Subject:
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Re: All plastic track
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Wed, 17 Aug 2005 04:42:25 GMT
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Viewed:
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2105 times
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In lugnet.trains, Ted Michon wrote:
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(Sometimes I think that if TLC announced it was closing down, the first post
on LUGNET or elsewhere might be something like “Oh, no! That’s really
terrible! I’ve got to have 7 more 2x6 pink plates! Can’t they wait until I
find some on BrickLink?”)
Really!
For all the train folk who were reading the gloom and doom threads earlier
this month about a possible RC train, the news at BrickFest was: Sometimes
the sky really does fall. TLC announced it is going to focus on a new RC
(where RC = remote control, not Radio Control, BTW) train system to sell as a
“play train” for kids. The explanation is that electric rails are too
expensive to manufacture so TLC will switch to a battery powered, infrared
controlled, line-of-sight, all plastic rail system. They will create
trains will less detail and lower costs in order to be competitive in the kid
train market.
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Personally I think the play train is a fantastic idea. It will be a great way to
lower cost while providing opportunities for new parts, ideas and a new younger
audience. Now some of you are worried about the death of the 9volt train set
but in reality how many of us just build the set and do nothing else with the
parts. To truly understand the effect this change will have on you look at your
collection. It’s parts not sets. In the end all sets are just big parts packs.
If you can come to this realization like I have it’s not such a big deal.
Besides in the future we will not be limited to Lego designed sets, instead we
will be able to purchase the models we our selves or others have designed. This
will really create new opportunities for us instead of limiting them as sets
have done in the past.
Now I’m not saying I like every aspect of the proposed play train. For one I
really hate Infer Red “line of sight” controls. IR will seriously limit the
usability of the system for both kids and adults alike. A good example that
comes to mind is a tunnel. Imagine a child making a tunnel under his or her bed
for the train to go through only to find out it stops as soon as the controller
looses sight of the engine. Personally my belief is radio control RC is far
more reliable, cheaper to produce and doesn’t require the so-called “bump out”
that the IR system would. The electronics also already exist and in the size
proposed. Gut any Technic RC car and you will find that the electronic board
will fit in a 6x8 stud area. Another thing that bothers me, albeit somewhat to a
lesser extent, is what they’re going to do with the train motor. Will it be RC
specific or the one already produced. I’m also worried that the motor will be
permanently attached to the RC train base instead of using the pin and power
wire connector like the current 9volt system uses. Hopefully in the next few
months we will get more details.
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In making the announcement, Jake pointed out that the new track will snap
right into existing track, And that for the moment, TLC will continue to sell
the old “hobby train” track via lego.com.
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I guess this means I’ll have two types of track to modify now. LOL seriously
though I ‘m glad they made it universal. It should be interesting to see what
can be done with the new plastic track.
Ondrew
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I was so astonished and depressed by the announcement that I didn’t ask any
questions at the end of Jake’s address. In fact, the whole audience was
fairly silent about the subject too.
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: All plastic track
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| (...) Not a big IR fan either but one thing to consider about controllability is that perhaps this system will be more like a walkaround throttle than a wired one, that is, in many IR systems, you press the go button and the vehicle goes. Take your (...) (19 years ago, 17-Aug-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | All plastic track
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| (Sometimes I think that if TLC announced it was closing down, the first post on LUGNET or elsewhere might be something like "Oh, no! That's really terrible! I've got to have 7 more 2x6 pink plates! Can't they wait until I find some on BrickLink?") (...) (19 years ago, 16-Aug-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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