AussieJimbo

That's about all that needs to be said about this abysmal article. Reminded me of the other day before XMAS when I was standing next to a couple of blokes at the Lego shelves. One said to the other that he wouldn't be buying Lego for his kids because of the huge hassle of sorting out the pieces after you've played with them. It made me sad for the poor kids who will be missing out for such a daft reason.

I'll have to look that one up. In my case it was more functional than anything else (and the crawler crane was on special) as I had to climb and descend in a tight spot and I wanted to cross over the track. I'm a more serious layout much of the grade would be hidden by scenery. On the track wish list, I agree a Y switch would be good but I think I'd prefer high speed left and right points. The number one priority would be the wider radius curves. I think it would be best achieved with a return of the separate rail and sleeper arrangement with modifications to connect with new RC track. I suggest this for versatility of curve radius you could then achieve. The first set of rails would be set with a radius to give a 4 stud spacing from the existing curved rails, this gives you a nice double track arrangement alongside an existing radius curve. Next set is radiused for another 4 stud spacing outside the previous one. The bonus of using separate rails is you can then use the outer rail from the first set and the inner rail from the second set for a third curve radius. In addition to the 3 new curve radii (radiuses) you also get the ability to do graduated entry to tighter curves. I wish I had an injection molding machine. :classic:

Nice bank with good details inside. The burglar is a great touch. :classic:

Great job replicating this train, Sérgio, Nice work. :classic:

I can confirm that the new stock of Emerald Night's has the instructions/stickers in a separate bag with a bit of cardboard to keep them flat. Nice little improvement from LEGO. :classic:

Yep, I bought a couple of those years before I had any trains knowing one day I'd be running one across it. The big challenge is how much lead in and lead out tressle/support work you need to do to get you track up to the level where you can cross another train (13 or 14 brick high if I recall correctly). I achieved this with multiple sets of the City crawler crane with it's braced yellow pieces. You get the same pieces in white with the current train station but not the tall triangular ones. It also has yellow 2x2 bricks with technic pin that are useful for securing the sloping track to your supports. I ended up with a long oval lead in and a tight steep loop at the end. There was only one speed that would climb the grade without derailing on the descent but the flanging noise was very cool as it sped down the spiral. I'll see if I can fish out some rather scratchy pictures later as it's been taken down now. :classic:

:woohoo: Thanks for the great headsup, jonwill. Myer Canberra Centre had a dozen, now they have nine (guilt from depriving the kiddies be damned). $112 each with the discount. Picked up Sonic Boom too. 25% off is close enough to US RRP to make competitive with online. I had a chance to have a good natured chat with the sales lady about getting some track in, which was helped by a nearby parent and child saying they were upgrading from Thomas the Tank Engine and that bought ten's of metres of track for that. Anyway it's great to pick up multiples of the superb Emerald Night so I can put a nice set of coaches together and now I've got plenty of locomotive bits for future MOC'ing. However I've also had to give myself the "you're spending to much on LEGO" talk. I'll have to take it easy for a while but I've got plenty of LEGO goodness to be getting on with now, including finally taking some photos of my road-train that I finished before Xmas. :classic:

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience, hewman. It sounds like the advance purchase of new sets hasn't worked out. I've just received my Barnes and Noble order today (ordered late on Sunday night) and I'm very happy. I picked up all the Architecture sets (except The Whitehouse that wasn't available), the offroad power and helicopter creator sets and the dynamo light, headlamp and Brick light. Much money saved even with postage. Not sure of the exact savings as I can't find the Aussie RRPs for the Architecture sets but by memory I've paid less than half. I'd buy from them again as everything's worked fine for me but I'll be aware that pre-purchase might have issues. :classic: Good price for Australia but still $10 more than US RRP, probably paid about $99 when you average out postage but I'm way ahead of the $140 Oz RRP. :-) :classic:

Nice work. The "3D" TV effect is cool. :classic:

Thanks for the tip, TH. :cheers: I've just lashed out on each of the architecture sets they had plus a few other things, even with express airmail I'm way ahead. Incredibly I saw the Falling Water set on sale that Japanese chain bookshop, starting with 'K' in the Galleries of Vic building in Sydney, for the astronomical price of $299.95. Paid $72 at B&N. This is my first international LEGO purchase, it may be the start of many. :classic:

Wow. Epic and awesome. Fantastic details. What a great creation. :classic:

Top work mate. Looks great with it all put together. :classic:

That's a kind offer, asharerin. It really has got a bit ridiculous. We are being ripped off down here, there is no other way to put it. LEGO must do something about it, from what I've seen our RRPs are at least 75% higher than the US, and often higher as your example shows. What can be done about it? :classic:

Excellent MOC. Immediately reminded me of Monsieur Hulot's house, Villa Arpel, from the movie Mon Oncle, due to the modernist style. Great work.

Snap. Interesting what you say about it being a prototype, perhaps it was a precursor technology to power functions that otherwise wouldn't have got a commercial release. Maybe this was a case of Train providing a platform to help Lego recoup some of their R&D. ;-) I started with RC, have a mix of RC and PF and enjoy them both. RC has it's pros and cons, the most significant con being as outlined above. A positive is the extra loco weight of the 6 x AA batteries compared to the AAAs of the power functions sets. The child side of me also likes the horn in the controller. I've got a few with slightly different tones that sound even better all at once. :-D :classic:

Hi unimog, No, you don't have a solution with just those parts. The RC system (as opposed to Power Functions) relies on an integrated battery pack and IR receivers in a long train base. The battery box you've shown has no IR receiver. With RC you have to integrate this locomotive base piece somehow; as the locomotive, as a motorised tender or wagon that pushes the unpowered loco, or as an undriven a battery/control trailer with wires running to a motorized loco in front. I reckon you would be better off going for a Power Functions mod. :classic:

Awesome, what a fantastic MOC. Excellent concept polished off with so many great details. Konnak, you are a master.

I hope so. I'm going to search out some videos of them in action. Yeah, I'll have to do something. Ultimately I'd like to do a rail-road transfer facility with fuel storage so I can drop off fuel from the refinery by rail for later collection by road takers. At the moment though I can only do a storage tank in Zurg purple or Farm brown, maybe I can make that work somehow. :classic:

Thanks LDW, I appreciate your generous comments. I've been playing with the new truck trying to get it right but was missing pieces I needed. Picked up a few sets today with a 3 for 2 deal to rectify that but starting to run a bit low on time in the run up to X-mas. The road train is now 124 stud long at last measure and models the reference pic at the top of the page. The prime mover doesn't quite hit the mark yet but is now 2 studs lower (excluding a couple of lights) which brings into proportion with the tankers. I also found a nice reference image for a tri-axle dolly that come together really nicely in the LEGO model. Sticks out a bit from the tanker but it looks so much better than a dual-axel dolly. Not sure now if I'll finish the prime mover and get photos done before the holidays but if not, thanks to all who've commented and have a merry Xmas. Cheers mate. Yep, that's how I connect the tri-axle converter dollies to the previous trailers in the road train. Picked up a couple of horse float sets today for two more having scounged a couple from my farm sets. Love those curvy white panels, will have to do something interesting with those later. :classic:

Like the wheel balancing machine. How about some of those old style oil bottles which were made of a milk bottle/glass jar and a conical funnel. You could also stretch out a bit of black lego string for the pneumatic line that used to ring the bell when you drive in, if you're thinking retro. Air for your tyres. Kwik'n Go gas bottle swap (white minifig head plus a white 1x1 round makes a gas bottle) or a bigger cylinder for refills. Can't wait to see more. :classic:

No worries, mate. I'm not sure if New Mannum is inside or outside the road-train limit. Perhaps I'll have to leave the trailers in Longwhoop and just bring the B-Double into town. :classic:

Liking the period details. You're teaching me the value of a few well chosen custom stickers. Looking forward to another quality interior. :classic: You're much better with your updates than I am. I still haven't got my latest photos done. That road house is going to need a lay-by about 4 base-plates long. :classic: (Why does this forum do that with followup posts?) :confused: :confused:

It's coming along nicely, LT. Matching up well with the reference pic. :classic:

Nice bowser design, mate. Look forward to seeing the whole thing. :classic:

Cheers ACCURATEin. Didn't get around to the photos of the road train, hopefully tomorrow. Instead I've been working on a long nose truck design as suggested. It's loosely based on the LEGO/TRU truck because I don't have the pieces to replicate it in the colours I want. Still needs a bit of tweaking but I think it's going to work out. :classic: