Head West!

Forget the typical Western Main Street with a bank, saloon and the sheriff’s office. This Mexican layout shows a different take on a Western theme, and is a wonderful collaboration of Vesna, MstrOfPppts, Peter and Anakin2001_lego. The layout is filled with plenty of buildings, all of them different but with a coherent style. The vegetation and rockwork bring a bit more color into it, and the well-made minifig combinations make it come alive. And if you look closely there are plenty fun details like the piñata that’s hidden on the roof.

I could go on but Vesna aka Readhead1982 was so kind to tell us a bit more about this MOC. So make sure to read on and take a closer look at some of the close-ups!

Inspiration

Marco: Can you tell me how you and the others came up with this idea? 

Vesna: The idea was initially proposed by MstrOfPppts, and he showed some Desperados 3 game screenshots as inspiration. MstrOfPppts and I often discuss ideas about possible future projects to build together and display both locally and internationally. For this one, we wanted to invite other LUG members to join and make something larger. Although I'm not a fan of Western themes, I saw this as an interesting challenge, and the screenshots from the Desperados game were really inspiring.

More Modules, More Fun

 Marco: How did you plan the layout and decide who would build what?

Vesna: We planned the layout as three 2x4 modules (8 32x32 baseplates), evolving along the railway tracks connecting the modules. This concept allowed the option to display it also as individual modules, as we knew from the beginning that not all of us would be able to display it at multiple events. Together we decided on the building techniques, basic color scheme, and details such as the cacti and other vegetation. 

Prior to finalizing the layout, we all had some time to come up with ideas on what to build based on the Desperados screenshots and our personal preferences. Therefore, MstrOfPppts and I made the left and the middle module with rural settlements, slightly hidden between the rocks, while Anakin2001_lego and his dad, Peter, made the far right module with hacienda-style buildings and a train station with surroundings.

Planning and Challenges

Marco: How long did it take you to build the layout? Were there any difficulties in building this? 

Vesna: The layout was planned about a year in advance, but we each spent a different amount of time building it. The start of building the layout was slow, making the base and deciding the terrain heights between neighboring modules. Closer to the deadline, there was more building every day to deliver a final layout on time.

Personally, I found it challenging to build the rocks in dark orange, as the parts selection was limited and I didn't want to do something too repetitive. Also, the rock bridge spanning over two rock boulders was challenging. The first iterations were not very stable, and this had to survive a 600km drive to Bricking Bavaria. But it was one of the details from the game screenshots that I really wanted to include. 

This Build Rocks!

Marco: What is your favorite part about the layout? 

Vesna: My favorite parts would be the rock bridge and the ruin in the front. The rock bridge was a detail that stood out to me when looking for an inspiration, and was challenging to make it stable. The ruin was just a concept for how to build the small houses with plates, but in the end I found a place to fit it in. I even used some of the old broken reddish brown tiles for it.

Overall, my favorite part of the layout is how we managed to hide the borders between different modules. Many people didn't see a difference between them. 

European Tour

 Marco: You've displayed the layout (part of it) at several conventions. What do you like about attending conventions? Do you have a favorite one to attend? 

Vesna: This Mexican Western was first displayed locally at Kocke Fest, an exhibition of Slovenian LUG Kocke klub. Then I brought my part to Brickshow 2023 in Croatia, and parts made by MstrOfPppts and me were also displayed at Bricking Bavaria 2023.

As a LUG member, I try to make new MOCs for local exhibitions, and then I take them abroad as well. Spending lots of time to build something and display it only once feels less motivating, so I try to aim to attend other events outside my country, too. At conventions, my favorite part is the exhibition itself. To see various MOCs from talented builders in person and not just online is a great opportunity to look up the details from up close, have a discussion with different builders or meet like-minded people enjoying this hobby.

I regularly attend local exhibitions like Kocke Fest to support local LUG. Internationally, I've been to events in neighboring countries only once per event, and Bricking Bavaria is the only event where I have gone more or less regularly since 2018. In my opinion, Bricking Bavaria stands out because in addition to multiple MOCs by talented builders, it also offers interesting discussions as well as a marketplace to search for odd bits and parts. 

Ride Off Into The Sunset…

 Marco: Are you already planning for another layout or project? 

Vesna: A new collab with MstrOfPppts and several other LUG members is being planned for next year's Bricking Bavaria exhibition. We had a great brainstorming session on the last day of Bricking Bavaria, and I'm looking forward to another challenge. Additionally, there are always other projects on the table, including some of my still unfinished MOCs which I hope to be able to complete in 2024.

Marco: Sounds promising! Thank you for your time. I’m looking forward to seeing your future builds.

And there you have it, gang, the Old West, Mexican style! From cacti to cantinas, I hope you enjoyed this spotlight on a variation on a theme.

Inspired by seeing this layout? What would your take be on a Western theme? Leave your thoughts below.

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