Auto Repair Shop

I have a lot of Lego vehicles in my city, so I needed a place where they could get fixed up.  I had the tools and equipment, and a basic idea for a layout, so why not?  Cars aren't as disposable in my town as the are in real life.

Auto Repair Shop

I modeled the building after a Sears Auto Center, with a store portion in addition to a garage area.  One portion of the garage is drive thru, but the other part has a ramp.  I put the tools in the middle between the two work bays.

The service counter with a rack for tires behind it (left) and a customer looking at motor oil (right)

The store portion has a display rack with all the different kids of wheels you can buy, both with tires and rims.  There's also a shelf where people can buy motor oil and other things, in cause they want to change their oil themselves.

The mechanic working on a tire change (left) and a car up on the ramp, waiting to be serviced (right)

In case a car can't make it into the shop under its own power, I do have a tow truck to bring it in, in case repairs are needed.

The tow truck bringing a vehicle into the shop

Sets used: 4635, 6670, 8827

Lego Haul - 2/13/16

My wife and I tried to go to the Lego store again last week to find some Series 15 minifigures, but still no luck.  As I usually do when we're at the Lego store, I looked at the Pick-A-Brick wall and filled a small cup with bricks

The small cup of bricks I purchase today

Today's haul was great, as I got nearly 40 2x6 blue plates needed to finish up my hospital. A small cup cost me less than $9, but the individual bricks, had I purchased them from Lego's website, would have cost more than that.  I can never resist a good Lego deal.  I also got the rest of the brick yellow (tan) 2x4 bricks I needed to finish up my Tech Startup Firm building.

Winter Cottage

I bought a 10229 Winter Village Cottage in late 2012, which I thought was pretty cool looking.  It turned out to be a Pandora's box, as a snow covered house didn't fit into my original vision for a Lego town.  Especially if it's seaside.

10229 Winter Village Cottage

It formed the foundation for a new remote town up in the mountains.  A couple houses, some decorations...  It's part of a winter village now.  Christmas decorations when that time of year comes around.  It's not quite as fancy as the one my wife has, but it has its purpose.

Front and rear views of the Winter Cottage

I really need to come up with a second house for the Winter Village.  Give these folks some neighbors next door.  Maybe some open space between the two houses for a skating rink, an open field for kids to play in.  I did get a 31036 Changing Seasons set back in August, but there were only enough bricks to build one of the three houses at a time.  I should pick up a second one if I want to add the winter scene as my second house up in the mountains.  But I'm still holding out to see what the next Lego Winter Village set will be

The winter shed and igloo that will be out in the yard

The snow plow for this set doesn't go to the cottage so much.  It'd just clear the streets around the quiet little mountain town.  Since ti cam with this Lego set, I thought I'd include it here.

The snow plow for the Winter Village

Sets used: 10229

Lego Haul - 2/6/16

It's February, and Lego is cranking up the brick machines again.  When I started building my town four years ago, the early months of the year (January through March), it was slim pickings at the Lego store.  The company didn't do much to release new sets, usually waiting for mid-Spring to put the new sets out.

This is no longer the case, as the world's largest toymaker is now running production all 12 months these days.  As such, I tried to go get the new Series 15 minifigures and a Valentines Cupid Dog yesterday.  Sadly, my local Lego store was sold out of minfigs, but I did get the holiday set.  And I filled a small cup with bricks.

The Lego haul for 2/6/16

First, the 40201 Valentines Cupid Dog.  I found it odd that Lego used a dog, but considering they used a bear two years ago,...  I dunno, maybe that's how Danes celebrate this greeting card holiday.  It's a good dog model, so I won't get get out of shape over it.

40201 Valentines Cupid Dog contents

My cup of bricks was a melange of items.  The brick yellow 2x4 would help me finish off my tech startup building (but not enough, as I am still five bricks short.  Those blue plates with the two corners cut off will be used for a small octagonal outdoor table at someone's house.  The yellow 1x2 slopes are going to be bricks for the outside of the Pyramid Nightclub.

Fully assembled 40201 Valentines Cupid Dog and my Pick-A-Brick small cup contents

Other pieces will used for something else later.  What, I have no idea.  I was looking for inspiration on the Pick-A-Brick wall but couldn't come up with anything. I'm too focused on finishing up existing buildings with final details to think of bigger stuff to build.

Lego Haul - 1/30/16

Went to Toys'R'Us Saturday morning to see if I could find the other two Bricktober 2015 sets to go with the hotel and bakery I got for Christmas.

My wife and I were only able to find the 40142 Bricktober Train Station.  There was no Toys'R'Us store to go with it.

40142 Bricktober Train Station

Next October, I'll head out early to ensure I get all four sets exclusive to Toys'R'Us.  I should probably start saving up now, as each set this year was $20.  Is it worth it?  They jury is still out on that one, as I don't have a definitive plan for these sets in my town yet.

40142 Bricktober Train Station contents

Don't know when or even if I'll try to track down the final set.  Tried doing the same with the 2014 Bricktober sets this past summer, but I never got a movie theater.  Like I said, I need to get out early for 2016, and not wait two to three months after the release.

40142 Bricktober Train Station fully assembled

Maybe I'll have better luck next time I go down Deere headquarters in May.  We'll see.  I could always go on eBay, but I don't want to get ripped off twice in one purchase.

2015 Bricktober sets: the hotel, train station and bakery (left to right)