Ropefish

Yea i think i might end up doing something like that, at least when i get around to stage 2, once i have most of the switches for stage 1 there is enough extra track ( A and B curves from brick tracks ) to make extra turns to.

I do think I might end up running one of the outer loops with the Fx Track. Doing the whole layout in powered track like that would take a much longer time! but starting small is always the plan. Not to mention if i can even get my hands on them they sell like hot cakes haha! One of the bigger problems to is modifying a Steam Locomotives to run off the them as its hard to fit in the 9v truck.... Either i'd have to wait for special truck pickups for them ala what Lionel does or make some custom stuff. It'd actually be neat if someone made a third rail track like O scale that you could just put on regular plastic track to. But im sure there are a number of DIY solutions. Currently my plan for steam locomotives is to just run LiPo wich solves some problems.... Ive seen a few solutions using pickups and the lipo i might have to look into later down the line as it'd be neat to allow a locomotive to run on either track type but that'd take a lot of work. More or less this, when the layout gets to this final "event" size the orignal loop around the yard will be for yard operations, being a main line that just connects to the Arrival/Departure track.... One of the long term goals is defo to motorize and automate but it seems that will be a little ways away seeing events that took place with 4Dbrix ( Some really cool software based off the other scale model railroad layouts ). I know their models/software is DIY but ive never been to good with Arduino stuff, I suppose there is always time to learn specifically if ill have to make special pickups.

Oh yea this is very much built with expansion in mind, I actually have a mock up of an extended "Event" setup here and it includes better double tracks I used to build really small G scale layouts with my grandad, We didn't have much but it was fun these layouts are based around stuff we thought up and is actually why i have the BB Trainshed, its one of the few buildings we had on the floor layout we would set up but of course not Lego ( styren and balsa wood ), it also is very European in design but i love it all the same. Also that turn table needs to run on R56 curves to make the table length seven track segments long or the AC-9 won't fit! that will be a project for very different day though... This is correct! its a shunting/Lead track for the switcher/shunter. this design allows me to better compact that layout otherwise that line gets /very long/ if need be i might have it loop down and around the turntable area if i ever do really long trains. Of course i made the arrival/departure lines close the classification lines in order to expand them length wise if need be. Quick Edit: Forgot to add the important caboose track to this layout! how could i forget? its being left out of the "Stage 2" for now, also now with labels.

Oh man i really like your work, they really feel like they could be /actual/ Lego sets but are still a bit more detailed. Really doing a fantastic job hitting that fine line! The only thing i could suggest is fixing the piston casings to the body then adding a toggle joint on a thin lift arm but those can sometimes be pricey.

So far just some pieces of single straight track hahah. The final is like 500+ something USD roughly so thats a long term goal for sure. On the loop this is mostly intended to just be showing off a railyard but its left open ended to expand if i need/want to. Its more based off realistic layouts in which there would only be a single main line, But i got some ideas on making it more "Show-y" eventually ( especially if i ever get the chance to go to a convention or work on a layout with a club ). The best part is being lego its very easy to disassemble and make entirely new layouts with to. This to is my dream layout and i don't know if ill get there or not but thats why i've split it into stages so maybe one day here. Edit: Oh i do already have the train shed but its technically not official , from the guys in Germany who are blue and like bricks.

Oh yea and i have like three different versions with varying structure designs as fitting in the L motor accompanied by the tapering boiler is very tricky... Also don't mind the artifact ghosts in the renders :eyes: don't get me started on using the rigid hose in Studio

Bit of an update on my "Final Stage" build, its been vastly improved and if I ever get the time, money and resources it will be a long term layout project and hopefully one Ill bring to a convention at some point. Its primary goal is to show off rail-yard operations and can support Two locomotives running ( though ill need to set up some automation on the passing loop and for the arrival/departure lines, otherwise a second locomotive will just sit there in the passing loop)

i have some final renders i wanted to share, These include a few small tweaks as well. And yes I do plan to sell my liver to build it a display stand.

Made i into a Cow/Calf config, With this I can run up to /three/ motors in 1:1 or Three(Possibly just two gotta move that battery box around a bit) in 1.6:1 ( i think that's close to what the gearing is anyways ) and the "cow" half can still run without the calf. in Cow/Calf config I also don't have to sacrifice the cab interior. Again though I left this configurable as some might not like a train that never technically had this configuration IRL but I really do like this as a "what if" locomotive.

Im actually running this idea to make up something, Adding a Calf switcher and turning it into a Cow/Calf switcher but based of the well the above hah. it should be a simple affair but not something that'd exists in real life... more of a "what if" i suppose. I am able to fit the larger 12T gears in but it takes some fiddling I'm sure. Probably wouldn't have consider new possibilities if not for you pointing things out!

I very well could but this then brings up the issue of needing to run it with a powered up/power functions battery box... It can be done but then you have a box car permanently attached to the switcher and i just hate that aesthetic! Ive seen the cubes run in the 1:1 ratio and i think I'd be fine with it running on a switcher but i have a few designs im working out still, I have a disconnected with doing gearing digitally as I can't really 'feel' the function of it. The current design I have has two cube motors however and I'll test that when i get around to making this physically.. .and if it doesn't work out i can always use them for something else. Working on smaller engines like this really does press hard on design choices though, lots of compromises to be made.

This design is based off of tony Sava's GE 70 Ton but with modifications to the overall structure of the frame and added interior, Its color scheme is based of the SP #5100 and i think it came out pretty good however the windows do not come in dark bluish grey so ill have to paint or find 3rd party versions. ( the render rendered four black blocks that aren't in the studio model, no idea why. ) The design was made with circuit cubes in mind, however i have to remove some cab detail in order to fit in the battery box... im also fiddling around to try and get to motors inside. Otherwise im very happy with this model and it will also be built physically to pair with my AC-9

Man building with R104 with a small room in mind is tough, But i now have a small personal layout planned with some possible larger scale plans.... I've included most of what I'd want thought I'm not all to good at just coming up with something from nothing resulting in the main line being just kinda plain on my "preferred final setup" but the entire thing is built with expand-ability in mind ( just not my wallet. ) This is what i call the "starter loop" it was a tad more complex before but those switches do put a dent in cost! Simply includes a basic loop main line, very simple rail yard that connects to a engine shed ( The two large tan 'blocks'), RIP/Service track ( Shorter tan 'block' though the RIP/Service tracks should be separate but this saves space), and a very out of place classification line This is a more fleshed out version of the starter, it now includes defined classification tracks, Arrival/Departure track and a yard lead making the layout actually function as a rail yard, albeit a simple one. This is my main goal as a display piece I can easily tear down and set up. This final version is sort of a large goal post I might not reach due to price in switches alone... There are now two arrival and departure tracks, The classification tracks are now separated via a thoroughfare with classification track #4 being connected on its end allowing cars to be pulled into the industry line ( it kinda just goes off on one end as i haven't really decided what ill do with it but i know ill have coal and flatcars so something with that ) the thoroughfare also now connects to the RIP/Service Line with an offshoot for Caboose track and some form of locomotive storage ( preferably I'd have a turntable there, with a larger shed of some sort. ) This Railyard layout would leave me enough room to run at least two to three trains and the switcher while also lending the ability to expand the classification lines and arrival/departure lines. However I realistically have now real space to put this anywhere and would need to relegate this to some form of club if i was close to one ;p

Absolutely hate it lol, and it really messes up the look of the whole locomotive! And as it turns out ( spending an hour fighting with the parts designer and a .obj file of the R104 ) I'm 900% confident it will run on 104. However i do not think my current gearing design will fully work out of the box just cause there is no way to really test it in Studio.

beautiful locomotive, can't imagine the dent the dark red did to the wallet but it was well worth it, id love to see how you did the side windows but i think i have a inkling on that! have you thought of fitting a small electric motor under the 'fan' to have it spin? Regardless this is a fantastic build, don't think that i didn't notice the antenna bending there either ;D

How hard would it be to replace the thin plastic with thin aluminum?

Oh man that's a really creative and simple use of the slopes. great work dude.

Oh yea, i plan to build a few i think.... maybe one per year or two on these large locomotives. But it should be easy enough to make other SP locomotives with the pallete from the AC-9. I think my major problem will be if i ever end up at a con ( wich i have never been but man it would be cool ) this thing will never run on R40 as its design principle is fully made to run on R104 or wider ( R104 might still be to tight ). I could modify it but boy i hate how big locomotives look going on R40 curves, really breaks up the look of them for me.

man i love that circuit cube allows really fun builds like this, smart idea to use tank controls for the driving wheels to. Very fantastic build you got.

I've given it some thought, although there have been a few versions of it already. I don't think id mind tackling one in the future if the wallet allows as making big locomotives like this is a chunk of change... i do have more forward plans to make the SP MT-4 and a Diesel SP switcher from the time period. Probably will make the switcher sooner then the others though, Much easier to make and much cheaper with its parts, but it is still a nice piece to go along with the bigger locomotives. Edit: forgot to mention as well had some very early wip plans to streamline this model further to make it look like the Daylight, but that probably will be another project in itself.

Well I've gotten to what I'm calling version 2.6.5 of the locomotive now, there are still small things that bother me but come down to compromises that comes from building in lego ( Cylinders a tad oversized, front boiler plate is a bit off looking due to round plate used, and whether or not the fore drivers will be powered...) But im very happy that i went ahead and redesigned the entire articulated drivers but i can already see sections ill be tweaking haha! First batch of parts are coming in SoonTM so it will be nice to get my hands dirty on all its problems IRL. I have a few renders to show to, And a secondary color for the boiler front and ash pans.

I made them myself based off comparing sizes to XL Shupp drivers to the normal lego drivers

Are there any plans to make it so a train can run both PF/PU and 9V off a pick up? As tall an order as that is, it would be wonderful to have.

Oh man that sloping on the front is to die for! the overall shaping of the front is just fantastic!

a small update, the orignal drive train was bothering me with how exposed the motors were so i redid the whole thing, it allowed me to give it a more robust suspension and now i can use the LL #10 Drivers (63' ), this allowed me to adjust things for better accuracy as well, and i figured out a way to run both drives off one motor though im unsure if it will really work till i test it IRL ( if it doesn't removing it wont effect the designs connection ), In all reality I should sacrifice accuracy for default Lego curves but watching articulated trains on those bothers me to no end.... However I now have a smaller problem, due to the offsetting of connections for the LL Drivers/Wheels means ill need to find a way to get some custom drive rods to compensate for said offset ( addendum, I can't get zephyr's drive rods to import into Studio without them showing up as invisible but the Valve rods go in fine )