New Lego Train Buffers verses Old Lego Train Buffers by BrickTrainShop
magnets, are now available from the LEGO Shop atHome online Pick-a-Brick assortment. BrickTrainShop has
compared the performance of these new buffers with
the previous generation of magnetic buffers. One of
the appealing features of the new magnets is their
attraction power. Initial tests showed that the new
magnets are much stronger, most likely due to their
need to attract through plastic.
The new buffer design features studs on the upper
and lower faces of the plastic enclosure holding the
magnet. This offers at least one significant enhancement
over the previous design: a 1x2 tile or plate can
be used to connect two buffers together semi-permanently.
This permits a very strong connection between
the buffers. Builders can now construct long
and heavy trains without having to worry about the
buffers not holding the train together.
For this application, 1x2 tiles offer better clearance
than 1x2 plates. The connection between the buffers
will be much stronger if tiles are used to connect the
studs on both the upper and lower faces of the magnet
enclosures as shown in the photos. In testing, buffers
connected this way performed exactly like standard
buffers and saw no performance degradation of
any kind.
The old magnetic buffers could easily couple to buffers
with a 1-plate vertical offset. This becomes less
of a possibility for the new design. The new buffer
mechanism does permit limited rotation up or down;
this allows the buffers to maintain a solid connection
even as the train travels over uneven trackage. The
limited rotation is not quite enough for a new buffer
to couple with another buffer with a 1-plate vertical
offset. It can be done, as shown in the picture. However,
in this case the magnetic couplers do not contact
each other perfectly. As a result, the wheels of
the trucks can lift off the rails slightly, increasing the
possibility for derailment, especially if the tile connection
technique is used to hold the buffers together.
The new buffers should only be coupled to buffers at
the same height if possible. When used this way, the
performance of the new buffers is entirely satisfactory,
and the new buffers do an excellent job coupling
to old-style buffers as well.
The studs on the new buffers offer new possibilities
for builders to take advantage of. Perhaps a new decoupling
mechanism can be designed, or steam line
connections between cars could be simulated. If you
have a great idea for the new buffers, be sure to write
customerservice@bricktrainshop.com and let us know!
As always remember to stay clear of the Deceptive Advertisements for the Enlighten Bricks as these are not Lego they are fakes and its plain fraud out of China.