Nikonissen

Background/Context I love Danish rubber nose trains. Especially the IC3 train. And I would like to warn you already now, this is a long post, maybe even boring if you don't have any interest or relation in Scandinavian (Danish) passenger trains... By Mef.ellingen - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=168666516 Growing up in a Danish province city with non-electrified train lines, these 3-car DMUs were (and still are) a common sight. They were designed in the mid/late 80's in cooperation between the Danish State Railway (DSB) and the Train manufacturer Scandia (Later ABB Scandia, later Adtranz, and later acquired by BOMBARDIER Transportation). But the term "IC3" only covers the first rubber nose trains. There are 3 other types which were further iterations based on the IC3 train. Scandia referred to them as "Flexliner trains" The patented Flexliner technology consists of the rubber diaphragm surrounding the cab, which is placed in the middle. The whole cab can be folded away when multiple trains are coupled together, creating a wide passage for passengers. Pictures here: Isn't that just really cool? But what makes my post relevant in the LEGO® train forum? The answer is simple: It may be the most MOC'ed train in Denmark. There are so many different interpretations on Brickshelf, flickr and the Danish RLUG forum "Byggepladen" from different AFOLs. The first IC3 MOCs I've been able to find, are from 2004! IC3 model found on Brickshelf - unknown builder IC3 model built by Knud Thomsen in 2006 My early version(s) My own first iteration dates back to 2015, though I only have good pictures of my version from 2017: In the background you see a model of the IR4 EMU - The second generation in the rubber nose family. These trains were made with bricks I had in my room, collected from different LEGO sets over the years, combined with parts from Pick a Brick in LEGO Stores and in LEGOLAND Billund. As I got to know the Bricklink Studio software, I was suddenly not limited by the bricks I had in my room anymore, and I started experimenting more. In the end of 2019, I built the Danish/Swedish Øresund train digitally. The prototype also known as the "Bombardier Contessa" train, was another younger cousin of the IC3 train. Still in the Flexliner family. I bought the parts through BrickLink, and in March 2020, when I was 17 years old and the first Brick Train Awards was hosted, I submitted my model in the TFOL category, and actually won in Europe! Brick Train Awards 2020 - European Regional Winners This model was of course, inspired by a 7 wide IC3 model built by the legendary train builder Dennis Tomsen back in 2017 (Don't let the year on the render fool you): Going 8 studs wide So where does one go from here? I had now been tweaking on my 6 stud wide IC3 and IR4 trains, and they looked pretty good now. I now also had a 7 brick wide Oresund train that I was quite satisfied with, and I knew that I would not be able to make a better 7 stud wide IC3 model than Dennis Tomsen. So the most natural next step was of course to up it another notch and go 8 studs wide! Aaaand then Dennis beat me to it: Though there were two thing about this design that still bothered me: 1. The livery of the train, is the original 1989 livery, which was changed in the start of the 2000's. I don't personally have any memories of this livery, so it would make sense that I did it in the new modern livery instead of the old one 2. Going 8 studs wide, changes a lot of the proportions and possibilities for making a more rubber-like front (Or should I say nose at this point?) And I just did not think that it was quite there yet. So here I began my quest, to create the perfect (Or at least as close as possible to it) Flexliner front. One very important thing about my general design process, is that I don't do scale measurements or use technical drawings of the real prototype. I've always built trains by simply looking at them, noting details, counting windows and finding LEGO parts that could represent key details, and go from there and onward. I started to look at countless other Flexliner MOCs in 6 and 7 studs wide on the internet to find inspiration, and see if some of the solutions could also work in 8 studs. MOC of the Spanish version "Renfe 594" by MTorralbo which was 7 studs wide And I tried converting it to 8 studs wide... (November 2021) But unfortunately I did not think that it looked that good enough in this interpretation, and it also kinda became disproportionately tall. The rubber edge was too thin. You can also probably also tell that I reused a lot of the design elements from my Oresund train MOC. I then saw 6 stud wide Oresund train MOC by Danish Esben Kolind that was built back in 2010, but liked the way the cheese slopes made up the rubber front: Maybe I just did not implement it right, but it still wasn't there. Though, as you can see here, this time the train body is a mix between Tomsen's 7 wide and 8 wide IC3 design. Proportions are still a bit off, too tall in my opinion. July 2022 I thought that I had stranded at this point, and did not think that I'd be able to come up with a new design, until TLG released this corner slope in black in 2022: Suddenly, I had the missing link, the piece that would make the corners look rounder and more rubber-like! I started experimenting in Studio, this time again adjusting the design of the body. And now it's kinda starting to look like something (July 2022) Compared to the prototype: I was definitely getting closer now... Though, I did not like the roof shaping and went back. And then there's also the detail that the front was not posibble to build, as the black 1x1 curved slope beneath the 1x4 curved slope on the sides of the rubber front, does not exist in real life. Once again left unresolved, I had to let the project lay still, until the LEGO gods once again heard my prayers and blessed me with another new black corner slope the following year. The same curvature as before, but now only 1x1 instead of 2x2: Back in Studio again, the front slowly started falling into place (July 2023) As I though that it wasn't too bad, I ordered a bunch of different slopes and corners, with the intention of experimenting and getting an idea of how it looks IRL. This mockup is from June 2025: Now we're getting somewhere! So I converted my 6 wide IC3 train to an 8 wide, by supplementing the missing pieces, and by July, I had a full working model. I also took it along to my LEGO Train Club Togklodsen's Train Show at the Danish Railway Museum in November 2025: There were still some minor things missing about this model: A coupling, A plow, I was not 100% satisfied with the look of the headlights, and the DSB logo on the front was a little too big. But it's able to take fairly tight turns (R56 is no issue) and it's surprisingly light. The train is powered by just one Power Functions train motor and train battery pack. I ended up, with Dennis Tomsen's IC3 model being the base for the body of my model, though I increased the height by a plate and made other minor design deviations from his. Here's what it looks like digitally: And as one would naturally do, when a project succeeds, I built another version thgt's very similar: The 4 car EMU "DSB IR4" I've also built this one physically. Though the bogies ended up looking different (and better, I'd say) than on my digital model. So what's next? The physical models still lack plows. I'd also like to find a solution for creating a close coupling to I can drive with both sets as one long multiple unit without an air gap between the trains, similar to how it looks in real life. By Leif Jørgensen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116475248 Also, as The LEGO Group keeps doing new moulds, I will not exclude an updated front. Now that they are also doing inverted corner cheese slopes, and curved studs that are 1 plate shallower than the old type, it could open up for even more possibilities. And then there's also the face that I'd like to revisit the Oresund Train and build an 8 studs wide version. The current prototype still has some way to go... Thenk you for reading along! This won't be my last post on this topic, I hope that you found the design process and inspiration interesting :)) //Nikolai

Love this project! Voted for it at BDP as well, and would also encourage you to send it in to IDEAS if it doesn't go through.

I love this building style, where you build a fictional engine, but try to make it fit into a specific design language or blend in with the rest of a real train fleet. I can see how your brown loco fits in with the same family as the SJ locos DM, DA, MA and RC - I would love to do more of these kinds of models as well The same with the light grey locomotives, capturing elements from the LEGO Factory train alternative model but also modern Traxx/Taurus/Vectron like trains. Hope to see the trains at a Scandinavian LEGO exhibition one day :))

Seeing this now for the first time, just WOW! I was not able to make my Talgo go through R40 curves without derailing, so it's really impressive that you managed to do that! You are probably right about this being a quite hard project to start out on, but hey! You followed through on it! :D So cool with the development of the Rodal-system for the 1-axled bogies, you improving design and having it drive for real. I hope to see it live at a LEGO exhibition one day :))

I just wanted to mention that we use the word "Litra" in Danish train naming the same way as the germans use "Baureihe" before the number. So you have the "DB BR 120" where we would say "DSB Litra EA" instead: Operator, notation and then the number/letter of the loco. Another cool thing is that the DB BR 120 was a big inspiration in the design process for the real DSB Litra EA.

Supported your model last week. I really love your interpretation of this iconic steam engine. I will not be surprised if you reach 10K club 😄 Though, unfortunately, it seems to have gotten easier and easier over the years resulting in many 10K builds to become rejected...

Dude, thanks for the laugh! 💀

There is a fairly simple way of attaching a motor bogie on a 7 wide train. It works, but is not that stable. Here is how I did it on my Øresundstog: bottom_plates by NikoNissen, on Flickr The part used is 3176

Wow, that's huge! Congratulations - a bit (extremely) jealous that Talgo wants to fund the building of the train. Hope that your model will come out nice! I just use the old LEGO Magnets. But I see that you have used the expensive coupling piece. There is a cheaper part called 2920 on Bricklink. That is what I use, In terms of magnets, @dtomsen knows where to get some cheaper knock-offs. In terms of electrical system, I'd recommend Powered Up or Power Functions. Those are the most versatile and cheapest options. Yes you have to redesign your bogie, but why not just put in that extra time to create an overall better model - especially now that Talgo has accepted to fund it.

Such a nicely built model! I really like the way you made the ends on the passenger wagons!

I will try this solution out for my next Talgo project - which will hopefully be built before next year!

In a year, when everyone has each their own Talgo done and built IRL, we should do a meet-up and run all of them together and take some photos. I'll look forward to that ! :D

It is a longer and way more expensive processs to create the metal part of Lego (compatible) tracks. That was the main reason that LEGO moved away from the 9V in the first place - to cut down on costs. For the straight and curved tracks, it is basically "just" applying 2 long metal plates on top of the tracks. But for the P40 switch, they maybe had to do some wiring and place the metal points in a way that it will still be able to conduct the power without the bogie losing it while crossing the switch in either direction and not short-circuiting the system. Which means a lot longer and more expensive process to develop the tracks and a higher production price as well because of the bigger work it will be assembling the metal and plastic parts compared to the "simple" track.

Nice update! I'm very excited about your progress! Would there be space to replace the bogie with a real motor? Or is it too tight?

Apparently, I forgot to post a render that I made back in February of the whole train with the cab car, so here it is. I’ve modified the bogies now, so it looks more like the real thing. The big, long DBG rods are the ones enabling the train to tilt. I probably won’t implement that feature into this model, but still playing around with ways to create the angled sides, though I haven’t found a solution that is worth presenting…