Andy Glascott

So, 2 years in and I'm officially half way, module 9 of 18 is complete, pics below. It's very satisfying to get this far, there were times I wondered if I had taken on too much... To be honest, I still think that occasionally! I've had to rebuild the storage and transport crates over this past winter too, which slowed progress somewhat. Next week I'll actually get to see all 9 modules together fore the first time at our LUG's annual show in Richmond, VA. This one probably gives the best overall view of the module, the two ends of the upper track will eventually connect to make a loop, the lower section is a siding off the main city loop that will have a small station near a beach are on module 12... From the other end showing some of the internal supports and old baseplates used! It has been a challenge to make sure the profile of this hill section matches the module it will be up against. Lastly, who can resist a few Minions getting up to a bit of mischief?

That’s a radically different loco from the original submission…

Why am I not surprised by this….? 😂 🇮🇪

Very impressive @Duq, instantly recognizable and you’ve done a good job on the cab too with the different angles involved.

So, module 8 is complete. Not a huge amount of track on this one as it's in the middle of the city section of the project but it was challenging working out how to do the curved section of raised track. As well as crossing the lower level track it's also a point where the curve goes to another module so in the end I decided to build a 4-track section that drops in when the 2 modules are next to each other rather than try and fix it in pace and line the two sections up that way. DSC03225 The full module. DSC03228 The classic 7740 poses under the viaduct with my MOC Duchess of Sutherland loco (which is on the list for a full rebuild) on the viaduct. DSC03231 My Irish Rail G Class shunter has a static display space on the module and will probably run on the full layout occasionally.

Really nice carriages there!

My guess is the 9v motors will cope with 12v of power. I asked a similar question a few years ago and it’s safe to run a PF motor at that voltage so it may well be ok for the RC ones too.

But but but… 12volt…? Yeah, I’m living in the Lego past… 😂

That’s very impressive, particularly for a 6 wide loco!

In terms of 12v sets/trains @Reker1000000 I have a 7740 and 7745 as well as 5 MOC locos/trains. @GoHabsGo I haven’t got the space for this either, it only gets set up in full at events.

A couple of years ago I picked up a pair of these 9v motors to see if I could use the motor inside to repair my 9v train motors - short story, no - but they sat on my desk on and off ever since and I pondered how to use them. A couple of weeks ago I started playing with the idea of an Irish Rail (or CIE back in the day) Class 601 shunter: CIE G613 (This and other reference pics from the Irish Traction Group and Downpatrick Railway). The 0-4-0 wheel arrangement and relatively simple body shape looked like a good fit for the motor powered by a 9v Light and Sound battery box sitting on top of it. IMG_1411 A couple of Bricklink orders later and I'm very happy with the finished product, even if the color matching on the stickers to cover the battery box is a little off. Finished It's a fun little engine to run, though it only goes in one direction thanks to the limits of the 9v battery box, but I wanted a pure Lego loco. (The only butchery I had to do was to the connector from battery box to motor, like most of them the insulation was crumbling so I cut it short and tidied it up). Overall, I'm really pleased with it and thought I'd share.

Well, that took longer than expected! I finally got started on the next module about a month ago after a 6 month or so break for other stuff (more on that later), but am back online with a couple of pics to update anyone following this thread. This loop will be the centerpiece so to speak of the whole project, a 12v loop with three trains featured though only one running at a time. Here's the plan for the loop, which when it's finished will have 2 other lops one the left and 1 more on the right (see previous posts). City Loop The first complete module is for the bottom left of that, and includes a simple single platform station. DSC02301 Also included is my first ever modular, which will connect the two blocks of modulars that will be the main part of the city. It's been good to get back to building Lego again, after a couple of shows last year I realized I had to revamp my transportation system for getting the layout to events and so spent the winter building storage crates for each of the first 6 modules which double as the base for setup at shows. The next few modules shouldn't take too long to build so hopefully there'll be some more updates over the next few months.

You could cross brace the towers easily enough, if you’re at Ashland train day I can show you how I brace the mountaintops on my layout.

Good points about the different buttons @HoMa, I knew there were differences but don’t know the internals well enough.

Does sound like the control unit alright. Do you have any other switches, for points or signals? It might be worth trying the flash unit with one of those to see what happens. It would at least confirm if it’s the control unit.

No idea about the workings of the motor, but having 2 locos going in opposite directions on separate loops is always fun, and this way you can run 2 with only one power supply.

That’s a wonderful collection of 12v locomotives and trains, and in great condition. Great to see the system looking so good.

Thank you. Like a lot of folks I guess at show I do get asked “how many bricks…?”, which is, of course, almost impossible to answer… Based on Bricklink orders over the last 15 years or so I reckon I have between 20k and 25k green 2x2s…. Thank you. I had to do some repairs earlier this evening, transport challenges caused a chunk of that main hill to crack, so while repairing it I added some light and dark bley 2x2 and cheese slopes to break up the green a bit. I do have some plant elements on it as well to break things up but they are the same shade of green (makes note to order in different shades in future…) Untitled by andyglascott, on Flickr Untitled by andyglascott, on Flickr

So,,this update has taken a while cos I’ve been busy with other things, but here it is. My LUG participated in the Train Day event at Richmond Model Railroad Museum a couple of weeks ago and the 6 completed modules made their debut after a slightly hairy trip in a U-Haul! Here are the pics. The final module, from the front Untitled And from the back. Untitled by andyglascott, on Flickr And the overall layout with the 6 completed modules all together for the first time. Untitled by andyglascott, on Flickr Lastly, a couple of videos, first a general overview and then a drivers eye view on both loops, which includes a run around the rest of the LUG setup for the day as well. Untitled by andyglascott, on Flickr RVA Train Day 2022 by andyglascott, on Flickr Hope you all enjoy.

That is fabulous, I love the rotating cross track for switching wagons to a different track.

Looks fabulous, and very 12v era. Love the original rubber tyres on the motor too.

It feels like this module has taken a while, but I'm pleased with the way it has turned out, and I have a deadline for the 3rd and final module as well Anyway, on to the pics. Here's a view of the module overall. Like the rest it's 3x5 baseplates, which is large enough to get a decent amount on but small enough to be transportable. With 12v track the fewer connections to get together at a show the better! DSC02040 It's part of the section focusing on freight and rail maintenance, so naturally there is a depot/workshop as part of it (no details inside). Depot With a couple of maintenance vehicles ready to go when needed! The truck in the foreground is a MOC, the hand cart in the background was inspired by a few I found online. Road Rail truck The main focus of the loop is the loading area. So far I've decided against an overhead gantry crane, I might at add one later. I've got two trains for this loop, a mixed freight and an engineers train, so figured there weren't enough cars to make a crane necessary, so I tiled the siding to give access for a fork lift, crane or whatever is needed to load a train/particular car. Loading area I'm trying to include a few classic gems from my childhood as I go along (I'm fairly sure I have the second printed popsicle brick for the snack bar somewhere in my box of white... If I find it it'll get added in) and this seemed like a great spot for it. A classic snack bar! So there we are. Time to get cracking on the third and final module for this loop, I'm planning to bring it to the Richmond (VA) Railroad Museum event on September 24th...

Just gorgeous, the detail is incredible.

Yup, easy pass for me too at that price. It looks good but would need more coaches to make an actual train…

Well , it’s here. What do you all think? https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/hogwarts-express-collectors-edition-76405