HoMa

Hi, The train motor has a fixed wire: The new AAA battery box: See more pictures at: www.holgermatthes.de/bricks Holger

As far as I know there is one mold for the big train wheels which molds 4x flanged and 2x blinds in one production run. All 6 elements automatically are packed in one polybag. (This was proven by the LugBulk orders at various LUGs where the black wheels were only available as pre-packed polybag with 4+2 wheels.) I would say, this would not be changed for the red wheels, even if the blind red wheel is not used for the Toy Story Western Train steamer. Holger

Hi all, I've just realised that the inventory for the Toy Story Western Train 7597 is available: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=7597-1 It's good to see some cool parts in colors which have not been available before: never seen in black before ... 12 of them in green! red cow catcher 4x Red Slope, Curved 2 x 4 x 2/3 No Studs 2x red blind drivers (same as in Emerald Night, but red!) 4x red drivers (same as in Emerald Night, but red!) 4x little red train wheel with axle hole Instructions als PDF are available via brickset.com: http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=7597-1 Looking forward to get this set! Holger

Hi, label printers like the Brother P-Touch ( http://www.brother-usa.com/ptouch/modeldet...DUCTID=PT2430PC ) offer a great variety of tape to be printed on. even "white on clear" seems to work. This might a good solution for smaller stickers not larger then the width of the tape. Years ago (2000/2001) I was happy to find a copying service agency in Aachen (Germany) which had a copying maschine with white toner instead of black toner. And I was happy to find a clear, head resistance sticker sheet in A4 size. You can see the result on on my BR 101 engine: Holger

Hi LEGO9vtrainfan, welcome and good to see you here! Your videos are still my personal favourite videos in the world of LEGO trains online! And I have to say that your ICE 3 version on the smooth curves was the initial impact for me to build my own ICE 3 (after having this train in mind for several years). Thank you! As you said, space is always limited and you need to re-arrange your appartement to create a loop using the smooth-technology. I only had once the chance to set up such a layout. So I haven't had time to test all/more configurations on powering the high speed trains. Maybe you could share some of your experiences here? + How many (standard?) 9V motors are used to drive your trains, e.g. ICE 3, Thalys or Eurostar? + How long is your loop in total numbers of straight 9V tracks? + How many train track contacts do you use? (One each XX pieces of track?) + Do you use any customized speed regulators? If so, what is the customization about? I wonder if such high speed experiences would be possible with Power Function trains also? If you use multiples of the latest 9V train motor ( http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8866-1 ) you might also get fast, long trains? Anyway, good that your are here right now and that you share not only your great videos! Holger

The tankers are 8-wide and build in the early 2000's using the grey Panels 4 x 4 x 6 Quarter Cylinder from 7106 Star Wars Droid Escape (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=7106-1). See more of my 8-wide train stuff at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=matthes http://www.holgermatthes.de/bricks_us/index.htm Holger

Hi, just got some more information from Ben: XL drivers will be available around the end of the January in Red, Black and Dark Gray. Holger ... in behalf of Ben

Hi all, recently I've recieved some prototypes of XL Drivers and Blind Drivers of Big Ben Bricks www.bigbenbricks.com. The size is similar to the old spoked wheels from the 70's: The new XL wheel comes in a standard and a "blind driver" version, both have a counterweight similar to the Emerald Night wheel. This picture shows all four sizes from Big Ben Bricks, from left to right: XL ... the new size L ... same size as the Emerald Night wheel M ... same size as the old LEGO wheel from #7750 S ... standard LEGO train wheel size Every next size you need another plate height to get them in right order. I used these XL wheels in a Power Function BR 23. The loco has one train weight brick and one XL motor. This gives enough weight so the wheels do not slip and they have enough grip to pull a tender and 4 old, badly running waggons. The recargeable battery box is in the tender. See pics and videos at: my flickr album NOTE: I don't know when these XL wheels will be officially available, I don't know in whick colors they will come and I also don't know how much they will be. Please check Big Ben Bricks www.bigbenbricks.com for further information. Holger

Hi all, I didn't had time to read the whole thread. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=328898 This gallery provides images as GIF for all Hobby Train models ... As member of the Hobby Train Crew I can say that we did all models in MLCad, but we were not allowed to share these files online. These files were used for the rendering of the models for the Box art and the inspiring sheet. But now fans have created various ressources to download all the instructions. Holger P.S. Congratulations to all the proud winners of the recent Train Contest!

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=128298 This image shows the pantograph slightly narrower on my Stuttgart Tram. The building technics are the same as for the croco pantographs. Holger

Image source at bahnbilder.de The Swiss Crocodiles (Be 6/8 and Ce 6/8 ... I don't know the differences very well) came in dark green and brown in real life. Märklin wanted to paint one in black with red wheels and rods like a German Steamer recently but that didn't work out. Only a model will be available for the Märklin Insider Club. In other countries like Austria and Germany "crocodile like" engines where used. The Austrians came in red, similar to the LEGO set 4551. In Germany - as far as I know - "crocodile like" engines came in dark green. Holger

ENTERED As category 1 entry I post this MOC of a old German Freight Train. This trains includes a BR 80 steamer (with Power Functions for drive and lights), a weathered flat bed loaded with some train wheels, a box car (recognise the old LEGO logo?) and a condola. This model is inspired by a Märklin starter set, similar to this one: Märklin starter set See some more pictures and a little video sequence at my Flickr website: Freight Train at Flickr Some more information about the real BR 80 steamer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DRG_Class_80 http://www.bahnbilder.de/name/galerie/kate...loks~BR+80.html Enjoy, Holger

ENTERED As category 2 entry I post this MOC of a BE 6/8, a so called Swiss Crocodile. This model uses Power Functions (1x rechargeable battery box, 1x reciever, 2x medium motor). The wheels are from Emerald Night, the first and last wheel is a medium sized Big Ben Bricks train wheel. The engine is build in brown except the grill 1x2 bricks which are reddisch brown. See some more pictures and a little video sequence at my Flickr website: Swiss Crocodile at Flickr Some more information about the real engine (in German only): http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweizer_Krokodil http://www.bahnbilder.de/name/galerie/kate...oks~Be+6~8.html Enjoy, Holger

A long time ago, in the early 2000's Ben did some records in pulling LEGO 6-wide freight cars. Check out: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=281532 Holger

My first train set was #182 way back in the 70's. During my childhood I've focused on the 12 V grey area, building once a huge layout from ideabook #7777: As AFOL I got some 9V sets as well but I do not care much about collecting set, I prefer building my own trains designs these days. Holger

No, the youtube videos do not show my ICE. But I was heavyly inspired by this: http://www.youtube.com/user/LEGO9vtrainfan James Mathis created the 6 wide ICE virtually: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=4940 I myself created the smooth curves using straight track. Both is used in perfect harmony in these videos ... Holger

(some locos I've build some years ago) Hi, I'm Holger (aka HoMa) from Germany and I've just recently discovered this forum. I've been building LEGO train MOCs since 2000 starting with a railcrane http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=1520 Some highlights of my hobby: The LEGO Desert Express once brought me to Namibia (Africa) where I ride the real train, as Tim I was involved in the LEGO Hobby Train group designing 10183 ... See more at my website: http://www.holgermatthes.de/bricks_us/index.htm My latest MOC will hopefully be an entry for the ongoing contest ... Holger

The train with it's 8 units is ca. 3.5 metres (~11.5 feet) long. Due to the snot builing of the roof the units are really heavy. I was surprised that "only" 4 motors are enough to let it run like you see it on the video. My ICE 3 could ride on standard straight and curved track and also goes through switches. I use the concept of "smooth curves using just straight track elements" for a much more realistic layout for long LEGO trains. 23 straight elements makes a quarter circle. And yes, I own some curved tracks as well :-] Holger

Hi all, find some short videos of my ICE 3 train in motion on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/holgermatthes...57619739152669/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/holgermatthes...57619739152669/ Holger

Hi Holodoc and all the others! That was the background for my question. But I have another train MOC wip which will be finished soon. I will use this one for the contest. Thanks! Good to see a train related forum here! Holger

Hi, could a train MOC take part in this contest which was build an presented online (brickshelf, mocpages, etc.) before August 1st? Holger