kyphur

He caught them off guard, they didn't expect him to push the attack suddenly like he did. He was still able to mask his intentions from the force. I would also argue that he WAS better than Mace but he needed to finish turning Anakin that's why he "let" Mace get the upper hand. Once Anakin was complicit in Mace's death it sealed the deal. In for a penny in for a pound so to speak.

Okay, I'll try again.... Toss the RC Motor. Use a PF Train Motor. Add the short PF to 9v Cord to connect to the power. You need to stash a little more cord but get the better motor...

Let's see, a Sith powerful enough to manipulate the Galactic Government into installing him as the Chancellor, granting him emergency powers and going to war? All the while he concealed not only his movements but those of his apprentices from the Jedi Council who lived just down the street from him? I see your point, no reason to think he might be somewhat powerful in the force...

Why not use a 3 inch PF/9v converter and put the better Train Motor under it?

Sorry but the 7898 doesn't come with the right equipment to power the Maersk! The RC Receiver/Battery compartment is in the Train base... The parts to properly power the Maersk are only about $50. The PF Train Motor is currently on backorder in the US but the RC Train Motor is available and it only needs a $3 cable to stand in for the PF version. You got the RC Train Motor with 7898 which is reported to be less powerful than the PF Train motor but has better traction than the 9V Train Motor because it has O-rings on the wheels like the PF Motor. The 9V motor is reported to be on par with the PF Motor power-wise.

Thanks, I am a little worried that it should be 4 wide, not 6 wide and lower to the tracks as these things are small. If it goes lower that I would have to lose the angles underneath but I think they give it a mechanically driven look and if I reduce it to 4 wide then I think it will look way too tall...

The brick-built version is coming soon... Just need to wait for a BL order to arrive. I have a couple of ideas for a funny little comic involving the Hand Car and one of my Locos. Thanks for the feedback.

Neyo, I'm glad to see you're enjoying him so much. I agree he is a great little MiniFig despite the imperfections. I had all of the Promo Figs (Chrome C3-PO Vader and Stromtrooper, White Boba and Shadow ARF Trooper). While they're all cool ther is something about C3-PO that makes him stand-out from the rest, maybe because he started the whole thing?

Most US retailers have a 30 - 90 day price match promise. I just got a second 3677 Red Cargo Train Set for $86 (after tax), because I bought on one Aug 25 and they had the BOGO 1/2 off sale Sept 9 & 10, I didn't even need to bring in the first set, just the receipt. They returned the first one and sold it back to me with the only one they had on the shelves all in the same transaction.

This is my idea for the 7777 Redux Contest here on Flickr. There is a Hand Car right on the cover and it is actually the first set of instructions (on Page 3) in the book. I figured it could use a little update. I have actually been thinking of doing a Hand Car for a while but was busy with the task of building my Train Collection from scratch over the past 6 months in between selling of my LEGO Star Wars Collection (I have less than 20 sets left of over 200), maintaining my career and moving a family with 3 kids. Now that I've set-up tables in the new basement and have a lot of track laid out with trains running I figure it's time to revisit old ideas. Then the 7777 Redux Contest comes along and right on the cover of the Idea Book I find my little Hand Car! How could I not do it? Feedback & suggestions are appreciated.

Oh man, I wish I'd seen that. I would have stopped by for sure. I've been thinking of hooking up with NILTC even since getting into trains.

To counter the newer parts not present I would say that since they will eventually make their way into the LDraw System it pales in comparison to the issue with LDD dropping older parts of the face of the earth. If a new part is essential to my virtual build then I have options: Build a mock-up. Grab the unofficial part (which is a work in progress but close enough for practical purposes). Build without the part. Create the part myself. In LDD I only have 2 options, either build without it or use something in it's place. This is where the flexibility of LDraw System comes into play. Is LDD easier to build with out of the box, sure. I won't argue with that but I would say that the cost for that "ease of use" is too high for my tastes. Ironically the very thing you seem to dislike about the LDraw System is one of my favorite features, that it doesn't enforce what it thinks are "Legal Connections". Another is the ability to build sub-models and use them within the main model. At then end of the day they each have their strengths & weaknesses...

That's one of the biggest advantages of LDraw based tools (such as ML-Cad), older parts are available...

The LDraw based instructions are generated using utilities like LDView, LPub & POVRay. Yes they are time consuming for larger models but they are great if done correctly.

Thanks, I used your list and just completed my Super Chief (Official Cars that is): Super Chief on Figure Eight Track Now I think I want to build a "B Unit" and a Dome Car for him!

This isn't a problem I've had with the Maersk Locomotive. I've run it with 11 Cars, Loco in front & Rear both powered and it seems the IR Receiver is mounted high enough that the stop signal gets to both Locos every time. Not the CITY Cargo Train is another story, I've had to be more careful when running it like that.

Could I ask if this includes just new 9v Train motors or is there a power pick-up system in the works to allow us to either directly power PF using the powered rails or to charge the LEGO Li-Po battery pack?

Just wondering... If you're putting a dummy Locomotive on the end of the train and only want to use 2 train motors why not just put the second train motor in the trailing Locomotive? I understand that you'd need another PF Receiver and Battery but by having a Loco pushing it would overcome the coupling strength issue as the rear Loco would push the rolling stock to reduce the strain on the couplings. This is how I run my Maersk and Cargo Train. I put both of the IR Receivers one the same channel & color connector so that one transmitter controls both Locos

Seeing that makes me think I know how I'm gonna use one of my 9v motors & some of the track...

I loved the Maersk Monorail Train! When I approached the display it was immediately recognizable and I was like "Woah! That's a Mini-Maersk on a Mono-Rail!"

Sorry this is late, Raffle Drawing for 6/172011: And the seventh Raffle Prize is..... 30050-1 MINI Republic Attack Shuttle! That's two in a row! Drum Roll Please..... ... ... This week's Raffle Winner is..... EuroBricks User Nebraska! Our first two time winner! It was a pleasure meeting you a BrickWorld.

That's your problem... Stickers shouldn't damage print but if you're that worried about it then purchase blank heads in the color you need. Waterslide decals would be best though as you can get solvents to use that erase the slight edge and even if you don't go that route the decal partially dissolves in the water and what's left on the part is thinner than a sticker. Unfortunately the decals are best used on un-printed parts.

I've been in to trains since April (2011)... I currently own 15 Trains! The duplicates are: 3 Maersk, 2 CITY Cargo & 2 CITY Passenger. Singles are: Emerald Night, RC Cargo Train Deluxe, LEGO Express Deluxe, SF Super Chief, BNSF, Metroliner, High Speed Train and the Hobby Train Box.

Are you using stickers or waterslide decals?

I have the 9v Battery to PF custom piece and found it to work fine for runs of less than an hour. I don't think I'll be disassembling my IR Receivers anytime soon though.