HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT

Above: The HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT built by BrickTrick artists on the hearth of an unused fireplace.

HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT

Last year we wanted to have a train set-up in our personal residence for the holiday season. Of course we don't really have any space for a train layout installation anywhere in our house. Well, until we got a little more creative, that is. We are fortunate to have a nice granite fireplace, though since we don't need it for heat and burning wood is bad for the environment, the fireplace sits empty and unused all year long.

After some careful measuring we determined that a full circle train layout would just fit on the hearth and inside the fireplace itself. We liked the idea of the train "disappearing" into a tunnel and then coming back out again. It took some careful figuring to get the tracks to stay in place, but once the track was installed we were off creating a variety of buildings and other items, which wound up including custom-built train cars. More pictures documenting this project follow in this posting.

What are we building for 2011? A train layout with two tracks, one of which is a "subway".

Enjoy!

REMINDER: Enlarge the images by clicking on them.


Above: This shot gives an overview of the project with the train tracks installed and several base plates arranged to accommodate structures.

Above: This image shows the entire fireplace which is in the corner at the end of a great room space.

Above: An area within the tracks is to serve as a public plaza for the HOLIDAY TOWN and has an ice skating area. The technique shown here where small plates and caps surround the train tracks is called "ballasting" and is intended to have the look of a gravel bed supporting the tracks.

Above: A large facade for one of the HOLIDAY TOWN "high rise" buildings was constructed on a table top and moved to the layout for installation.

Above: More buildings have been installed on the right side of the layout and a green train is being test-run on the tracks to be sure the train can clear the tunnel entrance and exit.

Above: Large "high rise" buildings have been installed to begin to enclose the fireplace opening.

Above: The powder blue building houses a costume shop on level one and two. The top floor is the "Sky Lounge" and patrons await the tree lighting ceremony.

Above: The holiday tree is installed, though it doesn't have its decorations and "lights" yet.

Above: Nearly all of the buildings have been put in place and some custom train cars in a holiday color scheme of red, green and white are being test-run on the train tracks.

Above: "Party Cars" are part of the HOLIDAY TRAIN and passengers can eat and drink while enjoying the view of the skaters on the ice, as well as the many holiday decorations throughout the "plaza" area while riding in the open-air train cars. One open-top train car has a tree and gifts which are going to be donated.

Above: An overview of the completed HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT project. The blue building on the left side of the layout is an apartment complex, the gray building with the clock tower behind the ice rink is the TOWN HALL.

Above: Cheerleaders wave their pom-poms from the side of the ice rink while the skaters show off their moves. Minifigure artists have just finished the "ice sculpture" ANGEL located in front of the holiday tree. Under the tree is SANTA in a big red chair.

Above: Some of the smaller buildings at the right front of the layout include colorful homes.

Above: The completed HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT with the RED PARTY TRAIN running around the track.

Above: Another vantage point shows the HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT completely finished with the RED PARTY TRAIN in motion.

CHRISTMAS TREE CUSTOM KIT • BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS

Above: The BrickTrickDude 2010 Christmas Tree Custom Building Kit shown assembled with a female minifigure.

CHRISTMAS TREE CUSTOM KIT • BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS

This posting features images and directions identical to the printed instructions which come with this custom building kit from BrickTrickDude on Ebay.

REMINDER: Enlarge the images by clicking on them, return to this page by clicking your browser "back" button.

Below: Parts contained in the custom kit.

PARTS LIST
1 green 6x8 plate
5 green 2x2 plates
1 green 2x2 brick
4 brown 1x1 bricks
1 red 2x2 smooth tile
1 red 2x2 brick
1 neon green transparent jewel
1 green transparent 1x1 cone
5 dark blue trans. 1x1 caps
5 red trans. 1x1 caps
4 medium blue transparent 1x1 caps
4 neon orange transparent 1x1 caps
28 green 1x2 45-degree slopes

Minifigure GAL PAL is assembled and includes:
1 blonde (dark tan) wig
1 female head w/red lipstick
1 medium blue torso with pink blouse and necklace
1 white hips/legs

Step 1: Begin by placing 4 brown 1x1 bricks on green 6x8 plate as shown to serve as “tree trunk”. Add 1 dark blue 1x1 transparent cap to serve as a “dropped ornament”. Place red 2x2 smooth tile on top of red 2x2 brick to build “ornament box”, and add to green 6x8 plate as shown. Add green 2x2 brick to the top of 4 green 2x2 plates as shown to form tree base. Place the neon transparent jewel in green transparent cone. Add transparent caps to the bottom slope end of 16 green 1x2 45-degree slopes as shown, (four of each color).

Step 2: Begin the tree assembly by adding 8 green 1x2 45-degree slopes to the tree base you built in Step 1. You’ll need 4 blank slopes and 4 slopes to which you added the transparent caps. Be sure to use one of each color, (red, medium blue, neon orange and dark blue), to distribute the colors around the tree. Slopes with caps will overhang tree base.

Step 3: Add the next row of slopes as shown, using four with caps and four without.

Step 4: Add four remaining green 1x2 45-degree slopes without caps for row three.

Step 5: Use four slopes with caps for row four, with caps overhanging previous row.

Step 6: Use four remaining slopes with caps, offsetting to overhang previous row.

Step 7: Add the remaining green 2x2 plate to the top of the tree assembly.

Step 8: Place jewel/cone on top of tree assembly as shown to serve as tree-topper ornament.

Step 9: Carefully place tree assembly on brown 1x1 bricks, add red cap to minifigure hand.

Notes: Once you complete the CHRISTMAS TREE add the minifigure and you are ready for a festive season of sharing in your brick city or town! Your CHRISTMAS TREE will work well for play as well as display.

RED SNOWMOBILE with GUY PAL CHARLES

Above: After receiving numerous requests, we created a male minifigure version of this popular holiday building kit. The RED SNOWMOBILE & CHRISTMAS TREE kit is now available with guy pal CHARLES. Review the directions to build this kit, CLICK HERE.

Check out all the BRICK TRICK DUDE custom building kits available on Ebay, CLICK HERE.

RED SNOWMOBILE & CHRISTMAS TREE • BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS

Above: The RED SNOWMOBILE & CHRISTMAS TREE with female minifigure, (we named her Chelsea), shown assembled.

RED SNOWMOBILE & CHRISTMAS TREE • BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS

This posting contains images and instructions identical to the printed instructions included with this custom building kit sold exclusively by BRICK TRICK DUDE on Ebay.

Below: Parts included in the BRICK TRICK DUDE custom kit.

PARTS LIST
1 red 2x2 plate
1 white 1x2 tile w/panel
1 black/white steering wheel
2 black 1x2 plates w/handle bars
1 red 1x2 plate
2 red 1x3 curved bows
1 white 2x8 plate
1 green 2x2 small pine tree

Minifigure “Chelsea” is assembled and includes:
1 black “page cut” wig
1 female head with red lipstick and alternate face on back
1 medium blue torso with printed overalls pattern
1 blue hips/legs

Step 1: Place both 1x3 red curved bows on the red 1x2 plate. Add black 1x2 plates with handle bars to the underside of the white 2x8 plate as shown.

Step 2: Place the red curved bows and plate assembly on the white 2x8 plate. Snap the green 2x2 small pine tree to the red 2x2 plate.

Step 3: Attach the black/white steering wheel to the white 2x8 plate. Next add the white 1x2 tile with panel to the white 2x8 plate to create seat “backrest”.

Step 4: Place the green tree and red plate assembly on the white 2x8 plate. Add your minifigure and you’re ready to deliver the Christmas tree through the holiday snow!

Alternatives: You can replace the tree with other items of your own choosing or even add another minifigure for a cruise through the snow!

CHRISTMAS TREE LOT • Custom Kit Building Instructions

Above: The BRICK TRICK DUDE CHRISTMAS TREE LOT custom kit, (shown assembled), with male minifigure NICHOLAS.

CHRISTMAS TREE LOT • Custom Kit Building Instructions

Images and directions for this custom kit will be available soon.

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

Above: The 2008 CHRISTMAS TREE & PRESENTS KIT shown assembled.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We hope you are enjoying the season whatever you celebrate at this time of year.

Special thanks and good wishes go out to the many friends, fans and customers that have made the BRICK TRICK online studio such a fun endeavor for us to showcase our brick building passion!

We have lots more BRICK TRICKS planned for 2009! We sure hope you'll join us!

PEACE

HOLIDAY TOWN PRESENTATION • Images 1-10

Above: Image shows the set-up of the HOLIDAY TOWN project.

BRICK TRICK 2008 HOLIDAY TOWN

Happy Holidays!

We set-up the HOLIDAY TOWN for the first time in its entirety yesterday. The presentation is not in our studio, but rather wound up in the dining room at home instead. The light is much better and the large table allowed us to include all the buildings at once.

Images of the HOLIDAY TOWN will continue to post over the next few days. This posting contains ten pictures showing various buildings, points of interest and more. The HOLIDAY TOWN has 18 different buildings, a greenhouse, a central park area, grandstands, numerous vehicles, a Christmas tree lot, bus stop and some of the structures are decorated for the holidays!

Enjoy!

NOTE: Simply click on any of the images to view an enlargement.

Below: This shot shows the front entrance to the CHRISTMAS TREE LOT and a happy customer wheeling away their tree selection on a CHRISTMAS TREE PUSH CART.

Above: The WHITE & YELLOW LION HEAD ROW HOUSE has a prominent location on a corner across the street from the park and grandstands.

Below: The GRANDSTANDS are filled with minifig peeps watching the CHRISTMAS PAGEANT held on the small stage under the giant tree which is decorated with red "ornaments".

Above: An overhead view shows the park, tree and grandstands which are in the center of the HOLIDAY TOWN layout.

Below: A view from the end of the block near the RED & BLACK ROW HOUSE #1.

Above: A view from the opposite end of "town", this shot shows the street and block situated at the back of the HOLIDAY TOWN layout. At left in the foreground we can see the PINK NAIL SALON building which has a studio apartment on the second floor.

Below: A close-up view of the action on the stage in the park. Note the brick "presents" under the giant tree. In the background you can see several helmet clad minifigs standing outside of the MOTORCYCLE SUPPLY store, (blue building).

Above: Another vantage point shows the park from a different angle and several of the HOLIDAY TOWN buildings in the background.

Below: This area is a small open space amidst a block of homes. The park area is landscaped with an orange tree and places to sit and relax.

More HOLIDAY TOWN images will follow...

2008 ADVENT CALENDAR • DAYS 4, 5, 6

Above: The illustration inside Door Number 4.

Greetings BRICK TRICK BLOG Friends!

Happy Holidays!

While we are a bit behind on posting, we're not behind on opening the doors of our 2008 Advent Calendar. We opened DAY 10 this morning, though you'll have to wait for a separate post to read and see what we found! Meanwhile, we're back on DAY 4, 5 and 6 for this posting.

Enjoy!

Below: The female minifig behind DOOR NUMBER 4. She has an ice cream accessory and a black pony-tail hair-do.

Above: The illustration behind DOOR NUMBER 5.

Below: The parts behind DOOR NUMBER 5 build an ice cream cart. Or rather, part of one as we found out opening DAY 6.

Above: The illustration and parts behind DOOR NUMBER 6 reveal more goodies to complete the ICE CREAM CART.

Below: The parts from DAY 6 assembled.

Above: All of the parts from DAY 4, 5 and 6.

Below: The parts from DAY 5 and 6 combine to finish an ICE CREAM CART.

Above: DAY 4, 5 and 6 assembled and grouped for viewing.

Below: The first six days of the 2008 ADVENT CALENDAR.