Radar

The faces are exactly that. Duplo models with all the excess cut off. I used sticky tack wadded up into a ball to fill in the face and stick to the brick from behind. Works well and it's not permanent. The next train on the list is either Percy or Toby, then Gordon last. I plan to do only the original characters from my childhood. It is also a shame because Edward and Henry can't be done since there are no face molds. So I'm trying to outsource other faces for them.

A little over a year ago I made a PF Thomas which while a hit at model train shows, left me feeling I could improve on the original model. SO after some tinkering and a 2 stud drop in width to 8 studs wide I bring you Thomas 2.0. Much of the original model remains with a few tweaks. The head now has curved slopes instead of the original cheese. The receiver is mounted at the back rather than on top. The 2 stud loss was between the battery and the side wall. Originally the wall was 2 studs wide on each side. Now it is only 1. The rods have been purchased in zephyr's BL store. I think they look fantastic. Front and rear lights both work. James was the second project. After improving on Thomas I took what I learned and applied it to project 2. Battery box and receiver are hidden in the tender. Front and read lights work on James as well.The cab had me stumped for a few months. I could not find a combination of sloped parts with a small horse shoe curve no more than 2 studs in between. Eventually I tried thinking a little sideways and came to my solution. A 1x4 arch mounted sideways, with the rest of the cab built to match. The only problem then was to somehow mount it to the engine without leaving gaps. Alas. 2 pins mounted on top of the XL motor provided points of contact for the roof to latch onto. Problem solved! The only thing I'm not happy with is getting the proper curve on the tender sides, and the front bogie. They are functional, but I know it can be improved. Any suggestions would be useful! A few size comparisons are shown with the emerald night. James is almost as fast at the night, while Thomas is about half the speed.

After the oldest bridge in my home city was closed indefinitely I took it upon myself to create a scale replica as a token of our past. This is my replica of the Saskatoon Traffic Bridge. A 950 ft steel truss riveted together over a century ago. It was home to the only marine disaster in the prairies when a steam ship collided into it shortly after it opened. It also would test your driving skills to the limit when you would pass opposing cars literally inches from smashing each others mirrors. City council was kind enough to provide me with original blueprints to which I then incorporated into a LDD model. The original had the first truss taken down this fall. So there is no real answer anymore to save it. It is really a shame the city purposely neglected it so badly to be torn down. It's 1:40 scale. So 950 studs long and a minifig is like 5'8 I believe?. Fully functional. It DOES contain slightly modded parts ( ashamed I know ) but it was all in spirit to contain the high degree of bend required to make the trusses connect and be historically accurate. The actual bridge did carry trolley cars and vehicles but was eventually used only for the latter. It comes apart as 5 sections or 1 truss each. Piers are there for stability and accuracy. It's not completely finished yet. There are still details like lattice work with cheese slopes in between every column. Lights still need hooked up. Top cross frames are almost done. etc etc. So far I'm just over the 16,000 part amount and 2000$ paid on it. mostly 1x16 bricks, 1x8 and 1x10 plates. During the first public display 2 fully loaded maersk train crossed paths in the center of the bridge. It was the first time it was load tested with 2 mobile trains rather than static. Needless to say after a few sickening cracks the weight of both trains was to much and the entire right side of the center truss collapsed and took the trains with it. After a rebuild I'm glad to say no incidents have occurred since. I would be happy to show pictures as well of my building technique or answer any questions you might have. Thanks for looking! Sorry if the pictures are too big. I can resize them if needed.

I literally cut the face off. The duplo piece includes part of the boiler and side cowels over the wheels. I took a knife and carefully cut everything that wasn't black and attatched to the face. It's true he does look a bit big, but I tried to make him smaller without certain functions and the proportions didn't match up as well as I liked with the face. So I stuck with the 8 wide locomotive and 2 wide grey deck. Annie and Clarabel will come soon along with James, Gordon, Percy and Toby.

So after years of having no easy and good way to make a real steam engine with the traditional 9v system, PF came out! Mold that with some of Big Ben's Bricks and a new MOC is born. My Thomas was created upon repeated requests over the years at model train shows I've participated in. I finally had the time and proper parts to build one. My Thomas has working front and rear lights and uses a rechargeable battery box and medium motor. The PF components are crammed into the 10 wide ( 8 wide on the actual engine ) interior with no room to spare. The only modded part is the face from the duplo Thomas. I refused to use a non lego part so cutting off just the Thomas face was my only option. I'm personally happy with the result. Thomas is turned on by simply pressing the boiler dome. Same manner as the 7939 train. Stickers will come eventually, when I figure out the dimensions and how to make the darn things. For those interested, I've included a video on the operation. Enjoy! And remarks/ potential improvements are appreciated.

I'm in the same situation, just I'm actually in the Lug (SLUG). My layout has won top in show for 3 years running and I'm just not sure about doing a show with my lug. Partly because it's MY layout tailored to my needs and wants over the past decade or so. I feel more satisfaction when people comment about how impressive my setup is for only 1 person. But that's me. I'll try it once and if I don't like it then I'll just let them know I would prefer a solo layout while still being interested in the group setting of exchanging ideas and projects. It's up to you! I'd say chek it out at least. Then you can say you prefer it or not with a valid opinion :)

I prefer 7939 for a few simple reasons. 1. Easily modified to use lights 2. Can fit 2 motors easily without any mods. Just the reverse direction switch. 3. Has a passenger OR freight related look. 3677 looks like a freight hauler only. 4. First diesel design of European origin in a long time. 3677 looks like remakes of 4512 and the even older 4564. Those are just my reasons. If you try to mod any of the above into 3677 you'll be scratching your head for a simple solution.

Hello fellow eurobrick railroaders! Let me introduce myself! My name is Andre, from Canada. I've been a long time lego fan, but only got into the 9v system in the very early 2000's. First set was the 4512 cargo railway. Since then my layout has undergone several.... expansions :) Even now a 24x4 ft layout is to small. Sorry for the crowding! I'm into MOC'ing structures from around my city. The latest is based on a 105 year old steel humpback truss bridge set for demolition. My replica is currently underway with a completion date of march and overall length of approx 24ft. Photos later if interested. I've been filmed on the news and published in the paper for some of my work. Here are a few photos for your enjoyment! I'll post some MOC specific ones for those interested (ie PF Thomas the tank engine) Here is a video link as well for those interested in my Thomas MOC.

I'm not looking to convert 9v to PF, just was curious if the motor and gears can be used as long term replacements for the 9v system without going to a third party replacement. I just don't want to tear apart one of my precious 9v motors and render it inoperable if I can't replace parts.

Long time follower of eurobricks so I thought it was finally time to step up and join. I've been a long time 9v fanatic, but was only able to afford my hobby in the early 2000's. Anyways! Apart from my layout overpowering my basement I was curious about the old 9v motors and the new PF ones. I've searched the forums but was unable to track down if you can remove an old internal 9v motor, and replace it and possibly the gears with a new PF one. Theoretically you could since they both run 9v... but I don't know if the gears and motors are interchangeable. I was hoping they are since I have a few old 9v motors in need of... a new motor. Has anyone tested this? Thanks for all your help!