DirtPiper

Definitely a nice little bonus - hope to pick one of these up once they are available, though I plan on swapping out the brick-built chassis for the original part - the brick-built buffers are too large for my taste.

In other news, here's a WIP tram roughly based on the Konstal N/Kriegstraßenbahnwagen, again built in the 12v style. I am using the bb0053 pickups in conjunction with a PF motor (here subbed out for 9v) for power collection. The roof is removable as three sections (though the pantograph would have to be removed first). There is currently no interior and decals are forthcoming, however I am fairly pleased with the current design.

I've been thinking for a while on this and I've found that the 3/4 technic pins fit perfectly into the center hole on the PF motors and spin freely. If an alternate 12v-style wheel was made which accepted a technic pin rather than an axle, then it could be used in combination with 3/4 pins for the two center wheels, and the axles could be reserved for the driven wheels. The center wheels, with the added benefit of less friction due to riding on pins instead of axles, might serve well to minimize the drag created by using axles w/ stops, as well as removing the need to trim lego (always a plus). The 7760 is nearly complete now (still have to attend to the wheels and invest in the larger windows)- and I've started work on a 7755. While my current electrification setup is all 9v I plan on using the 12v center rail system for these two, in addition to my (currently PF) 3677. Part bb0053 looks like an easy way to add 12v pickups for these motors, and doing so is cheaper than buying 12v (or even 9v) motors.

I've just recently gotten back into lego trains, and of course the era I perhaps have the biggest soft spot for is 12v. I've been piecing together a 7760 from my own parts stock (with missing parts sourced from bricklink) with the 12v motor swapped for PF, I plan on eventually swapping the wheels out for 3D printed replica 12v wheels that accept a technic axle - I believe I found someone else on this forum had done the same a while back. Not sure yet how to tackle power/control but I am considering custom-making pickup brushes and hiding them between the wheels. Mockup render from stud.io: Currently unfinished build of the model: I'm currently using a technic axle with stop to give the PF motor 6 wheels, though I am also exploring other options - this solution seems to be too high-friction. The completed model will have 12v-esque wheels complete with siderods and (if I can find decent decal paper) reproduction stickers. The process of sourcing all/most of the parts off bricklink is very nice for aquiring these older models (in a way) for cheap - I plan on doing 7755 next. As a bonus, here's a test render of an NYC J1e hudson MOC I'm making in 12v style (with some obvious inspiration from 7750). The front section of the running board has already been redesigned and I am aware that the large wheels do not exist in black... at least, not yet.

I just recently got back into Lego - I hadn't been using it for nearly 3 nears now, leaving my "sorting" bins sad and neglected for quite some time. Recently I was looking for something that I had assumed might be found within one of the Lego bins - which is wasn't - and I found myself fiddling around with the little blocks once again. I have some plans in store - I'm no stranger to model railroading, having an 'O' Gauge Lionel layout in the basement, and I look forward to re-entering the world of Lego.