9V Wagon Train

Something different from me again I don't seem to be able to build a normal train hehehe

Have just started a new project based on our part of the BLTG display next year (pending a formal announcement that we *will* be following the ideas that have been emailed around)... our little corner will be a medieval theme - except of course being a lego train group we somehow need to make a train that fits the theme. Obviously they didn't have steam trains or electric trains - but they did have wagon trains! It's going to be a very simplistic train, just a very out-there idea compared to some of the oh-so-serious lego train people out there. I've currently built a very basic wagon + horse just to see that it works in principle, which it seems to just fine. It's not strictly 6-wide, but being single bogie carriages it still crosses the track boundaries far less than a normal train.

Won't post anything as yet as even the first cart is not finalised, but I'll be posting back with details as it progresses

Matt

Obviously I get bored easily lol... have just built a couple more wagon bases to round out the idea. It's at 3 carts now and I don't know that I would go any more, if nothing else it's already improbable that a single horse would pull 3 wagons let alone more





Gives you an idea of the overall look, obviously the wagons will be finished off - these are just the bases. I'm also not sure if I'll leave the last cart with odd wheels or order another matching set from BL. Obviously this well and truly breaks the 6-wide rule but being single bogey carts it doesn't seem to cause issues on the track - see the top down shot.

Errr.... sooo.... I might have gotten a little excited and basically finished it all in one go - isn't it funny how you can get so stuck into a build?

Carriage 1 & 2 are stock and drivers, carriage 3 is guards for the wagon train

Probably tomorrow will have a play around with ideas for the horse too - expect something there.


Lego wagon train by Matt_Henry_Aus, on Flickr


Lego wagon train by Matt_Henry_Aus, on Flickr


Lego wagon train by Matt_Henry_Aus, on Flickr


Lego wagon train by Matt_Henry_Aus, on Flickr

That looks really great, I'm beginning to think I don't have the creativity for all of this.

Just a thought though, would it be possible to make a fake floor for the track to sit under so it would appear the wheels are touching the ground. Might be difficult for corners, but if there was a long straight bit...

On second thought, that might look silly as there would be a huge gap in the middle of the 'ground' unless you could put each carriage on pillars. That might not work for this one, but maybe for something that just goes back and forth.

Xyver - we're actually playing with that idea for a small setup at home Built up on the sides and a plate on the tracks to cover up the grey in the middle. Obviously won't work at a BLTG show but would be good at home.

I've also made a bit of progress on the horses, instead of a single horse dangling off the front we've now got 2 horses that actually run on the tracks! Simply little turntables in there to enable them to go around a corner - should add alot more realism with the extra movement too.


Lego Wagon Train by Matt_Henry_Aus, on Flickr


Lego Wagon Train by Matt_Henry_Aus, on Flickr

Have just actually changed the wheels on the horses, the horses sit on a 2x6 brown plate and the wheels sit more centrally underneath now. Just too lazy to take another photo

Matt

I just wanted to add the pictures of the wagon (disguising that it is a train)


Matt's cart in landscape by tikitikitembo, on Flickr


Matt's cart in landscape by tikitikitembo, on Flickr

Some better photos of Anita's work


Lego Wagon Train Landscape by Matt_Henry_Aus, on Flickr


Lego Wagon Train Landscape by Matt_Henry_Aus, on Flickr

Have re-done the hitch and wheels for the horses Obviously now 2 horses side-by-side rather than end-to-end. Does have it's own difficulties but should be simpler on the track.

Matt

Matt and Anita,

Brilliant stuff; it gets better every day.

Would it be possible to build the inside of the rails up with brown plates so that it looks like a dirt track? The metal rails will be less visible that way.

The train wheels only use the inside of the metal rails so you can build right up to the outside of the rail.

There are many examples of trams running up a street where black tiles have been used to build up to the top of the metal rail.

Looking forward to the next version.

We might try that. We used the grey cobblestone to try and hide the rails, but if I do brown on the outside, it would hide the tracks better (so the rails are kind of like the road edge.

We will build it in to something bigger, (I have thoughts of subtly hiding fairy tales in it, so Rapunzel, the three pigs houses, Hansel and Gretel, etc.)

Should also quickly point out that we can't build things up any higher on the inside of the track - both the cart the horses run on and the 9V train motor run pretty close to the ground as it is. I've seen it done on a non-functioning tram before and I agree it looks great, but they also have more flexibility with clearances

Great stuff! Love it!

We got blogged on TBB this morning too if anyone missed it - we're both stoked!

http://www.brothers-brick.com/2011/10/31/a-two-horsepower-train/

(yeah - I've got to link it everywhere .. it's our fist time and i'm excited lol)