lightningtiger Posted February 1, 2013 Posted February 1, 2013 Now that's an original idea 'greg3'......I really like how simple it is yet so realistic......Keep going and Brick On 'greg3' ! Quote
brodey1 Posted February 1, 2013 Posted February 1, 2013 Your residential house design is superb. Quote
greg3 Posted February 9, 2013 Author Posted February 9, 2013 (edited) Bit of an eventful update this week, after a high speed police chase resulted in a major fire and much of the village being evacuated!! The trouble started when a high performance supercar (believed to have been stolen earlier) failed to stop for police. After almost an hour long chase the police planned to use a "Stinger" tyre deflating device in an attempt to stop the car just outside the small village of Ballabreek. However, the suspect driver tried to avoid the trap by turning off along the access road by the mine but lost control and crashed into the garage. Luckily for him, the driver suffered only minor injuries and was dragged from the wreckage by police officers and the garage owner just moments before it was engulfed in flames. The resulting fire destroyed the garage and caused chaos in the village as an exclusion zone was placed around the scene for fear of the fire igniting petrol in a nearby fuel pump. These photos show the immediate aftermath... Overview of the scene (you can clearly see where the car clipped the wall before crashing) With the fire all but out, a fire crew continue to cool the petrol pump (damage to the pump shows just how close it came to become an even more serious incident) while others extinguish the last few hotspots. The new fire bike was the first on the scene and although could do little to save the garage, its impulse water mist system was able to prevent the fire spreading to the fuel pump before the main appliances could arrive. (by the way, the firefighter isn't going "psycho" with a crowbar - the figure on the floor is a crash test dummy which was part of the garage's advertising sign..) All 3 emergency services were involved in the incident... Fire (obviously!) Ambulance - with the driver of the stolen car taken to a nearby hospital under police guard, the only other injuries were minor burns/shock suffered by the garage owner (here being treated before the short journey to the Ballabreek medical centre) Police - responsible for cordoning off the area due to the risk of explosions/fumes. They also needed to collect statements and other evidence. The mine had to be evacuated, the tram service suspended, a main road sealed off and the park and surrounding businesses closed (all because of 1 car thief!!) I have to say I quite enjoyed setting up this little scene. Wanted to replace the garage with something else and thought this was a good way to do it (as well as using this year's new sets!!) Watch this space to see what happens next!! Any comments are more than welcome Thanks for looking. Edited February 9, 2013 by greg3 Quote
DrLegostar Posted February 9, 2013 Posted February 9, 2013 I gotta say I love this little town set up. It makes me really nostoglic for the towns I used to build when I had the room to spread out. You've done a really great job with it. Quote
greg3 Posted February 12, 2013 Author Posted February 12, 2013 Well it's Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day and like many small towns and villages in the UK and other parts of the world, Ballabreek marks the occasion with a pancake race. The rules here are quite simple: 1. Competitors race in pairs along the park path to the tram stop and back. 2. Pancakes must be flipped at least once on each leg of the race. 3. Fancy dress must be worn. 4. Bonus points are added/lost for flipping style, standard of fancy dress etc. So without further ado - ladies and gentlemen I give you.... The 2013 Ballabreek Fancy Dress Pancake Race!!! Crowds line the course to cheer on (and possibly laugh at!) the valiant athletes!! They may look silly but this is serious competition (sort of!) With each competitor using their own style and technique.. Competitors awaiting their turn (each one dreaming of the fame and glory that victory will bring!)... Pancakes are freshly prepared to official race standards to avoid cheating! As with any great sporting events there are winners... And losers!!! Thanks for looking... now I'm off to have pancakes for lunch!!! Quote
The Player Nº1 Posted February 12, 2013 Posted February 12, 2013 Loved the updates. Can't wait for more! Quote
greg3 Posted February 15, 2013 Author Posted February 15, 2013 (edited) This week's update shows the clear up following the garage fire... First the oil company had to remove the remaining fuel from the underground storage tank... Then the crashed car could be recovered... (I added a remote control to operate the winch) The remains of the car are to be taken away to be examined by the police... The site could then be cleared... (as the mine couldn't reopen until the area was cleared, the mining company provided men and machinery to help) Unfortunately the garage was beyond saving and had to be demolished... Now the question is what to do with the site? For now it's being used as a car park while I decide what should go there. So far I've considered.. A new garage. Police and/or Fire stations Recreational area (a skatepark maybe?) Housing (not sure who'd want to live by a mine though!!) Something else? Pub for thirsty miners? A mining/mineral museum? Comments/Suggestions are always welcome!! Thanks for looking... Edited February 15, 2013 by greg3 Quote
Bregir Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 I like the look of that burned out car and garage! :) Looking forward to seeing more. Quote
Jargo Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 This is fantastic. I'm now more interested in the unfolding life of the village than I ever was of any soap opera. Quote
DrLegostar Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 This is fantastic. I'm now more interested in the unfolding life of the village than I ever was of any soap opera. It's only a matter of time before we get "The Real Housewives of Ballabreek." Love the half-burnt out car, very clever. Quote
lightningtiger Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 AWESOME work and story telling too 'greg3'.......I love the pancake race ! What are you going to do when 60026 is released ? Plus for your gas station, how about an Octan take on an older Shell/Exxon design from the 1980's ? Quote
greg3 Posted February 23, 2013 Author Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) This week saw work beginning on extending the residential area.... As you can see, the road is being narrowed and will allow more building space on both sides of the road. As you can see the work is being done in stages to minimise disruption to the residents.... First stage is to prepare/build new housing then they'll work on the other side of the road to extend the shopping area. Later in the year I hope to add another roadplate leading to a small beach/harbour area to the village to the right of this image. A couple of pics of the men at work adding building plates! (And a way to use the new cement mixer!) Once the "cement dries" (actually, once my Bricklink order arrives!) work on some new homes can start! Thanks for looking.... Edited February 23, 2013 by greg3 Quote
lightningtiger Posted February 23, 2013 Posted February 23, 2013 Neat scene 'greg3', I really like how you change things around every now and again to tell the story of your town.......keep going and Brick On ! Quote
gazumpty Posted March 5, 2013 Posted March 5, 2013 This is quickly becoming one of my favourite threads to follow greg3.. I love the way your town has life to it every update. I bet some some of the scenes you wish you could keep Quote
greg3 Posted March 5, 2013 Author Posted March 5, 2013 Thanks for all the comments.... Unfortunately I've been ill all weekend so I've only been able to make a short basic update... As you can see, my workers have been busy building and the village now has 2 new homes!! They're based on set 1484 (Weetabix houses) from 1987... Eventually (when I add more roadplates) I might add another house where the recycling bin is to create a row of 3. At the moment only 1 has an interior (it's the "show home"!) As you can see, the houses are small but you can still pack a lot in!!! Kitchen area... Bedroom... As you can see in the first pic, there's now space for a new shop... but what? (find out soon!!) Comments always welcome... Quote
lightningtiger Posted March 5, 2013 Posted March 5, 2013 Neat little houses 'greg3', reminds me a little of the Legoland/town houses of the late 1970's. Brick On 'greg3' ! Quote
Jargo Posted March 5, 2013 Posted March 5, 2013 There's no stairs! Nor even a ladder. You're a wicked, wicked overlord greg3. I like your style. Quote
theDeanoRama Posted March 6, 2013 Posted March 6, 2013 Now is is the kind of town I'd like to put together. I like progress being backstoried as well, nicely done. As as aside, is that clock radio in the last image a custom decal? Quote
greg3 Posted March 6, 2013 Author Posted March 6, 2013 Now is is the kind of town I'd like to put together. I like progress being backstoried as well, nicely done. As as aside, is that clock radio in the last image a custom decal? Hi The clock/CD player is an official printed piece from a Belville set... http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=4865pb08 Quote
Bregir Posted March 9, 2013 Posted March 9, 2013 HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO US!? You shouldn't be sick when there are fantasillions of people waiting for another update! :P (Lovely small houses :) ) Quote
greg3 Posted March 26, 2013 Author Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) Well, with the real life villages around here buried in snow, Ballabreek has suffered its own hardship after being played with by children!! (my niece and nephew) Now I've put it back to how it should be and added a new building... This week has seen the opening of a new business... M's Gems The owner, Molly, was a geologist working for a large mining company. She fell in love with a the natural beauty of many of the minerals and rocks she uncovered but which were considered "waste" by the company (having no commercial or industrial value). Molly would take the best examples and clean, polish and sell them online as decorative items. She's now branched out into selling such items from her own shop.... I wanted to use this bank from a Batman set, but as Ballabreek already has a bank, it became a mineral shop!! Inside is a display of some of Molly's work for people to browse and a computer so she can take/process online orders too. So far, the shop seems to be doing well. Most customers are after a unique gift for a loved one or to brighten up their home... "That's just perfect" There's also the New-Age/Hippy types, they believe the crystals have mystical powers... "Groovy..." And even the occasional super villain... "Green? I'll take it!" Apologies for the poorly lit photos... I'll try to take some better ones with the next update (when/if the sun ever comes out!!) Thanks for looking... comments always welcome. Edited March 26, 2013 by greg3 Quote
Kristel Posted March 26, 2013 Posted March 26, 2013 This is a gorgeous little shop all round, but I really love the front facade. Quote
lightningtiger Posted March 26, 2013 Posted March 26, 2013 Interesting and original shop idea 'greg3'......keep them coming and Brick On ! Quote
timmyc1983 Posted March 27, 2013 Posted March 27, 2013 nice town and story telling :) i loved the way you did the car crash/garage fire, and i like the gem shop. Looking forward to the next installment :D Quote
Bregir Posted March 27, 2013 Posted March 27, 2013 Somethings you just keep returning to. Ballabreek is one of mine! ;) Quote
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