It’s been a while since we’ve posted any update on our work behind the scenes. Allow us to offer some insight today, as well as a surprise announcement at the end.
Premium Instructions Kits
The cover for our 164 page book.
We’ve been hard at work in getting our next Premium Instruction Kit ready to go. I’ve modeled the International Car Company Extended Vision Caboose in fine detail, and Cale has been working non-stop to bring the book to completion. We would have had this model available by now, but we have drastically expanded our vision and approach to the kit, and thus have taken more time to ensure we are checking all of our boxes. We’ll have more details in the announcement article at the time of release, but I can definitely say that this will be the most comprehensive kit we have ever done. We are now in the process of editing the 164-page book and building test models.
Several weeks later, we’re happy to report on the incredible event that was Nebraska Brick Days!
Nebraska Brick Days is a regional Lego show hosted by Lincoln-Omaha LUG, LOLUG. They have been putting together this event since 2017, and have done shows in both Lincoln, Nebraska and Council Bluff, Iowa (the latter is right across the river from Omaha). Don’t ask why event called “Nebraska Brick Days” is held in Iowa.
Brick Model Railroader was present at the event, represented by both Cale and myself (Glenn). We also represented PennLUG, and were joined by Jay Steinhurst. Here’s a record of the fun we had.
Cale met me at my apartment on Wednesday afternoon, and we drove to Jay’s house to spend the night. We got up early the next morning to finish the drive. On Thursday we met up with NILTC at the World’s Largest Truck Stop on I-80 in eastern Iowa and finished the drive together. We got into Council Bluffs that night.
I would elaborate more, but the drive out there was pretty monotonous. Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa look very similar from the interstate.
To celebrate Cale’s birthday while on the trip out, we stopped at the World’s Largest Truck Stop. It was not the birthday he had in mind.
Setup
The three of us (Cale, Jay, and myself) were responsible for the PennLUG layout that weekend. Having only three people with one massive layout meant we would need some serious help, especially in unloading our 14 foot trailer and setting up tables.
And boy, did we have plenty of help. Thanks to the generous hospitality of LOLUG, no less than eight or nine people were there to help us unload and begin setting up on Friday morning. We had the trailer unloaded completely and were beginning to put up tables in about an hour and a half, which has got to be some kind of record.
After the trailer was parked and the tables were completely set up, layout construction began. Several people stuck around to help out with this phase as well, including Richard Glatter.
Setup went extremely well and the first train completed a lap of the layout at 4:50 PM on Friday. Details were added and the layout was complete (minus the plexiglass and skirting) at roughly 9 PM that night, a little over twelve hours after the trailer first rolled through the door of the convention hall.
Our gracious hosts provided us dinner on Friday & Saturday. Everyone hung out and enjoyed each others company. Of course, the train nerds congregated in one area.
The Show
Various weirs from the event. Photo courtesy of Nebraska Brick Days Facebook page.
The show ran from 10-6 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday. Saturday began with some regular train running (set and forget locomotives) while Cale and I assembled the 80 Premium Instructions kits we had brought (Brickmania delivered our books the night before). Once that was done, we could really enjoy the show.
I feel it necessary to state here that Nebraska Brick Days is a small show. By my estimates it is about half the floor space of Brickworld Chicago. However, attendance records, as I was told, have rivaled Brickworld. There was seemingly no end to the friendly visitors who wanted to know more about the displays. I was fortunate enough to walk around for about twenty or thirty minutes on Sunday to check out some of the other displays, and I was definitely impressed.
It almost seemed that train-oriented displays took up nearly a third of the show. PennLUG’s layout was present, as was the NILTC layout and of course LOLUG’s layout. Brian Williams was also present with his Indiana Jones display (with a dash of Lawrence of Arabia), and was running two themed trains around the perimeter. Having seen a very limited amount of Brian’s work in person, this was one of the highlights of the show for me.
After a pizza dinner on Saturday, some guest train running, and plenty of talking, we were forced out of the hall at 9 PM.
Sunday was just like the day day before; more train running and talking to friends and the public. I was also able to hang out with Dan Siskind of Brickmania for a little while (sorry, no cool news on that front right now).
PennLUG’s main rules for layout operation is that the trains must run until the end of the public hours. We began packing up extra trains beforehand, and at 5 PM, after the final lap was complete, tear-down began. Again, LOLUG had an army of people waiting to help. The layout was dismantled and properly packed into the trailer in record time. Starting from a complete layout at 5 PM, we were saying our final goodbyes and driving out the door a little over three and a half hours later.
Attendees checking out the PennLUG layout. Photo courtesy of Nebraska Brick Days Facebook page.
The Aftermath
PennLUG was on a pretty tight schedule, needing to be back at my apartment by the end of the day on Monday. We drove (safely) into the early hours on Monday morning, put down for the night, and were back on the road by 9 AM. We reached Jay’s house around 6 PM, and my apartment around 10. Cale made it home around noon on Tuesday.
Just a short trip out west and back.
Brick Model Railroader Staff Pick Awards
BMR awarded it’s second round of “Golden Driver” staff pick awards on Sunday morning before public hours. Instead of gathering everyone together, we presented the awards individually. This is only the second time we’ve given out awards but it certainly will not be the last.
Best Steam Locomotive – Union Pacific “Big Boy” #4014 – Nathan Flood
Okay, so Cale and I both think the Big Boy is a bit overrated, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy them to some degree. Nate’s model of 4014 certainly captures the presence of the largest successful articulated steam locomotive ever built. It ran pretty well, too, pulling Jay’s military train easily.
Best Diesel Locomotive – Kansas City Southern F Unit – Shawn Kelley
This was pretty much a no-brainer. There was some deliberation on whether or not to award this model at NMRA last year, so it made sense to give it to Shawn this time, as it’s still a very deserving model. Shawn’s model presents well and is cleanly put together. While using modified parts, it still captures the iconic F unit style while using a much different technique than Tony Sava. It’s always nice to watch two good builders tackle the same problem and produce different results.
Best Rolling Stock – Pancho Villa Raid Train – Brian Williams
Rolling stock was a touch pick this year, but we ultimately had to give it to Brian Williams. Brian is well known for building excellent models, and his rolling stock is no exception. The level of detail is second to none, even considering the use of structural stickers. We almost couldn’t choose a single piece of Brian’s fleet to award, but I convinced Cale to give it to the boxcar/stock car on his Pancho Villa Raid train. It’s been a personal favorite of mine since I first saw it.
Best Landscaping – Cornfield Module – Jim Pirzyk
Of course, what would a train layout be without landscaping? Jim Pirzyk of NILTC has built an excellent corner module for their layout which includes a cornfield, farmhouse, and sunflowers overlooking a railroad cutting. We especially like the rolling hills look of the cornfield.
Best Structure – Grain Elevator – Justin Chrisp
There were a few contenders for this award, but Justin’s excellent grain elevator won in the end. Justin took special care to model the surrounding buildings in full and also put lights everywhere. It was an impressive building, and even more so with the lights on.
Wrap-Up
I have to say in full honesty that Nebraska Brick Days is probably my new favorite event, and this particular event is probably my favorite one I’ve ever had the privilege of being at. LOLUG welcomed us with open arms, and so many of them were willing to help us out when we needed it. If anyone from LOLUG is reading this, let me be the first to say that you guys made this event incredible, and I’d be ready to come back in an instant. It was a blast.
I’d also like to thank Nate Flood specifically for convincing Cale and I to make the journey. I’m certainly hoping I can go next year.
Group photo of all the AFOLs and staff who made Nebraska Brick Days a success.
Driving south along Route 1 in Van Buren, Maine today, a visitor glancing to the right probably wouldn’t know that they were looking at the remains of the northern yard of the former Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. The tracks are gone, and buildings, at least those still standing, peek out from the trees.
Keeping the past alive, William Dumond
has been modeling that rail yard.
William Dumond’s Van Buren Yark – from his Flickr account
We’ve featured his work before, but in addition to building incredible locomotives and rolling stock, Bill is a proficient scenery modeler, as can be seen in his comparison shot of the real Van Buren yard, next to his brick-built version on the left.
Van Buren Yard in 2014 – image from Google Maps, notice the white warehouse to the left, and the yellow building through the trees.
Looking at a Google Maps image of the area, it’s easy to find the buildings featured on the layout, and to get a sense of the tracks that used to run between them. The layout has a nice organic look, matching the prototype, and staying away from the rigid blockiness of some LEGO layouts.
Custom Turnout Switch – from William Dumond’s Flickr gallery
One of the most interesting things about the model Van Buren yard is the use of a custom switch, documented on Bill’s Flickr account. This switch flows nicely, and really adds to the realism of the scene.
For more of William Dumond’s Van Buren yard, as well as more of his Bangor and Aroostoock work, check out his stream on Flickr. We’ll be looking forward to watching the progress on this one!
Today I’m writing on behalf of the L-Gauge Modular Standard Oversight Committee.
Last August was the NMRA National Train Show in Kansas City, Missouri. A number of LEGO clubs and LTC’s were in attendance, and it was certainly one of the best non-LEGO shows with multiple clubs I’ve ever seen.
The participating AFOLs from the 2018 National Train Show
Of course, when you put that many LEGO train fans in one place, they start getting ideas. On Saturday evening after the show had closed for the day and everyone had eaten a Bar-be-que dinner, several people invaded the basement of Shawn Lazarz for some good ol’ conversation. There were several topics of discussion (and debate in some cases), one of the biggest being standardization. This was then broken into two categories: electronics and layouts.
Discussions about LEGO train modeling are always fun.
Everyone was starting to get their hands on Lego’s new Powered Up! Train sets and putting them through their paces, finding the capabilities and limitations of the new system. Many people didn’t like what they found, so there was some discussion about the introduction of a “standardized” third party system, be that LEGO-based like a PFx Brick or SBrick, or train-based, like a radio-DCC system, or DelTang.
A suspicious looking group of misfit train builders discussing a Modular Standard.
The conversation then turned to layouts and collaborative displays.
About two year ago, I started a three-parter series about designing and building an European railcar, more specifically the SDGGMRS type of trailer railcars, meant to transport trailers over rail. Due to reasons like “life”, “work” and “priorities”, I never got around finishing part three of that story. However, today I will finally do so.
First of all, a short recall of part one and part two. In part one we looked for a prototype and some drawings, in part two we actually tried to build and go through several iterations before finally settling for a design. In part three, we will look at the finished product (which has been finished for some time now, to be honest…), but also about the best part of this whole series: The inspiration it gave to others to build their own versions!
The Final Build
As promised two years ago, the final part of this three-parters would be known as The Bragging (also known as “Hey, I actually finished something again!”) and even though this isn’t the official title, I think the pictures below do pay hommage to this:
Full frontal view of the SDGGRMS3/4th view. As you can see, the sleek design I was going for did work out in the endWithout trailers it’s indeed a bit boring…Less than 1 plate of clearance. That’s the beauty of building with Legos!
These pictures have been taken about two years ago now, and since then have run hunderds of very reliable rounds on the layouts I was part of. At first, I wanted to have them close-coupled with elastic bands, but due to reliability issues I in the end decided against this, so nowadays they are just hard-coupled on the Jacobs Bogies in the middle with two 2×2 turntables. Nowadays I have 3 sets, one of them empty, one with trailers, and one with three TEU containers.
As said, it turns out that since my initial posts, several of our readers got very excited and decided to give it a try themselves. Something I really like seeing (Just give credit where credit is due), this is exactly the reason why I made these posts to begin with!
Version 1: Dennis.P
First up is Dennis.P aka TECHNO, a German builder who not only was inspired, but also decided to add some extra details, and decided to change the way how the couplings work; where I had them directly connected to the trucks, has Dennis.P decided to attach them onto the frame itself.
Topview. The 1×2 technic brick at the end of the carriage shows the different way how Dennis.P attached the couplingsDetails. Dennis.P added some pretty nifty little details that really give some extra characterA rake of six (6!) SDGGRMS. A beauty, beyond doubt.
Version 2: Pehter Abrahamsson
About a year ago, I was browsing online and by accident came across an event by SWEBRICK, the Swedish LUG. It turns out that Pehter Abrahamsson read the post as well, and decided to try to build the SDGRMRS for himself as well. Since he never saw the final product, he decided to change several little parts to create a subtle different model. As he said it himself: “I passed the train station when these wagons passed by and remembered seeing something simular in Lego earlier, after some digging I found your posts but no finished result. You saved me some trial and error 🙂 “
The sheer beauty of absolute grey boredom!The sleek design fits perfectly in the yard of SWEBRICK
Version 3: Peter Schmid and Michael Katzmann
The third one is the newest. This one is build by German AFOLS Peter Schmid and Michael Katzmann, who run a Flickr account together. The nice part of their design is that they actually took their cues from both the models of Dennis.P and myself!
The sleekness is uncannyAs you can see, they actually decided to use Dennis.P’s design for the couplings and details.
Conclusion
Two years later than planned, but I can finally say I finished this this threeparter. When I wrote the first part two years ago, I never in my wildest dreams had expected that anyone would actually try to copy or redesign my carriages. Yes, my intention was to inspire people to build their own goods waggons, but I had never expected that my own model would be perceived as such a beauty that they actually decided to copy it, instead of designing their own… But hey, everybody knows that copying is the most sincere form of flattery. So thank you all, I’m honored!
As some of you might know by now, I’m one of the few Contributors (the only?) of BMR that lives on the other side of the pond, ie. in Europe and more specifically in The Netherlands. Compared to the US, some things in Europe are a bit different structured when it comes to running a Lego Train Club. For one, there are no such things as LTC’s in Europe. Second, instead of organizing in regions, we tend to organize ourselves per country. This means that most of our LUGs are bigger and more diverse than in the US, with builders doing Space, Castle, City and all others in one club. Third, since train builders are a minority in most of these clubs to begin with, we tend to not do big layouts like the US-based LTC’s. Fourth, most of our exhebitions are part of bigger Lego festivals, but almost never part of a Model Railroaders event. This means that one a whole, most of the European train layouts are or one-off builds by 1 or maximum 2 builders, or are static displays on a kid-centered event that don’t really give the love that our scale-craziness “deserves”. Deserves obviously in quotation marks because indeed, we do get credits for our trains, but on a different level than US LTC’s that might show off at the NMRA for example.
Trains at Legoworld
The standard pre-show day at Legoworld in Utrecht, NL. Tables with shrouding, supplied by TLC.
However, that all doesn’t mean we don’t build elaborate layouts. It just means we do it a little bit less often, and when we do it, it’s mostly because of some huge show that wants to show off the best there is when it comes to AFOL building. For us in The Netherlands this typically means Legoworld, a yearly one week event that is held by TLC in Utrecht, the so-called center of our little country. Legoworld actually used to be organized by one of the local LUGs, De Bouwsteen, in Zwolle, but at one point after some intense co-operation with TLC, it was decided to hand over the organization to our favorite commercial plastic bricks producing company.
Anyway, in the last several years there always have been some kind of group train layouts, most of them organized on an ad-hoc basis (which is partly also due to the way my own LUG, Lowlug, is organized) but with some standard rules, the major being the use of MILS and the Lowlug Lego Train Standard for connecting track between modules. In the previous years this was a six-wide style layout, but for 2018 we as members of Lowlug decided there should be a layout specifically for eight-widers as well, and the rest is history.
I can now ofcourse keep on telling how this all came to fruition, but to be honest, one of your fellow members is currently writing something like that, so I’m just going to leave you with one fact: Before setting up the layout at the show, we had never tested if everything fit together. It actually did really well, proving once and for all that the internet has some great promises for us in the future.
This article was submitted to BMR by our good friend Gareth Ellis, who discusses his experience with DelTang control systems in his models. Thanks Gareth!
Introduction
DelTang RC Control systems is a well-designed radio control platform, with many benefits for a growing LEGO® model train community. The system comprises of a transmitter and receiver, bound with each other for discrete, individual and reliable control.
The basic principles of DelTang radio control for battery locos, in its simplest form are a transmitter and a receiver that has an integrated Electronic Speed Control unit which in turn is connected to batteries and a motor. When the throttle knob on the paired transmitter is moved the motor increases or decreases in speed accordingly.
DelTang currently produce many transmitters and receivers for a wide range of model control, we will focus on Model Train specific variants of the transmitters and receivers. As there is such a wide range we will cover the TX22 Transmitter and the Rx-65 (22) specifically. At the time of writing this, the TX2 was on V207, and the Rx-65c (22) was on V611.
When Brick Model Railroader began in the late December of 2016, we had no idea where it would go. We certainly didn’t have plans to be selling instructions for models, and be working towards selling full kits as we find ourselves today. But fate seemed to intervene and has switched us to this express track we’re on now.
On February 25th, 2019, Brick Model Railroader reached a milestone. We sold and delivered our 1,000th Premium Instruction Kit.
Kevin Johns, a member of PennLUG, is the proud new owner of the 1000th BMR Premium Instruction Kit sold. His plans for the kit are to use the instructions to build a Muppet themed train with his wife Stephanie.Continue reading Excuse Us While We Toot Our Own Whistle→
It seems that lately TLC is really trying to release train sets outside of the Lego City theme and by doing so, trying to tap in more different categories of kids that come into contact with Lego trains. All of them use train wheels and fit on Lego track, which is great compared to the old times (I’m looking at you, Time Cruisers 6497!) For example, we have seen several Hogwarts Expresses, but also the Lone Ranger and Toy Story trains. Of course, even more than the Lego City trains, these are aimed at kids as a toy, to actually play with them, and just have them run around. Also, they tend to not have any PUP or PF on board, but can be motorized quite simply (it’s Lego after all).
This week, Lego released a new child in this family, as part of the Hidden Side-theme. Lego is planning to have this theme be a fusion of Real Life and augmented reality (AR), by using apps and whatnot. For more information on Hidden Side, I recommend you have a look over at TBB, who posted the whole press release plus some extras.
For us here at BMR, there is of course only one important thing: set 70424, better known for it’s highly creative name: “Train”.
So, what’s new, and what’s interesting for us as trainheads? Well, let’s shortly summarize:
A new train piece! It seems to be a re-railer, meant to easily get your trains on the track. Since this set only has about 3 pieces of straight track, meaning that it’s meant to play with without track to begin with, this is a great addition to playability. Even more for kids, because now you can run your trains both on the track and seperate from it, without having to fysically remove it from the tracks. For us as trainheads this can be very interesting as well, I for one always have troubles getting my trucks properly on the rails!
“New” couplings! As we all know, the new style of Lego Train Magnets is pretty weak. There is a solution by using 1×2 plates to connect them together, but it seems that even for Lego this wasn’t a viable option anymore. So, they are now using ball-joints to keep the wagons connected in a more durable way. I have the feeling this is just meant for this specific set (also because there is indeed a Lego Train magnet available on the end of the train) but it’s interesting to see nonetheless.
It’s an American Diesel! Yes, it’s not going to win any beauty pageant, but still, after the last two European-styled trains, it’s a nice addition for kids that live across the Great Pond.
A black Front Window and black Train Doors! Now I have to be honest, I have never used either of both, but I’m pretty sure some of use will love this.
The number on the loco says 30877, even though according to the box-art its supposed to be 70424. Knowing Lego’s style to just put the set number on their trains, this seems to be an interesting decision, even more because the number 30877 also doesn’t exist as a set…
It’s also a monster, it seems 😉
Anyways, I know this might not be the absolute masterpiece that some of us are always waiting for, but I’m really glad to see Lego is incorporating trains more and more in their other themes. When you ask me, the more trains the merrier. So, what are your thoughts about this new set?
We know you’ve been waiting for our next Premium Instruction kit. Well, the wait is over, and to make up for the delay, we have not one, but two new Premium Instructions for you: the Thrall 61′-1″ Bulkhead Flatcar, and the Pacific Car & Foundry 50′ Insulated Boxcar. These cars are available for purchase now, and will begin shipping next week. Let’s take a closer look at our new models.
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