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Dread Pirate Rob

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Everything posted by Dread Pirate Rob

  1. Dread Pirate Rob
    I have been in a building mood lately and have noticed a few people saying they would like to MOC but don't know where to start (and don't want to mix up the bricks from their sets). The solution to both problems is with the old 'alternate builds' from the 80s:) This great photo is by Flickr user Zoltán Becsei I'm not the first see an opportunity to make a 7760 style shunter using 60052 parts. There is also a particularly excellent one by reinstein here: https://flic.kr/p/9KrZRe but as far as I can tell no one has made a PF shunter only using the parts found in the blue diesel. So, I'm throwing out the challenge, can you make a PF shunter using only the parts found in the blue diesel? This took me about two hours to do and was much cheaper than going to the pub for my Saturday afternoon:) To help people who would like to get into MOCing I have uploaded the in-progress photos of my build into Flickr so you can see the silly mistakes I made and the things that just didn't work along the way. Laughter is positively encouraged. Here are a couple of the progress shots. https://flic.kr/p/w87Z5G So. I'm not exactly happy with the nose... but I can't see another way to do it without raiding my brickstash. Please feel free to post your builds in this thread if you are keen to give it a go.
  2. Dread Pirate Rob
    Great to see something so different. There is an old model railway saying that 'there is a prototype for everything,' meaning no matter how crazy a model seems, it has probably been done in real life at some point. An interesting feature of the one cable yard I am aware of at an Australian stone quarry is that the cable pulled special trucks called 'Barneys.' These were attached to a line of stone hoppers which were pulled up an incline under the loading chute. The incline meant that one cable could move the trucks forwards or backwards. This could be very easily achieved in Lego. Photo credit goes to Flickr user navarzo21 The cable can be seen attached to the Barney above.
  3. Dread Pirate Rob
    G'day All, Something different from me today: Something other than steam traction:) Canberra Lego Users Group (CLUG) like many others has a monthly themed build chellenge. This year I have set myself the additional challenge to make all of my MOCs train related. The August build challenge is Horses, in honour of the traditional Horses Birthday. My build is a horse tram based loosely on the trams that ran on the first public railway in South Australia from Goolwa to Port Elliot. (Photo from www.steamranger.org.au) The horse looked too small on 6 wide track so I tried it on narrow gauge and it looked to have much better proportions. It runs on four small train wheels attached to 2x2 plate axle pieces. The gold 2x2 round plates are from the bell in the Pirates of the Caribbean waterwheel set. I hope you like it, Rob
  4. Dread Pirate Rob
    I'm not as adept at graphic design as some of the talent here, but I'll lend my encouragement to a 50th anniversary release with my shot at a logo. Please Lego, do something to mark this historic year. My encouragement by Canvas Rails, on Flickr
  5. Dread Pirate Rob
    I love the broken fence section. I have not seen that done before and it is a much more interesting way to end a fence. I am wondering if the old air compressor blew up and took out the fence, hence the shiny new white one.
  6. Dread Pirate Rob
    Thank you RailCo. I couldn't help myself, I have started tinkering with a grey era inspired yard control tower for next year already. European freight yard control (switch) tower by Canvas Rails, on Flickr How did I not know this existed? I see you have the 7710, could you please let me know if it is crisp enough to do the coach numbers on blue? I just bricklinked a third and fourth and they look very plain at present. Thank you greatly for the information. Thank you, I had not read that article but now that I have, the next layout is forming in my mind. I'm thinking I'll have to scrap the modern control tower and do an old school signal box with lever frame. To do it properly I will need to devise interlocking gear too. Yes. This is doable. The hills in the Ideas Book are remarkably easy, I cut them free hand with a jigsaw from 3mm MDF, spray painted them white, then lime green and then sprayed the tops Brunswick Green. Three cans of spray paint and four sheets of extremely cheap board later and I had the hills I wish I had 30 years ago! 7777 was where it all began and still continues to inspire. Cheers Paul, I love the challenge of building Power Functions locomotives in 12v style (and it suits my resources) Here is an overview for those interested in the track plan. The modified EN is just visible on one of the two hidden sidings that use up my spare flex track segments:) Tüblingen by Canvas Rails, on Flickr
  7. Dread Pirate Rob
    I love the classic design cues you have put into these builds with new bricks and techniques. Love it.
  8. Dread Pirate Rob
    Well said AirborneAFOL and Zephyr. Inspiration is one thing, but profiteering from someone elses creativity is something else again.
  9. Dread Pirate Rob
    The doors are a nice touch and match the building well. I can't recommend a skylight highly enough, otherwise your shunter will not be able to pick up the stop signal from your controller once it is inside. Unless you are going retro with 9V of course...
  10. Dread Pirate Rob
    Love the station! It could have so easily started to look like a church but you have tied all the elements together beautifully to make an awesome MOC. I love the colours but can't imagine the bricklink pain you went through to find enough dark orange.
  11. Dread Pirate Rob
    60052 (Blue Cargo Train) has just sold out on the Australian Lego Shop Online site. If anyone still wants one this may be our last chance. It didn't go on sale before it went:(
  12. Dread Pirate Rob
    This is a great idea, but there would be as much use for it at our home:) Have you tried using photoresistors to sense the trains? I used them many years ago for an N-scale railway to control level crossing lights. The advantage is it can sense all of the cars, not just the motor. I agree, reed switches are the way to go for signalling and train control.
  13. Dread Pirate Rob
    You did not pick an easy prototype by any means! Not to mention the prototype trains are usually over 200 wagons long! You have some nice details on that blast furnace too. It really looks the part.
  14. Dread Pirate Rob
    Absolutely sensational! Thank you for providing updates, it has been inspiring to see this grow. The thing I like most about this build is the colour palette. You have kept it industrial and functional, yet have worked in some beautiful blues and yellows that offset the paving. Great work. If you are going to impose on the bedroom, I can recommend from experience investing in a two fold room divider to block the line-of-sight. It makes for a much happier room and is easy to move when you need to access the bricks.
  15. Dread Pirate Rob
    I found a use for the one lonely hopper car in the heavy hauler set. Turns out it fits an old Iphone perfectly. Now I don't have to buy a Gopro to do track cam! photo by Canvas Rails, on Flickr!
  16. Dread Pirate Rob
    I regret it is time for the demolition crew to move in. Tüblingen is no more. Demolition time by Canvas Rails, on Flickr While it stared as a humble shelf layout, this one grew to occupy a 4 foot by 8 foot table. We painted the hills as backdrops to mask two hidden sidings. This meant that you could be happily shunting at the freight yard and then have to clear the main line in a hurry for the express to come through. Building a fun shunting layout has made a nice change from the usual loop (even though it ended up with one) and gave us a good challenge. Next holidays I am thinking we might do an end to end layout to service a mine perhaps. Anyway, here are some of the final photos and there are more on Flickr. I took some video too so I'll have a go at putting it all together next weekend. Last day of Tüblingen by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Last day of Tüblingen by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Last day of Tüblingen by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Last day of Tüblingen by Canvas Rails, on Flickr It was fun to share this with you guys as a work in progress, Thanks, Rob
  17. Dread Pirate Rob
    Thank you Zephyr (I must ask you at some point about European prototype stickers...) Yes, as I was trying to squeese another set of points into this layout I spied my fret saw on the work bench and seriously considered some custom trackwork:) but my points lived to see another day. This time. I do not have enough space for remote power functions points so I think my next project will be with 12v track... The rest of the world may find this hard to believe but we do not have a single Lego brand store in the entire country! Thank goodness for Bricklink. For those of you keeping track of this project on Flickr, I have posted some photos of the structures for the expanded layout. I'll put a couple up here today and photos of the whole layout tomorrow. School holidays are almost over and I regret Tüblingen has but 24 hours to live before it is broken up into its constituent bricks. Tüblingen Pacific by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Tüblingen working Signal by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Tüblingen MOD Fuel Tank by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Tüblingen Cargo by Canvas Rails, on Flickr These are a sneak peek of the hills for the background that I am currently painting. The effect I'm after is in the 7777 ideas book.
  18. Dread Pirate Rob
    Excellent! That means we can all have a go at writing a background for this lovely locomotive:) The Dopravný podnik Bratislava made such a fortune from running trams around the city that they branched out into heave haulage. Their first freight locomotive has kept the tan and red colour scheme and distinctive curves of their trams and are now a common sight hauling intermodal trains all over Europe. How is that?
  19. Dread Pirate Rob
    You have done really well to get the pistons to clear the pony truck. Very nice. A very neat solution for compact firebox doors too.
  20. Dread Pirate Rob
    An easier option than lengthening the platform would be to shorten the wagons . My only suggestion is some kind of air vent on the roof. Generally these structures are closed up much of the time and need some form of ventillation. It also adds interest to an otherwise smooth surface. This is a great build, I like the way that it isn't obvious what is stored here which leaves it up to the imagination of the viewer. Love it
  21. Dread Pirate Rob
    I regret Australian houses are sadly lacking in attics, lofts and basements . Aussie AFOLs generally survive on the good will of our wives and husbands, who let us take up living space. I have posted some photos of the coaling stage and stand pipe on Flickr here: Stand pipe and coaling stage by Canvas Rails, on Flickr The build is going well but it only has another 4 days to live. I just wanted to share a cheap and easy way to do railway station signs. Dymo label station signs by Canvas Rails, on Flickr I used a Dymo label maker with clear plastic tape, then trimmed the sticker down fit on a 1 x 6 white brick. Dymo for station signs by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Unfortunately it only prints in black, but because it is clear it looks similar to actual stickers.
  22. Dread Pirate Rob
    That is going to look awesome combined with those coaches. I particularly like the roof, I have not seen that before and I will have to give it a try. Looking forward to seeing it in bricks if you can get that many brown ones together:)
  23. Dread Pirate Rob
    I was at the Canberra Railway Museum on Saturday and snapped this through the window of the railcar as we sent past so please excuse the quality. It is not quite the 4552 but it is (was) yellow. I have shared it here because I'm sure I'm not the only one to be inspired by this thread to do a crane. P7119216 by Canvas Rails, on Flickr
  24. Dread Pirate Rob
    Yes. Your builds are inspiring, thank you for keeping us updated. British locomotives have very difficult lines and you capture them beautifully. Tapering boilers were sent to try us. Having said that, my favourite is the Toad. Such an icon of the GWR and you got it just right.
  25. Dread Pirate Rob
    Sure, I started with the four sets of points in the middle and put them as close together as possible, then filled the available space with straights. Here is a photo of the completed shelf layout: The completed shelf layout. Tublingen. by Canvas Rails, on Flickr It is 8 XL baseplates long. Please feel free, The more retro trucks out there the better. I was going to leave the green and white "CARGO" sign on the roof but it was just too big:) Thank you, yes, I generally do have to limit myself to 4 wheelers, however you can still do some interesting shunting with something the size of the Emerald Night. Here is a short video of my modified EN leaving its train and returning to the shed. The modifications mostly resulted from making it narrower to run on 12V track but it has also made it look much more British. Tublingen shelf layout by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Yes, you are bang on, not enough greenery. I am still working on my green brick collection. They were rare as hen's teeth in the 80s and I have not been able to rectify the imbalance yet. Even an industrial look needs some weeds. I will add what I have over the next few days. In breaking news I have just received Wife Approval for Tüblingen to be expanded onto an 8x4 foot baseboard for the school holidays! I have compressed the yard geometry further by replacing straights with pairs of flexible tracks and will post some updated photos over the next week before the whole thing must be pulled down again:( Here is the new compressed yard from above: Track plan by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Thank you for your kind comments, please let me know if there is anything in particular you would like a photo of.
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