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Dread Pirate Rob

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Everything posted by Dread Pirate Rob

  1. Dread Pirate Rob
    Thank you, just being able to do a little shunting is more fun than seeing them sitting still in the glass cabinet. Thank you for your kind comments, I'm with you 12Volts, you can't beat old school. (but I would still buy a smooth Mallard made with modern bricks if they produced one...) The thing the kids like most is that they can reach everything on a shelf layout, which they can't do on a bigger board. I have now completed the freight handling facility. I did something different with this one and took parts and inspiration from as many cranes as I could. I think there are parts from five different railway cranes in there going back to the 80s. Bonus points if you can spot the oldest component. Freight handling facility by Canvas Rails, on Flickr The crane had to be sturdy enough to be operated by a four year old and has not broken yet. Freight handling facility by Canvas Rails, on Flickr The truck is a MOD of the cargo truck in the 60052 blue cargo train set. Being the 80s tragic that I am I had to make it 4 wide... Freight handling facility by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Could I ask what you guys think is still missing? A coaling tower to replace the coaling stage? Signals? Just please don't say ballast:)
  2. Dread Pirate Rob
    Inspiring work! You have captured the lines beautifully.
  3. Dread Pirate Rob
    And I thought the set was expensive before i had to buy a monorail to run it on:) Seeing one on the street will just look incomplete now. Great bricking.
  4. Dread Pirate Rob
    Thanks THERIZE, can you tell I have a soft spot in my heart for the grey era? I have completed the engine shed at the locomotive depot at the right hand end of the layout. I tried something a little different with this one and tried limiting my parts selection to just two sets; the Family House 31012 and the Mountain Hut 31025. I didn't end up using much of the hut except for the roof. Even then I ran out of slopes and I had to add some spare skylights to fill the gap. Once it was built though I discovered that the skylights are essential for the IR controller to stop a power functions locomotive from running into the back wall once it has gone inside! The cat got quite a shock. The other parts that are not from either kit are the grey roof sections on the workshop. I just couldn't go past these for an industrial look. If I had my time again I would have bought two Family Houses and made something long enough for the Emerald Night, but you can't buy two of every set... I thought the cracked brickwork looked OK until I saw the roundhouse by UrbanErwin, would you mind if I borrowed your technique? It looks fantastic. So, should I continue the experiment of using limited sets for a MOC, or does it look like a 31012 Family House with a train in the living room? Small steam engine shed. by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Small steam engine shed. by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Small steam engine shed. by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Small steam engine shed. by Canvas Rails, on Flickr More photos on Flickr
  5. Dread Pirate Rob
    So long as the 6 stud axel is new and the crank shaft is new it should hold. Mine have only fallen off after some serious high speed running on bumpy track. The graphite goes on the bearings for the side rods indicated by the green arrows. If any graphite gets between the wheels and the cranks (red arrows) the whole assembly will fly off on a regular basis. On the up side, the kids at exhibitions love this when it happens... graphite by Canvas Rails, on Flickr
  6. Dread Pirate Rob
    I have started work on a new project 'for the kids':) We do not have enough space for a loop of track but I do have an excellent long wall with no windows. Tüblingen is an entirely fictional Swabian railway station near the Black Forrest in Germany. The subject was chosen because black steam engines with red frames were such an icon for so many years. The simple brief I am working to is: Create the trains I wanted when I was their age. It is all 6 wide power functions however it has a distinctly grey era feel to it, because, well, that's what I wanted so it must be what they want. I started with a 7828 train station because I still think it is the most fun station to play with, and added an island platform and foot bridge so that it can serve three lines. There is a 7838 freight shed but when I tried to mod it, it began to look more like Benny's luxury condo development than a piece of railway infrastructure. As such, the freight shed remains a work in progress. Enough from me, to the photos... Stock station with my power functions tribute to the famous 182. P5199154 by Canvas Rails, on Flickr The foot bridge in place. What was it with the 80s and no hand rails on stairs? by Canvas Rails, on Flickr With trains. by Canvas Rails, on Flickr The next update should be the goods shed and crane, then the engine shed and locomotive depot. I hope you like it. Rob
  7. Dread Pirate Rob
    My little 0-4-0 tank engine had working pistons. I used the cams Zephyr suggested and yes, you have to use new 6 stud technic axels so that they have as much grip as possible. My smallest PF steam engine to date by Canvas Rails, on Flickr I also used a simpler system on my bigger tank engine. Small by Canvas Rails, on Flickr Don't tell the purists but I snipped the end off of the technic axel on the crank shaft to give me enough clearance to run on 12v track geometry. If you are going to use the crank shafts they are much more reliable if you put a little graphite into the side rod bearings. If you don't have graphite you can crush the end of a 4B pencil and use that. Just dont get any on the technic axel through the wheels ot the crank shaft will keep falling off. Great little locomotive you have there, Love the grey era:)
  8. Dread Pirate Rob
    Like many of you I love the new locomotive and hopper, so I added a few bits and modded the helicopter flat bed into a grey era inspired guards van. I also used the red 4x1 bit from the sides of the other flat bed. Has anyone else started modding this set yet? I can't wait to see the scrap steel train mentioned above.
  9. Dread Pirate Rob
    To me it looks like a UCS version of Heppeng's 7725 Mod :) Great build!
  10. Dread Pirate Rob
    I had a play around with something along the lines of your 4 wide build but couldn't make it robust enough. Even the torque from that little M motor tore my mechanism apart. Respect that you got it to work. Do you have any photos of the linkage to the wheels?
  11. Dread Pirate Rob
    Great first MOC! Great use of parts for the lamps on the buffer beam. For the piston rods there are some great examples on this forum for using various rods fixed to the piston that don't move and are not connected by connecting rods to the side rods. This fills the gap and adds detail when a connection is a mechanical impossibility. One simple example from a second rate builder is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/128987084@N02/15061297343/ One compex example from a first rate builder is here: http://www.deviantart.com/art/French-2-4-0-Steam-Locomotive-428524646
  12. Dread Pirate Rob
    As the last time TLG released an Australian train was... Never, I'll not buy into the debate. What I can add is that today I saw four HE for sale on the shelf at Toyworld Greensborough (Vic) for $199 AUD. But I have two so shant be greedy. Hope this helps if you are in this hemisphere.
  13. Dread Pirate Rob
    No, I would like to say I don't because of my limited brick collection, however I must say I don't because of my limited skill:) Can't wait to see more video of this remarkable build.
  14. Dread Pirate Rob
    Thank you. The working conditions in the cab are not ideal but the driver can take it up with the union. I did a prototype that was three studs shorter (and had moving pistons and connectiong rods) but I thought it was a bit silly. I'll put a photo up but I think you will agree it was an idea taken too far... https://www.flickr.c...02/15841810167/ I agree, red wheels would be an improvement. To Bricklink!
  15. Dread Pirate Rob
    Truly awesome. I am in awe. So... Rolling stock... I assume you plan on it pulling more than a couple of cable reels and a cow. Can't wait to see it complete.
  16. Dread Pirate Rob
    I like the way your 'compromises' look better than my 'design features'. Brilliant all the way and even moreso as it is in 7 wide!
  17. Dread Pirate Rob
    Outstanding build. I am curious about your couplings, is it just held together with the power functions cable? If so, bravo, most imaginative use of power functions cable yet:)
  18. Dread Pirate Rob
    Great little lineside structure, you have captured the feel well.
  19. Dread Pirate Rob
    Cheers dr_spock, I'll give it a try with cheese slopes and see how the profile looks. I have tried Ronenson's solution on my HE now and it works a treat. Thanks!
  20. Dread Pirate Rob
    Thank you, its no Peppercorn A1 but it is fun to shunt with. Here are some photos of the power button button by pressing the forward dome to switch the battery box on and off. Does anyone know a better way to work the power button in this confined space? Edit: Sorry, I'm out of upload space, they are also on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/128987084@N02/15985593171/in/set-72157649279163680
  21. Dread Pirate Rob
    Can't believe I'm the first to say it... COOL!
  22. Dread Pirate Rob
    Looks great! Seamless integration. The HE looks a bit odd with just one end but two HE together is too long for small layouts. This is a top solution.
  23. Dread Pirate Rob
    Definately not too niche. Many older Australian locomotives and rolling stock look far more UK than US (The Emerald night gave us a very useful bag of bits) If we all got behind one of your creations as an 'Ultimate Collectors Series' train we might have a shot:)
  24. Dread Pirate Rob
    There is very little 6 wide steam possible with integrated power functions. Thanks for the advice on this page, nothing I've done in 8 wide is up to standard yet but I'll keep working at it.
  25. Dread Pirate Rob
    I have just completed the modifications to incorporate the suggestions for my 6 wide power functions shunter. Please let me know what you think and I welcome suggestions for how it can be improved. Thank you all for your support on https://ideas.lego.com/projects/82031 I regret we have only 100 supporters now so I don't forsee this getting up as the 50th anniversary of Lego Trains train. Fortunately James Mathis has what I think is an even better idea https://ideas.lego.com/projects/86744 so if you haven't supported this one I can highly recommend his. The biggest change is the ability to now turn the battery box off and on by pressing the front of the forward dome. I have some pictures on Flickr that show how it works. https://www.flickr.c...57649279163680/
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