greg3 Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) Well a new year can only mean one thing.... a new topic for my Lego village, Ballabreek. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr First a look at the new improved shopping/residential area. Those who've seen previous Ballabreek topics will know the the village was originally designed in the Classic Town style of open backed buildings (usually only 6 or 8 studs wide) but I've recently been experimenting with the creator style buildings and seeing if they can be fitted in. Issues of available space and my desire to keep the village's standard road plate layout created a few problems but here's the result... Main shopping street front - From left to right: Pizza place, gem store, bike repair shop, barbers. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Rear of shops/residential street - the one way street still retains 2 parking bays but at the cost of 2 small houses which had to be "demolished". However adding living space above the shops means those 2 houses have been replaced by three 1st floor apartments. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Close up of the new shops - the hairdresser has moved from above the pizza place and like the bike repair shop has now got larger premises with accommodation upstairs. (just need to reprint the signs!!) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The bike shop is the original creator set while I changed the cafe/restaurant into a barbers (and added more furniture to the upstairs apartment) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Upstairs kitchen - fridge, cooker, sink. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The 1st floor of the Pizza Shop is now more living space Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr I'm quite pleased with how the changes have come out and will now look at adding more creator style buildings to Ballabreek (a deli perhaps?) - especially in the centre of the layout where open backs don't really look right. Still plan to keep the Classic style building for around the edges though... for example this new blue/white building near the mine which is just waiting for an interior... Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr ..but what is it going to be? Any guesses? (it's not a car dealership!!) Watch this space to find out!! Thanks for looking - comments are always welcome!! (and Happy New Year!!) Edited January 1, 2016 by greg3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlcoEmmen Posted January 1, 2016 Will it be a television-studio? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LAKAbricks Posted January 3, 2016 A Happy New Year to you, too, greg3. It is nice to see Ballabreek back on track for 2016 with new developments. I have been curious to see what would happen in the residential area. It is interesting with the new buildings making the pizzeria company. It is making the central area much more dense. I will miss the little two-family-house though. With the new Creator houses fitting to City buildings, it raises the question whether or not the buildings should be open-backed. I recognize it makes the buildings more "whole" to have a back wall, though I still have a preference for open-back buildings. I guess I am one of few, so I am happy to see you still keep some of the buildings that way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg3 Posted January 9, 2016 (edited) With the new Creator houses fitting to City buildings, it raises the question whether or not the buildings should be open-backed. I recognize it makes the buildings more "whole" to have a back wall, though I still have a preference for open-back buildings. I guess I am one of few, so I am happy to see you still keep some of the buildings that way. Thanks for the comments. I have to admit to preferring the open back style (I like exposed studs too!!) but with TLG seeming to be releasing mainly closed back buildings at the moment I thought I should try to make use of them!! Now, on with this weeks update... Will it be a television-studio? Good idea - in fact I had considered a studio but until we get some more official TV sets it'll have to wait. But the building is actually owned by a small Space Tech company!! The grass area at the front is still a WIP... might get model space rockets etc to put there or just benches etc (might see about using the upcoming polybag park statue/fountain set) but the building is now done!! Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The company focusses on developing and constructing cutting edge components for satellites, space probes and planetary exploration. As such, they employ some of the brightest scientific and engineering minds from around the world... most recently a group of (familiar looking!) young scientists from the California Institute of Technology. Let's see what they're up to... The first floor of the building is taken up with offices and labs. In this office, renowned theoretical physicist Dr Sheldon Cooper B.S. M.S. M.A. Ph.D Sc.D (OMG!) is working on the latest theories relating to dark matter (using data from subterranean detectors the company have set up in the neighbouring mine). Working with Dr Cooper (sorry, FOR Dr Cooper) is astrophysicist Dr Rajesh Koothrappali. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Next door to them, neurobiologist Dr Amy Farrah Fowler is carrying out research into the central nervous system of starfish. The company hope to use this research to create an AI program that would link physically independent exploration robots together wirelessly, allowing any one of them to take control of the others if it finds something of interest (in the same way that the arms of a starfish work... if that's not right, blame Wikipedia not me!!) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Most of the ground floor is taken up by a "clean room" where the company's hardware is assembled. The company's owner is keen to encourage the public to take an interest in science and space exploration so large windows allow people to see what they're working on. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Currently they are putting the finishing touches to a satellite due for launch later this year. It's designed to carry out a number of experiments and is the culmination of the work of several scientists... Here experimental physicist Dr Leonard Hofstadter is fitting the components to an experimental photomultiplier (a device intended to detect particles of dark matter). Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Meanwhile, microbiologist Dr Bernadette Rostenkowski prepares samples of bacteria which will be used to investigate the effect of cosmic radiation on cell division and DNA. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Alongside Drs Hofstadter and Rostenkowski is Mr Howard Wolowitz, the engineer responsible for designing and assembling the mechanical systems that will control the operation of the satellite's solar panels. (behind him you can see the double door airlock system used to keep the assembly room free from dust and other contamination.) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Finally we have the receptionist, Penny. An aspiring actress, to be honest she knows very little about the work going on in the building and is really only working there for the money and the free wifi she can use to browse for shoes!! Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Finally a couple of overviews of the building Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr As you can tell I'm a bit of a Big Bang Theory fan and wanted to incorporate the Ideas set into my town (I also wanted to use some of the recent space sets too)... I hope you like it!! Thanks for looking and feel free to comment!! Edited January 9, 2016 by greg3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlcoEmmen Posted January 9, 2016 Haha, love the combination with the Big Bang theory, really nice idea! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ivan Furlanis Posted January 11, 2016 I'm happy to see an update of this little but very nice town: Ballabreek is the proof that we don't need modulars to create a beautiful LEGO city Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goldengraham09 Posted January 12, 2016 this little town is amazing :) so good with the layout also and even though it is not huge it has a bit of detail. the back story on the town is very good as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Staslegomaster Posted January 12, 2016 Your city is so nice - a real diarama! As far as I know, LEGO City was the first theme series - even before mini figures.And it's still popular because much is needed in a city: railway stations, shops etc. So your project would be a pearle of any LEGO exibition. I like the playability of your creation and that you combined a few different ideas in one set. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LAKAbricks Posted January 12, 2016 Thanks for the comments. I have to admit to preferring the open back style (I like exposed studs too!!) but with TLG seeming to be releasing mainly closed back buildings at the moment I thought I should try to make use of them!! ... I have also have some of the new City-sized Creator buildings. I plan to "cityfy" them with open backs Haha, love the combination with the Big Bang theory, really nice idea! Even though I am no fan of Big Bang Theory, I also think this combination with "city space" is brilliant. I think in general, greg3, you cleverly include a lot of different sets into Ballabreek and connect it all with a story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilikeboomerang1 Posted January 13, 2016 I like what you do, except here's one thing I really don't like: The connection to the other themes and sets. I like it more when you focus on everyday town stuff because to me it seems a bit more normal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg3 Posted January 17, 2016 (edited) Thanks for the comments... this week it's back to solving real life issues in the village, namely the problem of traffic!! Like many real life places around the world Ballabreek's roads are becoming ever more congested as the volume of traffic continues to increase. Ever larger vehicles aren't helping either, so the people of Ballabreek are looking for solutions.. last year saw the introduction of a modern tram system and now they're looking to the sea to help. Most of the traffic problems centre on a crossroads in the centre of the village where 2 main arterial routes meet. One suggested idea is to run a car ferry across the bay to allow cars to avoid this chokepoint and bypass the village centre. A potentially suitable vessel has been identified... "The Rose" Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The vessel is a cable ferry. Here you can see the single cable that it uses to pull itself along. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The stationary cable runs under the deck through a series of guide pulleys to a centrally mounted winch which pulls the boat along. Reversing the winch allows the boat to travel in either direction. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Here you can see the winch mechanism below the deck grating. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr One man can control the vessel from the wheelhouse Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr From here the direction and speed of the winch are controlled. Dual controls allow the vessel to be sailed just as easily in either direction. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The proposed crossing would take less than 20 minutes so passengers would probably remain in their vehicles but some protection from wind/spray is provided for those who'd rather enjoy the fresh air. In the event of an emergency there are several fire extinguishers. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr As you can tell, I've been working on MODing the new ferry set. I'd experimented with a winch mechanism that would have actually moved the boat by turning a handle but I just couldn't get it to work reliably. Eventually I settled on this static solution which at least makes the boat look a bit more plausible. I also added a way to reach the wheelhouse and blocked up the gaps in the hull where possible. As for whether it'll really end up in Ballabreek? Well we'll have to see as it'd involve a pretty major redesign of the beach area... maybe adding a new slipway/ramp? (the rock/pumping station would have to go though!!) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Anyway, thanks for looking.... comments are always welcome!! Oh, and the boat is named after one of 3 conventional double ended steam ferries (Rose, Thistle and Shamrock) that operated near where I live during the early 20th century!! Edited January 17, 2016 by greg3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brickostan Posted January 18, 2016 I'd experimented with a winch mechanism that would have actually moved the boat by turning a handle but I just couldn't get it to work reliably. Eventually I settled on this static solution which at least makes the boat look a bit more plausible. Nice ferry. It would have been nice to see it move with Power Functions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg3 Posted February 7, 2016 (edited) Following on from the last update, work has been going on to turn Ballabreek's beach into a usable harbour area. The area has been dredged and a small seawall and slipway constructed. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr While this has meant the loss of the beach, it does mean that it's now easier to visit the village by sea. The slipway also allows the launching of boats and is currently being trialled by the emergency services - here the fire brigade try out their new inshore hovercraft. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Locals and visitors can still use the area for recreation as the swimming area now has a pumping/filtration system to ensure the water is clean. A small sandy area outside the cafe is popular with families/children. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The area's nautical history is commemorated with a monument made from the anchor raised from a nearby shipwreck (don't think I've ever visited a seaside town that hasn't had an anchor on display somewhere!! ) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr I have to admit to really liking the original beach but with many of the official sets of the last few years having a nautical element I decided that a harbour would let me fit more of them into my display. It's still a bit of a WIP - certainly need to do something about the rock/pumping station (might replace the moulded rock piece with a smaller brick built structure) Anyway, thanks for looking... Feedback/comments are always welcome. Edited February 7, 2016 by greg3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg3 Posted March 5, 2016 After a few weeks of work redesigning the harbour, the new Ballabreek ferry is finally in operation!! Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr As you can see, I've opted for the MODed cable ferry design from a previous update. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The ferry can carry several vehicles and will hopefully allow more visitors to enjoy the village and the surrounding countryside over the coming months. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The redesigned rock/pumping station - it's still a tight squeeze for the ferry though (hence the cable!!) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr I've not yet decided whether the ferry will become a permanent part of the layout but I wanted to try and fit it in. A brief backstory has it being trialled for a few months after which the citizens of Ballabreek will decide if it's commercially viable!! Anyway, comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ivan Furlanis Posted March 6, 2016 I would keep the ferry without any doubt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Humdrum Posted March 6, 2016 Very nice layout, there is a lot to like on a (relatively) small space: - the overall look of the city is not dominated by modulars - the mix of old style (open back) and creator buildings works well - there's some nice moc's - ... Five thumbs up! I've been contemplating starting a layout myself, but I don't have a lot of space to do so. It's very inspirational to see what is possible with limited space. Do you have an estimate on how many 32x32 baseplates fit in your layout by any chance? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg3 Posted March 6, 2016 Thanks for the comments. I've just counted and the town roughly takes up the space of 22 32x32 baseplates (which surprised me as it started off on just 6 baseplates - so I'd say if you want a layout, go for it!!!) Anyway I've run out of expansion room now though so from now on changes will involve "redeveloping" areas!! I'm currently thinking about replacing the buildings around the park!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alasdair Ryan Posted March 15, 2016 It is nice to see you are still constructing your town. How about pulling the desk forward and constructing a extension to the desk in order to make its depth bigger? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg3 Posted March 29, 2016 (edited) In this update, Ballabreek's transport links continue to improve with the building of a small heliport!! Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Located half a mile or so from the village centre (eventually it's going go on a nearby shelf), it was originally a farmers field but has recently been bought by a business consortium with a view to create a heliport to serve Ballabreek and surrounding villages. This is the result of phase 1 of the work - the construction of a concrete landing pad and a small tower structure. It's just waiting for signage to be put up and the radar to be switched on before it becomes fully operational. (in other words I'm waiting for stickers!!) Inside the tower is a maintenance room (containing tools for carrying out routine checks and repairs) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr An office with a computer and internet connection so pilots can file flight plans, check weather reports etc. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr And finally a control room. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr At the moment, the helipad can only accommodate small, 1 person helicopters. Over the next few months (i.e. when I can get more green baseplates!!) the field will be expanded with a larger pad (able to cope with the biggest helicopters available), a hangar and refuelling facilities. Ultimately the heliport will operate tourist/sightseeing flights, a helicopter taxi service, support for offshore exploration companies and maybe even a postal operation. It will also assist the emergency service by allowing police and SAR helicopters to refuel thereby extending their range. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr As you can tell, I recently got the Marvel Civil War airport set and thought it'd be a useful addition to Ballabreek (and somewhere to put all those helicopters that Lego seem to think we need!!) As well as adding the landing pad, I removed the play features to make the office area a bit bigger and added the red/white pattern on the outside. At the moment it fits on a 32x32 baseplate but eventually will fill 3 baseplates. Thanks for looking - comments are always welcome. Edited March 29, 2016 by greg3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotoAndLego Posted March 29, 2016 Its looking good, and nice avatar as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Junior Shark Posted March 29, 2016 Man, I'd love to live in Ballabreek! This reminds me of the sprawling Lego cities I made when I was but a wee lad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg3 Posted May 31, 2016 (edited) Well it's been a while since the last update (I hate it when work eats into Lego time!!) but I've finally got around to showing the latest goings on in Ballabreek.... The Ballabreek Festival of Speed!!! Those long time followers of Ballabreek may remember a similar event last year but this year sees it return bigger and better!!! This year, course has been changed to avoid the tramlines... not only safer but allows people to still travel to and from the village. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The event is run as a timed sprint over about half a mile beginning in the village. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr View from the start line - as one car completes it's run, the next is readied on the start line. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr More cars ready for their runs Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The usually quiet residential street is turned into a pit/service area where drivers can carry out minor repairs and adjustments. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Of course the races can't take place without the army of support personal.... Race officials/timekeepers Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Emergency and recovery services (including the volunteer marshals) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Filming crew (using cameras and drones to capture the action) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr While this update was mainly a way to make use of the Speed Champions sets, it's also inspired by the TT motorcycle races currently taking place in the Isle of Man (where I live) Unfortunately Lego don't make enough racing bikes so cars had to do (and the TT was originally a car race!!). I've got more photos to come so watch this space for more updates... Thanks for looking!! Comments are always welcome... Edited May 31, 2016 by greg3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VincentSteen Posted June 1, 2016 The complete model is looking superb. Fantastic job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Romanos Posted June 1, 2016 great work, love what you did in town , and how you use it to make new events, you give me idea to do some to and love the dron ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LAKAbricks Posted June 4, 2016 Good to see there is still activity in Ballabreek and that they are keeping the traditions alive. I also appreciate the respect of the public transport Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
