The team here at The Brothers Brick, like many of the builders we feature, live and breathe blocks and have been stewing in LEGO lore for so long that we’re more minifigure than man. But we recognize that not all of our readers are as fluent in the insider jargon and history of this hobby. With you in mind, I’ve prepared an outsider’s guide to help you understand an annual event with deep roots in these parts: NoVVember. This story showcases the importance of community, it speaks about a tragedy, and how we still honor age-old traditions.
You may have seen recent NoVVember entries such as this one but what does it all mean? And why the heck do y’all spell it that way, anyway? The double V in NoVVember stands for Vic Viper. This recent pair by Bradk918 perfectly demonstrates what a Vic Viper is; denoted by two wings or prongs that extend forward of a centralized cockpit and flares out at the rear of the craft and a central stabilizer fin. The style and term was taken from the Gradius video game series.
Creative examples from the community
Now that we’ve established the rather rigid rules that constitutes what a Vic Viper is, how does a builder go about being creative while still following the overall shape and guidelines? Last year, LEGO phenom Maxx Davidson prescribed the medicine-themed Sick Viper complete with syringes, pill pack wings and a central cockpit reminiscent of a two-color pill capsule. It’s good for whatever ails you.
Here’s one that looks like it is inspired by the ubiquitous orange Brick Seperator with those familiar tools built up as the wings and an actual Brick Seperator comprising the tailfin. It’s clever parts usage from our friend Joey Klusnick.
The legacy of Nate Nielson
Now that you know what a Vic Viper is and have seen creative interpretations of the craft, let’s take this time to explain how this ship became a staple in the LEGO community. In about 2006, an influential person arrived on the LEGO scene. His name was Nate Nielson but went by the moniker nnenn online. He loved Classic Space and pioneered the Vic Viper trend within the LEGO community, which was inspired by the ships in the Gradius video game, as mentioned earlier. He was an educator, an artist and a devoted husband and father of two boys. In April of 2010, he had passed away due to an automobile accident. Back then we featured a touching tribute as did many of our friends in the LEGO community.
If you read our tribute and the others, a common thread stated at that time was even though not a lot of folks in the LEGO community knew his real name or even his face, as he was an elusive sort, his influence was felt far and wide. He is the reason some builders came into the community. By this point, the NoVVember phenomenon was already well underway, with folks building Vic Vipers almost exclusively in November. Much of Nate’s work was influenced by his father who served the US as an F-16 fighter pilot, so in 2010 several builders collaborated in a Vic Viper fly-in at BrickWorld Chicago, then again at BrickCon in Seattle, and then every major brick convention after that- with each Viper situated in “the missing man” formation common among military pilots around the globe. (Photo by Dave Sterling.)
This image, compiled in 2009, illustrates a testament to the community aspect of the NoVVember phenomenon with builders both seasoned and novice contributing to the cause with Vic Vipers of all shapes and sizes; all posted within November of that year.
The nnenn piece
You best believe that Nate’s influence was felt even within the LEGO company. If you’ve read any of the tributes, you may see his name or his online handle nnenn associated with this particular LEGO piece. It’s a bygone spool that held rubber bands; the part is no longer used by LEGO as they now use small cardboard envelopes to house rubber bands and other similar LEGO accoutrement. I’ve lost track of the original thread as it was so long ago but there was some friendly banter online, likely in a Flickr LEGO group, where someone asked something along the lines of what LEGO piece would you like to be named after in the event of your death? Nate cited this particular piece as it was the most useless part. In an uncanny twist, he had died shortly after that so that particular “useless” piece has been forever cemented both officially and unofficially as the “nnenn piece”. If we didn’t see it before, we most certainly do now; it might be a product of serendipity or a happy accident, but surely it isn’t lost on anyone that this piece has a face and a personality. (Photo credit by Fredoichi)
After his passing, many builders showcased that particular part in various rather touching tributes. This image created by Dillon is a standout that perfectly reflects the somber, weighty feel of losing someone so important. That aforementioned face and personality looks back at us seemingly forlorn and from beyond our own realm of understanding. By many written accounts the year of Nate’s passing would have been the year he’d finally attend a convention and meet his friends and fans in person.
Official LEGO recognition
There has even been at least one official LEGO set that had paid homage to both Nate and his beloved Vic Viper aesthetic; most notably the 7066 Alien Conquest Earth Defense HQ. In 2011 we were all graced with this set designed by AFOL-turned-LEGO designer, Mark Stafford. The rugged defense rover launches a spacecraft with the distinct Vic Viper shape. Not only that, but as seen up close, this particular part features a viper head and the word “nnenn”. With Classic Space colors and scary aliens, and the iconic Vic Viper, it is a set Nate would have truly loved.
And one more thing
I hope this has been an informative guide that would help you better understand some neat LEGO history and traditions. But why is it an “outsider’s Guide”, then? Well, as mentioned in the first paragraph, this was written for our average reader who are not necessarily the star builders we showcase here. (Thank you, dear average reader, for joining us today.) But also, I feel a little bit outside the community myself. While I have obtained some LEGO accolades, none are for any Vic Vipers I have built, so hopefully I have done justice for the Vic Viper community and your story. The goal here is so that others can be inspired to build their own. For more on the subject, please click on our Vic Viper archives to see truly innovative designs from some of the most talented builders on the planet. And before you do, I’ll leave you with one last image. Once again, LEGO Designer Mark Stafford had paid tribute to his friend with a neat Vic Viper done up in Classic Space colors. That pilot is by far the happiest pilot in the galaxy. I think his name just might be Nate. Thanks for reading.
