7987 & 7988 were shown by Lego at Toy Fair (pics from ASM's Toy Fair coverage) Anyone know anything about the new remote control system advertised here ? Just when I get 9v motors into my trains they change it again !
9v's are for beginners. Good ol cast Iron Weeden engines is where it's at. Man those are so old, but still neat. Wonder ir Lionel is still in buisness? I love trains , but can't collect them until I have a good area (400 sqft atleast) to build a mini city for them too be in. Would want the classic steamers, a few bullet trains and Locos. Would also need some diorama tracks set up for RiD Railracer and some trainbots. Buying another trainset would be like a trap to spark up another collection. Need one big enough to ride around on in tunnels through a collection. Not sure what Lego uses for these. They used 12v for the 700 series, (which the US did'nt get). and went to 9v in '91 I think. Seems like they should stay with the 9vs , since you get more speed from them supposedly. If they're not 9v , Im pretty sure you can always convert them. Probably with that #5300 9v train motor. You can convert the Diesel Shunter easily with it. Maybe they're returining to their roots with the 4.5's lol
It's a large change - but they will still be selling 9v electric as far as I know for the time being. Unfortunately the change to battery powered Remote Controlled trains means they no longer need electric conducting rails in the track pieces and as such all the new tracks are completely plastic. Still the same as the old tracks, and apparently compatible, but useless for your 9V electric. Course it does mean you don't have to worry about creating short circuits anymore... Posts on Lugnet have said - The track is full plastic as already seen. - The train base is 32 studs long and contrains IR recievers on both sides and battery box (included and not removable). - the train motor has plastic wheels. - the wheels show spokes on their faxe sides and have technik axle holes. - the motor has special technic axle holes (nearly with cylindrical bore: so they have a "slip-under-overload-effect") - no new track radius is planned (so far) as Jan mentioned - the engine needs 6 pieces of small standard batteries => still a 9V system - the control panel (made for lefthanded kids as it seemed to us) has only 4 knobs and a frequency switch. knob 1: signal horn (in panel) knob 2: stop knob 3: pos. accelleration (speed up or break rearwars drive) knob 4: negative. accelleration (break or speed up backwarts) The frequency switch allows to choose betweeen 3 frequencies or controls all 3 frequencies at one time. I ask myself, what would
