stu808

GO! Farmer Harv! Well done! My budget is proportional to how much I donate (waste) each week to Philip Morris or Alfred Dunhill... and the Danish plastic is slowly but surely winning That's one of the reasons why I'm here, spend the money on something else, better, much better. Also down here smoking is taxed to death (pun intended) so the new weekly budget is going to be good. Stu :) P.S. However the odd single malt and Cuban corona does lead me astray

Well I'm going to try and build 60098 this week because I need a Christmas tree train... or else 7722 will resume yuletide duties for another year. Or put another way... Life I don't have Lego plans (as in plural) as such, but more like THE LEGO PLAN (singular) Moohahaha! Stu :)

I think you are all right in your own unique views and ways, it's rather an honor/horror to think that I'm entering some higher stage of upper AFOL'ness... maybe I'll get an invite or email reply from the order of the Bavarian Illuminati I mean the AucklandLUG I remember the same issue when I was into model boats, but a good model boat kit (not plastic ones, think wood, string, brass, bits, custom servos, etc) would take months to complete, not a couple of week nights. Over a course of two or three years you'd end up with 2-4 new boats built, but buy another 6-12 kits and have them lying around. Then have think about the extra kits, have a online auction clear out of the ones you know you'll never build (eg. all of them) and start again. Things should improve soon as I'm clearing out half of the double garage in the new year for a permanent layout And a word of warning; photography GAS is BAD unless you have an uber disposable income AND know how to use that collection of kit. Stu :) P.S. Oh and if you haven't guessed yet.... my picture-signature thingy needs updating

...is this normal? I have a growing number of sets I've not built, I remember bringing home 60098 and thinking "Yay! I can build it this weekend". But no And what hasn't helped is that I've decided I needed some track-side structures and started acquiring various City/Creator sets too... Now in certain photographic circles we call this GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), same thing or something different??? Stu :)

Welcome to the forum! I have 60051 too and I recommend getting a least one more middle carriage/car for it, looks way better IMHO. See the picture from dr_spock from this post http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=117562entry2392964 That was the same image I found on a Google search that inspired me to get another middle carriage/car. I did post-grad study, far as I know there is no such thing as a stupid question; except for certain forum admins/MODs/Trolls. But read the Train Tech Master Index very WELL, loads of really useful info! I'm sure someone here can help with local clubs and point you in the direction of displays, I'm no help as I'm on the other side of the planet... even for me down here in NZ, far as I'm concerned the Auckland LUG is a branch of the Bavarian Illuminati Stu :)

Me Too... My first Lego train set was a 7722! Mine is slowly under going a PF refit and like any train refit in this country it will take five years longer then planned, the budget will blow out and become a parliamentary issue next election There was a BR logo options on the stick set and DB, SNCF, etc etc... https://alpha.brickl...0&O={"color":0} Stu :)

Thanks for the positive feedback! That's makes me want to order bits... Getting close... try AT (Auckland Transport). Completely different monster from KiwiRail. No other New Zealand stock or locos, but that might change. Thinking of either doing DC or DX with with Overlander rolling stock Example- For your fans of interesting colours; Yellow, black, red loco with light blue carriages and guards van. ...and maybe later a J Class with classic NZR rolling stock. It's 'spose to look small, but you're right about the bogies.... massive rethink going down at the moment. I hear what your saying but I'm being a stubborn one here. 6-Wide! Yes there are no narrow tunnels here in Auckland, but on my layout plan there is a narrow tunnel... and a helix. Thanks for the 'Outlines'' advice! I'll post more pictures with both options when I've attacked the bogies... After reading reading the last three posts I have decided to lengthen it out from two 24x6s, but only to two 28x6s. I'm being a bit of stickler for "toy effect" here. Your right Zephyr! The doors on the end are just wrong, in a jandals and socks sort of a way. That will be corrected. Shortening the bogies is now must after reading your guys posts, which got me thinking. I am going to add PF to this train and rather than use the standard train motor, maybe use a smaller Technics type motor, then MOC up a custom motorized bogie. Not sure where to start... but stay tuned. Also thinking about underside details, one idea I had is to use non-Lego battery packs and have two 3xAAA packs under each train base. A big THANKS to all for you creative feedback so far! Dare I say, more is welcome. Stu :)

http://en.wikipedia....l_multiple_unit Right this is my first posting of MOC that is yet to be parted up and ordered. Also this is my first attempt at a commuter train. Looking for comments, suggestions, praise, criticisms, money, etc... A few basic specs about the design- 6-Wide to fit on my layout Modeled and scaled for 'Minifig' scale to fit in with my other trains Modeled in the 'MAXX Blue' Colour scheme, the colours they got retired in Only two train bases long as I feel this is what a Lego commuter train would be. If a inter-city passenger train is three bases long and a cargo train is four long, then a “commuter” would be smaller again. Tried to fit it on one train base, but looked wrong. Still not overly happy with the underside of the train... may change, or may not if some uppity security guard at Britomart grabs me for attempting to peer under the platform. Stu :)

I thought those colours looked rather familiar! Any updates on those great looking NZR passenger carriages? Stu :)

I was just sitting in the dining room with a cup of coffee admiring the collection to date, my mind decided it needed a challenge... what are my Lego trains modeled after? If they are at all?!? The newest trains to collection are obvious; 60052 Cargo Train = GP38 (sort-of) ; 10233 Horizon Express = TGV Older trains are easy too; 7898 Cargo Train Deluxe = Class E93 "Alligator" ; 7722 Steam Cargo Train = DB BR89 (could be wrong, my only reference is some Marklin catalogues) And of course the MoCs are no brainers.... "Hmmm, gosh I wonder what train the 'Vossloh G2000' I designed and modeled is???" But one train I can't pin down is the 7740. As of now I'm yet to be come a certified anorak owner, but the signs are there. My only guess is it might be a DB Class 103. The shape vaguely looks right and original colours of tan and dark red would match up with Lego's 70's/early 80's palette, Lego yellow and bright red. Then again the only real-life trains I really know are Deutsche Bundesbahn and recently I'm paying attention to what's in "my backyard" so-to-say. Any thoughts? Many thanks, Stu :)

Lucky I got my HE a few days ago for a birthday present! A combined present from my brilliant family! Mum, sister and brother-in-law Not in stock with S@H down here in NZ... although I think NZ S@H comes via Europe Also the major Lego stockists here in Middle Zealand no longer have HE listed online to purchase and two stores I've spoken to say they can't get them in stock anymore. But I won't say what one toy store who knows me; did SAY to me. Looks like getting 2nd HE to make a full train in going to be harder then first though... Stu :) (who turned 14 years old last week.... with 24 years of experience )

I'm also a standard Lego AAA battery box (88000) and Eneloop user, I too will sing the praises of this setup. I also use the old 9V battery box with rechargeable 9V batteries... but that is a different story I'd also like to add... buy a decent charger. That can make a big difference to how much performance and life you can get out of your rechargeable batteries; especially LSDs like Eneloops. A charger that can discharge/charge/cycle is good, one that features an analyzer/refresher option, even better! I didn't use the Lego Rechargeable Battery Box (8878) mainly for cost. A standard AAA battery box + 3x Eneloop AAA twin pack =$45NZ vs Rechargeable Battery Box = $149NZ Never considered future proof part of it... Stu :)

Hiya all, Does anybody know of another currently available option then Power Functions to drive their trains? And I don't mind building it myself if I have too.... My current issue is the size of the Power Functions Receiver unit. If I could buy these _OR_ buy the PCBs for these I'm sorted http://www.hackvandedam.nl/blog/?page_id=547 Also open to other non-Lego solutions, like Arduino and PICAXE based ideas. Many thanks Stu :)

Hey all, Thanks for all the replies, sorry mine took a while to get back... my Dad lost the battle with cancer a few days after my initial post :( Thanks for links to the part codes... part numbers now locked into Bricklink as I scour the Earth for most unique parts seller with best price and ok shipping fees. 'Doah!' Why didn't I think of that; then again I'm better with freight trains then the passenger variety. Three carriages so three classes ;) And there is an official number '3' tile too. Oh, BIG Thanks for that one... wouldn't have known that until the massive derailment. I'm saving those options for future MOCs, if that makes sense? Plans vaguely include a BR and 0-6-0 of some sort, if I can't find a suitable German 0-6-0 then I'll do rebuild of Lima OO GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tank; my first ever model/toy train. Cheers, I had a friend from art college days who is a font wizard have a look too. She said it was Helvetica Neue Bold, so two thumbs up is good enough for me. Stu :)

Hiya all, I've been naughty and made some spur of the moment purchases, the local online auction site had 2nd Edition Hogwarts Express (4758) at a good price and while checking Bricklink to see if the price was ok; I found a seller with two matching coaches for sale at what I thought was good price too, until shipping kicked in. Poor credit card. I've now paid for both the train AND two extra coaches. And yes this isn't going to fit with DB/German theme I was attempting... this might tempt me into MOCing that GWR 0-6-0... sorry I digress. My questions are- On the coaches there are yellow numbered tiles (3070 bp01/bp02) with the numbers 1 and 2. I'm guessing that now I have two extra coaches I'll need numbers 3,4,5 and 6 right? So...does anybody out there know what font the lettering is in? It looks like Helvetica to me. Now I'm planning to run this train on a PF motor, so I made up a copy of the 3rd Edition Hogwarts Express (4841) tender in LDD and worked/MOC'd out how to make PF RX/Battery fit in the tender. But the Lego version of the train is a 4-4-0 with wheels of all the same sizes, where as the train they did use in the movies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_4900_Class_5972_Olton_Hall) was a 4-6-0 with driving wheels and leading wheels different sizes. I'm going to keep the wheels that come with the set as the leading wheels, but I'll use something else for drivers. Any suggestions? Many thanks, Stu :)