j3tang

Ok, I just thought there was a better alternative :p Cheapest I've seen is $99 + $35 shipping on BrinkLink, so i think it works out to about the same as your price above. For $70+shipping, I see one without the box and minifig. I'm kinda anal retentive, so I've gotta have the box and minifig :p Apologies for going off topic :) Back on topic ... I've always liked how the TTX looks with the BNSF, but being that it's so ridiculously expensive for the BNSF itself, I don't think you'd want to spend another small fortune on the TTX?

mind me asking where you got your BNSF? I've been trying to find one at a decent price but I just can't seem to pull the trigger on one.

anyone considered doing a color mod of the My Own Train Hopper (10017) to fit in with the Emerald Night coach? There's really only a handful of pieces you need to turn brown from the original blue. You could throw in some more brown accents to give it the tan/brown theme. I was going to give this a go, just wondering if anyone has tried it yet I realize there's a difference in that one is cargo versus the other being passenger, but it still has a good looking color scheme :)

actually, there is little to no load on the hook. It seems to do an alright job while extending forward (i.e. not in a raised position), but it has a lot of trouble extending if it's pointing up due to it's own weight. I might just take the lift apart and rebuild it (the entire book #2), but thanks for the insight. I sure hope it fixes the problem :p

I took apart another technic model and took the 24T gear and swapped the 24T clutch gear out with it. It actually works slightly better, and I can see how the clutch has it's use here. As I'm extending the boom, it feels like that gear I swapped in is really grinding its way in order to get the boom to extend. The fact that there's no bushing inside forces the gear to drive the smaller spur gear. I hear clicks as the spur gear slips from engagement with that larger 24T gear. I'm now hesitating on whether I should replace it (for the safety of the model) :)

I hope this topic is appropriate and in the right place. As a non-US AFOL (I’m Canadian), I’ve been aware of the fact that the USD conversions don’t come close to the CAD equivalent most of the time. Due to this, I’ve always wanted to make a trip across the border to Buffalo, NY, to pick up some sets at a better price. I don’t go very often, but when I do, I usually cross from Niagara Falls and I don’t think I’ve come across anywhere during my shopping expeditions any places that has a good selection of Lego. Can boardies recommend me a good location to try when in Buffalo? I think the closest big mall is Walden Galeria, but that doesn’t seem to do it. I realize not all places stock a huge selection, so the stuff I’m looking for mostly are the larger Technic sets, Trains, or any places that would tend to stock some more exclusive or hard to find stuff. If a fellow Canadian has any input, that would be awesome too! Yes, I realize it might get ugly when I come home across the border with a trunk full of expensive Lego

thanks guys for the comments! I'm not too concerned about the line problem as i've heard a few other people mention this issue too, but I'm going to make an attempt with the boom extension problem. Just to be clear, what's referred to as the clutch is the white 24-T gear that I've circled in the pic below right? The one to replace that's in the vehicle is the one that you can see looking at the boom from the top (not the one from behind closer to the motor)? And the regular 24-T gear is the one I boxed in the pic below (which I do not have a spare of). If what I'm understanding is correct, can someone explain the reasoning behind it? is it because the white clutch has some kind of a bushing in the middle for the axle to go through, which is what is causing the "slipping"? whereas the other one does not have a bushing ...

I voted Fast Flyer as well because that set I bought not knowing it was a Jamie Berard creation. Not that I didn't love the others, but capturing my attention/interest without the name attached to it was bonus points for Jamie.

edit: crap, didn't realize you couldn't edit the title, as it's kinda not very descriptive at the moment. I searched and there weren’t really that many topics focused on discussing the 8421 Mobile Crane Truck, mostly just a handful of threads asking specifically about something. So I decided to start one up to see if someone could help me out with an issue of mine. I recently just started playing with it again and I found that I could not extend the boom. The way it works is the motor basically has a forward and reverse motion, and depending on what position one of the levers is in, it would be controlling the extension/retraction of the hook’s line or the boom’s length. I have no problems extending/retracting the hook’s line, but when I put the lever in the other position to control the boom, it will not extend properly. I have to give it a hand by gently pulling on it as I use the motor to extend it. I can retract it fine when it is extended. It almost feels like the weight of the boom itself combined with some kind of gear or motor ‘slip’ (???) is preventing the boom from extending. But as soon as I gently pull/guide it along, it works … well … ok. If I don't help it along during the extension, it just ends up extending the hook's line instead. Also, I find that I have to constantly go back and forth between boom and the line control with the lever to extend the boom such that there is enough line to the hook (I’m not sure how to explain this part correctly). Anyways, I’ve taken the boom section right off the truck and disassembled a good portion of it, but I don’t see anything wrong with the gearing and nothing seems to be out of place or misaligned. What am I missing? Was there something wrong with my build? I’m tempted to take this boom section apart and build it from scratch again. I’ll be getting my money’s worth I guess by building it a second time, but it’s still kinda annoying by the same token. Anyone have any ideas?

I've sort of hinted at this earlier on in the thread regarding not seeing it in the following steps and I explained the situation to the TLG rep I spoke with to get the extra pieces. She just 'noted' what I mentioned but it really helps to know that someone in the up and up notices :)

I think he means 9V (for 9 Volt) but nobody has bothered to correct it until you

Thanks Jamie (wow!) and Mark Bellis for the clarification! I've since contacted TLG for a replacement tan brick but I could give the half bushing a try before it arrives :)

Thanks for both of your replies! Unfortunately, as much sense as it makes, they did not give me enough pieces for this. Since I didn't quite understand what was happening (and the subsequent step, step#6, didn't show the brick in there) I omitted it like another member did above. By the time I was finished, I did not have a spare 1x1 tan brick with hole left over (or any color for that matter). I almost feel stupid calling, but because I don't usually have spare parts like these I might just have to to satisfy my anal retentive-ness.

do you have the Santa Fe Super Chief and cars? I think they'd look nice with your MOC, pics with it would be nice too!

and just so no one thinks i'm crazy ...

hmm .. then there must be a different .pdf for NA and EU? Either way though, the pic you posted helped :)

I don't have access to my image hosting server at work at the moment, but it looks like your image has answered my question. The parts required for step 5 you've posted has 4 different parts. Steps 4 & 5 from my instructions are building the exact same thing, but those 4 different parts are split into 2 steps PLUS there are 2 additional pieces in step 5 (which are the 1x1 brick and 1x1 gold stud). I think there's a booboo in my instructions booklet (along with the electronic .pdf version on TLG website). At first, I wondered if this is a problem with the North American set of instructions. But Duq, you are in Killaloe? That's in Killaloe, Ontario? Because I'm in Toronto ... Ok. I suspected that was the case, but I wasn't sure. Something about that step just comes across as having some issues. The arrows aren't even aligning to the actual components being added/built. The response above from Duq actually cleared things up, even though (s)he didn't know it :) Thanks

Didn't want to start a new topic just for this, but could someone explain to me what's happening in Book 1, page 6, step 5? Where exactly is the 1x1 brick with the gold 1x1 round stud being placed?? Then, looking at Book 1, page 14, the 1:1 blow up shows nothing of the sort described above.

I'm a fairly new member with a pretty high number. New as I may be, but I still rule (as King Mathis)!

This is an edited version of another post in the trains section, but it basically tells the story about how I got back into Lego: It was actually my university days that rekindled my love for Lego. One of the new-found friends in university made mention of a Lego outlet store close by and I was addicted once again ever since. The things that caught my eye were Technic and Trains. But during those days I lived a poor student life and could not afford much, and especially not Lego! Alas, I saved up enough for the re-released Metroliner and loved it! Soon thereafter, I paid many regular visits to this outlet store and every once in a while I would bring something home from it :) There was a time when the "My Own Train" cars were all on sale and I hesitated (due to monetary concerns) and by the time I had made up my mind to bite the bullet, they were all sold out! I hesitated on the Burlinton Northern Santa Fe and the Engine Shed (which was on sale) and I really regret it as well! I could have just eaten Kraft dinner for a month to make up for rent money :) Like what another member had said, with deeper pockets now, there is more I can afford and enjoy.

Sign me up! I've been playing with Lego since my childhood and my university days actually rekindled my love for Lego. One of the new-found friends in university made mention of a Lego outlet store close by and I was addicted once again ever since. The things that caught my eye were Technic and Trains. But during those days I lived a poor student life and could not afford much, and especially not Lego! Alas, I saved up enough for the re-released Metroliner and loved it! Soon thereafter, I paid many regular visits to this outlet store and every once in a while I would bring something home from it :) In terms of trains, I ended up purchasing the Santa Fe Superchief and one of the cars and the cargo train set. There was a time when the "My Own Train" cars were all on sale and I hesitated (due to monetary concerns) and by the time I had made up my mind to bite the bullet, they were all sold out! I hesitated on the Burlinton Northern Santa Fe and the Engine Shed (which was on sale) and I really regret it as well! I could have just eaten Kraft dinner for a month to make up for rent money :) I've since found locally 4 of the "My Own Train" cars (still missing the tanker, though that seems to be not liked by very many, yet pretty expensive at the same time in the after market). Just last night I was real excited to take delivery of the Emerald Night (but sad to say that instructions and stickers were mangled and I had already found a missing piece as I was building the passenger car). I've since contacted Lego to rectify this issue. Due to space constraints where I am currently living (and part of my OCD) I generally only like to build and display (in shelves). I actually don't think I'll setup a layout any time soon. I'd like to consider myself more a collector. I love my trains and I'm lucky to be working in a mass rapid transit environment and can comfortably afford Lego as a hobby! What more can I ask for? I will never make the mistake of letting sets go by ever again :) My current collection: These are sets that I'm still on the lookout for, and if anyone who has multiple sets wouldn't mind letting one go to a fellow train fanatic / collector at a reasonable price, do let me know! Edit: And my train setup :) Can't find space to display the Metroliner and the Hobby Train is still sealed.

Does anyone know if there is a database of officially Lego released wallpapers? The are some current ones that are still on the Lego website, but is there somewhere with the older wallapers? Specifically older Technic ones? I've also not seen any "official" Lego released train wallpapers before ...

I am in the exact same predicament with my beloved Williams F1 racer :( And coincidentally, because I've got no where to display it because of its size, I leave it in a shelf inside my closet. There's definitely no UV getting to it at all. Thanks for the tip for the sticker sheet! wow .. anal retentive ........... and I like that! I'm going to have to start doing that too. Aside from the Williams F1 racer above, I've got a few other technic sets which are giving me problems. The stickers that are applied to the curved plates start to peel the quickest.

Along similar line as other members have already experienced, when I go to the cashier at the store to pay for the Lego, cashier asks "Would you like a gift receipt for that?" Second thing I find somewhat funny, but mostly annoying (to the point it makes me want to scream at them), is when someone refers to more than one piece of Lego as "legos". First they pluralize it, then they lower case it too.

thanks for the info! I realize I could probably have looked that up about the boggies, but it's great to actually hear the experience from someone. I've got the Emerald Night on it's way and have already allocated a spot for it in my display (more on that below). This info really helps me to plan out how much room to allocate for this hobby train set (or even to make the decision to keep this set sealed as there may not be more room for it) actually ... neither :) I've been collecting for approximately 10-12 years, and I say "collecting" as I'm more of a collect-and-display person within display cases and shelves rather than having them incorporated into a big cityscape, etc. My Lego collection is very modest and part of the reason being is that space is limited for display purposes at my current home. I do remember that I have certain sets still sealed and this hobby train was one of them. I've recently done some rearranging of a few things and have some room to start opening up older sets. A few off the top of my head that I've got stored away still sealed (and they're not necessarily anything special by any standards) are: Creator Stegosaurus (childhood dino nerd), Technic Crane Truck (that I had to jump through hoops to purchase from the US since they don't sell it in Canada), Hobby Train, a few "My Own Train" cars, and the Boeing 787. I actually wouldn't mind showing what I have on display at home, but it looks like collections are just shown in whatever relevant discussion threads here: somewhat different from a lot of other forums I frequent where there are dedicated threads for showing of specific collections of some sort. I'm still new to this community, but doing a lot of browsing and so far I love what I see :)