#8: The Vintage Bus and More

 

Vintage Bus

When selecting the theme, I read the restoration report of Taichung Train Station and discovered that the station does not exist independently but is closely integrated with the surrounding transportation system. Therefore, in addition to trains, other means of transportation, such as buses, are also crucial.

While examining an old 1918 photo of Changhua Station, I noticed a slightly tilted bus stop sign on the right side, reminiscent of the famous leaning mailbox from a few years ago. This led to an interesting conversation with my child: "Mom, we have the train, but what about the bus?" And so, I decided to build a vintage bus.

 

Researching historical records, I found that early buses were called "Bullhead Buses" due to their front-end design resembling a bull’s nose. I came across an old photo from the Japanese colonial period featuring a Bullhead Bus with "Erlin – Changhua" marked on its body, suggesting that it once stopped in front of Changhua Station. This photo became the main reference for my bus design.

Building a vintage bus with LEGO was quite challenging, especially the roof window design. After multiple attempts, I managed to secure the roof using thin plates, allowing the bus to accommodate three minifigures, with an operable door. I wasn't sure if historical buses had luggage racks, so I chose not to include one. The final Bullhead Bus fit seamlessly into the station-front scene, even adding a touch of humor to the display.

Mailbox

 

Building the mailbox was relatively straightforward. The bright red mailbox stands out in front of the station.

The LEGO 2×2 round brick (part #30361c) was the best choice, though its red variant is quite rare. After searching through my collection, I was lucky to find one! For the top, I used an old part #6248 (produced between 1995-2006), which unexpectedly recreated the classic shape of the mailbox.

This 26-year-old piece played a crucial role in making the mailbox look incredibly lifelike.

Automated Telephone Booth

Compared to the mailbox, the telephone booth was much more challenging. Initially, I even mistook it for a recycling station! Only after further research did I confirm that it was an automated telephone booth from 1918, one of only 25 in Taiwan at the time. The one in front of Changhua Station might have been the only one in the city, making it historically significant.

However, LEGO does not have suitable hexagonal pieces. I tried multiple configurations, but my first attempt looked more like a "white octopus" than a booth.

Eventually, by combining parts #13548 and #87620, I managed to construct the hexagonal base, but the details were still lacking. So, I temporarily abandoned the hexagonal shape and built a rectangular booth instead, complete with an old-fashioned telephone inside and an operable door.

However, when finalizing the design, I decided to return to the hexagonal concept. Using side-turned bricks and small slopes, I finally achieved a high level of accuracy in recreating the telephone booth.

Utility Pole

Building the utility pole was not too difficult, mainly requiring Technic parts for structural reinforcement.

The core structure used cross axles combined with connector #24122 for added stability. The base was strengthened using part #2460, a classic piece introduced in 1988.

Previously, the shortest LEGO BAR piece was 3L, but in 2021, part #78258 (2L) was released, making it the perfect choice for a more detailed utility pole.

Conclusion

This LEGO MOC (My Own Creation) challenge was an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. From researching historical references, sourcing the right parts, and testing different builds to finally completing the scene, every step was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

These small details came together to bring 1918 Changhua Station to life, making this competition journey even more memorable.

If you're interested in tackling a historical MOC challenge, I hope this diary can provide some inspiration!

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See Final Work in Display: The Timber Terminal – Changhua’s Golden Age Station 

01 Recreating - 02 Coloring  - 03 Parts Inventory  - 04 Karahafu Roof  - 05 Colombage Skill  - 06 Main Roof  - 07 Steam train  - 08 Vintage Bus  - 09 Tree and Shelter  - 10 Final