The Train Collectors Assocation had their “Cal-Stewart Spring Meet” convention at the Santa Clara Convention Center on March 27-28, 2004, and BayLTC was invited to display our layout in the vendors’ hall.
Bill Ward
Modular Downtown Buildings
These buildings were made for the BayLTC train layouts. Fellow club member Kenny Paul and I agreed on a standard for the placement of Technic pegs to connect the buildings together. However, with practice it turned out to be easier to not connect them, but to just place them next to each other.
The pegs are placed in a 1×2 Technic brick with peg hole, at the 7th and 8th studs in from the street, at the 3rd and (optionally) 8th brick heights. In addition, pegs may be placed at the rear, also at the 7th and 8th studs from the edge. The backs and sides of the buildings are incomplete because they are not visible; the rule is that from street level to the 6th stud, and everything above 12 bricks in height, must be decorated.
The tan building has a removable wall on the right side. This allows it to be a corner building or to be in the middle of a series of buildings. The removable wall features a fire escape.
Great American Train Show, February 2004
On February 28-29, 2004, we returned to the site of our first GATS, the Cow Palace near San Francisco. We got a third place ribbon.
BayLUG Meeting, December 2003 in Fremont
This was our last meeting of the year, where members brought their latest creations for display.
Pokémon
With the Pok�mon Go game being such a huge hit at the moment, I thought I’d post about some old MOCs that I built 15 years ago. Sorry about the photo quality – this was the early days of digital photography…
BayLTC Meeting, June 2003 in Newark
This meeting was held in Bruce’s church gym. The meeting was a planning meeting for the July San Mateo GATS show.
We planned and practiced setting up our layout so that we wouldn’t have big problems at GATS, like we had in the past.
Great American Train Show, July 2003
Pictures from the Great American Train Show, July 19-20, 2003, at the San Mateo Expo Center in San Mateo, CA. Our layout won second place in the contest!
BricksWest 2003
Pictures taken at the Legoland Test Track Diner (the Grand Pavilion was flooded) during the setup on Friday.
Maneki Neko
This LEGO sculpture of a Maneki Neko (Japanese good-luck cat) was one of my earliest models, after building the Pok�mon out of basic bricks alone, I allowed myself the luxury of plates as well, in order to approximate the script on the coin. The cat itself is just basic bricks though, except for the arm detachment mechanism.
Articulated light rail vehicle
This is my second LEGO train model, a modern light rail vehicle (LRV). It is inspired loosely by the new vehicles that have recently entered service for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in Santa Clara County, CA. Like the VTA LRV’s, it has three sections, with the middle one having a wheelset fixed to it, and has a “low floor” design, so that there are no steps to climb from the platform. This gives easy access to those in wheelchairs, with strollers, or with other limited mobility.
Great American Train Show, November-December 2002
Pictures from the Great American Train Show, November 30-December 1, 2002, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. Our layout won first place in the contest!
BayLTC Meeting, November 2002 in Newark
This meeting was held at the Newark campus of Ohlone Community College. They generously allowed us the use of their auditorium to set up our layout in preparation for the GATS show at the end of the month.
Great American Train Show, August 2002
Pictures from the Great American Train Show, August 10-11, 2002, at the Cow Palace near San Francisco, CA. Our layout won third place in the contest.
BayLTC Meeting, August 2002 in Newark
Held the weekend before the train show, this was our last chance to get everything right.
BayLUG Meeting, June 2002 in Fremont
At this meeting we had a contest for town vehicles, in which I had seven entries.
Beechcraft Bonanza
Due to its distinct V-shaped tail, the original Bonanza is one of the world’s most recognizable aircraft.
Class C Motorhome
Tour the country in comfort in this luxurious model. Sleeps three minifigs: one above the cab and two in the rear. Includes a complete galley for cooking meals on the road, and television over the rear bed which is connected to a satellite dish on the roof.
Dump Truck with Trailer
Another way of transporting sand and gravel is a dump truck with a trailer. First the truck dumps its own load, then the hopper on the trailer is moved into that of the truck, and it can then dump that one as well. This is a fairly common design, at least in my part of the world.