roamingstop

Very nice... dropping in a PP3 --> PF is a great idea, but it will have significantly lower runtime. I did a test with a 4512 modified trains somewhere on this forum, and got maximum of 2 hours or so.

Other than photo albums, spend a bit of time going through... * Ideas book 7777 (link in the 7777 Redux contest) * Checking the Bricklink.com site; and see the photos of the various models. Certainly if you have the base plate you can see the part in bricklink, and then checking the catalog entry, work out which sets it was in. E.g. this link shows all the train pieces. The first 10-15 items are train bases.

It might also be one of the B models; e.g. 7740 has a crocodile shape. Similarly for 162. 183 could be a red crocodile (with a bit of help); similarly 723. 7735 also had an interesting B model

I'd bought a couple of these via the Bricklink store. Although I would have no issues to make these myself, it was more a cost vs time decision (I had no time). The end result is pretty good, although the tight junction to the 9V battery means you often fear ripping the plug off. Because the two lines C1 and C2 are not connected, the power supply wont switch on a PF light. First the connector must be fed through a PF IR receiver in order to generate the correct control lines. A 9V battery is too wide to fit into a 2stud gap; it ideally needs 3 studs to lay lengthwise. I modified some 4512 locomotives to do this; and it works well. In the tests I did (somewhere on this forum) the 9V lasted for about 1.8 hours continuous use pulling a set of 4-5 12V carts.

Very nice loco - but somehow the photos make we want to put a face onto it - a little like those of Thomas The Tank Engine... Two Faced Rodney for example? Push-Me-Pull-You? The build looks great; although it is not clear how well the two M motors can work in parallel to pull a hefty load. Any hints?

And that is certainly good inspiration - so thanks. I will need to do some planning to make this work! I also had a plan to make a TEE Observation car in Red & Yellow for the 7777 redux challenge - but no time.

If you can get it - Emerald Night. It will soon be discontinued (or already is). Then worry about how to motorise it afterwards; all the info is on this forum!

Thanks for the ideas... sone nice ones but nothing really grabbed me yet. I will continue looking; and also visiting real photos of locomotives. [Edit] Perhaps not quite the right colour scheme; but the Bernina Crocodile could be a nice implementation in 12V... [other link]

Probably not the right place for the post; but I will service a quick solution from our friends - Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=plastic+storage+drawers&x=0&y=0&sprefix=plastic+stora Most of my bricks are in versions of this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plastic-Drawer-Unit-Shallow-Drawers/dp/B002R1MNE6/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1322385025&sr=8-9 Which (in Switzerland at least) could be disassembled and combined to make drawers 8 high. Draper obviously make expensive things; but a trip to www.farnell.co.uk and / or RS Electronics will also show many plastic storage options for cheap. Finally - does B&Q still exist?

Ive managed to piece together the eating car, saloon car and 7819 postal wagon from the old 12V Yellow and Red series. One day I will add the sleeping wagon as well. The question is what type of Locomotive should be pulling the series? Im happy to moc bits with what I have lying around... A similar locomotive could also pull a couple of 7820 postal wagons plus a moc based on 7819. Any hints of what it should look like would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks [Edit] I also have the small 7735 Freight Locomotive; perhaps a big brother? I could easily make a long nose type locomotive (e.g. AM843 series from Switzerland), but am not sure whether they would normally pull such wagon sets. Im not a trainhead.

It also seems that Emerald Night was been sold out in S@H-USA... and that people are being told it is now discontinued (by Lego Customer Service). It still is listed in Europe... but I dont know for how much longer.

Last time I checked; the water flowed as hundreds of thousends small transparent 1x1 tiles and round bricks; a few cheese slopes where the calcium broke off inside.

I based it upon prices which we use at work for similar sized plastic prototypes. Sometimes it is more; sometimes less. But it is for prototypes, and not complete moulded pieces. Hence quality is ok, but it is not robust for play. A full blown mould with injection plastic is likely to be much much more.

Well if any are missing take a short trip to Callanais and asks the stones to produce one for you. Might take a while for the next full moon to arrive, but the bleeding should have stopped by then. My concern with such a small thin ram (which would look great) is the resilence over a long time of use. However the idea to talk with Brickarms is probably worthwhile. Alternatively ME Models who recently did the new Lego Train Track also have custom made pieces which look pretty fantastic. Having a rapid prototype assembled version would typically cost around 2000-3000 Euro for a batch of 10 prototypes. You would need to plan how to assemble them; and also machine parts separetely but it should be doable. I guess Brickarms have a much tighter packaging volume, and a good customer base, to make these things work. Anyhow lets hope the bleeding stops before reaching Stornoway hospital.

The pieces come from the old <insert that tiresome argument> sets http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=45406pb02 http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=30619 This allows Red, Yellow, White, Orange. The trick is that the junior elements have a rearward slope which means you cant place them directly in line with a 6 wide body. Hence I hid this with some recessed doors which make it look grand. I have to say the orange and blue is really cool - and a reminder of the Dutch liveries. I should perhaps build a fleet of them...

The pieces come from the old <insert that tiresome argument> sets http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=45406pb02 http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=30619 This allows Red, Yellow, White, Orange. The trick is that the junior elements have a rearward slope which means you cant place them directly in line with a 6 wide body. Hence I hid this with some recessed doors which make it look grand. I have to say the orange and blue is really cool - and a reminder of the Dutch liveries. I should perhaps build a fleet of them...

I did some variations on a theme of Loco from 7839 sometime ago http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=58534&st=0&p=1042632&fromsearch=1entry1042632

Wow... this should be listed to the 7777 redux contest. It would win hands down... excellent in scale designs.

For those who might be intrigued - I will take some photos of the bricks in the next few days. Definitely must softer than Lego, but still compatible with 1xX bricks.

I recently picked up a bunch of bricks and models from Switzerland, and one bag contains a load of blue and white Montini bricks. A quick google search shows they were a 1960's Dutch attempt to clone Lego. Does anyone know any more about these bricks? I dont plan to keep them but would take some photos if anyone was interested. Thanks

This is indeed a surprise; I wonder if it is related to reducing the size of the Universe team. However I suspect with a good interaction of the AFOL community (and EB resources) LDD could become a positive boon for people. LDD also seemed to be too individual - and not a marketplace to buy ideas / instructions from others.

Most of these marble based blocks look really good and would be easy to manufacture and produce. The issue is more with the smaller items - you have to remember how will a small child be able to open it? If the clutch power is too strong how do you get two 2x2 plates apart from the block inverter? If you use the 1x1 round brick with studs at both ends, how do you safely get them to seperate?

It reminds me a lot of the models from Blokbricks (look for the Locomotives section) but somehow this seems to be better.

Of course - hut I thought this has the most power. Crocodile are so "last year". Actually because of the Alps, there are some interesting crocodiles in Swiss railroads; and well as shorter versions for the Austrian friends; and many other heavy duty haulers. A nice one is 12320 which was having a 'fitness test' in Winterthur a couple of weeks back.