My "Scale": Prototype LEGO Trains.

[brickbuilder711]

Hi all,

I am engaging in modelling parts of the Florida East Coast Railway and CSX Miami Subdivision in HO Scale. My joining on this forum is also the start of my H.O. project.

I have an existent "scale" that is out of the ordinary, "L" gauge. LEGO Trains have been a valuable asset, since you can assemble the prototype train and make up your own trackside buildings and scenery. The same bricks that build DB trains can be used for CP trains, for example. Plus, they are mostly repairable and easily portable, where display pieces can be disassembled and moved nicely.

Therefore, that's where two lifelong hobbies meet together. I have old pictures of my trains, which are part savvy yet detail capturing recreations of Florida East Coast motive power, assorted freight railcars, and even CSX, Tri-Rail, and BNSF power.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brickbuilder711/

Not only has my HO project started, but so has my LEGO project. I completed a trackside building that combines creativity with engineering. It has a wacky paint job, yet it takes some techniques to completely capture it. The building housed a magic shop and an ethnic eatery. If I recall correctly they are opening new shops there. The building is 40 feet from the mainline, "across the street". I have not completed the trackage for the layout. That goes in with the layout, depending on what scene I am capturing. The tracks will be adorned with concrete "ties" and "ballast" (grey elements)

Enjoy my extraordinary layout and recreation of the FEC!

 

[UP2CSX]

Welcome aboard, Brickbuilder. I can see how you picked your screen name. That's a pretty neat Lego building. About what scale would that be? I remember building structures from my American City plastic block kits when I was a kid for my Lionel layout. I wonder if those things are still around?

 

[brickbuilder711]

Thanks for the welcome, and it would likely be a 1:30 scale. A ferrari model is 1:24 and fits the "minifigure" at which the scale revolves around. I think this is little smaller than the Ferrari set, being an engine is bigger than the size of a Ferrari racer. Anywhere between O and G I guess?

 

[jbaakko]

Nice work, great to see photos of an old hobby of mine.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Lego's toys of the GODS. Nice model. Sadly I cant afford the big lego sets either. But I love them still. Wonder if lego is still doing the lego trains toy line?

Thats me in the cab

Thanks, ya they are doing a steam train in the new Power Functions system. Pretty realistic.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Firestone/Bridgestone Complete Car Service was completed today, with a nicely landscaped diorama to join it.

 

[UP2CSX]

Pretty nifty model although it's the first time I've seen a mechanic doing diagnostic work with binoculars. This is a great way to introduce kids who grew up playing with Legos to model railroading.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Pretty nifty model although it's the first time I've seen a mechanic doing diagnostic work with binoculars. This is a great way to introduce kids who grew up playing with Legos to model railroading.

Well to surprise you he's a representation of a railfan who actually checks out the area, he wears a safety vest to be conspicuous at night, and looks far out with his binoculars.

 

[brickbuilder711]

New Miami canal bridge, built in 2007 (real life) to accomodate double track and to suit an overpass over a depressed Okeechobee Rd. This model uses Maersk Blue elements, a rare color that was produced in one recent set. That set has been discontinued.