Train MOCs are frequently accused of being nothing but boxes on wheels. While this is usually true a little texture goes a long way as the above model indicates. See more from this builder.
Highlight this line for builder’s name: Swoofty
PS. I’m trying a little experiment at the moment and leaving out direct mention of the builder’s name (it can be found in their gallery). I think it’s nice to give us a chance to judge the model regardless of its creator.
Nate “Blunty” Burr, along with David Pagano and myself, was asked to make a brickfilm to celebrate the 30th birthday of the LEGO minifigure. Nate delivers in typical Blunty3000 style, with his satirical brickfilm, Living in Meatspace:
Don’t forget to check out GOMINIMANGO.com for more videos and a contest (details coming soon to a blog near you!)
Every so often I’m absolutely dumbfounded by a LEGO model. In this particular case German builders Andreas and Kai Böker do it by presenting what I consider to be the best non-urban train layout I’ve ever seen. While looking at the details is exciting enough the panorama shot is a must in order to absorb the true brilliance of this layout. I could spend hours looking at this.
If Alta-Vista has translated correctly this layout is presently on display on the actual island of Langeoog so if you’re in the neighbourhood check it out. And if any of our German readers can help me out with information I’d be forever grateful.
Matt Wagner (jedimasterwagner) is fast becoming one of my favourite LDrawers. As can be seen in this latest work he treats the rendering process as a means of creating artworks as well as for constructing models. I’d love to see the image he based this on for comparison.
Making big LEGO steam engines that run is hard work. LEGO train track has very sharp curves which mean all sorts of clever trickery is required to make a steam train even get around it without looking totally stupid. Fortunately Cale Leiphart is quite an expert in it and shows off a lovely 4-4-0 locomotive (that’s eight wheels) from the Maryland & Pennsylvania railway. The presentation in front of the Twin Cities LEGO Train Club’s layout is pretty snazzy too.
Peter Edwards’ latest addition to his Bodville layout includes an amazing LEGO MINDSTORMS RCX gantry crane for his train yard:
Watch the awesome video right here on The Brothers Brick:
You can also check out lots of pictures on Brickshelf.
Cale Leiphardt presents some photos of his (and possibly other people’s) trains set up in an industrial diorama. Lots of excellent details including the textured ground with footpath and the track furniture (bits and pieces the live next to tracks). And of course his locomotives more than stand up to their surrounds.
Brickshelf user Elalfreddo demonstrates that you don’t need to use ‘advanced’ techniques to create a good design. His signal tower is a straight studs-up building dressed up by a clever use of colour to create texture. Very effective and a good lesson.
I also need to mention that I have a nostalgic soft spot for the mail bicycle.
Brickshelf user carl shows off an excellent balance of form and function with this versatile container stacker. The mix of studless technic and system building gives a wonderful balance of usability and visual accuracy.
Thanks to Dave Stannard for the heads up on this
RAILBRICKS magazine hits its third issue this week with tips, reviews and ideas for all LEGO train fans. To quote the release the issue features
• PF Trains + 9v Train Tricks
• Creating Wooden Trestle Bridges
• RCX (PBricks) and 9v Train Integration
• Interview with Swoofty
• and much more…..
and having looked through it I’d have to agree. It’s a top notch publication so Jeramy Spurgeon and the rest of the editing team deserve much kudos. Check it out.
Available from: Mirror 1, Mirror 2 and a Lulu print version
The last, haunted train out of TheBrickster‘s town of Grave Stone has finally arrived at the station.
Check out Brickshelf for all the cars clattering along behind the ghastly engine.
It’s rare that I find trains with photographs I really consider blogworthy (which is a shame because there’s so many out there that are excellent and I’d love to blog but can’t). Today I’ve found two.
Anthony Sava provides the second great locomotive of the day with his rendition of the BM&R #425. The blue design is very striking and the detailing is top-notch. Perhaps most worthy of note, is the boiler design featuring the ubiquitous cheese slopes with a single tile between them.
PS. Excuse the repeated bad pun.