As we celebrate the end of another exciting and inspirational SHIPtember, while the fleet is assembling for the 2025 SHIPtember armada poster, it seems only fitting to take a moment to reflect on the history behind this LEGO building challenge. We sat down for a short interview with Simon Liu, the grand admiral of all things SHIPtember. Simon started it all with an idea to challenge himself, to push beyond his comfort zone, and as a result created a community of builders around the world who come together every year (and sometimes in between) to build the best SHIP they can, and to share their struggles and triumphs with others. As a bonus, I also reached out to the SHIP building community to get their thoughts on the event.

TBB:  Hi Simon. It’s great to chat with you again after another amazing SHIPtember! Before we get to the greebles, an icebreaker. What is your earliest LEGO memory?

Simon Liu: In our old house, we used to have this enclosed balcony area that was sort of the LEGO playroom, and had this wooden plank that I built a little LEGO city on. Some official sets, some of my own creations, and some set mods. I would play for hours in my own little city.

TBB: Can you tell us about the history behind SHIPtember and your role in it?

Simon: I started SHIPtember and came up with the idea. It was simple; I had never built a SHIP and didn’t know how to. So why not make it a group exercise? At the time, building a SHIP was seen as a huge investment in time and effort, and now it’s pretty routine to see some people build multiple SHIPs in a month.

SHIPtmeber was actually going to be SHIPril. But after no SHIPs at BrickCon (which historically was the first weekend of October), I decided to move it, ensuring that BrickCon would always have fresh SHIPs.

TBB: As far back as I can remember (2014 was my first year participating), you have been a central part of the SHIPtember community. What do you find most rewarding about participating, and what is most frustrating?

Simon: The cliched answer is the ‘friends we made along the way’ – or the the shared joy when a builder crosses the finish line.

100 studs is not a small feat for all. And having that constant group rooting you on. Seeing your work in progress, and helping overcome that creative hump that might otherwise sink someone’s SHIPtemeber run. That’s special.

The hardest part is always the part better people than I accomplish. It’s easy to build a SHIP, it’s easy to root folks on. The hardest art of SHIPtember are the amazing few who put together the armada poster. A tradition dating back to the very first year, every SHIP completed joins in a group photo for that year, all scaled in size to each other.

TBB: You have built so many amazing SHIPs over the years. Where do you get your inspiration?

Simon: Lots of places! Some years I go with reference pictures, or designs. A lot of my styling has come from games, like Homeworld.

There’s been a few years where inspiration came from the participating audience: I’d post my end of day WIP, ask what I should do next / where the build should go, and have other people direct my hand so to speak.

TBB: This year, there have been many new builders… is there a SHIPbuilder that surprised you with their models?

Simon: I actually haven’t been around this year. Most years I’m watching and rooting on the side lines, or even building myself. This year I had change in work and travel. But I’m looking forward to going back and catching up!

(Editor Note – We ran into Simon at the LEGO Campus in September where one of his iconic SHIPs is now installed in the lobby!)

TBB: Thanks so much for everything you do to support the LEGO community, whether we’re talking SHIPs or frogs or New Hashima cubes. Any last words yo’d like to share with aspiring SHIPbuilders?

Simon: I think it’s incredible after all these years, people love doing SHIPtember. In this day and age it’s so hard to set that much time to try to do a SHIP and so many wonderful builders do it like clockwork.

I think the take away I keep trying to instill in people: SHIPtember isn’t a contest, it’s a challenge.
But not a challenge against your peers, it’s a personal challenge.

SHIPtmeber isn’t about building a 100 stud SHIP in a month. It’s about building the best 100 stud SHIP you can build in a month. It’s as hard or easy as you want it to be.

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I asked builders on the Discord server a few questions about their involvement in SHIPtember:

• How many SHIPtembers have you participated it?
• What SHIP was the most fun to build
• Which was most challenging
• If 2025 is your first SHIPtember, what made you decide to join the fun?
• What SHIPS this year impressed or surprised you and why?

Builder: BetaNotus

Times participated: 7

Most fun: My 2024 build, the Doctrine Raijū. The goal was to build something easily transported to conventions and install lighting, and the entire build process went smoothly. Getting to see the public react to the SHIP’s glowing spine was great!

Challenging: My 2021 SHIP, Dapper Cyclura. Getting twelve parts of the SHIP to spin with a single motor was tough, but using part 18601 (12×24 Dimensions plate with cutout) was almost a fatal design choice. Those parts cease to have any clutch power on their underside once enough weight is attached to them, and preventing them from peeling off was a problem it took days to solve.

Impressed: Every few years Sheo. joins SHIPtember and builds something I need to stare at for a while to understand. This year was no exception.

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Builder: DreamDynamic

Times participated: 7

What SHIP was the most fun to build? The first. I had no expectations, and built a SHIP I wanted to build. I used the full month, incorporated lighting and movement. Lighting and movement have always been repeated since.

Most challenging? The second, which happened to be 2020, was a challenge as the goal was to teach myself Blender rendering and animation during SHIPtember. It was a test of endurance and patience. Ultimately I wouldn’t get the animation I wanted but I got the knowledge I needed.

What SHIPS this year impressed or surprised you and why? When SHIPtember 30th arrives and strange SHIPs appear each and every one is a surprise. Without giving away favorite just yet, I’m partial to ringed SHIPs. There is something about this one from Alvaro Gunawan:

Builder: Lego Rockets

Times Participated: 4

Most fun (and most challenging): 2024 ETX Alien Devastator. Because it’s the biggest, most complex (mechanically, structurally, and aesthetically) one so far.

Surprising: Probably the Crossguard 227 from Klement Elias. I love mechanical functions and this one is pretty impressive. Or the ⁠Arethusa for its unique 5 sided design.

Builder: Exoch.i

Times Participated: First year!

I decided to join the fun, because I have never built in such a scale! I mostly build smaller MOCs so when i came across this I really wanted to try.

Although I’m quite happy with my build. I definitely think it can be improved, mostly in techniques and shapes. So I’m looking forward to next year!

My favorite ships this year were Boonta Ziringa from Oscar Cederwall. Its scale, colour scheme really stood up to me and I’m just a really big fan of the design.

And ktorrek‘s Yukishima, because the idea and execution are done brilliantly.

Builder: Huib

Times Participated: 5

Most fun: Most fun, I think was my first entry, with the inclusion of a bunch of functions at a still sort-of manageable scale.

Most challenging: This year was most challenging due to the sheer scale, complexity and planning requirements for getting enough of the right kind of parts.

Most impressive: I really liked the creative approaches of Shannon Sproule

And entertainingly_lame. I love the sleek look of this one:

And the imposing geometry of Scott Wilhelm‘s Twilight Echo: