Tolga's Railroad Repository

 The Greater Florida LEGO Users Group had a train show display at Bradenton, FL. While the club members did a multifaceted display at both MegaCon and Tampa Bay Comic Con, it has been a while since the club displayed a full train display at a two day event, perhaps before the COVID-19 pandemic for a display this size or larger. We did the one day Plant City NMRA SSR show, and I will cover takeaways from that soon, but RealRail is among the larger shows and this one did not disappoint. Without further ado, here's Tolga's Takeaways: Three's a Crowd -- logistics of transporting high rises Since May 2018 I made the decision to build Midtown Miami highrises in LEGO bricks to model an attainable Florida scene, as the buildings look cool and line the FEC/Brightline mainline (the Port Lead). Unlike the downtown skyline the buildings are at about 350-400 feet in height in Midtown and are easy to model and transport in this hobby. 2 Midtown and Hyde Midtown were finished in 2019, and...

FEC ES44C4s roll by on my proto-freelance South Florida layout at Gold Coast Railroad Museum. After several months I am happy to say LEGO building on my end is expected to pick up. Keep in mind I will use only the parts I have on hand and do not plan to go out in the wild looking for parts. The following projects can be anticipated for the months leading up to the holidays, and future changeovers for my on loan display at Gold Coast Railroad Museum . (and very important contributions to the GFLUG NMRA 2017 display in Orlando, FL) List likely incomplete and subject to change. Town - all the exciting builds Pasión del Cielo Modular Building retrofit (2015) Pasión del Cielo Coffee Reboot The modular building that was built in 2013 was fitted with a PDC on the ground floor, but lost sections in the process (they went missing/dismantled). Thus, a decision was made to scrap the building altogether. The details were salvaged and belong on a standalone, which will likely sit ins...

The return of the academic year for me means the Holiday season is fast approaching. At this point in the year it is not too early, rather just right to begin conceiving how the annual Holiday display I do shall look this year. Past photos of the mostly suburban layout available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brickbuilder711/sets/72157637527799965/ This list of projects for the Fall-Winter is not limited to what's going under the tree but does set up well for that layout: Promenade resort and night club. The big centerpiece for the holiday display will be a beach resort with an outdoor version of a nightclub, probably similar in essence to LIV Miami. It will join a strip of a marina on the left side, hotel in the center, and lead to a beach on the right. The beach could be parallel to a double track section of LEGO track that turns around at the end. Similar in essence to Escambia Bay, FL or even stretches of the Pacific Surfliner. I even anticipate installing state of...

Just the fact that I live in Miami makes me look pretty meticulously at the Friends line. Even though I still stand without a single Friends set, I have already gotten a hold of pieces in Bright and dark Pink, Magenta, Medium Azure, and Medium Lavender. Just revealed and listed on Walmart's site is the 41035 Juice Bar . Just like the Heartlake City High, and I believe one or two other buildings, it is a set that I am looking at purchasing because it has just enough good pieces to offset the surplus of others. Features that add punch to this set (no pun intended) include: Flame Yellowish Orange basic brick; these parts are on my considerations list for future bulk, and as such since there isn't so many on this set or any set for that matter, I'll still do it but it's still at a noteworthy quantity in this set. The hue below it is classic orange which is welcome as well. Light (Cool) Yellow Baseplates - Two "Art Deco Curve Plates" and what look like a...