Withacee Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Like so many others here, both my wife and I were great Lego fans throughout our childhood. My dark ages have been completely black for 25 years, and my wife's, well, let's call them Dark bluish grey. They both ended when, on an impulse, I bought my wife Lego set 10220 (Volkswagen T1 Camper Van) for Christmas in 2011. A great set. And as it happened, the manual of this set had a picture of Pet shop on the back. Unaware of the modular series, we checked it out, and well, from that moment on we were hooked. And I mean properly addicted beyond recognition. We started buying all modulars in production plus all the new ones, and also bricklinked MS, CC and GG. Oh, and anything to do with winter village, too. Also, we bought a number of MOC Modular instructions we liked, which we built as well. I've seen so many brilliant MOCs from various people here (we even reverse-engineered one or two of them), that I was inspired to have a try myself. A few years back, we were on holiday in Hamburg, where I took a picture of the "Alsterarkaden", a row of white houses alongside the water, with a "covered" pavement as an arcade. One of those houses (maybe even more with different façades) would be a nice idea, I thought. In hindsight, very naive, and way too ambitious for a first MOC, but I had a go, and this is what came out 3701 pieces later (after a very long time of designing, redesigning and learning). I'm happy with the result; there are a few minor construction issues, but overall, I'm pretty chuffed. I especially like the extra depth the pillars alongside the windows provide. Overall, a very exciting journey, during which I learnt a lot, also from other MOCers and their solutions. I paid some attention to the back; backs of modulars are usually a bit plain. So, by creating different floor plans for the levels, I tried to make it a bit more interesting, design-wise, by creating these two small terraces. I'm particularly happy with the way the ground floor awnings turned out (and yes, the one in the front is useless, because of the covered pavement, but I didn't want to break the pattern). I removed the arches here, for a better view. Ground floor is a sort of souvenir and art shop. I think the desk looks nice, the art work needs improvement. Polly definitely needs a cookie Separate stairs to access the apartment above Above the shop is an apartment. Not very original, but the official modulars seriously lack living space. I may have nicked a few ideas from other MOCers here, like Kevin8's kitchen cabinets and Kristel's bedside cupboards. I solemnly swear that my next MOC will not contain an apartment. I have a lot of space to work with in this MOC, and I still couldn't fit everything I wanted in there. I have a tremendous amount of respect for people who squeeze this in a 16x32 modular. And I've even seen a 10x32! Living and kitchen Staircase to the bedroom Bedroom and bathroom Access to the roof The roof is a roof, a roof, of course, and no-one can do without roof, of course In between Petshop houses Jerry's enjoying a drink Fresh eggs for breakfast Well, there are many things to improve on this one, but I think I'll leave it like this. It is a first, after all. I may design another one or two of these with different façades, to create a row, like in Hamburg. But first of all, I have my beady eye on a few buildings in The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, which we visited a few weeks back. Some more on my flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/130421735@N02/ I would love to hear what you think. Quote
peedeejay Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 A MOC from my home town! This is just lovely and you managed to perfectly capture it! Nice! Quote
lightningtiger Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Delightful modular design, so bright and colourful.......Brick On 'Withacee' ! Quote
Hobbythom Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Very nice modular! It looks extremely sunny, like it belongs at the beach! Quote
Sir Stig Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Very nice indeed. I think your MOC lifts the pet shop buildings up a level when placed like that. Thumbs up. Quote
Burrski Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 I love it! Great detail on the living quarters Quote
Kodan Black Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 I love the original inspiration and you did a fantastic job capturing the spirit of that building. I like all the little realistic touches you included too. Has a very sunny European feel to it! Quote
cimddwc Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Very well done, both outside and inside! The only thing I don't like that much are the gaps above the big half-arches... Quote
ReplicaOfLife Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Nice MOC, like it a lot. And I agree on your thoughts about interiors, i also admire people who manage to cram all those details into little space, I myself mostly don't manage that, so I just follow Lego's course of disregarding a couple of necessities (e.g. bathrooms) in my builds. But my interiors are quite sparse anyway - i want to have them, but since I rarely look at them once the building is finished, I don't mind if they're a bit simplified. I don't tile upper floors, for instance. The only thing I don't like that much are the gaps above the big half-arches... I'd have to agree with cimddwc here. I think regular 1x2x8 arches would've been a better choice (and more true to your inspiration). Quote
Withacee Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015 Hey all, Thanks very much for all the kind replies. Re. the arches: I think they can be done better as well. I have fiddled about with them so often, I can't even count the times I redid them. My first thought were the 1x8 arches as well, but I could not get them to look right, somehow. A few days ago, I thought of another idea to make that work, which I'm working on right now (even though I wanted to leave it like this at first; can't ignore a Lego idea, can one). If I get it right, finally, I shall post some new pics. Quote
Colossus Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Good Lord! One of the few modulars where I love the decor inside as much as the architecture and details outside. The kitchen area and chicken coop are my personal faves. Thanks for posting pics! Quote
dylanfarrow Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 fantastic! Great job and something (once I've finished bricklinking all the old sets I've missed out on) I'd love to do! Quote
Dazz Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 This is a great 1st try. Your interior and backyard design look very nice, too. Quote
Wodanis Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Excellent work! Really like the details you've put in such as the curtains and the use of handles for the ladder to the roof. Quote
ecmo47 Posted June 12, 2015 Posted June 12, 2015 (edited) Nice MOC, like it a lot. And I agree on your thoughts about interiors, i also admire people who manage to cram all those details into little space, I myself mostly don't manage that, so I just follow Lego's course of disregarding a couple of necessities (e.g. bathrooms) in my builds. But my interiors are quite sparse anyway - i want to have them, but since I rarely look at them once the building is finished, I don't mind if they're a bit simplified. I don't tile upper floors, for instance. I'd have to agree with cimddwc here. I think regular 1x2x8 arches would've been a better choice (and more true to your inspiration). Or better yet would be a pair of #2339 (Brick, Arch 1x5x4 - Continuous Bow) to achieve a full 180 degree arch like the real thing. Very nice building! Edited June 12, 2015 by ecmo47 Quote
Withacee Posted June 12, 2015 Author Posted June 12, 2015 fantastic! Great job and something (once I've finished bricklinking all the old sets I've missed out on) I'd love to do! Thanks dylanfarrow, and please do! You will not regret it. It was a great journey, and I don't intend to stop here. My next one's already on the drawing board. Or better yet would be a pair of #2339 (Brick, Arch 1x5x4 - Continuous Bow) to achieve a full 180 degree arch like the real thing. Very nice building! Thanks ecmo47, I had not even thought of that! Extra advantage is, that the gaps above the arch can be used for some decoration.I'll definitely look into it! Good Lord! One of the few modulars where I love the decor inside as much as the architecture and details outside. The kitchen area and chicken coop are my personal faves. Thanks for posting pics! You're too kind, Colossus, thanks for commenting on my post!Thanks Dazz and Wodanis, it means a lot to me. Quote
JackJonespaw Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Very, very classy design. I quite like that ground floor - the arches are especially nice! Quote
Redhead1982 Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Well done for a first modular! And making a building based on a real life model. I've been to Hamburg recently and I remember those arcades. I really like some of the details you used to spice up the facade, and I think you're on a great start with custom modular building. :-) I like how all the windows are framed with round bricks, and the green awning above the large ground floor windows makes a point of interest. Quote
Kristel Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 This is great! My favourite details are the kitchen (great colour combination) the way the windows have been done, the little outdoor deck (complete with chook!!) and the use of the small arch windows open the ground floor. What about inverted white arches for the arcade? Quote
Withacee Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 (edited) What about inverted white arches for the arcade? Cheers very much for your positive reaction Kristel!The only inverted arches I know are 30099, which doesn't look like the ones you mean. I'm fiddling about with 2339 and 3308. If anything decent comes out, I'll post some pics. Well done for a first modular! And making a building based on a real life model. I've been to Hamburg recently and I remember those arcades. I really like some of the details you used to spice up the facade, and I think you're on a great start with custom modular building. :-) I like how all the windows are framed with round bricks, and the green awning above the large ground floor windows makes a point of interest. Hey, thanks very much for that, Readhead1982!I don't intend to stop here; it's great fun and a real challenge. And thanks dr_sarcophagus and JackJonespaw for taking the trouble to write these nice words. Edited June 13, 2015 by Withacee Quote
ecmo47 Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 (edited) Alsterarkaden by Scott Roys, on Flickr I was playing around on LDD this morning and came up with this mod for the arches. They are 32 studs wide and 10 bricks tall. Edited June 13, 2015 by ecmo47 Quote
Withacee Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 Hey ecmo47, thanks for the inspiration! I am working on something similar, with 2339 and 3308. The arch you used (assuming 2339) is closer to the original than the 1x2x8 arches (3308). I'm trying to find a way to avoid those 1x3 pillars in the middle, so I will try to make all pillars 2 wide. My design as in the photos has the advantage that all pillars are the same width if you put another house in the row (2 wide in the middle and 1 wide on the edges. I notice now, in the picture of the original row, that the pillars have different widths too. I shall see what I can come up with. Thanks again! Quote
Kristel Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Cheers very much for your positive reaction Kristel! The only inverted arches I know are 30099, which doesn't look like the ones you mean. I'm fiddling about with 2339 and 3308. If anything decent comes out, I'll post some pics. D'oh! I meant the 2339. Quote
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