tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13806032460463237042024-02-19T11:02:08.968-05:00Bricksburgh.comHome to two generations of Pittsburgh Lego enthusiasts.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-83949699512958177862022-04-26T11:08:00.002-04:002022-04-26T11:08:24.560-04:00Spring 2022 Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EyO3ghCWgAU1Jmr?format=jpg&name=large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EyO3ghCWgAU1Jmr?format=jpg&name=large" width="400" /></a></div>Life has been pretty busy since I last wrote on this blog and, admittedly, the feedback has been pretty sparse. So I've been redirecting my "hobby time" into my own enjoyment and focusing less on trying to monetize things like the Lego. That said... here's a little update.<span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzQatEGVkAooi7-?format=jpg&name=large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="800" height="354" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzQatEGVkAooi7-?format=jpg&name=large" width="400" /></a></div><div>We're getting into the busy season for the honeybees (we have 5 hives-- which you can follow on <a href="http://www.DandelionApiary.com">www.DandelionApiary.com</a> if you're interested), so I won't promise to be back here a lot... But I will try to do a few things here and there mostly on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/msimmons/" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over last winter (2021) I went on a bit of a buying spree, picking up Main Street and Transcon Space Shuttle sets, among others. I posted videos of all of them... and then I became interested in snatching up some long-wanted harbor sets-- which launched a whole bunch more videos on everything from trucks to how to modify your harbor cranes!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_Q0j6551s8" width="320" youtube-src-id="I_Q0j6551s8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All that to say there's LOTS of new content on YouTube since I last wrote a blog post here. I hope you'll dig in and find something you like-- but I'm not going in much depth here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for YouTube itself -- well, it's still a frustrating place to be. I didn't find any viable alternatives and so I am just sort of letting the channel coast for the most part. My attempts to revive it stumbled again, despite regular posting and experimenting with #Shorts and other gimmicks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can only conclude that the channel (or me) is just out of season for now and if I toss anything out there it's only for the purpose of contributing to the growth of the Lego community for now. Hopefully someday it becomes financially worthwhile to share more often and devote more time to it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h_BlCeERTSc" width="320" youtube-src-id="h_BlCeERTSc"></iframe></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.</div>Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-17423211309617251982020-11-17T09:20:00.004-05:002020-11-17T09:20:45.694-05:00YouTube Frustration....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.lifehack.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/5421517469_d0d2997eec_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="212" src="https://cdn.lifehack.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/5421517469_d0d2997eec_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm not entirely sure what is going on, but it does seem like making an effort results in YouTube punishing the channel. The more videos created, the lower our referrals from off-channel.<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><div>I'm not giving up... not yet. But I am not going to continue to prioritizing new videos. I will make them when appropriate and am tinkering/exploring with moving the entire channel to <a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/dm_33b3957010574f55b19df32c79a11eb9" target="_blank">DailyMotion</a> instead, which seems to have a more favorable monetization program: <a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/dm_33b3957010574f55b19df32c79a11eb9">https://www.dailymotion.com/dm_33b3957010574f55b19df32c79a11eb9</a></div><div><br /></div><div>As far as YouTube is concerned, look at how the increased number of videos has inexplicably resulted in a lower baseline of views:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnByviSXYAYdPAr?format=png&name=small" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="611" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnByviSXYAYdPAr?format=png&name=small" /></a></div>I can't explain it any other way than to see that the spikes are from channel subscribers getting notifications. But despite them giving the new videos lots of "thumbs up" the baseline view count is about HALF of what it was before I started uploading new videos (the 4, 2, etc. in the boxes represent video uploads on those dates). <div><br /></div><div>Digging deeper into the analytics, it seems like the more content I create, the less referrals we get from search results and recommended videos. YouTube is ranking the videos lower in the results and/or not displaying them at all. Sooo...... I'm going to leave the channel to coast a little and see if the baseline drifts back up with LESS activity. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also exploring combining the channels I have onto one account in addition to the DailyMotion option.</div><div><div><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.</div>Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-60077068230871965272020-11-02T06:44:00.002-05:002020-11-02T06:44:46.881-05:00YouTube Channel Update for October 2020: How the "Relaunch" is going and some behind-the-scenes info<div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bBpPmWBds-8" width="320" youtube-src-id="bBpPmWBds-8"></iframe></div>When I relaunched our YouTube channel about a month ago, it was to see if giving the channel more attention would be enough to push us back into monetization under YouTube's revised rules. It wasn't about the money, it was about something (literally) bigger than that.<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having the YouTube channel making money would help me justify keeping the town assembled in this "gap decade" between my kids and my kids' kids (my grandkids). So far... it is not going well. That's not to say the town is coming down anytime soon, but the videos might be ending if there's no incentive to take the extra time to make them.</span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm not QUITE ready to give up, as there's already some planned topics as suggested BY YOU, THE PEOPLE (!) that I want to cover first. However-- and I'm being honest and transparent here-- there's little reason to go through the effort to make content that YouTube won't pay for. I'm working for them for free, basically. We need to turn this ship around-- so: </span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you're watching on YouTube, please LIKE this video (and all the other ones on this channel) as that seems to REALLY affect how YouTube directs traffic to our channel and helps us keep things going.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Consider sharing the channel or this video with your Lego friends and please SUBSCRIBE if you have not already.</div></div><div><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-8641616737273790242020-10-26T05:59:00.004-04:002020-10-26T05:59:25.570-04:00Upsized and upgraded Lego Repair Shop set # 6363<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wqf9bUWleA8" width="320" youtube-src-id="Wqf9bUWleA8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A video takes a look around the "rebricking" of Lego Repair Shop set # 6363, which was upsized and upgraded by using two copies of the set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>More details about the history of this set was discussed in the prior blog post: <a href="https://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2020/10/project-upsizing-classic-auto-repair.html">https://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2020/10/project-upsizing-classic-auto-repair.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you're watching on YouTube, please LIKE this video (and all the other ones on this channel) as that seems to REALLY affect how YouTube directs traffic to our channel and helps us keep things going.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Consider sharing the channel or this video with your Lego friends and please SUBSCRIBE if you have not already.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-55428775293319182282020-10-20T12:07:00.002-04:002020-10-20T12:07:33.506-04:00Project: Upsizing the Classic Auto Repair Shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/SL/6363-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="343" height="297" src="https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/SL/6363-1.png" width="400" /></a></div>If you've followed along with our town you've already gotten a pretty good look at our upsized Repair Shop (<a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2014/09/pizza-shop-fire.html" target="_blank">recently seen ON FIRE!</a>) I'm still working on a couple interior details (and lighting issues) before doing a video of the shop as it now stands, but I wanted to discuss some of the story and design ideas behind it.<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I received my first set 6363 when I was probably in about 6th grade... which was about 1985? I had good friends who lived upstairs from our apartment on Kreuzberg Kaserne in Zweibruecken, Germany (my father was a career US Army officer). These two brothers were my early Lego colleagues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My first set was the Police Station. I don't want to repeat myself, so you can listen to that story here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AIkF8n8aElQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="AIkF8n8aElQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lego sets started making regular appearances in my Christmas and birthday gifts after that, but REALLY accelerated during our time in Zweibruecken because the two brothers I lived below were big town Lego guys too. Pretty much EVERY excuse for giving each other Lego sets meant that all three of us saw a LOT of new Lego-- and the sets in those years (about 1983-1985) were really great Classic sets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The apartments had radiators for heat and the stone (?) windowsills above the radiators were about 1.5 Lego road plates deep and right at chest height, so playing with them was really immersive-- you had a minifig's perspective! This also meant that if you wanted to make a town off the floor, which was necessary because our bedrooms themselves were not big, you had to make a long straight town only one road plate deep. Most building sets back then came on half-sized plates and, fortunately, they could still fit on the windowsill. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now the major downside to this windowsill arrangement was that you pretty much had to choose whether you wanted access to the inside of a building or not. If you didn't, you could have it against the windows and see the front of it. But if you wanted access to the inside, you had to face it away from you. Also, sets like the police station and fire station were relegated to the end of the town's long street or awkwardly placed so that EVERYONE drove through it. As I recall, I had house set 6374 on end of town and the fire station on the other. The police station was made into a border crossing/customs-style checkpoint, which was familiar territory for us back in those pre-European Union days. </div><div><br /></div>Anyway-- so the upsides were that you had this great perspective on the town because it was so close to eye level, and we were also making-- without realizing it-- modular towns. Since everyone's town was just one road plate deep, we would load them up in laundry baskets (with all the other desired vehicles and such) and carry them to each other's apartments to play, mixing all our stuff together in new combinations. It was really cool.<div><br /></div><div>Well, the Repair Shop WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. Sure, it came with two of those half-plates, but one was turned THE WRONG WAY so the garage part stuck out way far behind it. It didn't fit on the windowsill! And if you turned the plate parallel so the plates fit, you wound up moving the front of the repair shop so far forward it was right on the edge of the road. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/lego/images/a/aa/6363_Box.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20110112162916" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="350" height="263" src="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/lego/images/a/aa/6363_Box.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20110112162916" width="400" /></a></div>I honestly don't remember where/how I placed the repair shop to work in this 1.5 road plate deep windowsill world, but I do know that as soon as I had a floor-based town (in Belgium in 1985-87ish), I acquired CURVED road plates which fit the shop easily on their deeper sides. I think I had to build it backward a couple times to accommodate the town's layout, but the shop went on curved plates and pretty much STAYED on curved plates ever since.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometime later, in Stuttgart (if I remember correctly), the AAFES Post Exchange announced that they would no longer be carrying toys because, the thinking presumably was, German toy stores were not that hard to get to and happened to be carrying most of the same stuff anyway. Nowadays that announcement would have me pouncing on the marked down inventory but back then it didn't occur to me. Luckily, it DID occur to my father!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He came home with all the Lego he could find-- and there wasn't much left! He scored a second hospital set (6364) and a second repair shop set and I think possibly a couple smaller things? I forget. But for the purposes of this blog post, the second repair shop is the most relevant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I quickly set about trying to combine and expand the repair shop and to modify the second tow truck into something else (I didn't need yet ANOTHER tow truck because I also had on from the gas station set and my blue Exxon one too). These efforts were pretty "meh" until the sets were rediscovered and rebuilt with my son Tyler. We knew we could do better. So we did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkP2I6kWAAE6FyJ?format=jpg&name=small" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="300" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkP2I6kWAAE6FyJ?format=jpg&name=small" width="400" /></a></div>Partly inspired by our trips to the local pick-a-part salvage yard, we made sure the new shop would have room for some cars being torn apart for parts. Lego never made a junk yard set, but it stands to reason that our "island town" would need to save anything useful when cars were retired (which you can see pictured above). We also wanted to limit the footprint of the garage because of our space constraints in town, which meant we needed to build UP. Fortunately, the color scheme of the repair shop sets and their rather generic windows made that easy to obtain matching parts. <br /><div><br /></div><div>You'll see more about what we came up with and why in the follow-up post after I make the video.</div><div><br /></div><div>The trucks were also refined over time and while I haven't done a full explanation of where they all went and what became of them, this video does show you where the original yellow tow truck of my original set went:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6b5mAgG5rMc" width="320" youtube-src-id="6b5mAgG5rMc"></iframe></div><br /><div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a> and Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brixburgh/">https://www.instagram.com/brixburgh/</a></div></div>Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-24397861365740452812020-10-08T10:53:00.007-04:002020-11-18T05:36:25.101-05:00Fire Department Fleet and Organization<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5pf7HJg6Mkea9gUG2oe0wCpQAfu_kUi4fGAmjtIIlAZ5bBBVPVFGl9AYo9OlFmwx9DKFcLrB8iz3mPW0fp0O6vWRaThbMXsd0415ExhUZdhrImvA9V6XAZJzCKIGomSoSG_vCq-XdiIx/s1600/63-IMG_9910.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5pf7HJg6Mkea9gUG2oe0wCpQAfu_kUi4fGAmjtIIlAZ5bBBVPVFGl9AYo9OlFmwx9DKFcLrB8iz3mPW0fp0O6vWRaThbMXsd0415ExhUZdhrImvA9V6XAZJzCKIGomSoSG_vCq-XdiIx/w400-h266/63-IMG_9910.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div>Inspired by <a href="https://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2014/09/pizza-shop-fire.html" target="_blank">the Pizza Shop fire</a> post, I took our fire vehicles all outside for a walkthrough of what we have and their modifications.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%; position: relative;"><iframe allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="100%" src="https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x7x8rn5?autoplay=1" style="height: 100%; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%;" type="text/html" width="100%"></iframe>Here's a breakdown of the original sets that make up the basic fleet, though most are significantly modified:</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Truck 1 and 6 are from the Fire Station set 6382.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truck 2, 5 and the motorcycle are from Fire Rescue Squad set 6366.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truck 3 is set 6650.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truck 7 is the Snorkel/Pumper set 6690.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truck 4 is a total MOC/custom.</div><div><br /></div><div>The helicopter is set 6685.</div><div><br /></div><div>The large ship is set 4025.</div><div><br /></div><div>The smaller boat is mostly made of (according to the sticker on it) set 6478. This was a piece we acquired from a grab bin at a garage sale or something. Since we already had a better helicopter (and 6478 is from the era of bad design) we have used that piece for making this smaller fire boat. It was previously an airport fire truck (see Tyler's video below).</div><div><br /></div><div>The airport fire/foam engine is set 6614. Lego intends that as a safety truck for the Space Shuttle launch area, but we liked that it had unique markings from the town fire trucks and have just opted to make it the designated fire engine for the entire airport. This was also partly because (at the time) efforts to get set 6440, which actually has airport/airline logos on it were unsuccessful. Also, 6440 is 6-wide and VERY large, compared to 6614 which is 4 wide but still looks like a big airport fire truck.</div><div><br /></div><div>Somewhat amusingly, while looking for a lead image to use on the NEW video (so I wouldn't have to see my face!) I ran across <a href="https://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2013/09/fire-truck-wash-day.html" target="_blank">this old post about washing the fire trucks</a>. At the bottom of that post was a video of Tyler doing THE SAME VIDEO I JUST DID. Oops... Well, there have been some changes over the years. See if you can spot them:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9pSXOWcdl28" width="320" youtube-src-id="9pSXOWcdl28"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the new video -- YouTube version, in case you weren't able to see it above:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JWYq01Blavc" width="320" youtube-src-id="JWYq01Blavc"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a> and Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brixburgh/">https://www.instagram.com/brixburgh/</a>Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-60067804287705132592020-10-02T12:22:00.001-04:002020-12-26T11:12:05.012-05:00INFERNO - Pizza Shop fire threatens city block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yajIN7yuZBI/UvrT-Qgbr4I/AAAAAAAAIPI/FbaixAF2ltg/s1600/22-IMG_9848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yajIN7yuZBI/UvrT-Qgbr4I/AAAAAAAAIPI/FbaixAF2ltg/w213-h320/22-IMG_9848.JPG" width="213" /></b></a></div>
<b>FIRE!</b> Here's a quick overview of a detailed scene that Tyler and I made a few years ago. Click on through to the post and I'll give you a suggestion for a fun way to... well, start a "fire"!<span><a name='more'></a></span><br />First of all -- let me say there are a HUGE number of pictures on this post, so get ready to do some serious scrolling-- make sure you go all the way to bottom!<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkGoadPjJQ0/UvrUK2T8ISI/AAAAAAAAIRw/FVuZL5X-oW8/s1600/51-IMG_9891.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkGoadPjJQ0/UvrUK2T8ISI/AAAAAAAAIRw/FVuZL5X-oW8/w426-h640/51-IMG_9891.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div>Okay -- Here's a fun "game" that I used to play with my son, Tyler, when he was younger: <b>I would start disasters. </b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Yes, EXACTLY. </b>The basic idea was that since I knew he was playing in the town almost every day, I would start moving pieces into motion with a disaster or emergency planned... and then every day I would advance things farther until he caught what was happening and started to respond with police or fire department or... whatever was needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>If I wanted to start a fire, for instance, I would put a tuft of smoke (made of cotton balls) somewhere in a building. If there were people in the building, and Tyler didn't see the smoke after a day or two, I would make the "fire" bigger and move the people to run out of the building. Every day that he didn't see it, the bigger the fire got! </div><div><br /></div><div>I would do similar things for car crashes (maybe a loose tire) or if it was a plane crash, he'd just walk in one day and there would be a HUGE just-crashed plane with giant billows of cotton balls! </div><div>I think it was fun for both of us. </div><div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTz9_qAWOdk/UvrT-cQZHkI/AAAAAAAAIO8/sk24XyeEnTU/s1600/23-IMG_9850.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTz9_qAWOdk/UvrT-cQZHkI/AAAAAAAAIO8/sk24XyeEnTU/w400-h266/23-IMG_9850.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I think these pictures uploaded somewhat randomly, but here we are approaching the fire scene from the beach area and-- well, it looks like police are stopping traffic and a TV news crew is covering the fire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Keep scrolling -- pictures of the BIG FIRE and all the rescues are near the bottom of this post.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhRNKlI58Rc/UvrT-QRexJI/AAAAAAAAIPE/MeupVkwm-2Y/s1600/24-IMG_9851.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhRNKlI58Rc/UvrT-QRexJI/AAAAAAAAIPE/MeupVkwm-2Y/w400-h266/24-IMG_9851.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Here's the TV news reporter interviewing someone about the fire. Note how the cameraman is plugged in to the TV truck's panel so the signal can be transmitted.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh-- I should mention that part of the reason I started doing this "surprise disaster" stuff with Tyler is that for many years I worked 2:30pm-11:30pm and during the school week I barely/rarely saw him... </div><div><br /></div><div>So this was a fun thing I could set up in the morning while he was at school, then he'd see it (or not!) and when I went back to his room the following morning I could either make the disaster bigger or change what was happening, depending on what he had done or not. Maybe I'd collapse a part of a building or create a HUGE traffic jam for him to untangle... things like that.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd like to think it was these kinds of things that helped keep us connected during a long week mostly apart. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ywfK13v7Dw/UvrT-yWgCSI/AAAAAAAAIPQ/pQ29YigZO4I/s1600/31-IMG_9861.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ywfK13v7Dw/UvrT-yWgCSI/AAAAAAAAIPQ/pQ29YigZO4I/w400-h266/31-IMG_9861.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ah, now we can see who the TV news reporter is talking to-- it's a worker from the Pizza Shop where the fire appears to have started.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLF7u76ZNr_VG9TDHTbqUkA2szky8Bkgy2kpwzVlm7Xq9xi85wpM6Q97YWIIix3-CW7jVhbo9Xw030a7r0-UTt2GOOBjRTuPD9MQUnLRDN5Nnsw_MgC5TceFBbJLmaF-iS1rh2qCucmL9/s1600/37-IMG_9868.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLF7u76ZNr_VG9TDHTbqUkA2szky8Bkgy2kpwzVlm7Xq9xi85wpM6Q97YWIIix3-CW7jVhbo9Xw030a7r0-UTt2GOOBjRTuPD9MQUnLRDN5Nnsw_MgC5TceFBbJLmaF-iS1rh2qCucmL9/w400-h266/37-IMG_9868.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
From behind the TechMan's building we can see that the police van that is blocking the street is actually the "paddy wagon" used to take suspects to jail. You can see the camera's cable better here too.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkDGAHt1FsM/UvrT_kNJy6I/AAAAAAAAIPc/fVY7w_mDg2U/s1600/32-IMG_9862.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkDGAHt1FsM/UvrT_kNJy6I/AAAAAAAAIPc/fVY7w_mDg2U/w400-h266/32-IMG_9862.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Over the top of the "jail van" (as Tyler used to call it) you can see another police officer is turning around traffic on the street behind the TV station, even as traffic is backing up along the beachfront.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2Ro5x6pzp4/UvrUCQ4XZ-I/AAAAAAAAIP4/fJINbJfOIGM/s1600/36-IMG_9867.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2Ro5x6pzp4/UvrUCQ4XZ-I/AAAAAAAAIP4/fJINbJfOIGM/w400-h266/36-IMG_9867.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Well, hey-- another TV news crew picture! </div><div>While we're here, I'll just tell you another way I used to keep Tyler entertained was to use the airplanes and boats. We set up a system where I had a LOT of stashed people/goodies elsewhere in the house and Tyler would load up an airplane or ship and set it in a particular place (I forget where?) and then while he was at school, I would empty the people/cargo and exchange them with other people and cargo and send them back to town. </div><div><br /></div><div>The people were sometimes just tourists or whatever, but other times they would be VIPs or the start of some "story" I wanted to play along with him. In those cases, they came with instructions that I would write out who they were and why they were in town. I would do the same thing with cargo, which could be special/new equipment or something and I'd explain why it was sent or where it was to be delivered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then the next morning, again while Tyler was at school, I could check in and see if people were in Taxis going places or if cargo was being trucked around town. </div><div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B6H3cl73woU/UvrUAaKjOuI/AAAAAAAAIPk/uSE6hDaspF4/s1600/34-IMG_9864.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B6H3cl73woU/UvrUAaKjOuI/AAAAAAAAIPk/uSE6hDaspF4/w426-h640/34-IMG_9864.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
Looks like the police have used a motorcycle and a patrol car to block this street. There's also emergency lighting set up to help firefighters see in the darkened building, since the electricity is turned off to the lights. </div><div><br /></div><div>Note the gantry over the road-- it carries cables back and forth from the TV station to the satellite dish mounted on the station's news truck garage.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1HvVMJO8jLg/UvrUATlPQgI/AAAAAAAAIPg/N45g23MlmVE/s1600/33-IMG_9863.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1HvVMJO8jLg/UvrUATlPQgI/AAAAAAAAIPg/N45g23MlmVE/w426-h640/33-IMG_9863.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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A close up of traffic turning around. I want to draw your attention to the traffic cones. Those are NOT Lego pieces, but they fit on top of a stud PERFECTLY. We've always used them in town because their size and shape is great for minifigs, but they're actually from a <a href="https://matchbox.fandom.com/wiki/Porsche_Police_Set_(K-71)" target="_blank">Matchbox Polizei Porsche</a> set I got from my Dad in about 1983 as a welcome give when we moved to Germany. You can see the set by clicking the link above -- but note that my cones don't have red tips... I still have the Porsche, of course!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6h7xzQWapwg/UvrUBKcn-bI/AAAAAAAAIP0/l3sGpu9tM-s/s1600/35-IMG_9865.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6h7xzQWapwg/UvrUBKcn-bI/AAAAAAAAIP0/l3sGpu9tM-s/w400-h266/35-IMG_9865.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tyler made this light trailer at some point -- I'm not sure what inspired him. I think originally the lights were part of a "movie set" he'd made and then he adapted them to be emergency lights. Typically they are parked in the courtyard area of the police station when not in use.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K3CguXBUqzk/UvrUCtX-BZI/AAAAAAAAIQI/vRhluqxwGzA/s1600/38-IMG_9869.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K3CguXBUqzk/UvrUCtX-BZI/AAAAAAAAIQI/vRhluqxwGzA/w426-h640/38-IMG_9869.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
Action shot of the fire helicopter coming to the scene-- I don't think helicopters with these kinds of nozzles exist in real life? It's a cool idea though. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWoTVjOtZwY/UvrUDHDR-uI/AAAAAAAAIQQ/ggMEu0KGINw/s1600/39-IMG_9870.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWoTVjOtZwY/UvrUDHDR-uI/AAAAAAAAIQQ/ggMEu0KGINw/w400-h266/39-IMG_9870.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This is the view through the TechMan's lobby in the building across the street. He's probably outside watching all the excitement. Fire Truck 1 is the command vehicle normally driven by the chief.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AU7fTnoASJc/UvrUDSDYHkI/AAAAAAAAIQY/tOU4363Hu_Q/s1600/40-IMG_9872.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AU7fTnoASJc/UvrUDSDYHkI/AAAAAAAAIQY/tOU4363Hu_Q/w266-h400/40-IMG_9872.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have to be honest, I'm not entirely sure now who the guy with the badge is... Our police chief has a white hat and white epaulets on his shoulders and the mayor doesn't have a badge... so I have no idea who that guy with the beard is!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWMdHq0oeT4/UvrUJYi18PI/AAAAAAAAIRQ/ZZIXFtMug0A/s1600/47-IMG_9885.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWMdHq0oeT4/UvrUJYi18PI/AAAAAAAAIRQ/ZZIXFtMug0A/w400-h266/47-IMG_9885.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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What I CAN tell you is that the silver helmeted fire fighters are commanders. There are three squads, if I recall correctly. Normal fire fighters wear black helmets. The three squad commanders wear silver helmets (and have slightly different uniforms). The fire chief has a white helmet. The different colored helmets and uniforms make it really easy on a chaotic scene to identify who the squad commanders are for each squad and to find the chief.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OP7mlBMvbrI/UvrUKUrP0QI/AAAAAAAAIRk/7sv77YQYbrI/s1600/49-IMG_9888.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OP7mlBMvbrI/UvrUKUrP0QI/AAAAAAAAIRk/7sv77YQYbrI/w400-h266/49-IMG_9888.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Action shots here as the fire chopper... uh... does whatever a fire chopper does. Again, I'm not aware of any "water gun" style helicopters anywhere in the world. Usually fire choppers drop from a bucket type apparatus. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ve1dC4Trkn0/UvrUE43SG-I/AAAAAAAAIQo/2xhELTRpIH8/s1600/44-IMG_9881.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ve1dC4Trkn0/UvrUE43SG-I/AAAAAAAAIQo/2xhELTRpIH8/w266-h400/44-IMG_9881.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWMdHq0oeT4/UvrUJYi18PI/AAAAAAAAIRQ/ZZIXFtMug0A/s1600/47-IMG_9885.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWMdHq0oeT4/UvrUJYi18PI/AAAAAAAAIRQ/ZZIXFtMug0A/s1600/47-IMG_9885.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>And here we can imagine all the things that could go wrong if a fire chopper shooting high-pressure water/foam were a real thing. They could blow firefighters right off a rooftop or a ladder, they could knock down weakened wall/roof structures onto rescuers below or they could just plain MISS and really surprise someone walking down the street two blocks away!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPqN_9Teg7A/UvrUEN45ObI/AAAAAAAAIQc/jJnJ1RpvpEw/s1600/41-IMG_9875.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPqN_9Teg7A/UvrUEN45ObI/AAAAAAAAIQc/jJnJ1RpvpEw/w266-h400/41-IMG_9875.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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The original nozzles on this set were larger, but also stuck out farther into the fire fighter's space. There were also no real discernable controls, so Tyler modified this to be more compact and to have pressure gauges and controls. I think I may eventually modify this truck further to include hoses and a pressure tank on the middle of the trailer, stowed under the arm.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLL59A2y6Cs/UvrUJRU1UWI/AAAAAAAAIRY/rzw3O-TuV5o/s1600/48-IMG_9886.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLL59A2y6Cs/UvrUJRU1UWI/AAAAAAAAIRY/rzw3O-TuV5o/w400-h266/48-IMG_9886.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tyler also added some blue emergency lights to the sides-- I think I'll add some high-power white flood lights underneath the yellow basket at some point. I might also make the basket itself a little more robust. In the original set, the firefighter had a seat, but standing up is more realistic.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DG3wi0L0108/UvrUMYA8ebI/AAAAAAAAISA/ofq5kEFLLLQ/s1600/53-IMG_9894.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DG3wi0L0108/UvrUMYA8ebI/AAAAAAAAISA/ofq5kEFLLLQ/w426-h640/53-IMG_9894.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
The ladder truck here is the smaller of the two main ladder trucks. It is slightly shorter and has no pumper controls. In retrospect, it's a little strange that the driver turned so sharply to block the road, though it does give the truck more stability. This ladder truck has two sections of ladder on it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9t0MDINn0U/UvrUIKks1VI/AAAAAAAAIRM/NzfiPa778Qc/s1600/46-IMG_9884.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9t0MDINn0U/UvrUIKks1VI/AAAAAAAAIRM/NzfiPa778Qc/w400-h266/46-IMG_9884.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Now in the middle intersection of the fire scene, we can see police officers have blocked this street with a motorbike and cones. One of the mechanics has already escaped out of the ground floor shop an is being taken care of.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-_chiqsF-s/UvrUHi-NpCI/AAAAAAAAIQ8/ys7noCoUBtI/s1600/45-IMG_9883.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-_chiqsF-s/UvrUHi-NpCI/AAAAAAAAIQ8/ys7noCoUBtI/w400-h266/45-IMG_9883.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The red motorcycle is actually a fast-response fire department unit as well. It can get to car accidents and things like that really quickly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Police motorcycles were originally grey (from Lego sets) but we changed them all to white to better match the rest of the department's vehicles. The grey motorcycles are still in town, of course, but they're used by civilians.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9K5UUU1IIKo/UvrURuqOwKI/AAAAAAAAITk/QLOxvd3eevI/s1600/66-IMG_9913.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9K5UUU1IIKo/UvrURuqOwKI/AAAAAAAAITk/QLOxvd3eevI/w400-h266/66-IMG_9913.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
From this angle you can see another mechanic has escaped the fire through the front door and is running to safety.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Truck 6 is the main pumper/ladder truck for the department. You can see the control panel on the side is opened up. The medical car on the left brings doctors right to a scene.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKIEV5wpqms/UvrULuEUrXI/AAAAAAAAIR8/CYwnIBjYco4/s1600/52-IMG_9893.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKIEV5wpqms/UvrULuEUrXI/AAAAAAAAIR8/CYwnIBjYco4/w426-h640/52-IMG_9893.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
A firefighter is at the top of Truck 6 helping down some mechanics who were trapped on the upper floors of the building and had to escape to the roof. Note that Truck 6 has three sections of ladder, giving it the most "reach" of any truck in the department.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another firefighter can be seen with oxygen tanks on as he tries to clear and check the building from the ground up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6m3FEoOrHvS83mveTLS6mLnE06qeCpfNE5H3F-qxkt_JK9osk6pzraLjrEQE9qYVj2OHEnM36s4-zJSWoNuduIjl9A5YotqUfMDhRBkWmK7RNjHqk4r-PPBShhNIbFF96HhjGFg5Of_pq/s1600/42-IMG_9876.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6m3FEoOrHvS83mveTLS6mLnE06qeCpfNE5H3F-qxkt_JK9osk6pzraLjrEQE9qYVj2OHEnM36s4-zJSWoNuduIjl9A5YotqUfMDhRBkWmK7RNjHqk4r-PPBShhNIbFF96HhjGFg5Of_pq/w400-h266/42-IMG_9876.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are three mechanics on the top of the building and the last one is REALLY close to the flames. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_X4YeCOIZ7Y/UvrUN7kX6QI/AAAAAAAAIS0/34GrFQYNTa0/s1600/57-IMG_9902.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_X4YeCOIZ7Y/UvrUN7kX6QI/AAAAAAAAIS0/34GrFQYNTa0/w400-h266/57-IMG_9902.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This firefighter is trying to help make a path across the roof for the mechanics to get to the other ladder to be rescued, but the smoke is very thick.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRal-Xr0kFE/UvrUK08sIgI/AAAAAAAAIRo/xV-EkrQdrtQ/s1600/50-IMG_9890.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRal-Xr0kFE/UvrUK08sIgI/AAAAAAAAIRo/xV-EkrQdrtQ/w400-h266/50-IMG_9890.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
They seem very happy to be rescued!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wNg5cG7Bic/UvrUMe2HPzI/AAAAAAAAISI/5JaKyxTlE14/s1600/54-IMG_9898.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wNg5cG7Bic/UvrUMe2HPzI/AAAAAAAAISI/5JaKyxTlE14/w400-h266/54-IMG_9898.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Burning debris from the roof has fallen into the street in front of the buildings, including some glass. This is why firefighters wear helmets!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HK_C2XNhFIQ/UvrUOHBEL9I/AAAAAAAAIS4/iH-h_hfHjr4/s1600/58-IMG_9903.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HK_C2XNhFIQ/UvrUOHBEL9I/AAAAAAAAIS4/iH-h_hfHjr4/w400-h266/58-IMG_9903.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You could say the last guy is a "panicked mechanic" as he's barely ahead of the fire!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CBjRTKBgHZ0/UvrUNzkHp3I/AAAAAAAAISc/hiRUCPVXLkA/s1600/56-IMG_9901.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CBjRTKBgHZ0/UvrUNzkHp3I/AAAAAAAAISc/hiRUCPVXLkA/w400-h266/56-IMG_9901.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's hard to get the camera down to minifig-level, but I have to saw the pictures always look so much better the closer you can get to what a minifig might see.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZhHsu2A8Jw/UvrUM5Zx2nI/AAAAAAAAISQ/xKNypDtpW5Q/s1600/55-IMG_9899.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZhHsu2A8Jw/UvrUM5Zx2nI/AAAAAAAAISQ/xKNypDtpW5Q/w400-h266/55-IMG_9899.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Doctor is making sure this mechanic is okay... but not entirely sure what he's checking here! Can minifigs blush??<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzFsiiZBFlk/UvrUPm-c1UI/AAAAAAAAISw/l_T2yO58i_4/s1600/61-IMG_9908.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzFsiiZBFlk/UvrUPm-c1UI/AAAAAAAAISw/l_T2yO58i_4/w400-h266/61-IMG_9908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Looking from the far side of the scene you can see the fire has stretched all the way across the top floor and is starting to smoke out that side too.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw9TsatJGLE/UvrUQ51l7XI/AAAAAAAAITY/kvF055TKvuM/s1600/64-IMG_9911.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw9TsatJGLE/UvrUQ51l7XI/AAAAAAAAITY/kvF055TKvuM/w426-h640/64-IMG_9911.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Biw4wAUFMQ" target="_blank">As I recently discussed on our YouTube channel</a>, Lego very cleverly designed their classic 4-wide vehicles around two differently-sized tires. Smaller tires, like on the ambulance, give the vehicles more of a van-like appearance and scale. Larger tires, like on Truck 6, give the vehicles a beefier stance and higher ride height to project a sense of mass and bulk. If you look closely, that's really the only major difference (plus the black grill) between the front of these two vehicles, but it's the fire truck that LOOKS so much bigger and impressive... even though the ambulance is longer!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YwTzwnOohtY/UvrURB99HLI/AAAAAAAAITU/ZtKRUVsg2nA/s1600/65-IMG_9912.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YwTzwnOohtY/UvrURB99HLI/AAAAAAAAITU/ZtKRUVsg2nA/w426-h640/65-IMG_9912.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Of course, Lego not being reality, sometimes when you set up a HUGE DRAMATIC DISASTER there are details that get missed. If you look in the foreground here, for example, you see a gentlemen just casually getting money out of the ATM machine as mechanics run from their lives off the burning inferno behind him. He was probably there before this started, though I suppose in some larger cities this might actually happen with a REAL inferno too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCDzIAHwVUR_-Eu80sS6wyaDZpQR11f9iKN7Ju4VSZ1h3EEMTfeINsPCqzxSHpj5EuCtpQa5P5QCXzqIseAVKJqGK4d-JqCqIe8fYDsw-9hU2jb2JOQp2GNkuPm47sKNsLpaWtG4ql7pe/s1600/59-IMG_9905.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCDzIAHwVUR_-Eu80sS6wyaDZpQR11f9iKN7Ju4VSZ1h3EEMTfeINsPCqzxSHpj5EuCtpQa5P5QCXzqIseAVKJqGK4d-JqCqIe8fYDsw-9hU2jb2JOQp2GNkuPm47sKNsLpaWtG4ql7pe/w400-h266/59-IMG_9905.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From the far side of Legotown you can see the smoke rising and get a look into how the fire spread. Turns out it wasn't from the pizza oven-- but started somewhere in the attic apartment of the Pizza Shop building, or possibly in the chimney/roof of the Pizza Shop (from the oven?). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe the chimney was blocked?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJONCCMVLLCsESAVtUoUywQCMagBV5UyGqW5OyDEkr7NGfG7th7gzFrpmBP6XjtjBw0JuPcQ3LuII4k_CozBehZV04JgZ5kG-RsvvbPtWTXAlw4xxmYR_OCL_M8XdSsQqX4hVOJa-dvvm/s1600/62-IMG_9909.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJONCCMVLLCsESAVtUoUywQCMagBV5UyGqW5OyDEkr7NGfG7th7gzFrpmBP6XjtjBw0JuPcQ3LuII4k_CozBehZV04JgZ5kG-RsvvbPtWTXAlw4xxmYR_OCL_M8XdSsQqX4hVOJa-dvvm/w400-h266/62-IMG_9909.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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You made it! This is last picture and it is looking around the final corner to the last police barricade. There's another TV news crew here, with the car parked by the police station entrance and the cameraperson looks like they're talking to a police officer. You can also see the flatbed tow truck is still in the garage of the repair shop.</div>
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.</div></div>Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-22358091394447785002020-09-29T07:34:00.002-04:002020-09-29T07:35:33.641-04:00Traffic is Cluttering Up my Town<div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VDNsvgG7fEk" width="320" youtube-src-id="VDNsvgG7fEk"></iframe></div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A short update on the town and a view of the tables separated in this video update.
I am trying to balance consistently posting videos with actually having something to talk about -- which also then requires me to find time to BUILD things between the time spent making videos! <span><a name='more'></a></span>
It's something I'm still trying to work out, but today I had time for video only, so I thought I'd let you in on my realization that there's so much more to do than I thought...
I think the next course of action is going to be clearing the city streets and moving all the vehicles to a different place, perhaps a folding table set up next to the town tables.
With all the traffic removed, I can start rethinking a few areas of town and reconfiguring a couple things with my view unobstructed. I'll also be able to replace a couple buildings I don't much like (now) and make improvements to the scenery and infrastructure of town.
Videos of those new buildings and improvements will also be a LOT easier to make without all the cars and trucks blocking the view.
Then I can add back the vehicles to the places they belong (for things like mail trucks and fire engines) and spread some of the others in parking lots and on streets without hitting gridlock like we have at the moment.</span></span></div><div><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-77691755921528008132020-09-24T06:27:00.001-04:002020-09-24T06:27:00.418-04:00Police Truck and Prototyping<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHfziM06sck/Usr5JKUgPZI/AAAAAAAAIJ4/yOImL1lIQMo/w400-h266/24-IMG_9206.JPG" width="400" /></div>Still catching up some old posts and wanted to show you how we "prototype" new vehicles and show you a police truck we developed.<br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/314AQEDp-dI" width="320" youtube-src-id="314AQEDp-dI"></iframe></div>As you watch the video above, I want you to not the color scheme of the police vans versus the police cars. Their livery is quite different, but complementary. The police truck shown here was kind of a third color design and, frankly, didn't fit in with EITHER the vans or the cars. <div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnaTXrkYk3g/Usr5OfV0exI/AAAAAAAAIKM/WzkZPkaIz7w/s1600/26-IMG_9208.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnaTXrkYk3g/Usr5OfV0exI/AAAAAAAAIKM/WzkZPkaIz7w/w400-h266/26-IMG_9208.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This version of the police truck is basically ALL white with just black on the undercarriage and hood... a combination not seen on any other police vehicle we have.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlNXgObatsY/Usr5Kz--ZZI/AAAAAAAAIKA/OKKyOUwN1cQ/s1600/25-IMG_9207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlNXgObatsY/Usr5Kz--ZZI/AAAAAAAAIKA/OKKyOUwN1cQ/w400-h266/25-IMG_9207.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
So while the initial police truck was mostly white, we eventually adapted the color scheme to have a stronger mixture of black so that it would look complementary to the rest of the police fleet. It's still actually a third design, but since it's a different type of vehicle as well, we think it works. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eimj0AOWAAIC85j?format=jpg&name=360x360" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="360" height="300" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eimj0AOWAAIC85j?format=jpg&name=360x360" width="400" /></a></div><div>Here you can see the final design and how it compares to the earlier video and the color changes we made from the first finished version. The cargo bed was also made 2 studs longer for reasons I'll explain:</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, you might be asking, why does a police force need a pickup truck? </div><div><br /></div><div>In a lot of places, pickup trucks are used for everything a normal police car does. They're rugged and great at carrying lots of gear. In our town, the truck is used more like an auxiliary police vehicle and for hauling things like barricades and equipment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eimj0AnX0AAnK77?format=jpg&name=360x360" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="360" height="300" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eimj0AnX0AAnK77?format=jpg&name=360x360" width="400" /></a></div><div>If a big accident or fire has closed a road, they can send barriers in the police truck. The frees the patrol cars back up to resume their patrols and the police truck provides the visibility and barriers to keep the scene safe. In our area we actually have "Fire Police" who perform this function-- but in Bricksburgh the police use this pickup.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eimj0ASWoAA4L4G?format=jpg&name=360x360" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="360" height="300" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eimj0ASWoAA4L4G?format=jpg&name=360x360" width="400" /></a></div><div>The police truck can also retrieve police motorcycles when they break down and/or be sent out to change motorcycle configurations from sidecar (or not). We also consider the police truck sort of a mobile mechanic for the other police vehicles, delivering new tires and doing quick repairs like that.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="360" height="300" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eimj0ATX0AE04nP?format=jpg&name=360x360" width="400" /></div>
Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.</div><br />Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-21855503217398495302020-09-23T08:09:00.004-04:002020-11-18T05:37:57.601-05:00Classic Lego 4 wide truck designs and why they're ideal for your town<div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiM5cx2bRyy1MmJgMyah7bMfGH_vsw8hiuppD6a77HkCL2ndZsNH07eg4nGLb7XFB42DuUOCbbHp8O551JdojLsV1ukOV7cNAXUCd6Bn5mwU18nd5cq2BeIU_hOQuBLALTbwzQ1Wugo9N/s652/Capture.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="652" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiM5cx2bRyy1MmJgMyah7bMfGH_vsw8hiuppD6a77HkCL2ndZsNH07eg4nGLb7XFB42DuUOCbbHp8O551JdojLsV1ukOV7cNAXUCd6Bn5mwU18nd5cq2BeIU_hOQuBLALTbwzQ1Wugo9N/w400-h253/Capture.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>My affinity for classic Lego sets is obvious from the videos on this channel, but making 4 wide trucks is not as easy as you would think, because trucks are supposed to be BIG. So how do make a small truck look MASSIVE on a city street when everything is 4 wide? <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div><span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me show you some of Lego's clever visual tricks in this video:<div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%; position: relative;"><iframe allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="100%" src="https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x7x8rmz?autoplay=1" style="height: 100%; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%;" type="text/html" width="100%"></iframe></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a YouTube version for those that couldn't see it above:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Biw4wAUFMQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="1Biw4wAUFMQ"></iframe></div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-76717571368776294342020-09-21T08:08:00.002-04:002020-09-21T08:08:41.633-04:00Catzilla Returns - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-62sAd2Vq4hw/UvrU8MFiSKI/AAAAAAAAIZc/VlRp1f4R7Pw/s1600/82-IMG_9954.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-62sAd2Vq4hw/UvrU8MFiSKI/AAAAAAAAIZc/VlRp1f4R7Pw/w400-h266/82-IMG_9954.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our cat Sophie was always intent on being AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to whatever we were working on, and that included the Legotown. Sophie has been gone several years now (sadly) but I thought you'd enjoy these pictures of her roaming around scaring minifigs.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
First of all, if you haven't seen the first post, here it is: <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2012/01/catzilla-attacks.html" target="_blank">CATZILLA ATTACKS!</a><div><br /></div><div>You'll note that the background room has changed from the first Catzilla post to this one. That partly explains the delay-- we moved! The town was also on new tables in this post, with the original (somewhat shaky!) Lego table dismantled.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVsYhCYIxF8/UvrU8gCjcBI/AAAAAAAAIZY/IJHTGCglwl8/s1600/83-IMG_9955.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVsYhCYIxF8/UvrU8gCjcBI/AAAAAAAAIZY/IJHTGCglwl8/w400-h266/83-IMG_9955.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
But let's get back to Sophie and her mayhem. If you look to the left of this picture, you'll see smoke rising from the repair shop. We were taking pictures of a big fire scene and Sophie just HAD to see what we were up to. That fire scene will be posted in the coming weeks-- finally! It's really impressive and detailed so I hope you'll check back.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_s4vcXECwY/UvrU9LzfoRI/AAAAAAAAIZU/7557F4E78N0/s1600/84-MVI_9956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_s4vcXECwY/UvrU9LzfoRI/AAAAAAAAIZU/7557F4E78N0/w400-h225/84-MVI_9956.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
In the interest of not having our newly completed scene invaded by a giant fur ball, we tried to distract (attract?) Sophie over to a different part of town. Interestingly, and perhaps related to her developing condition (unknown to us) she was always a very quiet cat. She would purr loudly, but never really meowed. We thought that maybe she had never really learned to speak? <br />
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I should mention, if you didn't pick it up already, that Sophie has since died. She developed pulmonary fibrosis and her health declined pretty quickly. We mourned her deeply. <br />
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Sophie was always so fascinated by what we were doing-- a constant companion-- and so happy and content to snuggle into our laps and beds and sleep. She would come running anytime I whistled the tune "Cupid" -- which was really strange because other songs didn't appear to have the same effect!<br />
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She was also so dainty-- a pretty small cat even when full grown, like here. And she was so dignified and ladylike, always curling her tail around her feet when she sat... very prim, proper and regal. I guess her quiet demeanor just added to the air of nobility she had about her.<br />
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Perhaps most impressively, despite her small size, she could leap to heights that were unbelievable and land with grace and panache. She would regularly go from floor to the top of a 6 foot bookcase in a single stationary vertical jump. Oh-- and here's a little teaser of the fire scene in the right background.<br />
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Eventually, Sophie's condition was so severe that she simply could not breathe on her own... her lungs were not working and we had no choice but to let her go. She purred and nuzzled even when in distress and quietly slipped away. We buried her in a quiet spot behind our house where she always looked out at the birds... and I made a gravestone for her, using my Dremel in the stone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4ECTArWwAEfpKX?format=jpg&name=small" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="300" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4ECTArWwAEfpKX?format=jpg&name=small" width="400" /></a></div><div>After a painful time without a cat, we were ready as a family to open our hearts again. Zoe came to us a goofy kitten and has grown to have a similar enthusiasm to being RIGHT HERE whenever you're working on something and happily napping in any lap that presents itself... but yet, she's very different from Sophie. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4CsDPaW4AAtiJn?format=jpg&name=large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4CsDPaW4AAtiJn?format=jpg&name=large" width="400" /></a></div>Zoe is QUITE goofy. She's not the delicate lady that Sophie was, with somewhat clumsy tumbles now and then and a need to MEOW loudly to announce SHE'S-A-COMING anytime she jumps up to her cat tree. Zoe's vertical leap is probably about a third of Sophie's and she's probably a third bigger (at least) with deeper fur. Zoe is also QUITE LOUD with an eagerness to berate us verbally when we're not being attentive and generally letting her thoughts be proclaimed under all situations.... but we love her so much. Every house should have a cat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DUyNr6OWkAEaHin?format=jpg&name=large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DUyNr6OWkAEaHin?format=jpg&name=large" width="400" /></a></div>Anyway-- you came her for Lego... I know... We don't have many pictures (if any?) of Zoe roaming the Legotown, mostly because I don't think she can jump up there without bowling through the buildings! So I might have to "place" her in town just to see what she does... #SOON. <div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, here's a video of Sophie playing Lego with us, it always makes me laugh!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QwBn69a-zGc" width="320" youtube-src-id="QwBn69a-zGc"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>
Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.</div></div>Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-48696285861670515032020-09-18T05:59:00.006-04:002020-11-18T05:39:09.171-05:00Is Lego rediscovering the advantages of a 4-wide town? <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uF9qh_KxoAI" width="320" youtube-src-id="uF9qh_KxoAI"></iframe></div>New video posted -- a conversational "over a cup of coffee" style talk about whether or not #Lego is thinking about a return to classic scaled towns or not.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><div>This video came from a question asked by Ellioth Hedström. If you have a question you'd like me to answer, drop me a note in the comments and I'll add it to the list! <div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;"><iframe style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden" frameborder="0" type="text/html" src="https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x7x87qs?autoplay=1" width="100%" height="100%" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This was my first "conversational" video blog and hopefully you appreciate the "sitting down for a cup of coffee together" sort of feel I was going for-- but if not, don't worry... there will be other videos coming soon-- and next time I do this I'll try and remember to PRINT OUT some of my notes and such in advance! </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Sets mentioned in this video: </div><div>Classic: </div><div><br /></div><div>Ambulance 6680, Fire Truck 6690, Limo is MOC: <a href="https://youtu.be/4-JHFkjjEVo">https://youtu.be/4-JHFkjjEVo</a></div><div><br /></div><div>New: </div><div><br /></div><div>Hospital 60204, Harry Potter Diagon Alley 75978, Main Square 60271, Police Station 60246, Fire Brigade 60216 and Ski Resort 60203.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4-JHFkjjEVo" width="320" youtube-src-id="4-JHFkjjEVo"></iframe></div></div></div><div><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-9933749901117107002020-09-11T18:46:00.008-04:002020-09-25T08:27:30.953-04:00Easy Mod for Lego Tow Trucks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6b5mAgG5rMc" width="320" youtube-src-id="6b5mAgG5rMc"></iframe></div><div>Here's a quick and easy modification that allows for tow trucks to actually "hitch" on a car without making unrealistic moves like popping a wheelie or lifting the front of the car. </div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>It was a change my son greatly appreciated because it added some realism to our play times together. Car accidents, of course, were a popular and fun occurrence in our Legotown!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The original repair shop (where the yellow tow truck came from) is set #6363 and the blue Exxon tow truck is set #6679.</div><div><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-85664466578405392742020-09-11T06:03:00.003-04:002020-09-25T08:28:25.098-04:00A closer look at the (neglected) lower levels of our Lego tables<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bwY1olgRQXA" width="320" youtube-src-id="bwY1olgRQXA"></iframe></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This video is in response to Hari Bahadur, who asked to get a better look at the lower level of our Lego tables. </span></div><div><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's a little messed up and neglected down there right now, but we'll get the lower level restored and finished up soon (I hope).</span></div><div><br /></div>
Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS"><br />www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-23959603133788680192020-09-09T06:00:00.003-04:002020-09-25T08:28:34.994-04:00Why 4-wide? What's the biggest advantage of building "classic" scaled Lego?<div style="text-align: center;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vTENu0HXHFI" width="320" youtube-src-id="vTENu0HXHFI"></iframe></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You might have noticed that our town is build with a LOT less detail than the new modular style towns you see on other channels. Part of that is because it was started-- and has at its core-- a lot of classic Lego sets from the 1980s. </span></div><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><span><br /></span><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But a lot of that is also because we are VERY deliberately choosing to build new in the same style because it let's us pack a LOT of variety into a small space. Many buildings are smaller than new Lego cars, for instance.</span></div><div><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh<br /></a><br />Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-25274418114228401252020-09-07T05:59:00.004-04:002020-09-25T08:28:45.472-04:00We're back! Maybe? Where do we go from here? Reviving Legotown?!!<div style="text-align: center;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mm5DRnDRIDY" width="320" youtube-src-id="mm5DRnDRIDY"></iframe></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where do we go from here?
That's the big question... With the kids out of the picture mostly, the future of our Legotown is in question. </span></div><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><span><br /></span><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we can get the subscriber count up and the viewed minutes of videos up high enough that YouTube will monetize us, then it gets A LOT easier to keep the town going. To that goal, I'm going to try and give you the videos YOU want to see... And together, we can keep the town going until the next generation comes along. Thank you for your support.</span></div><div><br /></div>Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-69724595378355689722018-01-19T07:06:00.001-05:002018-01-19T07:06:41.454-05:00Harry Potter: Street Vigilante!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-75314368674873079362016-11-21T11:00:00.000-05:002016-11-22T13:13:18.376-05:00Office Tower Grows Up and UpYears ago, it was decided that the people of Bricksburgh couldn't all be expected to spend their days working as firefighters and police officers (which seem to the majority of Lego careers), so we built an office building for them to work in. <br />
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That original office building has since grown. And grown. And now it has grown again!</div>
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As originally built, the office building was just that: a building. You can see it back in this older post called <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2012/03/where-dwight-works.html" target="_blank">Where Dwight Works</a>. The building started with just two floors. It was designed to have that "wall of windows" look that a modern office building has, but I was only able to get enough windows to complete two of the sides! The "alley" side of the ground floor was just a solid wall.<br />
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The recent US election of Donald Trump reminded me that he was (partly) the inspiration for the expansion of this structure from building to Tower. You see, the show "The Apprentice" was in its first or second season at the time and was still good entertainment back then. So naturally, our office building needed to have a Boardroom where young Lego minifigs could be fired!<br />
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I was able to scrounge together enough windows to expand the building up to more majestic 3 floor "skyscraper" height. It still wasn't the highest building in town-- <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2013/09/onward-upward.html" target="_blank">that was the Condo Building</a> at that time -- but it's proportions were better.<br />
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When we moved to our new house in 2012, we expanded the Office Tower again. The Boardroom remained on the top floor, but a new floor was added below it. That gave the tower new height and with addition of the spire on the room, it reached nearly even with the five-story Condo Building.</div>
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After a trip to Chicago, we came back and decided that the ground floor entrance and lobby area of the Office Tower needed to be more expansive and majestic. So we gathered up everything we had that was grey and started brainstorming. The result is a large arched lower level that flairs out to give some heft to the ground floor of the building. We also added yet ANOTHER level to the tower and built an even larger spire on it. Don't see it in the pictures? That's because it's only in the video...</div>
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The new Office Tower is the unrivaled king of the Bricksburgh skyline and now has the floor space to get some legitimate "officing" done! We've cleaned things up and there is a tour of the newly improved building in the video clips at the top and bottom of this post.</div>
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The Office Tower's new height led to some other changes in that part of the city-- namely the new courtyard entrance for the Hospital. That whole complex has been seriously upgraded and we'll show it to you soon, along with some other big changes we've been making to the Condo Building and Boardwalk area.</div>
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-57311232287575508122016-01-23T15:01:00.000-05:002016-01-23T15:01:33.702-05:00Twitting about with Tweeter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello fans! You can find us on Twitter now too: <a href="https://twitter.com/bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>. We'll be able to give you more updates and content-- FASTER-- if you follow our account there.</div>
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>. You can also follow up on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/bricksburgh">https://twitter.com/Bricksburgh</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-10687383840117213812016-01-23T13:51:00.000-05:002016-01-23T13:51:12.236-05:00New Police Car & Community Day<div style="text-align: center;">
This post is a bit of a throwback. The pictures were taken probably about 2005 or 2006-- but that's the great thing about Lego: they don't really age. It was fairly early in the Renaissance of Lego, as Tyler was just beginning his journey and I was rediscovering my love of building. </div>
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There was to be a new police car in town but, using our imaginations, we couldn't just "plop" it in town... it had to be shipping in, of course!</div>
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When I was a kid I'd always wanted two police cars that matched. I had the <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-police-station-complex.html" target="_blank">original police station set</a> and somewhere along the line I was given a stand-alone police car set. But those cars didn't match. The one from the police station was decidedly "old school" convertible with embedded headlights and the new one was a more typical-for-the-time sedan. The only thing that denoted the new one was a police car was the markings on the door and the roof lights. I'd always liked the overall look of the very old police car, so when Tyler become interested in Lego I rebuilt the old police car immediately as a sedan with matching embedded taillights. </div>
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It looks good-- even with the red hub-capped wheels-- but I decided to push the design a bit farther. I added a white hood and upgraded the wheels to heavy-duty looking white ones. I also added a push bar to the front. It looked VERY good. You can see the design evolved even more over the years by watching the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE1D1BBD5F2F1A1F5" target="_blank">YouTube video</a> at the bottom of this post. Then I decided to stretch and make another one that would be nearly identical. For his part, Tyler was thrilled with this plan. </div>
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So we imagined how the town would take delivery of a new police car. It's an island community, of course, and since the airplanes are the same width as the cars (in our "vintage" world) that meant a ferry was needed. So the car was shipped with an accompanying crate that carried all the "police bits" like the light bar and other gear. Those would be installed by the town garage staff. </div>
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The car would be delivered first, then outfitted with all the police equipment necessary to get it ready for patrol. Everyone in town would be very excited, naturally, so they'd be eager to see the new car when it arrived. Those "in the know" would be there to see it fresh off the boat, but the rest of the town residents would have to wait for a public debut about a week later. It would be a festival for the whole town with lots of other public safety equipment on display-- with the new police car the featured one.</div>
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The mayor at the time was the guy with the blue suit jacket top and black pants. He's here with the police officers to take delivery of the car. </div>
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The tow truck company is using their flatbed truck to carry the shipping crate with the police equipment in it. You can see it on the truck to the right of the picture.</div>
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The new police car is driven back around and behind the workshop so that it can be fully outfitted far away from the curious eyes of the townspeople. They'll have to wait for the festival.</div>
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Once parked back out of sight, the tow truck guys and the town mechanic start unpacking the police equipment. The letter on the top of the crate is the shipping label.</div>
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The lights are installed on the roof along with the siren, while the radio antenna is bolted onto the trunk lid. The major and police chief stopped by to see the progress.</div>
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On the front, a push bar is attached between the lower police lights. This was the first police vehicle in town to have the new push bars.</div>
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Once all the equipment is installed, the police car is ready for duty. The officers will soon be fighting over who gets to drive the new car!</div>
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Next it's time to set up the street for the town festival. This entire block will be closed to traffic, with a stage built on one end and tables down the middle.</div>
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The festival is well under way. You can see there is a little access road left open behind the stage so VIPs can come and go for their speeches. The Stuff Mart supplied all the food and the other emergency vehicles are displayed at the far end of the block.</div>
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People had to park their personal cars where ever they could. Pretty sure that white car is parked illegally!</div>
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The major takes to the stage for his speech. Townspeople who couldn't come can watch the festivities on television.</div>
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The stage at this time was pretty narrow so it had to be anchored with big plates to the sidewalks on either side. </div>
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The chef from the snack bar has set up a portable foot cart and you can see lots of people showed up.</div>
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The TV news truck is parked on a side street and waiting for their next live shot. If you look carefully you can see another cameraman is behind the new police car.</div>
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Townspeople parked anywhere they could-- but I think this white car should get a ticket!</div>
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This cameraman has the best view of anyone, right in front of the mayor.</div>
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The motorcycle crowd all kind of sits together (yes, I know they have space suit shirts on but this was before we had a space shuttle!)</div>
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Another view of the TV reporter waiting for her cameraman to come back before picking up her microphone.</div>
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Townspeople at this event were able to see the new style police motorcycles that were slowly replacing the old ones (like in the lower right corner of this picture). </div>
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This jail van is scheduled to be upgraded shortly after this festival. It would be receiving new light system and heavy duty wheels. A few years later it would be fully refurbished into the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QzQ4kJ849c&index=1&list=PLE1D1BBD5F2F1A1F5" target="_blank">chief's mobile command post</a>.</div>
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The TV crews were allowed to park behind the police barriers. TV news crews get some special access like that sometimes.</div>
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Anyone want a hot dog? Ice cream?</div>
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The festival is a great time for citizens to meet up with each other and chat.</div>
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Fire truck on display with the chief of that brigade ready to answer questions (he has the blue sleeves).</div>
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One of the fire trucks has its ladder extended up high over the crowd.</div>
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Police officers still doing some security at the barricades and directing traffic.</div>
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TV news vehicles parked on the side street behind the police barriers.</div>
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The new police car is getting lots of attention.</div>
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Almost the whole town has come to celebrate the new police car.</div>
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The workshop in those days was a large L-shaped building with two garages-- but the inside one was parked in by anything in the outside one.</div>
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When the parking spaces on the main street were filled up, people started parking on the curbs.</div>
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The little hot-rod compact car on the left has been rebuilt so many different ways over the years!</div>
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The motorcycle crowd found a little empty sidewalk space to line up their bikes.</div>
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The traffic lights in those days were very simple. You can see one beside the stuff mart... it's red!</div>
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The reach on a standard fire truck ladder is about 3 stories. Any higher than that and the truck is too close to the building to be safe.</div>
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The first police car is parked on the left here. You can see it still has the original wheels on it. Upgrades would be coming soon to make it just as modern as the new one.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WD2-UJFXYfI/UBMThv3kZiI/AAAAAAAAGdE/dqeIKKHco58/s1600/P1060170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WD2-UJFXYfI/UBMThv3kZiI/AAAAAAAAGdE/dqeIKKHco58/s400/P1060170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The post office has always been one of my favorite sets!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWsv4eI85FU/UBMTh7lwv3I/AAAAAAAAGdI/xeFmXwhETLc/s1600/P1060171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWsv4eI85FU/UBMTh7lwv3I/AAAAAAAAGdI/xeFmXwhETLc/s400/P1060171.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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This fellow is working the generator that's parked off the side of the stage. It makes all the power for the speakers, microphone, etc.</div>
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Another bored policeman who is assigned to watch the barrier even though everyone is already at the festival.</div>
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The speakers for the music and speeches are mounted high on a portable tower with flags on it.</div>
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Any time there's a big event you need to have medical staff standing by in case someone gets sick or hurt. This is the doctor in charge of helping people at the festival.</div>
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Tables and chairs fill the street!</div>
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Just a wide view of the festival from behind the stage.</div>
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Ha! This is the "Google Earth" view of the festival.</div>
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The town was so much smaller in those days than it is now.</div>
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HEY.... looks like a tractor-trailer truck has parked illegally behind that already illegally parked white car! One of those policemen manning the barricades should be writing tickets instead. Gotta pay for that new police car, after all!</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Want to learn how to make your own police car? <a href="http://youtu.be/-wb6WbEDnMI" target="_blank">Watch our Police Cruiser Tutorial.</a></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-wb6WbEDnMI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.</div>
Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-56798584272726221492015-09-29T10:20:00.002-04:002015-09-29T10:20:55.296-04:00A Little Help from the Future<div style="text-align: center;">
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While digging around in some minifigure parts bins,</div>
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I found enough pieces to make some old style Lego</div>
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Spacemen. I wanted to give them some more gear,</div>
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but then I remembered that their original gear looked</div>
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like the grey piece the guy in the foreground is holding.</div>
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A thought occurred to me:</div>
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Who are these guys' futuristic counterparts?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8hTTP-Cs4w/UxX9uPyMr4I/AAAAAAAAIi0/udYiidSZlCs/s1600/41-IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8hTTP-Cs4w/UxX9uPyMr4I/AAAAAAAAIi0/udYiidSZlCs/s400/41-IMG_0359.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Malordians probably aren't exactly the same, but they</div>
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do use the same sort of gear as the spacemen. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9mN8xrvk9Y/UxX9sSPK3SI/AAAAAAAAIis/eCd-LgdLgoI/s1600/40-IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9mN8xrvk9Y/UxX9sSPK3SI/AAAAAAAAIis/eCd-LgdLgoI/s400/40-IMG_0358.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now, the spacemen will use the jetpack piece instead one</div>
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that looks like a scuba tank. Now, instead of elements </div>
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that look like microphones, they use real blaster guns.</div>
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<b>Moving into the future, one utensil at a time.</b></div>
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848785630116358455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-68965628101489265392015-01-21T14:03:00.004-05:002015-01-21T14:03:36.701-05:00Harry Goes RogueHarry Potter should really stick to playing with his magic wand. Uh-hem. Somehow our favorite boy-wizard got his hands on a rocket propelled grenade launcher.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zi9AiN-VWvw/UxX9rxUQF-I/AAAAAAAAIig/rVSOcY7Q4_U/s1600/39-IMG_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zi9AiN-VWvw/UxX9rxUQF-I/AAAAAAAAIig/rVSOcY7Q4_U/s1600/39-IMG_0357.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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He's just a kid, after all, so what do suppose happened next? Shortly after picking up the launcher Harry could be heard asking "what does this red button do?" </div>
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AHHHhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!</div>
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-53614841901784708442015-01-19T15:39:00.005-05:002016-07-20T19:58:05.907-04:00Barn Find!One of our best garage sale finds lately was MOST of a horse stable set. Originally full of details, our Riding Stable (<a href="http://brickset.com/sets/6379-1" target="_blank">set 6379</a>) has been largely completed using our own extra pieces. We were able to get a very nice setup despite missing some pieces.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CM2dEUGAfIQ/Usr5eSQQ-2I/AAAAAAAAIbo/kJiGdxoHyigAPNowgFy6WdAAjmFsf2H2ACKgB/s1600/34-IMG_9216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CM2dEUGAfIQ/Usr5eSQQ-2I/AAAAAAAAIbo/kJiGdxoHyigAPNowgFy6WdAAjmFsf2H2ACKgB/s400/34-IMG_9216.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click on through to see how we've fit this partial set into Bricksburgh!<br />
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Set out in the countryside near Brickburgh, the stable commands a large field nearby with pastures and room for the horses to run. It is similar to the <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2015/01/where-horses-find-paradisa.html" target="_blank">Paradisa set that Mia did a tour</a> of recently, but without the pink pieces. This set is 6 years older (from 1986) and has a traditional European style barn on it, compared to the island look of the Paradisa version-- though both share similar construction techniques.<br />
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-68365343398277535862015-01-15T14:31:00.001-05:002015-01-15T14:31:53.172-05:00Bricksburgh's Tesla Supercharger HOW-TOWe've already <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2014/05/what-have-we-been-up-to.html" target="_blank">tried to explain</a> our lack of new videos. We've shown you what the <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2014/09/tesla-supercharger-opens-in-bricksburgh.html" target="_blank">Bricksburgh Tesla Supercharger</a> looks like. Now we'll show you how it goes together and explain a few upgrades we have planned:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1PouBiywEk/VBwt8ynIk8I/AAAAAAAAAWg/GhTk14cJo90/s1600/1-IMG_5972-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1PouBiywEk/VBwt8ynIk8I/AAAAAAAAAWg/GhTk14cJo90/s1600/1-IMG_5972-002.JPG" height="341" width="400" /></a></div>
Click on through for our video tutorial and a look at our Tesla!<br />
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After this -- I PROMISE--- this blog will stay more focused on Lego and leave the Tesla stuff on the other page. And we'll get back to more regular posts and videos. We will. It's our New Year Resolution.<br />
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.<br />
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If you're interested in the TESLA - go to <a href="http://www.teslapittsburgh.com/">www.TeslaPittsburgh.com</a> and see our videos at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/NZCUTR">www.youtube.com/NZCUTR</a>. You can also follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TeslaPittsburgh" target="_blank">@TeslaPittsburgh</a>Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1380603246046323704.post-4761114509699088412015-01-13T07:53:00.001-05:002015-01-15T14:25:54.776-05:00Where Horses Find Paradisa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once you get out of the <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2013/08/boardwalk-changes.html" target="_blank">bustling beachfront</a> and <a href="http://bricksburgh.blogspot.com/2013/07/grand-prix-of-bricksburgh_19.html" target="_blank">race complex</a> of the main level of Bricksburgh, the buildings begin to spread out a bit and the countryside beckons. The lower level of one table is full of suburbs with a quiet neighborhood street on one end and the <a href="http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/6419_Rolling_Acres_Ranch" target="_blank">Paradisa Rolling Acres Ranch</a> (set #6419) on the other.</div>
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<a href="http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/lego/images/2/2f/6419_Rolling_Acres_Ranch.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100328183133" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/lego/images/2/2f/6419_Rolling_Acres_Ranch.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100328183133" height="266" width="320" /></a></div>
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Click on through for our video tour!</div>
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Mia provides a video tour of the ranch, which was the largest of the Paradisa sets when it debuted in 1992. We've made some minor modifications but mostly is it right out of the box<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ASkEznp7yQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Thanks for visiting us here at <a href="http://www.bricksburgh.com/">www.bricksburgh.com</a> and check out the videos on our YouTube channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MSIMMONS">www.YouTube.com/MSIMMONS</a>.Matt Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305873022491461144noreply@blogger.com0