Random set of the day: Track & Lighting Maintenance Wagon
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 7821 Track & Lighting Maintenance Wagon, released during 1983. It's one of 9 Trains sets produced that year. It contains 90 pieces and 2 minifigs.
It's owned by 824 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $156.50, or eBay.
75 likes
18 comments on this article
Good follow up to yesterday's Vintage set of the week.
You happy now @MCLegoboy?
Only 7867 left for a complete collection of the 1983 Train sets. Perhaps it will be tomorrow, giving these two something more to do.
This was a really cute little set.
One of the best things about a lot of the old Train sets is the lack of speciality pieces. Oh, sure, there are always going to be unique pieces that Lego doesn't make anymore (this style of wheels and buffers went the way of the dodo at the end of the 80s. Oh, and the signal mast, there, which Lego stopped making in 1996) ... but the point I'm making is that, once you have the instructions (which have been scanned online in multiple places, by this point), it's very easy to build these sets with new and modern pieces.
Plus, hell, it's Lego. You're not only allowed to improvise, but you're encouraged to do so.
And for me, that means these charming old sets aren't lost forever (or require remortgaging your house to afford one on the second-hand market).
I built one of these 7821 track maintenance vehicles, some years ago now, and it's a really lovely addition to my Lego railway.
@Maxbricks14 said:
"Good follow up to yesterday's Vintage set of the week.
You happy now @MCLegoboy"
No. My sigfig may be smiling, but I haven't been happy in years. I'm a LEGO Star Wars fan after all. ;)
Considering how frequently studs get attached to those lattice fence elements, that’s a connection type I did not expect to see.
@Zordboy said:
"Oh, and the signal mast, there, which Lego stopped making in 1996..."
I always wanted some of that piece.
Such an awesome vintage train set. Literally the epitome of a nice and cute Trains set. So hey, @LEGO… bring it back… sigh.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Zordboy said:
"Oh, and the signal mast, there, which Lego stopped making in 1996..."
I always wanted some of that piece.
"
I would be so happy if that piece would come back somehow. I'm pretty sure that it's removal is due to: if you played even mildly hard with your Lego, this piece would break. If that piece had any load-bearing, it would break, etc.
Today's random figure looks like the descendant of the figs in this set. Nice coinkydink.
And again I find myself thinking: TLG is really dropping the ball not putting out 'rail' sets of just rolling stock and such, like this set; something akin to how model railroad companies do it (all-in-ones, individual pieces, and so on). Closest thing to this we got recently, was that...cart-thing that came with 60469: Central Train Station.
I always like it, when LEGO offers affordable additions to larger sets. Especially in the train department would some rolling stock really be appreciated. How often do we get an expensive train with only one passenger car? And when you wanted another waggon, you'd have to buy the whole thing twice...
@Wallace_Brick_Designs said:
"Such an awesome vintage train set. Literally the epitome of a nice and cute Trains set. So hey, @LEGO … bring it back… sigh."
I'm guessing the City Train sets don't sell that well in order to justify it's own dedicated theme. I'm surprised LEGO hasn't done modern reboots of older Train sets like they've done with Space, Castle & Pirates. Especially since the older Train sets in good condition are very hard to find, not to mention how much they've appreciated. Like at least why not do modern version of 6399
The problem (train sets apparently do not set well) lies entirely with Lego. Nobody has any problem dropping $800-$900 on a Star Wars set. Nobody has a problem dropping $350-$450 on a castle sets even BDP with no printed instructions. But Lego has yet to reach the 21st century. If there is a motor (which cost them $0.50 after the manufacturer took a 100% margin) Lego thinks it should sell it $25.00 because it's 'technology' just like int The 60s. IMO, Lego train sets should be about 0.10 a part plus about $15 for the electric components. For 60470 that is $151.70 + $15.00 = $167. Let's say $170. For 60508 that is $131.30 + $15.00 = 146.30 let's say $150.00. At those prices, they would sell very well. Lego has always charged 'retarded' prices for either electric or electronic parts. In the 21st century, everyone knows you can get a raspberry (which is a completely functional computer) for $35. Lego train sets are just extremelly bad values. People buy them just because they are starved (for no good reasons).
It’s a cute set sure but all I can think while looking at it is “no gloves, no goggles, no harness while working at height…who wrote the safety briefing for this!”
It’s the tiny number of colours in the palette, coupled with the ubiquitous smiley face on every yellow minifig which makes all these 1980s sets so appealing. You could recapture that vibe, but today the feeling tends to be that buyers want more colours, a variety of minifig expressions and skin tones, and above all lots and lots of snot adding weight and cost to the sets. And judging from the nonsensical prices being charged for current sets - which fans are still queueing up to buy - who is to say that view is the wrong one?
I love this model and I miss the simplicity and charm of the sets of this era. But times change :-)
Cool and quite realistic looking wagon.....kinda weird name. From up there, it's quite hard to do maintenance on the track. And how many lights are there within reach from the track?
But I guess that made more sense than doing maintenance on imaginary catenary....
It's for changing the bulbs in 7860.
A few years earlier 7777 had a design for a very similar wagon, using Technic plates to support the platform. That's also straightforward to build using current parts.
@HOBBES said:
"The problem (train sets apparently do not set well) lies entirely with Lego. Nobody has any problem dropping $800-$900 on a Star Wars set. Nobody has a problem dropping $350-$450 on a castle sets even BDP with no printed instructions. But Lego has yet to reach the 21st century. If there is a motor (which cost them $0.50 after the manufacturer took a 100% margin) Lego thinks it should sell it $25.00 because it's 'technology' just like int The 60s."
They lost money on the micromotor. And by that I mean that when you bought one from them, you were paying less at MSRP than they paid to produce the component in the first place.