Toastie
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Or ... well, or explore a bit. OK, TLG is not making them. Due to reasons. Others actually do; not the 2xZ with Z>2 but 1x Z with Z>2. Which may eventually lead to failure - or not. Not in the sense of "in eternity". I have no clue how long these pieces will live - even some of TLG's parts crack up in no time (as compared to "eternity"). Hmmm. OK. Fair enough. However, as these pieces are not made by TLG - how could they be so offensive? I sure hope the link provided by @JaBaCaDaBra was showing off parts still made by TLG (but which are certainly no more under any IP)? Otherwise, I am puzzled. 1x6 flat tile, trans clear, 50, for €4,95. Same for 2x2's, 100, same price. TLG does not make them. What is wrong with that? I'd be happy to share such things in the community forum. It may bolster post counts there - or not, because this is evil territory. At least, so it seems. All the best, Thorsten May I add: In TLG's universe. And sure, the wanted 2xZ, Z > 2 are currently not available (2x2's are) but other of the non-existing tiles do exist - outside TLG's universe. And as we are in TLG's universe here on EB - well, they simply don't exist. I really like how Douglas Adams phrased it: "I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing." "But," says Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves that You exist, and so therefore, by Your own arguments, You don't. QED." "Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic. "Oh, that was easy," says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and gets himself killed on the next zebra crossing. Replace God with TLG, the Babel fish with a 2x6 trans clear tile, and Man with us. All the best, Thorsten
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Ahhh - of course! As with the non-pivoting bogies. I totally forgot - magic. Yes. That's it! Best, Thorsten
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Thanks for the link! Did not know that part. Much appreciated! Yes, apparently both connectors are then attached to the wheel with that 3L pin. But how do you crank the shaft then to see the mesmerizing motion of a steam engine? Doesn't this setup bolt everything into place? Regards, Thorsten
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With regard to that photo below the quote: Is it just me, or is this a weird part? The "Technic pin" connecting the main rod to the side rod is not slotted. So it may not be a Technic pin at all? Also, the two rods are connected using one of these angled axle joiners (here #2)? That simply can't be - looks a bit photoshopped as well ... guess they were not ready to go, but someone told them now. Or maybe I am just mistaken. Best, Thorsten
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Well, size matters, it almost always works with TLG (and others). And minifigs are the reason for the cost of this thing, as per discussions on the "internet" and TLG's values analyses. Sell this "train" with 3 minifigs and ... a good fraction of the folks in the HP universe will be disappointed. The size folks, that is. Well again, yeah. But in XYZ universe, not the train world. We love size, for sure. But it is length >and< finesse rather than bulky appearance. Uhm - my guess: They're not confused - rather, they simply know, what's going on: This is not a train set, it is an HP display set. There was hope, you see it (as train head) and come to the conclusion: Same old TLG, doing a coup again, huh? Well, good for you. Congratulations! And no nod, no tipping hat, nothing. Just - moving away. Best, Thorsten This. Goes down very well. Best, Thorsten
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These are magic boogies They easily negotiate straights. BTW: As a collector item (sitting within a nice setting, as on TLGs website, that lady building the coach I guess - very clean place, full of creativity and fun!) you sit in your chair, watching your collector's item and then you walk over ... crank ... that shaft to make the mesmerizing motion of a steam train??? Err ... competitors did the same thing (10 wide BR89 on a stand - of course 6 wide, of course R40 compatible), lifted the engine up a notch with some snotting to make the gap between rails and wheels as small as possible, suggested you buy a small PF motor clone, a clone PF box with RF, and an RF clone remote, showed you how to make the changes in the instructions - and boom - it works: You sit in that plastic chair, loco is on the kitchen table as there is hardly any space left (because of the kids, not the infinite amounts of LEGO boxes or models), enjoy a cheap beer - and then you begin dreaming ... another beer, and then you push the fwd button on the remote once - the wheels turn slowly, again, faster and then the third time - even faster. You go crazy and do it seven times - then in reverse ... your total was $100 for all that. It was a birthday gift from your wife ... About 10 miles away, where folks sit in leather chairs and enjoy either 100% freshly pressed orange juice or a $100 whiskey, well they sit there - and then think: I want to be mesmerized - walk over and crank the shaft. Man, $500 and they cannot include that little gadget ... Oh, by the way: I am watching the mesmerizing motion of a steam engine right now ... no crankshaft, I use a remote. All the best, Thorsten
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See, this is what I was trying to say - it really all depends. Same with the size of your collection (nice, BTW!) and the aftermath, i.e. not needing much more pieces. As this is the Technic forum, we should stay on Technic issues. And to be honest, there I can't contribute much - Technic-wise, I had some Technic bricks in these models, other than that all bricks and plates. And they're fine. The two other issues I have with TLG is their crazy price politics - which to me more and more looks like - well I should not say this ... just look at their revenue/gross earnings numbers. Which is good for them, hell no offense here, we are living in a 100% profit oriented world And secondly, the fact that others are offering simply >way< more appealing sets to me - a train head. But that as well does not belong here, so I'll stop it Best, Thorsten
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Same coup again, TLG, huh? This is for the Harry Potter collectors, isn't it? (Looks like a $500++ set - no problems here, I guess) And not for the train-heads ... we are offered high-speed trains(ha!), version 5.1 and cargo trains(hahaha!), version 3.11. Which is nice, of course. I wonder, when they call one of these iterations "Me" or "XP" - naa the former is out, that is 978 +/-1 years ahead. Cargo Train 25 maybe? Whatever. Have a nice day, Thorsten
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Well, it isn't across the board. I have some non-Cada sets from the apparently "same level quality brands" - and no, some (and only some) pieces are "off". Color-wise, I am out, a) because I like weathered looks and b) my red/green equipment in my eyes is totally underwhelming. Well, I also don't build shiny super cars, but (usually) dirty trains or buildings. The thing though is: These sets come with absolutely non-crazy charges (I'd say 1/2 to 1/4 of what TLG would ask for, depending on set/piece) - and at that point I must say, I am really cool and calm. I simply don't expect to have all the pieces at the same quality level, as TLG has. Again, very personal reasons: I mostly build with brick/plates and use Technic parts basically for reinforcement - or when I need holes - or both. And on the brick/plate side of things, I did not have any issues (yet). For the parts I do have issues with (usually 0 to 4 in a set of >1000 pieces) - I simply swap them with premium overpriced pieces without even thinking about it. Or I actually change the design. In the beginning - 5 or so years ago - that appeared to me like the worst thing that I have done - ever. 5 years of experience really told me: Relax, dude. You know what you are doing. And finally: I try very hard to figure out, whether a design was stolen or not. And for my personal taste, that is very easy: When comparing what some brands have in stock train-wise - chances are approaching zero that the design was stolen. But that is only my experience and my take and my conclusion. Others will have others. Best, Thorsten
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And I - after 40 Years of waiting - have that train since two years as well I love it. Like nothing else here ... Very nice review!!! I really love your videos - they help me a lot in getting back into the days. Back then, I was allowed to watch only. My family was not anywhere close to the rich men's world ... In 2020 future had arrived! My copy came from France - semi good condition (as it said on BL), but this is what I wanted: Seeing the years on it. It must have been sitting in some Southern-France sun; the gray roof pieces have nicely weathered, and the red bricks are a bit faded here and there. I love it - it looks like a 40 years old train treated well. I have added a PF receiver; to that one my IRRF hack, and 8 NiMH rechargeables to feed the train motor; PF easily handles that. The contacts of the 12V motor are "recessed" (OK, taped, duh) - these don't negotiate 9V switch points that well . And so my Sinclair ZX Spectrum from 1985 can nicely control that train from 1980. Thanks again for the review! All the best, Thorsten
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Well in Billund, they also use stainless steel/aluminum supports for the bigger models - and glue (yes I know, all outside in bad weather, and all the folks wanting to steal bricks (what? ME? NOOWAY! Uhmm, I mean ... no) Best, Thorsten
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Nothing . For a long time - from TLG. Last purchase: "LEGO" Star Wars Magazine "Extra: Razor Crest" ... I like the propeller type thingies ... Best, Thorsten
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Well, I have never heard of that series, but that is true for almost any series :D BUT: That these LEGO figures exist, was completely off my radar. OK, 2002 was Mindstorms for me, so I got seriously sidetracked here. No, as @koalayummies said: No chance to get crucified, I believe as well. Which is good! And: You like what you like, there is absolutely no, zero, reason to get "whatever" for that! I am happy that you had and have fun with that theme. Does not get any better. Best, Thorsten
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And Gentlemen, as almost always here on EB: I really like the style and attitude of you guys. Tipping hat. Here is to feeling good! Best wishes, Thorsten
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True. The thing though is, that currently these machines are trained on one individual task (let it be three :D), they do over, over, and over again. Maybe even learn, how to excel on that one task. Some call it AI, I call it decent programming along with decent sensors. Humans have done these tasks in the past, had a job, but ... well, the machine could do it faster and cheaper - this one thing. It may also drive humans crazy (and apparently has) - doing one thing over and over again - but again: They had a job and thus a "living". That is the weird part, isn't it? The machines are coming in, apparently making our lives so much better, and at the same time unemployment rates go up. So which lives became better? The ones of the owners of the machines, of course - it was and is like that since the industrial age and is the core idea of capitalism. When you browse the net, have a go at semiconductor fabrication plants. Here is a good one. Hardly any humans visible in the fab's interior shots. These fabs are currently located mostly in Taiwan, where Nancy is visiting right now. It is incomprehensible, what's going on there - to make next gen iPhones. Or brains for drones. Or TV sets. Cars, that don't need us anymore. Yes, these cars do still f'up. But how many years did they have up to now? Let us just wait another decade. Or three. That is nothing. Three decades ago, the computer game Windows 3.11 (according to @JaBaCaDaBra, I love it ) was the next gen operating system (for the masses that is, not for the experts, they used Unix System V - Linux was yet to be developed :D). Three freaking decades. So I'd be careful with the adverb "never". "Later", maybe. Later, as in "no further disclosed numbers of decades ahead", when both of us have fermented into organic junk since long. Easily outlived by ABS bricks and plates . Little off programming, critters, failure of tooling/material, or machine that had simply some fun? Whenever a CNC machine does that in my group, it is the first or the third, which is kinda lame. I'd love to see second and fourth, that would be total fun! (I mean it - I would love it. As I love Ghostbusters). Oh well. Maybe I am a bit too biased - they ran Terminator last night (again) on free TV ... original version Best, Thorsten
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Sounds absolutely reasonable - and also just a matter of time to get rid of these faulty humans soon enough. Are there already robots out there that build robot packed LEGO sets? That would be fun to watch. Best, Thorsten
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Yup, same here. BTW ... Statista says, worldwide, there is about 12 million metric tons production capacity around 2020. Wired says, TLG uses "currently" about 100000 metric tons per year of "plastic", of which 80% is ABS. That accounts to a global share of roughly 1% - if I am not mistaken. Well, for a toy company that is quite the share I'd say, but it is what it is. Now with regard to TLG's research on new, sustainable materials ... they may have found out, that ABS is kinda the thing for LEGO. I know that there are myriads of sources out there, I'll just stick with Wired: [citation from this link, last paragraph] "We've use 20 different materials today, it may be that we end up with 40 in the future. Potentially ABS could be replaced by recycled ABS when we get there,” he says. “In the mid-term it will be recycled PET. We’ve got about 15 to 20 other materials that we're working through one by one. But recycled ABS is where we're trying to get to.” But ABS is where we're trying to get to ... who thought of that? Yeah, sure. What else? The whole alternative plastics research of TLG is nice and cool, and very nicely usable for putting them into a would-be favorable position - but hey: They are aiming at recycling ABS. Because only that stuff, at that price, has all the assets we, as customers, simply expect from LEGO. Micron precision, and living forever. The bricks, that is, humans only have far less than 100 years on average. Which is far less than any ABS brick will live. Will be interesting to see, what coming generations think about our thinking about "lasting forever" - sucking up 1% of the worldwide ABS production capacity each year. It appears, as if this is up to them. Best, Thorsten
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Just out of curiosity: Is white the only ABS color that "yellows"? I am asking because I am a) color-blind and b) a Train Head. Trains are never ever "white" or whatever, when they have left the photography stage, i.e., 5 min after that and then going to do work. So any carriage that puts on some weathering is highly appreciated here Nevertheless, the whatever color (tan?) bricks of #10017 (My Own Train series from back then) have turned way darker over the decades - and I like that, as I can see that - but this discoloring issue is certainly not restricted to white. It is most clearly discernible on a "white background", contrast is key - but all colored ABS pieces do "discolor", simply because the ABS structure changes over time and not so much the color carrier, whatever it is. The brighter the color, the more visible it should be. So on black bricks discoloring should remain invisible. Aging, or putting on some patina - why not? We like it on copper - and so many other things ... Best, Thorsten
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Well. Hard to make that happen: One thing are the raw materials for making the polymer for the majority of LEGO bricks; acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene - these are sourced from steam cracked crude oil and other industrial-sized chemical reactions. So some say that this is bad and this needs to be made more sustainable. I believe this is where TLG is trying to get "better", but ... The other thing is - you said it yourself: LEGO bricks are known for their (currently degrading) precision and for their basically endless life. Which is "good" from a personal perspective, as ABS easily outlives mankind - but is "bad" from an environmental perspective, including mankind: Everything persistent naturally accumulates on Earth. So do LEGO bricks - and according to the Wery Wise Web, TLG currently makes about 120 million pieces of ABS each day - which is about 40 billion pieces a year. Which live forever. ABS is essentially not biodegradable - one way to get rid of it is by thermal usage; in that case though, safety measures have to be invoked, as the combustion products are - among others - carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. You don't want to be where these are. In other words: TLG making new plastic material with the property "lives forever" ... well, then nothing changes. Should they make something with a life span of about 10 years, people will freak out, as what they bought before their dark ages will have fallen to dust (at best) after their dark ages. No, won't happen. ABS is one of the most powerful polymers (cost-wise, machining-wise, stability wise, coloring-wise, ...) - a classical industrial mass product winner. Too bad, it won't disappear anymore. Same thing with CO2: One of the least "energetic" gases. From the perspective of thermodynamics, it does not get much better. And it accumulates also nicely on this planet. It is hard, very hard to beat thermodynamics. Even for TLG. Best, Thorsten
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I am far beyond sadness, it is more losing it entirely ... Klaus Schulze, a German artist, is no longer on this Earth. I completely missed the time that happened - earlier this year. Klaus had such a deep impact on my life - just through his music - I never met him. I purchased the first vinyl copy of the album "X", which comprises musical interpretations of "influential" Germans - in his view - when I was 17 years old. It changed everything. "Dune" was then just an almost logical consequence - which introduced me to the worlds of Frank Herbert. Another turning point in my life. Here is just the tribute ... As one does not wear a hat on these "occasions", I can only do the deep, very deep and long bow - without ever wanting to stand up again.
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Thank you very much, absolutely the same here. I really do. And congratulations!!! Reading the newspaper - in paper form - with a strong, nice cup of coffee in the morning, or two - I frequently sit back and simply enjoy sitting there. And then I do the (so super simple and small) crossword puzzle on the back of the Sports section - with the result printed upside down - but I swear, I only peak when decided that I am "done". Life. Then I take the (e)bike and head off to my university. TLG is never in my way Best, Thorsten
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This what I feel - entirely. If you @Maple had it with them - turn away. There are alternatives to TLGs plastic bricks. Sure, many are from China, and when you struggle with that - it is getting close to "out with it". Why not? I made up my mind with "purism", and TLG's would be the so nice family owned all so caring, super creative company: Screw it. Should I like one of their products: I maybe in. Like as in: No alternatives around. I do like TLG's product, i.e. the idea, but I have come to an end with their "ever paddled" philosophy on creativity and so on. Which to me has become fake - at best. Oh, they do this and that. And don't get me wrong: Not the designers, not the lower ranks, who really try it. No way. Just the corporate level - who decide on bigger "things". I turned 60 this year. I will not spend one second (anymore, time does not (!) go by - so slowly, as Madonna sings) on being upset about a multi-billion dollar company behaving like just that. They do their game, I live my life. Best, Thorsten
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That would be a very nice experiment, indeed! As per the reports from @Ngoc Nguyen: What is the min/max temperature in your storage/display environment? Any idea on humidity? Is there, besides the fluorescent lighting, any direct sunlight? Bags come in so many varieties ... just bagging up things may not work. Temperature is one issue for sure. "Weathering" in my place is happening everywhere, white is seriously affected. So is "old light gray", and whatever color the old "tan" bricks were, before there came tons of tan shades (I am color-blind). So what is happening here is: Temperatures between 14°C (winter) and 30°C (summer), humidity all over the place, lighting is from four roof windows, during summer almost always pulled down shades. I do not experience break down though ... stickers are simply gone - and I never apply them since >15 years now. And: As they don't break down - I like weathering. It adds a touch to the never taken apart MOCs and MODs; I am pretty much into trains. There is no shiny nice and clean train out there. They got work to do :D All the best, Thorsten
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I ran out of space = my attic under the roof. Very simple. That brings things to a grinding halt. Ms. Toastie won't allow any further occupation of living space - so: Resolved. Best, Thorsten
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[MOC] Union Pacific Big Boy 4014, free building instructions
Toastie replied to Berthil's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Ahh - Merde, I missed that: PyBricks. Oh man, all that smart talk ... sorry for that. Yes, the idea with the SD pushing is really nice. I also love that video. Have seen it before because it was posted before here or elsewhere (that was not you, or were you? I don't want to sound like an idiot again). What caught my attention was the sanding bit. Never ever heard of it. NO(!) Thermodynamics textbook is mentioning that . Is the SD actually pushing in the video or just in neutral, should something "happen"? I guess the former, she is simply pulling it as if there were no SD. Well, will say it again: A beautiful model, a wonderful instruction. I am really tempted, but Ms. Toastie will not be amused, that's for sure Best wishes, Thorsten