Pony Farm

I'm supposed to have a Pony Farm here, but I got nothing.  I had an idea for a design, but then gave up on it because the building housing the horses was too small and cramped to hold two horses comfortably.  I needed to tear it down and replace it with something a bit larger.

Current state of the Pony Farm: under major renovation

What I've currently have in the picture above is a reconfiguration of the Pony Farm layout, but since I don't have all the pieces to put the buildings together, I think I'll abandon this idea as well.  What I should do is expand the Pony Farm to two baseplates, one for the buildings to stand on, and one for the field to go riding on.

This new layout would allow me to place larger RECTANGULAR buildings on one plate. Yes, I don't have the bricks for it now, but it will give me an idea of what I will need, so I can make a run at the Pick-A-Brick wall.  The second place can be a wide open field, with the yellowish green plates, and obstacles for the horses to jump over them.

Pieces waiting to be utilized at the Pony Farm

I'll probably come back to this building a few times as I build it anew.  In fact, I think I'll get started on it right now...

Sets used: 10764

Lego Haul - 10/3/16

I used some more of my PayPal money I got from mailing a guitar for my friends to buy a few more Lego pieces from April's Paradise of Bricks.

Bricks I got from April's Paradise

Quick tip if you decide to sell you bricks individually on BrickLink: Start your store name with the letter A.  Or better yet, a number, even if your name is Zack.  Searches for bricks will list the stores in alphabetical order, and if someone has to scroll through the list of stores to find yours, they probably won't buy from you.

Of course, this would be easier if they had more effective search filters, like by country or by new or used.  But I'm getting off topic here.  Back to the Lego bricks themselves...

Here's what I got and how I'll use them:

• 3 Dark Blue Grey 4x8 plates - These will help me complete the floors in my Watch Tower.
• 2 Black window 1x4x3 - I put these windows on the top floor of the barracks, where the marines chill out and rest when they are not on duty.  The windows allowed me complete the building, which is nice.
• 2 Blue panel 1x2x2 - I was able to finish off one of the two port-a-potties at the Construction Site.  I just need two more to complete the other one, and this building will also be complete.
• 1 White Panel 2x2x1 Corner - I just needed one more to complete the fried chicken display portion in the grocery store's meat department.  Jay only had the one, but April had my back.
• 1 Blue round 1x1 brick - OK, this is not for any of my buildings in my Lego city.  The Gamer Kid in the Midway Arcade Level Pack came with a red round 1x1 brick.  He drinks Coke.  I drink Pepsi, which is a far superior cola.  I swapped out the pieces, so now he's more like me.
• 1 Dark Gray 6x8 plate - I was going to use this in my Watch Tower as well, but like a doof, I missed the part where it didn't say "dark BLUE gray".  Whoops.  I'm sure I can find a use for this piece somewhere.

 I still have about $15 in my PayPal account to use for brick purchases on BrickLink.  I'm also sitting on $10 in Lego store credit, and I'm thinking about using that before I go to BrickLink again.  Once I get pieces from Lego, I'll go back to BrickLink for those harder to find pieces.

Lego Haul - 9/28/16

A few weeks ago, I helped a friend mail a guitar to some dude in Indiana.  My friend paid me back by sending me money over PayPal, so I thought the best way to put that money to use was to go on BrickLink and order some Lego bricks.

The Lego haul from 9/28

I ordered them from Jay and ADOPT-A-BRICK.  Jay is a good guy with excellent prices.  Among the bricks I got from him (and their uses):

• Black 2x4 plate - This is the base for a flat screen television to sit in the doctor's lounge at the Hospital
• 2 Blue 2x8 plates - These were used for finishing up the walls at the Hospital
• 6 Dark Blue Grey 4x8 plates and 2 Dark Blue Grey 6x8 plates - Used to build the floors inside the Watch Tower
• Dark Blue Grey 8x8 plate - I put this outside the Marina Office to build the dock outside the building
• 2 Light Blue Grey 2x2 corner tiles - They completed the meat department display area in the Grocery Store
• Trans-Clear Door 1x4x6 and White Door Frame 1x4x6 - I needed these to finish putting the dairy case display in the Grocery Store
• White Panel 2x2x2 Corner - This went into the meat department display.  I forget what's going to be held in there.  I think it's for the fried chicken...
• 2 Yellow Cone 1x1 - These are a part of the entryway to the Pyramid nightclub
• 2 Yellow 1x1 plate with a clip - I put these inside the Firehouse at the Forest Police and Fire Stations 

I didn't get much this time around, and definitely not enough to finish of any buildings, but every little bit helps.

Log Cabin

Summer has come to an end in Minnesota, so Lake Season is wrapping up here.  Traffic up north is slowing down, but some people use their lake cabins in fall, especially when you have a nice Log Cabin like this one.

The Log Cabin

You probably won't see anyone out on the water.  They're gonna be up their preparing for hunting.  Geese, deer, other game.  Some hardcore outdoor enthusiasts might be in a canoe.  They may not even be hunting.  That's not me though.  Going up to the lake is a summer activity in my book.

Paddling out into the water in the canoe

You'd need to have a place at the lake to camp out up there.  If you got a nice RV, you can find a public campground to set up shop.  If you have a buddy with a lake place, you can stay in your own vehicle or camper, so you don't disturb people in the cabin, and maintain a level of privacy as well.

Chilling inside the RV

Another great fall lake activity involves sitting out by the fire and cooking out.  Maybe some hot dogs or chicken drumsticks.  And you definitely can't do without s'mores.  Why sit out by the fire at night on a cold October night without graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.  Totally worth getting chilled to the bone.

Cooking outside over an open fire

If it's too cold for you outside, then you can just sit by fire in the living room.  Snuggle up to your S.O. and just watch the logs burn.  You can fall asleep on the floor and stay toasty warm all night.

Sitting by the fireplace

My Lego people don't have to worry about some of this stuff, because they live in a more moderate climate that's a little less continental than the Midwest.  I'm thinking a little bit more like California.  I dunno, I'm not a meterologist or anything like that.  My Lego city is a fantasy world.  Duh...

Sets used: 5766, 60057

Lego Haul - 9/25/16

In anticipation of the Year 2 release for Lego Dimensions, Target had Fun Packs marked at 50% off, so my wife and I decided to grab a 71212 Emmet Fun Pack and a 71237 Aquaman Fun Pack.  Although neither of them would unlock new game content, in terms of new levels or worlds, they would allow us to complete some puzzles in unlocked worlds so we could continue to approach 100% completion.

The new Fun Packs from Target on 9/25/16

We didn't get a chance to play with them before the 2.0.0 game update.  I had to study that evening, then I had class the following day.  What a mistake that was...

71237 Aquaman Fun pack contents (left) and fully assembled (right)

We have a Wii U, because I've always had Nintendo consoles.  Their games are more fun, and a lot less serious than other platforms.

The 2.0.0 update for Lego Dimensions on Wii U broke the game.  Some of the new features, like allowing four-player action, doesn't do split screen well.  It sucks.  Sure, split screen would be great if you've got more than two kids who want to play.  But just the wife an I?  The old TV and gamepad layout worked just fine.  She'd use the big screen and Wii U remote, and I'd use the gamepad.

That's not the case anymore.  TV users are forced to play with a split screen.  My partner in crime can't see what's going on, and we have a 40" TV.  Trying to use menus to select worlds to travel to doesn't work at all, because things are located off-screen, so you have no idea what you're choosing.  In all, it's been a disaster.  The game is pretty much unplayable until this gets fixed.

71212 Emmet Fun Pack

This really sucks, because we were looking forward to the new content.  The new Ghostbusters story mode, new characters like Harry Potter, B.A. Baracus, Ethan Hunt, other stuff...  All down the tubes until a new update is released to fix this issue.  We've been trying to look up workaround, but no luck yet.  I'm not holding my breath for one either.

Emmet and Aquaman are ready to go, but they have nowhere to explore

Until this gets fixed, we're refusing to buy any more sets.  Traveller's Tales, Warner Bros., and Lego should have done better.  Brought in more game testers.  I can help, I've got some free time coming up in December and January.

Forest Police and File

I've shown you a few of the residences out by the lake, but it's not all relaxing lake homes.  Someone has to help keep the peace out there.

Forest Police and Fire Stations

I wanted a Lego bear, and I had limited options, so I got the 4440 Forest Police Station a few years ago.  However, the original design of the police station was open ended.  I needed to close it off so it could better contain anyone arrested out in the boonies.  I tried to use any many parts from this set, but I wound up with a lot of extras.  I also needed lots of white bricks to put it all together, but I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

Outside and inside the Forest Police Station

I also put a forest ranger lookout station on top of the Forest Police Station to keep an eye out for trouble on the horizon.  It works great, as the ranger can notify the fire station of potential wildfires that may need to be addressed.

Forest Fire Station outside and in

I got a 60010 Fire Helicopter for Christmas a few years ago, and I didn't feel like it was a good fit for a more urban area.  But out in wilderness?  Perfect.  I pretty much built the Forest Fire Station just to house the helicopter, with a landing pad large enough to hold it.  Once the forest ranger sees smoke, the firefighters can hop on an ATV to investigate further and call in the chopper if needed.

 Fire and police ATV's stationed out at the lake

The Fire Station out in the woods is a place where city firefighters can go out and practice their skills to ensure they remain well versed in their responsibilities.  There are plenty of apparatuses (apparatii?) to work on for all types of fire.  I should probably have a building out there too, but I just haven't bothered to put one together yet.

Equipment for the firefighters to practice with

As for the extra, leftover pieces after assembling everything?  I haven't sorted them out and placed them in the bins yet.  No idea if I ever will or not.  I may want to redesign a few things.  Or maybe go back to the original design.  Who knows?  Until I decide, I'll leave them in the ziplock bag.

Leftover pieces from 4440 Forest Police Station

Sets used: 4427, 4437, 4440, 6511, 7279, 30228, 60006, 60010

Grandstand

With the Minnesota State Fair wrapping up in a few days, I'll close out my two-part fair series with the Grandstand.  The State Fair always has good rock acts come through, and this year is no different, with Weezer playing this Saturday night.  They are my favorite band, so I have to check them out every time they come to town.

The Grandstand

The Grandstand is a combination of two ideas.  The first, a pavilion stage that one would find in a park for bands to play on.  It's just a platform with a wall and partial roof over it.  There are stairs leading up to the stage on both sides.  It's just enough to be useful, and that's all I ever try to do with all my buildings.

The band performing on stage

The second inspiration was trying to build a drum set out of Lego bricks.  I came up with the conceptual designs in Lego Digital Designer.  How could I get a bass drum and cymbals arranged in a small space so that the drummer can reasonably reach everything without feeling crammed in.  I don't have any toms mounted above the bass drum, but I think this worked.

 Conceptual design of a drum kit front (left) and rear (right)

:Lego beat me to the punch with the 850486 Rock Band Minifigure Accessory Set, but there were a couple of elements missing from their set that were in my conceptual design.  There was no kick pedal, but no big deal.  I just used the one from this Lego set.  I put it up on a platform, so it'd be above the rest of the band, like drummers in actual bands do.

 

 

The drummer banging it out on his drum kit.

Once I had the drumming situation figured out, I built the rest of the band around him.  I figured a bassist, a lead singer, and three guitar players would round things out.  Of course, I wound up with a few extra musicians.  I've still got an 8831 Rocker Girl, a 71002 Saxophone Player, an 8831 Bagpiper, and a newly acquired 71013 Mariachi.  I could put the Saxophone Guy in the band, and maybe the Rocker Girl (you can never go wrong with more guitars), but with my limited stage space, I don't have room for them up there.

Additional musicians (left to right) Rocker Girl, Saxophone Player, Bagpiper, and Mariachi

We've settled on who's performing at the Grandstand, but who's going to the show?  Easy, it's the minifigures dressed up in costume.  The band is playing AT A COSTUME PARTY.  It's brilliant!!  A concert is a great excuse to put on a bright, colorful outfit, like a zombie, a shark suit, or a Ninja Turtle, and wear it out in public.

Costume partygoers enjoying the music at their shindig

As always, the best way to build a Lego town is to take the pieces you have and build around them, not the other way around.

Sets used: 8684, 8804, 8831, 71002, 71007, 71013, 850486