pinioncorp

Great review(s), thanks. Interesting to see how they've changed over the years. In the 90's they started adding one extra flower stem so the spare flowers wouldn't be wasted. Also a shame to see everyone's favourite tree, the Cypress, never made it into a trees pack.

I am interested in the strategy TLG is taking with this. In my opinion the 7939 is a better set as well. I don't know the figures but I believe the sets were selling quite well, it seems strange to replace it so soon. And will it just be the cargo train being replaced? Will there be be more frequent, but staggered, releases? Will there be one new train every year? After somewhat of a drought there seems to be an influx of train related releases; I wonder whether TLG will get the returns they're after.

All those parts are already available for purchase through the online Pick a Brick (those that are currently available anyway), you can just add them to your order in any quantity you desire.

Looks fantastic, but my goodness I was falling asleep watching that clip. He's done a great job designing that train but he needs to work on his on air composure and enthusiasm.

True that, my mistake. The connector plug is seen on the side of the loco, and the PF plug sits inside the cab enough not to be covered. You would get more grey there, but not a big deal. I hope it comes without track and controller though, I'm tired of paying for items I don't need and are worthless to other collectors alike.

Looks fantastic. Just missing the Heavy Electron Bolters that it uses for its long ranged attack, they should be where the grey clips are. You just need a microwave laser commander and you're ready to waltz into battle.

I think the train could definately look a bit better with some tiles instead of all the studs. It's a bit messy on top. A few stickers (as much as I hate them) wouldn't be out of place either, as long as they are simple like some small text like the old 1980's trains had. Also to note would be the difficulty of adding a second motor to this train: the PF plug would stick up too high. You'd need to get a regular cable, plug the first motor and a switch to that and then the second motor to the switch. How you fit all that inside I don't know.

One thing that I noticed is the bogie on the back of the engine is rather ugly; It doesn't use the usual suspension sides that the 2010 sets use, but is rather done the old fashioned way, except with a brick sticking out. Very unlike TLG.

$200 AUD, up 25% on the Emerald Night. Still going to buy one.

I prefer to have my motors together. That way the motors always have around about the same amount of strain on them. It is also easier to connect them to the same battery source, or at least the same IR receiver. For 9V motors, it matters less, but I like to think that it keeps the train more balanced having the motors up the front, so they are always pulling a load. In my experience, there is less strain having a train moving forward than reverse pushing up on the load. Some of my carriages (namely the EN carriages) don't take being pushed too well, as they can't make a corner without derailing. The extra slack is needed in the couplers to space them enough to make a standard turn. Running one motor faster then the other will do neither of them any good, regardless of where they are in the consist.

To me it looks like one of these then one of these these. You are correct Jonwil, its attached at the top, and there's a white tile running along the bottom.

The club car looks bad for one reason and one reason only: the roofline is inconsistent. The Metroliner Club Car works well because the roof doesn't change in height (except for one plate - but even then the slope on the side is the same height) - maybe try using these as a way to open the top up as space for minifigs, while using smaller windows along the bottom. The other thing I don't like is that you've separated the loco from the carriages, instead of using the shared bogies that looked so good before. Realistically the train would never be separated from its consist, so leaving them all connected makes sense. Great work on the rest though, you've got turned something that was so plain into something visually appealing.

Thought I'd get in early, before everyone posts their really awesome stuff and destroys what little confidence I have. Minifig: Tennis Player Theme: Tennis Court Real original, I know, but it's my first contest entry. I don't really have that many parts, but I'm happy the way it came out. It'd've looked better in salmon, but that's not a colour that's available in the parts I needed. All fits into an 8 × 8 studs area, save for the minifig arms and the backs of the chairs. Stud on the baseline is for the player. If you haven't noticed, I'm a fan of the classic smiley

Looking at the pictures you've posted of the real station, I thought the roof was all the same. Especially at the back it looks all the same colour. But I must admit the grey continues around the whole building at the same level nicely.

I really love this! It is a realistic size, and in realistic colours. Will look fantastic when finished and coupled with all your addons. The only thing that I can think of that it needs is dark blue slopes for the eaves. They are available for a reasonable price on bricklink, and would really continue the roof down the whole structure.

At very least, you'll be needing these in red, to curve it off.

I just wish they'd decide on a container size standard. Different size containers to the 2010 Cargo train!

I assume this will eventually be replacing the Emerald Night as the AFOL train set. If you haven't got an EN yet, you'd might want to start thinking about it. Interesting to note that the designers have listened to us whinging about the one carriage, and included two this time; Certainly don't hear anyone complaining about it. It isn't entirely different to the BNSF or Hobby train incarnation, but it's in nice colours and with nice accessories. Those hats aren't going to be worth the hundreds of dollars the Bricklink sellers have them for now...

I doubt that anyone will sell you one of those for $40; It's too sought after. The parts off bricklink would probably be more than that. You can however aquire it by buying another set then selling the train off seperately.

The Battery pack that comes with the 7938 and 7939 uses 6 AAA batteries, instead of the AA batteries of the older power functions battery box pictured, hence why it is smaller. A good way to conceal the larger battery box into the passenger car would be to build a custom base and have the battery box extend downward through the base, ala Gambort's design. It'd be hard to mimic the design of the carriage base, but a similar shape is possible.

Disappointed I missed out on this, looks fantastic. The really natural terrain shape is stunning, coupled with two of the country's best train creators' MOCs. The fact you managed to do it so far apart from each other is a miracle. Keep it up.

Consider this my signature. The classic smiley is irreplaceable and synonymous with LEGO.

It's... so ugly... The real thing that is. Your MOC looks fantastic! Has a really open feel to it, as an observation should. The only thing I would say would be to change the 1×6×3 windscreens for 1×2×3 panels instead (except for the one at the back), that way the glass stays flat, and would reflect the seperate windows that makes up the real one.

I don't know whether I'd be collecting without Bricklink. Learn its features, namely the wanted list and price guide, to sus out the stores that have the items you need. Then its easy to find the stores that have the most parts you want. Just make sure you are aware of the seller's policies and feedback before making a purchase. If you don't use Bricklink, you can continue to collect random parts from Op shops or the like, but you'll have many parts you don't need. Ebay has quite a few lego bits, and sometimes they are well priced, but finding specific parts in decent quantities is difficult. But sometimes you just have to realise that some parts will probably stay incomplete. You can't expect to always find the one component you need.

I don't like facades only because being able to see through it derides from the appearance. You only need simple bricks to make a back wall. If you don't build a back to a structure, you really do need an interior due to all the light streaming in through the back. They do however make it easier to play with, if that's your thing.