JopieK

@daveybai: They seem to use a GP-40-2 Engine: Looks very nice indeed, including the cars:

Hi Lozza9, why don't you introduce yourself first?! Welcome to Eurobricks b.t.w. What are your interests in LEGO?! Of course base plates could be decorated... but there are more than one options of course. You could put decals or stickers on them. The problem with paint on such a parts is that it will come off easily... maybe if you airbrush it it isn't that problematic (since you would have a very thin layer), but it requires special equipment and a solid hand! Here is an old and long-dead topic on it: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16646 Same problem was stated there as you can see!

It (the Airport Shuttle) is very high on my "need to buy" list, together with the metroliner. Prices are becoming higher and higher though ;) I just reproduced the stickersheet and reproducing involves looking at the instructions etc. so a real challenge (felt like a dog with a fat and juicy sausage above its head ;))

We store it in Curver Unibox, either 20L or 30L. We used our lablewriter to label front and back of those boxes and put them in a shelf. The 20L version is easier to store, but for larger sets and bulk it is better to use a 30L version in our opinion. We also use these boxes to transport our builds to events. A 20L box will just fit a 32x32 + 32x16 (so about 32x48) baseplate at its' bottom. We have single boxes with: - green stuff (trees, leaves, flowers), sorted in zip-bags per kind - minifigs - tiles - slopes - points PF - straights PF - curved / flex PF - 9V Mixed - rocks BURP/LURP And then boxes with: - bricks - modified bricks - trains - car parts - western - boats / harbor stuff - cars - city And I probably forget something, but anyway, that is how we store and/or transport our LEGO. A LEGO Storage Tardis might indeed be a very neat idea, now we have a large attic with 8 of those shelves: But what if we might move to another house within some years... I guess I will need a Tardis by then... or just a large basement ;) (neater Dutch houses often only have a small attick, unlike our current 'in between' house.

The days from the 12V era are never coming back I'm afraid, we hoped for track accessories in the 9V era, they never came and we are even a step behind (they release a crossing after some years and did not turn it into a PF version). On the other hand, we should be thankful for the Horizon and all the trains we have had in recent years. My option is to use Arduino and non-LEGO servo's to automate the PF trains and that works quite well. At the moment I'm busy with automating the point crossing 7996, it is a challenge, I want to use semaphores, for me that is most of the fun: combining two hobby's, LEGO (Trains) and programming ;) B.t.w. I don't understand certain LEGO decision either, like why they only release one City Monorail, kids love them... Kids also love trains, I see that at LEGOWorld in Holland every year. They ask a lot of questions about it, etc. I think trains would also be something LEGO could make a really big difference, their plants are sophisticated enough to make stuff that competitors won't, just my opinion of course. For 2014 I would like to see a new train like the Metroliner, including a double stock car like this:

Indeed, a very nice build! It is a GP-50, in the right corner just beneath the 7054 you can see that.

Looks very nice Philo! I will point my students to it! Very nice job! You must have been very busy with it!

Thanks for your review, not a bad series after all!!! I like the welder the best!

I recently found a book: "Early American Locomotives (Trains)", Aug. 31 2000, ISBN:0486227723. Some very interesting locomotives in there, including "the General" of course, but also some other nice (and also some amazing) ones in the Electricsteam category!

Welcome to EB and especially the Train Tech forum VectorTrains. So why don't you introduce yourself so we get to know you a bit better! We already can see you have nice MOC ideas. Will you also be able to power it?! @Heppeng: it was called Hippel in Dutch I think wasn't it?!

Nice small train. Indeed, Annie must be busy building ;)

Fortunately we have Lugbulk. Last year I had 50 train base plates, magnets, wheels, etc. so enough to build quite some train cars. It is often difficult to understand LEGO policy on things, e.g. the Airport Shuttle. Together with my cousin we exhibited it some years ago, hundreds of people were asking: where can we buy it? LEGO can of course make there train more attractive by adding things to it. Especially nowadays when people just buy a lot of things online. In Holland we have mr. BlokBricks (actually two guys) that sell exclusive (and quite expensive) trains and accessories. They almost make a living from it I think, but indeed it may be a more niche market than Fire Fighters. And guys, please be positive towards eachother!

Hi Jared, welcome to EB, hope you will have a good time here! I like the way you take pictures!

looks like it is the same form factor of motors in the LEGO trains! Actually a link to TechnicBricks that also opened the motor: http://www.technicbricks.com/2012/08/tbs-technuggets-13-inside-pf-l-motor.html

Well, I'm not sure I can help Hrw-Amen out of his train blues, but will definitely do my best on this :) Thanks for all your kind words guys and gals (uhm, we need more train gals I think).

The body looks like this: BL shows only the other side of the arms: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?M=pm015 I think the ratting sound is supposed to be there, it is just a way to fix the arms in certain positions.

Hi keeganp1234, you know how to make a screenshot from LDD right?! Then you can resize the picture using: a. Photoshop, Gimp or even paint (or iphoto on a mac) b. upload it to flickr and it will help you resizing the photos / images: http://www.flickr.com/help/photos/ Hope that helps... b.t.w. it is quite a neat build, are those bricks also there in pink?

Indeed a really nice built and could have a place in the Architecture line. You should consider creating a Cuusoo project from it! B.t.w. just wondering, what is that pink cone + pink round plate doing there in the bottom picture?!

Looking forward to see your own train yard. Indeed the train it is very compelling as a display model!

Jorrith, Maker movement is not LEGO related but more related to Sparkfun / Maker Faire / Make Magazine / Arduino. I also participate in a FabLab (Flevoland, Dronten), that is why I asked. They also have two laser cutters and a bunch of 3D printers. The two large clubs are LowLug and de Bouwsteen. I happen to be member of the latter (and 1000steine and BeLUG, apart from EB of course ;)). De Bouwsteen will have a exhibition / meeting at the 10th-11th of August in Hardenberg (near German border).

Hi Jorrith, welcome to EB. Are you also into other maker things?! To tinker is a typical maker term of course ;) Are you also part of Dutch AFOL club(s)?!

hehe, you took a good look at that LOTR sails! Those brick-built boats are very nice, as is the tower!

Very nice job Prince Manic! The beginning is definitely there! You have captured the locomotive very well in general. Some positive feedback: - I am only concerned about it taking curves... - I also think you should also work on improving your drive rods since turning the wheels will be a challenge now ;) That is the problem with virtual builds of course, getting from the virtual to the real (possible) world.

@Joe, I completely understand, my wife is also at least a bit into LEGO so that makes it easier now and then ;) I actually purchased the straight tracks in Germany (12€ or so per box straight / flex), a colleague of mine was kind enough to receive the package and bring the box to work, in Holland they cost about 20€ per box, but in Germany I could find it very cheap in a store that only delivers to Germany, and my colleague happens to live there ;) @DaveBey: we could of course try to resurrect the initiative, part of it is already here in the train fora!

it did turn out very well!!! you should ask a firefighter museum if they aren't interested (I would think so!).