@pnbrenem
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@playingwithechoes Is the plan for this to be something you build and own or for the LUG to build? If the plan is for the LUG to finance and build it, could it be a good candidate to include in project support?
I plan to be there for setup and tear down. I will bring my track and we can use whatever is needed.
Bob, I will bring what you posted earlier (16 16×32 and 3 right switches) and will have the rest in my vehicle as backup. My understanding is you need stanchions as well. Do you have a number in mind, or should I just bring what we have? Anything else needed from Josh?
My MILS track is available for use. It is all 9V track with standard radii. My inventory is as follows:
68 single track 16×32
24 single track 16×16
8 switches/points – 4 left and 4 right – that have a total footprint of 48×32
12 90-degree curves made from a 32×32 in the corner and 16×32 on either side – total footprint of 48×48, but missing a 16×16 corner. If you want all the ties to line up perfectly, 8 should curve one way and 4 the other – not a big deal though.I should be able to make it for setup on the 12th and teardown (I assume on the 14th). Please share times for setup and teardown as soon as we know so that I can block that time off. I can also help transport some LUG stuff from Josh’s house if needed.
If Pete is taking everything that is needed, I will probably take the easy route and join from home.
I was playing around a bit with the pybricks hub-to-hub communication (described here). It is an experimental feature but worked ok for me. I set up a short track with a section of yellow tiles. I ran a train on it with a color/distance sensor pointed down. I had the train hub briefly broadcast when it crossed the yellow tiles. A technic hub nearby then ran a motor for a short duration when it received the broadcast from the train. This could be used to automate things like crossing gates and switches. There are probably alternatives like putting a sensor next to the track to detect the train, but it was pretty neat to have two hubs coordinating.
John, definitely looks like it would be worth a try! I like that it uses all LEGO parts. Driving it with a laptop or computer isn’t as ideal as storing everything on the hub, but it seems like it would be worth it since it would yield such a dynamic layout.
This looks like it was a really good event. The big trains are the highlight, but it was also nice to see the incline running reliably using Powered Up components on Pybricks.
I agree that the colorful edges are not ideal, but how distracting they are depends on the person. I am easily bothered by such things, likely more so than most people. At trolley, the sneeze guard covered the edges. Having something to hide the edges, even if not Lego, for events that don’t use the sneeze guards would be a good idea.
I think the LUG having enough MILS stuff to do large displays is a good goal, but I am fine with my stuff being used as needed to supplement until we get there.
Tim, to your point about electric hookup, I was thinking about trying to use solder or some other means to connect the wires directly to the underside of the track. I don’t know if something like that is feasible, but it could move us away from expensive, brittle wires. Does anyone know if that could be done, taking into consideration the track material (perhaps Ni-Be-Cu according to a web search) and low melting point of the ABS?
I have attempted to purchase baseplate 606p01 three times from different BrickLink stores. Each time, I have received baseplate 80547pb01, one of which was missing a corner. Is it really that hard to tell the difference? Is quality control in general getting worse on BrickLink or is this just an unfortunate coincidence?
Josh,
I used the instructions at l-guage.org for my personal track. Instructions 005 use a 32×32 in the corner and a 16×32 on either side. It ends up 48×48 with a 16×16 cutout. You might be able to see what they look like in pictures from the fall trolley event.
As far as plates, I used 4×8. I agree with Ben that it really doesn’t matter. The stiffness of the structure will come from the layout of bricks between the baseplate and the plates.
Another person to ask is Will ( @willmcdine). He has been doing some work on his track as well and may have made some different decisions than I did.
Phil
I believe the lug has one crossover and it is in the old dark grey – might be the only track piece in that color if I remember right. I have one in bluish grey that I could provide if needed although I am not sure how easily I could get it there.
Potential deal:
https://www.bidonestates.com/auctions/10053/lot/13771-HUGE-LOT-OF-LEGOS-(INCLUDING-MONORAIL-PARTS)
I would go for it, but with no shipping and limited pickup times, I can’t make it work.
Greg, depends on how picky you are about the buffer style. There are several styles (see here). I have one of the older style like you show, three with the plow, and 9 others with sealed magnets (probably all type 2). I have enough wheels and yellow bogie plates to make 10 sets. I may have more black bogie plates somewhere but only found 5 in a quick search.
Edit: Link goes to train but not to buffers specifically. Just search for the term buffer and you can get where I intended.
As a technic building noob, I learned that the old 9V LEGO system batteries and motors don’t connect to PowerFunctions controls. However the benevolent LEGO overlord priveds a cable 8886 that provides compatibility for in a $3 cable. The part is NOT sold in any sets.
I need three of these cables for my current project and three is the limit that one is allowed to buy (despite some bricklink stores stocking hundreds.) If anyone is placing an order with LEGO, please let me know, because these expensive little wires become even more expensive once the shipping cost is added. Thanks!
Greg, not sure if you still need these, but I am placing an order soon and will add some in. If you don’t want them any longer, that is ok. I will either use them myself or sell them someday.
If there’s anything the northern contingent wants from lug inventory
well…since you asked…
I am interested in set 42110 (How many cups?)
also set 60044 “mobile police unit”
also I need loads of light bluish grey wedge plates – all sizes for terrain of a space build I’m working on.
@pete, can you assign cup values to the new sets on the inventory sheet? They are all at the bottom in green. Or you can share your secret formula and I can do it.
I will be there Saturday at around 11 or so to get things started. I can bring LUG stuff, a dino museum, and 9V track and should be able to stay for a while to help set up.
There is an online auction with pickup in eastern Ohio that has a Lego lot with some monorail track. It is hard to tell from the one picture how much track there is or if there are any additional items such as a motor.
(shifts as defined by event leaders and inventory managers)
It seemed that four hours was a shift, or an elaborate setup or tear down (ex. the Greenberg Train Show) was considered a shift. But now a shift could consist of going to the Cranberry library display and adding a minfig each day if the event leader defined a shift that way?
I think the idea is that having an event leader AND an inventory manager define it is to provide a simple system of checks and balances. I don’t see how adding a minifig to a display could possibly be agreed upon as a shift. A standard shift is ~4 hours or setup/teardown. Anything other than that should get agreement with an inventory manager. If the event manager is an inventory manager, then logic would say one of the other inventory managers should be brought into the discussion.
From the handbook:
Cup credits can be earned in a couple ways:
1 small cup for being a first time member at a meeting. These do not accumulate.
1 small cup for anyone sorting effort (sorting party, taking a box home to sort)
1 small cup for each staffed shift at a LUG event (shifts as defined by event leaders and inventory managers)
1 large cup for contribution to a displaying event
1 small for attending a business meeting if your birthday falls in that quarter. These do not accumulate.
1 Large cup for gaining widespread attention for the LUG, in forms such as blogs, magazines, newspapers, or other related media sourcesI think the “shifts as defined by event leaders and inventory managers” language may be new following the Q3 meeting since that is what I recall being the conclusion, but I don’t see it being noted in the revision history.
I am unlikely to be able to help with tear down thumbs Sunday. I have the girls and we’ll be coming back from deer valley camping, and already have a van full of stuff. While Phil helped me get stuff there, I wonder if we have some efficiency opportunities for people going to Greenberg to take a few tables. Maybe that’s something you want to entertain, @randomdan
When Josh and I took things to trolley, it was about equal to one full van load and the back of an SUV. I should be able to make it to teardown and can bring a van load of stuff to Josh’s. As Josh says, if there are items going to Greenberg that don’t have to go to Josh’s, that would be helpful.
Josh and I dropped off the LUG stuff. The LUG does not have 9V track so I brought mine. It is in a purple box along with some baseplates. The baseplates are marked with my initials on a sticker, the track is not. Both are available for use as needed. If the track is used, it might be nice to keep it all in one area such as the HP area so that it is easier to distinguish at teardown.
