Jon Newsome has been a MOCpages user for quite a while now, and his most recent creation showcases the most updated version of his Gattaca starfighter in addition to a base diorama. Check out some of the cool details like the landing pad pattern and the pilot ladder.
Ever since SlyOwl‘s demonstration of a technique for straw roofs in his Nassau Port, we see the technique again in Cheddar Gorge. But in addition to the innocent looking scene, there’s some pretty crazy stuff going on inside. Please heed SlyOwl’s warning that vegetarians should look away.
While there are many mechas out there, few ever carry a striking feature that I’ll probably remember for the rest of my LEGO career. Check out the ammo rounds on Kidthor‘s Hunchback Assault Mech. The use of a lego string piece to connect the small black Technic pins is simply brilliant, and I’ll bet more builders will be inspired to use this technique.
The subject of tentacle eruptions is worthy of study in addition to LEGO Communication. The amazing fact about tentacles is that they can spawn from any source, including the ground, the ocean surface, toilet, mecha, house roof, sci-fi pit, ancient cave, unholy shrine, alternative reality surface of dream worlds, and many many other places.
Our most recent example of tentacle eruption is found in Brickshelf user Crises‘ vignette called “Watch Your Bath,” for obvious reasons.
Referenced images from works by Rocko, Hippotam, Devastator, Nannan, Keith Goldman, Nabii, and Lee Jones in no particular order.
I’ll admit it: like Tyler, I’m a legoholic. Few things make my stomach tickle more than seeing a good custom LEGO model, or MOC (standing for My Own Creation), as those of us in the hobby call it. But really, what is it that makes a good MOC good? Is there a way to find that out?
Yes there is. And I’m going to teach you how to be a LEGO building God. Or at least how to suck just a wee bit less.
I know what you’re thinking: “Linus, come on! Good is in the eye of the beholder!” and 
“Good is dependant on which building style is ‘in’ at the moment!”. And you know, I agree. But if we stop looking at MOCs as pretty sculptures and look at them from a communicational point of view – analyze them as a message from an author to a viewer – we can actually see pretty interesting things. We won’t understand per se why Nannan’s wicked Black Fantasies are so fun to look at, or why Michael Jasper’s furniture is so fascinating, but we can structure our thoughts regarding them a bit better – and in the end, begin to understand why they make an impact on us.
And so, in a series of six posts starting with the next one, I’ll be outlining one way to look at how a LEGO message is constructed. I’ll start with the broader perspective, discussing contextual relations (don’t worry, it’s not as boring as it sounds) and then work my way down to the design & build, presentation, and other factors. I’ll publish the new instalment every Monday.
My goal with this series is to get you thinking. During these six weeks I hope you’ll chime in with objections, thoughts and examples in the comments section, and if that’s the case the sixth and last post will contain a summary of our discussion, links to references and other goodies on the subject. Could be fun, yeah?
Since we’re heading deeper into the serious LEGO world in these posts, it’s inevitable that I’ll use some of the lingo the LEGO community has created. I will explain the stranger words as they come up, but don’t be afraid to ask about a term you don’t understand or let me know when I do it too much. All of them are in this LEGO acronym guide too if worst comes to worst, but as said, let me know.
All of these posts are mainly based on my own experience and knowledge, of which you can read more on my about page. This type of series is also a first for the Brothers Brick, so don’t be afraid to voice your opinion about that too. And while we’re at it, feel free to give me a holla’ regarding grammer and speling too.
Phew, I think that’s all of it.
Now, let’s get to it, shall we? Tomorrow we’ll start with the the most important part of it all: the context. Dun-dun-duuuun.
This post is part in a series of six discussing LEGO models from a communicational point of view, updated every Monday. Here are the other instalments:
0. Introduction
1. Context: the message
2. Context: the audience
3. Tools: Design & build, with case study #1
3b. Case study #2
3c. Case study #3
4. Tools: Presentation
5. Other
6. Summing up
Brickshelfer GTAhelper has put together a very nice architectural Futuron Moonbase Module:
I adore the bendy shapes of this – reminds me a bit of the Turning Torso in my back yard. Check out the full gallery on the ‘shelf.
Fellow Brisbanite Fedde (Cthulu) takes some Fabuland, a sugar pill and follows it with some pure sucrose. The result is delightful.
Yes, you, readers of The Brothers Brick!
Over the years, our readership has grown from a handful of dedicated readers to tens of thousands of you out there on the Web. Many of you are active in other LEGO communities, both online and “in real life,” but a vast majority of you probably don’t know what a “MOC” (My Own Creation) or an “AFOL” (Adult Fan of LEGO) is.
And we’re cool with that. We love the fact that you find what we do interesting enough to subscribe to our feed, leave lots of comments, link to us, send us suggestions, and even support what we do by buying LEGO.
As a LEGO Ambassador over the last year, I hope you feel that I’ve represented you well, passing along news from LEGO and sending LEGO your feedback and suggestions.
As we move into the 2008-2009 LEGO Ambassadors cycle, I’m happy to accept Nelson’s nomination in the original announcement about this new process.
However, I’d like to open things up to all of you to make suggestions about who you think should represent The Brothers Brick (as an online “AFOL Community Group”) in the next cycle of the LEGO Ambassadors program.
So far, here are the people who’ve been nominated here on The Brothers Brick:
Here’s how this is going to work:
So, without further ado, let the nomination discussion begin!
Ed Diment presents the round, proud and crazy Helios. I’ll use Ed’s words here “The Helions use spacecraft that resemble the Sun (theyr’e not very original like that!). This the Helios class scouting vessel, the fact that one of these has been sighted over earth can only mean an invasion of other Helions. Beware! “. Deep, man!
Well, you can’t forget that with this incredible bust by Craig Stevens
He’s done another captain too!
The LEGO Company is offering a $25 gift card to whoever comes up with the most interesting facts about the LEGO minifigure.
Here are some specific questions, but don’t limit yourself to just answering these:
Let the comment party begin!
Andrew Lee stomps into the Reasonably Clever Pumping Iron contest at the last second with an Iron Man/Gundam crossover:
See Andrew’s Iron Man photoset for more.
