PlaymoFriends

Creative => How-To => Topic started by: happyhooks on May 29, 2011, 06:04:38

Title: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: happyhooks on May 29, 2011, 06:04:38
Hi all!!
Ive already posted that I'm looking to expand my mansion and am in need of kit 7411.
Ive been thinking though (very dangerous;) what if I never succeed in getting one?
How else could you extend the mansion?
I have tons of system x as Ive just dismantled my house,hospital and police station.The system x and the mansion have completely different connecting systems though so they clearly wont fit together :'(
Has anyone else on board expanded their masion by doing their own customisation?
Even though it is a 'Victorian' mansion it seems against playmo rights to keep these little peeps under such cramped conditions :-[
Hoping someone somewhere will have some ideas.
Issyx
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: basilsdad on May 29, 2011, 14:54:21
 :wave: Hi Issyx,
Congrats on getting your 5300!  If you are patient and willing to spend some cash, the 7411 expansion floor is still an option.  They have them for sale on eBay all the time.  Your other option is to buy spare 5300 parts and make your own expansion floor.  Here is a picture of a 5300 that has been expanded from spare parts (from eBay.)  You can put a spare railing in front of the door for safety!   ;D
Joe   
 
 
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: happyhooks on May 29, 2011, 17:06:10
Thanks for the advice Joe-I love the touch about the railings:))))
My Playmos safety is paramount!
Ok adding pieces like the system x stuff would work I guess.Ill have a look on Ebay tonight.
Also after the mansion being with us for a day or so-looking at it,Im thinking could there be another way to set it up?
Hmmm the mystery continues:))))
Why am I never happy with my lot lol!?!
Issyx
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on May 29, 2011, 17:31:47
I have a source that has them new for $225.00 USD plus shipping. Let me know if you're interested, Issy.
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: Wolf Knight on May 29, 2011, 19:15:28
No experience with the victorian mansions I'm afraid, but Joe is the right person to tell you!!!
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: playmo1989 on May 30, 2011, 03:55:18
  Your other option is to buy spare 5300 parts and make your own expansion floor.  Here is a picture of a 5300 that has been expanded from spare parts (from eBay.)  You can put a spare railing in front of the door for safety!   ;D
Joe   
 
 

 

no .... you can't do that i'am afraid you need this part : http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-66-0240 which  is only in 7411 or else if you use spare parts from 5300 you will have two doors in "the air" because this wall part is used and in the front and in the side of the expansion floor ... see the picture basilsand posted .. ;) it will look silly ,you can find a 7411 in a good price ... but after all 5300 is gorgeous withought the expansion (even prettier actually if you have only one 5300 to display ) ;)
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: doug on May 31, 2011, 20:48:22
We didn't want to spend the hundreds of $$ on the expansion floor, and were lucky enough to find a "parts" mansion for cheap, so here's what we came up with:

(http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/albums/userpics/11629/normal_DSCF7524.JPG)

Instead of a "door to nowhere" we have  a "bare spot in our lattice" which I hope to repair soon.  (The piano makes a nice temporary cover.)

Our kitchen is now twice as big as the standard 5300's, our sun room is now moved to the second floor (more open lattice that will need filled or covered) and our third floor is a nice open "ballroom" or party room.
 




(http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/albums/userpics/11629/normal_DSCF7527.JPG)

We really like the extra space and the openness of the third floor.

As one can usually find (beat-up) mansions for much cheaper than expansion floors, this seemed a unique and less expensive solution.  (And the left over parts made a decent guest cottage.)

doug

Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: playmo1989 on May 31, 2011, 21:04:50

Instead of a "door to nowhere" we have  a "bare spot in our lattice" which I hope to repair soon.  (The piano makes a nice temporary cover.)



 
what happens if someone moves the piano?  :giggle: :giggle:
 

(http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Surprise/surprised-019.gif) (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Surprise/surprised-019.gif) (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Surprise/surprised-019.gif) (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Surprise/surprised-019.gif) (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Surprise/surprised-019.gif)
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: basilsdad on May 31, 2011, 21:55:17
Very creative, Doug.  ;)  I too like the airiness of the third floor and expanded kitchen.  The triple decker bunk beds in the attic are a real treat!  ;D
Joe
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: Luis on May 31, 2011, 23:14:27
very cool Doug! :)
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: skypurr on June 01, 2011, 00:05:12
That's a great idea Doug.  :clap:
I thought of adding another conservatory to the other side of the house so that the room that the front door opens into could be just a hallway, with the extra conservatory off that being used as a kitchen.
I just haven't got around to doing it yet because when I do it won't fit on top of the piece of furniture it stands on at the moment  :-[

Elaine (http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgqueen.gif)

Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: toyologist on June 01, 2011, 04:14:17
May we please see the guest cottage? :)
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: doug on June 01, 2011, 22:19:14
Joe,

Lisa is the interior designer, I am just the architect.  I passed on your compliment on the Seuss-ian bunks.  Thanks.

Toyologist,
The guest cottage is still a Work In Progress, actually. Here you can see the idea, though.

(http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/albums/userpics/11629/normal_DSCF7543.JPG)
 
I need permission to cut 6 pieces before it's complete.


(http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/albums/userpics/11629/normal_DSCF7539.JPG)

 If granted, I will cut:
*The small section from the back frame. (Seen extending into the porch area.)
*1/3 of the roof top away. (Seen sticking behind cottage.)
* Both inner-most pieces of balcony railing to fit the sloped roof.
* The front dormer window, to create a doorway.
* The porch base plate to fit an outside wall.

These should be fairly straightforward, once Lisa decides chopping PM pieces is OK.

The tricky part will be creating a vertical doorway from the attic...  Still not sure how to pull that off.  I think an angled door (like old-timey cellar doors) on an attic would look wrong, no?

Our wish was to use most of the extra parts from the second 5300 and still have a building with a unique footprint.
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: playmovictorian on June 01, 2011, 23:12:03
I like these customs a lot  :love:

This reminds me of a Victorian diorama I saw online years ago which featured some amazing modifications of the original Victorian Mansion  :cloud9:

Karim :)
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: basilsdad on June 01, 2011, 23:13:20
Doug,
Looks like you are having a great time with the extra parts!  The guest house will truly be unique when you finish.  ;)
Joe
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: toyologist on June 02, 2011, 00:46:33
Thanks so much for posting these pictures! :love:

The guest cottage was a wonderful idea, and it's coming along so well. Be sure to update us as the projects progress.

As for the door, I don't know what to tell you. I'm no good at such things. I'm sure somebody here will be able to advise/offer suggestions.

Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: Emma.J on June 21, 2011, 14:00:52
 :wave: Hi your house is looking good, would you mind a sugestion?

Could you make the small house with both of the conservatory door walls, and use the small curved steps instead of the porch steps at the front. This would make it more of a summer house than a guest house  :-\ if that was ok by you?

Then you could use the original house with door walls where you had the conservatory ones, move both small conservatory walls to the middle floor so the front matches better and but the porch steps from the small house onto the side of the big house. This would just leave you with one extra door leading nowhere on the top floor.

Just an idea  :-[
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: tonguello on June 21, 2011, 14:24:19
How did I missed this thread!!!?!?!??

All the customs are great! I like the idea of the small guest house though I don't know if I would start cutting pieces. Im in that very same dilema right know. I have the pieces for a guest house or a kitchen extension and servants headquarters. Im torn.

Still seeing all this was very helpful!!  :love:
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: happyhooks on June 22, 2011, 05:59:45
I LOVE all these customs and ideas!!
What a great forum this is;)))
Just a quickie though-what would one reccomend for the job of 'cutting' walls etc?
Do I need a 'playmo toolbox now'!?!
Emma-your work is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!
Issyx
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: happyhooks on June 22, 2011, 06:19:11
Also-why have the changed the layout on this house do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Playmobil-Victorian-house-mansion-includes-furniture-/300568380638?pt=UK_Toys_Creative_Educational_RL&hash=item45fb4584de#ht_500wt_1156

Its alot more open and airy to me and seems like it would be a lot more easier for customising!

Issyx
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: Wolf Knight on June 22, 2011, 07:39:14
Regarding your last question about the layout, and openess, its easier for the kids to play this way. and easier for an adult to look into the mansion and admire his set ups  ;D

Fantastic work on you custom mansion happyhooks!!! Keep it coming!!!
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: basilsdad on June 22, 2011, 11:31:32
Just a quickie though-what would one reccomend for the job of 'cutting' walls etc?
I bought a Dremel kit and I am still learning how to use it.  :lol: My favorite tool is much simpler and was suggested by Wesley Myers, this little saw.  :love:  I use it all the time, it has a handle which is not in the picture below.  Thanks Wesley!  And I agree, hh this is a great forum!
Joe

Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: tonguello on June 22, 2011, 11:37:00
Regarding your last question about the layout, and openess, its easier for the kids to play this way. and easier for an adult to look into the mansion and admire his set ups  ;D

Fantastic work on you custom mansion happyhooks!!! Keep it coming!!!

having no interior walls also means less plastic, so cheaper production. I don't mind that but what I personally don't like about the yellow mansion is that the floors come in just one piece. I think that makes it not that versatile!  :(
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: bonniebeth on June 22, 2011, 14:17:31
Yeah, that stinks. :( I hadn't realized that!
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: Wolf Knight on June 22, 2011, 18:19:54
...what I personally don't like about the yellow mansion is that the floors come in just one piece. I think that makes it not that versatile!  :(

I did not know that... hmm maybe I sould try getting one or two of them... always wanted anyway... Ok I'm gonna tie myself to the chair now  ;D
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: tonguello on June 22, 2011, 18:31:44
I did not know that... hmm maybe I sould try getting one or two of them... always wanted anyway... Ok I'm gonna tie myself to the chair now  ;D

yep, it is just one M-shape piece for the whole floor.
Title: Re: Expanding the victorian mansion
Post by: Celeste in New Orleans on July 30, 2011, 21:36:40
Love your ideas. I am also slowly customizing mine. Just trying to get it right!