Hobbes

Links worked yesterday, now they don't anymore :-)

That's not necessarily true anymore. Thanks to power hungry devices like digi cams "modern" AA rechargeables already come with capacities of around 2300 to 2500 mAh. I've even read about 2900 mAh rechargeables but haven't seen any yet. That goes for NiMH cells (there's also NiCd cells but they have about half the capacity and are becoming extinct). Compared to that the average capacity of the most common Zinc Carbon battery is about 1300 mAh, only Alkalines with around 2700 mAh are the "strongest" among the primary cells. So, technically rechargeables might bring better results than your average Zinc Carbon cells, but the bad news is - Heiner used Alkalines... So true ;-)

That's true, the accessories are very nice. Heiner confirmed this, too. But 130 or so euros just for accessories? I dunno ;-) I'm not sure, either. Eventually I might end up buying it so I get the accessories and can modify the train and probably trade the plastic rails for 9V rails (yeah, right, I wish ;-))...

I was afraid of this... sigh. So was I, and Heiner confirmed this in his cargo train review, too :-/ You did, Larry complained about this in his review. It could have been a "Monday model", though, as we say, meaning a "one time production error". But that doesn't matter to me cos the entire model is one big design flaw IMHO (battery box inside the passenger cabin???), not to mention the RC system...

This one? http://www.hccamsterdam.nl/brickfactory/stikkers/ Homepage: http://www.hccamsterdam.nl/brickfactory/

To reply to myself: I just found they sell quite some apparel. Might even get some for myself, it's for good cause afterall *sweet*

Review and Pictures Haven't read it yet but from what I saw in the pics it doesn't really appeal to me...

New pictures online: Gallery He also posted a "review" about his test on 1000steine.com. It's a lot to translate so I just give a short summary: * The set and what's in it is very nice (Truck etc.) * Instructions sometimes not clear * Remote works only in same room and best if pointed at the locomotive (reflection on a smooth wall works, too) * Remote doesn't work in tunnel: if train can "roll through" it's ok, if tunnel is too long train stops * Inclines: OK if incline's not too steep, otherwise not that spectacular. Rails seem too smooth for wheels. In a comparison with a BNSF with a "new old 9V motor" (i.e. the current one) no chance. * Standard batteries (AA) last about 6 hours, but after 2 or 3 hours there's a notable decrease in speed. Tests with rechargeable batteries will follow. * Train runs well on 9V tracks, better on inclines (although still no comparison to the current system). * It is possible to put the current 9V motor under the train and run it with the remote. The connection to the batteries works with standard 9V cable. He tested it and the incline results were a bit better. It's not possible to run a current 9V motor "directly" with the new remote, though, it needs the IR-receiver. That was about it in short.

Those are intermodal cars, they usually come in 3s or 5s. LEGO opted to do "doubles" only to be able to bring the model onto the market at a reasonable price. If you have enough, though, it's absolutely no problem to exchange the end bogies for shared bogies and make 3s or even 5s. Argh, you're right... how could I :-$ It shall be remedied ASAP :-)

No problem, glad to help :-)

Here we go (thumbs clickable): The loco: Nice color design (not really LEGO's credit but they adopted it at least ;-)), quite easy and fun build. Not much interior except for the engineer's cabin, but then there's not much room, either. Not a problem for me, though. I think it looks terrific "coming right at you" (the focusing was a bit tricky but I hope you get the idea): The only downside is that it comes without light and motor. The motor's still available but light bricks are hard to find. I was lucky to get a few but I have only one light brick left which I will save for a second locomotive, methinks... The TTX car: The containers were kind of a disappointment at first sight, but when you build them and see them in the car they're not that bad. Sure, shutters would look nice, but once your trains up and running you don't mind that much (at least I didn't). And you can add tons more on your own since it doesn't use special bricks (except for the handle). The entire train: I think it's the best looking cargo train LEGO has ever made. That from an 80s train fan should tell something ;-) Even looks good "empty": Summary: Before the BNSF I didn't really care much for American trains. I've never heard of GP38s or Dash-9s and the like. But that locomotive got me hooked. And the TTX car did the rest. I could build TTX cars for hours on end. It's just fun since it's so easy and the result is great looking. Hope that helped :-)

So far only 2 legs, 2 torsos, 2 heads and 2 caps are availabe (train related). One fig came to EUR 1.40 (USD 1.25) when I checked...

That sort of ordering would be abusing the system, of course ;-) But you're right:

The new factory is online: LEGO Factory Also LDD version 1.6 is out. New features include new bricks, train parts, pay for what you need (no extra bricks - yay!) and MFs *sweet* Haven't tried it yet, though, but it sounds promising at least...

As a train fan they're a must have! I commented on the TTX here once. The BNSF is maybe the best looking locomotive right after the Santa Fe Super Chief. Depending on my mood (passenger or cargo trains) I would put it on top of the list, too ;-) I have 1 BNSF and 3 TTX and they look great as a cargo train. A second BNSF would look even better but that has to wait. I can post some pics after work if you're interested. As I said, as a train fan they're a must and you don't look at the price. If you're not really into trains the price tag can be a damper to your euphoria. Hth

Nothing, that's not the point. Different views are very well appreciated (if you read the first post again). The point is, if a review for a set/model/whatever already exists, post your view there instead of opening another thread (with blurry pictures).

It's been a little quiet in this forum lately, so I thought I'd share a little of what I've done over the weekend. A short introduction beforehand: Since I've had the 4511 I wasn't really satisfied with the look. When I first saw it I didn't like it very much but thought it had potential. What was disturbing to me was the fact it didn't have real doors. For me as a fan of the 1980s trains that looked weird. And it wasn't "5 bricks high" but only 4. But it turned out that was just the way models were being designed nowadays. And I got used to it, even more, I think it's not that bad a building technique. Anyways, I got the train for Christmas 2004 (yeah, that long ago) and started modifying it right away. I always wanted to rebuild it with the ICE color scheme (white-red) but after some tries I liked the original color scheme better. Anyway, what came out was Version 1. It looked ok but somehow not what I wanted. Then I got 7470 Space Shuttle which uses lots of this part - and I thought I could use this as roof parts for my train. Well, after a quick BL order of 400 of those and some sorting I finally got around and modified one of my 4511 Passenger cars. OK, enough of the talking, lets head on to the pictures (all thumbs are clickable): From left to right you see the original version, my first version, and on the far right my current Version 2: The original car on the left, my current Version 2 on the right: As you can see the roof looks a bit "loose". That's due to it consisting of lots of 1-wide pieces: You might notice that its "base" resembles the Santa Fe cars - and you're right. I loosely based it on them. I added 2 studs on each end since the higher roof on the original 28 studs base made it look a bit bulky. I also copied the wheelbase and the underside luggage hold: What's really been bothering me from the start was the door: On the left is the original car door. To me it always looked kinda "unfinished" or "cut in half". It's "hinted" by a green 1x2 brick with grille, which is ok, but to me it always looked like it kinda "ends" right there. On the right picture you see my version. I used 1x2 bricks "all the way down to the base", so the outlines of the bricks form a "full" door. I hope you can see what I mean. Also quite unsatisfying to me were the... uh... "end pieces" of the train, above the magnets where two cars "connect". Here's a picture: On the left the original and on the right a loose copy of the Santa Fe version. The latter also uses a black 1x2 window instead of a transparent panel which looks more like a door. The Santa Fe cars use a plate on the bottom of the bricks and one at the top right underneath the rounded bricks. I left that out, would have look too bulky. Finally a shot of the interior - which isn't much since it's only second class >:-) Weird thing was: although I have tens of thousands of bricks I was still lacking a few special pieces and had to improvise (nothing visible, though). Next is either the first class car, which will differ in interior only, or the locomotive. That depends on which special parts I will need for the locomotive and if I have to make a BL order. Hope you like(d) it, it was fun for me to build it and f-i-n-a-l-l-y come up with something I like :-)

Hmmm... although I'm not into SW that UCS ISD would be a set I wouldn't mind in my collection :'-) It's all bley now, though... :-/ Yep, that's the german version of "The DaVinci Code", I think. I think so. Her sister confirmed that this is something she likes to do. I don't, I started sometimes but quit everytime overwhelmed by the sheer amount of bricks... Hmmm... we both don't really like our jobs at the moment and some change would be nice anyways... Well, that, your taste in clothes... I dunno... >:-)

Mrs. Hobbes has always been supportive of my hobby but has never actively "participated". The more I was happy she agreed to join me at the event even though she didn't know anybody. Well, after we got back home (and I was able to convince her how "harmless" I am in the pursuit of my hobby compared to "others" ;-)) I decided it was time to finally sort and organize my bricks. I got help from someone unexpected: This is our living room, not "my" room, mind you! "It's easier here. There's more space and we can watch TV while sorting", she said. After a few hours (with no watching TV) she commented "That's something for me! I love it! I just love sorting stuff! Where's the next box?" I hope I can convince her to come to the next event, too. Who knows what effects that one will have...

H A P P Y . B I R T H D A Y ! ! ! Hope you get lots of Boba Fetts... *duck*

In case anybody (anybody?) wonders what we[1] did the week before the event I have a few pictures here: Gallery Map The yellow balloons show stops during our journey and are clickable (you get to the respective photo album). To get back to the map use "View album on a map" in the left navigation menu. I know the pictures aren't event related but it was the same week, so I thought someone might be interested ;-) [1] That would be Mrs Hobbes and me.

Isn't it a bit early? The next event won't be before a year's time. But if you have to: check out ticket prices for Munich, Germany. But they vary monthly, if not weekly. And they vary by seasons (summer and x-mas being the most expensive). Since no one has a timeframe for the next event yet, that won't help you much. You could get a general idea, though. And it's probably cheaper if you fly from JFK instead of Newark. A good site for travel information is expedia.com. You can check for Hotels there, too, but that won't be necessary, I think, cos the group stays at the same place usually to make it easier for everybody. hth

Heiner is a 1000steine member and I just read there that he got the set from Jan Beyer to test and write a review about (the thread is in a registration-necessary board area thus I can't link it). In his brickshelf gallery he shows his first pics. He has finished his review and given it to Jan to read before he "publishes" is. Since Jan's pretty busy it'll take a bit until more information is out :-)

Sure is - who else is there but Phes and Evil Willy ;-)