frogstudio Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Hi to all!!! This time I bring you my latest MOC. This one I’m pretty sure will raise some controversy!!!! Some will like it, some will hate it… Why? Simply because some will consider it to not be purist (yet to me it is as pure as any LEGO set). And why is this? Because the model mainly relies on stickers to achieve its look!!! Personally, I hate when other AFOLS speak of “The Dreaded Sticker Sheets” and of “the good old days of printed parts”, because that simply isn’t real. If you do some research in Bricklink or Peeron, you’ll find out that LEGO has been using stickers since 1973 (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3008pb075) and that, in fact there exists more stickered parts than actual printed parts!!!! So, saying that TLCs standards ever were printing parts is simply not true!!! Personally, I love stickers. To me they give you plenty of flexibility on your pieces collection. You decide whether to use them or not, you can easily replace them and, above all, you can customize them if you have some skill. Also, new stickers are of great quality and are easy to remove and reuse!!! So, after this brief intro, on to the model… I wanted to make a half timbered building to serve as a medieval Town Hall for the old area of my City Layout (which also would let me use it with my Castle sets) I always loved the half timbered printed pieces and wondered why LEGO didn’t produce them in larger quantities or ever used them for more than details and not as the main feature of any structure. Getting then on Bricklink is really expensive and being 5 studs wide makes them difficult to MOC with. Besides, LEGO never produced them in white. Another option was making the half timber with slopes and plates (as many have done with great success before). I discarded this option basically because of cost. I live in Argentina, and have to get all my pieces abroad, which means that cost and weight are really important issues to me. Brick building them would mean getting LOTS of pieces and paying huge shipping and Customs costs!!! Besides, I would never be able to achieve the look I wanted with that method. So, I decided to make my own, based on the 1x6x5, 1x2x3, 1x2x5 panels and 1x4x5 with window panel. I designed the stickers in Illustrator and decided to print them on white vinyl (the same material used in LEGO’s stickers). I printed them in a printer near my home, where they use waterproof dyes, which means that the pieces can get wet without getting ruined and that I don’t need to varnish them, which will yellow with time. Here are some images of the stickers I made and the pieces with them applied. And the building itself!!! Hope you like it!!! Comments and suggestions are welcomed… So, on to the model!!! The Statue: The minifig was painted with acrylics, then I applied water slide clear decals (which I had first designed in Illustrator) and to finish it all, I applied a coat of glossy varnish. P.S.: Interiors are pending due to budget!!!! Quote
Brickdoctor Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 I must say, those stickers look very clean, very professional, and very well applied. They do look just like printed elements in all the shots other than close-ups. Quote
Dark_Alamez Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 A great idea for these black boring panels. The statue looks really rusty. Well done! Quote
lightningtiger Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Not bad 'frogstudio', goes perfectly with your train station of similar design ! Neat statue, only now you need an interior ? Keep them comming 'frogstudio' and Brick On ! Quote
Hoexbroe Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Excellent moc, and a good use of decals. Not too controversal really. Quote
L@go Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 I agree, it's very, very nice and I don't find it controversial at all - not when the stickering is done as professionally as this. The whole build is great, with the statue and all - but my favourite detail is still those lovely birch trees. While I've seen more realistic-looking trees, these are spot on regarding the white and black patchwork. Great job! Quote
tedbeard Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Those stickers look fantastic. Heck, I'd buy a sheet or two if you sold them. Quote
frogstudio Posted July 25, 2011 Author Posted July 25, 2011 Those stickers look fantastic. Heck, I'd buy a sheet or two if you sold them. PS me and I think we can sort something out. About controversy, I really thought I would have all the LEGO purists and DSS haters jumping at me. Either they're being too polite or they haven't seen it yet. :) Quote
JopieK Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 PS me and I think we can sort something out. About controversy, I really thought I would have all the LEGO purists and DSS haters jumping at me. Either they're being too polite or they haven't seen it yet. :) Well I agree, stickers just finish the sets. For us the problem was those 12V trains that had old stickers or missing ones. Your prints and cuts are indeed very nice! You use the same technique that we use in designing the stickers, but we use resin instead of fluid inks to be able to print in white etc on transparent as well. Quote
LEGO Guy Bri Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Another great creation 'fs'. Excellent work on the stickers and superb job on the statue. That looks awesome in itself. Fantastic work Quote
Goengar Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 I think the rustic statue is superb. I like the trees in this model. Quote
sonicstarlight Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 About controversy, I really thought I would have all the LEGO purists and DSS haters jumping at me. Either they're being too polite or they haven't seen it yet. :) I think even us purists can appreciate stickers when done with as much thought and care as you've done with this fantastic build! They really do add a lot to the design, and honestly are in the keeping of some of the printed panels that have appeared in official sets over the years. That said, those birch trees are what my eyes went to first - so simple yet so brilliant. Quote
frogstudio Posted July 26, 2011 Author Posted July 26, 2011 I think even us purists can appreciate stickers when done with as much thought and care as you've done with this fantastic build! They really do add a lot to the design, and honestly are in the keeping of some of the printed panels that have appeared in official sets over the years. That said, those birch trees are what my eyes went to first - so simple yet so brilliant. Many thanks!!! Actually the stickers are based on the old printed panels LEGO gave us in sets as the Black Falcon's Fortress and Guarded Inn. :) Quote
Skipper Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 I'd love to see all of these castle/timber mocs together in some sort of small European town. Quote
frogstudio Posted July 26, 2011 Author Posted July 26, 2011 I'd love to see all of these castle/timber mocs together in some sort of small European town. I would love too!!!! If "only" I had a 10 x 6 metres space to put everything together!!! This year I've been designing my layout in BlueBrick... hope some day I'll have the space to build it... :) Quote
snefroe Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 it looks great! two remarks, though: 1) while you're at it, why not add some more detail to the panels, like iron nails or wooden planks that are a bit more natural, instead of straight lines 2) i think you pushed the weathering of the minifig a bit too far even though it looks pretty nice. However, if you're proud of one of your ancestors, why would you allow to have a statue in this condition? Quote
frogstudio Posted July 26, 2011 Author Posted July 26, 2011 it looks great! two remarks, though: 1) while you're at it, why not add some more detail to the panels, like iron nails or wooden planks that are a bit more natural, instead of straight lines 2) i think you pushed the weathering of the minifig a bit too far even though it looks pretty nice. However, if you're proud of one of your ancestors, why would you allow to have a statue in this condition? Though I understand what you mean, the design of the panels tries to be as classic as it can be, following the design used by TLC in theit old printed panels. I just didn't want to over do it ... I think LEGO has to have its level of abstraction. About the statue, I get your point!!! :) Just wanted to give it a really old looking feel... but perhaps I over did it a bit... Thanks for commenting.. Quote
Myko Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 I think this looks great! I don't mind the stickers at all, but the statue goes a little too far than what my purist sensibilities would allow. I'm not going give you a hard time for it though, 'cause really, who cares? :D Quote
Edmond Dantes Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 Many thanks!!! Actually the stickers are based on the old printed panels LEGO gave us in sets as the Black Falcon's Fortress and Guarded Inn. :) I've always wanted this part in black and white, as I thought it would look great in "tudor" style buildings. They only come in red or yellow though - and they are very expensive, especially the red. So, in short, your solution is brilliant! Very well done. Quote
Pandasushi Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 an excellently designed and made MOC, i really like the effect used to make those birch trees Good Job ! Quote
Vincent Kessels Posted July 30, 2011 Posted July 30, 2011 I must say that I am not fond of stickers, but you've created a beautiful building. And at first, I thought that you cast a minifig in tin. It looks amazing. Quote
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