Full display photos

Some months ago (actually last year) I posted some photos of what I had hoped to display. I didn't get around to it because I started working full time and so plans had to go out the window. Now that I have the thing set up I think it might actually be worth displaying.

The positive thing is that all of the buildings apart from Cafe Corner are MOCs.
The negative thing is that I don't really have the much by comparison with other people. I feel though that the fact that I have actually put time and effort into designing and constructing my own buildings is worth something! Anyhow.

Here is the old, for comparison:

And the new

I think the most significant difference is that it is much more cohesive. Think before that it was very bitty. By having a second terrace MOC, I am able to have a transition between Cafe Corner (which has an incredible amount of detail) and some of the other models that I have. 

I have also chosen to make a MOC out of the two creator houses that I have. I know that noone else will have any of these models (except cafe corner, although I cannot remember whether I have seen another one...) because they have come from my head!!!

I also like the fact that there is a real mix of old and new sets in here. I have the caravan, which is a 2014 set and I have Paradisa Barbeque (although it isn't actually set up, the minifig and the pizza are in the display :P) which was my very first set, and I think is about 1997 vintage! That also means that I was only 5 when I got my first set, so that makes me pretty happy. Proud collector for 18 years!!! 

I think the only real issue with me displaying would be that I would talk everyone's ear off, because I do like to talk about my creations. I suppose I also have doubts about whether anyone will actually stop to look at it, because it's not all that huge and in your face. I have been toying with the idea of setting a challenge to see if the kids can spot all the owls (might give them a Harry Potter Lego sticker if they find them all...) because there are an ABUNDANCE of them (that's what you get for being a HP freak XD)

I think that is all for now. This post probably made absolutely zero sense aha.

A return after a long hiatus

I have been rather lax in my blogging, mostly due to the fact that I work full time, and have moved out of my parent's house, so time has been rather short.

In the past couple of weeks though, I have found some time to actually BUILD which has been fantastic. I haven't had this much freedom since I was about 12, so it is really cool to have a go at building from nothing.

I now have a set up which I am very happy with, and have spent the past week taking candid photographs of it. Here's a few :D

Adding to my Town Centre

IT'S been a couple of weeks since I have had a chance to do any modelling - I have been very busy with work and so just haven't had a chance to get on the computer!

I have completed two new models for my Queensland town centre. The first is based on a funny building that is currently being built in Enoggera (Brisbane suburb). I see it every day on my way to work. It is funny for the chief reason of it being built in a very old fashioned style - not something you generally see amongst so many modern designs!!

I think my version is slightly more squat than the actual thing, but I wanted to keep it to a similar scale as the rest of my buildings. 

This morning I modelled a sort of typical turn-of-the-century row of shops/arcade. You see these all over the place. There are heaps in Brisbane (although as with much of our history, we like to tear them down and put new things in their place). This is Albert Street in Brisbane City, and is kinda where I got my inspiration.

(Image: Google)

I am really happy with the detail I got into the top, I think it looks very effective.

This is a just a shot of both the buildings in with the rest of the models I have done previously.

I am super happy with the scale and the detail of the models.

I decided to record my modelling of the shops, and this is the video of this process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcpZ-gEHZGk&feature=youtu.be
Thanks :)

The beginnings of a country town

Continuing on with my work with the Queensland vernacular, I decided to add to my country pub. The next building I decided to do was a stone building.

The 'LLLL' sign is a parody of the famous Queensland beer brand 'XXXX'. I suppose this building could be some sort of post office, with the beer sign advertising strategically placed next to the Pub.

The next building I modelled was just a small general store. I would probably put a sign on the blank red bit up the top.

This one is probably fairly simple by comparison to the other two buildings. 

This is the result all together. I am very happy with the scale and look of all the buildings together.

This week marked a new chapter in my life also - after months of not having a job in my field of study, I have finally started work, part time, as a building designer. It has been very challenging and very exciting - and also eats up lots of time!!! I will hopefully still be working on Lego designs on my weekends, or perhaps in the evenings if I am feeling extra bored :P
All for now :)

Working with the Queensland vernacular

Over the past little while I have been drawing some inspiration from my hometown, and have been attempting to model some houses in the Queensland vernacular. Traditional Queensland buildings are beautiful and often very quaint. So far I have modelled two houses and a pub, and I am quite pleased with the results so far.

This house features a bay window at the front, and a small verandah.

This house has a verandah that runs the length of the front of the building, and also has a staircase out the back.

This pub is quite typical of traditional pubs around the state, with its' wrap around verandah and roof with a changing pitch. I'm quite happy with the detail that I have managed to get into this model, including the weatherboard cladding on the outside and the arches on the verandahs.

I'm going to see if I can make a town centre scene using this pub as the basis. I wish I could afford to purchase all these models! Haha

Exhibit Photos and Tuscan Villa

Over the past couple of days I have been putting together what I will hopefully be able to display at the next brick event. It looks a little different from the ideas I was toying with last time, owing to the fact that I was able to acquire some more baseplates, and the minimum size requirement was reduced (yay - now I can have something cohesive).

Here are some pics. I've tried to put some humour into it where I can. I will definitely put more minifigs in there.

Overall image of the set up 

Car crashed into a tree

Wider View of the car accident

Goings-on in the city centre. Judge in the foreground carrying books and his gavel stacked on top. 

Flea Market

Basketball Game

Nice view down the street.

Dumbledore hanging out the window. 

Other side of the accident. 

I also decided to do a really quick mock up because I had some free time. I call it Back-lot Basketball.

This morning I spent some time on LDD designing a Tuscan Villa. I am very happy with the outcome. 

It includes a SNOT circular window which took me FOREVER to figure out. It was so simple- I was staring the solution right in the face for 10 minutes. At least I resolved it. I like the roof and the shutters - they really give the building some personality. 

That's all for now.