BlueBard's Town Display Poll

[BlueBard]

Hi, everybody! As many of you already know I'm preparing a City Display since a year and a half ago and now I've all the structures ready (not posted yet, I know but I'm a bit busy with university work... ) I'm still thinking about the actual display look (and not for the first time, I know... ) Actually I've a little problem about including roadplates, I've none, and pruchasing the ones I need through SAP or BL is extremely expensive (4 roadplates I would include in the first one= 70 or 80€... ), so I've decided to build my own ones (cheaper and easier to fit with my MOCs)

Then, I've two possibilities in mind that I would want to propose to you here:

1.T-shaped:

- Pros:

- More room for street scenes

- More actual city look IMO

- Roadplates

- Easier to include vehicles

- Addition of a new buildings ( to fill the little space near the Red and White Bar)

- Cons:

- It's more difficult to have an ensemble look (specially for taking pics)

- The backyards are smaller (so just really little scenes there)

- Renovation of several structures (roads, sidewalks, doors, windows...), so it woult take more time to finish it

2.Compact:

-Pros:

- Easier to contemplate and to have nice pictures of the ensemble

- A big backyard in the middle (possibility of many scenes there)

- It's already built!

-Cons:

- Really small sidewalks (6 or 7-wide, can't make them bigger because of the backyards)

- More artificial look IMO

- No roadplates, so the vehicles would look a bit weird there

So, the consequent question would be, if you were me what display would you choose?

Thank you very much for your advice and your help, EB community!

Edited March 22, 2010 by BlueBard

[wooootles]

Who says you can't have roadplates going with option #2?

I like option #2, even without roads. Easier to photograph in streetview, your buildings (all look amazing btw) has their front facades easily visible, unlike the T, who has some of its buildings turned on its back on some views. Also, in a downtown-looking district, here in USA at least it is dominated with grid sections (with 1-way streets) and rarely do you see a T-junction, so for me that's a con against the T.

My 2 bricks.

[Jasper Joppe Geers]

If it was me, i'd choose the second option.

Basically the same case with my street, i must say it brings

along some practical advantages when it comes to keeping

the buildings clean and dust free.

With the T-shape set up it would be (a bit) more difficult.

Furthermore, the second option shows the best way everything

you've done so far, and therefore more enjoyable.

Just my two cents!!

Cheers,

JJ.

[Brick & Mortimer]

I would go for the first option:

It has a more "town-look" to it.

[Alex the Great]

I like the look of the first one, but the second has an easier way to view the buildings. It also has a very cool back alley, a lot of cool scenes could be made with that. Why couldn't you add roads to the second one? Just trying to help.

[BlueBard]

Thanks for your advices, people!

Who says you can't have roadplates going with option #2?

Why couldn't you add roads to the second one? Just trying to help.

Sorry, I did not explain it In the second one I would need 9 roadplates (so, if the sets are around 12€ + transport that makes 100€ of roadplates, yes they're really expensive, ), what would too much expensive for my poor economy ) And even if I try to build my own ones, 9 would be really expensive too

Basically the same case with my street, i must say it brings

along some practical advantages when it comes to keeping

the buildings clean and dust free.

With the T-shape set up it would be (a bit) more difficult.

Actually I have not room for keeping it displayed so the cleaning and the dust-free would be a problem anyway But it's a nice argument anyway

Edited March 22, 2010 by BlueBard

[prateek]

For display, I'd go with 2, but I like 1 better overall because it leaves more room for playability, and as you said, looks more realistic.

[lightningtiger]

Well 'BlueBard', I would say if it's Modular like GG/FB/GE option 1, but if it's classic like my town buildings that have open backs option 2.

I'm a conformist! !

[BlueBard]

Thanks for your advices and your votes, people!

Well 'BlueBard', I would say if it's Modular like GG/FB/GE option 1, but if it's classic like my town buildings that have open backs option 2.

If you look at the pics you'll see all the buildings have "closed backs" like MS/CC/GG/FB/GE so I'll take that as an "option 1"

Edited March 23, 2010 by BlueBard

[BlueBard]

Well, it seems the EB's advice will be option 1, then!

I've some goods news concerning this display: fortunately, I'm trying to obtain some roadplates by exchanging them directly with spanish AFOLs so maybe I could have option 1 with regular roadplates, what would mean 12-wide sidewalks and a loooooot of place for scenes

But, don't be shy, let's continue the voting!

[MetroiD]

...maybe I could have option 1 with regular roadplates, what would mean 12-wide sidewalks and a loooooot of place for scenes

Have you considered having the possibily of adding a tram to your display? Yeah, I know I'm a bit too much into trams lately, but I've often thought about how modulars would look when combined with baseplates and the only good solution that comes to mind is putting a railway track on that extra open space. Otherwise it just feels very unnatural to me...

That's a particular problem we need to solve with my LUG for our upcoming exhibition - we've got quite a few street baseplates, but nowhere near enough pieces to tile them, so those baseplates would look totally out of place when positioned alongside a modular, for example... Which is why I'm trying to convince my fellow LUGgers to just get rid of the baseplates and think of something else instead.

P.S.: Oh, and as to your question: I'd also go for Option 1, but I'd flip the intersection so that all buildings are actually facing the viewer.

[BlueBard]

Have you considered having the possibily of adding a tram to your display? Yeah, I know I'm a bit too much into trams lately, but I've often thought about how modulars would look when combined with baseplates and the only good solution that comes to mind is putting a railway track on that extra open space. Otherwise it just feels very unnatural to me...

I'm not especially crazy about Lego trams and trains but it could be a future addition yes

P.S.: Oh, and as to your question: I'd also go for Option 1, but I'd flip the intersection so that all buildings are actually facing the viewer.

I know, I know... I'm trying to solve the problem without being forced to add more roadplates However, think that in those pictures the sidewalks are 7-wide and in the real model they would be 12-wide, I tried it some days ago and the result is much more "clean". Anyway, everything is modular so it would be easy to remove structures for taking pics, but your idea of fliping the intersection is going to be seriously considerated

Edited March 31, 2010 by BlueBard

[Rick]

Definitely T-shaped.

MetroiD: interesting idea of adding a tram line to the 'sidewalks' of baseplates in combination with modulars. Another use could be parking spaces, alternated with trees.