AussieJimbo

Thanks, NS99. Cheers, adello25 and SpaceySmoke. Glad you like the bus. I tried a few things with 6 wide windscreens but it just didn't look right. I'm pleased with the final result too. It was fun working out a different kind of steering mechanism. Thanks mate, I appreciate your feedback. The wheel arch design is driven by the limited space I have to work with at the front wheels. I had to use the square tile to conceal things and then used that as a repeated design element for consistency at the rear. I may be able to reduce the width of the steering slightly to give me more freedom to try other detailing. I like the idea of putting the steering wheel at the rear and will probably do that with the next version or run it up through the back to the pod on top and hide the upright axle inside a toilet at the back of the bus like they often have in long haul buses. :classic:

I've just been discussing the challenges of roofing with Lightning Tiger. Slope 45 roof tiles are fine up to a point but once the building is beyond a certain width, the roof just ends up to tall. I wish I had a good quantity of 33 degree tiles which would reduce this issue. A solution I've used on a larger building is to build roof panels out of 45 degree tiles and rest these at a flatter angle but I've only done this on a parapet style roof. It really comes down to the individual building and what looks right with it. :classic:

Hey LT, the little roof section might look better in white but I'm not sure it's really in keeping with the rest of the building. I can see what you have in mind though, many workshops have nice big skylights to ensure plenty of light for the mechanics to work with. I'm still trying to come up with a roof that works for my tyre place. Your models don't really need roofing, you want to see all those nice interior details. :classic:

Thanks for your appreciation, LT. :classic:

Thanks, KDM. I'm really pleased with how it came together. It took a bit of experimenting to get the parts to slide past each other reasonably smoothly. :classic:

Thanks, glad you like it. Cheers, RS. That's very generous of you. I look forward to any tweaks you can make. I'm going to try something on a similar principle with more Technic bits than plates and see how I go. :classic:

I've been busy with my own bricking the last few days but that just makes the next look at this MOC all the better. It's looking great with all the new stuff. Paint thing is cool as are all of the odds and ends that have appeared in the workshop. :classic:

Prompted by Superkalle's interesting thread over in the Technic forum, I've managed to put together this 8-wide bus with steering. This is the first time I've been able to build a steerable city vehicle. It had to be 8 wide to fit the mechanism but that worked out fine. There is space for the driver and 14 passengers in luxury config (two studs between the seat in front), it would fit 20 if you crammed them in tighter. For more details about the steering mechanism, please see my posts in the technic forum: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=56620&st=15&p=1013734&fromsearch=1entry1013734 Large Large Large Large Large Large Comments and suggestions always appreciated. :classic:

Well my proof of concept is now an 8 wide bus. Just preparing a post in the Town forum. :classic:

Magnet strength is a easy issue to overcome, you simply lock the couplings with 1x2 plates or tiles. :classic:

You don't need to cut any cables. Lego left a perfect spot for the standard PF reverser switch deep in the innards of the loco. My dual-motored yellow Maersk has pulled about 15 cars IIRC without struggling. The double motors just give so much power and traction, particularly with this loco design. Two dual-motor locos would pull almost anything you threw at it. :classic:

Great fishing trawler, MdrnMrvls. Very nice work. :classic:

The way I did it leaves space for quite a few passengers but I needed two sets to do it. http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=49624&view=findpost&p=877606&hl=&fromsearch=1 :classic:

A bit more tinkering and I've managed to get a really rough proof of concept built. Plenty of room for refinement but the mechanism works. I used a double rack and pinion arrangement to drive the steering mechanism. Would be nice if I could get a bit more lock out of the steering but I'm pretty pleased with what I've achieved so far. (Sorry, the pics are a bit rough too.) Little dark grey pinion gear between two racks, steering left (ignore image name). Large Steering right (ignore image name). Large Slide for end of lower steering arm to ensure rack stays engaged with pinion. Upper arm has tile sliders on it for the same reason (not shown). Large The proof of concept is a bit long because I've had to scrape together odd technic beams, I'm sure it could be significantly shortened. Large :classic:

With a bit of playing around I'm 90% done with a solution that turns the wheels in a nice tight space. It's a bit tall but not quite beyond concealing in a City truck or bus. I just need to link the push-pull mechanism to a steering wheel, any suggestions on the easiest way to do this or to improve the overall design would be appreciated. Steering left Large Large Steering right Large Large Large Large :classic:

Wow, that would be so good. Thanks mate. :classic:

As an interested overseas observer with no access to the wonders of the pick a brick wall, could someone please let me know how much these small and large PAB cups cost you. Oh for a LEGO store in Australia. :classic:

Second that, nice idea Macoco. A San Francisco cable car: Or how about a classic Melbourne tram: :classic:

LOL @ the calendar. Nice one, LT. Angle grinder and other additions are cool too. :classic:

Do you get that in humid places instead of belly button fluff? Eeeewww. According to the wonderful wikipedia, it's actually a gel form of phosphoric acid. 'Rust removal Phosphoric acid may be used as a "rust converter", by direct application to rusted iron, steel tools, or surfaces. The phosphoric acid converts reddish-brown iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3 (rust) to black ferric phosphate, FePO4. "Rust converter" is sometimes a greenish liquid suitable for dipping (in the same sort of acid bath as is used for pickling metal), but it is more often formulated as a gel, commonly called naval jelly. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer". As a thick gel, it may be applied to sloping, vertical, or even overhead surfaces.' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric_acid#Rust_removal PS, appreciate all the great information you are sharing, Eric. :classic:

Great looking model, Sérgio. Very well done. :classic:

Thanks Fugazi. I'm really enjoying the slant building process. My favourite bit of the park is the wall that slopes up the hill and uses cheese slopes to get tiny little steps all the way up. The incline is about 30 degrees so the cheese slopes end up being horizontal faces. The support "structure" is a real bodge but it's more or less solid if I don't mess with it. The baseplates just rest on a big long box of VHS tapes leaning against the top "shelf" from a table, with props underneath and then a 3 foot long board wedged between the wall and the base of that long box, which is itself propped up by another board so it's the right height off the floor. Bit tricky to explain but I've put the camera away for the night. I'll get a shot of the setup tomorrow along with pics of another dodgy setup I used during early testing. Longer term I need to build a proper timber support structure. :classic:

Time for a quick update. I've added a small hillside park with a little path heading up towards the station. There is a BBQ with firewood storage and a picnic table with a view of the funicular and surrounding countryside. Large Large Just the ticket for a nice afternoon with the family. Thanks for the link, LT12V. Italy is renowned for it's funiculars, as evidenced by the famous song. Cheers mate. I have a friend from Tennesse. I'll have to check that out when I get around to visiting the US. :classic:

Very nice, LCM. The lightning bolt is a great touch. :classic:

Thanks very much for that LT12V. I'm making nice progress on a little line-side park. Building on the slope is challenging but leads to interesting solutions I haven't used before. :classic: