Brickmaestro

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Looks like the Pet Shop is finally sold out on US Shop at Home. Not sure if someone else already noted that in a separate thread - I just know people have been speculating this set's retirement for years now.

Probably a little bit of both. I was a little disappointed the Cider Mill and Creamery from last year didn't get prizes. They were both brilliant designs and were pushed out of the top three by a couple entries that didn't seem to align with the stated rules very well. Regardless, I'm always amazed by what people can come up with for these contests and the Brewery and German Christmas Pyramid were both fantastic creations as well. Good luck to everyone.

Hopefully there will be more consistent attempts to follow the size/style-of-official-winter-village-sets rule as some previous winners have been nothing at all like official sets. While many of these submissions were amazing (like the German christmas pyramid that took 2nd place last year), it did not seem like they should have been allowed as they had nothing to do with "expanding the winter village."

This verifies some of the earlier comments about this potentially being an "inverted" corner as that is essentially what is done with the large building on the right (bakery and florist shop create inverted corner).

10 20 30 39 55 So many marvelous builds this year - and a record number of them at that! Very hard to narrow down to a top five, but here are my favorites: I thought #15 was an absolutely brilliant build as well but it really didn't fit in with this contest (not part of a village, too big, too many pieces, etc.) Superb design though!

Thanks for the kind words and compliments. Would've liked more time but vacation plans got in the way. There's been some impressive entries this year.

This is brilliant - clearly the entry to beat! Beautiful work.

Wonderful Dutch feel to the whole thing - great angles on the windmill.

This is beautiful. The storefronts look fantastic - very Victorian! Nice work.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! While other airports may be hectic and troublesome this time of year, there are never long lines at Village Air. Travelers come from far and wide to take a short ride with pilot Charles Brickbergh, the legendary aviator who completed the first trans-Atlantic flight. Since retirement, he has made a humble home in Winter Village, and built a small prop plane that the locals affectionately refer to as "Rudolph." As our eager travelers (a small family of four) anxiously await the return of the pilot, they enjoy the hospitality and fine food of the Airport Café; and Charles' trusty mechanic Biff works on the plane. ~ I noticed, as I was going through the last five years of Winter Village contest entries, that while there have been lots of cottages, and train stations, and shops, no one had ever built a Village Airport. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. While my entry stretches to 48-studs wide it is mostly open space due to the plane hangar (and the piece count comes in around 1500) so I think it is still in the approximate size of previous Winter Village sets. There are a few more pictures on my flickr account (unfortunately, I was taking pictures as we were heading out of town for the long Holiday so I didn't get time to set them up the way I wanted) - https://www.flickr.c...th/23424630643/. Any constructive criticism would be more than welcome - first time I've built anything like this. Thanks!

6) - 1 point 11) - 1 point 18) - 1 point 27) - 1 point 39) - 1 point Beautiful work by all - some very creative techniques used here. Wish I had time to put something together. Good luck.

1) lego-maniac - 3 points

9) Captain Nemo - 3 points

Wonderul addition - I, too, loved the original, but this just takes it to another level. This creation is giving DC and Mayday a run for their money. Very impressive. Keep building.

I just saw something on Brickset - a member named "bricklee" seems to think the Hobbit sets will be revealed at NYCC on October 11. Perhaps something to look forward to, or just another rumor.

1. castor-troy - 1 point 27. myko - 2 points 33. carson brick - 2 points

Absolutely stunning - this would be an incredible beginning for Lothlorien in Middle-Earth. Especially if it was lit up for a night shot. Wonderful creativity and detailing. I think this is probably your most impressive work to date. Very inspiring. Your collection of green parts makes me "green" with envy.

As everyone has said - truly stunning work, and only 10 days of work? With my schedule that would take me months to build. Really beautiful and artistic interpretation of the fortress and the rock work. Clearly this one is the admiration of the LEGO LOTR community. Well done.

Not sure if anyone has asked this question yet - but for the latest challenge, is the expectation for us to build a "new" elemental or try to copy one of the ones in the "Prelude" to the challenge? Are there any quidelines for the elemental itself?

Wow - thanks for the kudos Robuko. Your scene is a vast improvement on mine, however. I was in such a rush to throw it together I never got to properly finish the wyrm. That will be rememdied in a much larger version I'm almost done with. Should have something posted soon. Great work and great story.

That is absolutely beautiful work. It's ironic that seeing the new modular buildings come out a few years ago brought me out of my "dark ages" and yet, I haven't purchased one yet. As a construction manager/architect I'm amazed at the level of detail some of you experts are able to develop in LEGO - I never would have thought it possible as a kid.

Brilliant - I would love to see a photoshopped version of everyone's ideas together like that. I'd definitely support that.

11) - 3 pts 4) - 2 pts Brilliant work everyone - I'm really bummed that my computer and camera crashed simultaneously on the deadline so I didn't get to take pictures or upload my final chapters, but it's my fault for procrastinating to the end anyway. I'll post them as free builds once I get my camera fixed.

Everyone else has said it in one way or another - but this is simply gorgeous. It's almost breathtaking, in the same way that the Misty Shrine by lisqr was just stunning in its colors and originality. If we were voting on these Challenge 3 entries, you'd get all of my votes. Beatiful work.