Eric J. Olson

I realize this thread is old, but didn't want to start a new one... Our Pre-Order process will close this coming Friday, October 10th. Once that has been closed, our products will become available again in our store and other outlets once we have fulfilled all pre-orders and KickStarter backers. Just as a note on progress, plastic stuff is basically done. We just have to finish the final testing and then we will be in production with shipping to commence shortly thereafter. Metal stuff is a bit behind schedule as we're still negotiating with the manufacturer trying to find a proper process that will give us the desired results at the proper price.

Yes, they will be marked on the underside with the radius and inner/outer.

No, thank you all for your support. :) Regular updates regarding project process will be posted on the KickStarter page as well as our website.

The full loops do not contain straight track. If you're looking for both, the FAQ on our KickStarter program page (all the way at the bottom) explains how the addon process works. In short, add up the total of what you want, pledge that amount and select the reward of the highest amount. In a few days, you'll get a survey where you can specify what additional products you wanted with your pledge. Thanks!

We actually looked at this, and our manufacturer saw potential issues with it, namely getting the holes to line up should you put them "off". I realize the the "old blue" track had just a cavity on the one rail, however, with the metal, there was concern that it would make the walls too thin. This isn't to say that we can't revisit the issue though. These rails will be 100% compatible with the recent LEGO offerings. As for which option is best, it depends upon what type of track you use. If you are using power functions or RC (any form of battery operated) train, then the ABS options would be the most economical for you. If you're using 9V (plugged into the wall with a speed controller), then the metal options would be for you.

At the end of the campaign, we will send out a survey to all backers to indicate any add-ons that they wish to receive with the pledges. So, at that time, you can indicate everything you want. :) Look for the survey to come out either this weekend or early next week once I figure out everything that I need to ask. Again, we can't thank you all enough for your support of this project! If you haven't backed and are interested, there is still time to get in on the first run. :)

Hi all- 30 hours to go...$26,000 to go! Keep spreading the word and we may just get there!

Thank you all for your support! We have only a week left on this project. If you were thinking about helping out and have been on the fence, this is the time to jump in!

We just posted the following update. Again, thank you all so much for your support of the project!

First, thank you all for your words of encouragement and support of this project going forward. We are as eager to move this into the next phase as you are. We wanted to offer everyone everything in a single shot so-to-speak. With a project like this, you have to start somewhere, and we decided that "going big" was where we should start...should it become necessary to "scale back", that is an option, but we felt our best effort on this project would be to offer it all. In terms of costs, you can take color out of the equation. Black ABS, white ABS, brown ABS, at the end of the day, it's all the same in terms of cost. The real costs are in the metal fixtures (which are basically paid for anyway) and the molds for the ABS. The mold design that we are going with has some interchangeable tooling to help reduce the cost and allow for future expansion. Even if we decided to scale back on the radii of ABS, the cost savings wouldn't be as much as one would figure.

Thanks HoMa! 20 days to go...still about $60,000 to go to be funded. Please help us spread the word to everyone who may be interested in this project!

When we first released the straights a couple years back, they were almost too tight and began to "shave" plastic from the plates. We have corrected that problem by actually using a microscopic slope to the inside of the holes on the metal products in order to give that needed clutch power. This is also why we decided to start making our own 2X8 plates so that your original LEGO ones wouldn't be damaged if you were using rails in a cooler environment where the metal would contract more than the plastic. The bottom line though is that we're still mating metal to plastic. We've spent a lot of time with various options and believe that we have found the best solution.

BrickStorm is correct. KickStarter is a crowd-funding source for start-up projects, but our intent with it was a bit different. First, for the metal rails, the fixtures for both straight and curves are complete and have been fully tested. All we have to do is pay the balance pick them up. The extrusion die for the aluminum was bought and fully paid for 3 years. Second, for the plastic. The mold for our universal connector was bought and paid for 3 years ago. We are again going to the same company that made that mold and using the same manufacturer for the actual molding process. With that, we know what we're getting and exactly what it will cost. Taking all of that into account, we came up with a number that would satisfy all tooling requirements, cover the cost of materials for each reward offered, and finally leave some leftover to invest in carrying an inventory as well as R&D for the next project...and that number doesn't come close to what was already self-invested.

If you take a close look at that splash picture on our video, you will see a dark stripe on the rail. That's actually a small portion that is raised at a microfraction to ensure that they touch. Absolutely. I'm sure that will be an initial offering color. I don't see any issues with that and we will definitely see what we can come up with. We offered the add-on option which I think should cover almost all options, but if you're looking for something along those lines, yes, I'll see what I can do. That's the goal. If we get this off the ground and running, we will have a steady supply without fail.

We marketed "online specials" for awhile which were essentially seconds. Our engineer as assured us that all conductivity issues have been resolved and we confirmed this during tests of the loop. I would say that's a safe bet as that is what everyone has, but we're certainly open to any options that are requested. Color doesn't affect cost other than to hold an inventory of an "odd" color. Absolutely! Correct. If we do not reach the goal, we will get no funding nor will any funds be collected from any backers. Should we fail to reach the goal, we will have to review the project and offerings to try and find a solution that will provide the majority of backers with their requested products while reducing the line somewhat for now. Frankly, it's a balancing act and we decided for the initial campaign, we would come up with a wide variety of "starter options" which would give the majority free-range.

Greetings fellow train enthusiasts, Yes, you have read correctly...we have begun a KickStarter campaign to finish what we promised to the community. We know that it has been awhile since the original launch, however, we have still been diligently pursuing a full finished product line. First off, we thank you for the valuable insight that you have all provided to us along the way telling us what we were doing right and what needed improvement. Without your assistance, we wouldn't be where we are today. I'm sure everyone here would agree with me when I say that we all have wanted wider radius track and varying length straight sections since the LEGO train line was first launched. When we first undertook this project, we knew it would be a big job, but didn't realize that it would involve 10 lbs of engineering, 100 lbs of coin, and 1000 lbs of sweat. We knew that for this project to become successful, it would take the right recipe of versatility, compatibility, affordability, and quality. After reading everyone's feedback over the past three years, we realized where the shortcomings were and spent the next two years perfecting the product to the point where we are confident you will be satisfied. As hobbyists like you, we have demanded perfection of ourselves. We came to you for help before to recognize the strong points and weak points of our product. Now we come to you again asking for your help in making this system a reality for everyone in both metal and plastic. Our goal for this project may seem a bit high, but our ultimate goal here is to ensure that we have "something for everyone" whether it be in length, sweep, or color. Once we complete this phase, it will allow us to move into more complex arrangements such as switches, crosses, and alternative gauges. We're always open to your suggestions. We may be the ones liaising with the manufacturers, but at the end of the day, this is still your project. Again, we thank you all for your support of this project over the past three years and hope that together we can make this project a reality. All the best, Mike & Eric ME Models KickStarter Project: http://kck.st/1tcUvN1

The rail itself, yes, but the connector below, no...it'll work out in the end. But I know what you're saying as you're referring more to ballast.

More information available here: http://www.me-models...products_id=146

Unfortunately, no. The way the holes are drilled doesn't allow for it. We wanted to implement a channel design, but felt it would weaken the structure too much. I don't even dare speculate. I have a feeling we will have straight product on the market again very soon with the curves to follow immediately thereafter. It all depends upon line time with the manufacturing companies. We can look at sets and probably will with respect to engines and rail cars. Anyone who has seen us at any of the AFOL shows of the past couple of years knows what we have in store in the engine department. Motors, switches, etc will all follow in due time. As we have said from the onset, this will be a COMPLETE system. :) Rail Test:

1. Yes, for the R56, it will be 4 like LEGO. The wider radii may require more depending upon the manufacturing process and ease of handling. 2. I do not have a timeframe on this due to an alternate process required to manufacture. I can tell you that half, straight, and double products will be available first and without delay.

Yes. The ones that we currently have for sale ("Online Special") did not meet the specifications for electrical connections, however, will work fine for a battery operated system. While they may work with a 9V system, we can not guarantee continuity between connections. Our testing shows that our rails are a better conductor than the original 9V rails. While individual mileage may vary, our eventual goal with the complete system is also to provide power supply with potential upgrades. Point taken. The issue is, it's hard to report news when there is nothing to report beyond, "It's still being worked on." Noted. We have constantly solicited input from the community through the use of surveys and 1:1 consultation with those in the community. We certainly won't put out a product that people won't use.

As we have said all along, our goal is a complete rail system. So, with that said, they are in the plans, but I can not even provide a rough time frame for those products. As stated, yes, this can be done with straight, but the curves, no.

We will be seeking a solution for this. Noted.

My apologies...fixing... Yes, expect them to follow right after the release of the R56. Also, for those of you curious, the continuity issues have been resolved and these will not require the use of any tape, wire, or other jumper mechanism.

As promised, your update. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words... The new R56 next to the original, standard LEGO R40.