Classic Town - anyone still builds cities/towns like that?

[Artifex]

I came out of my Dark Ages last year, and I'm mainly on Castle/Kingdoms, at least for the moment, but I always keep an eye - or two - on Town (and all the other themes, TBQH ).

We now have modular building and stuff, and all those great, beautiful Creator houses. Lots of great building techniques, colors, styles, etc., etc., etc.

But my real question is: does anyone still builds Classic Town style?

I mean Classic Town style like in the 80's:

6374 Holiday Home

6388 Holiday Home with Campervan

6384 Police Station

6385 Fire House-I

Simple designs, simple techniques, etc. - anyone still building this way? This style?

[EverettYA]

I don't build like that but I know I have seen some cities built like that around these forums.

EverettYA

[Artifex]

Well, lightningtiger's WIP is certainly what I'm talking about!

Edited February 19, 2011 by Artifex

[Gareth]

Most of my buildings are from the 80's and so is the train system I use, so the only way to get them to all go together is to keep on building like that. More complex looking sets from today's line are either just too big or just look odd.

It's pretty simple but the thing to get right is the colour it's very easy to make something good looking into something very plane and boring just by using the wrong colours.

The is a web site where you can buy models like this called 'Me Models' they have some very nice 80's style houses on there.

Edited February 20, 2011 by Gareth

[dr_spock]

I still like building to the open back play concept of the 80's design. I also like building my town vehicles to 4-wide.

[Joebot]

Absolutely!! You can find lots of pictures of my "classic" style town on my website.

I own all of the modular sets, but the first thing I do when I build them is rip out the back wall to make them classic-compatible (it also frees up a lot of pieces for use elsewhere). No backs, no stairs. And 4-wide vehicles too, please!!

[streifen]

since i got into buying Modular Buildings, i cover my buildings, do mocs mod-style.

in fact in the past when i bought the classic series, i was thinking how can a house be "back-less". of course it was for playing purpose but i always thought a house has to have stairs and 4 walls/partitions.

have not gotten into doing vehicles yet but would like mine to be able to seat 2 side by side like a normal vehicle.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

My city is the 80's styled open back, just with sets from the 90's. I have to figure a nice way to incorporate these with my modulars. I've seen a few city layouts with that combo and am happy it doesn't look too awkward. Then again unless you do modular style buildings, all of LEGO city sets are still open-backs

[sted]

yup when my old sets come out the loft thays what they are got the old fire station/police station in 1st post most sets are even still complete a few missing pieces but not too many and next time i get em out ill get replacements where i can light bars look a bit harder than some parts as does an odd wedge shaped brick i lost from a petrol station

[Zorbas]

Nice topic!

Althought that I barely have the time and -most importantly- the space to build right now, I always catch myself trying to create buildings that have the classic town style. Many people may think that it's easiest to build that way but I really think the opposite.

It's not just some bricks and some window frames placed on a baseplate by creating a 3-wall building, the key to success here is the style and the "vibes" the final result gives you, especially when talking for late 80s-early 90s style. Classic town has its details too.

Btw, if anyone's interested, some very beautiful classic town creations can be found in here. There were for the Classic Town building Contest held in EB two years ago.

You can find lots of pictures of my "classic" style town on my website.

I love it!

[Ralph_S]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is a topic that shows up now and then.

When I was a child I loved the city/town sets I had, with the open-backed buildings and the four wide cars, but as I grew a little older the lack of realism started bothering me and I actually put my minifigs away and started building at larger scales. I got back into building minifig scale stuff through building a restaurant for a competition that involved Cafe-Corner compatible buildings (even though I had none of the sets at the time). I also built some cars to go with it.

LEGO have brought out cool new minifig parts in the intervening years and I also benefit from having a larger collection and more experience building more complicated stuff (such as five-wide cars), but the realism of these larger building was a major factor in making minifig scale things attractive again to me.

There are people who put a lot of creativity into classic style buildings and I do get a sense of nostalgia when I see their cities, but it's not for me.

Cheers,

Ralph

[Gregorovich]

I still build the open-backed buildings, because like to be able to access the interior easily.

[Jargo]

Yes and no. I like simple builds without fussy over detailed exteriors but I like more substance and solidity to my buildings. If I end up with an open back now it's more down to a lack of bricks than by design. I don't really do modular at all. I don't really do interiors either unless you can see into the building through a large window. Shop fronts or big offices sort of thing. And I'm definitely not a fan of four wide vehicles.

[Section8]

I still exclusively build in the old Classic Town/System Town style. All of my old sets were that style, and I only buy new sets that fit in with it (so no modular buildings for me). All of my MOCs are in that style as well. I like the simple designs that infer complex architectural detailing rather than include actual detail. An example of this is the excellent 4554 Metro Station, which infers a old-time ornate building using only simple pieces. I also like the lack of back walls, stairs, restrooms, etc. That lessens the number of pieces, allows easy access to the interior, and frees up space for more important things.

[Runamuck]

My town mostly consists of sets, from the 70's up until today, but when I do build houses myself they tend to look rather 80's. I build them on the sidewalks on the road plates with open backs so I can use them for more than just facades. The 80's style is rather easy to learn and imitate. In fact my houses tend to look rather 80's like no matter if I'm building town, castle or pirates.

Edited February 20, 2011 by Runamuck

[Artifex]

I feel you own this thread a couple of pictures, guys!

I still like building to the open back play concept of the 80's design. I also like building my town vehicles to 4-wide.

Great!

Absolutely!! You can find lots of pictures of my "classic" style town on my website.

I own all of the modular sets, but the first thing I do when I build them is rip out the back wall to make them classic-compatible (it also frees up a lot of pieces for use elsewhere). No backs, no stairs. And 4-wide vehicles too, please!!

Great site! Thanks for link, already in my favorites!

I still build the open-backed buildings, because like to be able to access the interior easily.

Those are great!

Thank you all for sharing, guys! Keep them coming!

[jth781]

I still build with a open back in my LEGO City.

[Zeon]

I go mostly with (stylized) classic building, however I do adminre today's detailed (modular) cities. (For me it's about having good memories with the classic sets, needing less skill {not less creativity} and much less bricks)

Guess it's like comparing with pop-art comic book with photography, it's the matter of preference.