MOC-89126 Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy

I am very pleased with this set, especially with it’s aesthetics, however I have some gripes that I will list below:
1. Some pieces were missing. I was able to substitute with pieces I owned, but it should be noted that some pieces may be missing from the box. I don’t need these to be sent to me, because I already substituted them and I don’t mind it too much.
2. The tolerances on some pieces is too loose, and some of the pieces have slight curvature (mainly the larger plates). This issue can be dealt with and isn’t a dealbreaker either.
3. For whatever reason, my motors were the opposite polarity of each other, so placing them on the same spot on the IR receiver made them work against each other. This was a simple fix; I just placed them on different spots on the receiver. You could also open up the motor and swap the polarities if you are able, but I don’t recommend it unless you absolutely know what you are doing.

Outside of these relatively minor gripes, I have no issues with the set. It looks amazing and functions well. I can’t give it a perfect review, but I do highly recommend it for the price (especially with the discounts LesDiy provides). I also received a nice LesDiy tote bag as well as a set of MOC tools, such as a stud extractor/brick remover, rubber-tipped pliers, and a measuring space for bricks, axles, and Technic Bars. Great value, and a great week-long project.

The model itself is an awesome display piece, but I would not recommend it for handling or running on a layout. Parts are super fragile and come off very easy, can be very difficult to get the wheels all lined on a track together. Also is near impossible to pickup the whole thing without another person to help or you will lose parts. It does run around normal Lego track but it certainly struggles and is extremely slow.

The only other major concern is the packaging. All the parts come unsorted in various bags. I spent about 2 hours sorting out the parts prior to the actual build. The build itself probably took around 8-10 hours and was pretty enjoyable.

Great experience to build this model, but I have some troubles:
- the 2 two motor carriages were working against each other (resolved by just mirroring the front carriage when building it)
- some pieces were a little too loose to stay in place

On the positive side:
- instruction were easy to follow
- great look

Now, I have to buy tracks with a greater turning circle than the lego one (it's too small and don't look great when running ^^).

The logistics is a bit slow, but the assembly process meets my requirements for the MOC train model

The "Big Boy" is the largest and most powerful steam locomotive ever built.The instructions were all correct and clear and everything went together well. The model is highly details with lots of small parts to be as accurate as possible with a brick-based model kit. I actually assembled this steam locomotive kit while riding on the Amtrak Texas Eagle train ride from LA to Chicago. I enjoyed the literallness of building a train while on a train. Highly Recommended.