MOC - 1950's Australian Suburban Street

[lightningtiger]

Love the work you've done LT!! The whole facade looks fantastic! I was wondering if the garage from Town Plan would fit in at all? Still, it looks wonderful. Can't wait for the tram!

Thanks 'marvinblue' , pity my password doesn't work on ANZFOL any more I would post this street there as well.

Hopefully tomorrow I will take my son out to the tramway museum at St. Kilda to spy on some trams.

Plus I agree the town plan Octan would fit, but it needs to changed to an ESSO to keep the realism.....but one garage is enough for the moment.

[lightningtiger]

It took two hours to design a period bench seat for in front of the bank.

Some fresh angles of the whole street.

Hans the mechanic is chatting to David the hardware store owner.....he's still ticked off with the old pilot shopping elsewhere.

Frontal view of most of the structures.

More to come....comments welcome.

[lightningtiger]

I only bump with a good reason.....I posted the last shot showing a Coles Store to the Coles Supermarkets Facebook page.

I copied this reply Facebook emailed to me.

Coles commented on your photo.

Coles wrote: "We love it! It's the best looking lego building we've seen in a long time, thanks for sharing!"

Coles Facebook photo page

Perhaps the NAB be interested in my take on an old National Australia Bank ?

Edit - I have started work on the tram, chassis complete....working on the sides but roof is a problem....LDD time.

Edited March 7, 2012 by lightningtiger

[lightningtiger]

It's been a few days but I need some help now.

I'm planning the milkbar to go along side the bank.....single or double storey ?

Should I stick to a general Australian theme or make it state themed (i.e. Victorian, South Australian) ?

I have designed signs and stickers for the milkbar and a few extra for the Coles Store.

Update on the tram, it is a hybrid design on early 20th century trams/tram designs that were imported/adapted from the USA.

Photos tomorrow.

Any comments and suggestions.....I would be grateful for so I can spend my dollars wisely on parts.

[Lorentzen]

Wow - I love this. Excellent work all over. It looks so realistic. Great great job. I think this is your best work I've seen. The building techniques and the stickers and the overall feel is so wonderful.

[Izzy]

What product do you use for your stickers LT?

Most of the time they fit in quite well, but in the case of the Coles red on red it becomes quite obvious it is a sticker. Have you tried the Avery clear sticker/label sheets from Officeworks? You can print on them like regular paper but the edges are almost invisible when stuck.

[lightningtiger]

Thanks for the kind words 'Lorentzen' and the question/suggestion 'Izzy'.....good old photo sticker paper - 20 4x6 sheets for 14 bucks at Officeworks. Now those sheets you describe 'Izzy' I'll look into if it's cheaper.

I have picked up supplies for the milkbar counter, but the tram roof parts are coming still.

Any other suggestions...please feel free to post them.

[lightningtiger]

Having a bit of fun with LDD tonight.....this is hopefully be the milkbar in a few days.

The yellow parts are the chewing gum display, the red tile on the wall.....headache powders plus room for stickers.....milkbars have heaps of signs.

Hopefully I can have it brick-built in two days.....parts are a problem.

Keep watching.

Edited March 12, 2012 by lightningtiger

[Farnheim]

A beautiful street scene "lightningtiger". I like the level of details, e.g. the stuff in the store windows.

As far as I can see, it has got everything it needs...

Keep up the good work! Streetscene on...

Farnheim

[Captain Heineken]

Fantastic work! And so much details. Is this an open-end project or do you have something in mind how much building you want to make? Can't wait to see the tram...

I wish I could do things like that. Very very cool!

[Johan the Yellowhead]

Wow, love it! Really like the way the railroad 'decents' into the street. Really gives me the feeling I'm walking through Amsterdam, being run over by all the trams! But again, nice build!

[lightningtiger]

Thanks 'Johan', 'Captain Heineken' and 'Farnheim' for your kind words, the tram is 40% complete and today sees the milkbar start construction.....truthfully the counter was built the other night....stickers get printed today as well.

Keep watching for updates later today.

[Oran]

You do know that you are going to be in big trouble because of this suburban street creation of yours? You are going to have to answer so many posts because of how great a MOC that this is, that you will have to be typing answers as they say in the US - 24/7!

[lightningtiger]

You do know that you are going to be in big trouble because of this suburban street creation of yours? You are going to have to answer so many posts because of how great a MOC that this is, that you will have to be typing answers as they say in the US - 24/7!

I don't mind at all, makes me feel like Discovery Channel or even History Channel !

Keep on watching everyone....it ain't over yet more to come.

[gotoAndLego]

I especially like the bank.

[lightningtiger]

Thanks 'gotoAndLego' , I still haven't finished in the second floor interior....I will do that after the milkbar and tram.

Working on the milkbar right now, I'm still trying to build what I have posted in LDD form above.....keep watching.

[lightningtiger]

Here we have the milkbar......I still have to make the street mounting for it.

Edit to explain what you see....inside an old Peters ice cream poster hangs, a full rack of Vincent's headache powders and on the counter a merchandiser full of PK chewing gum.

The lower 1x2 grille tiles will be change to metallic silver as soon as I find two of them.

I must find a female minifig to go behind the counter.....oh, well that will be part of tomorrows work.

Comments, suggestions and of course questions welcome.

Edited March 13, 2012 by lightningtiger

[lightningtiger]

I have finally finished the trim on the milkbar and found my minifig to operate it too.

I'll be working on the roadway today for this building to go with.

Comments, etc., always welcome.

Edit to explain.....The Sun was a popular newspaper in Melbourne (couldn't find a logo to do The News)...oops, great my tram is brown, white and tan....oh well I guess I could try and swap brown for green - what does everyone think ?

Now the Marchants sign is for a brand of soft drink available back in the 50's.

Edit - even though I still need some tiles for the gaps between the tram tracks among other things here is the street.

Edit - again second street light fitted....only some black tiles (roadway) and white lever bases (insulators on the power pole) to complete the exterior work.

Edited March 14, 2012 by lightningtiger

[eurotrash]

That's looking fantastic! I can't wait to see what are you going to be showing us next....

Brick on!

[BrickBox]

Getting better and better LT, great work! Interesting to see that you found some good use for one of those bulky corner pieces on your milk bar. I like the chewing gum merchandiser, looks very realistic with the stickers.

About the tram, I don't think that you'll have to swap brown for green, your color-combo should work fine imo. If any, I would swap white for some sand green, since there is already a large amount of white in the whole scene (but I guess you could also argue to keep some white in the tram because of this, so it'll go along well with the rest of the street).

edit: spelling

Edited March 14, 2012 by BrickBox

[lightningtiger]

Thanks 'eurotrash' and 'Brickbox' for your kind words, now if this becomes a Victorian themed layout (my heart bleeds...I'm South Australian ) the trams over there are and mostly been green so almost no option there I'm afraid.

What's next....only to finish trimming the roads and street lights, the interior to the bank (2nd floor) and perhaps a few window dressing signs to the Coles Store.

Of course the tram....after which I will decide if I extend the street....though if I do the short list of extra builds include Council Chambers, 4 Square grocery store, post office, butchers shop (that collectable minifig will come in handy eh ? )and boot maker/shoe repair shop.

As you can see the layout is my second longest and if I continue with it.....the length will more that double !

Any suggestions or questions, please feel free to post them.

Keep watching.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Excellent!

The ice cream shop has a perfect color scheme and fantastic old style logo!

This shop reminds me the movie "Back to the future": the scene where Marty McFly meets his father

[Redhead1982]

I've been watching your street for a while, and when looking at semi-built models, they really don't stand out. But putting them together in a street layout, they look amazing. And added stickers give extra life to them. Although I prefer LEGO stickers (if need be), your creations really look authentic. But what do you do once the layout is finished? Can you take the stickers off and reuse the bricks?

[AussieJimbo]

Great job with the milk bar, LT.

Loving all the period details.

You're obviously a PK fan. Do you keep the Juicy Fruit behind the counter?

:classic:

[lightningtiger]

Thanks 'AJ', 'LT12V' and 'Redhead1982' for your comments everyone.

The buildings will stay together for good this time, I'll be using this when the next display.

Keep watching.

Edit - I'll toss in another photo I shot earlier tonight.

Edited March 15, 2012 by Rick