SteamSewnEmpire

Superb. It looks maybe a plate too low to me, but I am absurd about these things. They ate one of my favorite railroads. I don't like UP.

This is the best photo I can find (and I only just found it). I now believe the final photo posted is the closest (so high frame, high body):

I am still going back and forth on it. This is with a higher frame (so the wheels are lower proportional to the lcomotive), and a lower (original) body. The reason I keep flip-flopping is because, proportionally, these engines have this really funky look to them, where the frames and wheels really do seem outsized to the final thing: IN FACT, I'm not even certain if this isn't the correct proportions (high frame, high body): Logically, measurements tell me that the top photo in this post is correct. But when I watch videos, my heart says that ^ this one is actually correct.

Nice angling on the windows. Is the frame 8w?

I'll see if I can cram one in somehow. It'd likely end up inside the fuel tank. ---- Here is the model with the upper body raised 1 plate. Is this an improvement? Should the body have stayed the same and the frame been raised instead? My gut tells me this is good now, but I really appreciate other eyes.

Why? Are the PF medium motors better? What is an SBrick? NM, I looked. That's really pricey. Also, the windows were an aesthetic compromise - I like those older round windows, but in order to get the roof's shape, they were going to need to be lower than on the real thing. I'm actually going to be raising the entire red section by one plate today, because I believe the loco still looks a bit too low compared to the prototype. I'll take a look at mounting an IR receiver somewhere.

The battery box is in the center. It has 1x8 tile cladding on either side.

I always loved these locomotives - those big trucks make them look like switchers shuffling around the family room in dad's shoes. It's only 900 pieces, and powered by two of the medium motors (so not a huge lugger. The again, they're only 1,000 hp units IRL. Which is why CP used to string like 5 of them together for one freight). I would add railing when building utilizing the hand and tube method.

It helped a lot. Does that mean that https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/simple-medium-linear-motor-45303 won't work with that HUB? If so, I'm sunk. Thanks to everyone else, too.

I actually have a couple of questions here: first, I guess the above is a battery box, but based on the video I saw, it apparently doubles as an IR receiver? What part is it? Is it sold by itself, or in a kit? Second, is there a Powered Up splitter available (either from Lego or otherwise)? I can fit one battery box into the diesel I am working on, but not two... and I would really like to have working lights as well. Thank you for any help.

It's based on this, which is itself some Aristo-craft designer's RS3 whimsy:

I tried and tried to get the PU pack inside the locomotive, but I just don't think a fit is possible, so a slug was necessary. Not my finest hour.

Eh. That's too big to be practical - especially on a product that would theoretically have decent appear for a younger crowd. IMO, 8w is that absolute maximum for a successful Thomas submission.

I wonder if there's a way to accomplish the more contoured features found later models in this line at this scale? Like the Cletrac HG-42 Crawler? Not sure how you'd get that rounded front in 2 wide, but it would look cool as hell.

Yes, the front piece is only in black, plus the original grey and original light grey. I think, were I to build it, I would utilize stickers on the side of that part. The good news is, the whole thing is exactly 100 pieces, so it's not a big financial stretch. I am considering doing a slightly more elaborate diesel tomorrow.

Not a whole lot to see here. I was bored.

I like it. Not so wild about the A) unusable seat, and B) color scheme, though.

Yeah, I don't believe this is years out - more like a summer or winter release. Stuff is probably pretty set in stone at this juncture.

I guess that's... better?

You're right - the middle part is definitely 7 wide.

The real thing has powered middle drivers, though. It's a nifty toy, but not really accurate. I continue to be really disappointed with Lego's train design. Even their efforts clearly intended for AFOLs fall far, far behind those over MOCers. This isn't necessarily true for other themes, but it's certainly the case with railroading.

Hmm. For some reason, I had convinced myself that this was going to be 8w. Now I'm starting to think it will be a pass. That MOC is about a thousand times better.

In addition to the obvious cool factor of the water, the faded sails are a really nice touch. I feel like with so much water, though, there should be something happening out there - a whale broaching, or a few sailors clinging to wreckage, or something. Not ludicrously cluttered, or anything - just a few visual cues to balance the chaos of the model.

Assembling this model has made me realize something: I HATE building Lego. I like designing it; I live having it... I like showing it off. But I DESPISE building it.

I wish they'd do something like this with a U.S. engine... or a steam locomotive of any nationality. Still, beggars, choosers, etc. I'll buy one.