Selander

Nice vignette, Etzel You have achieved a good mix of own creativity and some borrowed technics. I thought of Gran emporium, when I saw the SHOP sign.

This T44 was built in 123 units, and is the most common diesel-electric freight locomotive in Sweden. Besides from hauling goods between our mayor cities, it's also often used as a shunter locomotive on goods terminals. Some units were even exported to Norway and Israel (!). The classic colour scheme for Swedish state railways version of T44 is orange base and dark blue top, which is quite good colours to copy in Lego (since both colours are relatively easy to find...). Windscreen is the normal 2 x 6 x 2 with special decals that I made. T44 on pictures is operated by Green cargo company. Hope you like it. Comments welcome as ususal. Here together with original engine... And here with a RC4 electric locomotive in the background. Same as above but without original locomotive.

That's a nice moc you have built with decals and a true colours to the original. It certainly looks very similar to the French BB7200 that I built some time ago for TTCE competition, but my engine has a completely different colour-scheme. I suppose these locos are made in the same factory ? A difficult part to model accurately in 6-wide for this loco, is the front which has a nasty mix of angle, but I think you have done a good job. I would lower the whole engine to get more sleek proportions and hence give an impression of beeing longer. This is just a matter of taste though.

Thanks for all positive comments ! A few comments follows. To me it was far from obvious...it took me literally a couple of years of thinking to come up with a solution..... It is really difficult to explain in words but i give it a try (and will add some pictures later - now done) The bearing element is a square "brick 3 x 3" which consists of 4pcs 4733 in each corner and with 4pcs 6541 in between to connect all 8 bricks to one stabile unit. Connecting another 2pcs 4070 just behind creates a gap in center which makes a technic axle just possible to squeeze trough it. With 3 such complex elements after each other you got the basic structure. After that it is "just" to attach the cosmetic parts which are visible on pictures.....Do you follow me All-in-all it's a small miracle of mathematics and trials. Now you know the most important....it just remains to build the rest Thanks ! Yes the drums rotates on a long technic axle. In fact it is quite stabile. Thanks Davey cab was intentionally built very gray to put focus on the colourful drum.....and it does have a small black stripe in the mid body side thanks for creative proposal !

I've felt for a long time that the 8-wide original Lego tanker is too wide. Below you can see an attempt to create a tank wagon in 6-wide scale. The tank has a smaller diameter than the 8-wide version, using Viking-wheels. Also I added a kind of "bent" ladder. Unfortunately, during the photoshoot, the worker slipped, almost resulting in a nasty accident.

My latest truck-MOC. A 6-wide Scania cement mixer. I made a similar one before, but in red and white. I checked a little on the internet, and it seems that the black-yellow colour scheme is the most commonly used, at least here in Sweden. The drum is inspired by P. Normandin, any comments appreciated!

Sometimes you think the same..... I too was planning this kind of post, but you gor first. Great initiative, let's always think of the less fortunate when disasters like this occurs.

Thanks for review. I concider the design as average, but I like 6-wide trucks Parts of biggest interest for me are the new green doors which has never been produced before and also it was highly interesting to see the new bracket 2x6/1x4 or whatever it will be called, used to attach the windscreen. I dare assume those items will be costy on bricklink for some time......once the truck starts to sell in volume.

Suberb post Ralph S ! Just imagine if all posts would have your high quality level You have done an excellent overview and I fully agree to most of your recommendations and thoughts. Futhermore you are a brillant builder of small cars. As an addition, I like to share a few personal comments, as I find this topic very interesting too. Since I am mostly into Lego trains, I do prefer the Lego "original " train scale = 6-wide bodies for locomotives and train wagons. Concequently, since trucks, trailers and containers in reality are about the same width as trains, I choose to make my trucks 6-wide. I fully share your view that wheel size should reflect the size of the complete vehicle, but I didn't see you mention any difference between front and rear wheels as real trucks have. I typically use the below size for truck wheels and put the rims with "hub" in front, and a wide rim "without hub" in rear, to get a realistic look. No part of wheels or mud flaps are sticking out, so all is within 6-wide width. See following example: For SUV:s and small cars, I (so far) built only 4-wide bodies, and use smaller wheels as you recommend. For SUV:s I use the same wheels used by Lego in set 7239, together with mudguards which makes it about 5-wide over the wheels. Smaller cars have smaller wheels without mudgards so they are about 4-wide, like the "Smart". See following example of the three different wheel sizes and corresponding vehicle size. Once again many thanks for your excellent post.

Really nice designs and videos But I wouldn't dare crashing my favorite trains purposly in front of the videocamera. (too afraid of permanent damages or scrathes...) Those big radius curves....do you just "bend" many straights ? AND very welcome to the forum

New pictures added in the first post. I didn't know how to change/update the headline....of my first post...

My 6-wide Renault Magnum in a harbour environment, with two Lego container ships, the orange is a rebuilt set 7739. White forklift and orange container stacker are Lego original designs but in new colours. Container are simply made from 6 x Panel 1 x 6 x 5 (ref 59349). Any (NEW) comments are welcome. UPDATE: As wished by several viewers, here are some close-up photos and comments. 1. Doors consist of panel 1x2 and panel 1x1 corner. 2. Mirrors from a hinge bar + 2x tiles 1x1 with clip. Assembled to a hinge plate 1x2 w 2 fingers. Apart from that, the upper body is pretty standard using no special things/techniques. All is assembled onto a white plate 6x6. 3. Groove which is quite characteristic detail on truck IRL. An easy solution would be to use a plate 4x4 black, but that makes the groove too deep and unproportial for my taste. So I made a black "plate" 5x5, with use of 4 black tiles and half stud jumpers under. 4. Front wheels. To get that correct "hub" design that front wheels has, I use two std rims turned backwards and connected to a long technic pin (x202) and technic brick 1x2. Furthermore, the assembly is SNOT:ed to get that corrct close position. The design became somewhat difficult and I assume you could make this more simple. To me it works just fine though… 5. Lower side of front has SNOT:ed sides put on 2x2 corner plates which are connected to a brick 1x1 w 1 stud (new item 87087) but an ordinary technic brick 1x1 + pin is also OK, but the one i use brings a little more stability. This way headlights get that characteristic long sleek look still keeping all in 6-studs. Also I think the grill looks fine as it gets surrounded by grey surfaces in all directions. 6. Fuel tanks are half stud offset. 7. Mud flaps from flags 2x2 and a piece of cut black tube Now I have revealed all secrets... More/new comments are welcome.

Couldn't agree more.... otherwise it looks good

I like this. It is a nice design and colour scheme. A typical european switcher look indeed. My only suggestion is to put in some more details, I think it's just a little bit too many smooth square surfaces. You could use some SNOT:ed parts, doors, "ladders" (4175) or tiles w bottom groove (2412b) or......or....

Well why not....I'll consider that adventure comic idea

No photoshopping ! It is made of real pieces for sure....

To some extent I think it depends on how old you are... When I grew up in the early 70's there was a whole range of 6-wide trucks, such as sets: 372, 376, 377, 381, 382 and 383. (and probably several others I didn't happen to see/remember right now) So for me personally, the early 70's would be the answer for your question.

I just posted a review of my favorite lego fright train set 4564, and below follos a few pictures of alternative designs and colours as a tribute to this excellent set. Any comments are appreciated. Locomotive in grey and darkgrey. Complete alternative set. Darkgreen loco with original yellow loco.

Lego set 4564 is the second freight train set from the 9V era. Released in 1994 it comes as a complete starter pack with a locomotive, 3 small wagons, an oval track, transformer, speed control, 9v motor, 3 minifigs and a lorry with loading ramp to access the open freight wagon. The yellow locomotive has a typical european diesel shunter style, similar to e.g the Swedish T44 and many other engines. Special pieces of interest are: -Black train windows 2x6x2 which appears for the first, and only, time in this set. -Yellow doors 1x5x4 and 1x2x3. -Black train light prism holders in each end, although the LED and cable is not included. In my opinion 4564 is the best Lego freight train to date. Reason for saying so is that it is a very nicely detailed set. Locomotive has a lovely realistic design, and is full of nice unique parts. Blue box car can be opened with the sliding doors and and unload it's postal packages and letters by turning the wheel connected to a technic parts mechanism. Red hopper also has similar unloading possibilities. And last, the small open freight wagon where a container can be put in place using the loading ramp and that nice 4-wide truck with it's special "hook" which adds a bit of realism when loading/unloading the red and yellow containers. All-in-all verdict: +Nice realistic european look for the locomotive. +Many unique parts included. +Excellent playability due to many functions on locomotive and wagons. +Got me out of my dark ages, when purchased MISB on sale 1996 for (only) EUR 80,- Some things on the negative side: -Truck is only 4-wide, and I do prefer 6-wide trucks. -Wagons are all "short"compared to the locomotive.

Simple yet effective modification.

Reading my history books I've heard a lot about the red army. (from former Soviet union) But now you presented the environmental friendly "green army"

With this relatively limited space, I would suggest to just have a big loop around your town, and make a bigger trainyard to the front left where you can have your rolling stock, train shed, cranes etc etc. Inside the big loop you can build a small town with various buildings. Also my general recommendation is to not put too many houses and vehicules in there, but to leave some open space and roads as well. good luck with your lego town.

I am not very familiar with those automated things....but it looks as you have done a great job. If you could integrate it a little bit better in your city, e.g hiding cables and making it more rigid, it will certainly look even better.

Absolutely amazing collection of Lego trains Also I just stared when seeing your home display. It would be nice to see you building some own creations too.

Indy finds SUB-TILE message