#9: Tree, Shelter, and Rickshaw

 

LEGO MOC Competition Journal: The Great Tree, Air-Raid Shelter, and Rickshaw

Adding Greenery – Bringing Life to the Build

When the build was nearly complete, something still felt missing.
The railway tracks, train, bus, mailbox, phone booth, and utility poles were all in place, yet the scene lacked a certain vitality.

The answer? Greenery.

So, I decided to take some extra time to build a large tree.

In recent years, LEGO has made remarkable progress in plant-based designs, from the 21318 Treehouse to the 10280 Flower Bouquet and even 21326 Winnie the Pooh’s Treehouse, all of which are truly eye-catching.

However, the one that captivated me the most was LEGO 10281 Bonsai Tree. This beautifully crafted bonsai tree closely resembles a real tabletop potted plant, making it the perfect reference for adding a touch of nature to my scene.

LEGO Parts and Tree Construction

To build this great tree, I gathered various brown LEGO pieces from my parts collection. Fortunately, I had accumulated a decent number of brown bricks from The Iron Hook Pirate Ship, which came in handy for this project. However, I still needed to purchase additional large leaves (2417) and tree trunk pieces (65473).

It’s worth noting that 65473 was introduced in 2020. Although it’s a relatively new part, it’s not particularly rare. The most frequently used piece in this build was 32607, which, luckily, is affordable and easy to obtain in large quantities.

After reviewing the building instructions to understand the structure, I started assembling the tree. The biggest challenge turned out to be the tree canopy—if made too large, the entire tree became unstable. After multiple adjustments to the weight distribution, I finally created a sturdy and visually pleasing tree.

This tree was designed to be modular, making it easy to disassemble and move. During later modifications to the rooftop, I realized how easily the tree could be knocked over, so I temporarily placed it on a shelf for safety.

The Air-Raid Shelter Beneath the Tree

While constructing the tree, a sudden idea struck me—why not build an air-raid shelter beneath it?

 

During my research, I came across a fascinating story about the air-raid shelters of Changhua Railway Station. Towards the end of World War II, relentless bombings led to the birth of a boy inside one of these shelters. He was named Hōtarō (豪太郎) after the Japanese word for air-raid shelter, bōkūgō (防空壕), as "gō" (壕) and "hō" (豪) share the same pronunciation.

While looking up images of "tree air-raid shelters", I was surprised to find many that resembled the Totoro tree tunnels—utterly enchanting!

The shelter I built featured a simple entrance, making it easily recognizable. However, my first attempt ended up looking oddly like a grave (haha). Later, I discovered that placing a small red brick on top transformed it into a charming tiny shrine.

Although this tree and air-raid shelter aren't actual historical landmarks, their inclusion added a deeper narrative to my creation.

Designing the Rickshaw

After finishing the tree and shelter, I suddenly realized—I had forgotten one of the most common historical modes of transportation: the rickshaw.

Old photographs showed groups of rickshaw pullers wearing straw hats, patiently waiting for passengers in front of railway stations.

Fortunately, I had a LEGO 70629 Ninjago set that included a rickshaw design. With a few modifications, I was able to incorporate it into my build. To maintain consistency with the overall height of the scene, I slightly lowered the rickshaw to avoid colliding with the first-floor rooftop.

One of the key parts in this build was 2397, a piece originally introduced in 1987 for medieval castle wagons. Although not widely used, it turned out to be the perfect element for this rickshaw.

I even made two versions—a deluxe edition and a simplified version. In the deluxe version, an adorable elderly woman with white hair sits in the rickshaw, adding character to the scene.

Straw Hats and Other Details

Speaking of rickshaw pullers, I had to include the Asian conical hat (straw hat).

LEGO introduced this hat design in 2011, most notably for Master Wu from the Ninjago series. In 2017, they released a black version for the villain Lord Garmadon. These hats fit seamlessly into historical and heritage-themed builds.

Transportation and the Final Competition

Before the competition, my creation was exhibited at Changhua Railway Station and the Wuri Railway Story Museum, but the tree was missing from the photos.

The reason? It was simply too fragile to transport!
The leaves kept falling off, and the trunk cracked repeatedly—it was a nightmare. In the end, I decided not to display the tree until the final competition day, where I reassembled it from the bag on-site.

During the competition, I positioned the rickshaw puller under the tree, relaxing and chatting, which made the scene feel much more dynamic. In the end, the tree truly brought the entire creation to life!

Conclusion

This MOC project started as a simple architectural scene, but with the addition of the tree, air-raid shelter, and rickshaw, it became a build rich in history and everyday life elements.

Despite the challenges in building and transportation, these small details greatly enhanced the final piece.

Looking forward to the next creation—hopefully, it will be even more fun and full of stories! 🚂🌳

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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