If you are familiar with Mike Yoder at all, then you know that he not only builds a mean LEGO spaceship, but he is also a gifted painter. Well Mike certainly has proven both of these points with his latest project…an acrylic on canvas painting of his Calamity Jane starship.
I don’t recall a spaceship ever looking so beautiful.
I’m loving This new scene by Zane Houston. Frankly, as soon as I spotted a mecha gorilla in a thumbnail, I was sold. Then, I saw a diorama of it ape-handling a truck, and I got excited. When I zoomed in and saw that the mecha was piloted by a chimp? Well, I for one, welcome our new ape masters.
Like the creative, ingenious mind of Dr. Light, Bruce Lowell creates the perfect machines to fight the evil Dr. Wily and his Robots!
HOPE RIDES ALONE!!!
This week’s builder is a hot mess from Ankara Turkey whose clean builds and steady leadership has helped define the burgeoning LEGO fan scene in his venerable country. Cagri Yuz isn’t content being married to one theme, preferring to jump around from trains to sci-fi to micro builds of Turkey’s many world heritage sites. I caught up with Cagri at the Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia. We talked about the timeless mystery of baby shampoo, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk vs George Washington and muscat grapes. We also talked about LEGO.
KG: Talk about your recent model “Misogyny”, the inspiration, the approach and do you plan to build more models in this style?
CY: I was suffering from a builder’s block and I did the only logical thing I could do. I came up with a surreal creation which nobody could object. People ask puzzled questions about the nature of this MOC and they’re all worried that they have failed to understand the logic behind it. It’s funny to watch how insecure the humankind is when we face a slightly confusing problem. It was just a pile of bricks really, nothing else. Joking aside, it’s not an entirely meaningless creation. I wanted to point out the hatred against women among men and hence the title “Misogyny”. I may have done this somewhat brutally but it is what it is. I had a similar creation titled Reconstruction and I may build more in the future, why not? But don’t ask the secret behind Reconstruction, there isn’t any. I simply enjoyed the colors, simplicity and arrangement of parts.
KG: You didn’t need an official set to give the world some TMNT action, talk about your approach and the official line.
CY: I didn’t really know there was an upcoming TMNT theme. Ever since I saw the claws in 6866 Wolverine’s Chopper Showdown, I wanted to build myself a Shredder figure. Then came the rest of the characters. I’m quite happy how they turned out in the end. I especially like my April O’neil figure. She was my first crush as a kid and apparently I’m still sort of attached to her, even in the form of a plastic toy. I think this last one sounded a little bit weird? Anyways, I’m not particularly interested in the new TMNT line. 2012 series is quite different than the 1987 one which I’m familiar with. I didn’t enjoy the overall design of models and characters. That’s not a bad thing though, I get to keep my brick-money for other themes.
KG: That isn’t weird at all, I had a similar thing for Princess Ariel from Thundarr. You know, “Ariel, Ookla, Ride!” and whatnot. Moving on.
KG: Like many in our hobby, you suffer from a rare syndrome that causes you to consume LEGO in large quantities. Talk about this problem, and do you have any other issues with the brick you’d like to come clean about?
CY: Hello, my name is Cagri and I’m a LEGO addict. I was first introduced to this menace by my parents when I was a kid and I can’t quit. It has taken all my mind and all my money. Every single coin I can spare in my piggy bank goes to this plastic addiction. I have an unstoppable impulse to build every single thing I see in the world. I loose touch with reality once I start observing things in the streets so that I can build them later on. It’s hazardous for me wander around on my own. I have been subject to many traffic accidents trying to catch a glimpse of things around me. I need continuous assistance to survive in everyday life. I admit, my LEGO problem is injurious… But seriously, LEGO gives us the power to create anything. Everyone wants to shape the world as they wish, that’s just not practical. With LEGO parts, we can actually make our dreams come true without too much hassle. I love to hold that power in my hands. I may be unable to change things in real life but once my shift is over and I go home, I can do whatever I like all night long. I keep building until I get sore eyes. I am the master of darkness!
Tyler (Legohaulic) shows off Lego’s new olive green color in this alternate WWII mech.
Tonight’s train offering comes courtesy of Gerbrand van den Eeckhout (raised) and his rendition of Dutch Railways NS 1847. The complex angles of the cab are worth the price of admission, not that any of you freeloaders are paying anyway. Where is a railroad bull when you need him? Keep movin’ hobos.
Hailing from Wageningen, the Netherlands own Paul Toxopeus is on a mission to recreate the now defunct Dutch theme park Het Land van Ooit in LEGO. Paul’s latest effort is simply titled “Three Sculptures” but nothing about these models is simple. The one on the right reminds me of Madame Trash-heap from Fraggle Rock: your mileage may vary. Check out Paul’s Flickrstream for examples of some of the press he’s been getting for this project and for photos of Het Land van Ooit as well.
Do they dream of mauling zebras, or Halle Berry in her Catwoman suit?
I had the good fortune of running into Tim Inman (rabidnovaracer) at LEGOLand California a few years ago where we did our best to constrain ourselves from pilfering parts from master model builder Gary McIntire’s shop. All those rare parts…shudders… At any rate, Tim hails from the O.C. and as his screen-name suggests he has a fascination with all things fast and or furious. This particular car is an entry for LUGnuts 63rd Build Challenge entitled “Designing The Ralston Tiger!”. Thanks Tim, for keeping me out of LEGOLand jail, I’ve heard its far more intense than Disneyland jail.
Devid VII brings to life one of Japans highest-rated anime series of all time with his outstanding micro-scale rendition of Mazinger Z (Tranzor Z in America). Mazin Go! Mazin Go! Mazingaa Z!
Simon Pickard finished his massive scene of the Battle of Thermopylae that spans over 5 feet and features over 500 minifigures. Read more about this incredible 2-year long project on Flickr, and you can browse the work in progress shots on Flickr as well.
