During the 1950s, the now-prolific Jim Phillips designed the Screaming Hand image, which later in 1985 became the instantly recognisable logo for the well-known Santa Cruz Skateboards company. With impeccable attention to scale and detail, LEGO builder Brick Flag brings this true icon of skateboarding culture to the Brick. As a builder with a history of skateboarding, I too have attempted to build this gnarly skate totem, though with much less success than this great representation. The colour scheme for such a depiction is pretty unavoidable, though the dark azure is utterly prefect for such a build. The part selection has been superbly chosen considering the limited piece pallet available.
The Screaming Hand has represented hardcore skaters practically the world over for around 35 years, and this LEGO creation has done it justice in many ways. Before we go into its details, take a moment to observe the similarities when held against the original. The shaping has been achieved beautifully, considering the form and function of the human hand. Yet the I can still hear a ripple through the readers/builder at home, lamenting the colour selection for the ball joint and socket modified plates, which are sadly only produced in greys.
The bold mouth in the center of the palm has been well designed, including the tongue, though the sections that really get me are the lips and the base of the palm. The shaping and roundness here, due to the triple curved wedges, is brilliant and adds so much of the expression found in the original. Unlike the original illustration though, this version has some magnificent articulation, giving it the ability to pull some straight-up tubular gestures. The finger construction owes its flexibility not just to the ball joints but also to the inverted and curved slopes, giving each digit an anatomically realistic ability.
The shredded wrist keeps its true form to the original, with its blood spraying open wound. The brutality of such an image is an excellent representation of the feeling when you get when you hit the ground at speed and Brick Flag’s duplicate leaves nothing hidden. The use of red dinosaur necks and tails, as well as various horns is a tasteful design choice, giving it the raw, artery pumping feeling it deserves.
This homage to Jim Phillips and skate culture is stunning and I am personally stoked to see this achieved in such a great way. Be sure to also check out Brick Flag’s awesome tribute to the Beastie Boys: Licenced to MOC.