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For Immediate Release Contact: Leigh Sacks, No Starch Press ([EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED], 415-863-9900) GETTING STARTED WITH LEGO TRAINS Inspirational Ideas and Instructions in Full Color San Francisco, CA - Building and running model trains has been a popular hobby for decades. From small oval tracks running a simple locomotive to tracks that take over entire basements, model train enthusiasts come in all types. A subset of model train enthusiasts use an alternative medium for their creations; instead of building trains out of model wood and plastic, LEGO(r) train builders create their locomotives and rail cars out of LEGO bricks, using official LEGO train sets or a collection of their own bricks. Until now LEGO trains builders have exchanged ideas for models and connected with each other through an active online community and user group network. Now well-known LEGO trains community member and LEGO employee Jacob H. McKee has written the first book dedicated to LEGO trains: "Getting Started with LEGO Trains" (No Starch Press, $14.95 US, 4 color). Sure to be an essential reference for experienced LEGO train builders, "Getting Started with LEGO Trains" is also for LEGO train novices who want to get started with this creative hobby. "Getting Started with LEGO Trains" begins with the fundamentals of LEGO trains: setting up the track and electrical components. It then proceeds to detail three projects - a GP-38 Locomotive, an old-style refrigerator car, and an intermodal container car - complete with full-color, professional-quality instructions. These projects can be built by following the color instructions, just as models are built from the kits that LEGO sells. Each project chapter also teaches the essential elements of locomotive and rail car construction as McKee explains how each project was conceived and brought to life. More than just a how-to guide, McKee takes readers to the world of advanced LEGO building and the culture of model railroading. Sometimes the lingo takes a wacky turn: How could a model be built with SNOT? Connect the LEGO bricks in unorthodox ways to have Studs Not On Top, or SNOT, perfect for advanced constructions. And what about the chapter on refeer? That's the refrigerated rail car model, the type of train car called a refeer by model builders and train buffs in the know. Interviews with expert builders and a section on advanced track layouts are sure to inspire the master builder and budding train enthusiast alike. With "Getting Started with LEGO Trains," newbies and old pros all have something in common - a great book to help them grow with their hobby. As McKee explains, "LEGO Trains are the 'hub of the spoke,' so to speak. LEGO Trains are what bond a LEGO universe together. Once you set up your first starter train set, you want more track. More track leads to more train cars. More cars leads to city. City leads to airports. Then space, then..." All aboard! GETTING STARTED WITH LEGO TRAINS by Jacob H. McKee 1-59327-006-2, February 2004, $14.95 US ($21.95 Cdn), 120 pp., ages 12 and up Available at fine bookstores everywhere To order from the publisher: visit www.nostarch.com, email [EMAIL PROTECTED], or call 800-420-7240 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The author's site: www.bricksonthebrain.com LEGO Users Group Network: http://www.lugnet.com/ Official LEGO Trains website: http://www.lego.com/trains International LEGO Train Club Organization: www.iltco.org Book table of contents: http://nostarch.com/frameset.php?startat=legotrains_toc ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jacob H. McKee has been building LEGO creations since he was a young boy. He is now a well-known figure in the LEGO trains community and the LEGO Community Development Manager for North America. Jacob has worked on more than 400 websites and countless community projects, including the official LEGO Trains website (www.lego.com/trains). ABOUT NO STARCH PRESS Since 1994, No Starch Press has published unique books on computing, with a focus on Open Source, security, hacking, web development, programming, gaming, and alternative operating systems. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our goal is to make computing accessible to everyone. __________________________ Please visit our sponsors: RadGad(sm): The Place for Useful Gifts & Gadgets.(sm) http://www.radgad.com/, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED], or 877-5-RADGAD MacTech(r) Magazine: The journal of Macintosh technology and development http://www.mactech.com, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED], or 805-494-9797 DevDepot(sm): Your Source for RAM, Technical & Developer Products http://www.devdepot.com, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] or call 877-DEPOT-NOW To submit a posting to NetProLive, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to NetProLive, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the SUBJECT line reading "SUBSCRIBE NetProLive". To unsubscribe, the SUBJECT line should read "UNSUBSCRIBE NetProLive". MacTech, Developer Depot, RadGad, and Xplain Corporation are not responsible for any errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies in this message. 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