The now closed Eurobricks Spaghetti Western contest has seen a steady drip feed of great wild west creations. When Marshal Banana posted his entry I was struck not so much by the great buildings, but by the absolutely excellent period furniture.
While reading Bricks Down Under tonight, I came across a new web-based tool that looked very exciting (and a title too good not to copy). Rebrickable, made by Nathan Thom, is a brilliant website which offers a tool where you to enter sets you own, and find sets (and MOCs) you can build. So if there’s been an old set that you’ve always wanted to own, maybe you’ll find you already do.
The website went live early due to a leak so its range of sets is currently limited but it is increasing.
Nathan (The Grandpappy) has more than put his bricks where his mouth is with an excellent two vehicle set. It looks like it’s got a touch of Exo-Force and a touch of Space Police III, and it’s definitely got a touch of class.
Arjan Kotte (konajra) is no stranger to building big yet highly detailed ‘things’ out of LEGO. His latest is a beam trawler and packs in the little touches that make a model sing. I’m particularly fond of the way he sets up small vignettes around the boat showing the action on deck.
Those who’ve been around the LEGO community for a while may know I’ve been planning a LEGO version of the Ghost in the Shell tank (from the movie) for quite some time. In fact I posted my first CAD version 5 years ago after starting it nine months before that.
I won’t say it’s finished now (because I doubt I’ll ever consider it finished) but, after nearly six years from starting it, I think it’s ready to share in the brick. It’s close to fully articulated although the middle legs don’t move left/right (to improve strength). The torso is on a ball joint as is the head for maximal poseability.
“This build features a bit of everything: modulex, duplo , fabuland and regular system bricks”… that really says enough about Pierre E Fieschi’s Sobani Battleship. Well almost enough, it’s also beautiful.
In the past I’ve designed and made instructions for a Wild West playset as Christmas gifts to the community. This year the Spaghetti Western contest at Eurobricks encouraged me to build one for myself. I wanted it to look like a cool toy train that a kid might get for Christmas or a birthday. Hopefully I achieved what I set out to do.
There was a time when LEGO released books of ideas, when trains were a flagship property, when a LEGO license was something you used to drive at LEGOland. That time was the 80s and that time produced 7777. But it was not a perfect time. We now have new parts, new colours, new techniques, and 7777 looks dated. But the idea (pardon the pun) was good. Let’s make it better.
EDIT:NB. Please do not ask questions about the contest here, ask them in the flickr thread. I will not be answering questions here.
In LEGO Train MOCs we run semi-regular contests and challenges. This time we’re inviting all AFOLs to play. The challenge is to create a new version of 7777 ideas book with prizes for those deemed best and most 7777-like. As a twist we won’t be allowing locomotive engines.
This contest differs a little from regular LEGO contests: rather than giving prizes to the best entry we will be assessing entries on how well they would fit in a new version of 7777. This means models should be kept relatively simple, bonus points will be awarded for instructions and scenes, and we won’t be looking for exact replicas of obscure trains.
So if you love trains, if you love town, or if you just love LEGO and a new challenge we’d love to see what you can do. You don’t even need a single train wheel or track to play. Just bricks and a creative mind.
Closing date: All entries must be in by midnight 31st30th November on the east side of the date line. If your clock says Nov 30th you’ll be fine.
Prizes: Three prizes will be given for the three entries judged ‘best’ (no person will win more than one prize). Prizes are: 10219 Maersk train, 7937 Train Station, 7936 Level Crossing
Rules: There are no hard and fast rules (other than the closing date) however there are judging criteria so if you want a chance of winning you should meet as many of them as possible. We also expect no more than three entries (one is fine) per person. Further entries may be allowed with prior arrangement.
Entering: To enter the contest you must join the 7777 Redux group on flickr and post your entry in the entries thread. If you do not wish to join flickr contact me (Tim G) privately and we may come to an arrangement.
Judging criteria:
Judges: Judging will be by me (Tim Gould), Tim David, Peter Norman and special non-trainhead judge Mark Stafford
LEGO seem to have some sort of viral marketing thing going on called I am George. Alex Schranz (Orion Pax) decided that George looked a little flat and made George 3D. A very clever reinterpretation.
I tend to avoid blogging competition entries of things I’m judging to keep my favourites secret until the contest ends (Oct. 1 in this case). Luckily Tim Zarki (spook) claims he’s unable to make a starfighter so has built a non-contest mecha. I
Rong Yiren is no stranger to great character design but these goons manage to have personality with absolutely no motion and minimal detail. They are reminiscent of 8bit characters of old.
