greg3 Posted June 4, 2013 Author Posted June 4, 2013 This week's update gives the people of Ballabreek an idea of some of what would have been happening on the beach in its heyday as a tourist attraction (and was inspired by a visit to a couple of real life local attractions (a fully working 120 year old Camera Obscura and an old open air theatre)... Overview showing a mobile Camera Obscura and a temporary stage for a Pierrot show.. The Camera Obscura - once it would have been a mobile changing room (Bathing Machine) for the swimming pool but it was converted into a camera obscura during the 1880's and has been restored by the "Ballabreek Victorian Society"!! It's fully functional and uses only Lego parts... a screen inside shows an inverted but full colour moving image of whatever's out the front. In its day it would have been the only way to see a colour moving image on a screen so was incredibly popular. When my camera's recharged I'll post some more pics of the Camera Obscura to show how it works (I think it might even deserve its own topic!!) Pierrot show. Such shows were very popular at British seasides but while the costume was copied from the traditional French character the acts varied from juggling, music, acrobatics and comedy sketches. In some places they had purpose built stages but more often than not, they performed on a simple board stage on the sand. (They were very popular and during WW1 Pierrot Troupes even performed near the front lines) This troupe are performing a comedy routine. They've been singing 2 songs, the guy with the banjo(?) has been telling the sad tale of his girlfriend who's left him for someone else while the sax(?) player's song is all about his new love.... this picture shows the moment when they realise they're singing about the same person!! What happens next is that before they come to blows the maraca player (who's a bit slow on the uptake) "knocks" them both out when he realises the girl is actually his sister! (I know it's not the greatest routine but I had to come up with a reason for the expressions I've used!!) Thanks for looking - I hope you like this little scene - comments are always welcome... Quote
eurotrash Posted June 4, 2013 Posted June 4, 2013 Do you have room for a Punch n' Judy Show? or a small fun fair? Quote
SwissBrick Posted June 4, 2013 Posted June 4, 2013 Very Nice!!! Love the Camera Obscura concept: a small hole to the outside in a big dark (very dark) room and here is the scene you see outside in the small little hole in big upside down projected on the wall opposite to the hole. There you are, in a camera! Quote
lightningtiger Posted June 4, 2013 Posted June 4, 2013 Great work 'greg3'.......keep having fun by the seaside.....oh, I do like being by the sea..... Brick On 'greg3' ! Quote
greg3 Posted June 15, 2013 Author Posted June 15, 2013 (edited) What are you going to do when 60026 is released ? A beach cafe would be nice. Brick On 'greg3' ! Well I'm glad you asked!! Having just bought 60026 as a birthday present to myself, I'm working on fitting it into Ballabreek. The next few updates will follow the work... First off, the pizza place... as Ballabreek already has a pizza shop, I've turned the 60026 version into a cafe for by the beach. Didn't need much MODing - just a new sign (from an old ideas book) and a few extra details inside... Front view Back Close up of the interior... added a coffee machine and an extra stool at the (extended) counter. The large windows allow customers to enjoy the view even on days like this when it's a bit cold and windy!! Happy customers!! The cafe serves hot and cold drinks as well as delicious snacks and meals. (all using fresh local produce and at reasonable prices!!) Thanks for looking and any comments are always welcome... next update will be based on the 60026 bike shop (whatever it ends up being!!) Edited June 15, 2013 by greg3 Quote
Jargo Posted June 15, 2013 Posted June 15, 2013 I love visiting Ballabreek. The Pierrot's act seems so accurate to the sort of humour Victorians enjoyed. Tangled and tragically comical. There used to be a troupe of Pierrots that performed near my home during the late Victorian era, in a pleasure gardens adjacent to one of the Mersey ferry landing stages. There was also a Lido and tea room with a huge hotel between them all. The hotel boasted an indoor swimming pool. Sadly, by the 1930's the Ferry service was gone and everything fell into decline. All that remains is a few broken tiles clinging a remnant of the hotel wall in a vastly overgrown patch of waste ground. The pleasure gardens were ploughed through when a road bypass was layed down. :( Which is all by the by. What i wanted to suggest was that a Lido might be a nice addition to Ballabreek.The sea isn't always a nice place to swim and a small Lido would give families a safe place to bathe. Quote
lightningtiger Posted June 15, 2013 Posted June 15, 2013 Nice addition 'greg3'....only advice is move the register terminal so the owner can operate it right. Keep up the great work and Brick On 'greg3' ! Quote
Alasdair Ryan Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 Lovely town, If I may I would like to suggest some improvements to your layout. I think the harbor wall should be made higher than what it is at the moment,to 'define' it more from the sea front. I also don't really like the 'pool' area because it is not 'defined' enough from the sea,Maybe you could build a small leisure center to house a better looking pool? I am also going to have to admit I am not a fan of the church,maybe some improvements could be (funded ). Quote
greg3 Posted July 29, 2013 Author Posted July 29, 2013 Long time, no update!! Thanks for all the comments - I probably will at some point get round to doing something with the open air pool (either getting rid of it - making it a marina maybe, or developing it with more facilities etc) But for now, I've finally got round to fitting the 60026 Bike Shop into the village (with a few mods!!) First it's now a single storey building, I got rid of the revolving doors (great idea and design but just not suited to such a small building) and added a side wall.... finally I fitted it out as a small independently run outdoors/camping shop. Front view (the sign is a sticker from an ideas book and was the inspiration for the shop!!) Side view Inside - a couple of mannequins and a selection of camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag etc) is set up to display the available products. More items are displayed on the shelves (the thing hanging in the middle of the bottom shelf is meant to be a "Camelbak" type hydration backpack. Finally a view of the shop in the village. In the winter it can sell skiing/snowboarding gear and it might eventually get its upper floor added if Ballabreek gets more taller buildings. Anyway, thanks for looking - comments always welcome. Quote
LAKAbricks Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Nice addition to Ballabreek, Greg3. I like the interior, you have made/found some nice stuff to sell in the shop. I don't recall, I have ever seen the sticker. Which idea book is it from? As always looking forward to further updates /Laka Quote
greg3 Posted July 29, 2013 Author Posted July 29, 2013 Thanks for the comments... The sticker is from ideas book 697 (the same one as the sticker I used on the beach cafe in the previous update) Quote
lightningtiger Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Well, that's an original store idea 'greg3'......I like it. Nice tent design too......I might have to find an image of that sticker sheet online. Keep up the great work and Brick On 'greg3' ! Quote
LAKAbricks Posted July 30, 2013 Posted July 30, 2013 (edited) Thanks for the comments... The sticker is from ideas book 697 (the same one as the sticker I used on the beach cafe in the previous update) HA! I've got that idea book. Guess I haven't taken a look at the stickers for quite a while yeah, got it. Just found it. EDIT: Btw, do you have some updated pictures of the entire of Ballabreek? Edited July 30, 2013 by laka Quote
jluck Posted July 30, 2013 Posted July 30, 2013 I cat believe I've not been following this! I love your idea and what you've done so far, I will be watching! Quote
marvinblue Posted July 30, 2013 Posted July 30, 2013 I've just found and read the entire thread. This is some fantastic work greg3! I really like how its all incorporated into such a small space. The storytelling really makes it come alive as well. I've also enjoyed your unique use of existing set buildings and how you've turned them into something completely different. The burnt out car and building were a stroke of genius! Someone mentioned earlier that this is great inspiration for non-modular towns and I whole-hartedly agree. I'm blessed to have a bit of space for my town, which includes modulars, but this has definatelty proved that small is beautiful!! Well done and please keep evolving and sharing! Quote
Vindicare Posted July 30, 2013 Posted July 30, 2013 Excellent town. I loved the burnt out garage update, very clever. You gave me a good idea on incorporating train tracks to a limited space. Great updates and keep them coming, town is coming along. Quote
BCanilho Posted August 10, 2013 Posted August 10, 2013 Awesome ideias! Expecting the next great update Quote
greg3 Posted August 19, 2013 Author Posted August 19, 2013 For this update I've tried something a bit different (for me at least). For a while I've wanted to use the village as a setting for stories using city sets and other themes. This is my first attempt, my own take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - I have my own ideas on an origin story and this is the first short part (mainly an attempt to try out the Comic Life App on my iPad) Any comments are very welcome... Quote
lightningtiger Posted August 19, 2013 Posted August 19, 2013 Interesting story and idea.....almost taking your work into the sci-fi area now eh 'greg3' ? I hope the MOUSERS don't rise up against the good people of your village. Brick On 'greg3' ! Quote
eurotrash Posted August 19, 2013 Posted August 19, 2013 So you've come up with a mining robot that sneezes gold? This isn't going to end well.... ...but I can't wait to see the next installment! Quote
greg3 Posted August 19, 2013 Author Posted August 19, 2013 Thanks for the comments... So you've come up with a mining robot that sneezes gold? This isn't going to end well.... You're actually lucky it's only sneezing.... Originally I was going to have the gold come out of the other end!!! Anyway, I'm just working on part 2 (I'll try to spell O'Neil right this time!) Quote
Kristel Posted August 19, 2013 Posted August 19, 2013 This is great! Looking forward to the next part! Quote
The Jersey Brick Guy Posted August 20, 2013 Posted August 20, 2013 Just read through everything again, love the ongoing story! Quote
greg3 Posted August 27, 2013 Author Posted August 27, 2013 (edited) Here's part 2... Hope you like it... Comments are always welcome... Part 3 coming soon (hopefully!!) Edited August 27, 2013 by greg3 Quote
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