LegoDW

Yes, was thinking about heating up a utility blade for the cut/burn. Thinking might be better option. I thought about modifying all mine too. My problem is I keep changing the actual layout. Some locations the standard switch configuration works best. A double crossover would be nice.

Hello, missed the Santa Fe sets when they were out (not into Lego at the time). Love the look of these passenger cars. Planning on Bricklinking something close to this for a replica. Are their any rare parts that can be switched out to keep the cost down (know its going to expensive, its Lego I'm used to it). Looking for a little guidance before I get in to far. Will be making a Santa Fe engine also. Going with PF or the new PF2 for power.

Few thoughts 1) That looks too good to take apart. Suggest you build an second living room and keep the trains. 2) Like the lighting you have added. Gives layout a nice touch. 3) Looking forward to when you figure out how to control the new Blue Tooth controllers (like you did for the IR stuff) and really step up your game on automation. Another great Lego railway video. Really enjoy watching your stuff.

Lego Regal Transit System

Hi. Thought I would share. Have a Lego train layout and the switches (turnouts) that come back on themselves (passing sidings) just really don't work in my layout. So last weekend I got brave and cut my first one. Results were ok, not the best. First, I cut it to too long, had to recut the switch. Second, I used a hack saw, took a lot of material in the cut. Third, I didn't have any fine sand paper so was unable to clean up the edges. I had to cut a curved section of track also to get the correct orientation on the switch. Results, even though the gap in the rails is big to me, the trains have no issues. Gap is about as large as the ones present on the flex track. Placed a 2x4 gray plate on the cut switch and track to hold them together. Had to break off one the outer sleepers (rail supports...has a stud on it) to get around the large plastic support section of the switch. Next time may cut a little bit more of this out (from the switch). Planning on cutting a few more switches in the future, but will not cut them all. In some locations (passing sidings, yard, etc) is preferred. Going to experiment with a hot blade to try melting the track vs cutting. Not crazy about inhaling the plastic fibers when cutting.

Doesn't look like this topic is getting much traction. PM me if you would like to discuss in any greater detail. Interesting to see what has been going on with TLG the past years as I have only been back into the hobby 18 months.

I have one of two of the smaller regular green solders. Will have to see if they glow in the dark this evening.

The alien commander is a good looking alien. Do they glow in the dark?

Have a little time, looking into this further. Thought others might find this interesting too. 6348: Surveillance Squad , 1994 $33 US, 331 pieces, $.105 per brick 7034: Surveillance Truck , 2003, $30, 261, .11.5 per brick, Thoughts, 9 years since last set. Smaller piece count, but looks like larger set. Price per piece looks correct for almost a decade later. 7743: Police Command Centre  2008, $45, 534 pieces, $.086 per brick, Thoughts, 5 years since last set. Bigger piece count, get a building also. Price per piece looks great. Looks like this was a really good value for the price. 7288: Mobile Police Unit 2011, $45,404 pieces, $.11 per brick Thoughts, 4 years since last set. Smaller piece count. Large increase in price per brick. While truck/trailer are larger in this set, not as good of value as 7743. Do get more area inside trailer to play with so more play value. More in line with pricing from 7034. 60044: Mobile Police Unit 2014, $45, 37 5, $.12 per brick Thoughts, 3 years since last set. Very closer to 7288 in design. Increase in price per brick. Really missing pricing from 7743. 60139: Mobile Command Center ,2017, $50, 374 pieces, $.134 per brick Thoughts, 3 years since last set. Very close to 60044 in design. Pretty big jump in price per piece. 22% increase in price per brick compared to 7288, 6 years ago (22/6=3.6% increase per year). Not a horrible price increase but wish was a little less. Results were very interesting. Was not aware set 7743 was such a value when it came out. Wonder what was going on with TLG in 2008 that they discounted this set so greatly compared to today. Would appreciate other thoughts on the above and correct anything I got wrong ( all details were from Brickset).

Used the Brickset posted pictures as links. Works so much better, thank you Well.....sometimes I go a little over board on my hobbies. Before I end up with a ton of space sets, was hoping someone could talk some reason into me on narrowing down on one theme. As a example, I have a bunch of used Chima sets (garage sale). They look good, but what am I going to do with a bunch of Chima stuff? You don't think the little green guys are more for AFOL? Looks more grown up to me (kidding, we are all basically playing with kid toys here in the hobby)

I don't feel so bad now, looks like TLG has made several versions of this set over the years. Looks like we have a which is your favorite thing going on, great. Which is yours? I think 7288 gets my vote (bit bias as own this one). 6348: Surveillance Squad 7034: Surveillance Truck 7288: Mobile Police Unit 7743: Police Command Centre 60044: Mobile Police Unit 60139: Mobile Command Center

So sure I am not alone with having an issue like this. I purchased a used Lego set the other day. Thought it was the command center set 7743 (the one with the police security gate with the smaller truck and trailer). When I got home and checked it out, it was actually 7288 (larger truck with a cell in the trailer). I purchased several other sets too from a garage sale and had the kids with me so bit distracted when set was purchased. Anyways, after I realized my mistake, I was trying to figure out if I lost or was ahead on this purchase. IMO and just comparing 7288 vs pictures of 7743, think the kids will like playing with the 7288 better. Not that I am going to try to return 7288 or have plans on getting 7743 (one police command center is plenty for our household), just curious what other AFOL though comparing these two similar sets. Yes I know I need to pay more attention during purchases, but the kids get excited, I get distracted by some space themed sets and well...…...you know you come home with a few "surprise" sets. It is interesting the current command center set, 60139 appears to favor 7288 in size more then 7743.

Does anyone know how to make the link's I posted display the actual images? I have can't keep all the part numbers straight. Visual person. Yes, I have a fairly wide selection of themes in my collection. Just missing some classic space sets. That is where I am struggling a bit. Sure any direction I take this collection will be good, just feel some directions are probable better then others. I considered combing all the themes, but that got kind of messy. I will check out some of the custom moc's you referenced. Maybe I can get some inspiration. What do you think about the little green men from the Mars Mission sets vs the bug mini figs from Galaxy Squad?

Hello, new to the forum. Getting back into Lego. Thinking about having a smaller, 2' by 4' space themed display. Picked up two used older space sets from a garage sale. Would appreciate some advice before I get too far into this. So I got this Mars Mission set 7693 As I built it, I loved it....hated it......loved it again, so on. Really like the alien space ship, looks scary, like how it folds/opens up. Really good spaceship. As for the human vehicle, no so crazy about them. Its the orange wheels I dislike the most. Also have gone back and forth if I like the green alien mini figs. They look good, but can't really do much with them. I got this Galaxy Squad set 70703 This one, I like the human vehicles so much better. Like the blue color, the mini figs, etc. As for the bugs, again a love/hate thing. I really liked the bug when I built it, something very different. Now when I look at it, not as crazy about it. I have it right now on top of one of my Modular buildings like a Godzilla movie. I have done some light internet research into these two themes and they both appear short lived. Would be interested if anyone has built a display as I am considering and what they thought of it. To muddy up the water a bit more, I have a few other space sets (garage sales again) and a birthday presents. Not sure how to pull all this together. These are my other sets.