Right all, so my roomates and I haven’t had much of any time to devote to my HO scale layout this year, what with being upperclassmen in college and all, but we wanted something for our nice newly redecorated living room, so we got to thinking:
Why not get a Lego train? Those seem like jolly fun and if anything ever breaks from say a clumsy houseguest, it’s just a matter of putting it back together, unlike a scale model where hundreds of dollars and hours of time could be lost forever.
So we’ve ordered a train that as far as I can tell is a Japanese JR West 300 Series Shinkansen, the type that usually runs on the Hikari line. We intend to actually model a section of the line as it approaches Tokyo and we’re going to free build structures from Legos as well as other JR West equipment as prototypically as the bricks permit.
If anyone has any information on modeling with Lego, please drop thy knowledge here…
And while an HO scale model train might prove to be a “deal breaker” when it comes to visiting co-eds in your room, Legos would pretty much write off any action at all…unless you’ve taken a vow of chastity and want to make sure you don’t break it, Legos in the college pad might be as effective as a collection of Star Wars action figures…
OTH they might show you have an intriguing side that doesn’t run with the herd. But really, any guy who thinks he understands women is whistling in the dark[:D][:-^]
Enjoy
Paul
While an HO layout would probably do little more than raise eyebrows among the ladies, a Lego set would indicate a playful, childlike side of you that might be appealing. And if not, it belongs to your roommates, not you, right?
Hmm. I completed several courses at college and I dont see a single person playing with trains. Usually it is the opposite sex, video games and the latest party that weekend.
(Not necessarily on MY schedule being married and all)
Actually that’s the interesting part, I live with two women (dance and theater students respectively) and they love Legos. My friends, girlfriend, who’s a fashion design major (anyone detecting a strong artist trend here?) included love the idea as well.
Besides our living room is already a kitzish shrine to all things 80s and early 90s so we all figured why not.
From what I’ve read, Lego is slightly larger than O scale, however selective compression is used quite a bit more. The Shinkansen 300 that I’ve purchased is reduced from the normal 16 unit consist to one of 5 units.
The issue of time is actually an interesting one, while most of us who played with Legos as kids remember spending hours putting kits together, it’s quite a different story once one has developed the manual dexterity and mind of an adult. I helped my little brother put together a 500 peice space ship in about half an hour last Christmas so I wouldn’t think that building a Lego train would take too long at all.
I’m still going to make a custom set of JR West Hikari Service decals for the shinkansen and hopefully I’ll be able to post pictures of it here when it’s done.
Another advantage is that the train, with powerpack (DCC is also avalible acording to some websites) track and figures only cost $151.00 with free shipping. Try finding another shinkansen model that cheap haha.
Now I wonder what a Lego Shibuya Station would look like…
I’m slowly helping my son complete the Super Chief. So far, he only has a powered A unit, a baggage car, and an observation along with an oval of track. This year for Christmas he’ll probably get another car or two. Eventually, we’ll get a dummy A unit and kitbash a B unit.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Lego trains - still have my collection sitting on a shelf in the attic next to my PC. What I can’t understand is why they didn’t use 32mm gauge track and therefore make it compatible with O scale equipment. It might leave the Legos on slightly narrow gauge, but you’d be able to operate both Lego and O trains on the same track.
