79111 Constitution Train Chase Discussion

[Hey Joe]

So I got this set last night and was wondering if any of you train experts can tell me what I need to motorize this. Only other train I have is the toy story one which isn't motorized either but I think my son would love it if they were.

We'll probably need to wait a little while for the train to get into general circulation so that folks can tinker around with it a bit.

IMO it'll probably be easiest to build a little box car to hold all the PF stuff. That's OK because you could then use that car to power any train, right?

Someone posted an LDD rendering a week or so ago where they had gutted the included box car and put the PF in there.

Joe

Edited April 8, 2013 by bjtpro

[prozac]

It does not. Does the instructions for the toy story train? Too much trouble to dig mine out right now.

[Hey Joe]

It does not. Does the instructions for the toy story train? Too much trouble to dig mine out right now.

Sorry but I don't understand. It does not what?

There was a real nice review of the train last week, did you read it? I think it addressed motorizing in the last paragraph.

Hope that helps, Joe

[prozac]

sorry...nmeant to quote the post above yours. it does not have the instructions to motorize it in the book.

[mostlytechnic]

No, neither this nor the toy story train included motorization instructions (heck, the TS train didn't even come with any track!)

Neither is particularly easy to motorize - there's no room for easy mods to add all the stuff. By far the easiest would be to just build a new boxcar (or use the "jail car" on the Con set, taking out all the play features of it) with the battery, receiver, and motor and use that to power the train.

[The Reclaimer]

I love this set, Speaking of The General I have seen 4-4-0 american type loco- number 3 western & atlanic railroad steam engine. Its my favorite engine of all time and it does

not look like that 4-6-0 wich is modern loco- and to me does not look the same. But I still like the set.

[edsmith0075]

where is this set available? I have been looking around locally but no one has it...

[mostlytechnic]

It's not officially available - I think it's coming out Apr 15 in the USA. I got it (the set I reviewed) when Walmart put them up for sale early.

[zephyr1934]

Looks like there will also be a bonus hand car too...

[Shazam12]

Really like the look of this set!

[obsidianheart]

You guys are going to laugh at me for this question:

I bought this set for my son, but it is in storage at another location until his birthday a month from now. We've also got a Monster Fighters Ghost Train set that I've been using LEGO Digital Designer to mod it to fit the track that comes with this set. I've never owned a LEGO train before, and have never seen a piece of the curved track in person.

Does the curved track attach to a baseplate?

It doesn't in LDD, but I don't know if that's a connectivity glitch. I've got a bunch of old baseplates, and was thinking of building a simple layout with maybe a couple of playsets and the water tower from this set next to the track, but don't know how to build it if the curved track doesn't actually connect to the baseplate.

[Lazarus]

No they wont the stud patten is off. Streights are fine bends not.

But there is other ways.

have a look at my option for putting tack bends on base plates

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=77596

Plans can be found

http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=lazarus992

Edited April 24, 2013 by Lazarus

[zephyr1934]

I bought this set for my son...

Does the curved track attach to a baseplate?

Seems like a perfectly fine question to ask. As Lazarus noted, no the track will not attach to a baseplate, however, you can easily set the curved track on top of a baseplate unattached (or attached at 0°, 90°, etc). Most trains will have no problem with the slight grade going from attached straights to unattached curves, but if you do, you can add one plate below the straights and tiles below the curves.

[octavspot]

Having read multiple reviews and watched several videos on 79111, I'm fairly certain that I will get it once I get my paycheck...yet there are still a few things niggling me:

Price. At nearly $150 CAD, it's not what I'd call cheap - that said, there are a lot of specialized parts included which naturally drives the price up (I imagine, at least)

Second, I can't help compare it to the Emerald Night (10194) set - it was bigger, a bit more detailed, and featured a full coach - that said, 79111 still seems to offer more for the money - two cars (excluding the coal car) - plenty of features, and lots of cool figures.

A common complaint is that there's no PF... but that one I can understand. If it would have PF, the price would easily spill over $200 mark, something Lego doesn't intend to do. EN didn't have PF either, although they did make it easier to mod it by including instructions. Not a complaint from my end, really, in fact, I'd actually enjoy figuring out how to PF the Constitution :)

My conclusion is... this is a cool train set - the colour choices are also very well done, one of the things that attracted me to the set in the first place.

In any case, what do you guys think?

[Flash]

Don't forget when comparing those 2 sets, that the Emerald night didn't come with any tracks, and those aren't cheap...

[penguinz]

It depends whether or not you want the minifigures in addition to the train, I was able to find a 79111 without the minifigures and some acessories for only $44 (USD) on Bricklink. If train itself is what iterests you, I would go this way! The train itself is a great addtion. It is quite a bit smaller than the Emrald Night but, if you keep them separated by a bit of distance both trains look great! The locomotive really looks like a traditional Western engine. If you can find it for a discount, it surely offers more for your money than the Emrald Night in features and some of the small details (as long as you actually need more track).

[jtr]

i'm really um and ahh'ing this train, its either this or a second horizon express - just cant decide

[octavspot]

It depends whether or not you want the minifigures in addition to the train, I was able to find a 79111 without the minifigures and some acessories for only $44 (USD) on Bricklink. If train itself is what iterests you, I would go this way! The train itself is a great addtion. It is quite a bit smaller than the Emrald Night but, if you keep them separated by a bit of distance both trains look great! The locomotive really looks like a traditional Western engine. If you can find it for a discount, it surely offers more for your money than the Emrald Night in features and some of the small details (as long as you actually need more track).

That's a good idea - certainly saves me a lot of money. But I think I've decided. I'm gonna get the full set - I like the detailed figures and other stuff it comes with, plus, I can always use more track. The thought of PF-ing the Constitution and re-creating a wild west chase sequence is really exciting. That's not to say that I will, eventually get my hands on an Emerald Night someday :D...

Edited June 22, 2013 by octavspot

[Gryphon Ink]

It's a very cool train, octavspot. Of course it doesn't stack up to the EN in detail, but the track and the minifigs (including Silver, who is currently the only white horse available) make it well worth the money IMO.