Monthly Archives: March 2013

Strip away the fear. Underneath, it’s all the same love.

We generally don’t take political positions or set out to court controversy, and I suspect some of our contributors don’t even agree with me, but this is important. The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments about marriage equality, and people everywhere are changing their online avatars to show their support for freedom and justice.

Ryan H. (eldeeem) posted this simple, straightforward build that captures the design wonderfully.

Untitled

David Picket (fallentomato) posted an even simpler LEGO version, and thus one you might be able to build and display yourself:

LEGO Red Equal Sign

I first posted about marriage equality here on The Brothers Brick back in 2006, with this vignette featuring the Human Rights Campaign logo that’s the basis for the new red and pink version:

I Do

Though not directly LEGO-related, this beautiful video by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis explains the post title:

I challenge all the brickfilmers out there to create a LEGO version of “Same Love.”

A Walk in the Woods

It clanks, it’s loud, and makes an awful racket so the walk may not be particularly peaceful, but really,what do you expect from a steam-powered walker?

This Victorian beauty is courtesy of oLaF-LM. You can see alternate shots on his website.

Community, Inspiration, Kids & Delivery Vans

Disclaimer – This post is more about why I love the online community than it is about the model itself…that being said I do think the model was cool enough to share :)

I think the online LEGO community influences and affects people differently. For me it means a great deal and is on par with sitting at a pub with a group of friends discussing general geekery. The interaction with people from all across the globe has a major influence on how and what I build. I am constantly being inspired by other’s work and by the discussions I take part in.

A perfect example of this, is the cyberpunk Nissan Transporter that I just built with my son Tate. It all started a few days ago while geeking out with Carter Baldwin (& others) about the vehicle design within Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. I was just finishing up the series, so as a result was/am in a huge cyberpunk kick. That night I was playing LEGO with my sons and Tate asked if we could build a police van. I told him we could, but asked if he would be ok to make it an undercover van with a deployable minigun…he said that would be fine as long as we also included flip up police lights. Have to say I am proud the little geek’s creativity! Two evenings of building with him resulted in this van.

E.Sect - Nissan Transporter

Some people say that the internet and technology takes parents away from their kids. I am happy to say that in my case it has introduced me to countless friends around the world, inspired me creatively, and gave me more excuses to play with my boys!

Powerpig’s Commodore 64 is powered by 8 bits of awesome

Every aspiring geek back in the early to mid-80’s wanted an Apple II or Apple Macintosh, but they were pretty darn expensive. For those of us who grew up back then without an early Apple, a solid consolation prize was the Commodore 64. I learned Morse code for my amateur radio exam by playing a game on our C64.

Chris McVeigh (powerpig) continues his series of lovely vintage computers with a LEGO version of this classic machine. Chris has captured the shape of the C64’s case and all its details wonderfully, from the logo and power light to the studs-up keyboard.

64 Kilobricks

Chris has titled his photo “64 Kilobricks,” which is wonderfully clever, but I couldn’t work out a way to steal it for my own post title…

Hoorah for upgrades.

MATSF-5000E "Booster Pack"MATSF-5000E "Gun Pack"

MATSF-5000E "Seeker Pack"MATSF-5000E "Missile Pack"

Stijn (Red Spacecat) takes his MATSF-5000E Super Banshee (one of his oldest models on flickr) and gives it a fresh spin by adding mission specific equipment packs. I am a HUGE fan of modular equipment/weapon systems so these latest upgrades are right up my alley. But whether it be weapons packs or colour variations, it is always neat to see builders continue to tinker with older models.

Be sure to take an extra second to peruse the larger images linked above…the subtle variations are too great to miss

Den-den Daiko

I’ve been seeing a lot of these drums around town, as the Cherry Blossom Festival gets going. Thanks to Gilcelio Chagas, on Flickr, now I can build my own from Lego.

Den-den daiko

If you’d like to build your own, check out his instructional video (purist warning, involves cutting capes).

The nuclear-armed Dart

There’s something about the Sixties. In the Western world the standard of living was rapidly increasing and there was a sense of optimism about the future that shows in the design of the cars and jets from this era. Technology seemed to promise a better a life for everyone. Anything seemed possible. Aeronautical technology, in particular, moved forward at an amazing pace. A manned aircraft first flew faster than the speed of sound just after WW-2, but by the Sixties operational jets were routinely flying at speeds more than twice as fast. Even higher speeds didn’t just seem likely; they seemed inevitable. In many ways the Convair F-106 Delta Dart is typical for jets from this era, with a highly swept-back wing, a sleek area-ruled fuselage and a sharp nose.
F-106 Delta Dart (1)
However, something sinister lurks underneath. The Sixties were also a time when it looked as though the Cold War could turn very hot. A high speed meant the ability to intercept enemy bombers from a larger distance. Intercepting bombers was what the F-106 was all about, with an unguided nuclear-tipped air-to-air missile tucked in its internal weapons bay. This makes a long stand-off distance a very desirable feature!
F-106 Delta Dart (4)

I hope I can be forgiven for blogging one of my own models, especially an older one. It was built for an article in Brickjournal Issue 22. It has been out for a while now and this prompted me to finally post multiple pictures.

Dutch Coaster ‘Fiona’

Since about three years I’ve been living in a port city. I’m enjoying the fresh sea breeze (although we’re having a bit too much of that at the moment, both in terms of quantity and freshness, but that’s another story) and the scenery. For instance, my route to work takes me through the inner harbour, which means I get to see some of the ships moored there. Among them is a coaster, complete with bearded skipper wearing a cap and a wooly turtleneck jumper.
Coaster Fiona
The Dutch Coaster built by Arjan Oude Kotte (Konajra) doesn’t seem to have a skipper with a wooly jumper, but all the other details are there. I can now go stare at it without the windchill.

Racism, handcuffs and tan half-pins

H. P. Lovecraft is, arguably, the most important author in the history of horror. The recalcitrant racist from Providence basically invented the modern horror genre back at the turn of the 20th century. Thorsten Bonsch (Xenomurphy) has created (with some help from Legopard) a highly atmospheric LEGO imagining of his study, complete with diabolical details and pretty presentation. Another entry for Mocathalon 2013.

H. P. Lovecraft’s Study

PS. And yes, I am planning to enter Alliterathalon 2013.

Blue Pullman train in LEGO

Carl Greatrix (bricktrix) has once again built something I thought would be impossible to reproduce in LEGO. The Blue Pullman was a very strange, but ugly/attractive diesel luxury train running in Britain through the 60s. Its very distinctive wedge shaped face is extremely challenging, but Carl has managed to get a pretty great likeness. It also looks very nice lit up and running.

Blue Pullman DMU Engines

Post-apocalyptic train

Stijn Oom has just made a stunning post-apocalyptic LEGO diorama for 2013 Mocathlon. Very notable features are the track sinking into the swamp, and the leaning building, but the whole diorama offers a very pleasing mixture of artificial and natural forms.

MDI.69 Blokhead

As much as I enjoy the type of classic mecha we post here all the time, it’s also nice to run into something that’s a bit different from the norm. Aaron Williams (m_o_n_k_e_y) asks, “Have you ever started on a MOC and ended up with something completely different?” Therein, my friends, lies the joy of building with LEGO!

MDI69_Blokhead

I can’t discern any sort of purpose for Aaron’s “Blokhead.” It lacks giant guns. It doesn’t have enormous lifting arms or tools. But it sure looks confident.