THIS IS THE TEST SITE OF EUROBRICKS!
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New England BrickWorks: 3rd party curves and switches
@LegoTrainDude9231 - LEGO track has a very nearly rectangular profile instead of an I or T shape. Take a look at the diagrams from L-Gauge for reference Including this profiling in the rails would significantly thin the center of the rails and require an overhang. This is particularly relevant in the manufacturing processes- real-world steel or iron rails are produced as lengthwise rolled pieces, so they can readily produce these shapes. Plastic rails from LEGO are produced by injection molding, with the mold halves on the top and bottom of each rail. To separate from the mold there can't be overhang that would catch inside the mold and hold pieces in place. 3rd-party rails may be injection molded or 3D printed. Injection molding has the same problem with overhangs, and 3D-printing has resolution limits. Perhaps a cured-resin printer could produce the additional detail for the rail profile, but a typical extrusion printer would also need to contend with supporting an overhang if the rail profile had a wider head and narrower middle. If the rails were formed as extrusions this profile would make sense- if you wanted conductive tracks you could use plastic ties and railbed with metal rails:
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Armoured train moc
@Greenstar - Do you have other LEGO motors? There are ways to motorize the train wheels with the standard (Powered Up / Power Functions / 9V) motors. If those aren't an option, you can use a motor from another source and connect it to a piece of Technic axle. Search for "DIY LEGO Motor" and there are many different instructions
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What would people want from a suspended railway set
The trick with a suspended railway is the limitations that you have. A loop is simple enough if you want curved or straight sections, but the points/switches would need to be new designs. The existing track options (regular L-gauge rails, monorail, roller coaster track) are all designed to have the train above the tracks and don't make way to have a train suspended below. I could see if you designed a new car for the roller coaster track that would cling to the sides/bottom of the rails, using the existing rail pieces upside-down. Otherwise, would want to see a box-section track, something that could easily be connected to supports that would be clear of the suspended trains. Points/switches would be a very nice thing to have, to build beyond a very basic layout. If LEGO makes new parts or the community here designs a new system it would be great to have an option to motorize it. Train sets are more fun if you have the option to run them on a motor.
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