darcaesar

I dragged my feet yesterday morning wanting to use my VIP points (haven't redeemed them using the new system). When I finally placed the order it was on backorder. I was quite upset with myself. Today I had to go to the mall to return an item to a different store and stopped by the LEGO store to see if they had any. They had 2 in stock and I bought mine, came home, and built it. Awesome model! I left the other one in the store for someone else. Reading the thread I checked online and it looks like Barnes & Noble has them in stock... https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-games-lego-creator-expert-crocodile-locomotive-10277/34871859?ean=0673419330558

Yes, the train is pretty much built according to the instructions for the Emerald Night. I went through the instructions step by step and noted which parts I wanted in red and which in black. As you can see s few parts were not available in those colors or they were from a set in the 1980s and so I went with gray. I've thought about making the wheel axles in red but would have to modify the design. I could do that, but I do like to current contrast. I'll also let you guys in on a little secret about expensive parts on bricklink (such as the red sliding rail 1x2). When I run into those issues I contact LEGO's missing parts department. I was able to get 30 of those pieces for $4.42 total (which is less than 15 cents each). The model needed 18 of them and currently the cheapest price on bricklink for at least 18 of them from one seller is over $1.00 each plus shipping. I know this may not be an option for everyone, but I've lucked out in getting certain parts for a lot less through LEGO at times. I did the same for several other parts. LEGO, however, has not been willing to sell me any train wheels (the big steam ones). The black ones were unavailable last I checked and the red ones came from a licensed set only. Anyway, that's another way to get parts. I use bricklink and LEGO's missing parts department.

Thanks. Looks like the DRB Class 52 has a 2-10-0 wheel arrangement, but the boiler looks similar. When I ordered the red wheels I got several extra ones so that I can make something else. My next locomotive may be based on something real. I'll just need to find a good design and some time. It might be a while. I'm also going to try making an oil tender and see how it compares with the coal tender.

This is my second post on Eurobricks. I wanted to share pictures of an Emerald Night that I made in the German style. You can call it the Schwarze Nacht. It's got the red wheels and a black top. It's not meant to represent any real train. I'm not sure if anyone's made something like this before. The Emerald Night is my favorite LEGO train and I like trains such as Ben Beneke's BR 23 so I decided to build a hybrid. Other than changes in color the only real changes that I've made were to extend the coal tender to accommodate the custom wheels and the wheels on the tender themselves. It fully functional with a Power Functions motor, IR receiver, lights, and a battery. I'm thinking of also moving the IR receiver to the tender (it will fit) in order to streamline the boiler. I don't like the gray from the IR receiver showing. I'll do this later. My next goal is to figure out what kind of cars to build for it. I hope to have that done in time for Christmas. Enjoy.

Hi, I'm from Illinois in the USA. I played with LEGOs when I was a kid back in the late 80s and early 90s. I didn't really get back into LEGOs until last year. The Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club has an annual LEGO train show at Cantigny Park around Christmas near where I live. I've been to the show the last two years and finally had to get into trains myself. I have two small boys who both love trains so we've combined trains and LEGOs. I've spent way too much money over the past 10 months acquiring LEGO trains and 9V track and motors. We've got all of the recent trains (7938, 7939, and 3677), the Hobby Train (I've got the stock crocodile engine built), Emerald Night with four coaches, Maersk, and a custom train based on the Emerald Night. I've been reading the posts for a few months now but wanted to post pictures of my modified Emerald Night so I figured I'd introduce myself. I'll be posting those pictures in the main train forum as soon as I take them (the pictures of the engine that is). Dariusz