WW Category 2: 1908 Wild West Town

[JackJonespaw]

Congratulations on 6000! I know I will be buying whichever of these comes out first, so I'm anxiously awaiting the trek to 10,000!

[Diamondback]

If it's not too late to suggest a minor refinement: there were few to no specialized gun-shops in the Old West, or in a lot of the USA outside of cities until around the '20s, and even into the 1930s you could buy even a Thompson Submachine Gun over the counter at the local Ace Hardware if you could afford the huge price-tag. (Which was $200, plus an additional $200 NFA tax after 1934, at a time when rail-fare in a Pullman lower-berth aboard the 20th Century Limited from New York to Chicago was $51.30 one-way, equivalent to $680 now, and at the time that Chicago typewriter's out-the-door price was 2/3 of a Model T Ford.) Every Old West town needed a General Store anyway, so just a little sign tweak and it's still perfect.

As a general rule, most Old Westerners bought their guns the same place as everything else, the local general store.

This is, overall, a GREAT project though--someday I'd like to try to tackle an accurate minifig-scale Tombstone myself. (Which I think would also be a REALLY cool theme, there was plenty of action going around in 1880s Arizona Territory. Perhaps Tombstone one year, Deadwood another, Dodge City a third?)

Edited April 10, 2012 by Diamondback

[marshal_banana]

Thank you so much for your nice comments and inputs! I appreciate that! It was interesting to see which building the community likes the most. My personal favorites are the post office and the saloon. The sheriffs office was the first building I started with and the post office the last. I expect that I will have new information about the project in the following two weeks.

I'm also trying to get the Wild West communities behind the project. If you have friends who are active on such blogs or communities, please let me know. that would help a lot. Please also take a minute and share the project on facebook and twitter, that could make a big diffrence.

I'm also excited about the concept LEGO is up with. For sure, there will be changes. I'm also collecting your thoughts and inputs for some improvements.

@Diamondback: thank you for yor interesting historical information!

[Another Brick In The Wall]

If it's not too late to suggest a minor refinement: there were few to no specialized gun-shops in the Old West, or in a lot of the USA outside of cities until around the '20s, and even into the 1930s you could buy even a Thompson Submachine Gun over the counter at the local Ace Hardware if you could afford the huge price-tag. (Which was $200, plus an additional $200 NFA tax after 1934, at a time when rail-fare in a Pullman lower-berth aboard the 20th Century Limited from New York to Chicago was $51.30 one-way, equivalent to $680 now, and at the time that Chicago typewriter's out-the-door price was 2/3 of a Model T Ford.) Every Old West town needed a General Store anyway, so just a little sign tweak and it's still perfect.

Still works if you interprete the GUNS sign as a basic billboard above a different General Store. Btw wasn't there a specialized Gun Store in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"?

I hope this reaches 10K soon. It would be such a tragedy if it doesn't. So much fantastic work here. Do CUUSOO projects have time limits to reach 10k?

Edited April 11, 2012 by Another Brick In The Wall

[Diamondback]

MB, quite welcome--I'm a competitive shooter and budding collector, so Firearms History has become an interest out of necessity, and I tend to believe information not shared has no point in its acquisition. :) (That, and I've been helped by a lot of experts who usually get serious coin per hour and have only asked in return that I help others as they helped me.)

AnotherBrick, good point--the split between Spaghetti Western Fantasy and Old West Reality can be difficult to navigate, and even in the latter separating reality from the myths and legends is complicated and difficult. (I'm currently reading a book of primary-source material about the Earp-Cowboy feud in Tombstone, getting ready to argue with a police-historian and noted firearms-trainer friend's take on Doc Holliday even though I agree with his thesis that Wyatt Earp could readily be called "the first modern police officer".)

Oh, from another thread but related: Tombstone would only be a licensed property if you specifically used the film's distinct logos and likenesses--all of the major characters are historical figures and thus they and the town name are "public record" open for all. Problem is, if I'm reading the scale on my map of the gunfight area right, the streets are like 60' between sidewalks and each block is like a quarter mile from street centerline to street centerline... which means roads 60 or more studs across, and each block would be like 1320 studs over centerlines, with some buildings only like 20 studs at most by 30 to 50.

It DOES mean needing new tooling for side-by-side coachguns, though... since differentiation between specific models of revolver is unlikely and the existing rifles could probably pass for a passable Winchester, just need the venerable shotgun to complete the Western weapons trifecta. (Bonus, it'd also be helpful for 1920's gangster/Prohibition/"Untouchables" MOC'ing or sets, too!)

EDIT, minor self-correction: there were some specialists, almost every town woulda had a gunsmith or two, the General Store was a far more important part of town. Back then, though, actually all the way up to 1968 you could buy guns by mail order even, and still can under certain conditions... (Those conditions are you have to have what's called a Curio & Relics Federal Firearms License, and the firearm so purchased has to be on an approved Curios & Relics list.)

Edited April 13, 2012 by Diamondback

[jamie75]

7000+ votes! It was close earlier today, but, now it is over.

If you haven't voted, now is the time. Hit twitter and facebook to get the word out about this!

Jamie

[Another Brick In The Wall]

Congrats on 7K!!!

This project is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality (although I'm much more in love with your other CUUSOO project).

[Impersoldier]

Not quiet long to 10.000 votes....

[Brinstar]

Congratulations on reaching 7,000 + plus votes. I think its not a matter of 'if' but 'when' the 10,000 target is reached.

[jamie75]

Congratulations on reaching 7,000 + plus votes. I think its not a matter of 'if' but 'when' the 10,000 target is reached.

Agreed!! I have a feeling around July we will see the 10,000 mark hit. Which, would hopefully mean a January release.

Jamie

[Venunder]

Although I probably would not have a place for the full Western Town in my diorama I would by a few of these sets.

The mainly white building is my favorite although the Saloon can be modified into a restaurant.

I like the interior furniture details and I especially like the chandeliers. :thumbup:

[Cammo]

Made an account on Cuusoo to vote for this theme.

Create idea, Lego doesn't need to make new pieces so it's not that of a risk I think.

BTW would you use yellow minifigs or flesh-toned ones?

Saloon is the obvious choice to go first. It's the most typical Cowboy setting.

Hope you can realise your project

[Anio]

EB's Frontpage :

"EDIT 72 : ..."

Seriously, this frontpage is a joke. -_-"

[legomylego]

I absolutely love your western moc just one thing that kinda spoiled the western feeling was the model t(it is really cool though) I always loved the old west . I grew up watching John Wayne cowboy movies.

[purpleparadox]

I voted for the saloon, mostly because of the interior. I LOVE THE PIANO, and the fireplace! Of course the large "Saloon" sign on the outside is amazing too. I'd definitely buy one of these as a set.

[Legonardo]

8000+ votes! time for a new frontpage!

good luck, as I have said before awesome model!

[jamie75]

8000+, It gained 40 votes in the 8 hours I was at work. Should hit 10,000 votes sometime during the month of May!

Jamie

Edited May 1, 2012 by jamie75

[Knapen]

Voted for this one some time ago (when is was at the 3000 vote mark) and I am glad to see this one going all the way.

It's a great idea and perfect execution. Hopefully Lego won't change much at the design.

Edited May 1, 2012 by Knapen

[Kelmanator]

Voted for this one some time ago (when is was at the 3000 vote mark) and I am glad to see this one going all the way.

It's a great idea and perfect execution. Hopefully Lego won't change much at the design.

I agree. It is beautiful and really captures what a salon is like. Hope it gets released !

[TheLegoDr]

The nice thing about this set-up, you can remove the Model T and place it in an earlier time and it would still fit right in. Although, I do love that Model T.

I voted for the Gun Store, mostly because of the color scheme and siding, but all of the buildings are beautiful. I love the Stage Coach and that Model T. It would be great to see this hit 10,000 supporters and get made into a theme, not just a set. I'm sure TLG would change the buildings and whatnot, but if they keep along similar lines, it would be okay.

Maybe if it hits the 10,000 mark, TLG could contemplate an early 1900s theme instead of just Wild West, although I welcome either/both.

[CaptainBermuda]

If this actually gets to 10,000 supporters, will TLG make a Cuusoo set of western, or will they actually bring back the theme?

[fyrmedhatt]

8000+, It gained 40 votes in the 8 hours I was at work. Should hit 10,000 votes sometime during the month of May!

Jamie

We should all make a serious push for this to happen, as Lego is intending to their next review in June, if this set misses that boat there will probably be another three months until they do another one.

I totally voted for the saloon, if only one of these western modulars were ever to be produced, it should be something as quintessentially western as a saloon.

[mrklaw]

Voted for Gun store but really that was just for the shuttering/slats on the walls (whatever they're called). I think the saloon would be a better main model or perhaps a blend of the two (not sure Lego are ever going to make a Gun Store)

[Alexgri]

Are we sure that Lego will accept ALL those models????

[LEGO Family]

Supported .... Now 8998 supporters .... Whos is gonna be the 9th K supporter ? ... Could be you !!! :P