JopieK

At least there is an official Raspberry Pi HAT for current LEGO motors: https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/projects/lego-robot-car. I don't know the "C+ control system", but I'm sure you can program the Pi HAT using Python and probably also C and C++ (as that is often the lower level programming layer underneath the Python).

Welcome @nico_schumi enjoy your stay.

No problem @Building_Up. Welcome to Eurobricks. But we get a lot of people who just joined to promote their Ideas and that is of course not helping the community so that is why we are a little vigilant on this! Enjoy your stay (and maybe read the rules, there are links in my signature to help you stay safe).

Very nice! Thanks for sharing :)

They have good reason to be jealous ;)

Very nice work. Thanks for sharing @zephyr1934. I should look into that if I get my new cellar in a few months (and hopefully be able to get my LEGO than back from storage).

Wow, very nice layout! Thanks for sharing.

The lawyer made some strange remarks: "I can't add nutmeg to the scent at Chanel or have a Rolex chromed because I like it." I thought Apple was worse than LEGO but, but Apple seems to be fine with e.g. this: https://theluxgroup.us/product/custom-apple-iphone-12-pro-max-512gb-18k-24k-gold-plated/ and custom AirPods: https://www.macrumors.com/2019/11/08/colorware-custom-painted-airpods-pro/. It is legally called 'upcycling' afaik: https://www.registreermijnmerk.nl/upcycling-binnen-het-merkenrecht/. "Upcycling is an initiative from the fashion industry in the field of sustainability. Upcycling is the reuse of a product where the product has a higher quality after processing. Upcycling therefore goes further than recycling. While with recycling the product is often destroyed first, with upcycling (part of) the product remains intact, but by adding creativity a different product is created with a higher quality." So it is a little tricky: if the brand thinks its reputation is being harmed. LEGO could e.g. think: the customers will hate use more of not having decent trains in our current lineups because of HA Bricks it becomes apparent what we lack. But I'm afraid this is a war on virtually every customization party.

I already read it in the Dutch news, but 1000steine Dirk has now also picked up on it: Toy manufacturer Lego is not prepared to reach a settlement with HA Bricks of entrepreneur Hein Alkema from Westerkwartier over train replicas built with Lego bricks that that company markets. This became apparent on Tuesday during summary proceedings initiated by Lego at the court in The Hague. Lego continues to consider the product an infringement of trademark law and demands that sales stop. According to Lego's lawyer, "the reputation of the toys of superior quality" is at stake because of the trains. HA Bricks would modify and mutilate building blocks in its sets. "The consumer cannot see whether it is Lego or HA Bricks," the lawyer said. He gave the judge a pebble whose plastic would quickly tear. Lego wants to maintain full control over its products and therefore does not allow any adjustments or printing. Lead is also said to have been used in Bricks' construction sets. "I can't add nutmeg to the scent at Chanel or have a Rolex chromed because I like it," the lawyer said. Conflict is about a stone But according to entrepreneur Alkema, the conflict only revolves around one stone to which a metal bearing can be connected. That would not have been a deterioration, but rather an improvement. 98 percent of the construction kit consists of original Lego bricks, said the lawyer for the Groningen company. Furthermore, there would be no confusion among consumers, as the boxes contain a disclaimer that the material is from Lego. 'What do you mean inferior quality? Everything can be destroyed,' the counselor said. 'HA Bricks is one of Lego's most loyal ambassadors.' The judge tried to see whether the parties could reach an agreement together, for example by replacing that stone. The entrepreneur from HA Bricks had offered this before and was willing again. But Lego's lawyer thinks that is not enough and stands firm: a sales ban. The judge will make a ruling on May 28. The original news article (in Dutch): https://www.rtvnoord.nl/112/1164034/lego-eist-verkoopverbod-voor-enumatilster-treinmodelbouwer The topic (in German) from Dirk: https://www.1000steine.de/de/gemeinschaft/forum/?entry=1&id=476825&lastid=1#lastid Personal comments: The entire cases pivots around a technic brick that they or maybe Bricktracks put bearings in. LEGO though: the Train community is annoying so let's hate them even more by working against some of their favorite model makers?! I don't know if they first tried it 'the friendly way' but I think it is in no one's interest to attack HA Bricks.

Really nice one :) Piet Mondriaan and LEGO fit very well I think! I don't know if the roof is very much a Mondriaan look but the rest of it definitely is!

Great job Dave / @idlemarvel!

Maybe an interesting video for us Train fans:

@Bonaparte can help you with that!

Persistence pays off :)

Wow, I missed it but really nice and definitely deserves a FP :)

Very nice. For shunters the Powered Up brick is way too large. I was trying to fit one in a retro 7760 but so far I'm not satisfied. Your solution is at least already better by replacing the train motor with this one.

You can see that easily as you clearly see the ejection marks (and no layer lines, could have been resin of course, but again, those ejection marks are (too) evident)

I don't think LEGO is meant for industrial applications so please check the regulations first. There are also non-LEGO button "pushers" available on Amazon etc. If you really want to do it with LEGO, I would use a circular to linear motion device: or There are many more examples of course :)

That is a great way to control points @Ludo. Thanks for sharing.

You already got your answer of course (at 1000steine). But I'm wondering how did the heritage came about? Was the previous owner an AFOL or did (s)he have a shop? Must be a quite rare item. I loved those service packs back in the eighties as they were really good additions for the LEGO 12V trains.

You're welcome ;)

There was a time when that was the same for me :)

@idlemarvel thanks for sharing! Really extensive work. I would almost buy an Android phone :) Is part 2 going to be on the Raspberry Pi?!

Thanks Jim. We finally put our signature on the builders contract (using concrete/stone instead of LEGO bricks :)) to get an extension to the house with a LEGO cellar so that I hopefully within a year can take the LEGO from the warehouse and start building a nice layout.

I found this nice video / solution: Thanks you for the great idea Larry's LEGO!