Posted January 7, 201510 yr Ladies and gentlemen of Eurobricks meet Barry. Barry lives in Lego City but not the Lego City you may see on TV because the real Lego City has a seedy underbelly and despite what the Legoland Tourism Company would like us to think not everything is awesome....... Barry was once a corporal in the Legoland Army until he thrown out after returning late from a bar and hitting his commanding officer. Bitter and short of cash he turned to crime but after a few brushes with the Lego City Police he decided to go straight. Thanks to a few helpful donations to a local councillors favourite charities Barry was able to obtain a licence to open a pawn shop. Barry would like to help me today by giving you a tour of my first modular MOC, Barry's pawn shop and apartment. This building is a 16 wide modular with the ground floor consisting of Barry's Pawn shop and a side alley with Barry's apartment on the first floor Behind the shop is the stairway to Barry's apartment, some overgrown bushes and bins full of rubbish. There is also Barry's nemesis, a stray cat that he chases but always comes back to annoy him. There is a hatch from the apartment to the roof and a water tank. As you would expect the local seagull has left some presents on the roof. There are also some strange crates... On the ground floor is Barry's shop. It has some tools and household junk, jewellery, sports gear and a guitar that unfortunate residents of Lego City have had to sell to Barry when they hit hard times. Running alongside the shop is an alley that is home to rats by day but some more unsavoury characters after dark..... Here are the household and jewellery cabinets and Barry's counter. Behind the counter is his "tool kit" the bat for driving away tramps who sleep in the alley, troublesome customers and the cat! There is also something for when residents even more dislikable than Barry decide to pay him a visit Barry leads a simple life but not a neat one. His only furniture is a bed, sofa and TV. Not being the domestic sort the apartment is full of empty bottles, pizza boxes and takeaway containers and the cups in the sink may have been there a while. Then there is a shotgun in case the shop has any late night visitors..... Look, here come Dave and Tony from the Lego City PD, maybe they have heard Barry is attacking the cat or could our heroic law enforcers know something about Barry that we don't??? Unfortunately the cops may not be so heroic after all and Barry is persuading them to look the other way, but why would a law abiding citizen need to do that? Because maybe Barry never went straight after all and the shop is just his front Thanks for taking the time to view my creation. As it was my first modular build and first proper MOC in a long time I have tried to keep it simple but wanted to add some story at the same time. I would love to hear any comments and criticisms you have about it.
January 7, 201510 yr Interesting character, this Barry. His shop is definitely ok, however, the grey colour and the lanterns make the shop appear a little "medieveal".
January 7, 201510 yr Nice story and nice MOC. From the street I thought that you needed a second window/door to make the Pawn Shop more inviting, but I see there is little room for it from the other pictures. Might want to add some sort of sign out front saying it is a Pawn shop to Legoville. Nice touch with the ladder to the roof.
January 8, 201510 yr This is great wee modular and well thought out and designed. I agree with pirzyk above that some signage at the window or some sort of pawn shop symbol built off the wall would really complete the external detailing. Something like this could be fashioned in bricks....
January 8, 201510 yr Maybe if the Detective's Office had a story like this to go along with it, the AFOL's would be satisfied with it? Mmmmm, not likely. Awesome work! Loved the narrative!!
January 8, 201510 yr Author Interesting character, this Barry. His shop is definitely ok, however, the grey colour and the lanterns make the shop appear a little "medieveal". Thanks Captain Braunsfeld. There are two reasons for the mainly grey colour scheme, first I am wanting to build a series of modulars in an older run down part of town so there won't be too many bright colours. Second most of my collection is in my parents house several thousand miles away so my choices are a bit limited just now! Nice story and nice MOC. From the street I thought that you needed a second window/door to make the Pawn Shop more inviting, but I see there is little room for it from the other pictures. Might want to add some sort of sign out front saying it is a Pawn shop to Legoville. Nice touch with the ladder to the roof. Thanks, pirzky. As you say there isn't much space for another window since a lot of the ground floor is taken by the alley though I am not sure if Barry's shop will ever be inviting! Great idea on the sign, the shop does need some outside advertising. I will see what parts I have available to make one. This is great wee modular and well thought out and designed. I agree with pirzyk above that some signage at the window or some sort of pawn shop symbol built off the wall would really complete the external detailing. Something like this could be fashioned in bricks.... Thanks gazumpty. I like the sign you posted and will see what bricks I have to make one with. Good to see another Scotsman on EB I like it.......Hard Brick Pawn ! Not bad modular 'JSN' and Brick On ! Thanks lightningtiger. Maybe if the Detective's Office had a story like this to go along with it, the AFOL's would be satisfied with it? Mmmmm, not likely. Awesome work! Loved the narrative!! Thanks d-delay. Not sure I want to get into the DO debate just now, might comment when I get round to buying it but I think if you suggested Barry's story for an official set LEGO might not be too happy Glad you liked the story. My plan at the moment is to make a series of MOCs ultimately making up a part of my town based on buildings you would see in rundown parts of big cities (bar, bus/train station etc) featuring some other characters I have ideas for but that is not to say Barry won't make another appearance... Edited January 8, 201510 yr by JSN
January 8, 201510 yr I quite like this. The building perfectly captures what you wanted to display, a plain building you wouldn't look twice at - the perfect hiding spot for a pawn shop with some under-the-counter-business. It really looks like it could be located in a rundown, seedy part of town. No vibrant colors and neat facades here. The background story fits like a glove. Thumbs up!
January 8, 201510 yr Thanks Captain Braunsfeld. There are two reasons for the mainly grey colour scheme, first I am wanting to build a series of modulars in an older run down part of town so there won't be too many bright colours. In any case: medieval is fine with me I am doing all this castle/dwarf stuff...
January 17, 201510 yr No woman or friends in Barry's life? This thing seems a little sad ... However your moc is very pretty
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