A day after telling someone that "monorail is dead forever" I post my latest in-denial manifestation:

Monorail Train

This train runs just as the original monorail trains from Futuron, Unitron & Airport in the 80s & 90s, using the 9V battery box and electric connectors.

Ice Planet (released in 1993) vehicles & structures had uniform colours: white, blue, black & trans neon orange. The construction of the train has attempted to follow the general colour scheme appearance. I have not tried to limit the construction to parts available from the same period, but at the same time have tried not to make it look too far removed from the 90s set aesthetic, in an attempt to integrate the train into the original theme's setup. I also built it so that replacing the 9V battery wouldn't require much disassembly.

Original sets:

Monorail train:

Unlike the Unitron train (whatever purpose it served), but like the Futuron train, this one is made to carry cargo & personnel. The cargo for Ice Planet is satellites for their rockets, which are launched from the base Ice Station Odyssey (set 6983 above). I would've liked it to carry rockets but that would sacrifice the 2nd cockpit - and we can't have that!

Why would the Iceys use a train to transport their satellites instead of their other vehicles? Well obviously it's faster this way! However, the bubble wheeled & ski/sledded vehicles are better at snow travel, so the rail wouldn't take the direct route through the rougher terrain that they would.

The extended cockpit seats 3, with the battery box located behind it. Inside the cockpit is a (non-flashing) LED that is lit up when the power is on. Above the box is a twin flashing LED that is also active when the power is on.

The shorter cockpit seats 2, with an enclosed sides cargo tray. The satellites are placed on 2x2 jumper plates, which then slide on & off from the rear. The tile/plates are held in securely by bricks with slots. See below for illustration. The cockpit also houses a modern light brick, which is activated independent of the other electrics by pressing down on the chainsaw pieces at the rear of the windscreen. Thanks to friction the light can stay on until the chainsaw pieces are pressed down again. On either side of the cargo is a hend-held chainsaw.

On both sides of both cockpits (plus on the motor) a pair of skis are in place for the occupants on departure. The motor section also has a (non-flashing) LED that lights up when the battery power is on.

1/3: The satellites are held in place by hose nozzle parts.

2/3: Turning the nozzles to the side allows them to slide out onto the black curved slopes.

3/3: Up to 3 units can be stored. Well at least it's more than the official sets had. 6 or 8 would be better (something like those battle droid carriers), but would probably reduce the aesthetics & aerodynamics or make it too bulky.

Replacing the battery:

The windscreen is only held on by 2 studs, and is easy to deliberately remove without causing catastrophe.

The battery box (and the assembly on top of it) simply lifts off (the bottom corners of the battery box don't clutch to studs, but they sit without moving horizontally).

A sneaky look at the light "switch" for the 2nd cockpit:

By request - additional detail

Here are some close-ups of the front section:

Here is the back section:

Yes, the lights work.

In motion!

I don't have much track out to demonstrate it in full swing, or the other Ice Planet sets out to compare with. I may update this post when I get a chance to do those.

Comparison with my other trains:

From the top is the Unitron train from 6991, Futuron train from 6990, Space Police II train (version 2, just finished) & Ice Planet 2002 train.

More/bigger photos on Flickr

Edited June 18, 20159 yr by Artanis I

Very well done! I love the lights, and just the look of it.

Very well done! I love the lights, and just the look of it.

Thanks! At my old place I had the monorail set up with the original trains, and I'd turn on all the flashing lights & sirens, and just watch the trains go around & around in the dark...

This train has turned out better than my SP2 one, I'll have to work on tidying that up. It looks a bit shabby, but this one isn't bad.

In motion!

Edited February 16, 201510 yr by Artanis I

very cool, nice work

Now i want to go order some Ice planet figs...

Ice Planet is the best series! Nicely done. :)

That is sweet!

Semi-off topic, but is there a reason I never see a middle car for space monorail sets/MOCs? Does it just not work with the electronics or something?

Edited February 23, 201510 yr by DPrime

Thanks guys. Yes, the minifigs were the coolest!

That is sweet!

Semi-off topic, but is there a reason I never see a middle car for space monorail sets/MOCs? Does it just not work with the electronics or something?

Nothing to do with the electrics, that would be fine. I've never seen it either.

The bases only connect to each other that way. You would have to use some kind of brick-built connection to have multiple cars on one side. It's something I've considered but not tried yet. I don't know whether it would work, since the wheels are only at one end of the car base it might make it too much work for the centre-based motor to push a long lanky train (pull, no problems, but push?). But the monorail parts aren't common or cheap, so I never have enough free to try it. Maybe the next one. That will be SP1 I reckon.

That is sweet!

Semi-off topic, but is there a reason I never see a middle car for space monorail sets/MOCs? Does it just not work with the electronics or something?

Yes - the monorail bases only work as base - motor - base. If you wanted anything longer it would be very difficult to mod together.

And awesome train design!

Sweet... This is very much an updated Ice Planet set.

If it was in white and orange and in shops, I'd buy it. (No problem with white and blue, just a personal preference! I like MM)

The train flows very nicely.

Those windscreens are not in common use today, and you've used them brilliantly.

Edited February 23, 201510 yr by fossil1999

Excellent work! You nailed the Ice Planet look

Thanks everyone, glad you like it. Can't wait to get a full track setup to watch it go around & around.

Be sure to post pictures when you do get it all set up! I expect a full Ice Planet themed environment! ;)

Be sure to post pictures when you do get it all set up! I expect a full Ice Planet themed environment! ;)

For now we will have to do with added details and comparison shots with other trains.

SP2 train is mostly done, topic coming soon.

Comparison with my other trains:

I loved the Ice Plant theme. Your train fits it perfectly. Well done!

Hi, very beautiful train. You made it excellent. It looks like a official set. I am New in the world of monorails and bot my futuron one two weeks ago. Now I am triing to get cheap trackparts. That is very difficult :)

I loved the Ice Plant theme. Your train fits it perfectly. Well done!

Hi, very beautiful train. You made it excellent. It looks like a official set. I am New in the world of monorails and bot my futuron one two weeks ago. Now I am triing to get cheap trackparts. That is very difficult :)

Thanks guys, and yes, cheap tracks are hard to find. Unless you just want the long curves!

Hi. This is Cris from Italy.

I have been told too that monorail is dead... I do not care at all. I like it and I like to build MOCs around my MTRON style monorail.

Since I am going to build a small Ice Planet diorama, with a monorail as well, I gave a look around and I found your version. I like it very much and I am really interested to your version of Ice Plane Monorail, so that I would like, of course with your permission and your help, to build it and customise it. I would like to add a third intermediate wagon.

By my site, since I have seen you don't have a Mtron like monorail yet and personally I have made three of them (one 6990 style, one 6991 stile and another one 4 wagons "man at work" train, with engine, passengers coach, crain and cabin plus store of goods), I can provide details of mine.

Here below there is the picture of my Mtron like diorama (almost 1,5 x 3,4 meters), presented to a local event, but it is not the full version because available space was not enough.

This link reports all the pictures of the same event. Many pictures are there.

https://www.flickr.c...57650780331093/

This is the link to the Monorail section of my web site, unfortunately not completely updated yet.

http://cristianorugg.../Monorotaia.htm

Are you interested to exchange our respective monorail mocs?

Waiting for your reply, many thanks and congratulations for your monorail MOCs.

Thanks.

Cris.

I have been told too that monorail is dead... I do not care at all. I like it and I like to build MOCs around my MTRON style monorail.

Since I am going to build a small Ice Planet diorama, with a monorail as well, I gave a look around and I found your version. I like it very much and I am really interested to your version of Ice Plane Monorail, so that I would like, of course with your permission and your help, to build it and customise it. I would like to add a third intermediate wagon.

...

Are you interested to exchange our respective monorail mocs?

Waiting for your reply, many thanks and congratulations for your monorail MOCs.

Hi, thanks for sharing your creations, and for your comments.

Feel free to take any inspiration from my trains. The design of the front half (with the battery) is fairly simple, you should be able to work most of it out from the pictures here. I can do some more in-depth photos if you are interested.

I am interested in what you use to connect your additional train sections, and are they able to go up and down the ramps?

Thanks a lot.

Yes, theoretically the mechanic movement allows the monorail to ramp up and down, but pratically there is a limitation given by the motor that has no power enough.

With three wagons I have had no problems, but with four the convoy needs some manual help when the battery is a bit down.

Il make you a picture of the extra wagon joint in the next couple of days.

By the way can you tell me how you have connected the reversed wedge to the train platform (exactly in front)? I have some difficulties to see it from the pictures.

Thanks,

Cris.

That makes sense. With all of the extra lights these 2 custom trains are sluggish too.

Okay, I will try to get some more pics.

Right. Battery must be good quality and almost new.

Before the ramp up there must be enough straight rail and no bend at all.

Here are some close-ups of the front section:

Here is the back section:

Hi. Here the details of two different solutions of how I added extra wagons.

I have more pictures but I cannot upload them because I have 100k size file linits.

If you let me have the e-mail address I can email the other pictures.

Mine is crisrgg@libero.it.

Thanks for your pictures.