Criga88

When I have an idea of a build I want to do I generally do a quick sketch and some notes on what I'd like to incorporate, in case I get sidetracked in the process. Then I start gathering reference pics and blueprints if possible, then work out the scaling. With those done it's pretty easy to sketch out a more detailed design and then try it in LDD. Once I start to build with bricks I can tidy up and strengthen the design when it inevitably crumbles in my hands.

Does anyone know if the wall calendar promo will be available in Australia? It'd be a nice addition to my LEGO room decor and would be useful as well.

Came up with a small truck based on an Isuzu NPR300 to add to my construction fleet and place around my City at the various work sites this today. The truck is fitted with a tray back, however that can be changed out for other styles since it detaches from the chassis fairly easily. I'm planning on doing a tipper and box body first before trying some more specialised bodies. The cab is able to hold a driver with headwear/hair but this leaves only a single stud to attach the front fascia and windscreen, not that I build for rigorous play anyway. I've uploaded the .LXF and building instructions here. The instructions were my first attempt at using Blueprint so any feedback on that would be greatly appreciated. Comments, criticism and questions are welcome, and keep an eye out for more.

Thanks BrickHat, here's the interior for you.

After a fair bit of progress on my City of Studney WIP layout I needed a bit of a break from structures and re-visited one of my older MOC's. The original generic bus was over 2 years old now and in desperate need of an update to my more current building standard so I redesigned it using a few of the techniques from my Scania bus posted a few months ago. The new version is based on a Mercedes-Benz O 500 LE fueled by Compressed Natural Gas and operated by Sydney Buses. The new bus comes in at 6 x 30 studs with a height of 26 plates so it's 4 studs longer than its predecessor. Thanks to the increased dimensions and floor space from new doors and front tyre design, the room inside now allows for 9 seated and 7 standing passengers as well as a driver and some small luggage. Comments, criticism and questions are welcome, and keep an eye out for more.

I stick with 4-5 studs wide for cars and SUV's, 5 wide for small trucks, and 6 wide for other trucks and buses. At this scaling each vehicle takes up just the right amount of space on a roughly 7 wide road, which is what I use in my city.

Thanks Michaelozzie, I'm still learning the ropes of a couple of programs and my printer before I venture into decals to add to MOC's, but it's back to square one each time I'm sent away for work

Back to building a few more city bits and pieces, with my first bus for my city that I've based on a specific vehicle, a Scania L113TRB bus with an Ansair 'Orana' body, as used by Sydney Buses. The bus is scaled the same as my other cars and trucks so it ended up being 6 by 35 studs which makes it a behemoth on the thin city streets that I've laid down. The size allows for 11 seated and around 9 standing minifigs, plus the driver of course, but it still needs a bit of reinforcement under the flooring to make the entire bus a bit more rigid but there won't be any further changes to the exterior. Now that I have some time at home before another long trip with work, I'll be focusing on getting the foundation down for my city and a few more buildings up instead of filling the streets, but a few extra cars are sure to pop up every now and then. Comments, criticism and questions are welcome, and keep an eye out for more.

Well, I'm back after an extended break from building thanks to work, and of course I'd start things off with another Huey. This livery is based on the Bell 412 EP helicopter 'Terry Summers' as used by the CareFlight service in Australia. There's minor changes my standard MOC for this one on the interior and the exterior was mainly adjusted to suit the livery, however the radome on the nose was a fair bit of trial and error to get the ball joint piece to sit in a realistic position. Comments, criticism and questions are welcome, and keep an eye out for more.

Thanks LT, I need all of the equipment to lay a solid foundation for my own city

Thanks, glad to hear that! No worries

I've been lurking in the background of the forums over the Xmas break but have been keeping very busy laying the foundation for my LEGO city, Studney, and any city in the making needs the right equipment for each job, so I present my current range of construction equipment. Starting on the left is an asphalt paver because naturally roads need to be laid down for all of the cars that I already have to fill the streets. The loader beside it is the real work horse of my construction sites so far with a variety of attachments for it to use. The forklift is more of a proof of concept that still needs a bit of work to extend the vertical reach but right now it can reach the back of the flatbed trailer. The mini excavator was made last night to use up the rest of my track links and they are a handy little piece of equipment, once I make more attachments for it though. The prime mover is based on a Mercedes-Benz Actros and fits the construction equipment requirements thanks to the flashing beacon mounted on the roof. The flatbed trailer was a quick build based on my city scaling and is currently transporting two pallets of oil, with the pallets made from CMF bases to try and use up some of the vast quantities of them that I have lying around. The other structure on the flatbed is a section of a future MOC of mine, a tower crane. The tower section is a sturdy build and fits into a 4x4 footprint so it doesn't take up too much real estate. I still have to develop the boom and cabin of the crane and of course a mobile crane to erect it. The dump truck on the end was sitting in a half complete state for at least a month and a half but I finished it up and added a dog trailer for it over the weekend. The cabin is loosely based on a Volvo truck front with greebles added to the back to fill in the empty space under the tray. The dog trailer was thrown together as a quick concept but works as it should, including a steerable front axle. I've uploaded the instructions and LXF's for the Actros, Loader, Forklift and Excavator. I'm still working on uploading the others so bear with me. Comments, criticism and questions are welcome, and keep an eye out for more.

Great recreations as usual ER0L, the flat panels and angles are perfect for the older cars. Are you taking requests for Bond cars, I wouldn't mind seeing your version of a DBS - before and after the record breaking roll

Thanks Marook and Beck. I only have the one weight and I'm pretty sure it's at the very bottom of an unsorted 60L tub

I received all of the bricklink orders this week and the locomotive is now running, the only bits left to complete are the interior details of the cabs, locomotive numbers and some greebling on the outside of the powered bogie. I'll make a temporary layout over the weekend to test the pulling power of this with my available TTX, Maersk and Santa Fe carriages. In the mean time here's the locomotive doing a test run around a simple layout: Comments, criticism and questions are welcome, and keep an eye out for more.

I've noted the locomotive numbers that I have seen lately so I have plenty to chose from for when I finish this and add decals, it'll be getting the Pacific National branding on each side and the front/rear numbers too.

Thanks for the pointers Zephyr, I'll see how the M-motor handles the locomotive before I upgrade. I only have limited rolling stock as well but was planning on using some form of technic connection from the start. Parts should be arriving very soon so I'll be able to do test runs then.

A HST as the next creator train would be great addition, I'd have to recolour and modify it to the Australian CountryLink version though.

*Double post

Thanks THERIZE and Michaelozzie. I say give the 80 class a try, it should be pretty easy to source the parts in red for the body with a just a line of yellow and orange plates for the stripes down low. As for the bogies I'm going to mod a pretty standard design for this, I'm trying to keep that area relatively simple to avoid any headaches, I'm aware that the rear axles bevel gear is on the wrong side in the render too

Thanks everyone, I try and pride myself on the details in my MOCs. I suspected that the IR receivers would be limited to a single battery, looks like I'll have to settle for more locomotives when this reaches it's maximum pulling power then

Hi all, after a few sightings of the 81 class while out and about in Sydney last month I decided to try my hand at a train MOC. This locomotive was a natural starting point for me with its boxy design and duplicated cabs at each end so integrating PF was easy. I'm also fond of the blue and yellow scheme of Pacific National even if they are more of a darker colour now with the weathering and exhaust stains over the years. The locomotive is set up for an IR receiver hidden between the exhausts and a single battery box and M-motor in the front half (LHS of pic). This should provide sufficient pulling power for a moderate consist however if I move the IR receiver to one of the cabs there's enough space for a second battery and motor. Quick question for the more experienced train builders though, is it possible to control two separate batteries and motors with a single IR receiver? I've ordered the parts to replace all of the light bley temporary pieces and to build powered bogies which should be arriving soon so I'll get some track set up to test this bad boy, I'll post a video of that once it's done. Comments, criticism and questions are welcome, and keep an eye out for more.

Nice solution to height, I've always avoided supercars for this very reason. You're right about tyre sizes too as it seems that TLG is moving towards a larger standard size for official models. Onto your cars, my favourite of your catalog so far would have to be the Aventador followed closely by a tie between the police and yellow. I think you'll find that the transparent parts for the windshield don't exist yet, but you should be able to find a few suitable alternative ways to build them out there. Can't wait to see more Ron.

So many details crammed in, I love it. Looking forward to more great builds!