Pride cometh before the blah blah blah EMD F7

[ShrikeArghast]

This is hideous.

Make no mistake, 10020 wowed even me when it debuted going on a decade and a half ago, but looking back on it, it was just another lazy Lego release using stock pieces to produce a shabby, tired result, only vaguely resembling the real deal. It's not shocking, of course - new molds, etc. cost money, and this was going to be a niche set largely for adult collectors to begin with - no point in wasting any extra dough on it, right Lego?

The problem is, in the intervening 14 years, almost nobody has made much of an effort to rethink the issue of the nose. Oh that nose... it's a real Sarah Jessica Parker eyesore, isn't it? And, best I can tell, almost every person who has gone in hoping to do extensive surgery has only really resulted in re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Shift a few studs here, push around a couple of contours there, and voila: a 'new' F7 that is no way distinguishes itself from the older F7s is released. Rinse, repeat.

This matter is doubly baffling because it is such a wildly popular locomotive. Not for me, mind you - I actually don't care for F7s (I much prefer their ugly little sister, the BL2, if we're really getting down to the brass tacks). But it was a problem that I wanted to look at... just to see if I could conjure something mildly different out of the heaps of redundant clones out there. And... I think I kind of have. Granted, I'm not sure Rio Grande Southern was the best color scheme to choose to showcase it. But, regardless, HERE is a superior design that does away once and for all with... the aforementioned monstrosity.

May the bulldog roam free.

Proto video:

Proto photos:

Model:

If there's a lesson to be had in all of this, it's probably something along the lines of: 'don't spend 8 hours solving a riddle that you already secretly knew you had the answer to.' Having said that, I laid down the gauntlet for myself, and once I had unlocked the mystery of the face (it took less than 20 minutes, if you want to know the truth), the whole thing had to be finished. But, for those of you snarling at your computer screens for me so casually flaunting the best F7 ever: a consolation prize. I get to sleep for 5 hours and then have a troublesome tooth drilled.

The sha of pride - the most dangerous foe of them all.

Edited June 3, 2016 by ShrikeArghast

[ShrikeArghast]

And with numberboards, though I would prefer to just use stickers to accomplish it:

Edited June 3, 2016 by ShrikeArghast

[SavaTheAggie]

You have done well in challenging convention and forcing us to see the solution to the problem of this unique nose from a different perspective. I applaud your inventive parts use.

Having said that, I still prefer Nate's solution.

EMD E7A NYC 4027 by Shuppiluliumas, on Flickr

--Tony

[zephyr1934]

Make no mistake, 10020 wowed even me when it debuted going on a decade and a half ago, but looking back on it, it was just another lazy Lego release using stock pieces to produce a shabby, tired result, only vaguely resembling the real deal. It's not shocking, of course - new molds, etc. cost money, and this was going to be a niche set largely for adult collectors to begin with - no point in wasting any extra dough on it, right Lego?

Getting all of those curves right in 8 wide (much less 6 wide) is a very challenging endeavor and probably impossible to do without a specialized piece. So every take at an F7 and its kin has to make compromises. Do please be kind in your postings, the 10020 was actually designed by a fan rather than the lego company (in fact a fan who still sometimes posts to this message board). In its day the 10020 was very advanced, while it contains only a small amount of snot, it was still far more than (almost?) any official set that came before it. The 10020 is kind of like the yellow castle of lego trains, it was revolutionary at the time and opened the door to so much more. That set also was the first set specifically targeted at the adult fan of lego, leading to the modular buildings, the official recognition of adult groups (first LTCs then LUGs in general) and eventually LUGBULK.

With the tempering a side, you've got some clever tricks there that I have not seen before.

[Hod Carrier]

I think it might be fairer to say that you've come up with another solution to the cab front shape. It's certainly innovative and makes good use of some newer pieces that were not available before, but I wouldn't be so bold and make the sort of claims that you have.

You've got some skills and imagination no doubt, but rubbishing the work of others who went before while "...casually flaunting the best F7 ever" is a little disrespectful. By all means showcase your work for appraisal, praise, criticism and comments, but your tone goes a little far for my taste. I'm actually wondering whose pride you are referring to.

There are a couple of things to bear in mind. With LEGO there is rarely one solution or interpretation of a prototype. Your interpretation of the F7 may look better to you, but other people may prefer the other method. And that's fine. The other thing is that LEGO is awful at reproducing compound curves like those of the F7 bonnet. Therefore each designer will struggle to come up with the least worst solution that suits their eye best.

As I say, it's an innovative and interesting design that you've come up with. I don't find it works to my eyes as well as Nate's but I appreciate the original thought and design.

[ShrikeArghast]

You've got some skills and imagination no doubt, but rubbishing the work of others who went before while "...casually flaunting the best F7 ever" is a little disrespectful. By all means showcase your work for appraisal, praise, criticism and comments, but your tone goes a little far for my taste. I'm actually wondering whose pride you are referring to.

Some skills? What a backhanded compliment.

It is somewhat astonishing to see a pretty obvious tongue-in-cheek theming given to any post so universally dumped upon simply because someone might believe their own work is superior to that of someone else. Even if the wording of the thread wasn't so obviously flippant as to render its meaning obvious, is that really the point we've reached in the western world - that a person cannot think that something they have done is the best? That they need to be slapped down with a little internet justice; have that ego reigned in because somebody's feelings might get hurt?

You want honesty? Fine. I'll double down for the sake of the absurdity of your reaction, if nothing else: I don't think this Nate person's work you keep touting is particularly good. I hope that breaks your heart, since it is apparently so easy to crack.

[SavaTheAggie]

You'll want to step away now, take a few weeks off from the Internet. It seems the only ego hurt is your own.

You are entitled to your own opinion about your work. Frankly I don't... and can't... share it. And as I am entitled to my own opinion, your F7 design creates far more design issues than it solves. It's a novel use of parts, but that's as far as it goes - novel.

--Tony

[ShrikeArghast]

You'll want to step away now, take a few weeks off from the Internet. It seems the only ego hurt is your own.

You are entitled to your own opinion about your work. Frankly I don't... and can't... share it. And as I am entitled to my own opinion, your F7 design creates far more design issues than it solves. It's a novel use of parts, but that's as far as it goes - novel.

--Tony

Uh huh. You know what's equally ugly a motivator as pride? Spite spoon-fed by jealousy. Break from the internet. Right. A slightly thicker skin might serve you well.

[Daedalus304]

At this point I can't help but think that this is one of the biggest trolling attempts the Train Tech forum has ever seen. I'm not going to repeat the rather on-the-nose criticism already given to the unique solution you've decided to use; and any further pointers on the general shape of the rest of the bodywork I'm not too keen on sharing at the moment. I don't know if this just a massive troll attempt or an incredibly bad mood due to sleep deprivation and tooth work (Which sucks, I know); but please know that this kind of attitude is not going to ingratiate yourself any with the community you're trying so hard to impress.

We have no problem with someone preferring their own work, surely nobody would design their own models in a way they feel is inferior to another's. And every now and then, a model does come along that really does absolutely define what can be done with that model in the LEGO medium and nobody takes umbrage with that. The problem you're running into here is surely almost entirely rooted in the fact that the first 3 paragraphs - a good 75% of your post - is not focused so much on the merits of your own model as it is effectively calling the entire rest of the train community unimaginative and lazy. A community that it is fairly obvious you are very new to and don't know well.

Even if this whole attitude and reaction is a facade, and 'we all just don't get the subtle irony of the title', I want to ask you in all honesty: What does this gain you? What are you looking to achieve by acting this way?

[Hod Carrier]

Some skills? What a backhanded compliment.

Not really, no. I said that your work was original and innovative, and I meant that. I also meant my statement about skills and imagination genuinely. I'm glad that you like it and that you're happy with the outcome, even if it doesn't work so well to my eyes.

What jars is your attitude. But I've already said what I felt I wanted to say earlier and am not going to comment further on it. I'm sorry if my earlier post is what inflamed the situation. It wasn't my intention to provoke such a strong reaction.

[Hinckley]

obvious

No. Without the benefit of tone people can interpret the unique presentation of your MOC many different ways.

Everybody, play nice. Our Guidelines require you to respect each other. If this gets out of control we will suspend accounts and possibly ban anyone who can't follow that Community Guideline. Thank you.

[v6TransAM]

I see that and the Chuggington theme song plays in my head and I hate Chuggington with a passion.

[Vkng070]

I see that and the Chuggington theme song plays in my head and I hate Chuggington with a passion.

Honk your horns, Trainees! Hahaha. You're right. I see the face on it.

[LoneBrickerSG]

Your design has some things going for it. The carbody looks much better, although there are a few unnecessary vents in places.

The nose... well..

This is a step backward for me. While the big curved parts can be made to lend themselves to shape an F7a nose, you lose all the modularity available via a style like the 10020 has. With your nose, I can't install the secondary light shown in two of your prototype photos. The pilot is also a step backward, I think. Also the roof fans are a little out of whack.

[CruiserTone]

Your design has some things going for it. The carbody looks much better, although there are a few unnecessary vents in places.

The nose... well..

This is a step backward for me. While the big curved parts can be made to lend themselves to shape an F7a nose, you lose all the modularity available via a style like the 10020 has. With your nose, I can't install the secondary light shown in two of your prototype photos. The pilot is also a step backward, I think. Also the roof fans are a little out of whack.

Pull the middle part from the nose and you could install whatever you like, I imagine. It's three pieces, I think.

[Rotundus]

Having not grown up with Chuggington, all I see is a short eared St. Bernard puppy. Inebriated imagination aside, that is an interesting use of train wheels for the fans on the long hood, as well as the use of hinges to enable the sun visors over the cab side windows, And you're right Shrike, the number boards don't really do much for the model, although they do break up the the "slab" nosed look of the front. Overall I'd say that there is some pretty inventive use of the shapes available to us. I never would of thought of combining those pieces like that.

As for the rest of all this... Humility has always been a winning approach for me.

Edited June 4, 2016 by Rotundus