greg3

Thanks for the comments... you're right about the missing commas - they've now been added. I'll work on the pic later (the white was an attempt at mist in PS but it's not really worked!!) Cheers Greg

Here's my entry for the story writing contest. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the POTC films but I love the POTC sets and they've have rekindled my love of things Lego and pirate... and given my only remaining Redcoat a new lease of life!! The young marine gazed into the mist, knowing that out there somewhere pirates lurked. Blackbeard, Barbossa, Sparrow, the very names caused him to shiver, despite the warmth of the Caribbean night. Then, hearing approaching footsteps he turned, fumbling for his musket, but as a figure appeared from the gloom, his challenge died on his lips... it was Him. The Last of the Originals stepped forward, the flickering firelight revealing a sergeant's redcoat, worn and faded, breeches yellowed with age. He spoke, his voice hoarse after years of silence. “All quiet?” “Aye sarge,” replied the private, adding nervously, “They’re... coming though aren’t they?” The sergeant looked at the young marine’s perfect uniform and pale skin, yet to experience the horror and glory of combat, and thought back to his first battle... That vicious fight to drive the bluecoats from Eldorado had been followed by years of skirmishing against pirates, smugglers and cannibals. He remembered the prisons he’d escaped from, the women he’d rescued and the taverns he’d celebrated in... before the dark times. Abandoned, forgotten, comrades disappearing one by one until he was the only one left. No more adventures, only darkness. Until finally, a ruthless new breed of pirate saw him recalled to duty. Now with fresh enemies to fight, monsters to face and men to lead, his life has a purpose again. Starting here. Looking back at the young marine, his yellowed, weathered face split into a grin, “Aye lad, they’re coming but we’ll face them together, side by side and teach ‘em to fear us Redcoats.” Hearing these words, the private’s fears seemed to evaporate and he stood taller and prouder. Saluting, the sergeant turned to continue his rounds. As he walked off, a moonbeam pierced the mist and something glistened on his cheek. He wiped it away.

Excellent stuff!! Love all the little architectural details and the interior looks great too. Nice work!!

Cheers LT... I'm still planning on putting in a petrol pump eventually As for the use of plates/tiles, the cramped location of the layout (on top of a chest of drawers in a corner) has led me to use 8x16 baseplates for the buildings so they can be easily removed to allow me to play with work on the interiors. The baseplates under the houses, post office and shop are only weakly attached (I'm going to remove the pizza shop and bike shop baseplates and attach them to the "pavement" as they can be more easily accessed.

Hi The mirror is Lego - a decorated window pane (from a Harry Potter set - one side shows Harry but the reverse is a nice shiny mirror!!)

Thanks for the comments.. I'm still trying to keep a village/small town feel to it, mainly due to the lack of space but also because that's what most of the local settlements are like here. I intend to keep it changing/evolving just like a real village, the next addition will probably be a small bank branch (the ground floor of 3661) and probably on the edge of the park opposite the bike shop. I might also try narrowing the road in the top right hand corner roadplate to give more building space... Cheers!!

Thanks for the comments... I'm not a hairdressers expert either (having very little hair myself!!) but I've been trying out various chair designs so it may yet change. And yes... the sticker comes from Ideas Book 6000 (it's actually a photocopy on printable sticker sheet... I want to keep the original sticker sheet mint!!) Cheers Greg

Layout UPDATE 29/5/11 After several months on inactivity on the Lego front I've got the bug again and decided to revamp the village... as you can sere there's been a few changes!! Firstly the rail/tram tracks have gone allowing more buildings to go up (due to financial reasons* a planned upgrade to a modern tram system has been postponed so the space is being put to better use) Also the small cottages have been replaced with slightly larger homes (copied from the house in Ideas Book 6000!!) Over view Park Shops Residential area Apologies for the poor pics (my camera is showing its age and the lens cover seems to have stopped retracting properly - hence the dark areas in the corner) Anyway, I'll have a new camera ready for some more updates soon!! Cheers Greg *blame Pharaoh's Quest and Alien Conquest!!

Hi The minifigs that own the pizza shop in set 7641 decided that the restaurant wasn't making enough profit (probably because it looked so dull!!) so they've converted it to a hairdressers instead!! (downstairs still does pizza take-aways and deliveries) This is my first Lego project after a break of a few months... nothing very fancy and still a bit of a WIP but comments always welcome... Cheers Greg

Cool review (love the pic at the end!!) I've just finished putting together the set myself and think it's great!! I really like the shape of the spaceship part. Will definitely be getting another 1 or 2 to begin my invasion!!!

Excellent little story - love the last pic especially. The lighting, set up and build are spot on!! Nice work!!

Nice!! Will we get to see the excavation?

What a cool layout... I love it!! Brings back lots of memories as most of those sets were ones I had. I think it'd be fantastic to see it all cleaned up and brought back to life.... excellent stuff!!

Great looking pub and it fits in perfectly with the other modular buildings.... I'd happily have a pint in there!! Nice work!

Nice building!! Love the giant eyeball sign and all the little details in the apartment are great. (I think the clinic looks a little bare though... not that I know what an eye clinic should have in it!!)

Hi I use printable stickers sheets from here and can highly recommend them... Crafty Computer Paper They also do lots of other printable products... printable water slide papers, dry rub transfers and fabrics (useful for sails/capes etc?)

Great idea!! I love the way you've used the different consoles to suit the game... nice work!!

Beautiful stuff!! The buildings are great and I love all the little details like the pram, newspaper seller, advertising display, pigeons etc Nice work!!

Very cool!! The "crowded" layout and range of merchandise clothes, records, electrical goods etc reminds me of the charity shops we have here. Nice work!!

Hi I'm not really into Star Wars lego but when I ordered a few non SW items (Police bank set and some Pharaoh's Quest stuff) on the 3rd, the ARF trooper was added to my order, I then got a message yesterday to say it was backordered but the other items had been dispatched. Today I got another message to say that the ARF trooper has been dispatched so I guess it being backordered isn't necessarily bad news... we'll see if it turns up!!

Very nice!! I like the action features and the sarcophagus centre piece looks perfect.... nice work!!

Nice work.. it really fits in perfectly with the theme (and I like the Spirit of Luis flag!!) Can't wait until the PQ theme hits here!!

Brilliant!! I especially like the violin case and the use of whips for the sleigh runners!! Nice work!!

Great idea!! Geocaching is currently rivalling Lego as my favourite hobby... but unfortunately I live a bit too far away to search for the robbers!! (although I've recently put a few of the collectible minifigs in caches closer to home)

That's brilliant... simple but brilliant!! Nice work.