[MOC] Retro passenger train

[faph]

A passenger train has been on our family's wishlist for some time now. To date, cargo trains only.

So I wanted to design something that was fun to play with and inspired by trains when I was a kid myself...

 

I was also trying to figure out how cheap I could go while still having something that is good looking. On that front, not so much of a success: currently I have for EUR 150 in shopping baskets in Bricklink. That's excluding 5 times shipping costs...

I was hoping I could do this for under EUR 100. I guess I could remove 1 carriage but then I'm not sure I can still call it a train.

Edited April 10 by faph
New image

[faph]

Extracting some stats from my actual shopping baskets:

(values in EUR, rounded)

1. Battery unit: 32
2. Wheels: 25
3. Buffers: 11
4. Windows: 10
5. Motor: 9
6. Doors: 6

Total part is about 600 across 100 lots.

 

Edited April 10 by faph
More stats

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Oooh I love this train!

I find it well proportioned and harmonious, the livery has beautiful colors and good chromatic contrasts... well done!

[faph]

Thanks!

Our family treasurer first wants some more data and asked what money can buy off the shelves:

1. Hogwarts Express Train Set #76423: EUR 130, 1100 parts (not motorized, includes station)

2. Express Passenger Train #60337: EUR 160, 800 parts (ugly)

3. Downtown Streetcar and Station #60423: EUR 90, 800 parts (not motorized, very playable, with small station/halt)

So even if we were to motorize 1 and 3, you would still pay at least EUR 130. The streetcar set would probably be more value for money but after motorization it would no longer be the same thing as 1 car would have to be used for the battery unit.

Edited April 10 by faph

[Murdoch17]

You could buy the loco sperate from the cars. More in shipping overall but it splits it up over time @faph...

Edited April 10 by Murdoch17

[faph]

Yeah it’s not necessarily a cashflow problem. It’s more of an experiment about getting back to basics. And at this rate it’s becoming a bit of a “luxury”. I mean paying EUR 30 in total for just the shipping…

Maybe one approach to make this more of a low-key thing would be to start with engine and 1 carriage. Then later design another carriage with a cab-end. 
 

(Mmh I think work thinking is taking over my hobbies…)

Edited April 10 by faph

[zephyr1934]

That MOC certainly has a metroliner feel to it. But you've just hit the big problem with MOC's, getting all the parts you need winds up costing a fortune in postage. What about starting with one of the existing sets as a "parts pack" with all the train critical bits, then you don't need to buy as many other parts.

In fact, if you like the Harry Potter train, you can motorize it with circuit cubes pretty cheaply. Scroll down on this link for instructions.

[SpacePolice89]

Nice! I like the design and color scheme.

[faph]

Pieces for engine + 1 car have been ordered.

Bricks: EUR 107
Postage: EUR 29
Total: EUR 136

@zephyr1934 Should have followed your advice and buy this set https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=60197-1 for EUR 80 instead...

Phase 2 will get us a car with cab:

 

 

Edited April 14 by faph

[zephyr1934]

8 hours ago, faph said:

@zephyr1934 Should have followed your advice and buy this set https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=60197-1 for EUR 80 instead...

A well built MOC is always rewarding unto itself so I don't think you came out behind. 

However, if you anticipate making another then you might want to get that set too (grin). While it's a nice set, there's plenty of room for improvements in the set, e.g., adding doors

[The Big MC]

Nice train. I think it's a bit of a grower. Assuming you went for the 24-stud base plate on this one. 

I would definitely recommend picking up a donor train for the control hub. Often, these trains go into a discount for black Friday. Unfortunately, this probably means 60337, which is not the best train. 

Bricklink shipping is a PAIN. The only thing I can recommend is to shop locally. Internal shipping for me is normally reasonable.  Shipping from other countries often costs a fortune, only worth it for rare parts. from my experience, Bricklink seems to ignore shipping on QuickBuy 

The other one which seems to kill me is the mold variants and printed elements. the number of times I have put in the wrong tile or brick and found it has a silly price because it went out of production years ago. I know there are a few different part numbers for the cab you picked. Would love to get my hands on one in orange. 

[faph]

Started off with 28 studs with 4 doors per car. Then I established that 2 doors are sufficient which allowed me to bring it down to a 24 studs base plate without reducing seating capacity!

I actually quite like optimizing the design like that. Here specifically I wanted to figure out how cheap I could make this. So yes, I go through the process of selecting the cheapest colours and mold variants. I don't mind that bit.

On Bricklink, it become a bit harder to optimise costs. Partially because shipping costs are not taken into account the algorithm to select stores (or am I wrong?). I do see a lot of sellers also adding handling fees etc. Also, in my country shipping costs are very expensive. The tiniest domestic parcel is close to EUR 10. That's off course the price individuals and small enterprises have to pay. I guess we are so used to cheap shipping costs from big merchants...

Edited April 16 by faph

[The Big MC]

My last uk order came to the equivalent of 4.09 Euros for a large padded envelope. I know anything from Europe is easy 20 euros +, but I just thought that was due to having to go via customs now. 

You thought about using a Jacobs bogie set-up to remove the need for the magnets and wheels in the middle, similar to the Horizon Express (10233).  I know it's not as fun as the magnets but it would make it cheaper. I used a set on 60337, which allowed me to make a cargo wagon with the parts. 

[faph]

It did cross my mind to replace the magnets with a different coupler, a technic lift arm or something. I didn't think about Jacob's bogies though. I guess I could use that trick to upgrade my engine + single car to a full train with rear car too without having to purchase any new wheels.

The play factor is really important though in our family. The engine from the cargo train set 60198 might need to pull some coaches too some day...

[Daiman]

Nice work and yes...well, bricklink is no longer the friend of the serious builder. Every part seems to be of a collectable status nowadays and postage often more than the bricks...

I go elsewhere's.

[faph]

Train pulling into the station:

When I say "station", it's more like a halt. But it does have a smoothy van!

Father Christmas pushing his bike into the luggage compartment.

And after the train has moved forward the local farmer is able to board too.

Standing room only by the looks of it. No idea why there is a rabbit on the carriage floor...

 

[The Big MC]

Looking good.

Love how Santa has to take the train now. Too many drunken Christmas Eves. Good minifig humour 

[LL1982]

Nice, like how it looks. Indeed BL can be a pain in shipping. I've bought a cheap not complete trainset of marktplaats (saw your Dutch) to get the motor and hub for my train. Way cheaper and for the rest old bricks and maybe a few BL orders to complete it. But still in the end I guess the train will still cost 100+ for a 2 sections. 

Good that you kept the playability, need that to at home. Minifigs needs to move from left to right.