Andrew Lee (onosendai2600) brings us two new robots to help out. They offer completely different takes on a utilitarian look, and both work for me. The smiley on the yellow bot really captures the a CyberPunk/Anime vibe that I love. Meanwhile, the neck stalk on the gray bot lends a dinosaur-like life to the model. These were built for “Droneuary“, and it loosk like it’s going to be a great month.
In a unique take on the phrase “year in review”, Ted Andes built a new 8×8 stud LEGO vignette every week over the entire course of 2014. The resulting collection covers all manner of topics, from the well-known to the downright weird. Often inspired by current events, the builds are always imaginative and creatively built. They also demonstrate a wide variety of building styles, proving there’s an awful lot you can do with a simple 8×8 space!
It’s almost impossible to pick favorites, but here goes…
As well covering all the most popular holidays, Ted managed to include some more ‘extreme’ annual events from around the world:
SPORTS! Clever building techniques are used to convey scale and speed, respectively:
Matt Bace spent about about 45 days creating this highly-detailed model of the World War II American battleship USS Missouri. Matt’s model is 1/200th scale, and comes in about 170 studs long (that’s about 4 and a half feet!). The real USS Missouri was commissioned in 1944, and served on and off of active duty until 1992. She served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War, making her one of America’s most historied battleships. Matt’s model is one of the best LEGO ships I’ve ever seen. The sculpting for the curved hull is notoriously difficult to achieve with LEGO, and the wood planking around the details of the superstructure is quite challenging. All in all, this is a stunning model excellently built.
This sculpture by Lars Kumpfert captures the 3-dimensional shape of a face protruding from a seemingly elastic surface. Check out the creation photographed from other angles on Flickr.
This adorable little scene by Tyler Clites (Legohaulic) is one of the cutest LEGO models I’ve seen in a very long time. Tyler’s making great use of those Mixels eyes, and the forced-perspective igloo is genius. That little husky gets me the most, though. So cute!
David Frank is working on a beautiful series of models depicting scenes and locations from the novel To Whatever End (Echoes of Imara Book 1)
Chris posted the first in the series last week. David is planning on having a total of eight models finished in the next six months.
This build depicts The Float, a port-side hotel, which the main characters, Cecily and Daro, frequently stay at when traveling. Just the massive size of this build is impressive but the detail for which David is known shows up all through-out. I love the shingles on the roof, the subtle tudor-styling and the outward projecting walls. The wrap-around deck on the third floor and the overhanging 4th (3rd and half?) floor really gives the building some character.
I had the honor of being a beta-reader for the book and I enjoyed it immensely. A fantasy novel, it follows the main characters, veterans of a recent war as well as husband and wife, as they are forced to find their way as a variety of people and events pull at their loyalties and attempt to use them as pawns. The characters are very believable and genuine. I was really pulled into the world and can’t wait for the story to continue. The locations in the story are interesting and unusual. Also the system of magic used in the book is refreshingly unique and doesn’t overwhelm the story or characters, as happens all to often in the fantasy genre. I’m excited for the series to continue but I’m also looking forward to rest of David’s series. David and Clare worked closely on the book, but she did the writing. They are now working closely together to plan these builds, which David is constructing. It’s quite an interesting collaboration!
Salutations and Salivations, Dearest Readers!
It is I, the TBB Lemur! Here, once again, to answer all those questions about the LEGO fan community that you have been too afraid to ask. There are no stupid questions here.
You know this week was pretty exciting. We got in a truckload of Lemur Loot! I have postcards with my handsome self on them, TBB pins and custom-printed bricks! The gnomes down in the mail department will finally be able to catch up on the backlog. They’ve been sending out some rather nasty memos. Hopefully those will stop now. Not much can give me indigestion but those memos tasted funny. Josh will be contacting the people who have asked the questions that I have answered, to get their addresses. I will personally be signing postcards to each one as well as sending them each a pin and brick. It’s so exciting! I’ve never signed autographs before. The contributors often get mobbed by autograph hounds when they leave the compound but this is a first for me!
Anyway, onward and upward.
How should I go about [running] it so that the LUG meetings don’t drag on and get boring?
The first thing to remember is that LUG (LEGO User Group) meetings aren’t about you. It’s about whatever the entire group wants. Meetings generally get boring and drag on for one of two reasons.
The first is if one person hogs the time and won’t be quiet. I get really hungry when that happens. The second is if no one is talking at all. Find out what your group wants to talk about and figure out some activities that most are interested in. For example, talking about local LEGO Sales and Deals for an hour won’t go over well if no one is planning on buying anything new right away, but it could be really interesting if people have money to spend. It depends on the group.
Personally, I find LUG meetings with agendas and such to be a real downer. I prefer time to talk and catch up, perhaps a “show and tell” time to let people show off the features of whatever creations they have brought and an activity or two. Good activities might be drafting a small set or running a build challenge such as 101 bricks. Just remember to find out what your members want and then do that.
Another thing that helps LUG meetings along is snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.
All hail His Hirsute Majesty Fuzzwuzzle the Third, Sovereign of the Fuzzlands, Ruler of the Furrywoollies, Emperor of the Hairy Isles, Grand Duke of the Downy Downs and Viscount of the Velvet Valley! Bow beneath the majesty of his beard and mustachios.
This amusing character brought to you by the ever-entertaining Djordje.
This Rube Goldberg machine by Christian Bechinie showcases an elegantly designed ball contraption surrounded by brick-built dominoes. Check out the entertaining video and see it all in motion.
What’s the best way to deliver tequila to the masses on a distant planet? Pico van Grootveld (Brixnspace) presents the Tequilatron Tuk Tuk to get the job done, and it even features a portable parasol and table.
There’s still one lazy Sunday left to enter the TBB Chibi Micro Contest! We’ve seen tons of fantastic ‘Chibi Micro Fighter’ versions of lots of planes, trains and automobiles from all over the film, television and videogame properties. But don’t forget, you can also rebuild your favorite LEGO sets too!
Here’s a round up of some of my favorite LEGO sets, now in Chibi form:
A Classic Space set the 6989 Mega Core Magnetizer by Andrew Lee (onosendai2600):
One the newer Space sets: 7066 Earth Defense HQ by John Kupitz (Phuonom):
And last but not least, 9446 Destiny’s Bounty by Robert4168
So break out those bricks! You have one more day to build something. Full rules and entries can be found in the Chibi Micro Flickr group.
Well it’s been far too long since our last self-indugent 80s nostalgia trip. So let’s fix that, with Ethan Marak‘s near perfect facsimile of the classic 2½D scrolling video game ZAXXON. It’s enough to send shivers down your mullet…
We look forward to seeing more classic gameplay recreations by Ethan in the future. I’m putting in my vote for Xevious and Marble Madness now! In the meantime, Ethan has also created a variety of miniature arcade furniture, including a 2-player tabletop unit (minus the french fry grease stains).
