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Inspired by reading Gary Istok's Unofficial Lego Sets/Parts Collector's Guide
and webpages like Brickfetish, as well as delving into my own sense of nostalgia
for classic Lego sets, I have started to build some of my favorite sets of the
past in microscale.
First up is the 550 Windmill:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/550/550-1.jpg
I was pleased with how the windmill came out, especially the base...not
completely satisfied with the house.
Next I tried the 555 Hospital:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/555/555-1.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/555/555-2.jpg
I would have liked to have had a red 1x2 plate with rail for the "sign" above
the door and a 2x2 red cross printed tile on top would have looked better. A
problem tha I had with this building as well as some others is using a 1x4 arch
for driveways -- leaving a 2-wide space for vehicles. My vehicles are two-wide,
but the "wheels" extend just beyond that profile, making them ever slightly too
wide for the driveways.
The most complex build in this series was the 580 Brick Yard:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/580/580-1.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/580/580-2.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/580/580-3.jpg
I wanted this set to retain its full functionality in the microscale version. I
am pleased with the solution I came up with for the conveyor belt - it works!
And the tipper truck is functional too (although I would have prefered blue 1x1
corner panels, they are rare and expensive in that color). The crane slides
back and forth and raises and lowers its grabber claw (would be nice to have
these parts completely in yellow). Although simple, I like how the digger
vehicle came out in this one. I ran out of yellow 1x4 arches and had to use
black instead (most noticeable in the picture of the back of the building). I
again ran into the problem of a 2-wide driveway with 2-wide vehicles' wheels
jutting out just slightly too much.
Next is a work in progress, the 725 Freight Train:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/725/725-1.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/725/725-2.jpg
Although it is a little squat, I am happy with the loco. The tipper tips!
Still have to do the other cars in this set and consider the coupling of them
all.
I've had fun doing these. I spend a lot of time trying to get the look right
and rebuilding a lot. I am fairly new to microscale, so it has been a challenge
- but a fun one. Like Douglas Coupland says, this allows me to get into a space
called "shape head."
Any suggestions for improvements or other ideas are most welcomed.
--
Thomas Main
thomasmain@charter.net
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In lugnet.announce.moc, Thomas Main wrote:
<snip>
> Any suggestions for improvements or other ideas are most welcomed.
>
> --
> Thomas Main
> thomasmain@charter.net
Suggestions for improvememnt????
THese are brilliant on their own!
Nicely done--love all the nifty little details, especially the tipper on the
waggon
THe only suggestion-- More!! :)
Dave K
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In lugnet.announce.moc, Thomas Main wrote:
> I have started to build some of my favorite sets of the
> past in microscale.
These are fantastic, micro has come a long way, and you just raised the bar once
again. Looking forward to seeing more now that you have been bit by the
microbug.
Janey "Red Brick"
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In lugnet.announce.moc, Thomas Main wrote:
> Inspired by reading Gary Istok's Unofficial Lego Sets/Parts Collector's Guide
> and webpages like Brickfetish, as well as delving into my own sense of nostalgia
> for classic Lego sets, I have started to build some of my favorite sets of the
> past in microscale.>
> Any suggestions for improvements or other ideas are most welcomed.
>
> --
> Thomas Main
> thomasmain@charter.net
Thomas,
Last night I was building a 555, 580, and 560 and since I have these fresh in my
mind I can comment that you have the look JUST RIGHT!
Great idea and excellent implementation,
Eric
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Hi,
that's so great! Brilliant I would say.
Hope to see more of them.
Regards,
Barbara
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In lugnet.announce.moc, Thomas Main wrote:
> Inspired by reading Gary Istok's Unofficial Lego Sets/Parts Collector's Guide
> and webpages like Brickfetish, as well as delving into my own sense of nostalgia
> for classic Lego sets, I have started to build some of my favorite sets of the
> past in microscale.
>
> First up is the 550 Windmill:
>
> > Next I tried the 555 Hospital:
>
> > The most complex build in this series was the 580 Brick Yard:
>
>
> I wanted this set to retain its full functionality in the microscale version. I
> am pleased with the solution I came up with for the conveyor belt - it works!
> And the tipper truck is functional too (although I would have prefered blue 1x1
> corner panels, they are rare and expensive in that color). The crane slides
> back and forth and raises and lowers its grabber claw (would be nice to have
> these parts completely in yellow). Although simple, I like how the digger
> vehicle came out in this one. I ran out of yellow 1x4 arches and had to use
> black instead (most noticeable in the picture of the back of the building). I
> again ran into the problem of a 2-wide driveway with 2-wide vehicles' wheels
> jutting out just slightly too much.
>
> >
> I've had fun doing these. I spend a lot of time trying to get the look right
> and rebuilding a lot. I am fairly new to microscale, so it has been a challenge
> - but a fun one. Like Douglas Coupland says, this allows me to get into a space
> called "shape head."
>
> Any suggestions for improvements or other ideas are most welcomed.
>
> --
> Thomas Main
> thomasmain@charter.net
Now this is the neatest pictures I have seen so far. This is really interesting.
You have a talent I wished I had as I love these old sets. How about a mini of
the Constellation or the wild west set 365 or even the 354? I am going to have
to build the ones you did. First minis that I am excited about.
John P
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In lugnet.announce.moc, Thomas Main wrote:
> Inspired by reading Gary Istok's Unofficial Lego Sets/Parts Collector's Guide
> and webpages like Brickfetish, as well as delving into my own sense of nostalgia
> for classic Lego sets, I have started to build some of my favorite sets of the
> past in microscale.
Thomas, these are fantastic. You've not just captured the spirit of these
models, but you've nailed a lot of the fine details as well. I saw your post
yesterday and it really made my day, as the hospital and the brick yard are two
of my favorite childhood models. :)
> Any suggestions for improvements or other ideas are most welcomed.
Along with set #580 and #555 the other one of that era that truly warms my heart
is:
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/357_1
Maybe that would make a good companion piece to the ones you've already
completed? :)
Thanks again for posting these. I would agree with what Janey posted. I think
you've really raised the bar in the microscale world.
All the best,
Allan B.
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In lugnet.announce.moc, Thomas Main wrote:
> Inspired by reading Gary Istok's Unofficial Lego Sets/Parts Collector's Guide
> and webpages like Brickfetish, as well as delving into my own sense of nostalgia
> for classic Lego sets, I have started to build some of my favorite sets of the
> past in microscale.
>
> First up is the 550 Windmill:
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/550/550-1.jpg
>
> I was pleased with how the windmill came out, especially the base...not
> completely satisfied with the house.
>
> Next I tried the 555 Hospital:
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/555/555-1.jpg
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/555/555-2.jpg
>
> I would have liked to have had a red 1x2 plate with rail for the "sign" above
> the door and a 2x2 red cross printed tile on top would have looked better. A
> problem tha I had with this building as well as some others is using a 1x4 arch
> for driveways -- leaving a 2-wide space for vehicles. My vehicles are two-wide,
> but the "wheels" extend just beyond that profile, making them ever slightly too
> wide for the driveways.
>
> The most complex build in this series was the 580 Brick Yard:
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/580/580-1.jpg
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/580/580-2.jpg
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/580/580-3.jpg
>
> I wanted this set to retain its full functionality in the microscale version. I
> am pleased with the solution I came up with for the conveyor belt - it works!
> And the tipper truck is functional too (although I would have prefered blue 1x1
> corner panels, they are rare and expensive in that color). The crane slides
> back and forth and raises and lowers its grabber claw (would be nice to have
> these parts completely in yellow). Although simple, I like how the digger
> vehicle came out in this one. I ran out of yellow 1x4 arches and had to use
> black instead (most noticeable in the picture of the back of the building). I
> again ran into the problem of a 2-wide driveway with 2-wide vehicles' wheels
> jutting out just slightly too much.
>
> Next is a work in progress, the 725 Freight Train:
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/725/725-1.jpg
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/thomasmain/Microscale/725/725-2.jpg
>
> Although it is a little squat, I am happy with the loco. The tipper tips!
> Still have to do the other cars in this set and consider the coupling of them
> all.
>
> I've had fun doing these. I spend a lot of time trying to get the look right
> and rebuilding a lot. I am fairly new to microscale, so it has been a challenge
> - but a fun one. Like Douglas Coupland says, this allows me to get into a space
> called "shape head."
>
> Any suggestions for improvements or other ideas are most welcomed.
>
> --
> Thomas Main
> thomasmain@charter.net
Thomas--
These are awesome--brings back many happy daydreams of "gee, that'd be fun to
build" when I was a kid.
I'd love to see something from the Heliport or Fire Station. Might give it a
shot myself, if I can get a spaceship done up the way I want.
Play Well and Prosper,
Matthew
"The Brick Detective"
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In lugnet.build.microscale, John Patterson wrote:
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How about a mini of the Constellation
|
Not positive if this is what your thinking of, but in Issue 2 of Brickjournal
http://media.peeron.com/brickjournal/brickjournal2.pdf on page 48 of that
issue (which is page 50 of the pdf file) are building instructions for a mini
USS Constellation.
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In lugnet.build.microscale, Bob Parker wrote:
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In lugnet.build.microscale, John Patterson wrote:
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How about a mini of the Constellation
|
Not positive if this is what your thinking of, but in Issue 2 of Brickjournal
http://media.peeron.com/brickjournal/brickjournal2.pdf on page 48 of that
issue (which is page 50 of the pdf file) are building instructions for a mini
USS Constellation.
|
Thanks, yes that is the one, now I’ll have to build that one too. I really
didn’t like the minis except for star wars, but what a good idea to build the
1970 sets. I really believe that the 70s were the high point of lego when they
designed such complex sets with so fewer different elements.Now if they can’t
figure out how to make something with the elements they have, they just add new
elements. These minis brng back so many memories. John P
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In lugnet.build.microscale, John Patterson wrote:
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I really believe that the 70s were the high point of lego when
they designed such complex sets with so fewer different elements.Now if they
can’t figure out how to make something with the elements they have, they just
add new elements. These minis brng back so many memories. John P
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I can see your point - its interesting how it appears to me that many AFOL’s
perception of Lego “back in the good ol’ days” seems to change depending on what
the Lego was like in their respective childhoods. For instance, I have always
thought of the 80s and 90s as the Golden Age of Lego and also agree with you
that their willingness to just make a new piece instead of trying to get the
already produced pieces to work is disappointing.
With microscale, its interesting that a builder sort of has to work with a
majority of what could be considered the plainer bricks of the old days since
the scale is very unforgiving (well, at least to me it seems that way!). I
think that capturing the look of a full size Lego set in micro is really tough
to begin with and the 70s sets earlier in this thread are awesome examples of
what a gifted AFOL can do with that limitation of parts!
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In lugnet.build.microscale, John Patterson wrote:
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In lugnet.build.microscale, Bob Parker wrote:
| |
In lugnet.build.microscale, John Patterson wrote:
| |
How about a mini of the Constellation
|
Not positive if this is what your thinking of, but in Issue 2 of
Brickjournal http://media.peeron.com/brickjournal/brickjournal2.pdf on
page 48 of that issue (which is page 50 of the pdf file) are building
instructions for a mini USS Constellation.
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Thanks, yes that is the one, now I’ll have to build that one too.
|
I initially was trying to build a *micro* Constellation, but by the time it was
finished I thought the model better deserved to be called a ‘mini’. Of course,
this brings up the entire debate about what scale is micro, what is mini and so
on. And it’s one of those debates that’s fun to have, but in the end I’m not
sure it makes much difference, so long as the models are fun to build. :)
I have a feeling that a good micro builder like Thomas or Janey Red Brick could
probably build an even more micro version of the Constellation... if they wanted
to.
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I really
didn’t like the minis except for star wars,
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To me the Star Wars minis were really micro sets, but again it’s all semantics.
Because I kept wondering to myself, “if these are mini, then how small would the
micro versions be?” LOL
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but what a good idea to build the
1970 sets. I really believe that the 70s were the high point of lego when
they designed such complex sets with so fewer different elements.Now if they
can’t figure out how to make something with the elements they have, they just
add new elements.
|
I agree with the idea that some of these sets were among the best the company
has produced. Of course, I’m a LEGO kid from the 70s, so I’m biased. :) But
if you look at the hospital and brick yard that Thomas duplicated you find that
they were full four-walled buildings made with mostly basic bricks, plates and
the occasional arch. I would argue that they’re actually not that complex,
rather showcase simple but solid design theory. In other words, they’re not
fancy, but they’re still really good models to build.
Allan B.
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In lugnet.build.microscale, Allan Bedford wrote:
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To me the Star Wars minis were really micro sets, but again it’s all
semantics. Because I kept wondering to myself, “if these are mini, then how
small would the micro versions be?” LOL
|
IIRC, wasn’t there some pics of somebody’s micro SW MOCs on Brickshelf a long
time ago - they used a 1x1 brick for a Tie Fighter (or something like that)? It
was pretty funny seeing one part MOCs like that!
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In lugnet.build.microscale, Allan Bedford wrote:
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In lugnet.build.microscale, John Patterson wrote:
| |
In lugnet.build.microscale, Bob Parker wrote:
| |
In lugnet.build.microscale, John Patterson wrote:
| |
How about a mini of the Constellation
|
Not positive if this is what your thinking of, but in Issue 2 of
Brickjournal http://media.peeron.com/brickjournal/brickjournal2.pdf on
page 48 of that issue (which is page 50 of the pdf file) are building
instructions for a mini USS Constellation.
|
|
| |
Thanks, yes that is the one, now I’ll have to build that one too.
|
I initially was trying to build a *micro* Constellation, but by the time it
was finished I thought the model better deserved to be called a ‘mini’. Of
course, this brings up the entire debate about what scale is micro, what is
mini and so on. And it’s one of those debates that’s fun to have, but in the
end I’m not sure it makes much difference, so long as the models are fun to
build. :)
I have a feeling that a good micro builder like Thomas or Janey Red Brick
could probably build an even more micro version of the Constellation... if
they wanted to.
| |
I really
didn’t like the minis except for star wars,
|
To me the Star Wars minis were really micro sets, but again it’s all
semantics. Because I kept wondering to myself, “if these are mini, then how
small would the micro versions be?” LOL
| |
but what a good idea to build the
1970 sets. I really believe that the 70s were the high point of lego when
they designed such complex sets with so fewer different elements.Now if they
can’t figure out how to make something with the elements they have, they
just add new elements.
|
I agree with the idea that some of these sets were among the best the company
has produced. Of course, I’m a LEGO kid from the 70s, so I’m biased. :)
But if you look at the hospital and brick yard that Thomas duplicated you
find that they were full four-walled buildings made with mostly basic bricks,
plates and the occasional arch. I would argue that they’re actually not that
complex, rather showcase simple but solid design theory. In other words,
they’re not fancy, but they’re still really good models to build.
Allan B.
|
I got my start in 1974 with the London Bus. A last minute Christmas present for
my son. I was so amazed at the bus I went out on Christmas day to all the
stores that were opened, like drug stores and grocery stores looking for Legos.
There is just something missing today in the grand scale of Legos sets. They
are fancy and they are colorfull and have a great variety of parts, but the
simple 4 sided buildings built with a pallet of a few hundred elements is still
what I prefer. If I show a non lego someone the Death Star or Imperial Cruiser
or Blockade runner they are amazed. If I build a set like a 1970’s hospital or
police station or brick yard I am amazed. They really had great designers in
the 1970’s and I think that the company was less concerned with profit and more
concerned with a quality product that would guide a child’s (or adult)
imagination. My 11 year old grandaugher built the Death Star and has inherited
my love of Legos. She will have one big mess to deal with when I go. John P
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