Subject:
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Design Update (was Re: Preview ALCO RS-1 A. T. & S. F.)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Wed, 6 Apr 2005 05:12:43 GMT
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Viewed:
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1365 times
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In lugnet.trains, James Mathis wrote:
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The ALCO RS-1 is an appropriate switch-yard locomotive to service Santa
Fe’s Hi-Level El Capitan during its introduction in 1956-- shown here in
era-appropriate zebra livery.
Here is a preview to an upcoming ALCO RS-1 illustrated step book:
front-cover-shot,
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The design of this illustrated step book is complete.
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I hope LEGO(R) releases the new 1x3x1 curved brick in black.
Thanks, Steve Barile, for reminding me about this very cool new brick!
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Looks like the new slope brick curved top
1x3x1 piece is available in black. The new for 2005 set 8648 Buzz Saw racer,
US$10, has two of them. Ouch! This RS-1 locomotive uses 12 of this piece.
Hello? BrickLink, “got brick?”
Bringing this RS-1 into the current compression discussion, I would like to
think that the RS-1 compressed nicely. However, I’ve been selectively
compressing since I was 5 years old, so my vision is quite distorted. I think
my mind distorts a compressed model real-time into a less distorted image.
Thus, a compressed model can look “normal” to me. I guess we could call
ourselves, “Compressionists”, and our LEGO-form is “Compressionism”...(has this
joke already been played out?). Anyway...
I’d like to say I build for recognizability, playability, buildability, and
functionality. Not necessarily in that order and with varying degrees of
each...always compromises it seems. That said, I don’t always achieve these
goals with every design. A lot of my designs remain “design studies”. However,
some models end up like the RS-1-- fully realized, in brick, in CAD, and in book
(or on CD-Rom).
ALCO RS-1 Breakdown:
Recognizability?
I hope so. Critical to its recognition is the curved cab roof. Next up would
be the proportions of the front and rear hoods with respect to the cab.
Finally, a livery can convey and/or enhance what the model is when shape-only
falls short. And, even though the real-brick build lacks smooth diagonal
striping, the checkerboard patterns work to invoke the feel of the livery-- I
hope. The addition of roadnames and graphic decals takes livery one step
further.
Playability?
Dual-end lighting. Easy-lift-off cab with mini-fig engineer seating.
Easy-lift-off engine cover to reveal fake engine parts. Doesn’t fall apart in
your hands.
Buildability?
Got instructions. Parts are available. Standard train baseplate. Mostly
studs-up construction. Logical sub-model breakdown. One negative hit against
this model is that the electric wire for one of the headlamps must stick out the
bottom of the train baseplate during construction-- not ideal, but doable.
Functionality?
Runs OK on train track. Magnetic couplers don’t bind. Not much else for this
RS-1 model. Pretty standard stuff.
I feel like I need to apologize, but I’m not offering this ALCO RS-1 build
on-line. It’s only available as a purchased product either on CD-Rom or
book-form directly from me. If you are interested, please visit my
Brick Built Trains website or
jump straight to my Brick Built Trains
CafePress shop.
later,
James Mathis
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Design Update (was Re: Preview ALCO RS-1 A. T. & S. F.)
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| (...) It's funny that you posted this. I'm working on my own version of an RS-1, and I ended up using the same piece for the roof, though my roof looks to be a couple of studs wider. At the moment, Bricklink has *none* of these in Black, so I had to (...) (19 years ago, 6-Apr-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Preview ALCO RS-1 A. T. & S. F.
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| The ALCO RS-1 is an appropriate switch-yard locomotive to service Santa Fe's Hi-Level El Capitan during its introduction in 1956-- shown here in era-appropriate zebra livery. (URL) Here is a preview to an upcoming ALCO RS-1 illustrated step book: (...) (19 years ago, 11-Feb-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX) !
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