Bricklinking Modular Buildings

[sin]

Ok, Here is my planned version of Market Street:

I would love to see a closer view of your MOD of the balconies, any chance you could zoom in and post some screenshots? I am very curious to see how those curved railings attach at that angle...

Nice work!

[MatthewH01]

Well at the moment, the curved railings are not connected or in the middle, due to the amount of fiddling in LDD to get them to attach properly. However, the first floor balcony on the Town Hall uses the exact same method (its actually where I got the idea from...)

Close up of Market Street Balcony

The balcony on the Town Hall (This model was downloaded from the LDD section of Eurobricks, I did not create it)

Edited February 7, 2014 by MatthewH01

[sin]

Thanks for posting those pics! I do not have a TH and was unaware of that balcony technique, more options is always a good thing

[Inzane]

Well, I got another one of my BnP orders in the mail yesterday and there was an unexpected part substitution, and it's not one that I haven't noticed anyone else in this thread mentioning before.

The white antennas (x2) which are used as umbrella stands for the outdoor tables. What I received were the flat-top variant, not the original rounded-tip style. Grrr... I'm going to be phoning to inquire.

[sin]

The white antennas (x2) which are used as umbrella stands for the outdoor tables. What I received were the flat-top variant, not the original rounded-tip style. Grrr... I'm going to be phoning to inquire.

Yeah, I don't think that the round top antennae can be purchased direct from Lego anymore. They can be found on BL if you really need to have them. I was not concerned about these at all - they won't be visible and I am making several other changes anyways.

[JayCal]

I've been following this topic with great interest and I am too, getting the first three modulars through various PAB, BNP and BL orders. Great to see some preliminairy results!!

[TheLegoDr]

I was planning on copying the Town Hall method as well. It still gives the curved effect without going too far out onto the balcony.

I like the more solid color scheme too instead of the patchy look of the original. I'd say I could build that and put it in my layout instead of the original version. Although, as neat as I thought medium blue was, it just looks terrible when it is near sand blue (in my opinion) and I almost don't want to build with it. Sure, put it somewhere else in the layout, but why would I want to be that simple...

[cei]

My turntables arrived! This means my CC is entirely complete, with all original bricks, of which 99% are new - the only used items are the two doors and the four bley on bley turntables. It's all built, but I'm awaiting an order of tiles to finish my ground floor cafe. I'll take some pictures as soon as that is done - but here's a sneak preview.

Lego City Council also received many complaints from hotel visitors about the draughts, so they mandated the installation of glass in the windows. Yes, I replaced the 1st floor with modern windows, and to be honest, it looks far far better!

[sin]

Looks great cei, I really like your interior! Post more pics please when you are done - I'd be very interested to see what you are doing with the upper floors.

[MatthewH01]

Ok, finally got around to taking some pictures of the Cafe corner I Bricklinked two years ago:

The interior:

And an overall shot:

[sin]

That looks very nice MatthewH01! I see you used 1x2x3 window on the second floor, I like the look a lot better than the panels. I would add some shelves with bottles on the back wall behind the cafe counter and maybe some bits of food etc behind the counter sneeze guard to make it look like a functioning business. I love how you carried on with the awning colors in the tiled floor. Did you build an interior for the upper floors?

[MatthewH01]

I do have some food items from City Park Cafe that i can put inside, but as you can't really see them where they are displayed, I generally don't bother.

regarding the upper floors, I have designed an interior for the first floor in LDD, but have not built it, nor have I designed an interior for the top floor. This is because it is alot harder to see from outside the model, unlike the ground floor (without an interior, the baseplate stands out from a mile away...)

[sin]

Almost there! Only one order that I am waiting on and I will have everything I need for CC and MS. I received my PAB order yesterday, interesting that BnP orders seem to come with extras ( everybody loves free parts! ) but PAB orders only contain the exact quantities paid for.

It is funny to me that the one order I am missing is from BL and was ordered on January 24th, paid for upon invoicing on the 26th - it hasn't even shipped yet, I had assumed that the last two phases of this project would be hung up on the PAB and BnP orders. The seller's terms are very wonky about this, says 5-10 days processing maybe more so it is hard to hold them accountable when the terms are so loose. Anyone who has bought from this BL store probably knows who I am talking about , they have a very high feedback rating and the number of people who have made comments saying that they have fast shipping leads me to believe that purchasers just give the positive feedback for fear that they would get retaliatory feedback if they did otherwise. BL is kind of funny like that...

I will post pics and my final cost for this entire project hopefully by the end of the week

Edited February 11, 2014 by sin

[Inzane]

I too am awaiting just one order to complete CC, and its a PAB order. (The BnP orders seem to come quicker). I have not received "extra" items in any PAB or BnP order so far. However I have experience two BnP orders in a row that had a mistake. One was short one item and the one I opened and checked last night had a completely different part for one lot, despite the invoice picture and description being correct. Back on the phone again today. sigh...

[sin]

Ugh that's a bummer Inzane, especially when you are so close...

I was very surprised to have the extra parts in my BnP order and even more surprised by which ones - I got an extra tan 1x8 brick, 2 extra dark blue 1x4 bricks and 4 extra dark blue 1x1 bricks, bonus!

[Inzane]

Last night's mistake was a bizarre one. The part I had ordered was x40 light bley cheese slopes (for GG). What I actually received were x40 black Technic 2M beams (aka liftarm 1x2 thick). The part #s aren't even remotely close.

I'm eager to start building Cafe Corner, and I could probably at least start with the tile work and general footprint on the baseplate, but I wouldn't get very far because the 1x8 light bley bricks are one of the items in that PAB order I'm still waiting for so I wouldn't get very far up the walls.

Note: that PAB order was placed BEFORE this recent bloody price increase. I only paid 25 cents per 1x8 brick and I think they're 40 cents on PAB now (and even more via BnP!).

Edited February 11, 2014 by Inzane

[Wodanis]

Ugh that's a bummer Inzane, especially when you are so close...

I was very surprised to have the extra parts in my BnP order and even more surprised by which ones - I got an extra tan 1x8 brick, 2 extra dark blue 1x4 bricks and 4 extra dark blue 1x1 bricks, bonus!

I love it when that happens. Unfortunately I was missing on one 1x1 white tile in my last order, so close to being perfect! I just also received the wrong order on pants. It was suppose to be Dark stone grey legs x4. Instead I got the Dk stone grey with black hips. Now I guess I will have to order diver torsos to match...I did manage to score an extra 1x6 and 1x2 sand green brick, also a 1x2 earth green brick.

Last night's mistake was a bizarre one. The part I had ordered was x40 light bley cheese slopes (for GG). What I actually received were x40 black Technic 2M beams (aka liftarm 1x2 thick). The part #s aren't even remotely close.

Note: that PAB order was placed BEFORE this recent bloody price increase. I only paid 25 cents per 1x8 brick and I think they're 40 cents on PAB now (and even more via BnP!).

Very bizarre. The person must have been working on two orders at the same time and confused the parts/amounts. I knew it jumped but did not realize by that much for a 1x8 brick. Sigh...now if you could only increase your salary on a whim like companies do with their pricing.

[Inzane]

I knew it jumped but did not realize by that much for a 1x8 brick. Sigh...now if you could only increase your salary on a whim like companies do with their pricing.

1x6 bricks went up a similar amount (used to be ~20-25 cents I think and now 35 cents each).

I'm really kicking myself now for not ensuring I ordered all the 1x6 and 1x8 I needed for Green Grocer at the time as well. (I was primarily focused on CC). Now I may have to turn solely to BL. For what is essentially basic bricks its a shame. I don't see how TLG can justify 35 cents for a 1x6 brick and 40 cents for a 1x8 brick. It would take their replacement parts business to dry up for them to even notice (customer backlash) and even then they probably wouldn't even care.

[Inzane]

1x6 bricks went up a similar amount (used to be ~20-25 cents I think and now 35 cents each).

I'm really kicking myself now for not ensuring I ordered all the 1x6 and 1x8 I needed for Green Grocer at the time as well. (I was primarily focused on CC).

I need to correct myself. That PAB order still hasn't arrived yet, but I went over the parts list for that order carefully and noticed that I DID order the 1x6 and 1x8 light bley bricks for Green Grocer at that time. Phew... :) (one less thing to worry about)

[sin]

I need to correct myself. That PAB order still hasn't arrived yet, but I went over the parts list for that order carefully and noticed that I DID order the 1x6 and 1x8 light bley bricks for Green Grocer at that time. Phew... :) (one less thing to worry about)

Lucky for you! I am very glad that I ordered all of my parts before these increases went into effect, I would have been kicking myself otherwise... I would suspect that prices on BL for these parts are going to rise as well.

[Inzane]

I started building my Cafe Corner last night, despite still waiting for that last pesky PAB order. I had enough light bley 1x8 and 1x6 bricks on hand already to get me at least up to step ~10-11, then I jumped forward and built those two yellow & white awnings and the hotel sign, and I also added the outdoor bench, lamp and patio furniture.

So far, it's been a fun build! I can't wait to get those remaining pieces. I sure hope it's in the mail tonight. If so I'll probably build the whole thing this weekend. Otherwise I'll look at what else I can start building in the meantime. Maybe the roof and some of the window assembles.

Just a note for those that are thinking of starting the project of BL'ing this set. If you don't care about being totally accurate, you could cut out some of the rarer colors. For example, those two dark blue half-arches are completely hidden under the stairs. You could pick any color you want for that and it wouldn't make any difference. Also you could reduce the number of dark blue 1x4 and 1x2 bricks for the portions that extent around the back of the building. You could probably go with dark bley or black and accomplish the same general effect. (and you could probably also subsitute out some of the medium blue 1x2s as a well).

I will admit that all the dark blue elements that are visible on the front exterior of the building really add something nice and I wouldn't substitute those, IMO.

Edited February 14, 2014 by Inzane

[Wodanis]

I started building my Cafe Corner last night, despite still waiting for that last pesky PAB order. I had enough light bley 1x8 and 1x6 bricks on hand already to get me at least up to step ~10-11, then I jumped forward and built those two yellow & white awnings and the hotel sign, and I also added the outdoor bench, lamp and patio furniture.

So far, it's been a fun build! I can't wait to get those remaining pieces. I sure hope it's in the mail tonight. If so I'll probably build the whole thing this weekend. Otherwise I'll look at what else I can start building in the meantime. Maybe the roof and some of the window assembles.

Make sure you post photos Inzane when you get the chance! Sounds great! I had some minor upgrades due to lack of original parts. Just received my new Bluish Grey Parrots to replace the used Drk Grey I had. Both GG and CC are otherwise 99% authentic.

Edited February 14, 2014 by Wodanis

[TheLegoDr]

On my custom CC, I'm debating on having the lowest layer of bricks be dark blue all the way around the building. Definitely on the front, but I don't know if I need it all the way around. The GE has dark green on the front, but then black on the remainder and that doesn't look noticeable. I'm also adding an exterior to the back, which it didn't have before, so that will take some creativity on my end.

I did end up changing my inverted L corner to just a straight building. Although it is 48 x 32 instead of 32x32, so it is a bit longer along the front facade. So I think that will be pretty neat in the long run. It will fit better on my shelves this way too!

[Wodanis]

On my custom CC, I'm debating on having the lowest layer of bricks be dark blue all the way around the building. Definitely on the front, but I don't know if I need it all the way around. The GE has dark green on the front, but then black on the remainder and that doesn't look noticeable. I'm also adding an exterior to the back, which it didn't have before, so that will take some creativity on my end.

I did end up changing my inverted L corner to just a straight building. Although it is 48 x 32 instead of 32x32, so it is a bit longer along the front facade. So I think that will be pretty neat in the long run. It will fit better on my shelves this way too!

Would love to see your photos of your creation TheLegoDr. For the sake of simplicity I'd just use the same colour. I was going over my interior design for the main floor on the CC. Not sure if I want to change it but will have to as they don't make a 1x2x6 bow in reddish brown.

[cei]

Mine is all done (CC), including 99% of the interior. I'll put pictures up tomorrow :)