ProvenceTristram

I like everything except the fact that it's standard gauge! XD

I despise modern diesels, but this is a very, very nice model.

Boy, that is the lamest preview video ever - kid sits in front of Lego set staring at a smart phone. I hope 'interactive' lines like these flop.

Of all the sets that could have made it through, I am so immensely sorry that this was one of the handful chosen. What a completely useless addition to the tapestry.

This is superb. *Reads thread.* The slipper slope of Lego plagiarism :P.

You should really use the bigger barrel piece on the back of the Rocket - it was such a signature thing:

Both of these are really strong - I love the Rocket!

More closeups of the F-unit's nose, please! I'd love to see your windows.

I am sure I could figure it out - sure!

Oh, this is just superb. Your trackwork is inspirational (3w is such a better idea for a truly small railroad at this scale). I would love to see your take on a few shunting steamers for this line. If you're inclined to share, I'd love to take a look at the LDD those ore carts - they're amazing.

Not without sacrificing the forward-facing windows :/.

6254?

How the heck are you going to reach things? I'd advise looking at some O-scale track plans for ideas. Generally speaking, you never want any space on the layout to be more than an easy arm's length from the aisle. And a lot of people these days have taken to doing no more than a 2-foot width.

Proto: (Yes, that's really all I could come up with). Model:

Yes, in fact I know Playmobil actually used to use LGB mechanisms in their trains. Not sure if they still do. Playmobil is just so expensive that I'm priced out. I always wanted this set as a kid:

Thanks. I've always felt 8w was really "true" standard gauge for Lego. 6w is just too narrow - you can't do proper interiors, boilers wind up too small, etc, etc.

Thanks. If I wind up doing the engine, the caboose will eventually follow.

Proto: Model:

Lego puts so little thought into trains in general. I think you're asking the impossible. They seem to see this sub theme (at least in terms of production from their end) as 'for kids only'... which is ironic, since I think it's actually one of the larger areas for AFOL.

Instructions based on my MOCs may soon be for sale on one of the broker websites. However, with regards to this loco, I don't feel it's up to my present standards. I'll take a look at it again tomorrow and see if I can bring it up to snuff.

These were not Van Sweringen berkshires of Pere Marquette and Nickel Plate fame. The original Lima design for 2-8-4s were greatly enhanced from their Mikado roots, but they remained relatively "slow" (slowish? Not grindingly slow, but slower) freight-only locomotives with 63" drivers. It took several years for the ideal berkshire design to coalesce in the midwest, but until that time, locomotives like these paved the way as the first true 'super power' delivered to railroads. The Boston and Maine engines were essentially copies of the original Boston and Albany berks, though with larger tenders and unusual coffin feedwater heaters. People either love how these monsters look or hate them - there doesn't seem to be much middle ground. Proto: I haven't built an engine in almost a month, but my return to railroading features some pretty radical changes (at least on my end). For big power like this, I have now shifted to using a 5w (plus plates) boiler, as opposed to the older 'padded' 4w design. The engine is powered by two of the large can motors - a first for me - with one in the firebox, and the second in the tender. I'm pretty happy with the finished product - my favorite part being the steam dome. I rebuilt that thing a good 6 times before I finally stumbled onto a method to achieve the unusual shape. It's not perfect, but it's about as close as Lego can get right now. I am also pretty pleased with the top of the boiler - I was able to achieve the widening and narrowing to at least satisfactory standards, though at the sacrifice of the squarish object on the rear slope (there was nothing I could do - I could either have the box, or have the slope). Model:

THank you.

I realize nobody is paying attention, but I did manage to overcome the angling issues by completely redesigning the torso of the unit. It's a little more cramped inside the front of the cockpit; substantially roomier in the back. There is still room for 3-4 figs, depending on their positioning.

Completely redesigned the cockpit. I never liked the single B-wing piece, and feel like this is a much better solution (it also allows for a navigator/gunnery officer to have an official seat below and forward of the pilot). I wish that it was able to angle aggressively outwards about 45 from the top of the bubble, but after an hour of messing with it, I can't see any way to accomplish that while retaining the technique (stolen from the Jedi Starfighters) for the sides of the cockpit itself - the pieces necessary to accomplish any kind of a smooth transition simply don't exist.

Because when you have a problem, you call in the 'big white bear.' ... to, uh... make things worse. Since that's what bears generally do. Ahem. This particular unit is equipped for long-term reconnaissance, and features a habitability module "pack" with a small bedroom and additional supplies, as well as thrusters to allow the mech to ford rivers, or leap up cliff faces, etc. However, the pack can be removed and swapped for a number of different alternatives depending on the mission - everything from a flame-throwing nacelle, to a fugitive processing cage and interrogation chamber, to a miniature nuclear missile silo are at a commander's disposal. Yes, with the Kodiak, the world is your oyster... to smash open and devour raw. Standard armaments include a four-barrel shoulder chain gun, quad anti-air/anti-ground short range missile launcher, and dual 100mm arm cannons. Oh, and a fist with claws. Meow! Link to full-size original: https://i.imgur.com/xzUnvdR.png The model is actually less than 500 pieces, which I would consider to be darned frugal for a robot that stands almost a foot tall.