Decided to get back to the lower buildings as there is more room for design fun.

This block has ten buildings on it and will be more like small store fronts than the big tall buildings.

About six stories max but most around three or four stories.

Regards, Tom

I like this one. Looks more like small town instead of big city.

Here is view around the corner from there.

As you can see the majority is lower buildings.

As I am sure you are well awaqre from this image I am in the very early stages of design.

Many more details to add as it comes to me.

Thanks for the comments, and suggestions.

Tom

Looks great so far. Your sets always look amazing!

This actually looks like the area my great g-ma lived in, in Des Moines. Last I visited (over 10 years ago btw,) the old tire shop was starting to look run down as well. :o)

Glad you like it. I am having a lot of fun with this set!

Good to be back on the lower buildings.

Here is an update on my progress.

Regards, Tom

I finished the State Theatre today and got a good start on the Fire House.

It will have an interior space for trucks and such.

Yes there is a firemans pole that is quite dramatic.

Hope you like this view.

Tom

I finished the State Theatre today and got a good start on the Fire House.

It will have an interior space for trucks and such.

Yes there is a firemans pole that is quite dramatic.

Hope you like this view.

Tom

It will have an interior space for trucks and such.

Yes there is a firemans pole that is quite dramatic.

Hope you like this view.

Tom

Quote - I finished the State Theatre today and got a good start on the Fire House.

It will have an interior space for trucks and such.

Yes there is a firemans pole that is quite dramatic.

Hope you like this view.

Tom

Tom,

Definiately looking forward to this set. It's really looking good.

wow, that does look good!

I am having a lot of fun building this one!

Hope to be done this week or next.

regards, Tom

Oh, here is another view.

The FireHouse with interior.

Doors swing out.

Still need to add a few more details.

Now this is EXACTLY what I need for any city, big or small. Please make more like this! They will add so much more versatility. Especially if your trying to do any retro scenes    (20th century circa 1930's to today).

This is my cup of tea as well. :-)

Man, I should not get paid to have this much fun working!

Like being a kid again.

Tom

Here is a look inside the Fire Station

Maybe in your next set there will be a police station:)

I'm loving that theatre.

Now I need to find an interior to match it, LOL!

Police Station Hmmmmmm

Might just do that.

That would be screaming for an interior, would it not? :-)

Any other ideas you might like to see in this series?

No promises, but I do like the idea of the Police Station.

How about a City Park, complete with slide, swings, teeter totter,

merry go round, sand box, ball field with dug outs,

Pavillion, Fountain, benches, picnic tables, cooking grills, drinking fountains,

wadeing poo etc.?

I kind of like that idea., now that I think about it. :-)

Tom

Sounds like quite a bit of work, but it (the park, etc) does sound like a great idea! The Police station would also be a great piece, especially equipped with cells, etc.. :o)

You've inspired me to do something architectural in nature, but seeing as you have the streets well taken care of with your quality work, I decided to go underground and make a sewer scene. This is your thread tho, so I won't post any images, but I was thinking of starting my own thread once I get a few more pics of it rendered.

Well sounds like I have the last two sets outlined. :-)

Just a couple hundred thousand polygons more of modeling and I will be done with all nine sets.

Don't know if you noticed but all of my city block sets are under 50,000 polygons.

They show up in Vue as just under 100,000 as they count a try as a polygon.

Some characters are way more than that. I set a limit of 100,000 try's so there would be plenty of computer left for other things in the scene.

Regards, Tom

P.S. I will look for your post. :-)

A word of advice. When you are working on the sewer set, remember to wear boots. :-)

Tom,

This is looking excellant. By the sounds of the ideas, you may have to add more blocks to these sets.

Glad you like it!

I have been mulling that over and over in my head. Not sure what to do though at this point.

I think a wait and see is what I will do. Maybe a break after set nine to do a few cars perhaps.

Not sure if I can handle doing a car or not. Guess it would not be much different than a Steam Engine.

Just start with part a and go to part b etc.. :-) I do not like nurbs modeling that much though.

If I do some cars they will be geared toward the low poly count idea as there are way to many

modelers out there that are doing cars that push a million polys.

That is just lazy IMO. Can you say smoothing? :-)

Here is a look at the upstairs in the Fire Station.

Just about done with that building.

Tom

Speaking of that park, my bike would fit in nicely in that part of the city :o)

Did you see the bike rack I made for it in front of the movie theatre? :-)

Tom

Oh crap! I see it now that you mention it lol

:-)

A city park would be absolutely lovely!!!

Hmmm, how about a post office and some thing that can pass as city hall.

Well, if you REALLY want my wishlist ... post office, police station, public library, park, rec center, public pool, bank, public school, parking lots, store fronts, and a Dairy Queen like eatery.

Well You did ask,LOL!

Hi Burst,

Thanks. I just penciled them into my list of to do's. Not sure which ones I will do, but that really helps getting constructive ideas from my customers.

Regards, Tom

Glad to be of some help, if you need more ideas for your list,

Churches (catholic and protestant) and a grocery store.

I have the grocery store on the list.

Thanks bud.

If you do a city park and based on the look how about adding a raised band stand gazeebo type thing off in one corner. A place where the mayor of this city holds a celebration and declares "Dreamland Models Day!" Then gives you a key to the city.

Rumor has it the mayor declares as part of "Dreamland Models Day", your whole catalog will be avaliable at a deep disount. :thumbupboth: :laugh:

I think the gazebo is a good addition to the park.

How about a tennis court?

Here is another look at set seven.

Still need to add a butt load more or detail.

Tom

Would an older inner city have a tennis court? Not sure. I know the old mid-western town where my Mother was from did have a band stand type thing in the main city park where they held summer concerts. It was across the street from the theater. After the movie let out on Friday nights, it is where you went to pick up girls if you didn't have a date :) Being a visitor from out of town it was where me and my brothers were every Friday night we were in visiting when we were in our late teens :) (late 1960's) The theater is long gone, but the park still looks the same after all these years.

Saturday nights was the local elks club polka band normally :)

Death to the tennis court. :-)

I don't think a tennis court, but a baseball field is more small city USA. I grew up outside of Baltimore (two blocks from the city limits) and almost every park I know had a baseball field of some kind or another.

Good idea. Thanks. :-)

It is on the list, dug outs and all.

Tom

I'd make a few suggesions for what kind of building you could include but the list would be too long. But, if you look at the buildings Dave Snyder uses in his car artwork, it would give you some idea of what I'm talking about.....

http://www.cruisingoods.com/webpages/snyder1.htm

I will do a shuffle board instead of the tennis court.

Tom

Here is another view.

I have to say I am very happy with this set.

Having as much fun as you can have, without going to jail!

Tom

Tom,

This work is fabulous and goes great with all the previous blocks. I know your looking at a small town little citybut how about a small zoo that would ajoin the park. Nothing huge just a small one. Where I live we have a small zoo next to a park that has a band shell thats just beautiful and the right size for a small city block.

http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/attractions.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wez91ti9jXI&feature=related
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/video/flash/index.ssf?20070818zoo_video
http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/images/map-summer.jpg

You might check these links out for inspiration of course I know its an undertaking but I think if you downsize it a bit  you'll be able to incorporate it into a park setting block. You also have my vote on a Baseball field with the park, and a small pond for fishing...:)

Rich

Grand Rapids is about an hour and a half from here.

Small world, eh?

Like the idea of a Zoo. :-)

Starting to think I might have to buld more than 9 City Block Sets. :-)

Keep the ideas coming guys.

Thanks for the compliment Rich. :-)

Regards, Tom

Here is another look.

the way this is going somebody needs to create some characters for M4 and V4 to go in the scenes as follows

Professor Harold Hill

Marian Paroo

Marcellus Washburn

and

Mayor George Shinn

(you might have to be older then dirt like me to know who those people really are)

Bravo and a hearty thank you for all the fantastic models you create.

Quote - Hi Rich,

Grand Rapids is about an hour and a half from here.

Small world, eh?

Like the idea of a Zoo. :-)

Starting to think I might have to buld more than 9 City Block Sets. :-)

Keep the ideas coming guys.

Thanks for the compliment Rich. :-)

Regards, Tom

Here is another look.

 

No way Tom! You from Michigan? That is crazy, we need to hook up some time share some ideas. Some vehicles for the Blocks would be great and I see some have suggested people so its looking like you created a monster...he he he

A small zoo with the park idea would be great if your interested I wouldn't mind getting you some reference images from John Ball I have a Life time Membership :) and what period of time are we looking at for the Block 7 I would like to send you some period correct fire truck models for the promo images of the fire station.

Rich

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the help. This is making me want to continue on into the next set of

nine 1950's era City Block Sets.

Grichter I am 57 and don't know who you are talking about. Man you must be

about a hundred years old. :-) Just Kidding. :-)

Rich, I just bought a fire engine for the promos. Thanks anyway.

I would not mind some images for the Zoo as that would help me to get a real feel.

As you are aware I really try and shoot for realism,

as much as fifty thousand polygons will allow. :-)

I set a limit of 50,000 polygons so there is room for characters and other things in a scene.

Keep the ideas coming guys.

I really like the help and feedback. :-)

regards, Tom

Now I must get back to work......

All the modeling is just about complete.

Just have to add a few power lines and power boxes.

The texturing is done.

**
**

Will get the Pictures this weekend even though many of the Animals are in for the winter the displays are all ready to go for them to come outside .

Rich

Quote - Hi Guys,

Thanks for the help. This is making me want to continue on into the next set of

nine 1950's era City Block Sets.

Grichter I am 57 and don't know who you are talking about. Man you must be

about a hundred years old. :-) Just Kidding. :-)

I am barely 4 ahead of you

In 1962

hint 1 Robert Preston played Harold Hill, Shirely Jones played Marian Paroo, Buddy Hackett was Marcellus Washburn and Paul Ford was Mayor George Shinn.

in 2003

Matthew Broderick played Harold Hill, Kristin Chenoweth played Marian Paroo

hint 2 River City

and the answer is http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056262/

So where is the marching band down main street and into the park to play at the band stand?

Ah the old Musicman.

Glad I am not the only one who does movie quotes or trivia if you will. :-)

So are you going to build the band?

I will build the band stand. :-)

Tom

If I built the band for your product, it would be so bad, it would kill the sales of this fantastic set. Plus as slow as I am you would really be older then dirt before it was done.