Reker1000000

I have been following your videos on YT- stunning layout, collection, and variety of MOCs! I quite like the 7740 redesigned engine as well. 7750 + Hogwarts Express is a unique combination that goes together nicely, well done!

Thank you for alerting me about the pictures, I have updated the video description to reflect the mistake. Yes, you can find some information on Brickset, here I just do a short description of the set with my opinion and the average used price. I haven't included the 4.5v and push trains (except 7810- that was in Part 5) for these videos since most people probably are starting with nothing and if that's the case usually it's more cost-effective to just get a 12v train set and transformer. Although, I did explain upgrading push/4.5v sets when I talked about 7865 in one of the earlier parts of the series.

Thank you so much for the kind comment! I do my best to explain everything as completely as possible, because I know that I definitely would have appreciated that when I was starting with 12v. The 6th and final part is out now, about general purchasing strategies and approaches. Just my purely subjective take- don't take what I say as fact! I'll be switching to some layout videos and reviews starting with my next upload, which will be about the 6th 12v layout. I will create a new thread on EB when it's out.

Well said! As you mentioned, I believe 7862 uses this concept because you can decouple wagons other than the one directly behind the locomotive.

Yes! Always more 12v content... Thank YOU! I am so glad to know my work is helping people. Good luck on your 12v journey! If you have any questions you are welcome to contact me through Eurobricks or comment on one of my videos and I will answer to the best of my ability. Part 5 of the series is out now, similar to parts 2 and 4 but this time about the supplemental wagons available. As always, I've directly linked it here. I think I will do a final part about general purchasing strategies.

I suppose so- the control gauges sticker is the largest assembly in the set! And NOOOOO... Do you have plans to repair the red motor? In fact, I also have a red motor that is broken, I am going to repair that at some point and will definitely make a YT video and post information here when I do so.

Glad to hear you are appreciating the videos! I completely agree with your statement, although 12v's remote control capabilities make it pretty objectively the most realistic system Lego has produced, unfortunately many people don't know about 12v trains. Part 4 of the series, about which supplemental trackside accessories to buy, is now out and directly linked below. Also, I just thought I should say that this is my 100th post so I am now a Eurobricks Citizen. On to 1000 posts!

Update on this for anyone who is also looking for a solution I got the set, thankfully it is complete and in nice condition. I did a bit of experimenting and it turns out you can't put the weights over the motor by replacing the plate as said earlier in this thread, because the control gauge stickered assembly means that you can't disassemble/replace the 2x8 black bricks. Dang, 7810 really does have a LOT of stickered assemblies for such a small set. However, I figured out that you can disassemble the top of the locomotive (keeping the stickered assemblies intact), then put the weights in the cabin/over the motor. You lose space in the cabin, but the minifigure can still be put on the back stud of the cabin over the black 1x6 plate. One problem that comes from this solution is the fact that the locomotive is then a little back-heavy, and acclerating fast or even just going too fast around curves will cause it to derail. I think there may be a better solution, but it would require replacing a few bricks- the advantage of putting the weights in the cabin is that you don't actually have to replace anything since the weights just fit in and then the loc is built back up. For more information, see about 4:43 in this video:

Yeah, I thought that was how it worked as well before I actually got my hands on the set.

Of course- it's a very niche set and has very limited functionality outside of the 12v system. But, one could draw on the mechanism of 7862 to make their own decoupling unit!

Awesome! Be sure to post about your layout when it's set up, I am sure we will enjoy it Thanks! I was born long after the Grey Era as well, but some pictures online were all it took to get me hooked. I really like the 9v system as well (definitely better than RC/PF/PuP in my opinion), it has some very nice trains such as the Metroliner, but as I already have 12v stuff it would be fairly expensive to enter the 9v world at this point since I'd need to get a transformer and extra track in addition to a train set. I'm always scanning eBay though! Maybe one day I'll get a good deal.

I have been summoned... glad to know I'm regarded as a 12v maniac/expert now! The rotor in the 7862 Remote-Controlled Decoupling when activated raises a bit and it interferes with the wheel blocks- the 2 prongs on the rotor prevent a wheel block from moving over it. At the same time, they also guide the pins on the coupling parts into position to decouple smoothly. For it to cleanly decouple it's vital that you are using new rubber rims on the motor, since they provide traction and the motor can then successfully pull away from the rest of the wagons. See about 5:20 in this video for an explanation, and there are some clips of the decoupler in action at the end:

Anyone else notice that the steam locomotive 4th from the left on the top row of 12v prototypes seems to have larger wheels with rims? Maybe they experimented with a larger motor...

Thank you! Taking a short break for a review of the 7810 and then I will be back on track (pun intended) with the rest of the series, right now it's looking like it will be 5 parts. Plus layout 6 will be soon...

Thank you so much It means a lot to me that you are getting something out of what I'm posting! 3rd part is out now, about setting up your first 12v layout. The next part will be about what supplemental sets to purchase after you've gotten your first layout up and running. I owe a lot of my entry into the 12v world to Lego12vFan, and now I'm trying to do my part for others by making the 12v system more accessible

Regarding the 12v prototypes, has anynoe tried to reverse-engineer them based on the pictures? I have a broken red motor and if I can repair it, I'd love to build one of them with the extra motor.

Part 2 is out now! I'm working on part 3, which will be about setting up your first 12v layout.

Hello all, I'm starting a series on YouTube about how to enter the wonderful electric world of 12v Lego trains, and I thought I'd share it here for those of you who may have heard of this line but never learned much. In my opinion, this is the Golden Age of Lego trains and something that won't return in the foreseeable future- the remotely operated points, signals, plus other accessories and the train designs are uniquely fantastic. It's pretty inaccessable to those of us in the United States, and I know I would have really appreciated a guide when I started my journey nearly 2 years ago- so I'm trying to provide a comprehensive starter guide if you are just getting into 12v trains. This is one of the only videos out there to serve this purpose. The first part is already published and is about the different core components of a layout- and, it includes a section regarding voltage converters (aka "step up and down transformers") for those of us in the US, because we need to create European outlets to plug the 12v transformer into. I'm editing the second part right now, which will be an overview of the 9 train sets and which to purchase if you have no prior experience/knowledge, and I will reply to this post with the second part when it's published. I hope you all enjoy, and learn something new if you're just starting 12v! -Reker1000000

Way too expensive even for me... my entire collection is probably a bit over 1/4 of the listed price. One day, maybe. Definitely. Although if I'm being completely honest, I think if I was able to find a MISB train set for a very good price I'd probably open it on YT for the views. But if I bought something for closer to market price, I probably wouldn't open it for that exact reason- sure, it's a great experience, but it's also a very expensive experience. I absolutely agree with your statement on value. My dad says that true value is what a willing buyer and a willing seller trade, so yeah, probably it won't be sold for a whopping $10,000. Current BrickEconomy estimates set the price of a sealed set at around $4,500 (although that may not be accurate given its extreme rarity). I will definitely be checking the price guide, if the seller lowers the price to sell then we should be able to see what it was sold for. Also I am no stranger to that image... I have spent far too much time on your Flickr page staring at images of that specific set! I linked your album in my review of the 7750 which is on YT. Even with the 1 polybag torn, paying anything under $1000 for a near-MISB 7750 is absurd, I hope one day I am able to score such a deal. Keep 12v alive... the older these sets get, the rarer they get, and the less people know about them. For me, 12v will always be the golden age of Lego trains (yeah, I wasn't alive at the time, but oh well). In fact we had to write a research paper recently for my History class and my teacher let me write it about 12v trains, of course I was already an expert in this topic XD

Well, it finally happened... I never saw one for sale until now, but on BrickLink there is a seller with a MISB 7750 listed for 9,000 euros (about $9,500). Just posting this here because I thought it might interest some of the other 12v fans out there! This is a very very rare occurrance. Edit: Also realized there's a sealed 7755 (different seller) which went up for sale since yesterday as well...

Indeed! Although the trains I first had when I was young(er) were the 7938 and 3677... it's like I went back in time Also, I made a video with some extra clips of the layout, and a "behind the scenes" video- I'll link them here for any who are interested.

Ah, I think I see what you mean from looking at a copy of the instructions online. Thank you!

Has anyone figured out how to integrate the 2x6x2 black weight bricks into 7810 (with 12v motor installed)- and this is the important part- without altering the original stickered assemblies and without removing the stickers? I ordered the set but don't have it yet, and am planning to put 7865 into it once it arrives.

Thank you! Yeah, the Grey Era steam engines are something else, especially the larger ones in the 12v sets. Yes! I have a lot of appreciation for that set in particular- it has a ridiculous amount of very rare parts, is quite difficult to find in good condition + with box, and is widely regarded as one of the most expensive and prestigious sets from the Grey Era. (although the other standalone engines- 7755 and 7760- are expensive if they have the box, and 7727 is very hard to find with the box in good condition) Plus, it's uniquely the only large steam engine in the Grey Era and the design is nice. My copy of the set truly is the jewel of my collection- maybe the 7730 with box + trays + traylid and resting sticker sheet is rarer though I did do a review on the 7750, it's on my YouTube channel if you want to check it out!

Thank you! Thank you! Yes, I still believe 12v will always be the Golden Age of Lego trains. All cables are original Lego- if you can believe it, each accessory only has a standard 190-stud long cable which were all originally included in the sets! I have a few extra cables but didn't end up having to use them. I placed the remotes so that the ones farthest to the left activated the accessories farthest from the control panel- for example, the last remote on the panel activates the point for 7730's siding which is in the back left corner of the layout. Since the train table is 4x8, I don't often need to use the extra cables since the original cables can reach most places on the table from the control panel. Also, for those of you that are following my channel, I ordered a used copy of 7810 from Denmark which just shipped. It was advertised as "probably complete" but from the pictures I believe it only has 1 common plate which was replaced (I can switch it back easily), and it does include all of the stickers + instructions. $70 including shipping so that was a steal! If you know about 12v, you know about the legendary black windows. 7810 has 4 of the 1x2x2 windows, about $10 each. I plan to install my copy of 7865 in this set for a third 12v steam engine. I'll be reviewing the 7810 once it arrives, and Layout 6 will surely feature it.