monai

every 4,5 motor can use any technic wheel by means of http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=bb301 or http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=pinpw2 or (only for the very first motor) http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=bb301a. I personally use this way with the emerald wheel and it's very fun. Also the 12volt motors are usable (provided a 9v battery box at least) and fast. In the next future I will post some pictures regards Sergio Monai

Something like that has been made a lot of years ago, you can find it in the 1969 241 idea books sergio

As regard the connections with the 9v sysytem there are some examlpes like: http://users.erols.com/kennrice/flextrack.htm but I think this is perhaps a problem for 9v volt existing owners, for the others the actual price of 9v straight track is too high for imaging a merge, I would go for a completely new look track system, for the switches too, like this example: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=3184301 regards Sergio

Following the discussion of Zephyr I strongly suggest to investigate the possibility to produce only a system of ties, like the original design of Ben Fleskes (I've no idea of copyright issues). A system of different interchangeable ties which will accomodate code250 or, better, code 200 vignole metal rails that are bended to custom desire to produce not only a much larger gamma of radii but also different geometries. Also the endavour should cost less. Sergio Monai

The Big Ben Bricks system is rather different from ME one: the ties are the fundamental piece, the rails could be at custom choice, but let me say that the vignole profile is another thing (much better). There are plenty of self build tracks but the concept of BBB is to give a tool, the ties in differnt radius and the possibility to combine them in any way, to project and realize almost ANY layout design. Obviously the open problem are the switches. Ben Fleskes has said (one year ago) that the project is still open to give a complete system but till now there is nothing about it.

Ust60, I don't understand the meaning of your intervention, could you explain it better? Sergio

Ben fleskes has updated his page on tracks, see it at http://www.bigbenbricks.com/track/track.html the production technic is 3D printing, it looks well, as regard the metal rails. Sergio Monai

Painting is possible but take care of the change in width due to the coating, this could cause a bad sticking, it is better to paint the finished model as usual in modelling world. Obviously this means that only the external surface will be painted. First clean carefully the model, then is better to use a sandpaper (1000) to make a rough surface, a primer is mandatory, finally you spray (or paint if the pieces are small). Give two hands or more and the final product will be more realistic than with normal LEGO blocks. regards Sergio Monai

As regard this topic, please go to lego cuusoo and support this: http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/24159 another option is to monitor what BigBenBricks will offer in the next months (perhaps). Sergio

you can use the medium size wheel from BBB, b ut you must levigate or cut the blind wheel not to touch the flanged ones. See http://www.brickshel...y.cgi?i=4422173 Sergio Monai

Still no news?

well perhaps it could be done, it depends from the width of the "mushroom" head, if they are very different it seems hard to make something working really smooth, it should be long enough (16 studs?). It's likely BBB is working to this topic, in phase two, switches and other items are foreseen but it will depend on how many rails will be sold.

The only problem is the different section of the rails: the "vignoles" has the realistic "mushroom" profile, how to connect them, without bumps, to the LEGO ones?

Perhaps they can help: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=3432870 http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=383419 Sergio

Ben has updated the link, plenty of specifications, a FAQ will follow: http://bigbenbricks....rack/track.html good time for train people

I beg your pardon but the exact spelling is Vignoles and is refereed to Cahrles Vignoles who first introduced the rail profile used till our days http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Blacker_Vignoles

I don't think so, looking at the image above, but it is betetr to wait the official release.

Big Ben Bricks LCC has shown at the BrickCon 2012 in Seattle new track projects which will be online in the next weekend (Ben Fleskes says). He anticipated the image below and the geometry proposed: 3 curve radii: 40, 56 and 72 studs straights. The profile is a real "vignole" one The ties are plastic (ABS). The rails are either plastic (ABS) or solid metal (Nickel Silver) - customer choice. The same ties work with both types of rail. Switches would release in phase two. they looks great

As regards the 9v train motor comparison you should look at the philohome.com pages. Why you say the last 12v model is not good for high speed? and what about the old 12v with gear reduction, it was very powerful and with some lubrification should be good, anyone has try it? (it can use the large wheels by means of the http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=bb301?)

I said the normality, not the rule, in small scale like the N - gauge, it is perhaps easier put the motor in the square shape of the tender, but in the gauges like 1 or G (similar to L-gauge) the engines are normally powered also with live steam... regards Sergio Monai

everyone can do what he wants but saying that's a novelty is not very fair, for me is unusual powering a tender or, worst, a passenger car just because it's difficult to power an engine. In the wider world of train modelling the normality is a powered engine not the contrary. You are saying that for LEGO trains is better to pull rather than push so I don't understand well your position? The topic mass vs speed is very interesting, perhaps the philohome.com reviews can help in chosing the right motors. regards Sergio Monai

There are people that have already made it. See at http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=426979 the only thing that change is the power supply that you can achieve by means of a non-lego battery box with four rechargeable batteries (i.e 4,8 V) or an old battery box http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=bb45c02 with which you can use the old 9v normal wire. play well (leg godt) Sergio Monai