harnbak

Damn it! I should have known about this event... Some very nice details here: the bridges, historic town square and the station!

Again truly magnificent! Do you have pictures from any larger layout made by you? I would like to see a scenery by you...

Very lovely indeed!

Wonderful creation! So realistic and original. Is the pantograph customised with orange/red straws?

Oops - Austinniya is a HE

I have taken the liberty to post this wonderful MOC by Austinniya. Engine: Photo removed on request. Tender: Photo removed on request. Bagage: Photo removed on request. He is not all too happy with the pictures but they cannot disguise the beauty of his creation! On FB he writes: EDIT: Austinniya is a HE (I apologise for posting the links instead of pictures: flickr access is blocked on work and the suggestions in http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=55190 did not work for me. Can anyone help me and remove this comment between brackets - thank you)

There is something very authentic about the layout's 'look-and-feel'. True masterpiece!

I too have struggled with this problem and ended up buying 500 extra sleepers. I have tried everything from oiling to WD-40 bath (be careful with the tracks - these should not be oiled as friction will reduce), but haven't found a good solution. Of course not disassembling everything, but storing the tracks integrally helps. My lego is stored in the attic where it occasionally gets very cold (close to 0C). Anybody knows whether these low temperatures can 'destroy' lego?

Have found your piece: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=x555c01&in=S It belongs to train 162: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=162-1

Anyone knows where to find small (bmp-)images for the Hogwarts Express 4841?

Wonderful! It really inspires!

That is a matter of taste (and nationality?)

Again a truly magnificent MOC! I am impressed by the accuracy and your planning. You have quite a BR collection now: BR84, BR94, BR01 & BR23 and the models are getting better all the time! What's next?

Very nice indeed!

To me it sounds as if someting blocks inside the motor and it must be opened and cleaned. Take one step at the time: 1) Verify that the trafo works by connecting a 12v light brick* directly to the output and 'run'. 2) Verify that the motor works by connecting it directly to tested trafo and 'run'. 3) Verify that the conductors work by connecting the conductors to the trafo, putting the motor on the tracks and 'run'. If my hypothesis is correct, I expect only 1) to succeed and the motor needs to be opened. This should be done with the utmost care as you basically destroy the housing. Have lubricant and glue ready. See here for more info: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=50345&view=findpost&p=893107. *Instead of light brick, you can use an ordinary multimeter.

Tired of the winter already?

I do not think this will ever be a TLG product. Although it is very cool it is too specialised and cannot really combine with existing lines. By the way, there are quite a few very nice Lego roller coaster project on the web; a simple search gives more than a dozen hits some with instructions even.

Planning and building is the best part of Lego: which pieces do I need and how to make the most inventive layout. I easily get carried away building bigger and better than what is realistic with the limiting factor being space: there is not enough for ordered brick storage and never even close to enough for creating a decent layout. Layouts can only be in my living room, so my very few (bi-annual) layouts are around for 2-3 days only... Luckily my daughters participate each time. They are very social so I do my best to involve them, but they will not play for hours. That level of enthusiasm also goes for my better half: as long I do not isolate myself (and do not spend too much money), she tolerates my hobby. She know it makes me more complete when I can realise my creativity and I love her for that!

Although the switches look somewhat mutilated, the solution increases the degree of freedom: I have always found it difficult to work with the 73696 and 73697 as they require tight-fitting or rails. Furthermore, they are only suitable for 6 stud wide designs. The Veendam2007 solution with the curved rails seems clever. I have never seen any customised conductors before. Any idea how they were constructed?

I really love your Albtalbahn S1 - nice colours - truly realistic. The nose is a bit unusual - is this how the real tram nose is done?

Beautiful and very realistic - a masterpiece!

Hi Captain J, I cannot really grasp the idea of your construction and why you posted in the Train Tech (is there going to be a train tunnel?), but I can tell you that BrickLink probably is cheaper that PaB. If not, please tell me so. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hi 'LEGO Train 12 Volts' - Impressive! What is the electronic device with the four lamps in the bottom of the last picture?

Hello taduri, Welcome to the forum. Very nice with another 12v enthusiast! Do you have some pictures or folder on Brickshelf? Remember to post pics once in a while. Your problem is very well known (and discussed elsewhere in LEGO Train Tech - you should have found yourself) and has always existed. As suggested earlier in this thread, try to warm up your motors by running the motors in pairs for a few rounds: connect them using a wire and a possibly a train base plate. You could even connect the motors directly to your transformer first and let them run for a minute or so. If the motor squeals, it must be opened and cleaned/lubricated again. But this is not advised as you effectively damage the body to open it. To see how see the link Leg Godt Gud found for you. But before all of this , you must clean the middle conductors on the track extensively - maybe even each time before running on a new day. Use a cloth (not paper) and some alcohol or benzine. Good luck! And remember the pics...

The 'Picasso' is very nice and original/different!