MaineBrickFan

From experience, it's a lot easier to separate large plates packed for PAB if you stack them with one-stud offsets on each layer.

I laughed!

I try to have it both ways. I have taken to 8-wide train building, using O-gauge decals and other tricks for maximum realism, but I still frequently add interiors and other features that let minifigs "play." Eight wide is still within the range of "minifig" scale, and one can design trains that both look realistic and permit some play. A few examples of my efforts can be seen below: Finished 50 foot FMC boxcar by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr MEC 573 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr

Superb job. Looks very realistic all the way around. Impressive build.

Wonderful! I have in mind to attempt an 8-wide Flying Yankee at some point; will be hard to improve on this version. Superb as always and I'll bet it looks great flying around the track - post a vid if you have one!

Hello, friends! I'm pleased to present my first custom train MOC, a representation of an EMD GP7 in the livery of the Maine Central Railroad (MEC). The Maine Central Railroad operated passenger and freight service in northern New England for roughly 100 years. It's main line, running between South Portland and Bangor, Maine, passes within a half-mile of my house. The particular engine I've chosen, the 573, was purchased new by the railroad in 1950. It was favored by the railroad's longtime president, E. Spencer Miller, and was often used to pull the MEC "business train." Outside of that operation, the GP7s frequently hauled pulpwood and other cargo to and from the region's paper mills. Here are some source photos I used in the design and building process, courtesy of the RR Picture archive: http://www.rrpicture...e.aspx?id=11524 And here is the MOC. She's 8 wide at the cab and 42 studs long. Powered with the standard train motor; there is plenty of room on the inside to add a second motor and polarity switch, once I have enough rolling stock! (This is the best shot of the top I have -- sorry for the poor quality). I built this engine as part of a larger working yard layout that I exhibited --my first time ever-- at Brickfair 2014 in Manchester, NH. (I'll do a separate post on the layout soon). I was honored by and very appreciative of the nomination for one of the exhibition awards, which was ultimately won (and deservedly so) by ShaydDeGrai's wonderful and mammoth representation of Barad-dur. The time crunch to get the exhibit finished in time forced me to cut short some of the finishing touches on the engine. I'd like to add working lights, which will require a redesign of the front and back of the engine, probably with cheese slopes instead of the current 45-degree sloping bricks. And I also need to "fix" the platforms at either end, adding stairs and replacing the buffer magnet assembly with free standing magnets and train. Decals to really finish off some of the logos and paint treatment would also be nice. One final note, the 573 is still in use today. The MEC closed in 1981 as part of a merger with Guilford (now Pan Am). The 573 went through a number of transfers within those rail networks until it was purchased in the 1990s by the Conway Scenic Railroad. Today the 573 hauls excursion trains for tourists. Here it is in its current livery (perhaps a future project), enjoying its active retirement gig: I welcome your comments, criticisms and suggestions. This site has been invaluable as I have journeyed out of my Dark Ages and into the new world of L-gauge. I'm still a novice in the world of train design but all journeys must start somewhere... - MBF

Jaw-dropping work! A showpiece, in every sense of the word. For the power wagon, I see the IR receiver out the top. Do you set it to the same channel as the loco, and that is sufficient to sync their speeds?

Sorry to bump this old topic, but i thought it might be interesting to see the update of this engine that I debuted at this year's BrickFair. It's fun for me to see how much improvement was possible after a year of dedication to Lego train building. The new model, unlike the old, has working lights (front and back), dual PF train motors w/ polarity switch, and can be turned on easily by depressing one of the fans on top. This forum has always been very useful for me; hope you enjoy! MEC 573 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr MEC 573 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr MEC 573 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr BrickFair layout by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr 573 w/ boxcars on NELUG Brickfair NE layout. by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr Rebuilt MEC 573 (GP7) by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr

Have you guys emailed or PM'd the ME guys directly? I found them quite responsive.

I have found bright green leaves on the wall before. Been at least a year...

Beautiful work, as always!

You've done a really nice job on this MOC Tony -- congratulations!

I believe rumors of a Ferris Wheel in May have already been confirmed from multiple sources:

Sensational! The speed looks just right and the details are spot on. Outstanding work as usual -- this sets the gold standard for LEGO train functionality and appearance. Well done.

Astounding!

I vote for the seven wide.

I just wanted to drop in and note, as other have, that Eric and Mike are very responsive. I asked a question about my order (which it turned out I had mis-remembered) and they responded instantly and in a very satisfactory way. Hats off to them. I expect this will not be my last delivery of their product.

I am working on an exterior post FMC boxcar. I plan to use door rails for the exterior posts, and have decals that in some places will need to "wrap" around the rails. Given the change in height I am worried about how well the decals will set, and hobby sites seem to suggest a setter (for example, Micro Sol) to address this concern. Has anybody here used this on Lego before, especially around a corner or angled piece? My other option could be to cut the decal into very thin strips, but that seems fraught with difficulty in application.

You can piggyback the PF lights on the battery box, such that the lights turn on and off with the train. Putting them on the second input for the IR eeceiver allows you turn the lights off and on independent from the motor. Your choice. I will pipe in to also recommend the current Cargo train, and the prior (red) passenger train. f

jtlan: Thanks. As I understand it, Micro Sol is designed to help wrap decals around irregular services (although more curves than hard corners) so l thought it might work. But after playing around with the bricks last night, I think the "T" provfile of the rail will proved too much of an obstacle to an effective wrap. Looks like I'll have to go with cutting the decals. Will make for some very delicate work with the X-Acto and tweezers. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Yeah, actually, that's a little strange. They would launch two new trains that closely together?

I think nesquik simply meant that this was the first Christmas holiday for the new CITY trains, and LEGO wanted to avoid cannibalizing sales of them with a new Creator train offering during the post-holiday gift season.

This sounds like a fabulous idea, and I would be intereste din seeing it happen regardless of Lego's set plans!

As much as I would like an expert train now, it would not be the craziest thing from a business standpoint to hold off a little bit on reintroducing one when you have recently refreshed the City trains. Hopefully this is at worst a pause, and not a new direction. I wonder how the Expert trains sell, compared to other non-licensed exclusives.

Hello, all. Was not sure I would have time but my son begged me to enter. This entry is based entirely on his idea for Santa's Village -- an area of fun and games. You can't win a snowball fight without some practice, after all. I called me entry "Reindeer" Games, but these are actually for the elves to relax and have fun when the Christmas Rush is over. To the photos! We begin with a practice range for snowballs and, uh, snowball blasters. IMG_2299 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr When you've got your aim steady, head to the frozen pond for some target shooting. IMG_2241 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr Note that this is an actual game you can play, taking turns to aim the blaster and see how many pins you can knock down. Now, if that's not enough destruction for you, there's larger options. A catapult will do. IMG_2279 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr And, as you can see, we will be attacking a fort, which is well defended. IMG_2249 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr This is another game you actually can play with the catapult -- 1 point for landing it in the circular tower on the left, three points if you land it on the top level, and ten if you get through a window! Here's the whole set together. IMG_2281 by Patrick Strawbridge, on Flickr A few more photos on my flickr page, including a surprise inside the fort, and a special visitor who challenges Santa himself. Happy New Year to all of you! Ho! ho! ho! Oops -- posted in the wrong forum. Mods, can you move for me?