roamingstop

There are very similar cranes here in CH. The boom stays (more or less) horizontal during most of the lifting operation when laying tracks. The boom lifts higher when lifting things from adjacent tracks. A secondary horizontal boom extends from the rear (of the jib) to provide a counter weight. Cant find any photos at the moment.

They are on shop at Home, US http://shop.lego.com/ByTheme/Leaf.aspx?cn=632&d=70

UK - Yes US - Yes Switzerland - NO Since these are the ones I regularly check... I dont know for others. Interesting that it is necessary to click 'all offers'.

Just a heads up to people - yesterday I purchased a load of PF stuff (cables, lights, motors, rechargable batteries etc) and all of them were listed as 'sale prices' - even when not officially on sale. I think the deal worked when I had more than 4 PF items at one time. The only thing not on deal was the 'PF Upgrade set'. Interestingly the flexible track was also discounted. Ive not checked again this morning - but the prices (on line) were listed as: Ir Receiver 9.77 M Motor 5.09 XL Motor 6.79 20" Wire 2.97 Light 4.67 Rechargaeble Box 36.54 Flex Track 19.54 (Note: it might help to change load your basket and change countries - then change back to the UK).

Agreed. Thanks for moving WF.

Just a quick comment for those who might be interested. Our local Migros (In Switzerland) has put a load of Agents 2.0 stuff on the shelves - including Swamp rescue (x3) etc. Im not into these models - but I can check to see what stock they have if people are interested. Ive just no idea whether it is worth clearing their stock for other members. Please note: Swiss prices are definitely not cheap. The Swamp Rescue was selling for 34.90 (CHF).

So someone else has discovered the joy of buying Lego Shop at Home in the UK and shipping out to Switzerland... Im English - but have lived in Switzerland for 9 years. Ive regularly checked out the import / export side of things. The only way I have made things work out in my favour is to purchase items, get them sent to my parents (in UK) and then pick them up in hold luggage when I next visit. By the time you buy in England - pay postage to a UK address, then repackage, get posted in UK (use royalmail based estimates using box sizes and weights from bricklink) to Switzerland you only save around 20-40 CHF (especially for the large sets). Postage is typically 30-40 GBP per large box. That assumes you do not get stopped for import duty in Switzerland - which is based on import price AND the postage costs. When looking at buying items: e.g. Fire Brigade; Carousel; Grand Emporium etc I found I would save at most 10-15 CHF max (per item). And if I shop around (for non-exclusives) using toppriese.ch I can often get the same deal here in Switzerland. E.g. Creator Cabriolet worked out cheaper to buy via a toppreise.ch deal than getting shipped from the UK. I recently bought the Carousel from ebay.co.uk and got shipped here for around 60% of the Swiss price. But stung by customs (for 80 CHF) because the seller had put the full price value. In then end I saved around 80 CHF. Not to be 'sniffed' at by any stretch - but nothing to really make a business from. The whole thing only really works if you regularly hop between countries, which isn't what it sounds like you are planning, so I think this is a bad idea and Mr Import Guy man will target individuals who have multiple deliveries to the same Address. The Swiss are very good at this.

Loopbacks are not really such a big issue - more that I believe the PF supply expects the supply rails to be a certain way around to work properly - and that would mean you would always need to place the engine the same way around on the track. The beauty with a voltage bridge is that you should not have to care anymore. For those with an electronics edge... Key words reverse polarity protection or Full Bridge Diode Rectify http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=149960&page=8 Next time I go through a Marklin shop I will look to see how they could pick up voltage. The Scaletrix brushes approach is probably the easiest.

You have phrased something I have been thinking about - identically. Basically the bogey's would need to have metalled wheels to pick up the power supply; and a zenner diode bridge to compensate for reversed polarity (when doing a loop for example). Alternatively use a couple of small power MOS-FETS. Thus you could in principle have a small brick which picks up the voltages (any polarity) and delivers them into a 9V PF style format (+9V, 0V, CC1 and CC2). It could also provide a link into the IR remote control - making (in my eyes) the best of both worlds. i.e. Powered track which allows full PF remote control (unfortunately not as powerful as the Marklin digital controls which control encode pulses onto the power supply rails). Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss things - I was also quietly looking out for a dead 9V motore but since you wrote up the idea independantly I will creep out of the wood work.

From a PM perspective a combined pack probably makes sense - one less product etc. But what would be nice is an expansion pack of straights only; or as previously indicated, increase the straight to curve ratio. Oh wait - this will mean a new product number for the new pack... In the meantime the old 9V curves will flood the market until someone can find a new use for them.

Out of 10 sets (not all Technic) recently opened Ive had around 4-5 pieces missing; always quickly replaced free of charge by Lego after reporting on their website. Mostly it is for minor items (e.g. tan 1x2 with 1 stud) but sometimes at the critical point (finishing a window assembly). Oh well. Lego offer fanstatic fast service - especially for people in Switzerland! And it is not something I find frustraiting.

Some of the links regularly appearing are http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320502750231 and http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320502750537 or http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320499383537 Im not after all the 'exclusive' bits - rather I think the scale and size of the model is somewhat better than the current one on 'S@H' (hard to find etc). Thanks for the replies

Im not sure if this is the right place to ask the question - but will try. I was interested in picking up a copy of Vesta's Windmill - 4999 (?) - and found a few available on Ebay coming from China - either in damaged box or no box or mint condition. Somehow the broken english of the description is making me think seriously about whether it is worth it - are the pieces genuine (it does not matter what is written in the description). I unfortunately missed out on a really nice priced unit (without box) as I was on holiday and forgot to increase my bids. But im also wondering if it make sense just to buy the bits manually from BL and other sets... Any thoughts and comments would be appreciated. Thanks

Quick question - I was just using LDD and selected 'View -> New Themes' and scrolled through MindStorms, then Creator. Now I get under the PF functions a 2x4x2 Sound Brick FX, Motorcycle. Probably a bit dumb - but erm is this correct or for a new part not yet released?... Since on another thread there could be a large change to LDD on 1.4.10. Or the sound brick from the Carousel just mis-labelled?

I was told verbally that Fire Brigade was due to retire end 2011; and GG end 2010. Of course it depends upon how many ebay hawkers, seeing the succes of CC - are buying up stock.

Lego, European Chateau, Train, Town, Pieces, Castle A must see breathtaking exclusive! by Matt Lincoln http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19...em=250585656141 Wow a big item... I wonder who is selling?

Over the next months I will start doing some MOC trains as well - and believe 7 wide is somehow the best compromise. For me lego is not about exact scale modelling, but rather capturing the strong charicatures and elements of the original. Ill probably use technic beams (old stud style) as this provides a lot of strength, but switch to pinless / studs when making details. It also makes elements less heavy (all those hidden holes). Ill let you know how I get on - when I get time. New technic is also more natural for 7 wide....

Switzerland might have a reputation for hidden gold, but actually the pricing of Lego is really quite high here when compared to costs of living. The price here is 219.90 CHF, exactly the same as the Imperial Flagship 219.90 CHF (1664 pieces), Less than Firebrigade 249 CHF (2231 pieces) and Green Grocer 259 CHF (2352 pieces). And a lot less than Grand Carousel 449 CHF (3263) and Taj Mahal 549 CHF (5922 pieces). Currently 1 CHF = 1 USD... in USA it is $149.... (and similar massive price drops for other items) and 1 CHF = 1.75 GBP (approx). However above posters are correct; by the time you add US Sales Tax (if applicable), put into postage (even without box, just weight) and get stung with import taxes (20 CHF fee + 8% total price including shipping) then the price is about right. Similarly with the UK purchases (via parents)... I would save around 10 to 20 CHF at best for most items (except for Carousel and Taj Mahal).

A mini miners tunnel for specific sets like Indiana Jones, or Woody in Toy Story could be an interesting development. But in these cases it is for a specific set, and actually childrens hands (for push along trains) cannot get into tunnels easily. Most kids probably happy using a cardboard cutout. Now a set where there is a cardboard cutouts (a la Pirates Money Bank) could be a way forwards - the 'entrance arches' are brick built with technic supports for at rear. It could probably be printed cheaply and look right (the correct 'grass / rock colours' etc) but would not be a true 'lego tunnel'. Hands could easily get inside to move things - and expert builders would then reuse the tan bricks (of the classic Bath Stone Entrance way) in a new MOC Emporium.... Always remember - think of the children.

Sparkfun.com are a hobby'ist place in USA - which often have fun fancy technology which could probably be modified easily for PF voltages. Mindsensors and Hitechnic also have breakout boards for custom LED solutions with Mindstorms stuff. A lot depends upon context... lighting a street scene, trains, cars etc.

Saw this link from Engadget.... quite a nice robotic system. http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/lego-cu...12-second-whir/

My weekly ebay searched pulled up '9 available' on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320487655743 Not by me...

A quick concept for a 3 stage pneumatic pump - could be used for tipping wagon functions - or hydraulic boom arms / cranes. Because of the width it would probably suit being a long pump. Sorry no brickshelf account set up for the image; so I pasted it here.

Greuzi, von Wetzikon (auch in Schnee). Some nice MOC's - although the new Bombardier S15 series and Voralpen Express could be interesting MOC's. Im also planning a couple of swiss based train stations - have to start digital first though as the wife might complain. The lounge is already overflowing. Im thinking of a way to make proper opening / sliding doors for the S-trains (blue red). Not solved it yet.

Scroll down here to see some more pictures. http://www.spieletest.at/bericht.php?ID=775