It’s a Tzek Tzek. Built by Martians and prized by humans. A slightly different take on the retro-futuristic Savage Planet concept.
Posts by Gambort
LDraw – the original LEGO CAD
One of my side-interests (originally my main interest) in LEGO is CAD or virtual building using the LDraw system first created by the late James Jessiman. When you have a small collection of parts it is a great way to ‘build’ models that live up to your imagination rather than being limited to your supply. LDD provides one means of creating virtual LEGO models but if you take the time to learn it the older LDraw provides a much wider pallette of parts and more powerful tools than LDD. Best of all the two programs can share files with a bit of tweaking.
I realised today that many TBB readers may not be familiar with LDraw so I thought I’d take a brief moment to promote it. Most discussions takes place on LUGNET but to make things more accessible I created a Facebook group and Flickr group too. Hopefully I’ll see some fresh faces at one of these places. The LDraw website (and organisation) organise regular challenges and contests too so be sure to check them out.
NB. The image above is by Jan Folkersma and is the winner of the LDraw Scene of the Month contest from January 2007
RAILBRICKS Issue 3
RAILBRICKS magazine hits its third issue this week with tips, reviews and ideas for all LEGO train fans. To quote the release the issue features
• PF Trains + 9v Train Tricks
• Creating Wooden Trestle Bridges
• RCX (PBricks) and 9v Train Integration
• Interview with Swoofty
• and much more…..
and having looked through it I’d have to agree. It’s a top notch publication so Jeramy Spurgeon and the rest of the editing team deserve much kudos. Check it out.
Available from: Mirror 1, Mirror 2 and a Lulu print version
Exterminate! Kill the doctor!
Steven Locke (legoavon) presents a work-in-progress Dalek and Davros which are already by far the best I’ve seen at their size (Steven has also built bigger ones which are possibly better). His part use is breathtaking. I invite every sci-fi lover to browse Steve’s folders as he is an incredibly talented builder.
A classic dilemma
Master craftsman Jojo illustrates a fairly classic dilemma for LEGO builders: form over function or function over form. The differences are, for the most part, subtle but the ‘form over function’ design is definitely a little prettier.
Demons, mecha and a touch of the Victorian
I think it’s been a while (or at least a lot of models) since I posted anything of mine here so it might be time to hit you with one. For those following I’ve been in a very cutesy retro phase lately but I decided to take a brief sojourn away and practise my town, steampunk and creature design in a mini diorama. I’m particularly pleased with the way the broken storefront worked out but feel that perhaps it lacks a feel of action.
PS. It’s tentatively titled “31st May 1883” for want of anything better. If you can come up with a decent name I’d be happy to hear it.
Nobody puts baby in a corner
Occasionally I see a model that I have to blog right away. This is one of those times. Brent Wolke (thwaak) gave his magic punk dwarves a toy, he then gave their mortal enemy the orcs a bigger toy. Not to be outdone the dwarves enlisted the help of Patrick Swayze (my interpretation) and built an even bigger toy: the “Forge Breath”.
BM&Rstorming
It’s rare that I find trains with photographs I really consider blogworthy (which is a shame because there’s so many out there that are excellent and I’d love to blog but can’t). Today I’ve found two.
Anthony Sava provides the second great locomotive of the day with his rendition of the BM&R #425. The blue design is very striking and the detailing is top-notch. Perhaps most worthy of note, is the boiler design featuring the ubiquitous cheese slopes with a single tile between them.
PS. Excuse the repeated bad pun.
Bahnstorming
German builder Bambi has many excellent creations in his Brickshelf gallery. His latest is a delightful seven stud wide steam locomotive from the Deutschen Bundesbahn: a BR64. The model has many painstaking details and I particularly like the comparison shot with a blueprint. He also includes images of the wheelset is useful as it is a hard part to get working in LEGO steam trains.
PS. Please excuse my bad pun in the title.
And I can’t sail my yacht...
Rob “Dasnewten” M. appears to have taken great advantage of a sunny afternoon to present the most excellent patrol craft Draken. The shape and detailing on this are superb and not in the least over or under done. I came close to blogging his work-in-progress version but I’m glad I waited as this is definitely my favourite future boat in LEGO.
Starman
Continuing with the retro-future theme a little more (and the Bowie references) I present the Rocketship Paragon.
Space Oddity!
Continuing on the retro-future theme for a bit.
Soren has added to his aliens with a Martian spacesuit and the Secretary General of the UP
And, as well as giving my pseudoyak a skeleton I’ve also added a Uranian and her spacesuit.
Let’s see if we make more