AussieJimbo

Thanks for the info, LT. :classic:

So when is the next Myer sale? :classic:

Nope, one cylinder diesel engine. :classic:

This pic shows how the real thing was steered by shifting body weight on a pivoting platform. Specs from another site: 6 horsepower 15km/h top speed Load capacity 2 tonnes :classic:

That = cool. :classic:

What a mad vehicle. You've captured it really well in Lego. :classic:

Top job, CoolerTD. Great freight and passenger cars. They look very nice with the Emerald Night. :classic:

Or the jacked price up killed their sales. This is exactly what a couple of parents told me on the day Series 3 was released. $5 pushed them past their price point for an impulse buy as they felt it wasn't value for money. :classic:

Fair enough about the rants but I see tips on which stores ship to Australia and any bargains they have as entirely legitimate content. This thread is about how Australians can get Lego bargains and it's a sad fact that buying overseas is what you have to do to get the best deals. If Australian retailers were charging a fair price for their goods it wouldn't be an issue. :classic: Didn't the Little Sprout 50% off sale signs at BrickExpo feature a prominent Lego logo? You know, those signs that lured you into looking at their full priced sets until you read the small print that it was just an ad for their upcoming sale. Can anyone confirm my recollection? :classic:

There are 8 per set, so I had to buy three sets to do the EN colour MOD. Purchased at one of our local retail stores when they were on special. :classic:

Thanks L@go. You've covered all the variations I've seen so far. I had thought yellow and white were the only remaining options but the critical curved piece has recently been released in sand green. However at only one per Big Bently Bustout set it could be a while before they are widely available. The part in various colours has been used quite a bit in recent sets so I wouldn't be surprised to see it come out in the standard medium blue or perhaps medium green in future sets, both of these would make fine liveries too. :classic:

Looking fantastic with the added B unit, Brick-el. You've done a great job with this loco. > Someone did a brown emerald night (it is on the forum somewhere) and used 2x4x 2/3 bricks with curved slopes from one of Lego's Pirate games (the only set to release it). That was me. http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=55475&view=findpost&p=989059&hl=&fromsearch=1 The brown curved slopes come from the 3840 Pirate Code game. :classic:

Nice one, LT. This one has come together really well. :classic:

Thanks everyone, glad you like it. > I really wish those curved slopes came in dark red. Me too. An LMS version would look great. :classic:

I'd been keeping an Emerald Night aside for another livery mod and recently picked up enough grey curved slopes to give the grey version a go (thanks alien mothership). The colour is a little different but is representative of the works livery of the fantastic A1 class locomotive "Tornado" built a few years ago by the A1 Steam Trust at Darlington, in the UK. Large http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Peppercorn_Class_A1_60163_Tornado http://www.a1steam.com At some stage I'd like to do a more faithful representation of the A1 with the correct tender, grey cab (needs Maersk loco windows), etc. but for now I'm pretty happy with my Emerald Night version of Tornado. I didn't want to use up my official stickers so made some copies using transparent sticky labels which worked reasonably well; all except the piston cylinder and front number stickers are homemade. Here are a few quick photos: Large Large Large Comments and suggestions appreciated. :classic:

Great model and cool video. Love the way you kept the takes with bits flying off. *laugh* Your hamster is clearly happy with his new transport. The little drone is a fantastic bonus model. Only thing I could think of adding is a motorized cable spool so you can reel it in and drive the drone back inside. Top work mate. :classic:

Low self-discharge batteries are convenient for things that will draw small amounts of power for a long time or be ready to go after being unused for a few months. If you are charging and using them soon after (within a week or so), like I do with my trains, then the standard rechargeable batteries are a better bet as they have a greater initial charge. The other ones hold less charge to start with because they are designed to achieve the low-discharge characteristic not high capacity. So if you use them in your trains you will get less run time than using normal high capacity rechargeables. :classic:

As far as those too good to be true deals are concerned, tell the vendor that you can arrange for the items to be collected in person and cash paid on the spot. The answer will tell you everything you need to know. :classic:

What's your budget for getting started? Do you want to build your own custom locos and rolling stock, power the tram, etc or are you happy with running the models from the sets. Are you going for a simple loop of track in a corner of your town or will you be putting down a complex layout to play with. Also do your local stores keep decent amounts of railway track and switches in stock? If not you'll be shopping online for it much of the time. Buying several sets right off the bat can be a good way to go as you end up with a decent amount of track to play with along with the additional wagons and extra Power Functions parts for you own creations. :classic:

It's a good question that comes up a lot. When I got back into Lego, I didn't like stickers and thought printed pieces would be a much better idea. It can be tricky to get stickers positioned perfectly and it just takes a speck of dust and you've got a nasty air bubble to deal with. However as I've moved into MOC'ing in the last year I've begun to appreciate the benefit of having the plain pieces without patterns applied so you can use them for other purposes. The flexibility outweighs the challenge of applying stickers. :classic:

Another great loco, Tony. I always appreciate the historical back story you include when presenting your creations too. Top job mate. :classic:

That's all well and good but you don't know that this design works because you haven't built it. Interesting idea though. :classic:

Hi Ed, Welcome aboard. :classic:

Nice one, ISC. It was great to see your display at BrickExpo. That circulating ball machine was cool too. :classic:

Have a look at page 19 of the loco build instructions: http://cache.lego.com/bigdownloads/buildinginstructions/4654998.pdf There is a 2x4 space between that stickered tile assembly and the back of the cab. I don't use that sub-component in my alternate build so I have more space to play with but I think you should have room to attach the reverser switch on top of that 2x4 Maersk blue brick. In your stock loco you'll need to put the cable end towards the front and then loop the cables back through the limited space in that tile assembly. You may need to replace that Maersk blue 2x4 with a 2x2 so you can put the reverser on the floor of the loco to give you more room. Good luck with it. My current record is 20 wagons with the Yellow Maersk, with some wheelslip issues due to the need for loops at the Lego room and lounge room ends of the track. With a bit more room for wider loops it would be fine. It can pull the load on the straights without a problem at power setting 3 or 4. A bit of track work to smooth things out a bit and I've now got 23 wagons circulating slowly but reliably at power setting 4 (@7.2 volts because of rechargable batteries) with minimal wheel slip. This loco is a power house. :classic: