[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
PREMIERE ISSUE
Issue 1
TM
A Slice of the Apple
Touring Jonathan Lopes’
New York Inspired Layout
s
INSIDE
Smooth Curves (ooh lala!)
FM H10-44 Instructions
Exploring Narrow Gauge
LEGO 9V Train Communication
Billund, Oct. 1st ’07
Dear all,
Many of you are aware of the on-going discussions on the 9V train system. We would like to thank you
all for the input you provided to us directly and through different channels. Based on critical business
decisions and the consultations and discussions with various AFOLs we have decided to focus on one
single solution in order to avoid the complexity of maintaining two systems in parallel and in order
to solve the issues we have with the actual 9V system and the remote control City train system. We
envision one upgradeable train system for all ages in the future.
The LEGO Group has considered the future of the 9v at length, and has come to the conclusion that
there is not suficient demand for the product line to be proitable and competitive. The existing
machines need to be replaced and minimum order quantities at external suppliers for motors and
speed regulators are so high that the investment The LEGO Group would have to put in, would not be
rational or reasonable compared to sales igures of the existing 9V system.
The implication of this is that the 9v elements sold now are the last of the remaining stock and
subsequent production of elements for the 9V platform has ceased.
The LEGO Group will launch elements for a new train system based on the new electric LEGO Power
Functions system in 2009. Using the LEGO Power Functions system the new train system will beneit
from a set of electric elements that are cross theme, widely available and not completely train spe-
ciic which allows us to amortize the development and on going cost across multiple themes. We are
at an early development stage of the new train system and several AFOLs are already involved in the
development process, to ensure that the new system will accommodate the types of features and
functions requested by the AFOL community. This collaboration with AFOLs is very important to The
LEGO Group and we strive to involve the Adult Fan Community as much as possible.
Holger Matthes, Germany, currently member of the AFOL team which is involved in the process of
developing the new system explains the situation in this way:
“The LEGO train system has to fulill different needs for different target groups in a very special way. On
the one hand it’s a toy for kids because it is easy to set up and because of the playability in the kid’s room,
and on the other hand it is also for AFOLs who build huge LEGO train layouts with realistic looking train mod
-
els and functionality. The LEGO Group is aware of this and the company tries to support both needs within
the given restrictions (e.g. costs for a niche product like the LEGO trains).”
Using the universal LEGO Power Functions system for trains will give The LEGO Group the ability to
match the demands and wishes of the AFOL Train community in the future.
Steve Barile, USA – President of ILTCO (International LEGO Train Club Organization) and one of the
involved AFOLs says about the new train system:
“I am excited that the new universal Power Functions system can make track side accessories viable and po
-
tentially automated and interactive.”
He continues:
“With the track being exclusively plastic the LEGO Power Functions Train system has the potential for new
and innovative track geometries and continued innovation by both The LEGO Group and the AFOLs.”
These AFOL quotes give you an impression of what will be possible with the future system and we
will keep you up to date on the development of the new LEGO Power Functions train system. We
expect to have more information and details to share with you before the end of the year.
Richard Stollery
, Head of LEGO Community Development
CONTENTS
Issue 1 - Fall 2007
The Whistle Stop.........................................................4
Club Spotlight - NCLTC...................................................5
Getting From Here to There............................................6
More Brick for Your Buck................................................8
6 vs 8......................................................................10
Get Real!.................................................................13
Builder Spotlight - Jonathan Lopes..................................16
Reverse Engineering Challenge......................................21
Better American Style Frieght Trucks................................22
Putting Your Track to Bed.............................................26
NMRA National Train Show 2007......................................29
Smooth Curves..........................................................32
Building Narrow Gauge.................................................34
Trainspotting.......................................................37
FM H10-44 Instructions................................................38
FRED’s View.............................................................47
© Copyright 2007 RailBricks.
LEGO® is a registered trademark of the LEGO Company, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this publication.
All other trademarks, service marks, and copyrights are property of their respective owners.
All Aboard!
The RAILBRICKS Team
Welcome to the irst issue of
Railbricks. It has been an excit-
ing journey to get to this point
and I want to irst thank the
“Think Tank” for making this
happen. We hope that through
this publication, we can bring
new builders to the LEGO train
hobby as well as inspire the cur-
rent LEGO train fan. Each issue
will have articles dedicated to
three groups, the beginner, the
intermediate, and the advanced
builder, indicated by the follow-
ing icons:
Senior Editor:
Jeramy Spurgeon
Staff Editors and Writers
The “Think Tank”:
Erik Amzallag
Steve Barile
Matt Bieda
Benn Coifman
Tim David
Didier Enjary
Holger Matthes
Lyle Mays
John Neal
Mark Peterson
Larry Pieniazek
Jordan Schwarz
photo by Benn Coifman
B
I
Intermediate
A
Advanced
In the following pages, you will ind inspirational models, tips &
tricks, prototype histories, instructions, and much more.
Content Contributors:
Brian Darrow
Cale Leiphart
Jonathan Lopes
While the LEGO train line will continually evolve, one thing is cer-
tain, the LEGO train hobby will endure. As the track and motor
technology change, some fans may convert to the new system,
while others may hold steadfast to the one they’ve built up al-
ready. Along the way, Railbricks will work to forward the hobby in
whatever direction it takes.
Copy Editing/Prooing:
Chris Spurgeon
Jane Taylor
Copyright © 2007 Railbricks
Permission is granted to copy, dis-
tribute and/or modify this docu-
ment under the terms of the GNU
Free Documentation License, Ver-
sion 1.2 or any later version pub-
lished by the Free Software Foun-
dation; with no Invariant Sections,
no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-
Cover Texts.
There are also many opportunities for you, as the reader, to be-
come a contributor for Railbricks. This magazine will be for the
LEGO train community, but it will also be
by
the LEGO train com-
munity. If you have an idea for an article, submit it to
submissions@railbricks.com
.
So now, lip through the pages and enjoy! We are eager to hear
what you think!
-
Jeramy Spurgeon
On demand printed issues of Railbricks will be available at lulu.com.
4
ISSUE 1 - FALL 2007
Beginner
CLUB SPOTLIGHT
by Jordan Schwarz
Last winter, visitors to a mall near Raleigh, North
Carolina discovered a magical holiday surprise:
a world of LEGO bricks created by members of
the North Carolina LEGO Train Club (NCLTC) and
the North Carolina LEGO Users’ Group (NCLUG).
Each year, members from across the state come
together for this culminating event and bring the
fascination of LEGO trains to holiday shoppers
and their children.
The state of North Carolina stretches from the
Appalachian mountains to the Atlantic Ocean,
and members of NCLTC hail from across the state
as well as upstate South Carolina. Since NCLTC
has only a dozen or so widely scattered mem-
bers, meetings and events are typically shared
with NCLUG. Most meetings are held at the pub-
lic library in Apex, North Carolina near Raleigh.
Special club gatherings are hosted by club mem-
bers elsewhere, catering to those located in oth-
er parts of the state. Between meetings, much
of the club’s communication occurs in the forums
of the NCLTC website and in Yahoo! forums. The
club does not require formal dues of its mem-
bers, although individual contributions keep the
club running.
NCLTC is largely the brainchild of its president,
Mike Walsh, who is known for his work with ILTCO
and on the LEGO Hobby Train project. Mike ad-
ministers the club’s website and organizes events
such as the winter train show, the main event of
the year. Like most large show layouts, the over-
all layout is irst designed on the computer using
TrackDraw, then posted online. Club members
then select sections of the layout to contribute
to, and guidelines on the NCLTC website help to
promote uniformity across modules. The show
runs for several weeks, from Thanksgiving into
January. Needless to say, the holiday show also
serves as a stress test for LEGO train motors due
to its long duration.
This past winter, the 12’ by 30’ (3.66m by 9.14m)
holiday layout featured the contributions of seven
NCLTC members. A massive hotel provided one
focal point, along with a city block and short line
featuring Thomas the Tank Engine. Other NCLTC
displays have featured the famous “monorail spi-
rals” - multi-level monorail tracks that elevate
monorail trains high above town displays. Local
color makes its way into displays as well – from
the Southern Railway’s old maintenance shops in
Spencer, North Carolina to the notorious chemi-
cal plant in Apex that exploded shortly before
NCLTC’s winter show.
These displays always meet with the fascina-
tion of visitors to a show, many of whom are ex-
periencing LEGO trains for the irst time. Along
with comments of admiration and amazement,
club members frequently hear visitors exclaim,
“I didn’t know that LEGO made trains!” Through
the efforts of NCLTC and other LEGO train clubs,
a new generation is being introduced to the mag-
ic of LEGO trains.
ISSUE 1 - FALL 2007
5
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]