Building an RC Lego train that cats can ride in with 3D printed rails and wheels. My 2 cats Cookie and Muffin are tired of walking, they’d rather travel by Lego train.
Lego isn't designed for building a large train that can carry cats because it lacks large wheels and rails for smooth movement. To solve this, 3D printing was used to create these parts. The rail switches use magnets or rubber for automatic changing. The bogies have a suspension system to handle uneven tracks and curve tilts, with each wheel powered by a strong, compact Lego L motor. The axles are made of aluminium to avoid bending under the weight.
The bogies feature an automatic coupling system like those in American trains, which can be opened using air pressure.
The train's frame is flexible and only sturdy when combined with the outer shell, it keeps the train low for easy boarding. This frame also contains pipes for door operation and coupling, along with wiring for non-Lego LED lights.
The train is powered by 3 Lego Powered Up hubs, allowing for extra sensors to automate the train further.
The carriages are designed like trams, the only type suitable for transporting cats, as the cat's weight helps with wheel-rail friction. A standard locomotive would need to be very heavy to pull cat-filled carriages.
The train has an open roof for quick cat exits.
Programming was done with the Lego Powered Up app, enabling light color changes with direction and control over pneumatic valves through servos.
I introduced the cats gradually to the train to make sure they aren’t scared of it.
Chapters:
00:00 Sizing
00:50 Wheels
02:37 Coupling
04:25 Frame
05:08 Motors
06:13 Pneumatic
07:06 Lighting
07:57 Shell
09:10 App
09:57 Test Drive
11:23 Introduction Cats
12:28 Cats in Train
App for train control: Lego Powered Up
Lego Pneumatic parts from www.greengeckoworkshop.com
Lego metal axles: metal-technic-parts.com/colle...
Electric Bricks: brixotoyz.com/
3D Printer: eu.store.bambulab.com/product...
Modelling Software: www.shapr3d.com/
Filament Wheels: amzn.to/3P2SQKN
Filament Tracks: amzn.to/3P476mo
Filament Sleepers: amzn.to/3v0GITC
Please note: I get a commission if you buy via Amazon link above. Thanks for your support.
Where I get my Lego parts from: www.bricklink.com/v2/main.page
Music:
Geographer - Arpeggisynth
The Green Orbs - Snack Time
#bricktechnology
#legotechnic
#lego
#asmr
#engineering
#legotrain
#train
#cats
Thank you so much for all the positive vibes in the comments! I've never seen so much support on one of my videos before, and it means a lot to me. Let me address some common questions: This project has been the most challenging and intense video I've ever tackled. It took a solid two months to bring this video to life, with the first month entirely devoted to designing and perfecting the train. The concept for the train tracks was actually brainstormed by my friend Thomas. The printing process itself took another two months, with my two Bambulab printers running all the time. These machines are incredible and were key to finishing the tracks on time, unlike most printers, which just can't keep up. I considered using Lego tracks, but the cost would have been astronomical-nearly 10 times more than my 3D printed version. Plus, I wouldn't have been able to customize the tracks as I did. Lego is always making new parts, so I figured, why not do the same? I'd really like to share the STL files for the tracks and wheels with you all. However, I'm hesitant for two reasons: Firstly, there's the issue of people selling STL files they don't own, which I want to avoid. Secondly, these files aren't ready to use right off the printer; they require significant adjustments, especially the switch tracks, and unfortunately, I just don't have the time to make them user-friendly. As for the cost of this video, it's a bit tricky to calculate since I used a lot of parts from my existing Lego collection and already owned one of the printers. But to give you an idea: - additional Bambulab P1S Printer: 750 Euro - 3D Printing Filament (18Kg): Around 250 Euro - Electronics: 100 Euro - Lego Parts from Bricklink: 600 Euro Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to the electric bill. Overall, I invested about 1700 Euro into this project, without any guarantee that my cats would even be interested in the train. Getting my cats accustomed to the train was probably the toughest part. They're naturally curious and playful, but anything new and moving can spook them. We took it slow, introducing the train in the living room and making it a cozy spot for them by playing nearby and offering treats only around or inside the train. Filming the train scenes took a whole week. There were times when the cats weren't feeling it, and other times they loved it but the footage didn't turn out. It was definitely a challenge, but our top priority was making sure the cats were having fun. This would’t have been possible without my fiancee. Regarding inspiration, while I admire “Half-Asleep Chris” and his work, this video has been in the pipeline for nearly a year, with the initial track designs starting in May 2023, well before Chris's puppy train video. I'm a big fan of his, but our approaches to Lego builds are quite different. That said, a video by “Target86 Design” did spark the idea for this train project. Check it out: kzhead.info/sun/gL6phreDnnl8iaM/bejne.html A project like this is always a gamble, not knowing if the time and money invested will pay off. But fulfilling this childhood dream for myself and sharing it with others has been incredibly rewarding. I've never enjoyed making a video as much as this one. I love trains, I love lego and I love cats.
this is probably one of my favourite videos from this channel, you are amazing
It was super entertaining to watch to say the least!
Hope you make the investment back!
Is that end quote mine? Probably not since my comment has no likes, but it's a funny coincidence. 😄
Your editing and comedic timing is amazing, great vid !
I am particularly impressed that you invested such an enormous amount of time, money, and engineering into something based almost entirely on whether or not a cat would like it.
Cats have been training humans to do their bidding for centuries. These cats have clearly got this down to a fine art.
Fuzzy my 30 lb Maine Coon she's absolutely massive she's actually 3 1/2 lbs underweight but she seems to like that way because she's been pretty consistently that late with plenty of food to eat for almost 7 years so none of us are complaining either way she absolutely loves when I build her crazy wacky shit kind of like this guy in this video except I made a actually good trained not one that's made out of crappy Legos personally I prefer 027 gauge American steam trains and have built custom carriages for my cat considering it is about 14 acres of track going around my 42 Acres of property she likes it to travel to specific locations and I have set up Raspberry pies to turn it into automated Precision scheduled railroading for my cat you don't even want to know how much money or time it took to do that and remember we do not own cats they decide to own us
Kren banget nih
yeah, that like, never happens
It was based on us liking it.
i think we can all agree that the cats were just an excuse for him to build this mechanical masterpiece?
No the masterpiece was an excuse so he could put his cats in a video :]
@@Astropinical anything for the cars
Agreed
well, Half-asleep chris did almost the same with his puppy Masie
Yup
as an engineering student, this is literally the easiest time I have ever ha understanding how coupling works, and I've had a class on that before, big compliment!
The pneumatic door mechanism.. The auto-coupling. Marvelous! Just marvelous!
Lmao the squared section for radius testings 😂
Ikr 😂
That was so unexpected😂
fr
I like to imagine that it somehow made the turn
@@Confusedengineer-qw5tn ye
Building the things, 2 weeks. Convincing the cats inside, 2 years. Well done sir!
Building took actually a month😂
@@BrickTechnology So convincing the cats took one decade?
@@Utka_Ivanov 5 decades
twist turn: earning shitloads of youtube money.
@@BrickTechnologybro are u German? Cause those cats look like there are from Germany 😅
Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing enough when I see extremely talented individuals like yourself
you are
Ask your cats. That is the only way to know.... 😂
Imma be the 100th like 👍
Comparison is the thief of joy my friend. Yes, we could all be doing a little better in some way or another, but we can't all be this guy, lol. Just do what you do and do it the best you can. That's all anyone can ask of you!
Sometimes you have to build a modern marvel of Lego engineering so you can watch your cat riding around in a train. Your kitties deserve the experience, people.
Combining 3D printing and lego has always been a genius idea. It can just bridge the gap of "there should be a part for this"
So i can make a purple 3d 40 tooth gear
exactly@@OverTheHorizon840
combining lego and cardboard is more genius :D
old man does Childs things. why always old man running all the fun...
Yup @@OverTheHorizon840
Did i just watch railway engineering disguised as lego with cats? I am very much not complaining.
1k likes and no replies? lemme fix that
After watching I learned more than after 4 years in university. Would really helped me back then when I joined heavy duty manufacturing company
Some behavioral science too lol
❤@@robertnomok9750
German engineering at its best😻 Will cats ever enjoy train rides? Only if there is a hand coming down from the sky feeding them treats 3x/meter😹
Kommt er aus Deutschland?
@@davidjones-bh5xgja, kannst einfach auf channel info gehen, da wird das Land unten angezeigt.
Ich denke dass die Straßenbahn wohl aus Züricher Straßenbahn ähnelt. 😂😊
The automated bribery machine was truly a work of art... everything about this is amazing!
I am usually impressed by the amount of engineering that goes in your contraptions, but the patience needed to get cats to do anything is even more astonishing. You're an awesome cat parent.
Knowing cats, the “marketing” section probably took multiple weeks…
@@mirabilosExactly, Accurately
i like the number of problems he solved including getting cats to willingly ride it.
Oh, definitely. I bet he condensed days of convincing the cats to trust and ride his invention in just a few seconds of video, and even then the tan one only stayed as long as he got treats. That's life with cats for ya.
It's called being a cat "owner". No, you don't get away with having the title of "parent" by just owning pets.
Cats: if you want us in your video.. it will cost you! Best snack that you can find every 5 seconds. They are true business cats.
If you are good at something. Never do it for free
Hilarious comment lol
theyre taking bribes, most corrupt cats in the world.
What a masterpiece! Came for the cats, stayed for the engineering
Thank you KZhead for recommending me this video out of the blue, this is sick. I didn’t come in expecting it but I have a great appreciation for all the technical aspects of your design. When you added the suspension I very quickly realized you weren’t just making some simple toy train lol
As a train nerd, I am Extremely impressed of how accurate your train is to a real life railway system
4:51
yea same. so accurate it makes me happy
Are you that guy from ASDF movie??
Which kind of train is your fav i like the steam driven ones i just like the way they work you know😊
@@catlover--w-- I agree they are cool 😊
Everything about this is amazing The 3d printing ingenuity, the technical accuracy of how a train works, the fact it's built for a cat, the tram like looks... I am astonished.
I know. So much work
Imagine if this was a real lego Product
all that work that went into one and then hes just like: oh yeah i built two btw
This L.E.G.O. train looks serene for a cat. 이 L.E.G.O. 고양이에게 기차는 고요해 보인다.
All of this was magic, but when you made the automatic treat dispenser i said “this person is a GENIUS”
i swear, when cats are content with their owners, they can be one of the cutest mammals of all time...
Is no one talking about the fact that he has his cats faces on his socks? Truly incredible
I did not realized that 😂
LoL Yeah, I noticed that. I said to myself, "Of course! Cat socks. The next evolution is a cat train! Makes sense!" 🙂
Came looking for this exact comment.
The first minutes I was "OK, nice". Then I saw the coupling mechanism and was blown away (and continued to be so).
The engineering behind this is next level. But the greatest part was how you looked after the animals by letting them get used to it over time. GG
I love the white cat's "wait you can do that?!" reaction at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="765">12:45</a>
Never thought I would ever watch cats train their human to build them a train and feed them while riding it, what clever creatures they are !
we're basically cats' version of chatgpt.
Catgpt ?
Humans were made to be more intelligent, so they could entertain cats better
Im impressed by the amount of research you did. Your solution to coupling, decoupling, and making sure drawbars are aligned was clever. As a freight conductor, I know all too well how important it is make sure drawbars are aligned and cars are coupled. It is very easy for things to go very wrong if you aren’t paying attention. Well done.
Hear hear! It is amazing! Who knew: Cats- the great motivators.
What books would one read to learn this stuff?
😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😮😮😮😮😮😊😊😊😊😊😮😮😮🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😢😢😢😢
@@MichaelSchwagerPlace😮😮😮😮😮
It is impressive that you made your cats ride Lego trains, but even more impressive that you made me enjoy a cat video!
This video can be used to teach about railway engineering too... Such a masterpiece 👏
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="300">5:00</a> i really freaking love your sense of humor.
Underrated comment
That rapid cut just killed me.
I laughed so freaking hard
6:35 Also
Huge respect to this guy for putting marker lights on. Such an unknown but important feature of trains across the world.
Nice I'm also a railfan
A what?
@@Joshuas_Railfanning same :D
Huh? Unknown? A train having tail lights is as normal as a train having headlights. At least for passenger trains. I’m pretty sure everyone assumes that trains have both lights without much thought.
@@bahnspotterEU there not called tail lights. Marker lights are the FRAs officially term.
the kitty express brightened my day. adorable
Maybe the key to getting kitties ready for train rides is a roomba or attaching several boxes by string and manually dragging the boxes with the kitties through the house.
The fact 3D printing is now cheaper than Lego is amazing. Cat were so cute even if it took bribery to get them to ride.
I just… I can’t believe it. You invested 2000 bucks, so much time, energy and money. This was a joy ride from beginning to the end. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for your donation :)
@@BrickTechnologyi cant donat money becuase im broke😂😂😂
@@user-yw1vi4um9zthen why do you have to laugh?
Idk😅😅😅😅@@elephantlover699
😅😅😅😅😅ldk@@elephantlover699
You are an amazing cat-dad, and a fantastic railway engineer. And your socks with cats are the best! It's great to see that also men can love cats like you do. Cats rule! 🐈🐱🐈🐱
This was fascinating to watch. The cats are adorable, but in the end, you had to have known the outcome to your laborious endeavor. Incredibly engaging to watch and you make complex engineering look easy, lol.
I think this has every chance of becoming an entirely new category of lego model trains. The engineering with the suspension and air systems is insane. And given its original purpose, I think it's only fitting it be known as C scale.
Can you make one for children
that right angle rail turn smash cut killed me xD
Me too, lol 😂
and the passengers as well
I laughed out loud at that
Oh yeah I got a good laugh out of that.
No passengers, just collateral damage after dumb idea testing @@Suppenfischeintopf
best part of the video was the cats. literally own a cat yet I'm still in awe of these 2 furry fellas
Given how chill those tail twitches were, this is not the first time your cats have been used to test your constructs
The cut from simple railcar to incredibly complicated suspension at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="140">2:20</a> is great
The fact that you made one of these trains is insanely impressive but the fact that you also made a second train is just completely Incredible
I don’t think the second one had the transmission
My daughter is just about to go to college to study Mechanical Engineering at Purdue. She will love this! (we have 3 cats).
These cats are amazing as well! My cat would run right out of the room the moment the train moves, even if he isn't inside!
As a train mechanic who just finished their education on train components. Its very fun and interesting to see a lot of components and features we learn about in our education made from lego. Its so interesting to see how you tackled making the components and make them work just like a real train, like your couplings and bogies were nearly on point! The electrical and pneumatic systems were used for the correct components as well which I found very nice to see. All in all for someone who I assume did not take a 1,5 year cource on train mechanics, you did a fantastic job recreating one. For lego this is a technical masterpiece!
And automatic feeding chambers are just like in real trains.
Cute cats ✅ Cool train engineering ✅ 3D Printing✅ Legos✅
Legos ❌ Lego ✅
@@albondI (incorrectly) assumed you were wrong, surely the plural form must be 'LEGOS' not 'LEGO'. So I Googled it...and this came up: "The plural form Legos is chiefly American. Other regions tend to use Lego as a mass noun, and refer to Lego bricks and Lego sets." 😂 It's always an awkward but funny thing when you think you're gonna prove someone else wrong, but prove yourself wrong. 😂 I don't understand why American spellings are so different. It's not the first time we (The US) took something that wasn't ours and made it our own (ruined it). 🫢😬
@@montialarson Yeah I don't understand it either. As a non-American I can't stand "Legos"
Amazing,! He literally thought of everything. Knowledge became idea became project became work of art. Completely blown away at not just your filming and editing , but also your pure creative talent. I’m 56 years old and love Lego, but this is way beyond anything I’ve done. Excellent video! Immediate subscriber!
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="308">5:08</a> - Hahaha Gotta say, I've always gotten a kick out of how much this channel does with so little. No music, no talking, not gimmicks...good stuff, man.
I was like: “wait, a 90 degree square curve?”
@@NascarF1_driver 🤣
Agreed!
exactly its great
Bruh
Well made would be understatement Beautifully well engineered suits it better
Can we also appreciate how LONG that 3D printing would have taken
My first thought was "I want that for my cats" but then remembered that I don't have a 3D printer, and that my cats weigh at least double of yours (the smallest weighs around 7kg). I am impressed how willing your cats were to partake in your shenanigans
Are you sure what you feed is a cat?
You could use online 3D printing services.
I have a cat that’s close to 13kg, Maine Coon
You can still make a train for your cat with only Lego parts.
Cat love box
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="308">5:08</a> that was damn unexpected and hilarious. Love how there’s always a bit of comedy in all of your videos, but this one really caught me off guard.
Yeah that joke was so well done it had me in stitches
The fact that he tired it, even for a gag, is just so funny to me
The minecraft minecart rail test
Im dying 😂
one of your best videos to date. when you build all the little compartments i became very happy. insanely good and (i presume) pretty accurate design of how the train works in real life. also really loved the way the door slammed open
Blew my mind when I just spent so much time watching it be built and another one just pops up out of nowhere. Awesome job dude!
Dude, you can't have the most wholesome video on the planet for 12 minutes and THEN drop the cat feeder on me... I'm in tears, laughing 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Under the "marketing" banner too!
Engineering, cats, trains and lego all in video? you win. That's all I've ever wanted from youtube.
There needs to be a youtube-essence award for that
Such dedication and meticulous attention to details is impressive and inspiring but the big takeaway for me is how much you love those cats. What a great life you all share. ❤
Man im super impressed by your knowledge and commitment. I would probably quit half way through with "yah i need to fix how to make the coupling bend but also rigid to able to couple and bend in curves. Oh well there is a new series in Netflix i want to watch".
thats the dream of everyone, who had a lego train set! building your own train with your own mechanism, in a way bigger scale and as large as possible
...and with cats!
The right angle jumpscare at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="308">5:08</a> was very good
Idk how but that scared me
If I spent that long building something for my cat, I'd tape the little bugger to it if I had to!
My man!
I love your cats, I love your builds, I love your editing, and I love your little note at the end too. Oh my god. This fills me with determination. I haven't had this much serotonin in years.
As someone who works on the railway for a living. I got to say I am truly impressed how accurate you got to the real thing using lego and 3d printing. The coupling in its basic functionality is spot on how the real one works!
Train enthusiasts 🤝 cat enthusiasts
This train reminds me of Tatra T1 tram
Do you like trains? Do you like cats? Then the magazine "cats and trains" will suit you 😂😂😂
I am both!
I've seen cats enjoy riding on robot vacuums cleaners which move a lot more random and is a lot more noisy. So i think that Cat Train is the future.
As a real train engineer working in Spain, I must say, this is co close to how train systems work in real life. And the cats are adorable. Well done
Lol, I appreciate them not forcing the cats onto the train and instead giving them an incentive to get in.
No
@@That-fallout-fan Yes
That is the only way to get them in, you can't just put them in, they're cats.
@@TrioLOLGamers well if it had a roof, and they left the snack dispenser inside AND closed the door. Cat doesn't have choice but to enjoy snacks for 4 mins
Until a few minutes ago, I was the best cat dad around. Need to stop letting the cats watch these. Great job enjoyed the video.
As a dude who loves trains, you explained railroading history in one go Edit: CUTENESS OVERLOAD!
This is a tremendous achievement of Lego engineering, 3D printing, programming, pneumatics and electronics. However, my main reaction is OH MY GOD YOUR CATS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. They are obviously very much loved and well cared for! My own cat used to enjoy going for rides on the kitchen trolley so it's possible he would have been readier to use your train. When my niece visited I sat him on the trolley and she pushed him respectfully up and down the hall.
This right here ticks all the box for a KZhead video. From the creative perspective, knowledge perspective, technical and mechnical perspective, it just has everything. This person is so fortunate to have these 2 feline creatures inspire him to make them a lego train
Plus: CATS! :)
@@romibodoni The most important parts ❤️
Video title: silly train for kitty! Video content: engineering masterpiece
These train staff are notorious for being demanding: more rest breaks, higher pay, more treats...
Hahaha. Cookie is all like "I have no idea why I'm getting constantly fed snacks right now, but I approve!" At the end 😂. Such cuties both of them.
Showing this to kids I'm school could spark the engineering gene for many boys and girls - great video.
Engineering is fun, and fun to watch others do it! The cats will appreciate this..one day. Or not. Either way, terrific!
I love how adding the box made the trains significantly more attractive to them 😂 Also love the cat socks and how your cats are on them!
As a Train fan, someone who is a volunteer trolley/tram operator irl, as well as a lego aficionado and cat person, this is truly amazing!!! This is the most realistic functioning lego train (or trolley or tram) I've ever seen! From the couplers, to the suspensions on the trucks, to the pneumatics, this is truly an amazing lego model! Well done!!!
Incredible how all the engineering, time, and money that takes place in a machinery to make sure that is functioning perfectly, just to be destroyed by the entropy of users
As a cat owner myself, these cats responded exactly how i thought they would
I'm a railway engineer, and this was incredible to see. You nailed it. It's amazing I love everything about it.
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="806">13:26</a> Derailed, passenger escapes through the roof.
I am blown away by the shire workman ship like this is crazy impressive like I have a whole new appreciation for engineering
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="720">12:00</a> WOW I live it , great project,😂😂😂😂👏👏👏
The coupling design was incredible to see working and the design. The right-angle track made me snort so loud I think my neighbor heard me. Such a cool concept to include the wheel design and suspension in a method and way that allows for the system to still keep a balanced load while going around turns and coming up to or coming down from speed. A great design all around, and the cats got extra treats!
Ah, I love it. The dedication you put into this is truly commendable. When you asked "will cats ever enjoy train rides", my first though was "well, with constant bribery..."
I am mesmerized! I was not expecting such intense detail. I thought it was just gonna be some Legos but the engineering down to motors and lighting. This so cool! Also that sudden right angle track and the cut had me laughing.
I love the way you introduce a problem and then a solution.
Never thought I would see cats, 3D printing, and Lego trains in one video
No animals were harmed in the making of this film. And also, everything about it is just brilliant!
This is so incredibly impressive! Not only the engineering but the fact the cats even got close to something that loud lol!!
Amazing. He didn't just make "a platform on wheels", he made *A TRAIN.*
What you could do (especially considering these look and function like trams) is install a small bell that rings when cat treats are dispensed. That way the cats would recognise the bell as giving out treats in the tram and then board.
These two cats managed to convince their owner to build a working tram. Cats never cease to amaze.
I have never done this, but this video made me laugh and smile! Thank you Brick for always making great content😊
Thanks for the donation, happy I could make you happy:)
😂😂😂😊😊
i was already blown away with one tram... BUT TWO?!?!?
Well, the next step is obviously to build a fully functional motorized LEGO cat with hydraulically activated paws and claws 😂
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="623">10:23</a> - Everdell spotted! Such a great tabletop game 😃
It’s astounding how close much of the functionality of the Lego train is to how a full size one works. You’ve done a fantastic job.