The UTB Project is out!

Posted on February 17, 2007 by Mike Walsh

A bit earlier than I expected, the UTB project (10183 LEGO Hobby Train) appears on page 17 of Brick Journal #6. The set is the work of 10 LEGO Enthusiasts from the US, Canada, UK, and Germany. I was fortunate enough to be one of the 10 who worked on this. More information should come to light once the set is actually released. The release date is slated for March 19, 2007.
10183 Ultimate Train Builders

Posted in Instructions, LEGO, LEGO Hobby Train, Shopping | 3 Comments

Recent Pick-a-Brick experience

Posted on February 14, 2007 by Mike Walsh

I have mentioned before that I have had the opportunity to visit several of
the LEGO Stores and partake of their Pick-a-Brick offering. The last couple
times I have been to Chicago, they haven’t had anything which interested me
so I have walked out without buying anything.

Yesterday I was in New Jersey for work and and had a chance to visit the
LEGO Store at BridgeWater Commons. Conveniently, it is less than 10 minutes
from our NJ office. Much to my surprise, the Pick-a-Brick selection was
pretty good and even better, included a bunch of parts (mostly tiles) which
didn’t require packing to make them a good deal. So I picked up a cup full
($13.75) which included the following elements:

– clear 1×1 plates (oddly I don’t have many of these)
– yellow 1×1 round plates
– white 1×2 tiles
– new dark grey 1×2 tiles
– dark red 1×4 tiles
– yellow 2×2 tiles
– red arch 1 x 3 x 2 with curved top

There were some other interesting parts which I passed on (namely 1×3 lime
green bricks). I would say this was the best pick-a-brick selection I have
seen in a long time.

Mike

Posted in LEGO, Shopping | Tagged | 1 Comment

LEGO 12v Train Poster from 1981

Posted on February 12, 2007 by Mike Walsh

A link to a 1981 12v Train poster was posted on LUGNET recently. This is a very cool poster which shows how extensive the 12v Train line was back in the early 1980’s. Although this is a pretty cool poster, the track layout isn’t very practical as there are no real loops but it does highlight all of the elements of the 12v Train System. One thing I have always liked about the 12v trains (and I only have one of them) is the points configuration allows the train track run very close together which means parallel tracks don’t require as much space as they do with 9v. I never understood why the 9v points space the track out by 8 studs. There aren’t too many things I’d still like to have for my Train collection but I would love to find a 7740 Inter-City Train sometime.

12v Train Poster

Posted in LEGO | 4 Comments

2007 French Toy Fair Pictures

Posted on February 12, 2007 by Mike Walsh

Pictures from the 2007 French Toy Fair are starting to pop up. I can only assume this gallery is incomplete because none of the new City sets were shown. I didn’t really see anything which caught my eye, the Mission to Mars and Exo-Force sets don’t do anything for me. Hopefully pictures from the US Toy Fair which is going on this week will show some of the new City sets. I do know that the UTB Train set will not be on display at the Toy Fair.

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LEGOPalooza

Posted on February 6, 2007 by Mike Walsh

This past weekend NCLUG exhibited at LEGO Palooza. LEGO Palooza is held at the Morehead Planatarium in Chapel Hill. This event is a lot of fun and draws a big crowd – about 1300 over two days this year. This year was the third year, I participated the first year but was out of town last year. The first two years have been Space themed and not being a Space person, I didn?t have much to offer. I did build a couple Moonbase Modules the first year but that was about it. This year Carin Proctor coordinated the event and turned it into a general show. Carin asked me to set up a small Train layout and to bring my amusement park.

My amusement park has been in storage for a while, I haven?t had it out since the last GATS show we did. I also brought my church and a couple of houses. I couldn?t bring much as I had a car load of kids with me too! The event was well attended (see Joe Meno?s post show report on LUGNET) and was a lot of fun. My amusement park generated a lot of interest although the Ferris Wheel wasn?t working – the gearing came apart and I couldn?t figure out how it went back together! :-)

Amusement Park

Cyndi Bradham?s Castle layout was easily the most impressive thing at the show and she was featured in the Raleigh News and Observer too. All in all, a great time – I wish I could have spent more time at the show. After set up on Friday I could only be there on Sunday afternoon.

More photos of the event are available on BrickShelf.

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