Paperballpark

:laugh: :laugh: Sorry, but that was really quite funny. Maybe off-topic, but can you share some photos of all the snow?

I got this email yesterday, in response to my enquiry: First off, my sincere apologies for not responding to your inquiry. We have been changing our online website which is unfortunately effecting the communications aspect as well. We've had one or two other customers experience this same issue in the last few weeks. We are awaiting the connectors from manufacturing, otherwise we have all the parts for your order. Once those are in the order will ship and you'll see an email from our website with the tracking information. Thank you for your patience. I'm fine with that. I've replied to ask if they know how long the connectors will take, but at least I know what's happening now, so I'm fine.

I've just seen this on the shipping page: 'Please note that due to high demand, rail products are currently experiencing a delay of 2-4 weeks for shipment' So that's probably what's up with that (if that statement is recent). I guess I'll just wait...

For those who actually bought track (rather than pledging on the kickstarter), how long did it take for your order to be processed and delivered? Mine is still showing as 'processing', 11 days after I ordered it. I know it may take a while to deliver (especially with me being in the UK), but taking nearly two weeks just to process it is rather longer than I was anticipating. I didn't order that much!

That's great, but I suspect it won't happen. It seems that they don't green-light projects that clash with current IPs or - as in this case - other lines that they have, and this would be far bigger in piece count than anything they've released to date through Ideas. We'll see, but I haven't expected any of the other modular-size projects to be approved, and they haven't been, so I'm afraid I don't hold out any hope for this one being approved.

The only unfinished projects I have are ones that I'm currently working on. If I got part way through a project and decided not to continue, I'd break it up for pieces.

Last night I dreamed that LEGO were re-releasing the Emerald Night...

I just ordered quite a lot of plastic track. The cost of postage to the UK was slightly eye-watering but I bit the bullet. Of course, I'll be charged import duty too (and a handling fee), but I'm expecting that.

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Call me ignorant, but what does it actually do? Does it allow 9V motors to run on plastic track, or allow PF motors to run on 9V track, or allow charging of PF battery boxes through 9V track and motors?

Nice! Most shows here in the UK have their own tables, so I use flat bed sheets (black) to cover them. Works well, and keeps the focus on the models.

To be honest, the best steam train Lego have produced (in my opinion) is #79111 Constitution Train Chase. Yes, #10194 Emerald Night is bigger and more impressive, but it also has flaws, whereas #79111 just works. There's a thread on Brickset's forums about motorising it, which you can check out here. Basically, you just rebuild the tender with all the PF stuff in it, or put the PF stuff into one of the carriages. To be honest, Lego steam trains are never going to be quite as tough and sturdy as the current passenger train or freight train, but if you base it on #79111, that's probably about as sturdy as you're going to get.

Does that mean your MOCs are made up entirely of 1x1 and 1x2 elements? Personally I don't tend to use specialised parts, but the fact is that they make sets aimed at young kids easier to build, which helps draw them into the hobby. The use of them also means that sets can be made larger for the same price, which helps with perceived value for money.

Nicely done! Having visited New England I love covered bridges, although as far as I'm aware they're almost completely confined to that area. Certainly they're totally unknown in Europe.

Sorry to put a downer on such a good representation of the most recent modulars, but this bit: needs a citation. I heard that contrary to what you've stated, the original Mini Modulars was a pretty terrible seller.

They won't do Mini Modulars 2. The first one, from what I heard, was a pretty terrible seller.

Have you ever thought that the Winter Village range is a bit too, well, unrealistic? A bit too 'cutesy'? Showing the 'picture postcard' side of a town... ... but without showing all the things that actually make a town work? The things that make the town function? Have you ever thought that the range doesn't show the things... ...that make it sanitary? Well worry no longer! For I can now proudly present, for your consideration: The Winter Village Sewage Works The Winter Village Sewage Works features realistic rotating action, with the centre section moving around to help break down the raw sewage. In fact, you could say that it is almost literally stirring the s***. Wait, what's Santa doing there? He doesn't seem to realise what it is, or the danger he's in! He mustn't be able to smell it through his thick white beard. You shouldn't get that close to it Santa! Oh no! He's fallen in! Luckily he's left the sack of presents at the side, but who will deliver them if he can't get out?! He's going under! Oh no! Poor Santa! I guess that highlights the dangers of getting too close, and why you don't see people swimming in their local Sewage Works. Thank you for viewing my contribution! Full size photos are available on my Flickr album.

I hate to say it, but I don't think they're going to release a train in the remaining three days of this year Or in 2016, sadly...

With my Horizon Express, I managed to fit two motors, two battery boxes, two IR receivers and a polarity switch into the front cab. I run my trains at shows, so wanted the battery life that two rechargeable battery boxes gives. I'm planning on adding at least another 4 carriages to it.

Just to check the obvious, but I assume you are turning the power up on the controller when it starts to go slower?

I suspect there won't be a new train next year. I've been fortunate to speak to a few designers this year, and when the conversation turns to trains, they all say the same thing: There simply isn't the market for them, and the Creator Expert ones weren't great sellers. Look at it this way (from a business point of view): The Winter Village Toy Shop was re-released because they simply didn't have the design capacity to do a new winter set this year (That's another thing I've been told by designers). If they can't spare the design capacity for a popular line like that, why would they for something which all previous experience tells them wouldn't sell all that well? I hope I'm wrong, I really do, but I don't think I will be.

Sorry, it generally means 'stuff', or 'innards'. In this context, it was meaning all the various parts of the Power Functions system.

Regarding the 'AAA vs Rechargeable' debate, I display at shows, and use Rechargeable boxes for the simple reason that I don't have to disassemble the train when the battery dies. I just plug the charger in through an access hole. As some of my trains have the PF gubbins built right into the train, that's a godsend. In my prior experience, good batteries will last about as long as the rechargeable box - about 3 to 4 hours, depending on a load of variables (mostly to do with resistance and weight). I currently have 12 rechargeable battery boxes...

I'm at Brick, exhibiting my Manchester Brickadilly railway station. Come say hi!

Erm, do you mean the leading wheels, or the trailing ones?