom or conventions. RC is for short play

Pretty sure it's not a MOC. You can't get 10x10x12 quarter dome in trans-red like pictured. The closest color would be neon-orange and it would really stick out if that was used. Like the post above, it had to be proto that never got released.

I will try Kontact 60 if I can find them locally. A quick Google search seemed to suggest they are available online only and are around $30 shipped ($3.50 plus outrageous eBay-esque $25+ shipping) This is where I found about the unreleased Monorail set: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=416033 The minifig suggested this set may have been underwater themed. Building a clone of that set is doable, but I doubt I can find blue monorail track anywhere!!!