At long last, I have found time to complete the instructions for the British Rail Polybulk covered hopper (TOPS code JIA). This wagon design is quite robust and looks quite impressive in its striking green livery—a livery made possible with availability of 2x4 tiles and 2x4 curved slopes in green. I have road tested this wagon extensively during shows and it works very well.

At 535 pieces, it is quite efficient with parts for a wagon of its size. If you can build multiple copies, this wagon looks impressive in a rake of several vehicles.

Available now at the kit store.

Tags: news, kits, wagon, Freight, 7764

As with all things, some projects finish faster than others. I was intending on completing the instructions for the Polybulk covered hopper; however, this wagon beat it to the store!

This kit allows you to build a British Rail HEA general purpose air-braked hopper wagon used for general mineral and coal traffic. This wagon design is quite sturdy and has swivelled single axle bogies with restraints on travel. I have road tested this wagon extensively during shows and it works very well. It is very closely based on my prototype version of this wagon here:
www.flickr.com/photos/michaelgale/9460988133/in/album-721...
It has been updated and improved for this kit.

At 310 pieces, it is quite efficient with parts and lends itself to building multiple copies to form a handsome rake of wagons.

Available now at the kit store.

Tags: 7765, wagon, kits, Freight

Its been a while since I've posted. I must confess to being both busy and suffering from "builders block"! I just didn't feel the mojo for building for quite some time. Thankfully, that phase is over! I'm back to building!

I've been going through some unfinished projects. The first among these projects is the instructions for my British Rail Polybulk covered hopper wagon. As with most of my instructions, it has resulted in a complete redesign of the model! This revised design is much better in several ways:
1) Much more robust and strong
2) Hopper body profile is much closer in shape to the prototype.
3) The wagon's scale dimensions are nearly a perfect match to the prototype.
4) More efficient use of parts--only 535 pieces.

Shown above is my first "test drive" of the instructions. I kitted out the parts required and took this photo just before building a second copy of the wagon based on the instructions. This is a process I've had to learn to perform more rigorously than my previous kits. Its amazing how many errors, improvements, etc. that you identify when sitting down to build the kit from the perspective of someone else. It has to be more than proofreading the instructions themselves; you actually have to physically build it. You can't identify areas of structural weakness or inconvenient building steps unless you physically handle the model as you build.

In any case, I did identify a couple of improvements and have updated the instructions. I just have to prepare sticker graphics and then this new kit should be in the store at www.brickdimensions.com in a few days! Stay tuned!

Tags: kits, 7764, Freight, wagon

Finally, after a great deal of delay, I've completed the instructions for the Toronto CLRV streetcar/tram!

This model has generated the most feedback from folks wanting to build this model. Sadly, I've had to defer them–up until now that is! This model (like many of my others) has required redesign of many components in order to make it suitable for folks to build with relative ease. It also incorporates the use of a few helpful newer parts. One big change from my previous version of this model is the use of pivoting bogie trucks. This allows the model to be used on conventional LEGO® track including curves and switches. Initially, this model was intended as a static display model on straight track; however, a few folks asked if it could be made to negotiate all TLG track configurations--now it can!

Basic Specs:
- Piece count: 986
- Length: 57 studs
- Width: 10 studs
- Height: 83 plates (total), 49 plates (car body)

Available now in the store.

Tags: 7742, kits, trains

Kit #7762 - British Rail VDA van wagon is now complete and available in the store. This kit features sticker graphics for the finished model with diagram numbers for different wagons. The kit takes advantage of current parts available from LEGO® and strives to optimize the type and number of parts for ease of part procurement and ease of building. Hopefully this kit will prove enjoyable to build, and as always, any feedback on the model is much appreciated.

Tags: 7762, kits, Freight, wagon, VDA

Kit #7763 - British Rail OBA/ZDA open wagon is now complete and available in the store. This kit features sticker graphics for the finished model with diagram numbers for different wagons. Furthermore, this kit comes as a 3-in-1 kit with 3 separate instruction books to build different livery versions of this model. The kit takes advantage of current parts available from LEGO® and strives to optimize the type and number of parts for ease of part procurement and ease of building. Hopefully this kit will prove enjoyable to build, and as always, any feedback on the model is much appreciated.

Tags: 7763, kits, Freight, wagon, OBA, ZDA

The custom instruction kit to build a GO Transit livery EMD F59PH diesel locomotive is now complete and available in the store. This kit features sticker graphics for the finished model with road numbers for 3 different locomotives. Furthermore, this kit can be built either unpowered or powered by either LEGO® 9V or Power Functions systems. The kit takes advantage of current parts available from LEGO® and strives to optimize the type and number of parts for ease of part procurement and ease of building. Hopefully this kit will prove enjoyable to build, and as always, any feedback on the model is much appreciated.

Tags: kits, F59PH, locomotive, 7756

Today, I launch brickdimensions.com as my portal to the world sharing my passion for building detailed scale models with LEGO® bricks. My model building efforts are mainly focused on building trains and in particular British and Canadian prototypes. I started publicly posting my creations on flickr around Nov 2012 and since then have earned 1+ million views. I am very gratified and appreciative of the positive feedback received by many different folks in reaction to my creations. Thank you! Along the way, I have made many friends in the LEGO® AFOL community and very much enjoy the company and getting the opportunity to explore the vast number of sublime creations made by other folks. Seriously, there are some folks out there who are seriously gifted at building the most amazing creations–not just visually, but also mechanically. Three years ago, I had no idea that it was possible to build an 8 speed sequential gearbox with just LEGO® elements!

As well as serving as a platform for me to share my LEGO® creations in the form of custom instruction kits, brickdimensions.com is also a portal for me to share other ideas, concepts, experiments, successes, failures, etc. related to my LEGO® building adventures. Currently, only one kit is available for sale (#7761 - Bombardier Bi-level coaches in GO Transit green/white livery); however, kit numbers 7756 and 7742 are in active development. These instruction kits take a great deal of time and energy to put together. I want these kits to be enjoyable experiences and therefore want these instructions to be clear and the models to be robust in construction and efficient with parts. I have strived to consolidate the parts lists into the fewest unique elements, using parts which are readily available, and with commonality among different models and model variants. Please be patient with my release intervals, I will try to get as many kits developed as I can over the next few months.

If you have any suggestions or feedback with respect to the kits, please don’t hesitate to contact me–I definitely welcome any and all input you may have!

Tags: kits, news, lego, 7761, 7756, 7742