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Celeste

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Everything posted by Celeste

  1. Celeste
    Hi all! I am a longtime lover of the ALCO PA diesel locomotives and I've wanted to have a model of one for a while. This model has been in the works for years, though most of that time, the file just contained the bogies and the front nose. Just recently, I decided to finally finish a first pass at a completed model. First, some reference images of the real thing. And now, my model. There were a few challenges and goals I had in mind for this project. For one, this is the first time I've done a 6 axle diesel locomotive. I've wanted to do one for a while but I wasn't sure the best way of tackling it. I went with a fairly common approach of using the motor bogie piece with an extra axle trailing behind on a turntable, so it can still navigate turns. I think this model can navigate R40, but I haven't tested it. The second goal I had was to do all of the livery and detail work with bricks. I love my U36B to death, but that thing used a fair number of stickers and specialized printed parts. I wanted to avoid that as much as possible here, so the train logo, the numbering, and all the striping and detail work of my custom livery are brick built. Also, this is the longest locomotive I have built by far. It dwarfs my U36B and DL-535 by quite a lot with a length of about 50 studs. Looking at it from the side though, I feel like it may be a bit too long, or the proportions aren't quite right. More on my issues with this model later. I was pretty happy with how the nose turned out and it was by far the easiest part to do on the locomotive. I feel like the shapes lend themselves well to being "Lego-ified". A shot from the rear where you can also see more detail including the roof. I'm not 100% satisfied with this model and I feel like some areas could be improved. As mentioned before, I feel like something isn't quite right with the length or proportions of it. Secondly, I feel like the roof curvature and detail lets the model down. I couldn't find a part/technique to get that small curvature to the roof edges like the prototype and as such, the roof curve on my model is way too pronounced. In general, something about this model doesn't sit quite right with me. I think it could use some improvements, but I think those will have to come later as I need this design to sit on the metaphorical shelf for a while before I can attack it again. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions of improvements, I would love to hear them! As always, here is a link to the files of all my current MOCs. This one is just labeled as "ALCO PA" in the folder. If you'd like to download it to tinker around with or to build it yourself, please feel free to. Thanks for reading!
  2. Celeste
    To me, this makes the most sense and it's what I'm hoping for. If it is 8w, I will probably still pick it up, but I'll be grumbling the entire time I'm converting it to 6w.
  3. Celeste
    Thank you! I'm honestly surprised the second version is the crowd favorite! I thought it was the uglier of the two by far. I might go back to this project then in the future and put some more detail on the inside and refine it further. Ooh! That's a good idea! I just stuck with the 9v since it fits the Metroliner theme, and I don't plan on making it in real bricks.
  4. Celeste
    Hi Everyone! Life has been busy for me recently, so I haven't gotten much time to build. However, I found some free time recently and put a small something together. There's a little bit of a story that goes along with it. Many months ago, I realized I had an odd few train pieces in my collection that I didn't know what to do with. More specifically, it was 2 left doors from the Metroliner (Bricklink Entry) and the angled base piece to the Railway Express locomotive (Bricklink Entry). Out of curiosity, I attempted to use those parts with a spare train motor I had to make a small locomotive in the same color scheme as the Metroliner. I didn't get super far before realizing I didn't have exactly the parts I wanted to make it right. I stepped away from it, but it had been in the back of my mind since then. So, when I had some free time recently, I decided to try making it digitally. This time I was able to get it closer to what I was envisioning: a 90s/9v styled small switching locomotive in the Metroliner livery and would spend its days shunting Club Cars! The interior has 2 small, printed console pieces and a yellow chair that are identical to ones found in the Metroliner set, though it's a little more cramped here. I know the rear railings aren't 9v era, but it was one of the main ideas I had when I first tried it in bricks, so I wanted to keep that one modern element. Also, the rear door doesn't open due to it sitting on that wedge plate and I didn't want to make it any taller than it already was. All the colors did work out for parts, except for the light housing on the front which was never made in light gray. However, I don't think I'll actually make this in real bricks (as it was a "just for fun" thing and I have no plans to start running 9v trains in the future), so it doesn't matter too much. At the very end, I decided to try integrating the large access doors from the Metroliner set into it and create a "high hood" switcher, similar to a BR Class 08. Here was the result: This was definitely not my prettiest model, nor my most complex, but it was a fun little experiment and I think it was worth spending the time on and indulging in the idea. If you have any further ideas on this design, I'd love to hear them! Thanks for looking!
  5. Celeste
    NPU for the bucket handle as truck detail! Looks great! Are the drive wheels going to be the ones from the new HP Hogwarts Express?
  6. Celeste
    Love the use of the wedge bricks on the ends to get that shaping! Also enjoying the use of the trapezoidal flag parts on the trucks. Very cool build!
  7. Celeste
    If I remember correctly, the croc sold out within a few hours of going on sale, which seems like a good message/sign to send to TLG.
  8. Celeste
    Very nice work so far! I loved seeing the evolution and different iterations! You haven't made things easy for yourself with the prototype, but it seems you are plenty up to the task and have plenty of tricks up your sleeve! Looking forward to seeing it completed for sure!
  9. Celeste
    I think it's a great looking model! The grey looks good, but the orange is stunning! I always love seeing posts and models that have personal history with the builder. I can't wait to see it in real bricks!
  10. Celeste
    I was lucky enough to come to the show on Sunday and see the layout and the Daylight in person. Both are much more impressive when you see them with your own two eyes. Very cool stuff! On a slightly unrelated note, I was pleasantly surprised with the number of trains at this year's BW. There seemed to be many more than in any previous years, as far as I remember.
  11. Celeste
    Thanks for the tip! The search function on this site has been driving me crazy! I do agree with others thought that message does feel a little harsh. We are a niche of a niche and it's hard to grasp sometimes that we really are this small of a community. However, I will say that small as the Lego train community may be, I've seen some amazing work come out of it and the people in it are incredibly hardworking and dedicated. I'm not really sure where else you would post Lego train builds though. Most other platforms don't seem to have a large following for that sort of thing. I guess there had been a bit of traction on YouTube recently, but this still feels like the ideal place to post.
  12. Celeste
    I've done 4 wide models of a Subaru Impreza wagon and a Saab 900 before...I'm not saying they were good or that they looked like those cars, but I did "technically" make them
  13. Celeste
    I love this! May need to make myself a 4 wide version of my own older Outback...
  14. Celeste
    It would, but this has been a standard for Lego passenger trains for a while now, right? Nearly every passenger train set since the 12v era that I can think of either was A. 1 locomotive and 2 passenger cars B. 2 locomotives with passenger compartments and 1 passenger car I do appreciate that they've gone back to the "A" formula though. Makes it easier to buy 2 sets and add more passenger cars.
  15. Celeste
    I’m very much a fan of long 6w trains so I’m a fan of the proportions!
  16. Celeste
    Looks like Lego took notes from @Hod Carrier ‘s OcTrainber entry from last year!
  17. Celeste
    Gotta say, both these trains are certainly different in a few aspects from the norm. I'll honestly take it over the same styles being rehashed every 4 years. The colors are cool, not my favorite, but very neat! I love the fact that we are using the lowered train bases for the passenger cars! Something we haven't seen since the 90s with the Cargo Railway or the Metroliner Club Car? I don't necessarily like the front design, but I do like that it is unique and brick built though. The lights coming with the train though? Wow! Was not expecting that and if it is a new light piece, all the better. Unsure if I'll want to spend the money to pick up either one or just save the money for my own MOCs. I don't think they are for everyone and they are certainly polarizing.
  18. Celeste
    Normally, I'm not much of a fan of Lego Theme trains, but this looks awesome!
  19. Celeste
    Hello! I know it has been a little bit since I posted this originally, but I finally was able to put it into physical bricks. Still unsure of the stickers I want to do on this one, so it doesn't have any yet. After a little more tinkering in Stud.io, I found a better solution for the rear of the locomotive to hide the PU connections. It involved sideways mounting unprinted square signs (Part 30258), so the entire lower rear of the engine cowl now is truly 4-wide with only a small patch that comes out 1/2 a plate height on each side. Here I've taken off the railings to show the new rear off.
  20. Celeste
    I actually kind of like this set. Like someone mentioned previously, it's nice that the locomotive doesn't rely on a preformed piece. Also, the colors are pretty different on this one. I like the teal wagon using the Vidiyo pieces and the extra vehicle is cool too. The container car is alright but doesn't stand out to me. The auto carrier is neat as we haven't gotten a 2 level auto car in a while, maybe ever? I might pick this set up if it's on sale at some point and use some of it for parts and keep a few things. Overall, I think it's an ok set. I'm with everyone else in wanting more trains geared towards adults, but I kept my expectations low for these City releases.
  21. Celeste
    Ok thank you both! I tend to do a project in a relatively short amount of time and then call it done. Usually, if there's any aspects I don't like with it, they'll be at the back of my head for the next few months and it will force me to revisit/rethink something. My most recent MOC had a few things I wasn't totally satisfied with and I couldn't just let it be. I think I'll post updated photos soon of my improvements or I may wait a few weeks until I have the parts to make it in real life and just post it all then.
  22. Celeste
    I know the general consensus is to not bump posts that are more than a month old, but I forgot about how that rule applies to your own posts if you have an update you want to make to them?
  23. Celeste
    Wow! What cool builds! I love the amount of detail you put into them! I especially love the passenger cars and the first diesel. I also do non scale 6 wide builds, so good to meet ya!
  24. Celeste
    I already have with two of their models! They're honestly pretty good designs and relatively not fragile, which I always love to see.
  25. Celeste
    Thank you! It actually already is 1 candle stick piece. It has a 1x1 round with a pin (20482) below it and a bar holder with clip on top (11090). Thanks! After I complete a MOC, I sometimes like to see what other people come up with for modeling the same engine. However, for this and my DL-535, I really couldn't find more than one or two instances of it online which surprised me.
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