missouri_bb63

I have sat here for the past 30 minutes looking throught these again, and again, and again... I already knew what my favorite was for category 3... but this is going to be tough. In a way it's a shame that one can't vote for 1st - 3rd place... that would make things marginally easier.

Ok... one more post. This is an important one though. Final due date for GIFs in the 1.5 release. 07.10.09 As Alban would like to release version 1.5 as soon as possible I think it is a good idea that we postpone the integration of any more set GIFs until version 1.6. Alban might have to do a certain amount of post processing on our GIFs and XMLs and the more GIFs there are, the further the release will be delayed. Also, this way we can start creating the next round of GIFs with 1.5 compatible XML files instead of having to make 2 versions like we do now. I did a quick count this morning, and it appears that we have 76 new and reworked GIFs (this does not include subset GIFs like xxxx.set2... xxxx.set3 etc...), which I might add is... just amazing! Thanks to everyone who slaved over a keyboard an mouse to get them all done. Make sure you put your authoring details in your XML files! If you don't know how, let me know! Feel free to complete any set GIFs that you have started and try to post them by Wednesday. After that, I will make a new post in the BlueBrick index for Version 1.6. I will carry over the construction list and any GIFs that arrive after that date. (exception is user cusaeng who made MSPaint GIFs a while back and is still converting them).

OK, this is my last BlueBrick entry for the next few days. Need time to roam through all the other great threads too! I have finished adding minifigs and vehicles to my set GIFs. If you notice anything missing let me know. One of them includes the 6362 post office. As you can see I decided to include the vehicle in the Set GIF as this vehicle is quite small and its position is unlikely to get in the way of something else. I guess whether one seperates the vehicle has to be decided on a set by set basis. Other sets that I re-worked are the: 6372 Town House and... 4532 Crossing (Minifig says... "Damn that is heavy! When is Lego finally going to bring back the level crossing with electric gates?" ...and before I forget, I was hoping Aawsum would mention it here as he did the translation, but I figured I should let you know that the Dutch version of the Video Tutorials have been available for a while so go check it out! (link in my signature below)

Nice GIFs FreeBee! It is interesting that we made the same GIF on the same day. I had hoped that when I added mine to the "under construction" list at lunch time it would have been soon enough. I chose to dedicate a GIF to each baseplate as the airport can be made up in different configurations depending on the layout / space available. This is also the reason why I left out the runway end markers so that any baseplate can be used at the extremities of the runway. FreeBee I would recommend changing your landing pad to part number 6099p01 and the cone for the wind sock to part 3942bp01 which were the ones used in the original set. Please people, send me a PM with the sets you would like to build so I can add them to the index and hopefully prevent this from happening again. I agree that a connector is probably only needed on the left side of set 1682.

My first new, non photoshopped GIF in ages.. and I think it turned out well. Below are the links to the GIFs and XMLs (still 1.4 versions), to build what you see in the picture below. As I actually own this set, and I needed the GIF to re-create my old layout, I just couldn't resist. This evening I will finish adding minifigs and vehicles to my remaining set GIFs. It is hard to see here but the Pilot is actually taking a nap on the wing of the aircraft. ZZZZzzzzz GIF : 6392 Airport Set 1 GIF XML : 6392 Airport Set 2 GIF XML : 6392 Airport Set 3 GIF XML : 6392 Airport Set 4

As this point is quite important I figured I should give it an extra post. This is a new rule/recommendation for the GIF makers. There are some sets which contain vehicles that do not fit on the sets baseplate. Up until now we have included the vehicles in the regular set GIF but outside of the baseplate or extremities of the main model. The downside of this is that it might get in the way of other set GIFs. The blue boat in my 6542 launch and seaport GIF might be a good example of this. After a brief discussion with Alban it was decided that we go with the solution used by user Rapseflaps for his 7641 city corner set. The vehicle is saved as a seperate GIF and given the following file name 7641.set2.gif and 7641.set2.xml. In BlueBrick 1.5 it will be included under the regular "Set" tab. This way vehicles that do not fit on the sets basplate can be positioned somewhere where they won't get in the way of other set GIFs. The file naming used above can be used for any set that consists of more than one part (buildings, vehicles etc...).

Thanks for the additional information Alban! I will give that a try later on. In the mean time here are my revised monorail points. I did a little more tweaking, but not much. Just replace the old ones in your 1.4 parts folder with these ones. The current XMLs will work just fine. I am dedicating much of this weekend to BlueBrick so you guys can expect more posts from me soon. GIF XML : 2889 Monorail Point Right GIF XML : 2890 Monorail Point Left

It has been relatively quiet in BlueBrick land this past week, but I can't imagine anyone noticed with all the incredible competition entries flooding in. This is just a quick note to present the new parts XML file to the GIF builders. The parts XML for version 1.5 now not only includes your authoring details, but also the set description which used to be located in a seperate file called partinfo.xml. You also have the possibility to add the Peeron image URL. Incase you have't done so already. Please update your current XML files with your authoring details and part descriptions. These two elements are important. If you have the time to add the image URL that would be great too. Please send them to Alban by Email. I wouldn't post them yet as there might be conflicts with the 1.4 version that people are currently still using. (not too concerned about the space XMLs as not many folk have shown interest yet) Here are the links to two example which Alban was kind enough to complete for me based on my classic space GIFS. XML XML (includes image URL example)

If I ever get to build a Lego town layout again I really want to have one of those! No, make that several. You got the shape and details down really well. I actually remember seeing those in the 80s. Fond memories.

The steamer looks fantastic, but like several people have already noted above, the wagons really stand out too. Very long and sleek design with nice color combinations. Very nice!

The track side building MOCs just keep getting better and better! Great colors and wall detailing (aging). The way the path goes from tiles to 1x1 rounds is nice and I like the offset you used around the doors and windows. Did you base this model on a real life example?

Wow, you got those done quick! That police station was my first Lego City set many, many years ago... and I still have it (in storage along with the rest... which includes that bus station). I have added all your GIFS to the index. Hopefully I will get at least one set GIF done this week.

This is a great entry! I can only agree with what has been said before. Great colors and really innovative ideas. Got the whole corporate identity thing going. I like all the different items that are in the mail boxes too.

That is a really nice shape, and I like you choice of colors, and the rigging is great! I myself am a big fan of sailing boats. You really should take the pictures again. The boat probably turned out darker with the curtains open because of backlighting. The camera found that the background was too bright with the curtains open and darkened the whole picture accordingly. If you take the pictures with the light source behind you, you shouldn't have that problem (just make sure it doesn't cast your shadow onto the object you are taking the picture of).

Unfortunately you need quite a lot to run with power functions. 8878 battery box (rechargable) or 8881 battery box with 6AA batteries. 8879 remote speed control (variable speed) or 8885 (fixed speed) 8882 XL motor or 8883 M motor(s) depending on the power you need 8884 IR sensor 8887 Transformer (battery charger) I used, 8878, 8885 (because 8878 was taken off the market for a while), 2x 8883, 8884 and 8887 plus a PF extension cable to bring the power from the tender to the boiler. It is expensive too. I am sure I paid over 100 Euros for the PF gear plus shipping on BrickLink.com There is a great thread about the pros and cons of each system here. It is definitely great for steamers as you can actually power the drivers with them. Happy building!

Hi Tony, yes you have and thanks once again for your positive feedback! Your work is definitely an inspiration to many of us including myself. I have just uploaded a few more pictures to Flickr, one of which shows the two M Motors inside the boiler (just incase there are still some sceptics out there). The direct Link to my Flickr page is in my signature below. As this is now a contest entry I figured I should say a little more about this project. If you want to find out more about the BR50 range of locomotives check out this wikipedia article. As I mentioned earlier, this whole project was intended to a present from the start. This model is based on a specific train which is on display in a small town in the south of Germany. A family that originally comes from that small town were a huge support for me over the past few years and I was looking for a way to thank the family as whole, and give them something that the next few generations of kids and grand kids can remember them by. The locomotive is like the base of a family tree. It represents the town the parents came from and carries the now rapidly expanding family with it. Each member of the immediate family (2 parents, 3 daughters, 2 husbands in law and 2 grand children), are represented by minifigs which I made to represent each family member as closely as possible. Unfortunately I am away from home for a few weeks but will post a picture of the Minifigs when I get back. The train driver you see is actually the father of the family. He collects silly hats (hence the red one on the minifig), and he also always intends to fix stuff around the house... but never quite gets around to it, hence the torso with the tools. Each minifig/family member also has their favorite pastime with them. Books, snowboard, dog etc ... and I even made a very large NOS bottle for one of the husbands in law which can be hooked up inside the drivers cabin. (no idea what that would do to a steam engine...) The wagon is also a replica of the one at the museum but it does not have an interior as it carries items which are important to the family, or represent mutual memories in some way. This includes the pastime items mentioned above as well as the billiard table and piano that we used to play with at their house when we were kids (photo on Flickr). The inspiration for those 2 items came from a combination of various MOCs I found online. The 6 wheel configuration on the wagon (which is what the real version has), can be changed to a 4 at the front and 4 at the back setup so that it can go around the track. I will also post a picture of that when I get home. The family often only meets once every two years (happens to be this year), and they will get the train as a surprise present this Christmas, completely disassembled and they will get to build it as a family. There is enough track with it so it can go around the Christmas tree once completed. As the family expands so will the minifigs and items on board. Hopefully the set will also expand as soon as the grand kids get into Lego in a few years time. This way it might still be used even once the parents (who are now in their mid 60s) are gone and some important family memories will stay alive.

Hi Brickster, if that were possible that would be great! As you can see from the date of the initial post, it was built before the competition so I figured it couldn't be entered. You can find additional high res pictures on Flickr along with descriptions and a video of it in action. I will see if I can upload some more pictures of the waggon and it's contents later today. Thanks for pointing out the possibility!

Oops! I've been so busy with the other threads that I forgot to check on my own. Thanks you guys for your positive feedback. As I don't have access to an actual collection of lego bricks (all in long term storage), all the bricks for this MOC were bought on BrickLink. This was actually built to be a present and I will be handing it over this Christmas. It was built like a tank with not too many small parts or details details in the hope it may survive many years as a childrens toy.... only time will tell. I was orginally going to build a Challenger locomotive for myself this year (have had the BBB wheels lying around for many months now), but watching the Discovery Science channel shortly after I completed the BR50 I got an idea for something completely different. No, it is not related to trains, but have no fear, the Challenger will come at some point. Thanks again and happy building!

This little train is a stunner. I really like the colors on this and I think your choice of green was a good one. You really did capture the details well too. It wouldalso look good in 8 wide, but it would have a different character. I like this one as it is. Looking forward to seeing your next MOC!

That looks great, thanks! Haven't had time to work on the monorail switch or RC cross track yet but. I will at least add the latest set GIFs to the index this evening.

Really well done! It is just the right size, I like how you mixed curves and angles, and the detailing is great.

Really, really nice. I like the interior detailing. There are some really clever fixtures and fittings in there. I can't wait to see the completed "real" brick version.

Part 4719c01 under "other parts M" for Minifig

That's interesting, I was looking at that the other day on Peeron. Another great addition! You might still want to add the 2 minigifs and bicycle? Here is my contribution for today. I didn't feel like working on the monorail (will do that during the week), so I picked up one of the track parts that Aawsum made and set about tweaking it in Photoshop. Aawsums XML can still be used. I didn't put quite as much effort into it as the 9V points, but I think it turned out pretty well. I will do a little more editing during the week. Before: After:

Stunning! I can't believe the amount of detail and textures you squeezed into there. A truly great use of parts!