HoMa

Great home layout! Do you have chance to take it apart and bring it to an exhibition? I think, the answer is "no" ;-) Great to see also 12 Volts on your layout. Nice blue MOC loco running in circles with 7740 and 7745. May I ask how you deal with dust on such a layout? A vacuum cleaner train would be good for the tracks. But can you reach every house, car or Minifigure? Thanks for sharing! Holger

Thanks for your comments! When I started to think about motors in the rear engine unit also I also had the synch problem in mind. But then I just did it: Front: 2 motors, 2 LEDs, 1 receiver (channel 1, V2 version), 1 rechargeable battery box Back: 1 motor, 1 LED, 1 receiver (channel 1, V1 version), 1 rechargeable battery box Handheld: One PF remote control In my living room I had no issues, the signal was caught by both receivers, even if they are 2 meters from each other. So for now I am happy with the result of a non synchronised train with motors at both ends. But SBrick is an option. But I only got one :-( Holger

Today I present my LEGO version of the famous German VT 11.5 Trans Europ Express – or just TEE. If you want to know a bit more about the real train, wikipedia helps: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_VT_11.5 (Picture used with kind permission of Ulrich Budde © http://www.bundesbahnzeit.de/) It took me a while to finalize this model but I was busy on my building desk the last couple of weeks. From the specifications: 6 units in total (2 engine units and 4 waggons) 3 Power Functions train motors (2 in the front engine unit, on in the back) LEGO LED lights for the train front and end lights 7-wide (my favourite width for LEGO MOC trains) total length ca. 2.5 meters runs through standard LEGO track geometry (even if it looks silly), I prefer BrickTracks curves and TrixBrix/4DBrix switches custom LEGO parts: none modified LEGO parts: 2x 2x4 tile with the TEE logo by http://www.steindrucker.com yellow sticker on the coupling cover from an old LEGO sticker sheet Non-LEGO items – a piece of red tape to cover the center LED on the nose – interior lights using mini battery powered LEDs (source: ebay, search for "LED mini fairy string light") – Trans Europ Express decal by http://www.modellbahndecals.de/ in scale 1:45 It started all with the idea to use two Brick, Round Corner 3 x 3 x 2 Dome Top for the characteristic nose of the engine units. A much bigger challenge were the grey-silver stripe which swings from the lower front lights up to the driver's cabin. For a long time I favoured a solution using rigid hoses, but it didn't work out and the hose did not "swing". So I ended with the plate variant, at least I did not build any steps. I also realised the round bull's-eye windows. The first one has to be located as close as possible to the end of the tan section. So the arched brick helped here. We still miss an element which fits between the 1 x 3 x 2 arch and the larger 1 x 6 x 3 arch. But I found a solution using curved solpes covering most of that gap. I am still stuggling with the right colour of the roof section behind the driver's cabin. Originally it should be light bluish grey (same colour as the stripe). But in real live all the grime from the exhausts makes this roof look more dark/dirty. So I also build a dark bluish grey variant. Both can be swaped easily and this feature allows easy access to the rechargeable battery box. Which colour do you prefer for this roof section? The rest of the roof also was a nice building experience using some SNOT. I wanted to use dopple-cheese pieces and curves slopes. And the roof should become 7 studs wide. That did not equal out fine so I had to use vertical tile on both sides of the middle brick column. The picture explains the rest of that SNOT nightmare … But now enjoy some pictures: More pictures in various sizes on Flickr! Best regards, Holger

here are some options, they should be available in trans black: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3939#T=C https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=58181#T=C https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=41750#T=C https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=41749#T=C https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=x224#T=C ... be creative, you will find something for your own dome car :-)

@SavaTheAggie, saw your promising work in progress pictures on Flickr. Yes, this is how the Santa Fe F7A has to look like as LEGO MOC. The use of that one element I don't know the name is just perfect for the large front light. And I still "brain reengineer" how the windscreen is build? The grille tiles seems to hold on the glass rather tight. Congrats winning the locomotive category from BMRR at the NMRA show. And thanks for the video showing all the great engines and trains on one of the best LEGO train layouts in the world. Holger

Great railcar you've but together. I like the use of that odd huge hinge (is it classified as hinge?) brick for the lights, the roof and the paragraph of course. The diorama in the LEGO store brings life into the scene ... well done! Holger

Feel free to use my video showing the prototype I got a while ago. Someone newer mentioned Jang ... that is this channel worth more then 1.000.000 subscriber at YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/LEGOJANG Good luck from supporter #22 HoMa

@AlmightyArjen thanks for sharing. Wonderful layout and a cool video. You had great fun worth your trains and rides!

@coaster, great to here about the new Kickstarter project. Just backed for 4x right and 4x left switches. Sounds really promising and I can prove that your prototype works fine (see video above). I just showed the R120 radius curves at a smaller event last weekend in Germany and the feedback was great. Good luck for the new Kickstarter project! Holger

Excellent looking model and well presented! The golden stripes are a great detail which adds realism and a nice counter-colour to the black and red. Do you have any pictures showing how the wheels are connected and how the steering/turning will work? And of course: welcome to Eurobricks (and 1000steine)! Holger

@Tenderlok, I am sorry to hear that you also became a victim of unfair AFOL behaviour. For many years I refused to publish instructions of my MOCs for this reason. Some troll wakes up every day, builds the model using my instructions and trying to make money out of it. The dutch website https://habricks.com/nl/ (review in German on promobricks) offers a BR 80 which shows many details which are build the same way as my (previous released) BR 80. I was never asked nor I get any cents compensation for every model HA bricks sells. While working on my LEGO Train book I decided to go depper into building instructions and several instructions are published printed in the book. As little extra, I offer two PDF instructions for BR 80 and BR 10 for free on my website. Yes, my own risk, even my disclaimer that it is not allowed to rebuild and sell the modell does stop the trolls. My disclaimer: Building and selling my models My building instructions are available for free. Building these models is only allowed for personal use. Building these models with the purpose of selling them and make your own profit is prohibited. Recently someone on kleinanzeigen.ebay.de offered the brown Crocodile as brick-build model, no instructions, unique and expensive elements replaced by cheaper alternatives for 450 €. At least my nickname was mentioned in the description text. But again, I was not asked and I replyed asking how much of the 450 € I will receive as compansation? Plus I informed kleinanzeigen.ebay.de and they removed the offer over night. As far as I know, there is no intellectual property (IP) protection for LEGO MOCs as we build them. It would cost us a few hundreds of Euro to register a "Gebrauchsmuster" at a nearby lawer. And even then, we need to know that a troll is trying to make money with other people's creativity and we must take action against such behaviour. I do not see all such cases and I do not have the time to take action against it. If I discover something like this, I will contact the troll asking for 60-80% of the price as compensation ... but in the end I can not stop such unfair, egoistic, profit-oriented behaviour. Good thing is, that the great majority of LEGO fans and AFOLs is not like this and that there is a lot of respect both online and in real life for each others MOCs and the creator behind it. Sad that the black sheeps are so prominent. Best regards, Holger

@Chorduroy you can find PDFs of instructions for two of my steam engines for free on my website for download: http://www.holgermatthes.de/bricks/en/br10.php http://www.holgermatthes.de/bricks/en/br80.php Enjoy, Holger

Till @Lexa has taken some pictures you (and all others) can enjoy my original MOC ;-)) http://www.holgermatthes.de/bricks/en/br10.php

@Haddock51 it's always a pleasure for me to see other AFOLs enjoying to build models from my book. And great that you made your own version for the 9 Volt system. The noses seems to be off the body by a stud. Is it to make it more flexible to go thru standard R40 curves and switches? It might be tricky in the original version, especially with the cables from the body to the noses. How did you proceed with the instructions? The Crocodile by far is a very complex model and I had to save pages wherever possible. So I couldn't do the "one step, one element, one page" concept of original LEGO instructions. And I hope red instead of brown or darkgreen also helped? Yes, 7-wide is great. Nice compromise for me in realism and overall length of locomotives and wagons. Plus an extra challenge in building in odd numbers. So one of my favorite elements became the Technic 1x5 plate with 4 studs and the center Technic axle hole. Now enjoy your trains! Seems like you have a nice shelf for display and a multi level track layout? You are from Sweden ... any plans to go to Trondheim/Norway by the end of the month? I will be there with my Frauenkirche MOC and some trains. Best regards, Holger

@coaster thanks for your update and summary about what's going on behind your curtains. Sounds all great! Good that you do not promise everything to be in the shelves soon but make clear announcements what's important for you. Personally I am looking forward to the R104 switch Kickstarter! All the best for your business, Holger

@DameVeraLynn, running pistons on LEGO steam engines are always tricky to realise. See my video an you will see the wheels not running when the track is not fully even. But I don't mind. The difference between BR 10 and Emerald Night is the position of the the steam cylinder. I try to build them as low as possible, at least at the same level as the upper part of the wheels. The position of the steam cylinders at Emerald Night is to high (too allow the front wheels to turn better), but the pistons do not like this, esspecially when the main rod is in the lowest position and the piston rod is very much angeled. More about my BR 10 at http://www.holgermatthes.de/bricks/de/br10.php Great that you like my book :-) Holger

@LegoBrick1 check www.bigbenbricks.com for the small and large wheels. Building instructions and parts list of this BR 10 engine are available at my website www.holgermatthes.de/bricks

Great overview Issac! Brick build stripes also can be done using micro-striping methods, e.g. The thin upper part of hinge bricks, brackets and flags. My BR 10 uses black hinge bricks and white tips for the fine stripe on the side of the cabin and tender. Holger

Thanks for the hard work scanning all the catalogues. I also scanned some catalogues and 7777 and provided the scans to Huw from brickset to expand the library at https://brickset.com/library/catalogues Drop him a line of you are ok with sharing your scans at brickset.

@James Mathis, thanks for sharing your old pictures and memories! Great to see so many US-only sets which were not released in Europe in the regular way. But on the other side I am happy that I got so much 12v stuff back in the 80s for birthday and Christmas presents. All my yellow Technic beams came from supplemental sets like 871 and 874 (I guess).

@Ashi Valkoinen great model of the Siemens Vectron engine! I really like it how you managed to make the color scheme in bricks. And the idea of making the model also suitable for two electric systems is just great. The LEGO Vectron family is getting bigger :-)

Here are some old pictures of my childhood 12v layout (must be mid 1980s, Light & Sound was available as you can see in the left corner of the first picture) All from my old brickshelf folder http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=2144 On an extended layout of the cool 7777 layout with the yellow bridge (I added a third ramp and a switch up in the air) you can spot sets like 7740 (passenger train)+7819 (mail wagon), 7745 (passenger train), 7735 (freight train) + 7817 (crane wagon), 7823 (container depot), 7824 (train station), 7866 (road crossing) and many LEGOLAND city sets, MODs and MOCs. These days I also try to complete my 12v train collection with a reasonable box at least. Here are some of my boxes, some in terrible condition like the 7727 box: A while ago I wrote a little review about 7777 which you might know allready: https://brickset.com/article/25119/7777-the-1981-trains-ideas-book And all sets from the grey are are summarized as Bricklist over at brickset https://brickset.com/sets/list-15314 12v is still alive Holger

Hi Reza, thanks for putting all this together! I checked most of my 12v train motors, some are very scratchy so I can not read the production date. But for your list I have: Red Type 1: 16 0 Red Type 1: 22 0 Red Type 1: 29 0 Red Type 1: 32 0 Red Type 1: 39 0 Red Type 1: 39 0 Red Type 2: 25 2 Red Type 3: 30 3 Red Type 3: 39 3 Red Type 3: 41 2 Red Type 3: 40 4 Black Type 2: 15 81 Black Type 2: 47 81 Black Type 2: 3 82 Black Type 2: 21 2 Black Type 3: 37 2 Black Type 3: 15 3 Black Type 3: 37 3 Black Type 3: 20 5 Black Type 3: 45 5 Black Type 4: 27 9 The Red Type 1: 16 0 is from a nearly MISB 7750 (most bags still closed, motor never run so far). So I am very sure that this motor came with a 7750 set. For all the other motors I can not tell from which original set they came. I got 7735 and 7745 from my childhood but I can not say which motors they had originally. Overall I found only one Type 4 motor in my collection. And as long as I keep this 7865 sealed I can not tell what version is in this one? Holger

I've used old brown for my real brick build crocodile engine, except the 1x2 bricks with grille. They were never made in old brown, only in reddish brown. For the instructions on the book I used red because of printing quality issues with brown vs. black. But the bill of materials will list all color relevant elements. I know that this model uses some hart to find elements, but the model was build years prior then the book was written and the crocodile engine is an example for a complex expert model. For long time I thought it is not possible to build a dark green version. Dark green does match perfectly with most of the real engines. But Axel proved that it is possible, even without jumper plates which were not available when he build his dark green version: This is a great example of my intention of the book: inspiration to go ahead further and find your own solutions. And not sticking brick by brick with the photos and instructions I've provided. Hope you enjoy the book anyway, even if you have done struggles with a 1:1 build of the crocodile. Holger P.S. The "fact sheet" on pages 186/187 does mention brown (and not reddish brown) a several times.

Great stuff! I like the colored marked remote signals and points. I also use this idea and thanks to the current color palette you can use many remote devices. The red locomotive is also part of my 12 volt collection. How did you build the middle light with the light brick behind it? 12 volt is alive :-) Holger