This has started in City sets too over the last few years. I think it's a method to help people put correct spacing between important elements, but seems pointless in a modular set!
I'm struggling with my own layout at the moment, but if you're looking for cheap surfaces, try these tables from Ikea: http://m.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/art/20045205/
Quick, cheap way to get area for your layout at a reasonable height!
Good question! My top three "army builders" are:
1) series 9 policeman - have around 30 - 40 of these.
2) series 10 Roman commander - 20 of these, largely accidentally though do like them! Missed out on earlier soldier thanks to my dark ages.
3) heroic knight - 10 of these, lately accidentally again
Considering collecting series 11 constable next.
Very nice! I bought the HH for the same reason - not a MF fan but thought it looked cool. I'm planning to mod mine in to a modular-style corner building when I get the time!
Really nice mod, the transition to the 9wide trailer works surprisingly well (and looks better to me than the original trailer with that odd jump from 6 - 8 wide: the only thing preventing me from buying 60025!).
Great work! HE is one of my all time favourite sets (I own 4 already!) and that's a nice rendering - wouldn't mind it sitting on my desk! The train/carriages seems a little on the short side, though, compared with the real thing?
Series 10 now available in John Lewis, Eldon Square Shopping Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne. Not in Fenwicks yet, they seem to be stuck with a lot of series 9 figures left to sell!
40) Chicken Suit Guy Entry (Build by Oky) - 1 point
44) Roman Emperor Entry (Build by LukeClarenceVan) - 1 point
26) Hollywood Starlet Entry (Build by vecchiasignoraceppo) - 1 point
Like! Been wanting to build something similar for ages, and this may be the motivation I need!
Agree with comment about removing ladders though - looks just a tad oversized
Nice job on the loco, though not sure about the red stripe across the back - looks a bit out of place to me?
Love the gondola, and with my stack of minifigure bases I may have to create something similar!
60002 is the best fire engine TLG have produced in my eyes, and I like the more European, 6 stud wide reduction.
As others have said, nice model with good part selection, just a shame about the large DSS!