Jonas (Legopard) returns to TBB with a new water technique that is sure to catch on with the hot weather crowd. In “Flooded Barrack“, the builder uses window “glass” supported by various plants and parts to simulate dihydrogen monoxide and the overall effect is very pleasing although no doubt a bit fragile in places. More than just a test bed for his new method, this model is also a nice study in how to build a structure that is abandoned or decayed. More photos are available on MOCpages.
I spotted this the other day, and simply needed to share. There are some brilliant trees floating about in the general LEGO universe, and I love spotting techniques that add character, brilliance, and stand out amongst the others.
Enter the Lonely Tree, by Luke Watkins Hutchinson (Derfel Cadarn).
I love the way the tree twists and turns.
You can see more of his beautiful builds (landscaping, building detail, take your pick!) here!
Recently the Polish LEGO club LUGPol ran a challenge to build a monochrome LEGO model. I think we can agree that Hippotam more than succeeded in meeting the challenge and making a great model with his “Destruction of Pompeii“. I’d like to see more people try building in just one colour.
It’s hard to find a meaningful way to move on here on our silly little LEGO blog in the face of complex world events. As a former resident of Boston who lived directly on the marathon route, my heart goes out to the city, to all my friends back in Massachusetts, and to the victims and their families — one of whom was an eight-year-old boy. One of the beautiful things we humans do in the face of evil is to refuse to allow it to rule our lives. So, despite the pain and sadness we all must feel, we’re going to move forward today.
During the non-violent campaign for India’s independence, Mohandas Gandhi used the spinning wheel as a symbol of Indian self-sufficiency and resiliency — a positive symbol in the face of evil oppression and cruel violence. Michael Jasper posted this yesterday before the bombings in Boston, but I think it’s a fitting LEGO model to highlight first as we push ahead.
As always, Michael uses LEGO elements in wholly unexpected ways; his spinning wheel includes magnets, bucket handles, robot arms, and Technic chain links.
As some of you may know, my wife and I welcomed our third little kidlet into the world on March 5th. I don’t recall how I juggled babies and LEGO with my first two, but over the last month I have observed a few things, in particular by reviewing what I have been posting to my flickr stream recently. As a result I thought it may be useful if I point out a few tips for those that are about to, or are in the middle of, juggling LEGO and babies.
Disclaimer: The Brothers Brick in no way endorses the act of actually trying to juggle with a baby and LEGO. Feel free to juggle with LEGO at your leisure, but NEVER throw in a baby!
1. Yep, you REALLY should have finished sorting:
I learned this by not doing it. With bambinos comes a lack of free time, a lack of free time means you really don’t have time to rummage through bins of unsorted LEGO. So add ‘finish sorting LEGO’ to the list of baby preparations. As a serious LEGO maniac this should be as important as putting the crib together, stocking up on diapers, and getting a bunch of meals made and in the freezer.
2. WIP it good:
If you get a stroke of inspiration, run with it. Even if it means throwing a few pieces together in order to be able to go back to it when you have time. The theory is, that with a bunch of partially constructed models, you will not forget about them, and over time will complete them all. That being said this theory is still a work in progress (pun fully intended), and I am just hoping that I eventually finish the 5 or 6 projects that I currently have going.
3. Doodle like there is no tomorrow:
One more thing to add to the baby preparation list; buy a Moleskine, preferably a LEGO version. When you get that stroke of inspiration (see rule # 2) but do not have bricks on hand, a quick doodle is the perfect thing to keep the idea fresh in your mind. Even if you don’t have drawing skills (see left) it is worth getting the idea on paper to come back to later. Also it makes you appear 27% more artsy.
4. No honey it really is for him:
This only works if you have another kid already, but they are perfect accomplices. I have mastered this technique. All you have to do is show your other kid some cool concept art or watch something on TV or Youtube and then say, “Hey, we should totally try and build that out of LEGO!” They will of course totally agree as you have already spent the preceding 5 years molding them into the little geek that they are. The key is to do this right before supper, because then while sitting at the table they are sure to ask, “Daddy are we going to build that [insert model idea here] after supper?”
“Why yes son, I am sure we can probably do that…but only after Daddy does the dishes!” (this step is important…browny points never hurt anyone)
5. Pfft! Size doesn’t matter:
Remember that grandiose plan to build that giant spaceship? Well forget that! You just have to lower your expectations slightly. Build small, it is amazing how gratifying a small build can be, in particular an impromptu one (see left). This usually happens as a result of my failure of step # 1. But I suppose that it can be looked as a positive side effect of unsorted bricks. This is also another fun thing to include your other kids in. You just set a big unsorted bin of bricks on the floor and all start building, if the spouse walks downstairs you are ‘playing with the kids’, not ‘playing LEGO when you could be doing something more productive’.
6: Don’t be afraid to FIGBARF:
If you are anything like me, when you are short on buildy time, you will Figbarf, a lot! But don’t worry, the act of barfing figs can be very therapeutic. You feel like you are ‘building’ LEGO, and it is at least some small means of creative release. Again a perfect thing to include your other kids in…they really are the pefect little cohorts!
Disclaimer Part Deux: Only attempt the above once you have helped your spouse with the laundry, made sure there is food in the cupboards, done the dishes (refer to rule #4), gotten them a cup of tea and changed the baby’s diaper. On the surface it may appear that these tips are intent on weasling out of work and/or spending time with your spouse or new baby…but that is just silly and/or means for a swift slap upside the head
tiberium_blue is known for his technique of making brick-walls out of liftarms as seen in The Sleepy Oak and T’Met Monastery. His latest is another great example showcasing this style, but also notable is the landscape that features embedded boulders that first made their appearance in Castle Palamar.
How do you build a diorama without a baseplate or a solid surface underneath? Leave it to the creative geniuses Sean and Steph Mayo (Siercon and Coral) to figure out a way. This diorama is floating on water and there’s no baseplate that holds the pieces together. Each brick had to have a plate attached underneath to trap the air inside the brick. Check out the video on Flickr to see this floating wonder.
Carl Greatrix (bricktrix) has once again built something I thought would be impossible to reproduce in LEGO. The Blue Pullman was a very strange, but ugly/attractive diesel luxury train running in Britain through the 60s. Its very distinctive wedge shaped face is extremely challenging, but Carl has managed to get a pretty great likeness. It also looks very nice lit up and running.
I do like me a good LEGO tehcnical study once in a while. Ethan (-MrMacy-) brings us a doozy of a pair of crumbling walls that is well worth sharing.
Peter Oglivy (Peter.A.B.) has graciously offered to take over the occasional LEGO Trains challenge, and given us a doozy for town and train builders: build a railbus. Railbuses were an important part of rail networks in the 1930s (and even today in some parts of the world) and because of the era and other limitations, are rather difficult to build well in LEGO.
So if you’re keen on a challenge, head on over to LEGO Train MOCs. And even if you’re not, check out the entries as they appear, you’re sure to see some spiffy models and snazzy techniques.
To the right is Henrik Hoexbroe’s take on a Railbus from a while back.
Admittedly, I’m not a big David Bowie fan (the extent of my knowledge involves puppets and tight pants). This mosaic by Adam Myers, though, caught my eye. I liked the simplicity of the image itself, with the high-contrast in black and white.
And I LOVE the technique using layered clear plates!
