Dutch farm

Name of Model: Nederlandse Boerderij

Created by: Neverrroads and McBricker

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24974283@N04/sets/72157623422478996/

Details: This model of a Dutch farm is part of a display for an event hosted by the The Dutch Water Museum. They have a LEGO exhibit running through the end of the month. The photos above on flickr aren't from the builder of the windmill (Neverroads, whose windmill can be seen on Brickshelf), but they do show some more views of the layout (and to the best of my knowledge, McBricker created the rest of this layout). It's a great layout overall, but there are a few specific highlights I'd like to point out. Carefully positioned flex tubing gives this farm a trellis and water pump near a trough, staggered small elements give a very realistic texture to walls and roofs (those pigs in that photo are new for this year, and the tan fences are made from more flex tubing - placed in 1x1 Technic bricks), and the trees and landscaping came out looking fantastic. You can get a better look at McBricker's tractor on Brickshelf.

Micropolis Central Station

Name of Model: Micropolis Central Station

Created by: Erik Smit

Found at: .eti's Photostream

Details: Erik Smit just can't seem to stop building amazing creations. Over that past couple of weeks everything that he has churned out has been exceptional. His most recent creation built in the "micropolis standard" is no exception. I was really taken aback with this model. You look at it the first time, notice a lot of things. Look at it a second time, notice some more minor details. Then you look at it a third time, and you notice things that make you (or me at least) say "oh wow" out loud. One of the great things about Erik's creations is that they all incorporate a mixture of very new parts and older parts. This is evident with his use of cheese slopes, a part which first appeared in 2004, and trans clear macaroni bricks, which first appeared in the 1950's. Another aspect of the creation that I really enjoy is the fact that the trains submerge after leaving the station. This is great seeing that with a micropolis layout being collaborative, this "module" can hold its own and does not require other modules to have track to achieve an overall coherent appearance. Just a wonderful, wonderful piece of work. I've been inspired.