GHOST TOWN emerges from the darkness !!!

[Brick Miner]

Ok, EBers... my second MOC, and first in the Ghost Town line

[WesternOutlaw]

Brick Miner: First, let me say that your imagery is beautiful. I'm very impressed with how you capture the "Lego feel" of your MOCs, box art, and tricks/traps (with the arrows). It would be fair to say that this is the best that I've seen. You could easily go to work for Lego as a box art designer.

In regard to your MOCs:

The Hotel: I like the use of the brown Lego western pieces that really give the Hotel a western look. I also like how the spooky hotel resemples a skull/face with the eyes as windows and white trim. The bottom is a bit open, but I'm guessing you did this for horses/wagons. I also like the trap bed which adds a very nice touch. The use of the blue roof pieces is simple, yet effective. I'm not sure why you didn't use real blue window pains though. Was this for the crack effect, not sure? I like the falling stairs in the design of the Gold Mine too. Lstly, the Hotel sign is outstanding. Nice shape and lettering.

Mercantile: I'm not too sure about the overall look of this building. I'm not real crazy about the openess of the bottom floor with the brown arch. You did something similar with your saloon. I wonder how this would look closed up with a door and window? The top windows look a bit large, but I like the crack effect and the red rood pieces again. The sign is also nice.

Figs: I like the wanderer- definately a lost soul. I like the purple, choice of face, and most of all the horse shoe. My only comment is that for having a lucky horse shoe, you would think the wanderer would be a little more happy. Perhaps make it a bad luck horse shoe and this ties in with the sad face. He could be looking to get rid of it, but to no prevail can he do so.

Cookie: Excellent. I love the orange shirt, brown vest, and guns. Great adventure face making this the hero of Shiversdale.

Wranger: I'm not too fond of this character. It must be the shirt. The colors are fine and even the face, but I suppose the shirt doesn't capture the Mexican look. Is that a lantern he carries?

Other Comments: Overall, very nice. Just some constructive critisism mentioned above, but aside from these items, this is really well done. I also like the use of the two Gold Mine baseplates (I've always loved the wagon tracks), and also the Shiversdale sign. You have definately captured the spirit of the Lego Wild West and the Ghost Town subtheme in a manner befitting of Lego. Your graphic ability really adds to the likeability factor. Oh how I wish Lego would have offered a Ghost Town sub-theme. I would have bought multiple sets. Nice job Brick Miner. Looks great! ;-)

[gylman]

Wow. I love the pictures. I just rebuilt my Fort Legoredo and Gold Town Junction sets this weekend, and you really capture the Legoredo spirit (except for that spooky cactus of doom, which is a great concept, but uses parts not used in the Old West series, to my recollection).

$170! Holy mackarel! I guess that's why TLC are juniorizing their sets these days. Hard to see where all that money went except some of the figs I guess.

Beautiful work. I really must learn to use Photoshop.

[Athos]

If I didn't know better, I'd have thought it was real. I'd snap this set up in an instant if I saw it on the shelf. Love the designs and the figures. The only thing I don't like is the cactus. Don't know why, as it is a great idea and design. Hope to see more!

Steve

[Brick Miner]

You could easily go to work for Lego as a box art designer.

*sweet* now that would be a great job !!!

I'm not sure why you didn't use real blue window pains though. Was this for the crack effect, not sure?

ya, it was for consistancy... all the other windows have glass with stickers. the original design had the standard blue window panes, i actually liked that design better. this was one feature i wasn't quite sold on, but ran with it anyway.

this MOC was a lot of work, and i think i might have lost patience trying to solve some of the finer details *wacko*

I'm not real crazy about the openess of the bottom floor with the brown arch. You did something similar with your saloon. I wonder how this would look closed up with a door and window?

well, similar to the GUNSLIGNERS SALOON, the action-toy features of the set inhibit the design... see, the moving floor plate of the mercantile prevents there from being any kind of door... and the opening must be wide, due to the fact that when the plate slides it takes up an area of 6 studs... while the plate is only 4 studs wide.

also, both buildings are supposed to resemble faces... as if they were haunted ;-) therefore, i needed an open mouth.

I like the wanderer- definately a lost soul. I like the purple, choice of face, and most of all the horse shoe. My only comment is that for having a lucky horse shoe, you would think the wanderer would be a little more happy. Perhaps make it a bad luck horse shoe and this ties in with the sad face. He could be looking to get rid of it, but to no prevail can he do so.

well, he is suposed to be unhappy because his life is without meaning after being discharged from service... the only thing giving life meaning to him is his beliefs in other-worldly-powers and mystisim. the horseshoe is the fabrication of this mentality.

I'm not too fond of this character. It must be the shirt. The colors are fine and even the face, but I suppose the shirt doesn't capture the Mexican look. Is that a lantern he carries?

yes, that lantern also appears on the buildings... its kind of the "thing" for the Ghost Town sub-theme. do you have any suggestions on making the pattern more mexican ??? i thought it was a fairly good representation :'-(

Nice job Brick Miner. Looks great! ;-)

thanks Brickster, coming from you it means a lot (as i know the WW is one of your favorite themes).

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I just rebuilt my Fort Legoredo and Gold Town Junction.

both great sets. glad to hear they are getting some "play time" :-D

$170! Holy mackarel! I guess that's why TLC are juniorizing their sets these days. Hard to see where all that money went except some of the figs I guess.

ya, i couldn't believe the thing would have cost me that much either, if i would have had to buy all the pieces, but i already owned some ;-)

there are a couple elements that really drove up the price though...

2 6761 baseplates = 6 dollars each

2 scarecrow minifigure heads = 3.50 each (one head is a hidden feature, hidding in one fo the 2x2x2 barrels in the mercantile)

the pitchfork = 5.00

4 horses = 2.25 each

the black horse saddle = 2.00

2 new G-I-T-D colored ghosts = 4.50 each

the plain orange torso = 4.00

3 4x5 glass windows with frames = 2.00 each

4 spring bricks = 2.00 each

and the cactus monster cost about 5.75 !!! those green round bricks are expensive !!!

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If I didn't know better, I'd have thought it was real. I'd snap this set up in an instant if I saw it on the shelf. Love the designs and the figures.

thanks steve !!!

The only thing I don't like is the cactus. Don't know why, as it is a great idea and design. Hope to see more!

hmmm... great idea and design. could you elaborate on why you don't like it ??? thanks !!!

thanks guys !!!

- BrickMiner

[Grrr]

If I didn't know better, I'd have thought it was real. I'd snap this set up in an instant if I saw it on the shelf. Love the designs and the figures. The only thing I don't like is the cactus. Don't know why, as it is a great idea and design. Hope to see more!

Steve

I agree completely. A little too playable and a little playful for my liking, but really nice (I like something that doesn't require a backstory to the un-lego'd eye). The only thing I don't like is the Cactus monster - it just looks to me a like a building suggestion of a Basic set, not something that would be found in the System line.

Overall though, a mint set, would buy it happily.

[Hinckley]

I've been looking forward to this and you didn't dissapoint!

My first impressions are:

1. I love that there are two buildings in the "set". I miss sets like 1592 and Main St. that were a street scene and included more than one building. Heck, I miss buildings altogether

2. I like that the wanderer gets his butt kicked by all of the "traps"

3. I like all of the LEGO traps. The staircase is especially ingenious.

4. Your decals are cool!

5. I like all the thought you put into the release date of the sets and the characters and their back stories0of course the original mini-figs are great!

6. Awesome lantern technique.

I like it!

[Brick Miner]

I agree completely. A little too playable and a little playful for my liking, but really nice (I like something that doesn't require a backstory to the un-lego'd eye).

im sorry, im not sure im reading this comment right ??? is this statement in reference to the cactus monster...

The only thing I don't like is the Cactus monster - it just looks to me a like a building suggestion of a Basic set, not something that would be found in the System line.

i was hoping the sticker would make it appear more "system". maybe it didn't work :-D

Overall though, a mint set, would buy it happily.

thanks for the feedback G. much appriciated, only if you could clear up that first comment... that would be great !!!

--------------------------------------------------

I've been looking forward to this and you didn't dissapoint!

whooo... the pressure was on. im telling ya... i think that "leadked images" thread was a mistake :'-(

but im glad it came through for you !!!

I like that the wanderer gets his butt kicked by all of the "traps"

he is actually suppposed to be a tough guy and hero... i hope he is coming off that way 8-|

3. I like all of the LEGO traps. The staircase is especially ingenious.

4. Your decals are cool!

5. I like all the thought you put into the release date of the sets and the characters and their back stories0of course the original mini-figs are great!

6. Awesome lantern technique.

I like it!

thanks hinckley... i was a little suspicious of the lantern myself... it looks much better in real life, because in the photos above it looks SO huge 8-

[Grrr]

im sorry, im not sure im reading this comment right ??? is this statement in reference to the cactus monster...

- BrickMiner

More of a general statement. We probably all remember the time when we were little and showed our parents/friends something and it was responded to with 'it's nice, but what is * '.

I like models that just by looking you can see the backstory. There is no guessing what the story is with most lego models. A castle with knights defending it is always going to be easy to see, but the time-cruisers sets that TLC released a while back, know they are a different kettle of fish.

What I am saying is mainly that some stuble features just aren't quite apparent as to what they are - the eyes on the cactus for instance. I don't like charicature mixed with realism in lego sets.

It's probably not unlike me wondering what some abstract art is supposed to be - though a bit lesser of an extreme.

[Brick Miner]

What I am saying is mainly that some stuble features just aren't quite apparent as to what they are - the eyes on the cactus for instance. I don't like charicature mixed with realism in lego sets.

thanks for the fast reply !!!

so would you say this is a "caricature" set or "realism" set ??? or am i mixing both ??? or leaning toward one side of the spectrum ???

i would think caricature or cartoony (that is my speciality :-D )... but thought i'd pry a little more into your statement *skull*

- BrickMiner

[Grrr]

thanks for the fast reply !!!

so would you say this is a "caricature" set or "realism" set ??? or am i mixing both ??? or leaning toward one side of the spectrum ???

i would think caricature or cartoony (that is my speciality :-D )... but thought i'd pry a little more into your statement *skull*

- BrickMiner

The core of the model is in the middle of the spectrum, with the usual artistic merit in the way of making a model within the confines of Lego. The details are mainly in the caricature side of things, the roadside, the cactus, the windows. And then a few of the details are the exact opposite, for instance the building interiors, the latterns, the signs on the buildings. I think it is the juxtoposition of the two that puzzles me.

In a movie you will either see an over-abundance of one or the other. Either every little detail with be completely normal, or alternatively every little detail is in a style. You rarely see both together. You don't see an ornate table with simple mugs on it.

Overall, to me it is the difference between 6285 and 6292. One is nice and clean and consistent, the other is much the same, other then those godawful ripped sails and a few details, (though on that scale your model is much closer closer to 6286 then 6289). 6286 has a level of cartoon to it, but not affecting the model's status as a shelf model to a non-lego fan, who would probably be unsure about 6289 as a great of the pirate world.

[Brick Miner]

The core of the model is in the middle of the spectrum, with the usual artistic merit in the way of making a model within the confines of Lego. The details are mainly in the caricature side of things, the roadside, the cactus, the windows. And then a few of the details are the exact opposite, for instance the building interiors, the latterns, the signs on the buildings. I think it is the juxtoposition of the two that puzzles me.

i always thought the bed was a very "cartoony" addition. in fact, i considered not adding it because it was too much so !!!

Overall, to me it is the difference between 6285 and 6292. One is nice and clean and consistent, the other is much the same, other then those godawful ripped sails and a few details, (though on that scale your model is much closer closer to 6286 then 6289). 6286 has a level of cartoon to it, but not affecting the model's status as a shelf model to a non-lego fan, who would probably be unsure about 6289 as a great of the pirate world.

very insightful... im glad i continued with my questioning *sweet*

these are very though through conclusions you have made G. more than i could have anticipated. i see your post count is low, are you a member of any other online LEGO community ??? you seem very preceptive in assessing LEGO and their building styles.

thanks again !!!

- BrickMiner

[Grrr]

these are very though through conclusions you have made G. more than i could have anticipated. i see your post count is low, are you a member of any other online LEGO community ??? you seem very preceptive in assessing LEGO and their building styles.

thanks again !!!

- BrickMiner

Nope, to be honest I'm just coming out of a 5 year dark age - busy sorting all my lego, and all that I have purchased in bulk lots over the years (it's the first time it's all in one house, all 8 60L tubs of it). This is the first forum that I have registered for, though will probably become active on classiccastle once I have enough plasticware to sort my pieces and start moc'ing again.

I have always been quite thoughtful in my selection and building of lego, at a young age having access to my brothers lego (early 80's, the 6000 idea book being a great inspiration), but mainly fell in love with the cleanness of the late 80's. Sets like 6693, 6397, 4554 and 6542, and into other themes, 6074, 6085, 6285, 6989. No burps, no space open-cockpit syndrome, no silly faces or decals on figs.

It was very soon after I first started buildign that I become irritated by the lack of co-displayability of TLC sets. Particularly the various space subthemes, and Early 80s 'village' town and what in the 90's was much more of a 'city' type style.

[alex54]

Wow! Brick miner, this moc is so cool! And all the work around make it better! The "stories" of the minifigs, the design of the houses, and a so good presentation (a normal thing for the graphic admin :-D !)

I really like the humano

[Hun]

This creation - as well as your Saloon - truly is amazing!

All the thoughts you put in the little details & features, the background story, the design consistency with the original WW sets, and the artwork make your project even more outstanding.

Please keep'em coming!

[Norro]

I'm probably not the best person to comment because I really dislike fantasy in Lego...

Disclaimer aside:

I like the idea of multiple buildings, an eerie desserted mining town is also a great concept (with brilliant features like the bed and stairs). But I don't like the abundance of ghosts (something Lego never did) and designing whole buildings on a swivel feature would really be annoying to your average kid (I think, I haven't bought this set yet ;-) ). The cactus instantly says 'creator' or 'basic' to me as well. I do like cookie, a very nice colour/design. And am extremely impressed by your attempt to mirror lego's style evolution. I would suggest you pursue this less and less as you get later in the 90s X-D ! The art is great as always!

I'm still holding out for the $500 playset of a working mine car chase with 8+ figs and a strung out 'great escape set' playability style... maybe that's just me...

God Bless,

Nathan

[Brick Miner]

Nope, to be honest I'm just coming out of a 5 year dark age

congradulations !!! *y*

though will probably become active on classiccastle once I have enough plasticware to sort my pieces and start moc'ing again.

can't wait to see these MOCs !!! you seem like a wise man, Grrr.

It was very soon after I first started buildign that I become irritated by the lack of co-displayability of TLC sets.

are you saying you don't like the action-toy feel that some of the mid-to-late 90's sets included ??? this is something the Wild West sets employed very sucessfully. one reason i like them so much... really adds a nice story to the scene.

--------------------------------------------------

Wow! Brick miner, this moc is so cool! And all the work around make it better! The "stories" of the minifigs, the design of the houses, and a so good presentation (a normal thing for the graphic admin :-D !)

your quite the designer too alex ;-) thanks !!!

I really like the humano

[Athos]

thanks steve !!!

hmmm... great idea and design. could you elaborate on why you don't like it ??? thanks !!!

I think, like others have said, it just doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the theme. It looks like it belongs more in a creator set than a minifigure set. I also think the green is a bit too bright for the atmosphere, but don't know how you can avoid that (maybe sand-green, but they don't make the parts in that color).

I still love the line...

Steve

[WesternOutlaw]

I'm a little surprised that some of the respondants have focussed on the cactus creature rather than the MOC as a whole. I must say that I really like this MOC and even the cactus is rather clever. Very original in fact. It's a nice detailed combination of buildings, figures, and accessories. Very well done Brick Miner. I'm really impressed and would like to see more.

In regard to the price; however, way to high if you are in fact selling. This set should drive around the same price as Gold City Junction, or around $60-$70 USD tops - even with the special pieces. Although I realize some of the pieces like the Ghost Miner's head is very rare.

I still like it though and it almost makes me want to break out my WW sets and see what I can build.

[Grrr]

can't wait to see these MOCs !!! you seem like a wise man, Grrr.

Same here :). It's been ages since I've built anything particularly major.

are you saying you don't like the action-toy feel that some of the mid-to-late 90's sets included ??? this is something the Wild West sets employed very sucessfully. one reason i like them so much... really adds a nice story to the scene.

It's hard to describe really, but it's quite the opposite. I rather liked the western theme (along with pirates and castle) for it's playability. The fact is I own at least a copy of every major western set released.

One of the main things I like about western is that you can simply line all the sets up in a row, and it doesn't look silly, everything is the same scale (unlike the current generation town vehicles compared to say those of the 80's); well colour-coordinated - nothing looks out of place (something you can see a bit with early space sets before they had consistent colour schemes, in the early 80's), but no mono-tones either; everything is the same epoch (in historical terms); and there is none of what I would describe as clashing pieces (more on that in a bit). Best of all, there is no duplicity. If I was to line up all my town sets, I would have a town with a multitude of fire and police stations, but almost no shops, and comparatively few houses.

In regards to the clashing pieces I was describing, this is mainly were at a point lego has taken artistic licence to adjust an element of real life to something mouldable in bricks. This is mostly fine (with a few exceptions), but you get quite a contrast when in a later generation of set they take a different angle.

An example is the classic window with panes, for instance in set 376 (one of my favourite sets):

http://www.1000steine.com/~brickset/images/0376-1.jpg

Now this was perfectly fine, it doens't bother me that the windows and the door don't have some transparent 'glass' in them. This is a limitation of the choices made by the designer, which I have no issues with.

However, within a few years, most lego houses had glass windows, for instance in 6370:

http://www.1000steine.com/~brickset/images/6370-1.jpg

On their own, this doesn't present an issue, and I do prefer the change, the look is much cleaner and sleeker, and represents the removal or a limitation.

The problem is however, that when 0376 and 6370 are placed next to one another, one's mind quickly wonders why the 0376 has no glass.

A much greater extreme is for instance putting the classic 0375 castle next to the more modern 6080. There was no issue with the yellow castle on it's own, though the gray was a step forward. Put the two together and matters look a lot worse however.

I look in the same way at playability. The lego designer makes certain decisions about what action features a set will have. There are many facets of this, ranging from part selection (alternate models etc), how many sub-models it has (ie, each figure, vehicle, changable part, etc), and what actual features are implemented (trap doors and whatnot). Within a theme, a release year, and a set itself, there should not be too many outliers and any of these areas.

The Western theme is for instance a great theme in that it covers all of the above areas well. It is very easy to take all the soldiers out of legoredo and march them to pit them against the indians. Figures, weapons, cannons, carts and such all make this especially good. Some small elements don't quite work (perfection is hardly possible though), 6748 for instance seems to me to have an old 4537 Octan Tank in it. Boulders just don't look like that.

A good example of what I would regard as a problem set is 6713. It might by fun for a few minutes the first time - but it will never really fit in any setting I put it in. The amount of enjoyment I would get out of this set would also actually be less then I would get from a large battle (pirates, castle, western, space ... ). This level of action is were I draw the line. It doesn't have the backstory at all anymore - it's just becomes a toy then.

[Brick Miner]

I also think the green is a bit too bright for the atmosphere, but don't know how you can avoid that (maybe sand-green, but they don't make the parts in that color).

yes, plus i wanted the green of the cactus to match the "normal" cactus (prickley bush) color... i mean the green color was already established for plants in the western line. to me, that would be like mixing brown and reddish-brown in the same set, (lets say) just because the the hotel looked better in reddish-brown :-D

but do agree that the green stands out.

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I'm a little surprised that some of the respondants have focussed on the cactus creature rather than the MOC as a whole. I must say that I really like this MOC and even the cactus is rather clever. Very original in fact.

thanks Brickster... ya, it does seem like this MOC is getting "slammed" :-( but that is ok, any officially released LEGO sets is looked at under a magnifing glass by us AFOL... so why should i expect anything different from an MOC that is mimicking an official set look.

i guess i am taking that as a compliment, that it is looked at in the same eyes :-$

this far, what i am gathering is that we like the cactus monster... but just don't think it fits the building style that LEGO used during the adventuers line (1998-2000). which is the building style i was going for.

im hearing a lot of "basic" and "creator", but to me the brick-build-animals (or in this case creatures) also appear in system lines... like the new aquaraiders. however, in any case, that means i have failed, really. i mean, the whole objective of the MOC is obvious. try to capture the official LEGO building style of the time.

It's a nice detailed combination of buildings, figures, and accessories. Very well done Brick Miner. I'm really impressed and would like to see more.

thanks again B. i might finish the Haunted Water Tower next... or move on to untouched material... the calvary and western forts. i'll have to see how the Ghost Town theme is recieved by the AFOL community from here on out. and proceed accordingly.

yes, i create for myself,... but also do it for the great discussions and inclusion in the community. if i am getting more out of one theme over another, i'll be tempeted to do the more popular.

again i'll have to see...

In regard to the price; however, way to high if you are in fact selling. This set should drive around the same price as Gold City Junction, or around $60-$70 USD tops - even with the special pieces. Although I realize some of the pieces like the Ghost Miner's head is very rare.

yes, let me reiterate that the 170 USD is not the MSRP (or in this case "the Fan Suggested Retail Price" :-D ). if this set were released officially it would be around the price of Islander's Enchanted Island (412 pieces).

what i did after finishing the MOC was inventory the pieces... then do a rough estimate of NEW pieces from BrickLink... that way if anyone really wanted to build this model themselves they would know about how much it would cost. plus its great for me, cause i know how much it cost me !!! i calculate this information anyway, so i thought i would share it, since i had it.

BTW, i have no intention of selling my MOCs myself... i'll leave that up to member BaronSat ;-)

I still like it though and it almost makes me want to break out my WW sets and see what I can build.

*pirate* <=== that is the sheriff, not a pirate BTW :-D

- BrickMiner

EDIT: sorry i didn't respond to your great post Grrr... i was writing this one at the same time :-D . however, i will definitely respond in due time ;-)

[john cleese]

once again brick miner you have not only captured the lego style but also our hearts and minds with your fantastic moc, I tip my hat to you (and hey, not everybody gets that kind of honor).

ive heard you mention before that you were willing to photoshop pictures for us in return for money, just out of curiosity how much would one piece of fake box art cost?

[Brick Miner]

once again brick miner you have not only captured the lego style but also our hearts and minds with your fantastic moc, I tip my hat to you (and hey, not everybody gets that kind of honor).

thanks john !!!

ive heard you mention before that you were willing to photoshop pictures for us in return for money, just out of curiosity how much would one piece of fake box art cost?

not sure where you heard that :-D :-P

hmmm... what theme ??? i'll be honest, if the MOC is from a theme im interested in, the cheaper it will cost !!! :-D

if its western real cheap ;-)

if its space, star wars, bionicle, etc... VERY expensive X-D

i'd love to do some islander backgrounds *wub*

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now, coming back to Grrr... i do have one question abou your last post...

A good example of what I would regard as a problem set is 6713. It might by fun for a few minutes the first time - but it will never really fit in any setting I put it in.

purhapes you mean set 6712 ??? as i don't think a 6713 exists... unless its an MOC.

me and Brickster had a conversation about set 6712 little while ago...

i actually prefer a little construction element to my sets. for example, i think WW set 6712 (sheriff's showdown) is a great little set. it creates an atmosphere that no other set has. its a small bandit campsite, and the sheriff is hunting down his man. i mean, there is great story being told there. no other set has that same story.

while 6709 (frontier patrol) is week. i mean, i doesn't add anything to the theme. its a bunch of soldiers, well, you get that with 6769 fort legoredo !!!

- BrickMiner

here is the whole thread with responses...

http://eurobricks.hosting.ipsyn.com/eurofo...?showtopic=6147

- BrickMiner

[Grrr]

now, coming back to Grrr... i do have one question abou your last post...

purhapes you mean set 6712 ??? as i don't think a 6713 exists... unless its an MOC.

Nope, 6713, one of those awful races sets of the last few years. You haven't missed much:

[Flail]

Wow! I am truly impressed.

This is, hands down THE best attempt I've seen at recreating the style of a LEGO system set. In fact, its so good for a minute I thought it might be real. Damn you! You got me excited! :-P

Anyway, you nailed everything a real LEGO set would contain. The style, playability features, color choices, box graphics and minifigs - everything is spot on. I would so buy that Ghost town set. Both are great but the ghost town is brilliant! I own almost all of the western sets and these would fit perfectly among them.

Oh, and I WANT that ghost miner fig. This may be my favorite fig since Hotep the mummy - no kidding.

Really, great, great job.

DAMN, I WISH THIS WAS RETAIL!!!!