Subject:
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Improved Train models
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.org.us.lucny
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Date:
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Thu, 28 Mar 2002 09:54:11 GMT
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Viewed:
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502 times
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Sometimes a little gentle nudging and encouragement by others is all it
takes to spur greater creativity. I have found this to be true for me
since last weekend's meeting.
I have been accumulating Lego parts to build trains for several years,
but until recently, I have never really built any Train models of my own.
So the models I brought with me to the Cortland meeting were among
my first and they had not yet been tested on live track.
After seeing them fail on the track I was able to identify the faults.
And after hearing suggestions on design and aethestics, I was motivated
towards improvement.
Well, in only a few short days, I have taken almost all of my Train models
and modified them for the better. The Blue passenger train which was a
boring plain Blue with Black now has Light Gray striping (Dark Gray was
in too short supply) and all cars have been standardized to 36 studs
in length. All undercarriages have been refitted with Black log bricks
and the corrugated bricks removed. The result is a very pleasing design.
The locomotive was rebuilt with the main goal of making it heavier
accomplished through the use of weight brick elements.
Additional rolling stock was developed giving the train a total length
of 1 locomotive and 9 cars. At least 3 more cars are now planned --
1 more Blue Club Car, 1 B-unit locomotive, and 1 more coach-class
passenger car. A mail-sorting car may also be produced if parts are
available. Also necessary is the completion of all inner fixtures
and minifig accomodations (as well as the minifigs).
This will allow the following consist for my Blue Metroliner:
1 high-speed diesel/electric locomotive
1 B-unit locomotive
1 Baggage Car (with Type II sliding doors)
1 Employee sleeper/lounge Car
1 Dining Car with kitchen
2 Observation and Bar Cars (Club Cars)
2 Coach-Class passenger Cars (upright seating only)
2 First Class passenger cars (various configurations)
2 Roomette sleeper cars
As for freight stock--all the boxcars that were at the Cortland meeting
were deemed too tall and caused constant derailment. Each of these have
now been reconfigured with lower overall height and the shorter waggons
have all been increased to a minimum of 24 studs in length.
With the aforementioned changes in place, all units were tested on live
track with some complex curves. Almost all performance issues
have been eliminated at this point; the biggest issue is now magnetic
coupler failure. In short, even at full speed, the cars no longer fall
off the tracks but weight and rolling resistantance sometimes cause a
train to become uncoupled at high speeds.
Believe it or not, I have more Train creations that I did NOT bring to
the meeting. Since I am highly motivated this week, I will make any
needed modifications to these models soon. Mostly, I have to figure out
how to make my locomotives heavier. And I have plans in my head for
building even more locomotives and rolling stock depending on parts
availability. A Black F-7 diesel locomotive is on my list of things
to build as are B-unit locomotives and a full compliment of passenger
coaches for a Super Chief.
Geez, we need to have another meeting soon. I already have a bunch of
stuff to show off and will have even more as time goes on.
If I didn't live so far from everyone else, I would offer to host a meeting
at my church--the basement has easily twice as much open floor space as
the church in Cortland and is carpeted. But the only member who is near
me is Nate Jacobs and that is only when he is not away at college.
Anway, my calendar is wide open. So if anyone wants to suggest another
meeting or another possible venue you can put me on the list for attending.
:: Apologies for such a long-winded post ::
__Kevin Salm__
....Over 20 years experience playing with Lego toys....
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Improved Train models
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| (...) *snippage* (...) Wow - sounds like a large consist that would look excellent on a large enough layout. I look forward to seeing it, of course. (...) Ahh - much better. (...) No problem. All our trains can be derailed at some speed or (...) (22 years ago, 28-Mar-02, to lugnet.org.us.lucny)
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