Sinister Stable

[WesternOutlaw]

Ghostly green lights and skeletal figures have been seen lately outside the Sinister Stable. What eerie mystery lies within its rotten wooden walls? Clanking sounds of a hammer hitting horseshoes can be heard coming from the barn. Perhaps the Phantom Rider is having his black steed prepared for his midnight journey; or rather, it may be one of Grave Stone's Ghastly Steeds being saddled.

And what is that shiny object that hangs in the hay loft? Perhaps the object can unlock some of the mysteries of Grave Stone... *skull*

My latest addition to the Grave Stone collection, the Sinister Stable is a MOC based on an actual set, 6379 Riding Stable, which I discovered lately looking for special pieces.

Some additional views of the set:

A view from the top:

The front:

Side:

And interior:

Hope you enjoy this latest addition. Comments/feedback welcome.

[Stauder]

A nother great MOC! But cant you use old skellies? The new one's arms seem too long... Anyway a great 10/10 from me!

Ghost towns on! *y*

[Siegfried]

Cool! I love how you added the cute horse and shoe sticker. (Digitally I assume since it isn't in the latter pictures.)

[Brick Miner]

i love that you used an official set as reference... and switched the colors and setting. its an all new set !!!

i really like this one, color scheme is good. though i think it could benefit from one more accent color. i like the red in the wagon... maybe use that in the building ???

i do have a few things i don't like.... but you know what, they aren't your fault ;-) i don't like that LEGO designed the skeletal horses to have a "cut-out" of only a brick high... while the standard horses have 1 brick and 1 plate |-/ this makes the saddles non-transferable. the saddle sits too high on the skeletal horse's back. there is just too much gap (1 plate distance). the other thing is obviously the long arms of the skeletons. i think using the bent arm might look better. for my ghost town settings, im using the old skeleton bodies, with the new heads. i like the rotating arms. it adds some fun. i like that you added a bandana to one of the skeletons, it's simple, yet i hadn't thought of it !!!

however, again, i love the concept of taking a traditional/official LEGO set and putting it in a new setting. very nice idea, B *y* and i think you pulled it off well.

i do think it seems a little strange that a normal horse appears in the sign, but skeletal horses are in the set ??? however, i like your custom sticker... maybe just not for this set :-/ maybe,... not sure yet...

- Brick Miner

[Hinckley]

Brickster, I really do love this set. I like the whole concept of Grave Stone a great deal but I have to say this is an excellent addition to your theme in a different way. It's such a nice touch of nostalgia basing it on the Riding Stables, a set I love by the way. I did recognize it right a way and I like that you give it it's due credit almost immediately in your post.

You have a nice classic style, you stick to a simple color scheme and simple, yet creative and unique building techniques. Here, for example, you added the simple gateway in the fence. Very classy MOC. When I saw the new horse skeletons I actually thought of you and knew you'd have a great old time with them in your theme.

I really appreciate that you and BrickMiner both share a great love for the same theme and the "sets" you "produce" and your design ideas are so different from one another. It really goes to show how much more LEGO could do with this them they've forgotten.

Thanks for sharing, I have so much fun with Grave Stone. Great work.

[iamded]

*y* *y* Great job! It's like when Grave Stone was a happy little town, before all the curses and what-not, there was Riding Stable. Now, there is Sinister Stable. :-P Great job, a very good set that goes well with your other MOCs. *y*

Edited June 24, 2007 by iamded

[Lt. Col. Thok]

This is an amazing little creation! I like the use of the new skellies as well as the horse. I find that the old ones are too floppy, if you get the jist of what I'm saying.

[WesternOutlaw]

Thanks for all the positive comments; although I disagree with those of you who do not like the new skeleton arms. Yes, they look a tad bit long, and they can't turn, but they are poseable which the old skeleton arms were not. I also love the new faces. The eyes remind me of those of my signature fig.

i do think it seems a little strange that a normal horse appears in the sign, but skeletal horses are in the set ??? however, i like your custom sticker... maybe just not for this set :-/ maybe,... not sure yet...

Remember, Grave Stone was not always a Ghost Town. This sign was there before the stable became sinister.

I actually tried a few signs with wording, and didn't like any of them. After looking at the original Lego set, the horse with yellow horseshoe seemed to match well. I haven't made a decal of it yet, but rather just a digital addition.

I'd also like to share some admiration for Lego quality. The first version of my MOC used new white windows and white fences. Here's a shot:

As I kept taking different images of this MOC with the white windows, it just didn't look right, so I replaced them with yellow. I had to go out in my garage looking for old sets that had yellow windows. Which set did I pull them from? Police Headquarters (585) from 1975.

In looking at the windows, which you can see from the image, they don't look much different from new windows. These windows are over 30 years old, and have not changed color, faded, scratched, etc. In addition, they stick like they are pieces right out of a new set. I'm really impressed with the quality.

Oh, and the white shutters pictured, these come from the back of the ablulance in the Hospital set (555).

The image does not show, but on the backside is the original abulance (red cross) sticksers that I never took off. These did seem loose when attaching to newer brown door/hinge pieces.

I can't help to wonder if the new softer Lego pieces will last as long as some of these pieces that are over 30 years old. Lego quality was fantastic!

[Brick Miner]

Remember, Grave Stone was not always a Ghost Town. This sign was there before the stable became sinister.

sure, but visually it doesn't seem to flow well... i think you would want the signage to represent the feeling of the set. iconography is a very strong tool. by making the icon of the building a normal horse, it gives us conflicting "feelings" about what we are seeing, visually.

here would be an extreme example of the same principle: it would be like being seeing a haunted house in a movie... and then have a bright colorful painting of a rainbow and meadow hanging above the fireplace. i mean, sure you could say "well the painting is there from the previous owners" but it would still seem out of place in the movie.

i would, at least, expect some cobwebs covering the sign, or maybe it would be tilted from age. something to cue us to spooky.

- BM

Edited June 23, 2007 by Brick Miner

[WesternOutlaw]

sure, but visually it doesn't seem to flow well... i think you would want the signage to represent the feeling of the set. iconography is a very strong tool. by making the icon of the building a normal horse, it gives us conflicting "feelings" about what we are seeing, visually.

here would be an extreme example of the same principle: it would be like being seeing a haunted house in a movie... and then have a bright colorful painting of a rainbow and meadow hanging above the fireplace. i mean, sure you could say "well the painting is there from the previous owners" but it would still seem out of place in the movie.

i would, at least, expect some cobwebs covering the sign, or maybe it would be tilted from age. something to cue us to spooky.

I like the idea of perhaps some cobwebs on the sign to show the age, but the comparison of the image to a rainbow and meadow is not a fair one. The image is of a horseshoe that would not be uncommon to a stable and a black horse. The Phantom Rider has a black steed. I suppose the image may be "cute" as someone described it, but personally, I like it. The yellow horseshoe matches the windows and door. I have not made the decal yet as I'm still deciding what i want, but I don't think its bad.

[Asuka]

Ghostly green lights and skeletal figures have been seen lately outside the Sinister Stable. What eerie mystery lies within its rotten wooden walls? Clanking sounds of a hammer hitting horseshoes can be heard coming from the barn.

A very beautiful and well fitting MOC indeed, in a very neat size and color. *y*

Perhaps, just for the good story you told, an anvil with a hammer would be

a nice addition to the interior, and maybe some chest or something

for the upper floor?

EDIT:

I can't help to wonder if the new softer Lego pieces will last as long as some of these pieces that are over 30 years old. Lego quality was fantastic!

I don

[Brick Miner]

I like the idea of perhaps some cobwebs on the sign to show the age, but the comparison of the image to a rainbow and meadow is not a fair one.

:-D well, i was using that as an "extreme" case. i didin't quite know how to express what i wanted to write without an example. i definitely didn't mean your stable and sign was that out of place ;-)

anyway, it is a small part, of an overall great MOC. i like it, just had some 2 cents to throw your way :-P

- Brick Miner

[Norro]

i love that you used an official set as reference... and switched the colors and setting. its an all new set !!!

Pretty much my thought! Good work all round!

God Bless,

Nathan

[WesternOutlaw]

Perhaps, just for the good story you told, an anvil with a hammer would be

a nice addition to the interior, and maybe some chest or something

for the upper floor?

Yes. I usually write my stories after the MOC is built; and after this story, I was thinking that I needed to include an old chest and/or another item in the barn.

In addition, I was thinking of the Blacksmith Shop when I was writing, picturing the hammer. I should have had one hanging inside the stable.

[Athos]

Nice! Great way to introduce the skeleton horses to a Wild West setting. I wonder if black fences would look better than the white, or if that would be too dark? I also wonder if you interspersed some grey bricks if it would break up the mass of brown and look like faded boards?

Steve

[WesternOutlaw]

I wonder if black fences would look better than the white, or if that would be too dark? I also wonder if you interspersed some grey bricks if it would break up the mass of brown and look like faded boards?

I tried using both a grey and white fence. The grey actually looked pretty good. The white seemed too bright with the brown barn. I didn't consider using black, which may be a little too dark.

In regard to breaking up the brown used in the building: I used the original set for my design. It has one solid color which is white:

Oh, here's a pic:

[El Bucanero]

Looks alot like the 6379, but yet so different!

You've chosen a nice colour scheme, very striking, wich makes it looks so very different but still similar to the official stable.

I really like the use of the Castle Skellies, and I'm looking forward to your next creation.

Mr Tiber

[WesternOutlaw]

Thanks Mr. T. Appreciate the nice feedback. I wish I can take credit for the design, but aside from the colors and just a few modifications, it is an official set.