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| In lugnet.trains, Reinhard "Ben" Beneke wrote:
> Hi all!
>
> Jan Beyer has shown us parts of the new train System in Frechen/Germany.
>
> Just some unassortet aspects and informations.
>
> - The track is full plastic as already seen.
> - The train base is 32 studs long and contrains IR recievers on both sides and
> battery box (included and not removable).
> - the train motor has plastic wheels.
> - the wheels show spokes on their faxe sides and have technik axle holes.
> - the motor has special technic axle holes (nearly with cylindrical bore: so
> they have a "slip-under-overload-effect")
> - no new track radius is planned (so far) as Jan mentioned
> - the engine needs 6 pieces of small standard batteries => still a 9V system
> - the control panel (made for lefthanded kids as it seemed to us) has only 4
> knobs and a frequency switch.
> knob 1: signal horn (in panel)
> knob 2: stop
> knob 3: pos. accelleration (speed up or break rearwars drive)
> knob 4: negative. accelleration (break or speed up backwarts)
>
> The frequency switch allows to choose betweeen 3 frequencies or controls all 3
> frequencies at one time. I ask myself, what would happen if any of my three
> nephews wanted to own a second train....
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Ben
>
> P.s.: the new mindstorms system got presented as well (even photos were allowd).
> The mindstorms fans where really exited and positive against the system. I have
> no idea about the old mindstorms so I cannot tell anything about improovements
> now....
Thanks for the info Ben, This does not seem to fit with the train scene photo
because that shows metal wheels and a 30 stud long baseplate. The Baseplate
length has been counted by at least 3 AFOLs discussing on the Brickish
Association website.
I have mixed feelings about these new sets. This news gives the impression that
Lego will have to run two different systems if they are to continue to service
the rail-powered train fans....
Jon
Ps - I welcomed the horn feature until I re-read your post and realised it is
located in the controller handset - is this correct?
| | | | | | | | | | | | | > Ps - I welcomed the horn feature until I re-read your post and realised it is
> located in the controller handset - is this correct?
Hi,
yes, correct. The horn is inside the control unit you will hold in your hands,
not in the train itself!
Holger
my P.S. Hopefully there will be a wide varity of additional parts at S@H!
Different colors for baseplates, extra wheels, motors, cables ...
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In lugnet.trains, Jonathan Reynolds wrote:
> I have mixed feelings about these new sets. This news gives the impression that
> Lego will have to run two different systems if they are to continue to service
> the rail-powered train fans....
It doesn't sound as complicated as back in the 12V/4.5V times. At least both
the battery-powered and the rail-powered trains run on the same voltage.
> Ps - I welcomed the horn feature until I re-read your post and realised it is
> located in the controller handset - is this correct?
I would be cool with one or two extra outputs from the IR receiver for
controlling light and sound units. Maybe we'll get that with next the version.
Play well,
Jacob
--
LEGO furniture:
http://lego.jacob-sparre.dk/By/M%F8bler/
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| In lugnet.trains, Jonathan Reynolds wrote:
Hi Jonathan!
[snip]
> Thanks for the info Ben, This does not seem to fit with the train scene photo
> because that shows metal wheels and a 30 stud long baseplate. The Baseplate
> length has been counted by at least 3 AFOLs discussing on the Brickish
> Association website.
Sorry my mistake: I read the plate woud be 32 studs at 1000steine, but in fact
it is 30 studs long.
> Ps - I welcomed the horn feature until I re-read your post and realised it is
> located in the controller handset - is this correct?
Yes correct as Holger has already mentioned.
Leg Godt!
Ben
P.s.: Rollingbricks and Heiner added some extra information on 1000steine.com
The train wheels will have rubber rings as known already from todays system
The train motor can be exchanged and replaced by the todays 9V motor. (So this
information includes the information, that the cable will remain the same.
With the (possibly prototype mold?) piece we have seen in Frechen, there was no
chance to add a second motor (no place for wiring).
The batteriesshould last for approx. 6 hours. You can shut the engine down
maually. If you forget to do so it shuts down after a while (time limit not
known so far).
So far it is not clear if the trains (or one of them?) will come with lights.
the poster shows just photoshopping.
Fright train will come with 4 waggons 30 pieces of trackl and will cost
(probably) 160 Eur.
Track might cost approx 50% (track sets will contain double amount of pieces for
similar prices like now).
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | "Reinhard "Ben" Beneke" <ben@1000steine.SPAM-block.com> wrote in message
news:IsuFqK.21G6@lugnet.com...
[ ... snipped ... ]
>
> The train motor can be exchanged and replaced by the todays 9V motor. (So
> this
> information includes the information, that the cable will remain the same.
Maybe, maybe not. It is entirely possible LEGO will have a cable with the
new RJ jack on one end and the traditional 2x2 electrical plate on the other
end.
[ ... snipped ... ]
Mike
--
Mike Walsh - mike_walsh at mindspring.com
http://www.ncltc.cc - North Carolina LEGO Train Club
http://www.carolinatrainbuilders.com - Carolina Train Builders
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=mpw - CTB/Brick Depot
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Six hours? Seems a rather horrid endurance to me, certainly in terms of
shows... But if the IR can be used with the metal motors, that oughta be fairly
interesting. Though no additional wires, soo.... Hm. I want to get my hands
on one of these things and see what they can do!
-Stefan-
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| In lugnet.trains, Stefan Garcia wrote:
> Six hours? Seems a rather horrid endurance to me, certainly in terms of
> shows.
If you have an rail-powered train running constantly on each track and augment
the layout by manually running an IR train on each track as well, then a set of
batteries will easily get you through a day at most shows. Use rechargeable
batteries and you can power them up each night.
I'm looking forward to handing a controller to kids in the crowd and letting
them run the train for a while. Give them five minutes or until they cause a
crash!
But if you want to run them by themselves, yes. Six hours is pretty weak.
More importantly, didn't someone mention a timer? I bet they work like the
Duplo trains, where they turn off after a couple of minutes with no input. If
you want an unattended layout, you'll probably have to rig up a Mindstorms unit
somewhere on the layout to transmit a signal every time the train passes by.
Fortunately, the NXT RCX can run off an AC outlet. Unfortunately, this is a
very expensive workaround.
> Hm. I want to get my hands on one of these things and see what they can do!
Darn right!
--
Tony Hafner
www.hafhead.com
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In lugnet.trains, Tony Hafner wrote:
|
Fortunately, the NXT RCX can run off an AC outlet.
|
Tony-
Huh? The Wired article specifically mentioned that the user group lobbied hard
for an external power port but did not get one.
-Ted
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | I played with the NXT and spoke with the product manager at CES. There is NO AC
plug on the NXT, nor can it be powered via USB.
SteveB
In lugnet.trains, Ted Michon wrote:
|
In lugnet.trains, Tony Hafner wrote:
|
Fortunately, the NXT RCX can run off an AC outlet.
|
Tony-
Huh? The Wired article specifically mentioned that the user group lobbied
hard for an external power port but did not get one.
-Ted
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In lugnet.trains, Steven Barile wrote:
|
I played with the NXT and spoke with the product manager at CES. There is NO
AC plug on the NXT, nor can it be powered via USB.
SteveB
|
Look here at picture NXT5.
http://www.vanree.net/fotoalbum/javanree/lego/frechen2006/MindstormsNXT/
You will see a power entry panel blank coming up from the battery compartment
cover plate. It seems possible that an alternate cover might actually contain
either a rechargeable battery pack, A/C power supply or both with access via a
receptacle accessible through this hole.
This is just a hopeful guess on my part!
JB
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In lugnet.trains, John Barnes wrote:
|
In lugnet.trains, Steven Barile wrote:
|
I played with the NXT and spoke with the product manager at CES. There is
NO AC plug on the NXT, nor can it be powered via USB.
|
Look here at picture NXT5.
http://www.vanree.net/fotoalbum/javanree/lego/frechen2006/MindstormsNXT/
You will see a power entry panel blank coming up from the battery
compartment cover plate. It seems possible that an alternate cover might
actually contain either a rechargeable battery pack, A/C power supply or
both with access via a receptacle accessible through this hole.
This is just a hopeful guess on my part!
|
From this press release:
http://www.lego.com/education/mindstorms/images/eng/downloads/EducationPress.pdf
Features of the new system include:
- New 32-bit NXT intelligent brick
- Rechargeable battery system with A/C plug
- and then a bunch of boring stuff about sensors, servos, Bluetooth, and such
I did notice that it didnt mention anything about IR in that section, so I may
be wrong about that potential application for a completely different reason.
And if Ive been reading other sources right, it actually can be used as line
power. I wouldnt bet my first born on it or anything, though.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | "Steven Barile" <sebarile@sstanamera.com> wrote in message
news:It09u2.CGF@lugnet.com...
> I played with the NXT and spoke with the product manager at CES. There is
> NO AC
> plug on the NXT, nor can it be powered via USB.
[ ... snipped ...]
USB powered would have been a reasonable compromise, that is too bad.
Mike
--
Mike Walsh - mike_walsh at mindspring.com
http://www.ncltc.cc - North Carolina LEGO Train Club
http://www.carolinatrainbuilders.com - Carolina Train Builders
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=mpw - CTB/Brick Depot
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In lugnet.trains, Mike Walsh wrote:
> USB powered would have been a reasonable compromise, that is too bad.
Yeah but it would have been an expensive option I think. There would have to be
a built in DC:DC converter to increase the USB 5 volt supply to the necessary
internal 9v. And that means the only about 200mA would have been available
internally as the 500mA USB max was approached. This may have managed one motor,
perhaps.
JB
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tony Hafner wrote:
> Fortunately, the NXT RCX can run off an AC outlet. Unfortunately, this is
> a very expensive workaround.
Having seen a production unit (as well as sensors) I haven't been able to
discover any external power jack. I was allowed by Jan Beyer to make pics
and have posted them here :
http://www.vanree.net/fotoalbum/javanree/lego/frechen2006/Mindstorms_NXT/
--
Jan-Albert van Ree | http://www.vanree.net/brickpiles/
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