[SoNE Freebuild 12] Junker's Fee

[MKJoshA]

OoC: See the rest of the story:

Season 1

Shortly after leaving the asteroid’s surface I received a message from Rebellion message drop-point that detailed the need to get in touch with some Bothan spies who had some information for the Rebel Alliance. Being an intelligence officer, I also received the tip that there was someone on Tatooine who might know their whereabouts.

I managed to muddle my way through the controls and set a course following the Rimma Trade Route further away from the core until I got to Eriadu where I headed coreward on the Hydian Way. That brought me to Darkknell where I followed my nav-charts along one of the back-water routes till I got to the planet that was furthest from the bright center of the universe, as Rebel hero Luke Skywalker used to say before he went missing after the battle of Hoth. I had never met the man, but Yeoman had before he was stationed on Corellia and he had told me all about him.

I landed in Mos Eisley and followed my lead to a small junk dealer on the edge of town. As soon as it was obvious that I wanted something from him he gave me two eye’s worth of attention while the third watched the rest of the foot-traffic past his shop for other potential customers. I slipped him a small sum of credits and said, “I hear you are the one to talk to about information.”

He glanced at the sum of the credit chip with one eye and very quickly I only had the attention of one of his eyes as now two were dedicated to the other lifeforms around us. “It depends on what kind of information,” he responded.

I slipped him a much larger sum of credits. “I’m looking for a Bothan. One who has managed to escape Imperial entanglements with some special information.”

Now one eye was on me, one was on the credits, and the last was looking for any nearby stormtroopers. “This is certainly enough to get you the information on finding a Bothan, but for the specific Bothan you seek, it’ll cost you a little more.”

I knew this junker’s price would only escalate, so I had kept the bulk of my payment in reserve. I handed it over and said, “Yes, I’ve heard it’s the specifics that can be the hardest to accommodate. This should be enough though I think.”

The credits got all three eyes for a moment and the next thing I knew I was being handed a piece of flimsiplast with coordinates and an address. “You’ll want to head to Fondor,” the junker said, “Then just follow the directions. Oh, and you never got any of this from me, you hear?”

“Fondor!” I couldn’t believe it. I had just traveled half-way across the galaxy just to find that I needed to go right back to where I had come from. And if I was going to go to Fondor then I needed grab that would blend in a little better. “How much for that body armor there?” I asked.

Moments later we had haggled out a price and I was on my way back to the Rough Edges.

OoC: Please feel free to comment and of course, I want this judged

[Retro]

This is lovely. A+ for build, photos, and jokes about Ree Yees' eyes!

[Nom Carver]

You did a great job with those random and chaotic details, somehow I always have trouble with that kind of scenes.

[goatman461]

I like that thing on the upper corner of the building, your building wall, and the way you propped up your awnings. I wish you had a few more tan tiles and fleshy minifigs though

[MKJoshA]

Thanks everyone! I'm glad you all like it. However, Goatm, I DO NOT USE FLESHIES. I am a Lego purist in using Yellow minifigures they way they were intended for use, thank you very much.

[VK-318]

Thanks everyone! I'm glad you all like it. However, Goatm, I DO NOT USE FLESHIES. I am a Lego purist in using Yellow minifigures they way they were intended for use, thank you very much.

To be fair all around, the yellow minifigs were introduced because Lego didn't produce any color closer to flesh tone at the time, and they stayed around forever because that was the color minifigs were, kind of like climbing Mt. Everest because it's there. Fleshies are more realistic.

There are also far fewer different fleshie heads around, at least by variety. Where Lego has been making yellow heads since day 1 of the minifig, and continues to do so today in such themes as the Lego Movie sets, fleshies are a fairly new addition, and there are rather fewer different faces around, which is the main reason I use yellow minifigs most of the time.

[goatman461]

I hate yellows. I'm sure there is a whole forum dedicated to the discussion, and I'm sorry to provoke a sensitive issue, but I just think the fleshies are a natural evolution that looks 1000% better than the old yellows. I understand using yellows if you're building in LEGO City, but in the licensed genre, fleshies are the new purist. AND I WILL PHYSICALLY HARM ANYONE THAT SAYS OTHERWISE. j/k

[MKJoshA]

Bring it on. Flag pole, tomorrow after lunch.

[VK-318]

H'm, good point, I probably shouldn't have made a big deal about all that here. Sorry!

[MstrOfPppts]

Recognizable tatooine scene with a lot of junk and details. I really like the disintegrated droid parts in the barrel. Though I find the building a bit too ruined, where you can see right through it. You must have gotten that from the castle builds ... There's another minor problem and I think it's the colors. I won't talk about the skin color, though everyone knows which side I'm on. But I do think that there's a bit too much gray. The stalls could be made of wood so ithink that some brown would add more diversity to the colors. Also I think that the dark red / blue goes with the tan and other earthly tones better and I remember stalls having darker coverings. Other than that it's a really nice build and I like your story telling. I hope I'll have some time to start some of my freebuilds soon. I always wanted to use the Gran minifig which is one of the coolest species TLG did for SW!

[markus1984]

An absolut stunning MOC!

So many great details on a so little vignette - good job!!

Sorry that i have always the same words but my english is not the best .

markus

[BEAVeR]

I'm not going to participate in this minifig color discussion. Let me just say that I'm glad that at least the Ree-Yees' head isn't yellow. But I'm here to talk about one very nice build.

With all these freebuilds, it's nice to see you grow. In this build, it becomes apparent in the junk. this time, it really looks perfect. There's a good mix of tiny, loose parts and bigger assemblies. And while it definetly looks messy, it's still tidy enough to call it a shop. The building is another example. From some angles, that decay looks absolutely terrific. There's a perfect interaction between straight and rounded, and and some SNOT too. However, the effect is quite a bit less from several angles. This is the part where it gets very difficult to explain what I exactly mean... well, while some studs look really good, something bugs me a bit with those round plates in the Technic holes at the side. Maybe it's because everything has crumbled in, and this is pertinently poking out. Also, there could be even some more variety in the mess. you could add in some kind of layer structure with plates for instance. Also, Tatooine buildings tend to have rounded corners. On the side you should have to do it with SNOT (or maybe don't, as those very, very lovely greebles take the focus in that area), but on the top it should be fairly easy, and it would instantly bring Tatooine even closer too the MOC. Anyway, that building has some excellent elements, like those grills to make it Star Wars again. Finally, let me just say straight that I have no idea how that speeder bike got up there, or what is even the purpose. But I'm not a junk specialist

The little stalls are nice, and I like the vibrant colors. To make it a bit more realistic, I would recommend (as MstrOfPppts already said in his great wisdom) to blend in some darker earth tones, as it is exposed to the harsh environment after all. In comparison, the red stall seems very clean, so I would recommend some cheese to break up that border a bit. Same goes for the base. You've already made it more interesting by adding that angled portion in, but it would have been way nicer (and Tatooine-er) to have it irregular all the way through, perhaps even with a second layer beneath it. that would match the mess better. It's good that you created variation in color, height and texture in your base, but I should be careful with those tiles. The effect is rather... more elevated plates and less tiles should be better in my opinion.

Anyway, don't let me convince you this is a poor build, because it really isn't. It has good parts all around, but it would be a bit boring to only point those out, wouldn't it? I hope you find this equally enjoyable and mmaybe you can even learn something from it. Because I already learnt a lot from your builds! Like my SW plantetography. All hail the Galactic Positioning System!

[MKJoshA]

Recognizable tatooine scene with a lot of junk and details. I really like the disintegrated droid parts in the barrel. Though I find the building a bit too ruined, where you can see right through it. You must have gotten that from the castle builds ... There's another minor problem and I think it's the colors. I won't talk about the skin color, though everyone knows which side I'm on. But I do think that there's a bit too much gray. The stalls could be made of wood so ithink that some brown would add more diversity to the colors. Also I think that the dark red / blue goes with the tan and other earthly tones better and I remember stalls having darker coverings. Other than that it's a really nice build and I like your story telling. I hope I'll have some time to start some of my freebuilds soon. I always wanted to use the Gran minifig which is one of the coolest species TLG did for SW!

The technique for the ruined building I did indeed learn from GoH, however, I think it is a perfectly viable Star Wars technique as well. If there are sandstorms on a regular basis it only makes sense to me that buildings would erode over time. And if you don't have enough money to keep it up the erosion would only get worse. I think we have to be careful about putting ourselves in the "it-wasn't-in-the-movies" box when we are building Star Wars MOCs. That's just my 2 cents. As for the color choices, I think your suggestions are good. However I have a limited collection when it comes to the newer Lego colors. I wouldn't have been able to make the awnings the way I wanted to with those colors. Thank you again for your detailed input.

An absolut stunning MOC!

So many great details on a so little vignette - good job!!

Sorry that i have always the same words but my english is not the best .

Praise is praise, whatever level of English it's in , thank you!

I'm not going to participate in this minifig color discussion. Let me just say that I'm glad that at least the Ree-Yees' head isn't yellow. But I'm here to talk about one very nice build...

Anyway, don't let me convince you this is a poor build, because it really isn't. It has good parts all around, but it would be a bit boring to only point those out, wouldn't it? I hope you find this equally enjoyable and mmaybe you can even learn something from it. Because I already learnt a lot from your builds! Like my SW plantetography. All hail the Galactic Positioning System!

If I had time I would reply back to your whole comment, however I do not. So I'll just have to limit it to "thank you." Your comments on the building layering, baseplate, and tiles is very helpful. I will just have to keep improving! Onward and upward!

[Lord Tyrus]

I love the cluttered stalls, very Tatooine-y, and the weathering looks fantastic!

A brilliant little vig!

[MKJoshA]

I love the cluttered stalls, very Tatooine-y, and the weathering looks fantastic!

A brilliant little vig!

Thank you Tyrus! I'm glad you've been enjoying my freebuilds.

[Shadows of Nar Eurbrikka]

Judges have awarded you 4 XP! Your character's stats will be updated shortly.