Reker1000000

Does it bother you that you then have to have unoriginal pieces? That reminds me, I was lucky enough to get an extra 3 large black DB's with the stickersheet of my 7730!

Do you have complete/new grey era 12v sheets? That would probably be a situation where I would buy reproduction stickers. The 7730 I bought had some stickers new on the sheet (tonnage, DB 7730) which I took off and applied to the engine. But for example if I was to buy a 7760 with a new unused stickersheet I would probably purchase a reproduction sheet and save the new one! Although, using a complete new sheet to apply stickers would certainly be an experience. Original 80's parts? Or just original Lego parts? Does the diameter of the tube work for the 12v wheels or do you have to narrow it?

Hello EB, As some of you may know by now I run 12v trains. I know my own guidelines for trainrims and stickers but I'm curious about yours- if you run pre-1990 trains, how do you approach trainrims? Do you purchase knockoff ones (eBay) or buy original ones? Grey or black for grey era trains? And stickers (not limited to pre-1990 train fans)- do you only use original stickers, or do you use reproduction stickers? Do you mix them? Personally, I'm a purist in terms of stickers (I'd rather have no stickers than knockoff ones) but I'm ok with buying knockoff rims since they're way cheaper and I can buy them in high quantities.

If I'm not mistaken, this engine can be made with parts from the 7730? Or almost all parts from 7730? See this video: Maybe I'll try and build it this weekend with parts from my copy of 7730.

DB V3201 seems like it would be an interesting starting point for a locomotive to model in 12v style with the red motor...

Why do these look PERFECT to model in the 12v era with appropriate colors and pieces... maybe it's the 0-6-0 arrangement with the connecting rods that reminds me so much of the 7760/7735 wheels! Actually I think @HoMa has made a MOC similar to this one with a red motor and 12v-era black windows, correct me if I'm wrong.

The points and signals are what makes 12v 12v, in my opinion- and the reason that I got started with it nearly a year ago. They add so much functionality to a layout that hasn't been matched since! And the trains had DB stickers + were actually modeled after real trains of the time. Thanks so much! Thanks as well! It means a lot that y'all enjoyed my video. BrickLink is the place to go! I have purchased nearly all of my sets and parts from there, with the only exceptions being the 7730 (eBay) and 7820 which I also found incomplete on eBay for $40 shipped including instructions, box, and all of the expensive parts (best deal I've found). I'm hoping to continue consistent uploads... Lego12vFan stopped posting years ago (check him out, he's AWESOME) so I want to keep 12v alive on YT while also showcasing my collection and purchases. It's the best! Although you sacrifice simplicity and you need to maintain it, there are automated functions that make it great to use. I'm eventually going to upload a tutorial on how to set up and run 12v in the US (they were only produced in Europe) + videos about the remote controlled accessory sets (7858/9, 7860, 7862, 7866).

Of course! What else would be true to the 12v era while also getting that nice look? It'll be a bit expensive... but I'll do it eventually, keep 12v alive!

Found images of a BR 65 and I'd love to make a MOC of it at some point. Davide, don't make it before me!

Hello LEGO Train fans, I have a YouTube channel that I started uploading on recently and wanted to share my newest video with you all. It's a small 12v layout I set up on my train table with 7730 and 7820 (+ accessories). Check it out! And if you're interested, take a look at my other videos. -Reker1000000-

Hi EB train fans, I was browsing Google for German steam locomotives, maybe to think about inspiration for 12v steam engine MOCs at some point in the future (got a lot on my bucket list including a 7750, so maybe not for a while). But I found this image of a BR80: https://www.google.com/search?q=german+steam+engines+db&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj_oq-fqbnzAhXlgnIEHSpTBZwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=german+steam+engines+db&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECAAQHlDbJ1ixKmC7K2gAcAB4AIABWogB0AGSAQEzmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=IHFfYf-SFeWFytMPqqaV4Ak&bih=947&biw=1920&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS909US909#imgrc=7N85nt6MPQQ3yM Looks a lot like the 7730. Anyone else see that? Large blocks in the sides (where the weights are on the 7730), same 0-6-0 wheel configuration, pistons, and especially the tonnage and ladders in the back. I'd be willing to bet that this was the inspiration for TLG creating the 7730 loc. Anyways, just thought it was interesting and wanted to share it with you all! Keep 12v alive. -Reker1000000

I love this! Keep 12v alive. I may try to build this at some point... Davide, your MOC's are amazing! I especially love your large steam engines.

Very nice remodel but I personally prefer the original 12v engine.

Hopefully this helps

Thanks so much Zephyr! I always enjoy seeing the grey era trains nowadays.

Hello EB train community, I have been building LEGOS from a very early age (I think I got my first set around age 4-5), and when I got a little older I saw the trains for sale in the catalogs. My first one was the 7938 passenger train, followed by the 3677, then soon after I got the 10219 (boy am I glad I picked that one up, given the price nowadays) and the 7898. I also got a lot of extra track, all from the RC/PF era. Sadly I missed the end of the 9v era so I didn't have any experience with the trains from the 1990s. I remember at the end of this period I was looking a little bit into getting one of the 12v trains, but I think I wouldn't have known how to set it up in the US given that I didn't do any research about it, I just liked the appearance of the trains (namely 7740). Again, this was when I didn't have any knowledge of how to set these old trains up. Enter my Dark Ages in terms of trains- I was still building Technic for a while. I don't really view them as "Dark", I simply had other interests including MTG and D&D, which I still have. Only recently, during quarantine, I wanted to something productive- so I began to reconstruct some of my old lego sets, given that many of them were scattered among my vortex of parts. Throughout several weeks I rebuilt all of my early sets (listed above) and also 7936 and 7937. I wanted to expand my collection, but most of the new trains weren't that appealing to me. I don't know how I came to this conclusion, but I wanted to get into one of the older systems of trains- and I remembered the 7740 that I had looked at many years ago. Now, I had the knowledge and perseverance to do research properly. After weeks of research I finally placed a couple of international orders for a complete 7745, a transformer, and extra straight and curved rails and a cross. Weeks of eager waiting went by, and unfortunately my 7745 arrived incomplete, which was resolved eventually. I did some experiments to get the correct voltage and while waiting for my transformer I was able to power the train with 2 9v battery packs to test it. Well anyways, later I finally got the transformer and extra track plus the missing parts for the 7745 (including the connector rail) so I could run the train with the proper transformer. I use a voltage converter to convert NA outlets into the EU outlets for the 12v transformer. Next on my list were the sets that made the 12v system so great- 2 points and 2 signals. I got those in time for Christmas in addition to a complete boxed 7865 and some of the parts for a 7760, so I made an excuse for a 7760 (incorrect parts, I didn't order the weights, windows, correct roof, and correct doors plus other parts) with my extra motor. Currently I'm in the process of completing the 7760 and then BrickLinking together a 7750 (yes, I know how much it costs and how rare some parts are). I have a 7866 and 7867 plus some of the semi-rare parts for the 7750 in the mail. Long-term I'm planning to get the 7740, but I want to get a very nice version including box, all stickers, and nice parts so I'm waiting on that for a while. So, I still have all of my PF/RC trains, but am putting my effort into the 12v system for now. I signed up for a EB account because I wanted to see if people had information- lo and behold, I was not disappointed. I'm always searching for new information about these wonderful trains. -Reker1000000-

I for one am definitely more interested in the old 12v system prototypes, they look stunning- it's a shame they didn't continue the era, although the factors that caused them to change were definitely understandable. The Metroliner is also a wonderful train, it's interesting to read about the new pieces that heralded the change from 12v to 9v back in 1990(ish). Given that I currently only have a 7745 and am working on a 7750 the red motors in the steam engines make me drool!

Wow... incredible level of detail on the train. Soooo many plates and tiles make up the lines on the train and you captured them quite well!

This is AMAZING. Looks so clean and just so smart how you were able to fit the electronics in the cars, at first glance I thought it didn't look like there could be electronics in it.

What a nice build, I love how you integrated the monorail pieces cleanly into the base of the train. The monorail supplies are expensive now, hold onto them! I love the detailing and the drive in the front car that bumps the reindeer up.

What a coincidence... I'm rebuilding my 8404 set to add some buildings to my layouts and am currently on the tram! Nice work, looks cool!

I love the detailing and the stories behind the models!

Oh cool! Very nice clean integration. And I like the other service car- I ordered some of the parts for a 7760 for the holidays so I may try to do this too. Not the windows or weights, though, as those are expensive. So I'm going to sub those pieces, and also I don't have any stickers so I'm making the cabin mostly black because I bought 2 7722 doors with stickers.

XD I love the people/scene! And that railcar looks very era-appropriate. Can you post some pictures of the power mechanism and the motor location? I'm unclear as to where that is.

I love the detailing on the train. I am actually starting the project of putting my 5972 back together... but that's small fry compared to this!