It’s always a treat see a new creation by the Arvo brothers. They’re known to build great cars, and this one is no different. The slanted hood and roof give the model its realistic shape. Check out the gallery on Brickshelf for pictures of the chassis that features working suspension.
When it comes to Lego and photo lighting, no one has a better reputation than Alex Eylar. Having emerged from his Dark Ages in 2007, Alex has made an impression on the community through his diverse and often pop culture-referencing creations that are photographed with realistic and atmospheric lighting. It is my pleasure to interview the man behind the camera about his take on our favorite hobby.
Nannan Zhang: Talk about what you like to build.
Alex Eylar: I tend to just build whatever I feel like, whatever inspiration hits, without really sticking to one theme or another. I admire the people who can stay in one theme and just put out hit after hit, but I’ve got a total LEGO-ADD that keeps me bouncing from theme to theme. I even had to title that one folder “The Unclassifiable” because the things just didn’t fit into one theme or another.
NZ: So it’s really just the spur of the moment?
AE: Oh, absolutely. I keep a Word Document on my desktop that has all sorts of random ideas in the shortest of shorthand. I get an idea, I jot it down, I build it or try to build it and fail miserably.
NZ: It’s interesting that you keep an actual list of ideas, how long is it?
AE: Generally about four or five projects long, but that includes things I’ve been thinking about for years and will probably never get to finish. Purgatory from Dante’s Inferno is a great example.
NZ: That list is actually much shorter than I expected, I know someone who has over 120 ideas on his list.
AE: Mind if I ask who?
NZ: I heard this from “Big Daddy” Nelson a few years ago. You’re on a building streak lately and cranking out some great models, what’s the occasion or inspiration?
AE: The occasion is free time thanks to summer and zero social life, and the inspirations are movies and internet. Big movie geek, so I’m always seeing things I want to build, and spend as much time online as I do and you’re bound to see things that pique your interest.
NZ: I’m guessing you liked Inception?
AE: Oh my yes. Best movie of the year so far, in my opinion.
NZ: And you built some MOCs based on that?
AE: I had to. Any movie with visuals as good as that has to be built. A tilted, spinning hallway; come on.
NZ: How long did it take you?
AE: Maybe three hours from start of the build to the last shot taken.
NZ: What about photography, was that a huge process?
AE: It can be; it depends on the project. If it’s something small like that, and only requires one shot, it won’t take that long, but if it’s enormous – “Containment” enormous – it’ll take its sweet time.
More of our interview with Alex after the jump: Continue reading
When Okay Yaramanoglu used Lego Toy Story minifigs to create Star Wars characters, the result is both startling and hilarious. See if you can identify who is who in this photo. You can find the answers in Okay’s Flickr photostream.
Jon Walker posted pictures of his SHIP that won Best in Space and People’s Choice awards at BrickCon 2009. I love the unique donut-shaped cargo containers. The lack of gaps between the wedges reflects the perfect technique that Jon used to create these shapes. The sand green spine adds a hint of color and the inclusion of two microscale escort fighters completes the setup.
Joel Baker constructed a sculpture of the scene from Toy Story where Sid pulls out Woody and Buzz at the claw crane. Say, if there were no glass, would you still have to pay and use the claw? Check out more views on Joel’s Flickr set.
Mark Sandlin (Grand Admiral) is bringing this towering model of the robot Mazinger Z to the Big in Japan display at Brickcon 2010. Modeled after the gigantic Teknomeka frame, the mecha is sure to stand out. Déjà vu anyone?
Star Wars Celebration V took place last weekend. The video below has an incredible time-lapse footage of the public assembling a 15-foot wide Lego mural along with a good coverage of LEGO’s presence at the event.
Via FBTB
Following last year’s Winter Toy Shop, LEGO will release 10216 Winter Village Bakery for this holiday season. If the release schedule follows last year’s, then the set should be available on October 1st. For $55, you get 7 ½ minifigs and almost 700 pieces.
Here’s the official announcement from LEGO:
10216 – Winter Village Bakery
Ages 12+
687 pieces
US $ 54.99 UK £ 49.99 DE 54.99 € CA $74.99Return to yesteryear with this festive holiday scene!
It’s a winter wonderland in this snow-covered little town! A special-delivery evergreen, all ready for decorating, arrives at the tree-seller’s stand by horse-drawn cart, while ice skaters frolic on the frozen pond with colorful lights and a curious owl perched overhead. Just look out for the freshly-shoveled snow piles – one skater has already tumbled in head-first! At the bakery nearby, the friendly baker prepares delicious holiday treats in his oven and rings up sales at the cash register. Push the glowing LEGO Power Functions brick to fill the building with warm interior light! Includes 7 ½ minifigures, snow owl, horse and lots of winter accessories.
• Includes 7 ½ minifigures as well as a snow owl and horse!
• Features LEGO Power Functions light-up brick which lights the interior of the bakery when you push it!
• Includes lots of fun winter accessories like a dark blue minifigure hood with new fur print!
• Prepare holiday treats and ring up sales at the cash register!
• Skate on the frozen pond made of 8×8 transparent blue plates!
• Interesting elements include a camera, tan baguettes, croissants, green apple, 8×8 transparent blue plates, medium blue tiles and even a new ‘caramel’ color for several brick and arch elements outside the bakery!
• Features an evergreen tree for decorating, tree seller’s stand and even a horse-drawn cart!
• Bakery measures 7″ (18 cm) wide!
• Completed model (depending on space allocated between the individual parts) measures 16″ (40 cm) wide, 12″ (30 cm) deep and 7″ (18 cm) high!
With an equally zany username, Sprogis Peteris shows that fancy techniques aren’t always needed to build an interesting Lego creation. Check out Crackhead & Honey Bag Man and more on Flickr.
Once in a while, Fedde (Karf Oohlu) applies his humorous use of unusual Lego parts to larger creations. This diorama depicts colored parts being fed by robots to a hungry recycle machine. This creation has definitely made the best (and perhaps the only) use of the Crystal King‘s head.
I love the usually exotic vignettes by Crises. This one features a carnivorous plant, but what makes it interesting is the use of the Clickits cord for the plant’s tongue attacking an unsuspecting visitor. I also like the technique of using control lever bases to prop the glass panels.
