mostlytechnic

Thanks - I do have a couple of the train baseplates on order, so I'd like to change these to have proper double-axle, rotating bogies. Then they can be part of my eclectic train layout I plan to set up. Right now the track is a temporary layout, but the wife says once we get some space cleared in the basement we can set up a permanent layout :) I'm handling the track and trains, she'll focus on scenery.

After building my two double-long Toy Story cars, there's still several bags of parts left. So I started building some small transport cars. First, we need to haul all that dynamite. Not something I want to pull in my train, but I suppose it's gotta get around somehow. Next, the cow catchers need transported from the foundry to the train factory. Finally, wheels need hauled from the same foundry to the same factory. They are a bit unstable (they dont' fit into the bars very well, so a jerk makes them fall over) but still, it's entertaining to run around. The baseplates for this car are actually the trap door sections from the money car in the original train. After tweaking these for a long time, I decided it was time for bed. Only then did I realize there were still two whole bags of parts left (the upper part of the loco), so I might make some mods later. Those parts are mostly colorful though, so not sure how much I'll actually change.

Yep, I see what you did there... simple but it works :)

I managed to get several (ok, 8) of the Toy Story Western Train Chase set on clearance. I first built one set stock. Next I opened up two more and combined parts to make some new cars. This was my first train MOCs (and really, my first non-technic builds since I was a kid in the 80s). Let me know what you think... I'll put my notes on each below the pics. First I built the caboose. The MOC is made from two caboose part bags with nothing else added. That led to a few compromises (for example, I ran out of the grill bricks, so there's a smooth 1x6 brick there by the number plate on each side) but overall it mostly works. I made larger platforms on each end, so there's room for outward-opening doors. Unfortunately, it still just has the single non-pivoting axle at each end. This means it barely makes it though the turns in the track, and derails on points (unless of course they're set to straight). It'll take some serious changes to the floor structure to switch to proper bogies. I also couldn't decide on the vertical or horizontal grills, so it currently has one side each way. Here's the horizontal lined side. I also redid this half of the roof to look "corrugated" - since I didn't change the other side, I couldn't resize or move the window section to make it all ridged. Personally, I think I like the horizontal lines on the side and the corrugated roof. Opinions? Next, I made a "Great Great West" passenger car. I limited my parts like I did on the caboose, so when I got to the roof, I had to make more extensive changes due to limited parts. I like it though, except that the center is a bit too tall. I prefer the lower look of the original. I did steal a couple parts from elsewhere, now that I think harder. I grabbed some black 1x2 bricks to put between the axles and buffers to pull the wheels closer together to help in the corners on the track. It wasn't enough to make a big difference though. I'd like to add some rails on the end platforms, but all I've got free at the moment are the light ones from the caboose, and they don't look right on the dark car.

Yeah, that doesn't sound right. I've got my EN pulling a 15 car train around several curves with no trouble (and that's on low batteries) so it shouldn't move that badly. I have noticed some jerkiness with mine, but only when running at the lowest speed.

I've actually got a 3180 at home unopened that I'm waiting on my order of train parts to MOC. Looks like it'll be easier now :)

Seriously, you've got a source for brand new in the box 8285s for 120 euro? BUY THEM ALL AND SELL THEM ON BRICKLINK!!! 120euro is about $165 right now. According to BL, there have been 3 new in box sold this month already, all of them for over $330. You can make some serious cash here :) http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?S=8285-1

Ah, but technically it IS one of a kind - it's black and lime. Yours are black and tan or red... so not the same thing ;)

Sweet, LOVED MASK as a kid. For some reason I remember the semi being purple though. But I totally remember the little vehicle hiding as the fifth wheel, and the big missile in the sleeper. And the boat in the jeep, just sweet that you actually made them work! http://toyarchive.com/STAForSale/NEW2001+/M.A.S.K./MASKVehicles.html Yep, rhino was purple. And Gator was a red jeep w/ orange boat. But still, awesome job!

I don't think the new motor would fit easily into EN. The PF XL motor is used to drive the large wheels. There's no wheelsets on the EN that are spaced like the new train motor, even on the tender.

Skirts on trailers is starting to happen in the USA as well. I've noticed it a LOT recently (here in Ohio at least). Usually they're plain white and taper in at the front (so they're not even with the cab's wheels; they're more towards the center of the trailer) and slope outwards to the trailer's wheels. Occasionally I see printed ones matching the trailer.

So you're saying you're turning a knob by hand that's attached to the second motor, making it work as a generator to power the original motor? Interesting... I just have one battery box that I move between models as needed when I want ot play with them. Most models these days have pretty easily accessible battery box locations, so it's not much of a hassle. I think I've got like 5 of these battery boxes still in bags cause I never open them :)

PM sent on several sets

Ok, my fingers hurt. Built the main model today... so now I've built it in both versions plus taken it apart once in the span of 36 hours. Gonna have blisters after that! Love the car, but I agree, it should have a switch for control rather than relying on the battery box switch.

The 8241 is an awesome crane (have 2 myself!). There is nothing remote controlled on it - there's manual switches for the motor that extends the boom and lowers the line, and a manual pneumatic pump to raise the boom. Oh, and knobs on the back for steering and deploying the outriggers.

Wow, I think a first for me. Opened the box, built the B-model, AND took it all apart in one day! Very rare to have that much time to play... I suspect that building the main model will take a few days at my usual pace :)

Fantastic - love the working handle to raise it!

Anyone build the B-model yet? I did that first (took quite a bit of the day!) and have a few thoughts... 1. The motions on mine are very jerky, both the doors and roof. That normal or is mine being stiff? 2. I always find the compromises they make in B-models interesting. For example, in this set, one pin in the convertable roof is a blue axlepin instead of the tan frictionless like the rest of the roof. 3. What's up with the suspension? The car is nice and low like it should be, but then they should have left the suspension out since it bottoms out so easily. The front wheels have enough travel to come up a full two studs above the ground! 4. I LOVE the nice lines they made here, especially the gentle angles of the sides.

Finally got an 8043 and I started with building the B. I agree, it's great fun. Kids love watching it too. Now I'll have to take it apart though to make the excavator.

Had quite a bit of Lego (few thousand pieces I'd guess) as a kid in the early 80s, but no trains or anything large. Had a long dark ages until around 2008. Bought the Technic OffRoader 8297 that year as a Christmas present for myself. That's grown into a collection of most of the big Technic sets, totalling several thousand USD. Somewhere in there I got an Emerald Night for really cheap and loved it. Didn't have any track or anything though. Finally bought the new cargo train 7939 a few months ago and currently I'm planning to get the Maersk and some other parts, plus I'm putting together part lists to buy on Bricklink for some train cars I wanna build. Wife has promised we can make a large train layout once we get the basement cleaned out - I'll make the trains and track and she wants to make it look good w/ buildings and such.

Another thanks for a nice review. Especially appreciated the pic w/ the Ferraris. I've got one that I picked up recently for cheap along with some other stuff. LOVE the size, but it just didn't do much for me since it didn't have much functionality. Definitely now going to sell that and get one of these (actually have the 8070 ordered, but it hasn't arrived yet. For some reason my local TRU don't have it in stock yet...)

Very nice- great job reproducing the original set, while adding Technic touches like the normal blue seats.

So this huge set took a long time to build - but it also takes forever to take apart. Spent an hour last night and only got the top and horses apart. Filled an entire gallon bag though...

Just order it on bricklink for a massive premium ;)

Sorry, I don't but you can see the instructions here: http://cache.lego.com/bigdownloads/buildinginstructions/4561835.pdf