macnavi

Thanks! I see it in the second link. So made until 1970, so I might actually get the model gifted after all. That's very interesting.

Hi all, I have this classic Lego VW since I was young, together with a Shell tanker truck. It must have come from my family, as it was made before I was born (1970). I know it's really a Lego bus, as it says on the bottom and it has not been painted. However, I have never been able to find it in the Lego Collector book 2nd edition, neither on Bricklink. I emailed the writer of the book, but I never got a reply. I can't certainly be the only one who has this model, but it's like it never excisted. Hope someone can tell me more about it. Sven

It's been a while that you've posted it, but just wanted to let you know I love the way you've done the Eurostar. That is a set I would buy!

I can read here the reception of the model are mixed. I'm on the side of the "nay" sayers. It's not the price that is bothering me, it's the seemingly lack of creativity and inspiration of the designer. It feels boring to me, no atmosphere. So much more can be achieved, as we see from MOC modular builds from people around here. That this modular building received the OK from everyone involved beats me. We saw an increase in detail, in design, every year. But this one... brrrrr! As the amount of modulars we have gotten from Lego over the years is filling up my house, it's not necessary a given that I would buy the new one each year. But if I love it, I would buy any modular. I went through the building instructions, which are on-line now, which did not convince me neither. So I'm skipping this one. I hope many will as well, so Lego will get the message and is more critical on the next design. A garage, yes, but not this one.

I don't remember the ICE ever having a double decker car. The ICE 1 has a raised roof, but this is just to let more light into the dining car, as far as I am aware of. Not that you then can't make it.

That also happened/happens in real life, with a heavy load behind the steam train. Very impressive model, tremendous job!

Choosing (too) many large pieces wouldn't make sense, as this was part of the demise in the early 2000's. I know from a source connected to the company that their research at that time showed that most people only build their model once and don't take it apart (true for me as well!), so I guess they didn't understood the point of small pieces. Clearly they missed the point of Lego there and though to save the company they would have to save production costs by making more large pieces. Sorry if this is very off topic. It wouldn't surprise me if we see a way back to brick built fronts, as I'm sure the current fronts of the ICE look-a-like can not be fitted by anyone under 7 or 8. Even I find it difficult. If it is done for easy build for younger folks, it misses the point.

That would be great.

Love it, James! I'm still checking the pieces I've got for the brown one. When I have time, I will order the pieces for it. The rest of the material is great as well. One of my favorite Swiss train is the ABe 4/4. Maybe something for you to design to add to the Swiss collection.

Just change the extension to pdf and you'll get a pdf you can open. It is probably Brickshelf making a txt file of a pdf, but it's still a pdf.

I think they are both wonderful trains. I saw them at the FaceBook train page. I'm building the brown loco now, slowly, with the parts I have. Thanks again for sharing! Can't wait to see what you're up to next.

No red vehicles? Curiously enough, most of the cars in our town are red. Some of the orange pieces are not available anymore, you would have to go Bricklink, while for the red parts, they can be ordered from Lego directly.

Cool. You kept it red and white?

Thanks all for the compliments! The coupling system was my own idea (accidentally hit it while experimenting, but I guess that's how it often goes), but most parts of the pantograph I have taken from someone else's design. Don't recall where I got it from. It's not motorised. I don't own Lego motors yet, but I am exited to start to experiment with them to motorise small trams. I am a model tram maker, so I have experience making small, working engines. Below an image of the original. It is indeed still driving in Den Haag, once in a while. You can make a trip from the HTM museum, well worth a visit. I am quite happy with the inner work of the lower side. It's compact, but strong. I think it's there, including the couplings, where I did most original work. There is of course nothing original about the shape of the front. I tried with curved shapes, but then you have a problem with the windows. This is the design I started with:

Yes, the signs are quite big. In real life, there is a very thin rod around the number sign, direction colours and light, but hey, this is Lego. The yellow/blue signs on the back will normally have the direction on it. I am easily able to create stickers with my die cutter, but I actually prefer this. It's abstract, as Lego is.