LEGO Train Projects: 7 Creative Models

by Charles Pritchett

Overview

Step-by-step instructions for building 7 realistic LEGO train models.

LEGO Train Projects shows you how to build seven detailed train models to get your brick citizens riding the rails in style. Featuring clear, full color, step-by-step instructions, this book makes it easy to build fun, realistic models that will delight train lovers of all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781718500488
Publisher:	No Starch Press
Publication date:	09/01/2020
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	10 Years

About the Author

Charles Pritchett has been building with LEGO for over 35 years. As a professional graphic, UI, and UX designer, he has great insight into how people see instructions and how to lead them through the steps required to reach an end goal.

Read an Excerpt

INTRODUCTION

SEEING THE LIGHT

It began in the mid-1980s when my mother purchased a large garbage bag full of used LEGO via a classified ad. In that bag was a treasure trove of amazing disassembled sets: early town, space, castle, and first-wave Technic sets, along with the original 1970s-era 12v train motor and a battery box.

Although the kind lady who sold the bag to my mother had also included a very large stack of instruction manuals, there was nothing train related. Armed with the latest LEGO Idea Book and the most recent catalogs, I set about trying to re-create their train designs from the pile of bricks in front of me. Watching the things I built actually move around the room on their blue tracks was amazing and brought building with LEGO to a new level of creativity for me.

Then, the Dark Ages.

As with most young people, my mind quickly turned to other interests. Girls, music, and video games took priority in my life, and LEGO fell by the wayside. My mother packed away the LEGO bricks. I graduated from high school, went to college, got married, had a daughter, and bought a house.

Then came the day that every former LEGO fanatic loves. My daughter was finally old enough to have her first LEGO set! As I sat with her and helped build Olivia’s Invention Workshop (3933), my interest was rekindled. I realized what I had been missing for all those years. In short order, I was a collector and builder again—an Adult Fan of Lego (AFOL).

I dove back into the deep, armed with a little more time and a little more disposable income, and started buying the newest sets. There were now more than six colors! There were new elements I had never seen before! Bricks had multiple connection points and studs on the sides now! With so many new possibilities, there was no looking back.

Since then, I have gained another daughter to share the love of the hobby with, and in between helping build elves, dragons, and beasts, I’ve rediscovered my love of LEGO trains and their movement.

Keep on bricking!
Charles

Table of Contents

Introduction
How to use this book
Finding Pieces
Coal Gondola
Milk Tanker
Open Hopper
Depressed Flatcar with Electrical Load
Passenger Coach
Powered Box Car
EMD FL-9 Diesel Locomotive

Editorial Reviews

"As you might expect from veteran LEGO publisher No Starch Press, this is a quality title that delivers for LEGO fans new and old."
—Blocks Magazine

"Anyone looking to build elegant LEGO trains should pick up this title."
—BricksFanatics

“As a book, LEGO Trains Projects is a great gift for the LEGO train fan.... So get the book and start building!" 
—Brick Journal

"A great book for those who aspire to recreate vast [LEGO train] displays or merely enjoy taking a train around a simple circle of track. The instructions are easy to follow and the way the elements are presented are extremely useful."
—BrickFanz

“The presentation and content of the book are second to none, as we've come to expect from No Starch Press, and if you want to build some American-style rolling stock to supplement official sets on your layout you will find a lot to like here.”
—Brickset

"A comprehensive and well thought out guide to building impressive, accurate, and aesthetically pleasing train components."
—The Brick Blogger

"If you are an AFOL who wants to enter into the LEGO® Trains world, or a LEGO® Trains AFOL with no more ideas for some new wagons, this is your book." 
—HispaBrick Magazine

"A good job of highlighting the elements so you don't get lost while building."
—BrickTsar

"A work of art. It looks stunning."
—GJBricks

From the Publisher