MetroiD

And even if they were allowed, they'd tip the truck over the instant they started "climbing" onto it... Of course, after they'd broken its "tipping" mechanism. Listen to our excavation expert tiger, and go with a separate flatbed trailer :] Nice idea though, would love to see it completed :]

Another wonderful last-minute entry (OK, not exactly last-minute, but you get the point:D)! Lovely buildings Nate - the one on the left reminds of the Market Street, albeit in Colonial times - nice throwback :) The addition of a ship there makes the whole scene look alive, and she's a pretty one too! A merchantman perhaps? I really would have liked to see her sails, but I guess that's useless seing as she's docked. While I'm still on the ship - I'm not really sure about her stern's construction, it looks a tad bit too edgy. Perhaps you could try a SNOT solution to that problem? As to the buildings - the blue one is definitely my favourite. That particular architectural style fits so well with those times, I wonder why no one had thought of integrating it before! Lovely idea :) The government building also looks nice, but I think you should have some more details over the flags to liven it up a little. Great way to depict the year that peace came to Kingston - although I'm not really sure why that plate+tiles piece between 7 and 6 is sticking out like that... Was this necessary in order to get the numbers right? It's not a huge problem, but it's still noticable. I enjoyed seeing the buildings' interior - thanks for providing us with pics of that as well! I love the bar and the shop, they look quite authentic. I'd suggest adding some more furniture / plants to the government building though - it looks a bit empty right now... despite the red carpet :] Finally - the quay. While the street looks very nice and lively, I think that the quay could have used some more details here and there. A couple of pirates unloading crates or chests, some rats checking on the comings and goings... It's just that this strip of your MOC somehow looks too lonely, especially with the ship gone, so I think a few details wouldn't go amiss. And finally - I think your main picture should show your ship's bow instead of her stern... Not least of all because the bow is not as bulky and if you have any scenes going on along the quay, that would provide the viewer with a better way of actually seeing them. Good luck in this category as well Nate :)

Great build Infomaniac, and a marvellous little town! I'm not sure I like the whole hanging & shooting thing - especially seeing as the contest is supposed to represent peaceful times - but then again, I guess there's not any significant level of gore or violence actually going on there, so I can't say anything. Still - I just don't see this as being a "peaceful" town or a MOC dedicated to peace and fun in any way. That aside, this MOC is obviously very nice and has some wonderful assets... + The waves! Best waves I've seen in a while, especially when used in such a large-scale MOC. + The fish store's awning. Innovative use of those door pieces! + The colours of the buildings are perfect, go together well and make for a nice and vivid town. + The double curve of the fort looks real fine - even though I think it should have been a bit taller in order to provide real protection. Now for some nit-picking: - The gray round 2x2 elements that can be seen on walls here and there - what are they supposed to represent? Or are they just included so that the walls don't look plain? - Peg-leg Pasco's hands should be pointed up, towards the sea - after all, he's somehow gotten rid of his handcuffs and if it were me, I wouldn't want to hit the water with my head first, not if jumping from that height! - The captain who's just found out his soldiers are sleeping on the job - how did he get up on that roof and why is he positioned on top of all those trans-clear plates? To sum it all up - perfect creation, even though it's not too peaceful. Nice substories too. A top-notch contender! Good luck :)

Running is the best way to burn excess calories. Although I personally would recommend a more "explosive" form of cardio - such as for example, some kind of team sport... Combine that with a proper diet that's low on carbs (i.e. MUCH less sugar products, bread, potatoes, etc.) and you'll be on the right track.

You bad bad pirate! Now that's a mean thing to do... What's even worse though is that those fellas there seem to be so stupid it's almost incomprehensible... I like your idea and that's probably one of the reasons why I'm not such a huge fan of wishing wells... :] I only throw a couple of cents in them, if I ever do (I'm a scoundrel, I know). My suggestions regarding your build are: - I think you should add more brown elements towards the base of the MOC - beneath the stone foundations of the well. I feel there is a bit too much gray & bley as it is right now and it looks like a concrete wall going all the way down, whereas with some brown here and there it would really feel as if the pirate had dug up an actual hole in the ground beneath the well. - I really enjoyed the little stream of water trickling down from the well. My only suggestion here would be to add a few diagonally positioned plates or tiles over the stream so that it doesn't look so straight. - The well itself looks a bit too edgy for me... I'd recommend using something along the lines of the round bricks + square bricks technique (as utilized by evildead in his fort's tower) in order to try and get a more curvy and realistic look to it. Furthermore, I think the well could use some more decorations (not that the toad is bad!), as well as a roof of sorts - here's what I have in mind. The buckets are not a necessary addition, but if you omit those I'd definitely recommend using your imagination to add some other forms of decoration there. Good luck in the competition

Typical Derfel landscaping... brilliant. I like the tavern's looks but isn't it really a bit too big, especially seeing as it's not situated in a town? Or is it actually going to be a part of your Pirates Town setup?

It would have probably been useful if you'd provided a link to your flickr photostream, so that we could see those pics in detail. The ones you've posted here are unfortunately downsized to such an extent that I can't really make out most of the details It looks like a great entry, and the subtle (riiiight) hint that wives can be much more scary than actual pirates is presented quite nicely. I was almost sure she'd be holding a rolling-pin in her left hand - I'm even surprised to see it's missing :D I'd be happy to provide some more feedback, but I can't really do that before seeing the actual details...

I absolutely enjoyed seeing this entry, most of all - its creativity! The idea is very well implemented, great job! I'd most definitely give you bonus points for: + your creativity (obviously!) + the wonderful SNOTty water & cliff (don't add any plants to it, it looks much more on the "raw" side that way!) + the flames look spot-on and so do the trans-clear round plates - perfect approach! + the inclusion of C-P members, funny as ever (hint hint: I'd love to ride one of these babies one day... perhaps CGH and I could go head to head if you lend us the jets :D) What I'd suggest as possible improvements: - the jets look a tad bit too modern, which is not bad -- but I feel that if you used brown pieces instead of white ones, those would look as if they were made of wood... which would make this whole thing even more absurd & funny! - while I really like the small rock that the redcoat is jumping off of (and its outlines in the water!), I feel that if the jumper had been positioned at a slightly better angle (upwards, for example), that would have enhanced the sense of action. - the photos!!! Please, even if you don't update this MOC in any way (it's a strong contender as it is already!), just upload those photos to a different website - photobucket and pict come to mind as good alternatives, if you're not a fan of flickr. MOCpages has resized and compressed your pics in a terrible manner and your entry looks far less appealing precisely because of the way the photos are displayed. Please please upload them someplace else - you'll instantly notice the difference yourself!

Ah-ha! Unfair advantage is what I call that! I'm too young for kids! (but at the right age to win some nicety from the raffle :])

Hopefully that'll be back soon... In the meantime, I need to get my bikes back up... darn!

Hmmm... Fortunately, I've still got all my pics (where's legoliner pilot now to see the mess that this has caused!). I'm also joining the Flickr bandwagon though. Definitely not a fan Yahoo!, but since I'm not too keen on having all my LEGO-related stuff hosted over at photobucket.com, I guess I'm left with no other option. That said, I still think Brickshelf will be back up and running in a few days' time. Then they'll give us some kind of notice and tell us that the site is going down for good.

Ah, more pirates playing golf! Seems like that's their favourite pastime now that peace has come to them :) I really think the "overhang" looks great here - it opens up the entire MOC and makes it look so much better. I hope the jugdes decide that it's fine for you to use, although I don't really think they'd consider this an issue. While I'm not too sure about using the gems as golfballs, I guess it would make for a fun (and much harder) contest. I wouldn't want to be the one breaking a diamond all because of a too hard swing though! Best of luck in the contest :)

I agree with that, and that's precisely what I enjoy about this MOC the most. The way the fort is constructed along that rock looks marvellous - and so does that gap in the wall there Those guys sure need some maintenance! I must agree however that the windmill looks perhaps a tad bit busy... It's a nice effect, but I think that just a little directional blur would have been enough there instead - or even no effect whatsoever - windmills are always a nice thing to look at and with this whirlpool in front of it I don't think it looks appropriate. Besides, I think the best place for such a building would have been atop the small hill - but then, there's not enough place there... Oh well, a windmill on the beach is so Don Quixote :) Best of luck in the contest and cheers for listening to SlyOwl and posting this beauty here!

Great changes, DarthLord! I love the addition of water to this, looks perfect (and scary too - at least for those fighters) :] If I were you' I'd add a shark down there - and then try to put the leg of that pirate on top of its fin instead of that grey structure. Otherwise, those are some great changes - and I totally love how this MOC looks now!

Aw, Armendariz there missing out on all the fun! Cap'n Zuloo, when you're ready, I'd like to see the tape, if you don't mind! Always wondered how a naked minifig looks Great substories Ratshot! :]]] Which one is your main pic now, btw?

Getting all commie with the labour day parades, are we there, comrade Ratshot? Nice idea though :] The only actual gripe I have with this one is that there's no hint of those construction works you've mentioned - but it does work perfectly as a parade! I like Bart's idea regarding that "bumpy road to collaboration & success" (you like the name, admit it :D) - perhaps you really should try using plates to change the height of the road here and there. I also agree that, apart from the minifigs, this MOC isn't really full of details. But then again, it's the minifigs that really count (literally!) in any parade, so I guess this is fine. Seeing as you're short of bricks, I'd suggest adding some more subplots such as the one with the rat in order to liven this up even more :] Oh, and how about some cheerleaders with batons and everything? It's a parade after all

Wow! Minifig scale for the win! You really should build your vehicles in this scale more often - seeing them alongside actual people (as in, minifigs) is wonderful and breathes so much life into your models :) Then again, I'm quite biased, since I do prefer minifig scale anyway, so I guess you shouldn't really listen to me... In any case, this is a brilliant mini-digger! It's a sweet build which looks rather sturdy despite its SNOTiness :) Great job my friend - you're on your way to assembling a true army of excavators... Is this going to be your take on Transformers?

Well, you don't need to look far for inspiration - check out one of the recent entries in CopMike's X-Mas raffle :) That's precisely what I had in mind!

Just when I thought I already knew who my favourites in this division were...! Everything in this diorama is perfect, ISC... From the treehouse & Inca temple combination through the wonderful landscaping to the tiniest of details (tho I sure hope that ol and weary sailor gets some love!) The vessels are worthy of being entered as separate entries, they're that good... I have one question though - were there really any hermaphrodite pirates and Friends fans back in those days!? Wonderful idea and brilliant execution, ISC. This is definitely among the Top 3 entries in this year's contest. You must be very proud of this MOC!

That's how some of the best ideas are created - and it's certainly the case here! I love this entry, it's brilliant how much you've managed to expand on the small base in order to build such a wonderful MOC. I don't think there's anything that this one needs changing - its colours are perfectly matched, the minifig usage is spot on (I too love how the cap'n has dressed up - even though I think his wife could have used a more "longing" look - but that's where the limited choice of minifig expressions puts a block on creativity, I guess :]), even the rock foundation is a truly marvellous structure. My favourite element here is, quite naturally, the balcony and the orange lamp you've added as a finishing touch. Great work Tom! There's no doubt in my mind that this will be one of the most serious contenders in its division!

Small changes matter in any bike mate, and remapping the ECU is a definite necessity if you put on an aftermarket slip-on. Otherwise your bike just won't be running properly... And as to news - have you guys checked out the brand new ? I think we're entering a new era of naked/streetfighter bikes - I've alway enjoyed the Zed's reworked modernistic design, but this is simply awesome :)

Mirrors are crucial because they help you spot issues with your posture while performing exercises. Seeing as that's the most crucial thing regardless of the kind of weights that are involved, you practically couldn't do without mirrors - no enthusiast can ever perform all their weight-lifting routines without a single mistake. Nice MOC though :] And I agree that this grey-haired fella looks like he's gonna kick some megablocks - what with those muscular legs, that would be painful!

I hope it was a candy cane... I mean - it was red!!! I think that's what really bugged Siegfried in the first place. If your natural skin colour was pure yellow, having that thing in red would really be something to worry about, right? You're hiding something from us... what has Santa been up to this year!? P.S.: Sorry Siggy, just couldn't resist the pun

That sounds sooooooooo wrong (on a sidenote, you could always try flickr or photobucket or pict - at the end of the day, there's some BS almost everywhere :D)

Thanks Christopher, glad you enjoyed the small details :] My thoughts precisely - you'd expect that he'd finally take a hint, after all these mishaps every year... As to Mr. Whiskers - don't worry Teddy, I think that even tho Whiskers is a pot, Santa's definitely the bigger (and clumsier) one of them two and if he can find a way out, so can that kitten :P Don't worry, I'm just giving him a waaarm fuzzy feeling