HoMa's World of Bricks

Modelmaking with LEGO

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Fresh off the press: the covers of my book »LEGO®-Eisenbahnwelt«

»The star on every carpet-train in children's room«: Holger Matthes on his passion for LEGO^®

On the occasion of the Maker Faire 2023 in Hanover and the dpunkt.verlag's e-book campaign, Corina Pahrmann from dpunkt.verlag spoke to me about my early passion for the LEGO trains, the gray era, the search for building ideas and the passion for collecting LEGO sets.

An interview (sorry, only available in German).

New book: LEGO-Eisenbahnwelt (cover image)

Rediscover childhood memories!

In autumn 2022, my second book entitled LEGO^®-Eisenbahnwelt: Die 80er Jahre: Modelle – Landschaften – Sets (LEGO® Train World: The 80s: Models – Landscapes – Sets) was published by dpunkt.verlag.

About the book:

Everything about the legendary LEGO train series of the 80s.
Detailed panoramic photos of LEGO train landscapes and sceneries
Building instructions for models in the style of the time, also for the current Powered UP system
All sets of the "Grey Era" of the 80s: Info, minifigures, tips

You played with a LEGO trains in the 80s? In this book you will meet your set from back then again! I describe all LEGO train sets of that time and take you into the world of trains and minifigures with large-format panoramic views of LEGO train dioramas.

Building instructions for your own new models in the style of the "Grey Era" inspire you to build them yourself; among them are models that integrate LEGO's latest powered-up motors with Bluetooth control. By the way, such models also run on the current tracks - driving fun for young and old is guaranteed.

Collectors of the sets of the legendary "Grey Era", named after the colour of the tracks, will refer to the book with its detailed list of all sets of the time and lots of background information as a reference.

The book is published in German, but contains many pictures and photos and is easy to read. And maybe there will be another English translation soon?

Further information about this book: LEGO^®-Eisenbahnwelt: Die 80er Jahre: Modelle – Landschaften – Sets
Go to Parts lists for models from the book
The book at dpunkt.verlag (no affiliate link)
The book at amazon.de (no affiliate link)

Loading the inland vessel

12 Volt MOC: River Port

My entry for Brick Train Awards 2022 in the "Best Group or Individual Display" category.

An inland river port with container and bulkload cranes, a chemical plant and old and new buildings in the classic style of the "Grey Era". The small locomotives are driven by mini motors and a Bluetooth hub from circuitcubes.com. The stationary decoupling unit and the mini turntable are powered by old 12 Volt Technic motors which are hidden underneath the platform.

Go to 12 Volt River Port

Vollert Robot DER 100 „Leonhard Weiss“

As part of the OcTRAINber 2021 "Critters" competition, I have created a remote-controlled LEGO model of the Vollert Robot DER 100 "Leonhard Weiss" robot locomotive.

A building instruction is available for free.

Go to Vollert Robot DER 100 „Leonhard Weiss“

21046 Empire State Building with light kit from Lightailing

Empire State Building with light kit from Lightailing

The Empire State Building shines in a new light with lights from www.lightailing.com.

Go to Empire State Building with light kit from Lightailing

Ballbearings for LEGO train wheels

Adding MR52-2Z / MR52-ZZ ball bearings to LEGO train wheels to reduce rolling resistance of my LEGO MOC trains.

Further information and video about Ballbearings for LEGO train wheels

Small electric locomotive in orange

12 Volt Trains

The small electric locomotive now in orange. The orange train door came in set #60195 or #60258 and here it doesn't matter that the door is only available as 'left door'.

Go to 12 Volt Trains
Go to 12 Volt Roundhouse „Bamberg“ with remote controlled turntable

LEGO sorting units

Storage solutions: HoMa on brickset.com

Huw from brickset.com publishs inside stories of LEGO rooms and sorting concepts of various LEGO fans. On Mai, 18th 2020 my LEGO room was featured.

Go to Storage solutions: HoMa on brickset.com

Building instructions for the TEE nose

The Trans Europ Express, Two Versions of the Iconic Train in LEGO

Enrico Lussi encouraged me to help with an article about our VT 11.5 TEE MOCs on BrickModelRailroader.

As little extra I made a building instruction for the complex nose of my VT 11.5 TEE.

Read the full article at brickmodelrailroader.com

Overview of the Collaboration Train Layout

LEGO Collaboration Train Layout at Bricking Bavaria 2019 in Fürth/Germany on more then 60 qm.

Go to report and videos

2^nd edition of my LEGO train book

The 2^nd edition of my book „LEGO^® Eisenbahn – Konzepte and Techniken für realistische Modelle“ was published.

Expanded and updated content:

Powered-Up system
Expanded overview of third party products
Design process of the VT 11.5 Trans Europ Express (TEE)
New preface for the 2^nd edition
New front cover image
ISBN number: 978-3-86490-641-1

Further information about this book: LEGO^® Eisenbahn – Konzepte and Techniken für realistische Modelle
The book at dpunkt.verlag

TrixBrix R104 switch

Third party track and switches

Track and switches by third party suppliers – an (incomplete) overview

Go to Third Party Supplier

VT 11.5 Trans Europ Express (TEE) as LEGO MOC

VT 11.5 Trans Europ Express (TEE)

The famous diesel multiple unit VT 11.5 Trans Europ Express (TEE) as LEGO train MOC.

Go to VT 11.5 Trans Europ Express (TEE)

English version of my LEGO Trains book

THE LEGO^® TRAINS BOOK

The US-based publishher No Starch Press released THE LEGO^® TRAINS BOOK as translation of my book LEGO^® Eisenbahn – Konzepte and Techniken für realistische Modelle in October 2017.

Go to LEGO TRAINS BOOK on www.nostarch.com/legotrains
Review on Brick Model Railroader
Review on Brickset
Review on BricksFanz
Review on HispaBrick Magazine

Based on the English version futher translations showed up on various markets, e.g. Spain, Italy and Russia. Also, a Chinese version is available as direct translation from the German original version.