Erik (Adult_Boy) should not be an unfamiliar name within the Lego Community. However, after having build quite a lot of Space and Sci-Fi themed stuff in the last years, he has now gone on a train-related building spree again. Most of what Erik builds is 7-wide, but he manages to very skillfully merge Lego’s own building style with a high level of details, closely mimicking the prototype he is recreating. However, I think it’s best if the models just speak for themselves:
Want to know more about how Erik did this? Click!
The great thing about Erik’s work is that he is willing to share his building techniques, which are, as usual with his building style, quite innovative, definitely for train heads like us. Even more so because he builds 7 wide, which is, due to it being a prime number (ok and an uneven number), still a pretty challenging size to build in:
Erik also has included a nice piece about the how and why of building 7-wide:
“For curious people new to LEGO systems:
I have dedicated myself to a 7 stud wide system for my loosely realistic American-themed LEGO trains.
I’m experimenting with how best to build 7-wide, given that LEGO behaves best in systems that can be broken down into even-studded increments (PennLUG operates at an 8-wide system: www.flickr.com/photos/steampoweredbricks/30624784340/in/p…)
Knowing that a 1/2 plate bracket face + two plates = two studs in width, the walls (totaling four studs in width) of this passenger car use technic parts to pin into what is essentially a 3 stud wide core. That Technic is a LEGO system that exists on the medians between studs (a 1 x 6 Technic brick has 5 pinholes) is helpful for the odd wide core.
A cross section can be written:
2 studs | 3 studs | 2 studs
or
2.5 plates | 1 stud | 3 studs | 1 stud | 2.5 plates
The trucks pin into mounts that are held in place between the walls by bracket parts. The car is floorless;the sides and roof will (probably) offer ample longitudinal strength. In all, it it seems to be fairly economic in regards to volume vs. parts used, thanks to it not being totally reliant on 1 x 3 or 2 x 3 plates.
This is all hypothesis because I haven’t actually touched any real physical LEGO yet.”
There is ofcourse far more where that came from, so do check out his Photostream as well, also for future updates!