legoboy3998

Here is the topic about them. http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76077&hl=+scale%20+couplers#entry1435105 There are other pics on my Brickshelf. When I get a chance, I'll have to take some step by step pictures. Sal WFB, WI

I have installed O scale Kadee magnetic knuckle couplers on my engines and cats. They can be un coupled manually using a "pick" (a sharpened pencil works well) or you can have magnets mounted under the track for automatic uncoupling. Checking the Kadee site should provide more specifics on operation, and if you search this forum, I started a topic regarding installing them on LEGO trains. I don't yet have a permanent layout, so I haven't toyed much edith the under track magnets, but in real railroading a crew man needs to maually open the coupler, so using the pick is not all that far from prototypical. Sal WFB, WI

Thanks greg3. Yours wasn't the one I remember, buti doo like the look, deffinately a great starting point for me. The one I was originally looking for was blue IIRC, and maybe even on a tow truck. If spring ever gets here, I will start working on some designs. Thanks again, Sal WFB, WI

I want to build a model of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co.'s Operation Lifesaver Trailer. The trailer contains a car that appears to have been hit by a train. I recall seeing a LEGO model of a burned wrecked car that looked really good, but I can't find it now. So I am looking for any and all help in building a 4 wide car that looks like it was wrecked by a train. Thanks in advance. Sal WFB, WI

I didn't even notice the hitch, I did however notice one on the yellow car at the gas station. A trailer would be a great addition. i can picture it, a lawn tractor with removeable cutting deck, mulcher attachment, broom, plow, snow blower and trailer with garbage can broom and shovel, for like $6-$10. LOL , I wish! Come to think of it, LEGO City doesn't seem to get much snow anyway... Sal WFB, WI

Here in the Midwest we use tractors like this all the time to remove snow. There are quite versitel, you have the cutting deck for summer, add a bagger for leaves in fall, and for winter, a plow, broom or snow blower depending on how much snow has fallen. Too bad this one is comming in such a big set, I might have to MOC one. I agree, when I saw these on Brickset today, I had to run out and get two. I wanted two fire chiefs for my new department. I bought two fire trucks, two fire battlepacks and the fire motorcycle, (got a free police helocopter too). I wanted the two fire trucks for the new ladder piece. Doh! the new ladder is two rungs longer than the ladder without side rails. I might have to cut them down to put them on my ladder truck. Sal WFB, WI

Nice building L.T., I really like the design technique. What is the tool the worker is bringing out on the handtruck? Sal WFB, WI

It would be nice if LEGO would enable the additional channels with a "new" remote. In this topic, the OP mentions being able to program his universal TV remote for PF, I wonder if this could allow accessing those additional channels? Maybe by using the different device selections (i.e. tv, cable, vcr, etc. Sal WFB, Wi

Thats is interesting, I wonder if this could allow for more features? Sal WFB, WI

I'm thinking it would be even worse. 12V motors require more power than 9V. in other words, if you were trying to run a 9V motor with a 9V transformer, (Based on the statement from BBB) it would sound like all 9V would not make it around the loop. So your (V motor set on the highest power seeting, may only be going half speed. Same would be true for the 12v. However, if this is the case, putting 12V on the track and running a 9V motor would possibly work. The statement from BBB raised a question to me. Why is there a connection issue? the rails being used seem to be garden railroading rails. If so, there are connectors avaliable for them. I wonder why Ben needs to reinvent the wheel so to speak in stead of use the existing connectors. Sal WFB, WI

That would be what model railroaders do. Just mount the switches on the front edge of your train table near the switch it controls. Sal WFB, WI

Now that I think about it, back when PF was first avaliable, there was talk about a built in way to get upto 64 channels. I have a pDF called "LEGO Power Fuctions RC version 1.20" that seems to give all the specs and technical stuff about the PF system. I wonder if anyone ever looked into the 64 channels thing or not. If I remember right it had something to do with being possible, but it wasn't readily accesabile with the current remotes or something. Sal WFB, WI

You could run your trains on the red channels, and your switches on the blue channels. That would allow you to run trains and 4 switches. depending on how many trains you plan to actually run at a time, you can use 7 channels for switches. I tend to only run one train at a time, so all three of my locomotives are on red (or blue, can't remember which) channel 1, so I have 7 open channels. If I ever get a layout where I can run multiple trains, i'll consider putting some on other channels, but it is not necessary at this time. Another possible option would be to divide your layout into sections. In thory you could have multiple switches on the same channel so long as they are far enough apart to say be on opposite sides of the room. That would increase the likelyhood of them being blocked by structures or rollingstock or just out of range. I have never tried this however so it may not actually work as planned. Sal WFB, WI

In regards to the "dollhouse-like" aspect, I disagree. The only real difference between the Playmobile and LEGO buildings, is Playmobile has adopted a modular concpt. (i.e. you can connect different sets to make larger buildings.) LEGO has offered hospitals, police stations, fire stations, houses, etc. I think the only real reason the Plymobile sets look bigger, is scale, Playmobile figures are huge compared to LEGO minifigures. The other thing is, where LEGO makes one set, Playmobile makes a whole theme. Case in point, the Playmobile School. LEGO would not need to make the whole school as one set. Make the classroom a set, the gym a set, the cafateria a set. Than take a hint from the modular line and make them conncetable with technic pins and stackable, and you have a school that can be as big or small as you want. You can do the same with a house theme (i.e. Friends, LEGO has made plenty of sets, but if they added floors and walls to many of them you could build a large house.) Same would work for a mall, zoo, hospital, etc. Sal WFB, WI

Speaking of Playmobil, I picked up a recent Playmobil cagalog the other day to page through. It is funny, most of the things mentioned on here that people want, Playmobil makes... Making one wonder if it is marketable to playmobile, why does LEGO think it isn't. I also noticed a lot of similarities between to two companies in terms of products. Sal WFB, WI

In the U.S., a pickup like that would be used by a track inspector or MOW foreman. The track inspector would "set on" the rails at a grade crossing, than drive down the tracks and ispect them. Once he reaches the end of where he wanted to inspect, he would "set off" at a grade crossing. An MOW foreman may not drive on track, they also have larger trucks with hi-rail wheels allowing them to drive on the rails also. It helps to peform work in areas that don't have access roads. I have built quite a few based on acutal vehicles used by the WSOR. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=5670365 Sal WFB, WI

Looks great! Nice detail and I like the color. Sal WFB, WI

I use Papilio Inkjet Photo Glossy Adhesive Paper. It is a touch thick, but works well. It is glossy so really looks good next to the glossy finish of the LEGO brick. I think I am going to give the Papilio Inkjet Self-Adhesive Glossy Photo Film, it says it is thinner that the photo paper. Here is what the photo paper looks like on a model: More examples avaliable on my Brickshelf. Sal WFB, WI

I'm glad you like it LT. The bags are 2 plates thick, we use 50 pound bags, so they are pretty thin on the palette. I think a palette that looks like a few people have bought some bags would look great. Sal WFB, WI

I was unaware of that. I just assumed since they created the program (LDD) and probably the PAB database as well, that they would have made them somehow compatable. I also assumed when you clicked the "check avaliability" button it connected to the internet and checked the online database each time, as apposed to checking an internal database within LDD. Sal WFB, WI

Back in DBM days, how did LDD know what bricks were buyable? I know it had the button to check, LDD must have somehow checked the PAB database right? Could LEGO put this feature back in? Not being a programer, it wouldn't seem that difficult. If someone could create and maintain such a file would be great. Sal WFB, WI

Yes, driving those skid steer loaders is a blast. Especially off road... He could have gotten that scar from bouncing around in the loader if he drives real fast on uneven terrain, or tiping the loader over... We've done it... That usually makes me a little grumpy. He kinda looks scared to me with the sweat dripping down. He could be affraid if the guy driving the loader isn't very good. Those things can really get the dump box moving on the truck if they bump it. Or if you are in the back of the truck or working on the ground near the loader and the guy driving isn't quite used to the controls of the machine, it can get quite scary. I agree with you about everything LT. The light on the loader is low, and the dump truck looks very odd. Sal WFB, WI

LT, You always impress. Working Landscaping I always enjoy your argricultural themed shops. Also Working in landscaping I have plenty of expierence with Ferterlizer. Heres a quick LDD version of a palette of ferterlizer bags. The ones we buy from our supplier are green and white. Studs left on to allow staking, but you could use tiles for the second layer on the bags. Sal WFB, WI

Interesting Superkalle, I was not aware of this feature. Thanks for clearing it up. So the stud does "disappear" LOL. Sal WFB, WI

What I do is have PAB open while building. Than I can bounce back and fourth to see if parts I want to use are in PAB. After a while you start to "know" what parts are there and aren't. The custom palette idea is good, but timeconsuming and requires updating by the user. One nice feature is the BOM built into KDD. IIRC one of the older versions, had a button to "check avaliability", and if parts were in the model that could not be purchased they would be highlighted. One would think this feature would be possible to keep even with the extended palette. Since LDD connects to the internet on start up, could there not be a way for the program, upon request by the user, to check the PAB database? Perhaps I should post that in the wanted features thread. Sal WFB, WI