McWaffel
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Everything posted by McWaffel
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As per the suggestion of @icemorons I’m opening this new thread so we don’t need to talk about DCC in the 2022 trains thread. I think it’s an interesting topic, especially given that there are no out-of-the-box solutions available (yet), for LEGO trains to be fitted with DCC. To start off the thread: I‘m planning to retrofit my trains with DCC as soon as FxBricks releases their DCC-ready motors. In the process I will also fit LEDs into my engines and cars. In the meantime I thought about how to use my PF train motor on my 9V layout. The plan is as follows: as soon as I can get my hands on an old, burnt-out 9V motor, I will remove the motor and use it as a power-pickup. Then I’ll buy a PF extension cable as well as an old 9V extension cable, and build a 9V-PF adapter cable out of it. This way I can use the 9V motor‘s output to power the DC motor in the PF bogie. And this will then also allow me to easily retrofit a DCC decoder in between, as soon as I start to move to DCC entirely.
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Fixed that for you
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This might sound crazy, but what if you made a product that could cover BOTH fan bases?! I know, it’s ridiculous to ask for a train that actually works 😂
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lol imagine selling a 500€ train that can’t go anywhere. ….just LEGO things. oh how many disappointments there will be when people find out it doesn’t fit on the track
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LEGO has finally resorted to copying LIDL‘s building block trains 🤣
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Every LEGO and Apple fanboy ever, basically.
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That price is extremely steep. I’m definitely going to wait for a discount or some sort of GWP/VIP Points Event before I buy one. But I’m very interested. I hope we’ll get a decent amount of cars with the engine
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Need help identifying the trains and getting an idea about the value
McWaffel replied to Enigma1612's topic in LEGO Train Tech
WTF holy smokes. This is absolutely insane. Holy cow. How, what. I… wtf. so jealous. -
I think the problem is not that trains are dead, but that the CITY theme is dead. Only garbage sets with overpriced tags. And the trains being in the CITY theme doesn’t help. If trains became their own line, it could really liven things up with extra carriages and accessories. You know, like they used to do
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That’s probably where LEGO‘s been getting their inspiration for train stations over the past few years
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…this is exactly how it used to be though. The London Underground even used steam engines for a while. And yes, it was as bad as you probably think. But it’s not unrealistic nor is it silly to have a dome roof over a train station in the steam era. Most European main train stations in big cities have domes like that from way back in the day. Cologne, Frankfurt, most London main train stations… personally, I would love a modular train station of any type, but that’s just wishful thinking. Realistically we’re getting another half-assed 60050 and that’s gonna be that.
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Hands down the best one ever made. FOUR large „station baseplates“?! Unheard of.
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Fx Bricks (Michael Gale) announces Fx Track system
McWaffel replied to HoMa's topic in LEGO Train Tech
I already have the P40 switches, track feeders and motor bogies/pickups on my list. I absolutely cannot wait to throw bags of money in your general direction. After buying a bunch of straight track from your first batch back in March 2021, I am absolutely confident your future products are going to be amazing in functionality and quality. Good job so far and keep up the amazing work -
I‘d be very surprised if it’s a decent station. It’s probably just insanely overpriced. Judging by the last few stations that were all pretty bad, it would truly be surprising to see a decent one
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Why do you think that? Apart from the locomotives wheels being too small (nothing you can do about that), I think it was very well designed, actually. Much better than most other IDEAS locos
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Fx Bricks (Michael Gale) announces Fx Track system
McWaffel replied to HoMa's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Yes! Track connectors! Shut up and take my money -
God forbid LEGO giving us a couple of spare wheels. Hell would probably freeze over
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DCC (and other digital tech) for LEGO trains
McWaffel replied to McWaffel's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Ah I see. Very cool solution, I like it -
DCC (and other digital tech) for LEGO trains
McWaffel replied to McWaffel's topic in LEGO Train Tech
So it’s not DCC at all then? What’s the runtime on your engines before the batteries are empty? -
DCC (and other digital tech) for LEGO trains
McWaffel replied to McWaffel's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Fair warning: The content below contains permanently modifying retired LEGO pieces and thus is not suited for purists or the faint of heart. I have just completed phase 1 of 3 of my conversion to DCC, with the proof-of-concept for power pickup via 9V motor. I bought an old, broken 9V motor and gutted the electronics, cleaned it up and reassembled everything: Then I snipped a 9V extension cable in half added connectors to it and put it on backward onto the exposed leads of the 9V motor: Thus I had a power-pickup with connectors, nice and clean and no modifications to the connectors or housing required. Next, I had to modify the tender of my holiday train engine, because I intended to put the tender atop of the power pickup, as it has enough space to house cables and hide them later on. I extended the walls by two studs and reused some decoration pieces from the original bogie that it was sitting on, as those were no longer required: And finally it was time to put it all together. I also snipped off a PF cable end and added the same type of connectors to it, so I could connect it up to the PF motor without having to modify the PF motor. And finally, a test run: Link to the video of the running train The reason why I went with a split cable instead of 8886 is that this allows me to run a DCC decoder in between the 9V pickup and the PF motor. This will be phase 2 of 3. For this I need to buy all the DCC equipment, so it will take a few months from here on. -
DCC (and other digital tech) for LEGO trains
McWaffel replied to McWaffel's topic in LEGO Train Tech
@legotownlinz yes but also as I said you can buy off-the-shelf trains. No need to configure or program them. They work out-of-the-box. I too have some DCC experience, mostly on G-scale layouts. But even if you need to program them, there’s GUIs for everything, and with a bit of basic IT knowledge you should be able to do it no problem. -
DCC (and other digital tech) for LEGO trains
McWaffel replied to McWaffel's topic in LEGO Train Tech
I keep hearing this „trains is a niche market“ thing, but have yet to see any actual proof of it. When I was a kid, everyone and their moms had a LEGO train. Like, literally 5/6 of my closest childhood friends had a 9V train set. But I digress, this is tech talk after all. DCC isn’t really difficult to set up either. Most model train starter packs that come with DCC are super kid-friendly. You essentially start off with a central controller, and an app and that’s really it. Couple of cables and you’re good to go. You can buy trains equipped with decoders off the shelf. I don’t necessarily think we need that level of convince in the LEGO world for DCC (although it would be very nice), but I would already be happy with having a motor with split power pickup and drive train. If I can also buy a cable for it so I don’t need to solder anything to metal parts that rest on plastic housings, I‘m golden. -
DCC (and other digital tech) for LEGO trains
McWaffel replied to McWaffel's topic in LEGO Train Tech
That’s exactly the problem. NXT is way overpriced (not that LEGO isn’t overpriced generally) and is total garbage hardware, and doesn’t even integrate to the trains properly. It’s not even remotely a reasonable option. I‘m sure once FxBricks gets their motors and power supplies out, they have a real chance at dominating the LEGO train market, if they manage to get their product more visibility at various reseller stores. so yeah I agree with your NXT arguments -
DCC (and other digital tech) for LEGO trains
McWaffel replied to McWaffel's topic in LEGO Train Tech
If TLG wanted us to be able to use LEGO technology, they would integrate mindstorms/NXT or whatever their current lineup is called, into trains. They don’t, so we have to get third party stuff. Same with LEDs, by the way. And no, the PF LEDs they used to sell don’t count. Two LEDs with a cable for that price was criminal. Clearly we have no choice other than to use 3rd party equipment. And moreover, LEGO trains is arguably the one theme that uses the most 3rd party elements. Track, wheels, motors, energy storage etc… -
DCC (and other digital tech) for LEGO trains
McWaffel replied to McWaffel's topic in LEGO Train Tech
To be frank: who cares? this isn’t a competition. We’re just here to have fun and enjoy a hobby. You want to build LEGO on top of O-gauge trains? Cool, do it. You want to modify 9V motors to do DCC? Also cool. I don’t think anybody should draw lines anywhere in that regard. Everyone can do whatever they want. You need to know for yourself what is fun for you and what isn’t. Personally I want to use as much LEGO as possible, but ultimately it doesn’t matter. Even 3rd party LEGO-compatible stuff counts in as „LEGO“ for me in that regard