40034 Christmas Train

 

  • 40034 Christmas Train

    Posted by Huw, 21 Nov 2012 09:55. Filed under Pick of the week.

    40034 Christmas Train + 3The order I placed on Saturday, including 3300014, the 2012 Christmas set arrived yesterday, which I thought was a pretty decent delivery time, being next working day, particularly given it was dispatched from Zwolle in The Netherlands.

    Amongst my order was 40034 Christmas Train, which is a cute little set. It's interesting to note that the official photo omits the 2 x 2 round green plates on side of the engine.

    I can't say I'm overly impressed with the open front to the cab though, and one wagon isn't going to be enough to transport all the stuff Santa needs to bring to to my house, so I raided my spare parts boxes and added another three which makes it a far more respectable length.

    A fun set and a great 'stocking filler' even if it doesn't have the '16 silver wheels' the description at LEGO.com claims!

    Christmas train improve locoUpdate: Prompted by suggestions in the comments, here's an improved version of the loco: the side windows have been turned to the front thus enclosing it, and four 1 x 1 red bricks have been added to the sides.

    Now, I wonder if a black 2 x 4 curved slope would look better for the roof...?


    16 comments, latest one posted 7 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by Graysmith in Sweden, 21 Nov 2012 10:19

The official photo also omits the green chimney and definitely makes it look a lot less appealing than it really is. Given how inaccurate the "isolated on white" shot is, maybe you ought to change the primary image here on Brickset to the box (polybag) shot?

Anyway, very cute little set! Too bad LEGO.com doesn't offer any cheaper shipping for smaller orders.

Posted by CCC in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 10:20

This actually looks like a nice little train when extended. Concerning the open front, why not hang another 2x wide red window from the roof in the middle and turn the current side ones to face inwards. Or leave them as they are and have small side windows at the front too.

Posted by dcmal in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 10:28

This is the typo police. You wrote "300014". This is not correct. It should be "3300014". Please correct the typo immediately. I repeat: This is the typo police. You wrote "300014". This is not correct. ...

Posted by MorkMan in United States, 21 Nov 2012 10:50

If @dcmai is the Typo Police, then I am the Picture Police!
My Christmas Train doesn't have a cute bunny nor does it have four cars! What gives? Did you get a special Train with your order?

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 11:18

^^ It's a fair cop :-)

^ I just mentioned I was 'Huw from Brickset' when I ordered and they manufactured a special edition for me :-)

Posted by legokenny in United States, 21 Nov 2012 11:22

Huw,
I love your extended train! Could you please post the instructions? I would like to make one too!

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 11:26

Once you have the set you just repeat the wagon 4 times, adding a coupling to the back, it's not difficult!

Posted by CCC in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 12:04

That small change looks so much better. I wonder why the black piece is a plate lower, again one extra piece in there and it gives a more realistic appearance.

Posted by Andhe in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 12:24

^Following all the updates I was going to suggest the same! At what point is it no longer in the spirit of the original set though?

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 13:28

I quite like this little model, and it looks far better with your revised window structure in my view.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 14:21

^^ You're right, it is much better with an extra plate. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmillington/8206867006/in/photostream. I've swapped the roof and the 2x2 rounds for tiles, which aren't exactly common, it seems...

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 14:31

^ I am not so sure about the green tiles, they look a bit flat for me to be wreaths, but the roof looks much improved. I will make that change to my own set too I think.

Posted by atkinsar in United Kingdom, 21 Nov 2012 14:37

Love it Huw, I may have to copy, doubt I'll have the bricks spare so it's multiple set purchases for me!

Posted by Zordboy in Australia, 21 Nov 2012 18:17

Seriously, the train looks so brilliant with the extra 3 carriages. Darn it Lego, you missed out! Of course, if the actual set was that large, it probably wouldn't have been a Polybag set. But still, I love that.

Posted by RikTheVeggie in Canada, 21 Nov 2012 20:44

The train looks much nicer with extra carriages, darn you Huw! Guess we'll be ordering more sets for the parts or seeing what's available on the PaB wall.

Posted by jditoro3 in United States, 26 Nov 2012 14:18

Knowing I'd also be unsatisfied with with just one car, I bought 2 sets.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/113902067947273159093/albums/5815201474296175329

I made a small modification to the cab. I had solid pieces similar to the windows and used them in the back instead of 1x1s. I also added some extra red round 1x1 tiles to the center of the wreaths. Instead of just all cargo cars I created a caboose and made it somewhat symmetrical with the engine. Using the roof piece and the 2x2 humps. I also added on the rear bumper. Unfortunately I still needed extra couplings and I only had red. I also did not have any more gold grille pieces, but they didn't look good on the red anyway. I might swap out those black grilles with white.

edit: Also noticed in the pic that I left a hole at the rear bottom of the cab. I just filled that in with a vlack 1x2x1 Wall element.

Commenting has ended on this article.