Lego TTGX Bi-Level Autorack Car
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October 2004
chrisdigo at sbcglobal dot net


Introduction:
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I wanted to design a minifig scale car carrier wagon, this for many reasons:

- There are only a few car carrier wagon MOCs
- Wagons this type are passing by my neihborhood almost daily and
- I find this kind of wagon great looking.

I choose for model a TTGX Bi-Level Autorack Car.


My Restricted Specifications:
-----------------------------

Before the conception, I wanted the car to have these specifications:

- 6 wide studs
- Carrying 4 wide studs cars on two levels
- The carried cars had to be classic decent cars like sets 6623 or 6633 
  not mini-cars "Go-Kart" sets like 2535 or 1631.


Building Process:
-----------------

I knew I had to use small train wheels (2927) for exemple, from set
4546 rather than regular train wheels (2878c01) from set 4512 thus 
to lower a maximum the wagon.

Since the wagon had to be lowered at a maximum, I didn't want to use 
the Train Baseplate 6 x 28 (4093) since it's nearly 2/3 high. 
Instead I went for a 6 x 24 plate (3334) even though it is shorter.

The main problem came with the doors of the cars (3822, 3821). 
The handle door makes the car a little more than 4 stud wide. 
Thus, I had to use some Panels 1 x 2 x 2 (4864) in order to get
the car enter inside the wagon. 

I wanted to use more siding plates, but the use of Panels 1 x 2 x 2 
limits the use of Brick 1 x 1 with Headlight (4070) for the siding
plates. This is kinda unfortunate.


Final Dimensions:
-----------------

- Carried cars are 4 2/3 studs high
- Each level of the wagon is 5 1/3 studs high
- Total height of the wagon is 14 studs high
- Total lenght of the wagon is 26 studs.


Real life Pictures:
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www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=72600

www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=64981

www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=57070


Manufacturer Specifications:
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www.ttx.com/ttxdb/detailallcar.asp?Recordsetallcars_Action=Find('ID','410')&Recordsetallcars_Position=FIL%3AORD%3AABS%3A43KEY%3A410PAR%3A