Attempt an EMU

This is my attempt at a 6 stud wide QR EMU. it's expensive but i must build it. and I'm looking for some cunstructive critisism before i order the parts, i have to go 6 studs wide because my city won't allow anything wider. i have seen some good attempts but ultimately i think some people are trying to be too tricky.

deceptahenry

Welcome to ANZFOL.

The train looks just like the real thing; can't wait to see the brick version.

Hi,

My only thoughts are that the front yellow plate is a little big. Which might just be because on most units you have a big QueenslandRail symbol to break it up.

But other than that, I think it looks brilliant.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I think the EMU looks just fine in 6 wide, If it was 7 or even 8 studs wide the units would need to be really long. (EMU's are very long already!)

Thank you all for your kind comments. Absolutely AnitaE it needs the big QR Symble on the front, it's not authentic but I'm also going to put a small one in the middle carriage between the windows where there is the 2 stud wide pillar, (if you catch my drift) it would be better to put one beside every door, I want to see some more people's attempts?

I recall seeing someone trying to replicate an SMU/IMU somewhere on this forum a while back, but went quiet after that. It seems that train replica building is tough work. That looks very good.

Your talking about this one I design over 2 years ago only build the front as I ran out of money to build it as some of the parts was hard to find for my project back then.

had big issues with the front bogie keep hitting stuff on the side of the track what didn't help it.

My EMU actually started it's life as an SMU but i found the subtle angles just too hard to replicate although Shieldzee's attempt looks pretty good. when i hooked up the wedge with the windscreen it turned into an EMU and I rolled with it. going back a bit. does anyone know any good (free) graphic software or sticker paper supplier for good stickers?

I've also built this Deisel loco from modifying the maersk design, flat front some wings up the sides to get that QR color scheme, but same as the EMU it needs stickers.

deceptahenry wrote:Thank you all for your kind comments. Absolutely AnitaE it needs the big QR Symble on the front, it's not authentic but I'm also going to put a small one in the middle carriage between the windows where there is the 2 stud wide pillar, (if you catch my drift) it would be better to put one beside every door, I want to see some more people's attempts?

Deceptahenry, you've inspired me!
I'll try building one when I get time.

If I may give some constructive criticism, on the real EMU's the 'arm' of the pantograph has two parts and is painted red.

yeah that's absolutely true. unfortunately I have Clearence issues with the pantograph after I build it I may modify it. I also rushed the under carriage which again I will modify as i build. I am building this to replace my current passenger train 7938-1 so I'm trying to use most of the peices from it.

Hi deceptahenry,

It looks good to me but being a Victorian I'm not familiar with the real thing.

As far as graphics software, you could try the Gimp. It's normally associated with linux machines, and has a reputation of being hard to use, though some swear that's because it has a different philosophy to photoshop, so people expecting the photoshop philosophy are dissapointed. While not completely free Photoshop elements has most of the basics quite cheaply in comparison to Photoshop.

This is a pretty small and broad group so you may find better constructive criticism on the Flickr LEGO trains group, not to suggest the criticism here is sub par, but more eyes might find more improvements.

Gimp is what use on my Windows pc good free software.

I know that a pantograph is an instrument for enlarging an image but what is a pantograph on a train?

Here is the updated version with correct color pantograph and under carriage i also changed the color of the cow catcher unfortunately the real parts are not available in dk red

brickie wrote:I know that a pantograph is an instrument for enlarging an image but what is a pantograph on a train?

Brickie, On an electric train, the Pantograph is a folding metal arm that collects electricity from the overhead wires.

Just got to point this out the train only has pantograph on one end of the middle unit not 2 like what you have.
I had to say it as I'm a big QR train fan and it just does not look right lol.

This is were I get my photos of trains when I was building my train http://www.wuiskemodels.com/
but you done a good job mate keep it up.

deceptahenry wrote:... i also changed the color of the cow catcher unfortunately the real parts are not available in dk red...

If those parts at the front you refer to are 2 x 2 x 2 65 Slopes, then yes, they ARE available in Dark Red.

As long as you can use the version WITHOUT a bottom tube, then here's a link if you want to have a look.

Thank you all. this is the sort of contribution I was hoping for. that photo give's a great view of the undercarriage. I have been up close and personel with EMU's before, in my youth, but travel mostly by car these days. so every tip i can get to keep it as authentic as possible helps me relive my youth through my Lego City

jus Quickly i got GIMP software and find it works perfect for what i need. Thank you to those who mentioned it

To add a bit to red fives explaianation;

brickie wrote:I know that a pantograph is an instrument for enlarging an image but what is a pantograph on a train?

It's the current pick-up device on the top of trains, so called because originally they employed parallelogram frames. I guess now it's a misnomer but as far as I know still used. Perhaps only among those like me who missed out on the classics in our education though :-p

From wikipedia

A pantograph (from Greek roots παντ- 'all, every' and γραφ- 'to write', from their original use for copying writing) is a mechanical linkage connected in a manner based on parallelograms so that the movement of one pen, in tracing an image, produces identical movements in a second pen.

The wikipedia page also describes fold out mirrors etc so the mechanical linkage part is probably the relevant bit in its wider usage.