LegoDW

For me, when I was a kid (a long time ago) I used to build all kinds of stuff with my bricks. As the bricks were not to specialized really let my creativity go wild. I am now in a stage of life trying to get my kids into to hobby. The sets today look so much better then my blocky moc's of my youth. That said, my kids only build per the instructions, the specialized bricks don't offer them as much freedom to build their own moc's. There maybe some better sets to get the kids, but they want the Frozen, Friends and City stuff. They have zero interest in the mine craft stuff which is very close to the moc's I made as a kid.

Murdoch17 I like it. What does it look like if you start from the original colors, swap the yellow with the dark blue and the dark blue tiles on the roof to light gray. That is what I was going to try.

That is a big tree......I like it!

Like your new build, still have to motorize mine.

Your comment about TLG having their finger on the pulse has been correct. They very successfully changed their business practices to be very profitable. It is sad this adaptation has taken some of the creativity out of the hobby. It will be interesting how they adapt to the next generation of children.

Dav1d, that looks good. With the battery out good use of extra seating. Would be tempting to add a second middle carriage as extending the one you have really sets off the train. See you deleted the two small dark blue circle tiles in the top accent line by the roof. I'm probable going to do that too.

Congrats on your Disney train purchase. My city cannot take a 8 wide train, that said it was very tempting with the price reduction on Black Friday. Would have been nice if TLG had made your stickers a little longer. The color looks good from the picture. I will have to post a picture of mine so everyone can see what I am talking about.

Looking for opinions. Before getting this set, I knew I didn't care for all that yellow. After building it my opinion has not changed. Big issue is the yellow and navy (dark blue) color scheme is that of my largest sport rival (Michigan Football, US). I tried replacing the yellow on the roofs with white, tan and light blueish gray (with the navy accents) and didn't like it. Also tried black and dark gray changing out the navy accents with white. Didn't like it ether. Issue with both is the coaches are basically gray with a white and navy accent line. Swapping the yellow sections with navy might be an option just don't have the bricks in that color. If going this route would have light gray accent pieces. Hoping someone has already swapped out the yellow to something that looks good. Looking for opinions.

Got the new passenger train for Christmas. Planning on modifying the engine, build as designed to check it out. Everything looked good till I put the big stickers on the the yellow front end piece. The white on the sticker was not very well done. Getting a lot of bleed thru of the yellow. Looking on the internet, seeing a lot sets like mine without this problem. Maybe its just lighting on the pictures? Also the box my set came in has nice crisp white sticker line/accent as I was expecting. Anyways, did TLG change there process for printing white on stickers? Aware the canopies on the new space sets has some issues, maybe this is similar.

Thank you for the links. Thinking I will moc a blend of these two builds. Like the US AMTRACK colors, gray with a red&blue strip.

No instructions. The builder build in real time on Youtube. You can watch at no cost to see if its something you would be interested in.

Not sure if you are interested, but this is a slightly more cost effective option. I follow this youtuber and he makes some great moc's. He was able to build this church from 3 sets and a few extra parts. Sets are still in production (around $100 US each) and doubt he has more then $350 in the build. Little bit more if you add in all the landscaping.

Yes, I have one of these, feel its going to sit in my parts bin forever! As for the questions specialized parts.....feel in the long run will hurt the hobby. Lego is supposed to be a hobby you build stuff, you should build a airplane wing not just get a large prefabbed wing. For TLG sales drive what they offer. Kids much like the larger specialized pieces so I'm ok with them offering. Glad they still offer stuff to make your own things for folks like me!

Usually I will build a set per the instructions first. I will then make some very slight mods to the set adjust more to my tastes. Basically improve on what TLG put out....a lot of times this is just adding pieces and making sets larger. About 1/2 the sets I really like at this stage and they will remain this way for ever....after all TLG does offer some fantastic sets. For the other 1/2, I will break them down and use to create mocs. So as an example, the Winter Village train station. Love the looks of this set....just a little small. I added onto the back of the building a table and chairs for the cafe. Love this set even more. It will stay this way forever. The last Star Wars Xwing....built the set didn't like it. Rebuild a ton of stuff on it. Could hardly put it down for a week. Finally happy with it. Really had a lot of fun fixing this set. A Chima tank thing. Build this set, looked at it and broke it down. Parts are now in other mocs, do not plan on ever building this set to original design again.

Hello. Wanting to create a tram for my city. Have like the last two TLG has put out, not as interested in the side builds so passed on these two sets. Tram will be powered, probably the older PF as have a few space motors and such. Is one of the two last designs any easier to convert to power over the other? Like the smaller size of these builds, will not go any larger. Will be using the standard Lego curves, wanting something fairly stable to avoid derailments (no switches/points). If anyone has any links to alternate tram builds would appreciate viewing them.

Thank you for sharing this link. I am wanting to do something similar. Like how they added a second engine on the back, looks good.

There are no bad Lego Holiday displays. Glad you set something up to enjoy.

Ouch....$90 US is a lot for this set. Not a fan of the Mars Mission white and orange color scheme. Expecting a little green guy to pop out of the new fancy Sith Tie Figher! Think I am just burned on out Xwings. Do like the new curved engine cover pieces. Not sure how this set will sell in the US due to price and mixed reviews from the movie (I have not seen yet). Doubt I will be picking this set up. My set improvement idea would be to bump it up to $120 and include a good side build or enemy space ship. Know that bumps the price up, but already fairly high and feel TLG needs to offer something bit different with this set (compared to the last few years) for it to be successful.

I think TLG has done a good job coming up with ideas for gift with purchase. Just wish they wouldn't run out of stock so quickly. Very disappointing when you hold off buying a set to get this years Christmas Tree and its sold out almost in a day......really leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Having gift with purchase only if you buy a certain theme is also bit disappointing. This years star was gift with purchase only available if you buy a large enough star wars set..... Should be if you purchase any theme. Maybe someone who didn't collect star wars who got a gift with purchase set might like the theme and start collecting. Few people complain when getting mini figures as gift with purchase.

What a fun idea to explore. The main thing I would change is to sell sets you can actually rebuild into multiple things. As an example, the current fire engine set. It offers a good fire engine build. Unfortunately you can really only build this fire engine as shown on the box. A set would be better if you could build multiple fire engines (only one at a time...limited bricks). This would allow more creativity and fun building Lego. Not just acting like a robot building the sets per provided instructions. Using your mind to create new and wonderful things. A lot of AFOL can do this as they have huge collections of Lego. Most kids don't. Instead of selling that city set that comes with a crappy heli, a basic car and the front of a building.....sell a car pack that can build say 5 or more types of cars. A building pack that allows building several different types of buildings...include different types of stickers for various buildings. Instead of that through way crappy heli, have a heli/airplane pack. Set would allow building multiple air craft. Yes I would still set that nice fire engine as a stand alone set in the city line. But would also sell a fire engine set that had a bunch of parts to build various types of fire engines. That the real joy of the hobby, building different things. Lego has gotten to specialized and taken some of the creativity out of the hobby. If I ran the company would put it back in.

I feel your pain. I passed on the Double VIP points only to miss out on the promotional Christmas tree this year. Was sold out by Sat afternoon on line (and at my local store). Seriously under supplied this promotion! For the last one I wanted, the rocket ship kid, I bought a Star Wars set and got the mini Hoth battle scene (had to be over a month old) too at my local Lego store. For me Lego is supposed to be fun....when its not I put my toys away for a while and do something else. After a bit I get them back out as such a good product. Yes disappoint TLG ran out of my freebie, but suspect it won't be the last time they disappoint me. I'm in for a long term relationship with TLG and there are bound to be bumps in the road now and them.

Excellent!

The trolley is my favorite part of your moc. Great job

Nice

You know everyone has the Green Grocer in sand green. Make something in a unique color....