jamzee Posted September 21, 2010 Posted September 21, 2010 (edited) Hi everyone I remember being enchanted by 7740 when I was a kid but never was able to get the set back in the 80's. I'm just getting back into trains via the awesome Emerald Night and am wondering whether to take the plunge on a <used> 7740 from back along or just enjoy the memories and instead go for the superb-looking, up-to-date new 7938 (at a fraction of the cost!). I've also had a go at creating 7740 on LDD but that will be approx £130 (which would be a large chunk towards an original 7740 albeit though LDD replica has new pieces but will cost more than a new 7938). Powering it would be via Power Functions. Any thoughts/comments/observations team? Thanks hugely for any advice! Edited May 14, 2011 by jamzee Quote
peterab Posted September 22, 2010 Posted September 22, 2010 (edited) Any thoughts/comments/observations team? Thanks hugely for any advice! While I share your love for 7740, you can probably recreate something very similar much cheaper with newer parts. The 12V motors have become quite expensive. A few parts such as the grey 2x2 windows are rare. The older wheels are similar in price to newer ones, but the new ones run much more smoothly. Replace the yellow windows with white ones and you'll save some serious money. Once you get to this point you might as well just build a modern MOC like these though. Buying your parts through bricklink rather than LDD will give you a bigger variety to choose from and cheaper prices, though you may need to shop from multiple sellers. In the end it comes down to what you'll enjoy more. Nostalgia can be a wonderful thing in itself. Edited September 22, 2010 by peterab Quote
pinioncorp Posted September 22, 2010 Posted September 22, 2010 Personally, sometimes I think that it's worth buying the expensive parts instead of subsituting them for cheaper options. They are what gives a model its charm. The wheels I think can be changed over to the new ones, but the carriage windows become lifeless by using a transparent 1 × 4 × 3 panel. And using white ones would also disrupt the continuity of the overall design. Its will be very expensive, but anything but would destroy the nostalgia factor. Quote
jamzee Posted September 22, 2010 Author Posted September 22, 2010 Thank you for the replies, very helpful. Essentially then it has to be a "real" 7740 rather than best-effort on LDD (or at least Bricklink the special parts) for fear of losing it's charm - I can understand that. I'm very "picky" about quality of bricks therfore I think most of a potential 7740 would need to be new pieces via LDD although I think I read somewhere the parts are cheaper on Pick a Brick. It's a bid of a tough one as the new Passenger Train too looks great. I'm off to the Great Western Lego Show next weekend and hopefully both will be there in the displays!! Quote
pinioncorp Posted September 22, 2010 Posted September 22, 2010 The new passenger train will be out for a few years at least, so take your time with acquiring that. The 7740 and its parts however are getting harder to find by the day. Quote
Brickaroo Posted September 22, 2010 Posted September 22, 2010 You really can't beat the original: Trust me when I say that you will not regret forking out for this beautiful piece of Lego history. Quote
StephanSz Posted September 22, 2010 Posted September 22, 2010 You really can't beat the original: Trust me when I say that you will not regret forking out for this beautiful piece of Lego history. I totally agree with that! When I was a kid there was no money for a 7740 :( But earlier this year I found one for only 150 euros and bought it! It's just so much better than a replica with substitute pieces... Quote
SavaTheAggie Posted September 22, 2010 Posted September 22, 2010 What an ugly train. Get the Emerald night! --Tony, who never saw an official LEGO train he liked until the Santa Fe Super Chief Quote
jamzee Posted September 22, 2010 Author Posted September 22, 2010 Thanks to everyone for your advice! Wow I think I should rename the thread "post pics of your 7740"!! What a treat it always is to see this train. Curiously it doesn't seem to have aged at all... Quote
hoeij Posted September 22, 2010 Posted September 22, 2010 If you have no 12V track, then I'd go for something more cost effective. If you buy a new train then you can be sure that you can acquire a good amount of track at reasonable cost. A train on a small track is not a lot of fun no matter what train you have. Getting 12V track at good prices is not so easy (for completeness: I have lots of blue 12V track, and I've bid quite a few times on a 7740 on eBay, but I have not yet won one). Quote
jamzee Posted September 22, 2010 Author Posted September 22, 2010 (edited) Thanks hoeij, I do like the 7938 alot and because of its cost(!!!!) and if I do take the plunge on a 7740 I will (have to) stick the PF motor on it + lights as my existing track is not 12v. That way it can be controlled with the RC controller too that I use for my Emerald Night. Essentially it looks like it stacks up like this: 7938 - Nice looking train, more track for existing layout, new pieces as set is new, will need to buy lights, cost approx £115 with lights 7740 - Err... Ultimate Classic, risk on quality of bricks as "used"?! track is redundant though, may need to replace "very used" pieces, no way to know total cost but easily into £100's + It is really hard to know which way to jump because of my passion for 7740! Edited September 22, 2010 by jamzee Quote
hoeij Posted September 23, 2010 Posted September 23, 2010 It is really hard to know which way to jump because of my passion for 7740! Ah, but that settles the case! If you're passionate about this train then the other arguments don't matter. Once you find one at reasonable cost, then just get one. And I wouldn't worry about used bricks. Sometimes when you buy used lego, they do may need to be washed. Just disassemble it, and put all the lego pieces (except of course the electrical pieces) in a bucket with soapy water (not too hot) and wash them by hand. Takes a couple of days to dry, then reassemble, and it will look great again. Quote
BManCan Posted September 24, 2010 Posted September 24, 2010 Once you find one at reasonable cost, then just get one. Check out this auction (180565476049) on EBay for the 7740.....not sure I would consider the price reasonable though. Quote
hoeij Posted September 24, 2010 Posted September 24, 2010 Check out this auction (180565476049) on EBay for the 7740.....not sure I would consider the price reasonable though. That would have to be a typo. I saw one on bricklink about one or two weeks ago for 170 Euro's, and that was complete with stickers, instructions, and box. I didn't buy it (perhaps a mistake on my part) and it's sold now. Next best one on bricklink is also 170 Euro's, without box. Quote
BManCan Posted September 24, 2010 Posted September 24, 2010 That would have to be a typo. Correct...the price is now GBP190 instead of GBP19,000 ...still kinda pricey though. Quote
peterab Posted September 24, 2010 Posted September 24, 2010 It is really hard to know which way to jump because of my passion for 7740! It seems you've already voiced your choice. Get a 7740, either from parts on BL or a complete one. Sell the 12V motor and track if you get it. It will easily pay for an new PF motor, a battery box, and some track. You could also consider selling the wheels. You have the full nostalgia of the look of the train, and the benefits of cheaper and still easily available PF stuff. Quote
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