Jeffinslaw

Very nicely done! Wish you would move to Studio so you can get some proper renders.

The guy is nuts to think it can be done overnight.

You're only focused on the part count and not the man hours that goes into designing these models, developing the instructions, gathering the pieces, and then assembling the kits. For example: my Big Boy. I have over 60 hours into the design and easily another 60+ into designing the instructions. Then I have another dozen or so hours of building the model and then testing. All in we are at probably close to 140 hrs for something that is a PDF instruction set. I value my time in the $20-25 range when doing anything with LEGO because I find it fun and therefore don't feel like I need to pay myself a very high dollar amount. This puts me at a $2800 to $3500 investment just for a set of instructions! Granted my main goal isn't to make money but to better the hobby and encourage others to develop as builders themselves but at the end of the day, I want to make sure I am compensated for my time that I invest. Factoring all the time it takes to assemble the kits, and double, triple checking and I bet Scott makes an okay amount off of each kit sold. Which is great because guess what Scott can turn around and do? Invest some of it back into BrickTracks which means more great products for everyone. I would happily buy a kit myself but it just isn't my style. However, I think the price is more than fair. I get defensive because people don't realize this stuff doesn't happen overnight. It takes time so when I see people being like "wahhh it's too much" it irritates me. Creators should be valued and paid appropriately. I still think Scott is about $500 too low on his kit. Couldn't have said it better myself.

If you think you can source the parts yourself for $50, keep dreaming. 3800 parts at roughly 10¢ a part means parts alone is $380. That is a VERY generous estimate because it doesn't really account for things such as wheels, PF stuff and custom decal printed bricks which is much more than 10¢ a part. Additionally, printing a ≥100 page, double sided booklet in high quality isn't cheap. Then factor in the box it comes with and all the time it takes to sort the parts for each individual order and the price becomes more than fair. Frankly, I think Scott should be charging far more than what he is currently. His price is in-line with nice O-scale offerings and you get the added benefit of being able to build it yourself. This hobby isn't cheap. Scott might be having a Labor Day sale but $120 for a loop of this track being as quality as it is is again, more than fair.

The fact the the BuWizz disconnects so frequently at shows and just in my living room made me grow to hate it. Granted I hate all PF Bluetooth control but I hated the BuWizz the most. At least make it an option to toggle in the app that if it disconnects, motors stay running. How hard is this ffs?? Looking at you SBrick, BuWizz and PFx brick. -Jeffinslaw

Paging @supertruper1988

What about using part 60478? That part comes in BLO and then for the hand rails, use some BLO minfig hands pushed into some BLO tubing. The tubing can easily be had on LEGO BaP while the minifig hands can be found on BL. They won't line up perfectly straight but I think it would be acceptable. And then in the front use part 30241b in place of the 2x 1x1 plate + 1x1 plate modified with clip. -Jeffinslaw

Psssstttttt, go check out bricktraindepot.com. We have larger sized wheels designed to be used with modern diesels. -Jeffinslaw

Very nice! I'm not very well versed in LEGO's official names of colors but I would use Bright Light Orange. There is a good amount of parts available in BLO. -Jeffinslaw

Per Michael Gale's latest post on Flickr:

I second this. Perhaps OP could edit their review to use "LEGO wheelset" instead of bearing?

Thanks for sharing!

Any updates on this?

Nicely done! Very clever on getting the roof hatch to open up! Glad you like the PFE model. I decided to pull it from the site as I am in the process of updating and refining it some more. Sometime in summer I will release the updated version. -Jeffinslaw

I haven't updated them yet. My entire LEGO collection was demolished on my cross country move and it has taken me the better part of 6 months to even get back to a position to where I can begin to build again. The instructions for the full valve gear will be updated by the anniversary date. -Jeffinslaw

https://www.fxbricks.com/fxblog/?post_id=37&title=information-update-and-covid-19&fbclid=IwAR2QhNrbO1vUvz6wzqj8wDcZ54hd8reSTXG4mvTr9zxOX9fbCEyCH_SW1wY

Bravo! Well done!

Very nicely done! The Mercury was one I kind of wanted to try and build... very difficult though. -Jeffinslaw

Yessir!

Mmmm those look lovely! -Jeffinslaw

The less gradient, the better in my opinion. This engine is somewhat prone to gear slippage when under heavy loads (such as the case when you have multiple dimensional switches of gear driven axles). Under heavy, heavy load, my personal engine starts to "complain" and the gears start popping out of contact. -Jeffinslaw

Fantastic job Henry! -Jeffinslaw

Appreciate you bringing the Superliner to BW! Was fun to see! Definitely some odd behavior with BT. All of our projects at school that called for a BT connection were incredibly frustrating. Try connecting to a generic BT transmitter that ~50 other people in your class have and are also trying to connect to lol. -Jeffinslaw

Had a chance to run my Big Boy at BrickWorld 2019 in Chicago. Took quite a few videos. Thought you guys would enjoy! By the way, I have a set of side rods for sale if anyone is interested in building their own and haven't purchased a set yet. They have been spray painted with primer filler grey, PM me if interested! Videos (click them to view): MVI_8919 by Jeffinslaw, on Flickr MVI_8920 by Jeffinslaw, on Flickr MVI_9210 by Jeffinslaw, on Flickr -Jeffinslaw

Hey now, you're showing all of the secrets ;) looks great! Can't wait to see it finished! I got a few videos of mine running during BrickWorld (click the pictures): MVI_9215 by Jeffinslaw, on Flickr MVI_9214 by Jeffinslaw, on Flickr -Jeffinslaw