greg3

Great looking building deign!! I really like the interiors and the Adidas logo/sign is very cleverly done!! I'm not so sure about the Dark Grey exterior on the second floor though, it makes the outside of the building look a bit dark (that's just my opinion though!) Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!!

This update features a small exhibition showcasing the work of a small team of local scientists/engineers. They've spent the last few years developing what could become the future of personal short range transport and here it is... The Gyrosphere!! Powered by the latest in energy efficient electric motors, the Grosphere is intended to demonstrate a new and environmentally friendly way of travelling. At the moment it can only manage a top speed of around 5mph and carry 1 person but plans for larger more powerful models are well underway. The aim of this exhibition is to raise awareness of the project and hopefully encourage people to invest in it. The display includes an actual Gyrosphere... Information screens about the development, construction and possible uses... A mini-Gyrosphere to show how the vehicle moves and is controlled by a touchcreen smartphone app. The exhibition seems to have worked!! One of the engineers has been approached by a wealthy investor looking for transport options for an "animal based theme park" - he seems to think that the Gyrosphere would be ideal and is prepared to place a large order for a 2 seater version!! As you can tell, this update comes after I found the new wave of JW sets in my local toy shop!! More updates coming soon!! Thanks for looking!!

I'm in the Isle of Man.

Hi Not sure if this has been mentioned already but my local Toymaster store has the Stormtrooper Sergeant Polybag available for £2.49 (or even better: FREE if you spend over £12.99 on Star Wars Lego (ends May 31st) I presume other Toymaster stores have the same offer going on so it might be worth checking out.

I'm afraid I'll not be able to attend after all (having had to spend the money I'd hoped to spend on travel etc, on getting my car fixed instead!!) I'd held on hoping that I could get something sorted but with only a month to go, it's not gong to happen (fingers crossed for next year!!) Sorry about that...

Looking impressive so far!! Can't wait to see how it ends up once you add more detail. Nice work!!

Brilliant!! I especially like the interior details! Informative too... There's a SPAR at the end of my road (although it's just a small convenience store) but I never knew SPAR stood for something (or that it was Dutch!). Nice work!!

These are brilliant!! I used to love the "Trumptonshire" shows. Any plans to do Chigley or Trumpton too? Thanks for sharing (and bringing back many happy childhood memories!!!)

This weekend sees Ballabreek holding its first ever "Supercar Street Sprint" event. Loosely based on some of the motor sports events held where I live, it involves a short individual timed sprint along closed public roads. In this case, the main road through the village has been converted into a race track image by g.nat, on Flickr Cars start near the mine (luckily the work to redesign the mine entrance was completed in time!) and race just under a mile to beyond the other side of the village. Here you can see a Ferrari ready for its run while the other competitors await their turn. Emergency and recovery vehicles stand ready just in case!! image by g.nat, on Flickr View down the course... image by g.nat, on Flickr Most of the village has turned out to watch. The event has also attracted many visitors. image by g.nat, on Flickr The more daring drivers use the level crossing to get some "air" (I don't know much about supercars but I'm guessing you wouldn't do this with the real thing!!) image by g.nat, on Flickr After all the cars have completed their runs, they parade back along the course, to the delight of the spectators. image by g.nat, on Flickr I've been looking for opportunity to use the Speed Champion sets in my layout, and earlier this week I was out watching a real life Classic Car event along similar lines to this involving cars from 1911 to the modern day (no supercars though!!) and thought this would be a good way to do it!! Anyway thanks for looking - Comments are always welcome!!

Another quick update.... FIRE!! It's a while since Ballabreek's had a proper fire so here we go!! image by g.nat, on Flickr Not the best photo in the world, but as always there's a story behind the image - which is an "outtake" from my ongoing ULTRA Agents story so to find out more check out the story here http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=105728#entry2188200 Thanks for looking.

Time for an update!! Part 3 (and my own take on the origin of Infearno) image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr Thanks for looking. Comments are always welcome.

This is great!! I like the wide range of buildings you've used (nice to spot a few of the "classics" in there!!) Your MOCs are excellent too and I like the way you've used a raised section so everything is easy to see. Excellent work!!

That's really nice... I love looking at smaller buildings (probably because my town's small and I need ideas!!) I especially like the way the shop is so well stocked (good use of microfigs!!) Thanks for sharing!!

If ever there was an April Fool I'd like to be real it must be this one!! https://ospreypublishing.com/blog/lego_and_osprey_publishing We all know it'd never happen but how cool would it be.... Ancient battles, the World Wars and up to the modern day (better than Mickey Mouse and friends anyday

A mini update (couldn't resist setting up this topical little scene) A few days ago, the people of Ballabreek were treated to a rare astronomical sight.... A near total solar eclipse!! Just like where I live, at the peak of the eclipse the sun was about 93% obscured by the moon (but unlike here, they had nice clear skies to view it!! (I did manage to get a brief view of the real thing through the clouds - a pretty amazing sight!!)) Heading the warnings not to look at it directly, the Ballabreek Institute of Scientific Research set up a telescope to project the image onto a screen for everyone to enjoy. Here the eclipse is well underway. image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr With proper eclipse glasses in short supply, some people made their own pinhole projectors to view the event. (Or used their phone cameras to capture the moment) image by g.nat, on Flickr Comments are always welcome.... thanks for looking!!

Looking good so far.... I love watching how people's towns develop and it's especially nice to see a smaller layout design. Can't wait to see how you get on!!

Thanks for the comments..... Over the last few weeks I've been looking at doing something with the rear of the mine. Up 'til now it's just been the rear of the official set (and not too attractive!!) so I've been experimenting with a bit of landscaping and here's the result!! Before Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr After image by g.nat, on Flickr My main aim was to open up an extra area for use in stories etc but as always there's a bit of a back story. The area behind the mountain currently belongs to the mining company but is unused and overgrown so as a bit of PR work, the mining company has decided to gift it to the community for leisure/recreational use once the building work on the new mine entrance has finished. image by g.nat, on Flickr The citizens of Ballabreek are currently deciding how best to use the land, which also includes a small disused storage building. Suggestions so far have been to create a trail behind the mountain to open the area up for activities such as mountain biking, hiking and climbing. The building may be converted to a snack bar/cafe or a small museum/heritage or nature centre. Or it may be demolished and replaced with something else (I'm considering an alternative energy centre with a small wind turbine, solar panels etc) or the area may just be landscaped. No final decision has been made yet so any other suggestions are more than welcome. image by g.nat, on Flickr Once again, thanks for looking... More updates coming soon!!

Is it part of the human eye?

My village/town is called Ballabreek... In the local language (Manx - a Celtic language based on Gaelic) it means "Place of the Brick". I made up a backstory/history a while back to explain that the name derives from the Middle Ages when the local landowner built himself a manor house of brick as opposed to the stone that had been used previously. (And not from the fact that the village is made of little plastic building bricks!!!)

Nice find!! It does have that classic LEGO town vibe to it... I might just have to pick one up (and MOD it into an open backed usable house for my town!!) Thanks for sharing!!

Fantastic looking church!! I love both the exterior (especially the top of the spire) and the exterior (great attention to detail and the organ looks brilliant!) Excellent stuff!!

Cool little build... I'd love to see a version with the engine running (flames, smoke etc!) Nice work.

Here's part 2... (Featuring a cameo by Emmet!! (Maybe he'll get his own story soon!!)) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Thanks for looking - comments are always welcome.

Nice little build!! I like the modern design and use of clear parts... The "trees" are a clever use of parts too. Nice work!!

Simply beautiful!! I love the smooth lines and all the little details (hard to believe it's Lego!!) Excellent stuff!!!