kyphur

Here is my Brick Friday Weekend Deal for EBers... 3 New, never run 9v Train Motors for $40 each! 1 Used, slighty as in only a few hours of total run time but shows wear scratches on the Bogey Plate from being attached to an engine for several years, only $25! Shipping is at buyers expense. I have these in my BrickLink inventory (held in the stockroom so not available for purchase yet) and will be making them available for sale to the BrickLink user base next week for $5 more each... Once that happens this offer will be closed. PM me if interested, order priority is determined by PM time stamp.

And many don't even see there being any "Battle"... Seriously the Enlighten & Banbao clones are either original designs (Banbao 8228, Enlighten Heavy Steam Loco) or knock-offs of discontinued TLG Designs there really is no head-to-head competition. The biggest irony of your one man crusade against the clone brands is that you're actually supplying free advertising for them in a targeted audience that they would never directly reach! I wasn't aware of Enlighten's complete train line until I saw it in one of these "Kill the Clones" threads and that info actually led me to purchase the complete line! Same with Banbao, I'd heard of the brand but didn't know they made trains until you posted your "Hate them" thread. Honestly if I could easily get my hands on their remote trains I just might buy them to see if they're worth anything.

After a lot of thinking & a bit of "Putting Rubber to Roadplates" I've decided that I don't like the Roadplates and will be paving my roads with tiles! I'll use Light Bl-Gray for Concrete Roads and Dark Bl-Gray for Asphalt. This will allow for better curbs and sewer grates plus I can engineer unique roadways (like medians and such if I want. Well you could always build the rolling stock using the new grays. It would still look great and be a fraction of the cost (but still expensive). Even though I have all of the official cars and a custom EMD-B unit I'm seriously considering copying my whole Super Chief Train with the new grays

I'm just wondering, what's the battery draw of the RF to IR component?

Agreed that it's an interesting discussion but it just doubles the "frequencies" available and requires the extended frequency receivers to be primed each time you start up. My current layout plan uses 22 Switches, 2 Double Crossovers and a motorized Turntable! That's 27 points of control I'll need just for those!

LEGO® Power Functions Control Switch I'll know if it fits after the weekend when I try to double-up my Maersk Loco on motors.

Yep, but theres a neat feature on the page right after you commit to the purchase, a link that goes to a everything in the order that's on your wanted list so you can easily remove it all!

No need to delete the thread, just start adding updated images to the new posts at the end of the thread instead of replacing the images in the first post.

Yes, yes and finally YES... Ideally the RF would simply be a go between as in your original design. The 1x4x2 receiver can be added to almost any existing PF design. If everything would use the RF then we shouldn't need to shield the IR Receivers if we shield the IR Transmitter (like a capture hood that had the RF Transmitter's IR Receiver in it so only the RF Transmitter gets the signal. I understand that the addresses could be much higher than the 16 I suggested. I used 16 for a few reasons: Simplicity: We'd need to set the address on the transmitter before sending commands and each receiver should be user configurable address. For Sending commands to Groups of receivers we could set the address on the RF to "ALL" and then your one of the four PF Frequencies on the LEGO Transmitter so I could stop all trains on Freq 1 (for example). For the Transmitter, if we keep the address count low then we can have a bank of on/off toggles along the top front edge that would allow us to select multiple addresses for a command. The "Address Frame" could contain a bit for each of the 16 addresses, if the receiver's address bit is 1/on/true then the receiver passes the command through. This would allow us to throw switches in groups or start/stop/slow/accelerate trains (or multiple engines in the same train) together. Since the stop button on TLG's remote sends the BRAKE Command it would be nice to have a "FLOAT" button on the RF Transmitter so if I have 2 Locos on a train I can Float one of the engines instead of having to run it if I don't need the power. I wouldn't mind automating my trains (especially for my big layout) but without on the fly trickle charging that would be useless and I don't want to get stuck with he limitations of 9v track for power.

I am by no means an electronics guy but I like this. Something I would be very interested in seeing (and contributing $$$ towards development) that I believe would also be marketable: Addressable IR/RF - RF/IR system By this I mean that the Receivers would each have a unique address (simple number say 1 - 16) and the transmitter would have a way to select which receiver we are addressing (and include the option for ALL). For this we could set up to 16 IR Receivers to use the same "frequency" so now 4 "Frequencies" * 2 "Channels" which used to give us control of 8 receivers would actually give us control of up to 128 receivers! Of course since this would be a PF only adaptation it wouldn't need Transceivers just a single Transmitter and multiple Receivers. Then I would be able to run all of me trains on "Frequency" 1 and motorize my switches using "Frequencies" 2 & 3. Anyone interested in working on this?

As I've been designing my Massive Train Layout a tunnel is on my list of Must Haves so I've been playing with a design. After several refinements I think I'm finally at the point where I can put it down and say I'm done: The most basic tunnel (shortest) would fit on a 32x32 Baseplate. Each modular section is designed for a 16x32 Baseplate. Here are the components: End Module (Entrance/Exit): Middle Module (allows extension of the length): Notice that the Middle Module has a door to access a Pedestrian tunnel (think maintenance access). For now I'm leaving the finishing details up to you the builder but this will provide you with the structurally sound tunnel. Just add scenery and the maintenance tunnel if you want (or fill in the door space with 6 2x4 bricks and skip it). I will be generating building instructions for this later in the week (need to make the Nov 30 entry deadline). and I'm going to play with making a curve (need to check required clearances for the current LEGO Trains) but it will require at least a 48x48 Baseplate.

Which i would replace with I'm toying with the idea but honestly wouldn't get to it for a while. The TXX is very similar to the Maersk Container Cars but TXX uses shared Bogies and comes in different lengths. For now I'm happy just having Maersk Container Cars in my yard. The TXX "upgrade" is on a list of "eventually when I have time and nothing else to do". Nope, I only purchased 2 Red Passenger Trains Sets. The 3rd Passenger Car was built from the 2 unused engines, I only needed to add about 8 pieces but they are readily available from my parts inventory.. Personally I focused on the Engines and Rolling Stock first. Built a few loops with sidings and such so I could run my trains and "get to know" each of them. Since I've acquired most of my wanted Engines and Rolling Stock I'm not working on the layout. You'll be surprised at how much track you end-up with this way. I don't even want to get into the 9v vs PF debate, it's like boxers or briefs... Each person will have their own preference and that's fine. For me I ended-up selling off all of my 9v track and will eventually sell of the 9c Train Motors, Speed controllers etc that I have. I just don't want the added complexity of multiple systems on on layout. Sure I have the RC Cargo Train but it's track needs are the same as the PF trains.

If you're looking for my opinion on your wants list here they are: Emerald Night is okay but doesn't really "float my boat". I have one and that's enough. If it goes on my layout it will be as a static display (I'm thinking of using some space for a "Railroad Museum" to display my Steamers... Maersk, I have 3 and don't regret that quantity. I've only built 2 of the Locos and will either build the 3rd recolored or not at all. I did build all of the rolling stock and will build a lot more of the containers, I just wish the doors were available in more colors. I also build extra Container Cars in Gray/Black. BNSF is a nice set but for much less you can MOC the same engine. Santa Fe, where to start? I've got so much invested in mine that it's kind of crazy. I have built all five cars and MOD'ed someone else's MOC of the EMD B-Unit. If I was to do it again from scratch I'd recommend building it in Bl-Grays to save a whole lot of money. IIRC the only part not made in Bl-Gray is the doors and the Port Holes. For the doors if you don't mind you can pick them up in old gray. For the port holes I'd simply settle for the parts used in the doors, sure they're not round but the port holes are $22 each and vanishing on BrickLink! I'd also not mind using the windscreen from 3677 instead of paying $16 for one with clear glass. FWIW, "The Chief" is my #1 Train and I don't regret a cent of it. As for the TXX, why bother? It's not in scale with anything! I'm actually disappointed with it after all the hype I heard about it. If you really want a TXX Car (or set of them) there are a few nice MOCs around, take a look and then MOC your own that's in scale with the Maersk Containers. Just my 2 cents. On the EOL Buffers, I really liked the original design. I reworked it for 2 reasons: * I felt with looked a bit wimpy compared to the Trains it's supposed to take a hit from. * I'm considering discontinuing my use of ME-Models Rails. I was originally using ME's 1/2 Track Parts to mount the Buffers and would need an alternative solution.

Thanks for the compliments on this upgrade. I've tweaked the design a little more since this initial MOD. I'll be creating and posting Instructions for this EOL Buffer along with instructions for the Train Bridge and the updated design for my Train Tunnel (a modular design that allows for easy extension of length in 16 stud increments. I don't know about adding a safety gap at the wall base but I have been considering adding a door and side tunnel for worker access/safety. My main hesitation is that in my layout the tunnel will be built into some elevated scenery so the worker's tunnel won't be very accessible unless I build something removable to allow easy viewing/manipulation of the worker tunnel.

Honestly I bought the lot for the 3 motors, I mean under $30 for 3 of them that work was a fantastic deal. I'll join you in the other thread, thanks...

Gambort, I have a problem... As you know I've already entered my Hand Car into the 7777 Redux Contest. This weekend I should be finishing-up entry number 2, the Transfer Caboose (with complete instructions for 3 different roofs). So far so good right? Well, I have this nice Truss Bridge that I designed for my Massive Layout and I want to enter it: But then as a companion piece for my Layout I also designed this "modular" Train Tunnel and as I think about it I must say I think it would make a nice addition to the 7777 Redux Contest. I know there isn't a Tunnel in the 7777 Idea Book but maybe there should have been! Here is the Tunnel Design: Now the rules say we can have up to 3 entries and if we want more we need to ask permission so I guess this is me asking permission as I think all four of my MOCs are worthy contenders for the 7777 Redux Contest.

My inventory of 9v Track is now all gone! Mod/Admin Please close this thread.

Yes, please an new thread would be great. I know nothing of Mindstorms/NXT except that I purchased this lot from another EBer for the 3 motors. The PF to 9v Cord seems to work for powering the motors. I'm guessing the "Tower" & "Intelligent Mind" would be used for this? If you start a new thread, I'll follow you there...

And my MOD of BlokBrick.com's EOL Buffer design: Notice that it uses 2 pieces of Flex Track for the base, here's a use for Flex Track even the 9v Guys can take advantage of!

And here is the completed design for the tunnel! It fits squarely on one 32x32 baseplate and has enough structure to support tracks running across the top. Of course you can just put scenery up there if you prefer...

You're right! I swapped the top two slopes and it looks better, thanks for the input...

Thank you for the compliment. Just like my bridge design I'm trying to keep the tunnel simple. I figure if I want to make it more complex later then I can but first I'd like to get to the point where I have the track all laid and have started putting in buildings before I rethink some of these elements. That's a great question. The answer is yes I plan on loading multiple containers without tying-up traffic in my freight yard. My Cartage will cover Road, Rail & Sea. I want to have two container cranes, one stationary and one that moves so it can load trucks/ rolling stock that is lined-up waiting. I hope to have 2 or 3 sidings that are just outside the main line for loading/unloading and at least one lane for the trucks. BTW, here's a couple of pics of my Proof of Concept test for the Tunnel Entrance. The Green Transfer Caboose is my tallest bit of rolling stock (it's even taller than all of my Locos). Notice that I changed to highest inverted slopes from 3x2 33s to 2x2 45s. I was just worried that the original design was just a hair too tight. The tunnel will have the same clearance as the bridge...

You can get almost anything on BrickLink: Price ranges from $7.00 to $20.00 This set looks nice and I've pondered purchasing it more than once but I wonder, is it really worth the $130.00 and up it would cost (including shipping) when I could build an updated version for that or less? Especially since I really like the scale of the Maersk Containers and am already irritated by the varying scaled Cargo Containers TLG has produced in the past.

And here is the beginning of the design stage for my Tunnel:

Well my first thought was to steal then from neighborhood kids but I doubt that would get me very far ! Seriously though, yes I am. I already have about 80 and I plan to buy about 20 per month until I have all I need. You can bet whenever S@H has free shipping or double VIP Points I'll be there... The good thing is that I don't need all of them right now. I just need to keep my inventory ahead of the build. But with a layout this size done entirely in LEGO there are going to be massive quantities of many other parts for example I'll have over 2,000 2x10 Plates in Light Gray just for track ballasting! The 15 6ft tables weren't free either. So far liquidating my LEGO SW Collection has financed most of the prep for this project (including building my Engine & Rolling Stock Inventory). Selling off my 9v Track has helped also, next to go will be my 9v Train Motors! I'm PF all the with this one...