Bookworm

I've always been disappointed that many hairpieces, such as the Dolores Umbridge one mentioned at the beginning of this thread, are not reused. There are some really nice ones included in the CMF's that I've never been able to get because they aren't wildly available. And it seems like TLG uses the same hairpieces every time in City sets! Let's have some more variety!

This is really cool! I love your use of the curved bricks for the cup's handle and steam rising from the top – what an innovative idea. The kiosk would fit perfectly into any Lego city.

Very nice addition to Ballabreek! I love the path (the dark- and light-gray studs work really well) and all of the foliage that surrounds it. The low bridge across the stream is a nice detail and really makes the area seem like a good spot for hiking. I like the information board, too. It was a good idea to add a bit more nature on the outskirts of the village like a real community would have.

The Fun in the Park set makes a lovely addition to the central park of Ballabreek. What a diverse group of minifigures! The price tag makes me hesitate ($40 for a collection of minifigures? Really?), but your skillful use of the set is tempting me to pick up one of my own... I find the new fountain to be a bit grandiose (must be the golden wings) but I think it works well in your arrangement. The tire race is fun! I love all the quirky Ballabreek traditions. They add so much personality to your layout.

Your Customs House looks spectacular and it's great to see you building again! I really like the details on the façade, especially the statuary in the center pediment and the stonework above the windows. It will be a fitting addition to your city. Thanks for sharing with us.

I've always loved the Beach House (4996) in spite of its small size. I thought its modern style was really cute, and some of the details are really nice, such as the interior fireplace, barbecue grill, and outdoor patio with seating area. There's enough room indoors for you to add furniture on both floors, which cannot be said for all the Creator houses. The Beach House was also very budget-friendly when it was first released; I doubt the same can be said now but I'm sure you could BrickLink the pieces without too much difficulty. The Beach House set also makes a great parts pack if you ever decide to tear it down because it contains a lot of windows, doors, and black slanted roof pieces. I actually have two sets; one still stands in my city because I like it so much and the other was broken down for parts.

I was disappointed to see Lego essentially re-release an old set instead of something new. The Winter Village is one of the most popular themes – eagerly awaited by many every year – so it is puzzling why TLG made this decision when so many consumers (including myself) were looking forward to a new set. I do have the original Winter Toy Shop, so that's another $80 in my pocket instead of Lego's. Thanks for the laugh: it brightened up a rather gloomy thread.

Bonjour Vincent et bienvenue au site Web Eurobricks ! J'espère que vous vous amuserez bien ici. N'hésitez pas à me demander des questions si vous en avez.

Welcome, Blackpool! I, too, was a lurker for many months before I bit the bullet and signed up. It's a lovely community of folks who are all passionate about Lego.

It looks great! Having just gotten back from a rafting trip a few days ago, I can testify that your boat is quite realistic. The jetty is a small addition, but a useful and effective one. My favorite touch is the boat's wake behind the motors (which are also cleverly designed). Now I'm anxious to see where the boat trip ends!

I love your modded construction vehicle; it's a big mean demolition machine! I'm looking forward to seeing future updates to Ballabreek. Do you know what will replace the burned-down shed?

What a creative story! I echo Captain Settle's sentiment: I had no interest in these sets before, but you have made the theme much more intriguing. Excited for the next installment!

I separate a set into its various smaller components and store each component, disassembled, in its own Ziploc plastic bag. I then put all the bags in a gallon-size one to keep all the parts of a set together. I store similar sets – such as my Winter Village ones – together in labeled plastic boxes so that I know where to find each set again.

I agree that you should definitely get the Pet Shop first. Rumor has it that the PS will be disappearing soon, but the Detective's Office should be around for a while since it just came out this year. I also think the PS is a better set overall than the DO; the two 16-wide buildings break up the monotony of a modular street very well and the set has some great details. In my opinion, the PS matches the Parisian Restaurant perfectly. I have both the PS and PR, and they look ideal together – both quite elegant and European-inspired. The DO looks like an American building from the early 1900's to me, so I think it clashes somewhat with the PR.

Your town looks great, Lightningtiger; I really like your "work-in-progress" style of updates. It's cool to see how everything evolves. Your wires and poles for electricity stood out to me – so realistic!