WesternOutlaw

I thought it might be fun for those of you who have the Winter Toy Shop to share an image of the set in its surroundings. Next to snowy peaks, by frosty streets, on fireplace mantels, with lots of Santas... how have you displayed your Winter Toy Shop? Share an image here.

Very reminiscent of Classic Town. It reminds me of the old Exxon station. I especially like the use of the roll-down garage door. My only suggestion is perhaps using a few extra pieces to fill up your baseplate - like a tree, some flowers, maybe a bench, lamp-pole, etc. - oh, and maybe a large jack (unless that's one hiding in the garage).

Fantastic Benny! I love all the extra details that you put into this superb MOC. That freezer is fantastic, and the little bathroom - love it! Neat transport truck very "Classic-Town". I think this deserves some front-page publicity. Great job!

Frozen fish! Frozen fish! Get your frozen fish! Wholesale fish sales have never been better, especially with Benny's latest Trains & Town creation. Benny has shared his Japanese Seafood Wholesale Market with a number of clever details including a fish freezer, bathroom, forklift, classic town-style transport truck, and other wonderful necessities for the Japanese wholesale fish business. One thing that you can always count on in the EB Town Forum is fresh MOCs that never smell after three days.

Thanks guys. Those aren't meant to be beams, but rather those ornamental rain/drainage pipes that are usually red/rust colored in Spanish/Mexican architecture. I don't know that they're called though. I wanted some gold/bling. I think the trumpets are also a bit symbolic for rejoicing. Yes, good suggestion. I only had 10 brown chairs available at the time.

To Tony and others visiting from Railbricks. Can you tell us anything else about the 2010 Calendar? It sounds like a really neat project. Will the images be from past Railbrick train spotting photos or completely new pictures? Any word as to when the calendars will be released for sale? I'm sure some of our EB Train Tech members will be interested. And to all: in case you haven't heard, make sure you check out Railbricks.

Welcome TC. Feel free to share a train topic from time-to-time. Things have been a little slow around these parts lately.

I love the color, esp. with the green stripe. This is a very nice creation, and a great scene. Love the white statue.

Alienncat: this is really beautiful. What a fantastic church/cathedral. It's funny. I'm not a theologian, but I find it somewhat ironic that over the past few days, we've seen three different churches shared on EB. While my Spanish Mission is no where close to this on the quality scale, I built it as part of a Mexican Village that I've been wanting to create for a few weeks now. I had not seen either of the other two churches before building my own (at least I don't think I did). The irony/mystery is that many parts of Christianity deal in "threes" - Trinity, Three Kings, Noah's three sons, etc... With Christmas just one month away, we now have three churches here in the EB History Forum (all shared in late November). I like to think that there is some Christmas magic in the air.

Happy winter WhiteFang. To me, this beautiful creation is much more than a MOC, but rather signifies a mood, a gift of the heart. I don't think my mere comments does this justice. Rather, a poem may be more fitting.

Snow Globe It’s raining in Atlantis… phosphorescence gleams as snow falls on the cathedral. Imaginary people scurry for cover as a white blanket descends. Upheaval as the blizzard comes with renewed force and snowflakes Forcing mermaids to hurry to hidey-holes and peer through the glass. See them wide-eyed staring from the windows. Souvenir... silver flakes and innocent smiles. -Poem by Australian poet Graeme King -MOC shared by WhiteFang

Everyone's favorite train publication, Railbricks, has announced their plan for a 2010 Train Calendar. Each month will feature a different train image from outstanding Lego train builders, as well as other important information relating to the Lego Train Community. To read more, visit Railbricks, Brick Railroading Magazine.

Thanks Peterab. That's nice of you to say. I'm pretty new to MOCing LEGO trains, last year's Ghost Train the first time I've tried. Actually, I have tried building steam engines over the years, but they (or I) always fail miserably. I've picked up some tips in looking at old 12V sets, which has really helped. Thank you Soc. That's a really nice compliment and makes me feel good. Whenever you can help others through building tips and inspiration, that's great. Now I'd like to graduate and move on to building some of the outstanding MOCs that some of our expert train builders are able to create.

Not too much in the back, aside from a stain glass window. It could maybe use another entry point. That's the one. Good research HK. I go in "building spurts". Don't feel bad though. Quality is much more important than quantity. I spend a whole day on this creation, building, and rebuilding. I seldom spend an entire day on anything. We may just be seeing some of those figs as the village expands. Good thinking - maybe. Thanks KD. Seems some don't like the simple cactus. I like the red roof, but not sure about the round bricks. They were initially tan, but I changed them to red for a more terracota look. Here's some additional images of the MOC (again taken at night): Front: Front right: Front left: Left: Rear (needs a door, doesn't it?) Removable roof: Removable tower: Interior side: Interior (from alter): Interior (from side): Alter: Thanks for all the feedback. Now I want to destroy and build a new one. I think there's too much color.

Today's Update: No UPS delivery truck or door step package yet. Thanks for the feedback - glad to hear you guys enjoyed the read. Uncle Buck is pretty safe - even for the little ones. I would have liked Christmas Story or one of the Vacations (like Christmas Vacation), but it's still a bit early. Three! Wow! -and I'd be happy w/ just one. I wish I had ordered earlier to build for my mini-Thanksgiving vacation. Maybe it will come soon - maybe... Funny story. It just goes to show that when the local politicians want to cheese it up and serve Christmas on a plate, it never works. I think Christmas is in the heart, not a tin tree out of a box (not saying that there's anything wrong with the fake tree that I put up every year). Merry Christmas to all, but not Lego (until I get my Winter Toy Shop in one piece). EDIT Dec 1: On the 1st day of Christmas, I got my Winter Toy Shop, da da, da, da da , da da daaaa.

What good is a Christmas Village without a bakery? Great idea for an add-on to Lego's Winter Toy Shop. I like how you managed to use yellow for a winter creation, a color uncommon to Christmas villages (at least those that I've seen). It works quite well, and I like the height ; somewhat shorter than a tall Victorian or Dickens-like village structure. I think this adds to the charm of your MOC KD. As always, you've also added a nice interior. I'd like two loaves of that French bread please. Very nice KD, and I'm sure it will go nicely with the Winter Toy Shop. Mine hasn't come in yet.

Thanks Z. I really didn't want to create a new locomotive and 3225 had the perfect colors for blending in with the wagons. Thanks a lot WF. One can always count on WF and Classic Town. Thanks C. I cheated a little bit and created a photo-edited image of the entire collection. It's not the best, but shows most of the Civil War sets (with the exception of the Confederate River Boat). Link to History forum topic That's probably why my train MOCs only get a few comments. -But I'll keep working at them.

Thanks fellas. Darn toot'n! Yes - Mexican Village in fact. I didn't think the large doors were too large -now you've got me looking at them. Standard red. I'll post some detailed images later today. That's a good suggestion. I had not thought of using the arms. That would look good. I've had 10 brown chairs in a pile that I've never used -they just seemed right for the occasion. Now that I've built it, I want to wreck the whole thing and reconstruct it (not from any of your comments), I'm just not happy with the combination of colors.

Wow! This is really impressive AlienCat. Creations liks this separate the basic builders (like me) from the pros. I like how you were able to really capture the look of a brick built building using the different colors within the structure. In addition, the design is outstanding, packed with details. Just when you see one detail, another pops out at you. Love the windows and that dome roof is superb. Outstanding creation!

Yet another new Atlantis set review, this time from MayTheBricksBeWithYou. Dive down to Atlantis with 8057 Wreck Raider.

I'd like to revisit a Wild West sub-theme that I started a few years ago by sharing this new creation as the first building of Old Mexico. Inspired by a number of Western movies, most notably the 1960s classic, Magnificent Seven, this is my version of a Spanish Mission seen is a number of gunfights. While it's not exactly a perfect LEGO rendition, I have modified it to suit my liking and limited piece collection. There is a large red roof behind the tower and front gable that lifts off to reveal the interior. The second floor of the tower also lifts off for added playability. I did take the image as well as a few others at night so the pictures could have certainly come out better. I'll share a few day-light shots tomorrow. Please note: this is the first building that will be part of a larger Mexican Village.

Five Things I Did While Waiting for the Winter Toy Shop The Day After Thanksgiving in the Ordinary Life of an AFOL First let me begin by telling you that I was fortunate enough to still have a chance at obtaining 10199 Winter Toy Shop by ordering from Legoland California. Like many others in the US, I waited until the week before Thanksgiving to order the holiday set, only to realize that the set had been discontinued. What a wonderfully winter blunder on the part of LEGO. LEGO magazine covers, post cards, and SAH advertising placed images of the little toy shop everywhere, only to discover that they did not have enough to feed their hungry U.S. LEGO consumers this holiday season, ordering a small and inadequate lot of the festive sets. In another wonderful decision, LEGO decided to not backorder the set in fear that the supply would not be available in time for Christmas, discontinuing the highly desired Christmas set. This decision can only be compared to two other great blunders by LEGO including the transformation of grey to “bley” followed by the discontinuation of 9V trains. One has to question the intelligence of our favorite toy company. Are our voices not heard by the LEGO Group? Let me also point out that the Winter Toy Shop is a CHRISTMAS Toy Shop, with no intent to insult those that do not celebrate the wonderful holiday. Sure it doesn’t contain Santa or any green dressed elves, but it’s definitely not the Great Pumpkin that the set signifies with its CHRISTMAS carolers and large decorated CHRISTMAS tree with gifts and star topper. LEGO has slipped into the same politically correct habit as many stores and companies have done so removing the very name of the holiday and what it represents. In an effort to appease minority interests, we dare not speak the name “C h r i s t m a s” in marketing the set and LEGO SAH’s Holiday Shop with candy canes, Christmas trees, and advent calendars. I particularly applaud Playmobil for continuing to call their holiday sets with the rightful Christmas name. So enough about the discontinuation of the set and not calling it a Christmas Toy Shop, let’s continue by sharing some holiday spirit that may or may not center on the LEGO hobby. The day after Thanksgiving might be the day my Winter Toy Shop arrives in a smashed box by way of U.P.S., everyone’s most careful carrier. Never mind the damaged box; I would just be lucky that I was not one of many who missed out on the limited holiday set. Would it arrive? I could only hope and keep myself busy until then. 1) My day started early by watching an all-time classic comedy movie Uncle Buck, starring John Candy as a large middle-aged uncle who must watch the boy from Home Alone and his sister while their parents are away from the home for a reason not important to the movie. Huge birthday pancakes; a visit to the local elementary school in which Uncle Buck tells off the scag principal/vice-principal giving her a quarter to get her large facial wart gnawed off by a rat; and Buck scaring the hell out of “Bug”, slimy boyfriend to Buck’s teen niece are just some of the movie’s more memorable parts. Watching the movie would not be a total waste, as I was able to break-down a number of LEGO Civil War MOCs collecting dust on the fireplace, to make room for holiday decorations, soon to be #2 on my list. 2) Number two would take most of the day and involve a lot of holiday decorations inside the house, a fight with my Christmas tree (I curse it every year as I attempt to figure out how to wire the “prelit lights”), and a mid-day lunch of Thanksgiving leftovers, one of the best parts about Thanksgiving. Part of this annual “honey-do” would involve adding a coat of snow fabric to the bottom of my fireplace (where the Civil War MOCs and a few Atlantis sets were resting) in anticipation of the Winter Toy Shop. Someone in the background kept saying, “it looks like something is missing on the bottom” of the fully decorated fireplace; but rest assured, I had a purpose for the empty land and a few Creator 30009 Christmas Tree impulse sets that stayed close by. Strands of lights, gold and red bulbs, Christmas runners, wreaths, lots of Santas, and memorable Christmas photographs would soon decorate the house adding festive holiday cheer to my spooky home that was just decorated with ghosts, goblins, and a Bloody Mary LEGO river boat from Halloween. Christmas time is near, and there’s little room for Grave Stone when it’s time to set up the white snow box derby hills, Hoth battles, and snow villages. 3) After an exhausting day of hanging Christmas decorations, I would be glad that the chore was complete. A relaxing hot shower and bath robe would set the stage for a peaceful and quiet evening. I would take a brisk walk to the mail box to see what was there aside from bills. Okay, the mailbox run was just an excuse to see the Christmas lights that I put up the day before Thanksgiving. Deciding to hang up colored lights this year, bright red illuminated candy canes would lead a path to the front door as well as a blinking star in the front window. I had done a good job on the lights and was one of the first to put them up on my street. I would not have to worry about decorating later as the countdown to Christmas was well underway. Unfortunately, the UPS truck was nowhere in sight as I starred at the blinking star wondering if I would get my Winter Toy Shop. Time stood still. 4) Dinner and a movie is always a great way to finish off a day, knowing that I still had two more days off, and a chance to see the Winter Toy Shop. As I looked upon the decorated fireplace admiring the lights and the many gold ornaments, I spied the desolate snow clearing between holiday pictures awaiting the construction of the toy shop. Would it arrive? It was getting rather late, but “UPS is always busy around the holidays”, I kept thinking to myself. A voice in the background told me that it may not come today, but I believed. I believed that I would see the Winter Toy Shop, but a movie would help take my mind off the evening wait. 5) Retiring to the bedroom, the 1960 all-time classic western, Magnificent Seven would soon create gunfire and building inspiration within the home absent a Winter Toy Shop. One of the more memorable quotes from the movie involves a discussion regarding whether or not someone deserved to be burried in Boot Hill. The response/quote was “There’s nothing up there but murderous cutthroats and derelict old barflies, and if they ever felt exclusive brother, they’re past it now”. Great movie but I must admit it is a little slow, especially when waiting for a LEGO set to be delivered. For those of you interested, we might be seeing a Mexican village as my next Wild West creation. 9:00 PM quickly came and went without a knock on the door or the loud noise of a brown UPS delivery truck. My Winter Toy Shop had not come, and while I was a little disappointed that it had not, I did realize that there’s something much more important than LEGO, not that I didn't really know that before. Christmas decorations, you might ask? No, but the answer is family time. LEGO is a great hobby and the anticipation of getting a new set or a special set is so much fun, but what’s really enjoyable is to be able to share your anticipation with your loved ones. Whether you have friends, family, parents, wife, husband, dog or cat, to be able to share moments of enjoyment and of failure with those you love makes the world go round. It doesn’t really matter that I didn’t get that Toy Shop delivered yesterday, but I am thankful for having a family to spend time with, as well as EB friends who I can share the story with through this article. The Winter Toy Shop may come today, or maybe it won’t; and for some, I know it won’t be coming at all. All of that is unimportant in the “bigger scheme of things". From me to you, I wish you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with warm memories, whether they center around LEGO or not. Your EB Trains & Town Moderator, TheBrickster