Tag Archives: BMR

OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge – The Prizes Part 3

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

OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge – The Prizes Part 2

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!

 

OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge – The Prizes Part 1

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

OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge has officially started!

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!

OcTRAINber 2018: The Second Challenge!

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!

Why Am I Here?

Following the AWESOME events of NMRA 2018 in Kansas City last month, there’s been a lot of discussion about what people are trying to get out of the hobby, defined as “LEGO Trains”. Put another way, why are we (you, me, etc.) here? What kind of reward do we seek from this niche hobby within a niche hobby?

Allow me to offer a few of my own thoughts and experiences which remind me why I’m doing what I am.

The participating AFOLs from the 2018 National Train Show

Continue reading Why Am I Here?

Review: 60198 Cargo Train with Powered Up System

At long last, way too long probably, Brick Model Railroader has built and reviewed the new Powered Up train sets from the LEGO City line!

The complete 60198 Cargo Train set.

Unfortunately, and quite obviously, we are pretty late to the review party for these new trains. While BMR is a Recognized LEGO Online Community (RLOC) and we do have some benefits from that, we were not able to obtain the new train sets before the official release, but we did try. Cale ended up buying one of each anyways so we could provide a decent review for our audience, being the only Train-specific LEGO media around.

Let’s dive into the new 60198 Cargo Train with Powered Up!

Continue reading Review: 60198 Cargo Train with Powered Up System

NMRA 2018 National Train Show Report

Every year, the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) holds an annual convention in order to provide a place for the membership to meet to continue their association with the hobby in a common forum. The convention rotates to a different city each year, and this year the convention was in Kansas City, Missouri from August 5th-12th. In conjunction with the convention, the NMRA also holds a National Train Show taking place on the last three days of the convention. This train show feature operating train layouts, vendors selling model trains and model railroad supplies, and model railroad manufacturers displaying their new products.

For this year’s National Train Show, several LEGO User Groups (LUGs) and LEGO Train Clubs (LTCs) were given 3000 square feet of space to display their LEGO train layouts. This marks the first time in several years that so many clubs were able to come together for a National Train Show. Participating Groups included KC Brick Lab, the hosting LUG, Texas Brick Railroad, ArkLUG, Twin Cities LTC, OKLUG, PennLUG, IndyLUG, CincyLUG, Pewaukee Road LEGO Train Line, and MichLUG. Also represented was LifeLites, CRR Studios, OKBrickworks, and of course, Brick Model Railroader.

BMR team member Glenn Holland being interviewed for an NMRA video.

Continue reading NMRA 2018 National Train Show Report

Brick Model Railroader on Tour: July/August, 2018 Update

Greetings fans and supporters,

We’ve been pretty quiet on the website but we’ve had a lot going on behind the scenes. We hope you have been enjoying the builder interviews and community spotlights, we certainly appreciate Elroy and Andy for putting some of those together for us. Today we’ll provide an update on BMR premium instructions, upcoming shows (of which there are several before the year is out), and more.

We’ll begin with upcoming shows.

Continue reading Brick Model Railroader on Tour: July/August, 2018 Update