MOD Horizon Express allows fast on/off

[ronenson]

We regularly run a couple of quick laps with the Horizon Express when bringing my son to bed.

Downside is that I have to take off the "lid", switch it on and put the lid back on. Then the same procedure to switch it off. I decided to make a quick mod of the roof part that covers the battery inspired by how the 7939 switches on and off.

Taken slightly apart:

I show it here as LDD screenshot because the pictures wouldn't make it clear. It works like a charm. Simply push the studs, and the battery switches on or off. You almost don't notice the difference with the original, but it's so much easier.

Edited March 15, 2018 by ronenson
Corrected images

[dr_spock]

Good MOD. Very practical.

[MusicaRibelle]

Neat. I don't know why I hadn't done it yet, since it irritates me as well to have to open the roof every time :)

Thanks for the suggestion, Ron!

[Legoboy22]

Nice idea. If I get HE I will do that.

[v6TransAM]

Have to mod my boys like that when I rebuild it.

Will do mine the same way if I ever get around to building them.

Thanks for sharing

[obsidianheart]

I did something similar to that! Except mine is not as elegant, and relies on the battery box to be slightly unseated from its rear studs.

It's the whole roof piece, though.

A fun thing we did, since the train is for my young son, is a stack of transparent clear plates with a trans-clear tile on top, situated over the power light, so he can see when it is on.

EDIT: I may give your solution a try, as I think it is quite a bit better!

Edited December 6, 2014 by obsidianheart

[Ben C]

Thats really neat! Ill have to do that..

[ronenson]

Thanks everyone. Didn't know a simple thing like this would answer a question that was never asked ;-)

I did something similar to that! Except mine is not as elegant, and relies on the battery box to be slightly unseated from its rear studs.

It's the whole roof piece, though.

A fun thing we did, since the train is for my young son, is a stack of transparent clear plates with a trans-clear tile on top, situated over the power light, so he can see when it is on.

EDIT: I may give your solution a try, as I think it is quite a bit better!

I had been toying with trans-clear bricks as well, but I didn't like it. There's several ways to solve it:

1) learn the kid to spot the light through the receiver (you can see it if you look from the right angle)

2) trans-clear tiles/plates. I actually used a 2x8 technic plate, so light would come through it. (didn't like the looks of the clear plate instead of the black one)

3) redesign:

I've now hooked up the PF lights directly to the battery box. When you switch on the battery, the lights of the train switch on. Thanks for triggering my thoughts so they wandered in this direction. I'm now even more happy with this solution.

[kisper]

Awesome Mod U done there

Thanks for sharing

[rockethead26]

ronenson,

Being new to trains and just setting up my first PF system, I cannot quite tell what you've done. I understand what you accomplished, but don't understand how.

How does pressing on the 1 x 2 studded plate transfer a push to the switch?

Thanks,

Jim

[dr_spock]

Pressing on the location of the 1x2 plate causes the 2x8 plate to bend slightly. That in turn causes the round brick and bottom round tile to move downward. The bottom round curved tile is the piece that actually presses against the green button on the battery box.

[Dread Pirate Rob]

Great solution, I shall give it a try.

[rockethead26]

Pressing on the location of the 1x2 plate causes the 2x8 plate to bend slightly. That in turn causes the round brick and bottom round tile to move downward. The bottom round curved tile is the piece that actually presses against the green button on the battery box.

Thanks, Dr_Spock. I think I've got it.

[rockethead26]

Thanks again, guys. Did the mod and it works great. Much easier now.

[Acchan]

Thanks for the mod ronenson. I'll give it a try on my HE since it looks like it'll save some hassle when I run my sets.

[BrickDafki]

Now that's genuis by simplicity!

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I've received my two HE this week, I'll try this solution!