Melbourne AFOL Teunis Davies defies the usual cross-border rivalry and presents this excellent NSW Class 38 streamlined steam train. It’s a seven-stud wide machine of clever building techniques and sleek design. As an added bonus he includes many breakdown shots so we can all see how it is made.
Now if only LEGO would release regular green mini slopes…
The LEGO Group has asked LEGO Ambassadors to pass along the following information about the future of the LEGO Train system. This message includes details on the status of 9-volt trains:
Billund, Oct. 1st ’07
Dear all,Many of you are aware of the on-going discussions on the 9V train system. We would like to thank you all for the input you provided to us directly and through different channels. Based on critical business decisions and the consultations and discussions with various AFOLs we have decided to focus on one single solution in order to avoid the complexity of maintaining two systems in parallel and in order to solve the issues we have with the actual 9V system and the remote control City train system. We envision one upgradeable train system for all ages in the future.
The LEGO Group has considered the future of the 9v at length, and has come to the conclusion that there is not sufficient demand for the product line to be profitable and competitive. The existing machines need to be replaced and minimum order quantities at external suppliers for motors and speed regulators are so high that the investment The LEGO Group would have to put in, would not be rational or reasonable compared to sales figures of the existing 9V system.
The implication of this is that the 9v elements sold now are the last of the remaining stock and subsequent production of elements for the 9V platform has ceased.
The LEGO Group will launch elements for a new train system based on the new electric LEGO Power Functions system in 2009. Using the LEGO Power Functions system the new train system will benefit from a set of electric elements that are cross theme, widely available and not completely train specific which allows us to amortize the development and on going cost across multiple themes. We are at an early development stage of the new train system and several AFOLs are already involved in the development process, to ensure that the new system will accommodate the types of features and functions requested by the AFOL community. This collaboration with AFOLs is very important to The LEGO Group and we strive to involve the Adult Fan Community as much as possible.
Holger Matthes, Germany, currently member of the AFOL team which is involved in the process of developing the new system explains the situation in this way:
“The LEGO train system has to fulfill different needs for different target groups in a very special way. On the one hand it’s a toy for kids because it is easy to set up and because of the playability in the kid’s room, and on the other hand it is also for AFOLs who build huge LEGO train layouts with realistic looking train models and functionality. The LEGO Group is aware of this and the company tries to support both needs within the given restrictions (e.g. costs for a niche product like the LEGO trains).”
Using the universal LEGO Power Functions system for trains will give The LEGO Group the ability to match the demands and wishes of the AFOL Train community in the future.
Steve Barile, USA – President of ILTCO (International LEGO Train Club Organization) and one of the involved AFOLs says about the new train system:
“I am excited that the new universal Power Functions system can make track side accessories viable and potentially automated and interactive.”
He continues:
“With the track being exclusively plastic the LEGO Power Functions Train system has the potential for new and innovative track geometries and continued innovation by both The LEGO Group and the AFOLs.”
These AFOL quotes give you an impression of what will be possible with the future system and we will keep you up to date on the development of the new LEGO Power Functions train system. We expect to have more information and details to share with you before the end of the year.
Richard Stollery, Head of LEGO Community Development
UPDATE: You can read translations of this announcement in various languages:
These time-lapse videos of LEGO events are always cool, especially with hilarious Benny Hill music:
That’s the setup for the annual Malkara School model railroad exhibit in Canberra, Australia — an event that Peter Edwards participates in.
An interesting side note: The trains are run by MINDSTORMS. How cool is that?
Speaking of cool videos, Peter Edwards has some really interesting creations on his Web site, including many that are motorized in some way.
Here’s Peter’s very fast LEGO slot cars are built around AFX motors:
My favorite, though, is the video of an ingenious set of “dodgem” cars:
Be sure to check out Peter’s Web site for lots more, including higher-resolution versions of these and other great videos.
I’ve been pretty buildy lately so I’m just throwing a bunch of stuff here. The Hotrod and Bike are variants of misterzumbi and mijasper‘s models but the others are me having colourful fun. Also in my Flickr stream (may contain disliked language).
Scaled-down versions of classic Technic sets by the Arvo brothers (via Klocki) and Sugegasa’s Waterside Station:
LEGO Design School on LEGO.com (via LegOficina dos Baixinhos.
NXT Rubik’s cube solver by Daniele Benedettelli (via LEGO.com MINDSTORMS NXT News).
Tim “Spook” Zarki’s microscale Maintenance and Repair Vessel (via Moyblik):
Jeramy Spurgeon has a fantastic layout module under work at the moment. He manages a very natural semi-urban feel with just the right amount of curves and layers.
I believe one of the privileges of this blog is that you’re allowed to post your own stuff. I’d like to think this one would have made it without it being mine but you can be the judge(s) of that. As such I present a Moscow in the 80s diorama by me. I’ll spare the details here but would like to hear back from anyone who has visited Moscow to let me know how accurate I’ve managed to be.
Well first I’ll say a hello to Brothers Brick readers out there. I’ve been invited to cover trains and virtual LEGO creations (raytraced, rendered but definitely not real) for the blog. I’m very new to this whole blogging thing having started my own blog a bit over a week ago and you probably won’t get many words out of me usually but I’m pretty sure I know a good creation when I see one and I guess that’s what you’re here to see.
To copy-paste my profile on the Brothers Brick “I’m a builder with a short attention span and a lot of virtual bricks. I’m probably most known as a train builder and was involved in the creation of LEGO set 10183 (the Hobby Train Box) but I do a lot of other stuff too. I’m also a member of the LDraw SteerCo and a webmaster for the site.”
Anyway, on to the good stuff…
When I was just starting out building properly with LEGO (as opposed to the mucking around I did as a kid and young adult) the train builder who inspired me the most was James Mathis. I’ve since had the honour of working with James on a couple of projects as well as the Hobby Train Box. As well as being one of my favourite train builders James has the added advantage of allowing me to introduce both my areas of ‘research’: trains and virtual LEGO.
And to give you something brand spanking new (well almost) I’d also like to show off Andreas Weissenburg’s Bird.
And I think I’ll leave my inaugaral post at that. Hope it’s all worked OK.
Train builders create some fantastic stuff — often overlooked by those of us more involved in themes like Space and Castle.
For example, check out Anthony Sava’s full-size and micro-scale No. 805 American 4-4-0 (via MicroBricks):
Or all of the displays LEGO train clubs create for events, like the layout Bill Ward participated in at a recent Train Collectors’ Association event:
And creations for train layouts are often on a scale much larger than in other themes, like Bill Vollbrecht’s Maersk Headquarters building in last year’s NWBrickCon train layout:
So a question for readers of The Brothers Brick: Do you want to see more trains and layouts? Or should we stick with the old stand-bys — castles, space ships, minifigs, mecha, and so on? Leave a comment and let us know.
I love dark green. I love SNOT (studs not on top — a building technique). I also secretly love LEGO trains. So of course I love dagealka’s passenger car. I was actually conflicted on where to post this, since this creation is well suited for my other blog, Unique Brique Techniques, but it is so incredibly cool I couldn’t let the wider audience of The Brothers Brick miss it. So I decided to split the difference. Besides, it’s about time we got some trains on here to offset all those mecha and steampunk creations Linus and Andrew have been posting. ;)
LEGO Train fans are some of the most passionate, committed LEGO fans out there, and they create really fantastic buildings for their layouts. Jim Garrett is no exception with two unbelievable skyscrapers (click for galleries):
