Are Horizon Express power functions difficult?

[gregrichards]

Horizon Express power functions are they easy to do if you have never built a lego train before? I got this set for Christmas but sold it unopened a few weeks ago because I felt it would be too complicated for me as I have never built a lego train before. I have built Tower Bridge and other more complex sets though. Unfortunately the horizon express kit is not available in the UK anymore.

I intend to buy the new white passenger train in June and the new train station. I have track already and the current train station. I would love to have the white passenger train which should be easy to build due to its age category run alongside horizon express if I can build it.

My concerns are that horizon express will be too hard to build for me, the power function parts don't look that easy to install, there is no on/off button that I can see so how does that work? do you have to take the train apart each time you run it? I wondered if the passenger train will look too sleak and modern compared to the horizon express which is not a sleek looking in my opinion.

The power functions with rechargeable battery are not cheap so I thought about buying them on ebay or I could by the red passenger train for power function parts and the lights separately.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Will horizon express be out a while yet do youthink before it is discontinued.

[Barduck]

my 8y old had build most of the train itself, I added the power functions. The amount of parts that need to be removed is low and very easy, there's instructions for it too so it's so easy even my kid could have done it if I'd let him. Power on/off switch is on the battery and only requires to remove the roof from the train containing the battery, that itself does again not require you to be a rocketscientist, the roof snaps of and on in the blink of an eye. No need for the rechargable battery either, allthough it is a better option to have. The battery can simply be pulled out to remove the aaa batteries inside to either replace or charge them. The batteryholder is sitting on top of tiles so no force needed to remove it from the train

[dr_spock]

It is not hard to PF the Horizon Express. The instruction booklet shows you how to do it if I recall. You can order the parts online from LEGO Shop@Home (assuming S@H supports your country). If you have a local LEGO store, they can special order for you.

[MusicaRibelle]

If you traveled on an orange TGV in the late 80s, you'd find the Horizon Express very sleek indeed ;)

And yes, adding PF to it is quite easy.

The portion of roof you have to lift to turn the battery box on and off is designed specifically to be easily taken on and off.

Just make sure your switches are well laid out and possibly that your curves are banked -- that thing is heavy :)

[v6TransAM]

It's Lego, nothing is too hard if you have time and the pieces to do it with.

Any set with instructions is easy for the most part. Sometimes instructions ruin the fun because sooner or later you have to take it apart to make modifications or build something better.

It's never fun leaving something stock for too long whether your talking cars or Lego

[Duq]

I'm really not sure what to make of this post. You get a great Lego set for Christmas and sell it unopened? For a start that would send a nice message to whoever gave you the set but that's another topic.

If you have built Tower Bridge, why would you think a train would be any more difficult? The building techniques are the same. The only difference is that you put wheels under the train. It's Lego. It comes with instructions. How hard can it be?

The train is constructed in such a way that you can easily lift the roof of the engine to reach the battery box. As mentioned above, if you use the rechargable battery that's all you need to do; lift off the roof and plug in the charger. For the normal battery box you need to lift the battery box out of the engine to change the batteries.

There is an on/off button on top of the battery box. Same story: lift roof off engine, press button, put roof back. After that you use the remote control to operate the train.

What age are you if you don't mind me asking?

[gregrichards]

Thank you for all your replies. I am going to get the set again soon and display it with the new high speed passenger train when it comes out in August. I have already got the current train station but will get the new one as well. I am 29 years old but have physical disability problems with my hands, back and legs. I do lego to de-stress I have peace and quiet and thoroughly enjoy building things . I don't like sets that are too complex or frustrating and I am not as skilled as all of you all are at building more difficult sets. I have never built a set with power functions before so I was just worried it would be too complicated but I will give it a go.

[JopieK]

de-stressing with LEGO is always a very good idea!!!

[Hrw-Amen]

I found building the Horizon Express quite simple. Fitting the Power Functions bit as has been said is quite easy to do and should cause no more issues than any of ther other sets you mentioned you have done, although I would agree that the up coming white passenger train will almost certainly be easier with less parts I would have thought.

The only thing I found a little difficult was that I wanted to fit two power funtion motors in the front engine, the hard part was getting enough space for the polarity switch, but if you are just going with one motor it will not be an issue.

I understand what you say about having a disability. Whilst my hands are OK, i do have mobility issues and getting up and down is hard. I find it very frustrating when I drop a small part and cannot bend down to get it. I use a helping hand but more often than not clutching it with this just sends it spinning off across the room! Mostly it is destressing, but at times it can be very stressful! Espeically when those parts end up under an arm chair or the sideboard!

[Duq]

Practice makes perfect. There's a first time for everything. Hmm, let's see, which other cliche's would apply ;-)

Seriously, once you can read instructions and have a bit of patience you can build any Lego set. And if you do happen to get stuck you post your question here and there will always be someone willing to help you out.

While the new passenger train will no doubt be easier to build I think it'll also be less satisfying to build. Creator Expert sets are created by the best designers Lego has and it usually shows in the level of detail and the original techniques and solutions.

[zephyr1934]

There is one non-intuitive bit in the EN that at least the early versions of the instructions were not clear about- you need to quarter the wheels. That is to say, the rods on opposite sides of the engine should be 1/4 turn out of phase with each other (12 o'clock on one side, 3 o'clock on the other).

If the driver wheels lock immediately, just pull one side off, rotate 90 deg, and put them back on.

[mrblue]

hello, a bit late reply, but I found only today by chance this video tutorial that explain how to add power functions to the horizon express.

I didn't watch it all, but from what I have seen it is not very straight forward (and a bit of a mess too...), but it is enough to understand how easy it is to convert that train.

http://youtu.be/RP1tmeVog18

have a nice lego day

mrBlue

[MusicaRibelle]

BTW, the instruction manual also details how to add PF to the locomotive.

If you have motor and PF parts ready when you build the train, follow directly those instructions, don't build the full thing and then add battery box and IR - it will save you some time and also give you a small bag of additional parts for another project :)