Models, People

Santa Fe 4-8-4 No.2926 by Chris Stone

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I certainly can’t recall the last time I’ve seen an Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe (ATSF) steam locomotive modeled in LEGO, though I’m sure I may be missing one.

Chris Stone, known as Narmot on Flickr, has updated his model of ATSF 4-8-4 #2926 into what he is calling his third version. Chris is one of the OcTRAINber 2017 winners with his flexible-boilered mallet steam locomotive and has built several other noteworthy models including a wonderful passenger train to put behind his new 4-8-4.

One look at this locomotive will keep your eyes darting to new locations to pick out all the details. Chris certainly packed it in on this locomotive.

Continue reading Santa Fe 4-8-4 No.2926 by Chris Stone →

Contests, Inspiration, Model Design, Models

OcTRAINber 2018: The Round-up

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Now that OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge is officially over, we first would like to thank all the participants who made this such a great month again. It was amazing to see all the WIP stories showing up on the Flickr feeds, FB timelines, but also on the well-beloved Train Tech forums over at Eurobricks for example. So thank you all for that!

Now, let’s go over the timeline. In the next coming weeks our judges will go over all the entries and score them according to three criteria: WIP Story, Credibility and The Foreign Factor. This might take a while because BMR is a labour of love, meaning we all do this stuff next to our real life lives.

However, for now we would like to make a short round-up of all entries and also to show you some of the key statistics of this years OcTRAINber.

Continue reading OcTRAINber 2018: The Round-up →

About BMR, Models, Products

52′-6″ 70 Ton Drop-End Gondola Premium Instructions, Restocks, and New Decals!

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It’s taken a while, but we’re back with a new premium instructions kit and more!

52′-6″ 70 Ton Drop-End Gondola

Our premium instructions include instructions to model a Bethlehem Steel Car version of this gondola and a Pennsylvania Railroad G31 / American Car & Foundry version. Both designs were largely the same with the main differences being the construction of the body (riveted versus welded) and the location of the brake wheel. The details may be slight, but enough to warrant a few call-outs and sub-models to allow the builder the choice.

Box Front Cover
Box Back Cover

Continue reading 52′-6″ 70 Ton Drop-End Gondola Premium Instructions, Restocks, and New Decals! →

Contests

OcTRAINber 2018: The Final Pieces

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Now that the last weekend of October is (almost) over, it’s time for a preliminary recap post.

First of all, we have already seen a lot of great entries and some awesome WIP stories. Great to see everybody enjoying this challenge as much as we do!

Second, as we said in our first post, we do have the possibility for a grace period in case some BL orders were delayed. Question now is: Does anybody need this grace period? If yes, please let us know asap so that we can make this official. This can be done by just posting in the comment section below. If nobody replies, the deadline stays at October 31st, at 23:59 PDT.

UPDATE: We have decided to extend the deadline untill the end of Sunday November 4th. Hope this will be enough for all to finish your builds!

Third, we have seen some people entering several builds. In the announcement for OcTRAINber we however said the following:

“We are allowing digital entries and real life builds, but everyone is limited to one entry only to keep things fair.”

To indeed keep things fair (definately with all these prizes) we have decided to stick with this rule and limit to one entry. This means that we would like to ask all contestants that entered more than one entry to decide which is their ‘official’ entry. Feel free to do this in the respective entry threads at the BMR Flickr Page.

Contests

OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge – The Prizes Part 3

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As promised in the first part of this three-part article of OcTRAINber 2018 prizes, we would go out with a bang, and what a bang to go out with! Here at BMR we have always been enthusiastic about the PFx Brick, because of the options it gives to customize your engines when it comes to light, sound and power, making sure your models look more and more like the original.

So, our friends over at Fx Bricks have decided to supply us with a very special gift. You know how Lego last year sponsored 10254 Holiday Train? Well, this year Fx Bricks is going to help you add light & sound plus superior controls to the whole thing with their Holiday Train Conversion Kit (link = movie)! As already announced, this will be the second of the two Grand Prizes for our Real Life and Digital Entries!

OcTRAINber Grand Prize, however keep in mind:  Also including a PFx Brick 4MB, but minus the 10254 itself. That one was already last years Grand Prize.
Light, sound, action!

And that’s not all, they have also decided to supply a second prize, a 4MB PFx Brick plus XL Speaker!

 

The second prize from FX Bricks: PFx Brick 4MB…
… Plus a XL Speaker!

Continue reading OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge – The Prizes Part 3 →

Contests

OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge – The Prizes Part 2

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After the announcement about our first prizes for OcTRAINber, generously sponsored by Lego, including one of the Grand Prizes, 60198, we promised you that we had more awesome stuff coming. So today we can reveal you again a great prize you are contesting for while joining OcTRAINber 2018.

Scott Hoffmeyer over at BrickTracks have decided to sponsor the contest with their newly released large radii tracks. More specifically, we received a full circle of their brand new R56 curves! These curves are the perfect supplement alongside the R40 curves by Lego, you know, the ones of last years “swoosh”!

Another OcTRAINber prize: R56 curves by BrickTracks

Feel like joining the contest after seeing these prizes? You better! For more information you can check the official announcement for OcTRAINber here on BMR. Or, just go directly to our BMR Flickr to upload your entry!

Happy building, happy OcTRAINber!

 

Contests

OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge – The Prizes Part 1

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Now that OcTRAINber is in full swing and the first entries are coming in we would like to take this opportunity to at least show you all the prizes you are contesting for. We are very glad to announce that three of our favorite brands have decided to sponsor us, meaning we have some pretty awesome stuff to give away. Again, for the sake of the Hype Train, this post will just talk about that first of the three.

So, without further ado, we would like to thank The Lego Company for their Grand Prize: The new 60198 Cargo Train! Moreover, we also received the Pack of Tracks (60205), and the 8293 Power Functions Motor Set.

OcTRAINber 2018 Grand Prize: 60198

Continue reading OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge – The Prizes Part 1 →

Contests

OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge has officially started!

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As we announced a bit over a week ago, this year BMR will again run the OcTRAINber contest. Just like last year we have chosen a subject that will hopefully get as many of our fellow trainheads out of their comfort zone and build some truly original and special models. So, let us officially introduce you to the contest and let’s get rolling!

OcTRAINber

First of all, the name. It’s called OcTRAINber, if somebody had not noticed yet. Why OcTRAINber? Well, because it’s a great intermediate month between SHIPtember and Novvember. Also, TRAINS.

“The Foreign Challenge” Continue reading OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge has officially started! →

Contests, Inspiration

OcTRAINber 2018: The Second Challenge!

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New year, new competition!

Hello everyone, and happy Autumn!

With September drawing to a close, and October quickly approaching, the time has come to announce our latest installment of our OcTRAINber build competition!

This year, the challenge is…

Continue reading OcTRAINber 2018: The Second Challenge! →