If ever there was an incentive to go to Brickcon this would be it. NB. There are plenty of other reasons to go, but winning this would be the icing on anyone’s cake.
Tag Archives: BrickCon
BrickCon 2009 pre-registration ends in only one week [News]
If you’re still on the fence about attending BrickCon 2009, time is quickly running out. There’s just one week left to pre-register for the con, which will guarantee you your goody bag and engraved badge brick.
Although the public exhibition is great for showing off your LEGO creations (“Ooh! Is that a set?”), BrickCon for me has always been about the people. With over 200 LEGO fans registered so far, BrickCon 2009 is sure to bring together people you’d probably never get to meet otherwise.
Also, it’s a chance to buy LEGO sets at rock-bottom prices, as LEGO ships pallets of scratched-up sets from across the country to sell to fans at up to 50% off.
See you all in a few weeks!
Announcing the 23rd LUGNuts challenge: Zombie Apocalypse Killfest ’09 [News]
With exactly one month until BrickCon, we’re teaming up with LUGNuts for their 23rd build challenge, Zombie Apocalypse Killfest ’09.
Naturally, we’re hoping that those of you who build something for this challenge will also bring it for the Zombie Apocafest 2009 collaborative display at BrickCon.
As with other LUGNuts challenges, this is sure to generate some truly creative builds. And creativity is key! We won’t be awarding prizes at BrickCon for Biggest Guns, Most Chains, or Best Use of Brown and Gray.
This challenge is about apocafied civilian vehicles, like my S&S Wildland Ultra XT brushfire engine. Note the bright red color and complete lack of chains, though I must admit that the crazy Bionicle spike strip proved irresistible…
So, head on over to the Zombie Apocalypse Killfest ’09 thread on Flickr, read Lino‘s hilarious challenge, and build something awesome!
BrickCon 2009 is coming in just a few weeks! [News]
The deadline for online BrickCon ’09 registration is Sept 15th! After that you can only register at the venue. Also, if you register before the deadline, you are guaranteed your personalized brick badges and all sort of cool BrickCon swag.
Oh yes, hotels are filling up too, so get on the ball!
While you are at it, check out this cool promo video for BrickCon. You might spot someone or something you recognize….I did.
By the way, Andrew, Caylin, Thanel, and I will be attending. Other contributors may be as well. If you see any of us, make sure you introduce yourself!
Zombie Apocafest 2009: Strategy, Tactics, & Logistics
BrickCon 2009 starts in exactly two months. That means it’s time to start getting down to details on all the collaborative displays being planned for the con, starting with our very own Zombie Apocafest 2009. (We’ll be doing a roundup about all the other displays soon.)
Like last year’s zombie apocalypse display, Zombie Apocafest is sponsored and organized by The Brothers Brick, with additional sponsorship from the generous humans at BrickArms. Look for more information about prizes and giveaways here on the blog between now and the con.
Got builder’s block? Not sure what the heck we mean by “apocafied”? Unsure what the standards are? Read on…
Inspiration for the LEGO zombie apocalypse
There’s plenty of inspiration for your LEGO creations to be found in movies like George A. Romero’s Living Dead series, the hilarious Shaun of the Dead
Personally, music inspires a lot of my LEGO building. Here’s my personal soundtrack, heavy on metal and light on funny novelty songs. Hey, this is serious stuff! Also, the only convergence of AC/DC, W.B. Yeats, zombies, and LEGO in the history of the human race.
Zombie literature and films are full of social commentary — a dystopian reflection of our present or near future. In other words, the real world we all live in is unfortunately full of examples of the things survivors would encounter in a zombie apocalypse.
Improvised fighting vehicles — civilian or non-combat military vehicles with armor plating and weapons systems tacked on — are the archetype for the chained-up, cage-encased, spiky bad boys we all know and love from our favorite ApocaLEGO builders.
Not cool in real life, but good against zombies.
Finally, here are a few ideas we’ve had at The Brothers Brick — we can’t possibly build them all ourselves in the next two months.
- A commuter train on fire that streaks around the perimeter of the layout. (9-volt would probably be easiest to power over the weekend.) Bonus points for smoke effects.
- Helicopters on rooftops evacuating survivors. Bonus points for motorized rotors. Extra credit for hovering action.
- A security wall. Again, not at all cool in real life, but effective against the 90% of zombies who can’t use ladders.
- Elevated highway.
- Boats. Lots of boats.
Building and vehicle standards
As silly as it probably sounds, realism is one of our primary goals for this display. What would it look like if zombie minifigs invaded the Town display?
No giant robots to sweep through the streets, no deus ex machina with laser cannons and railguns.
Buildings follow the “Cafe Corner standard”:
- Building stands on one or two Baseplate 16 x 32 with Square Corners.
- Two connectors on each side of the building: Technic Brick 1 x 2 with Hole placed on studs #10-11 and #22-23 (from the front of the baseplate).
- Floors can be any height (though 9 bricks high appears to be the standard).
- Curb at edge of baseplate built from 1 x n light gray tiles, and sidewalk built from dark gray tiles, seven studs from the curb to the building (curb + sidewalk = 8 studs).
- Building can be any size (though 16 x 16 or 16 x 32 appears to be the standard), built eight studs back from the front of the baseplate with an eight-stud “alley.”
Vehicles should be minifig-scale, though look for details about opportunities to build zombie apocalypse vehicles at other LEGO scales in September.
For the Zombie Apocafest display, though, most vehicles should probably be in the 4 to 10-stud-wide range (construction vehicles excluded).
How it’s going to work
Remember, the Zombie Apocafest display is only open to registered attendees of BrickCon. We won’t be able to accept contributions or drop-offs from the general public.
Doors open on Thursday morning at 9:00 AM on October 1. I’ll be there with Thanel soon afterward, helping out with the con in general, and keeping an eye on early additions to the display. The man, the myth, the legend, LEGOLAND Master Model Maker Gary McIntire has generously agreed to add his artistic vision and organizational skills to the display, so look for him as well.
We’ll give out prizes on Saturday night (or whenever the rest of the prizes are awarded). There will also be giveaways aplenty again this year. However, quantities of each item will be limited, and we’ll give them out with fairly specific requirements. We hope everybody leaves BrickCon with something, though.
As a reminder, here are the four prize categories:
- Best Original Vehicle (last year’s winner: Andrew Lee’s Truck)
- Best Apocafied LEGO Vehicle (new category; example above)
- Best Original Building (last year’s winner: Paul Hetherington’s Casa Baron)
- Best Apocafied LEGO Building (new category)
Okay, enough reading. Get building!
Call for presentations/sessions at BrickCon 2009
Three months to BrickCon!
BrickCon 2009 is looking for any talks, roundtables, and special activities you would like to see at the Con this year. Going to and putting on sessions are one of the things that makes a Lego convention fun.
Past talks have included manufacturing custom parts, an introduction to LDraw, and packing Lego models for shipment, among many others.
Roundtables, or moderated discussions, have included Moonbase standards and design, landscaping, and anything that someone can think of.
Activities already planned for this year include the Dirty Brickster and the Wacky Race.
All we need for more talks, roundtables, and activities are ideas and people to run with them. Projectors and a computer will be available (although bringing your own laptop ensures compatibility). All spaces can be configured with tables and chairs as desired.
Any registered attendee who would like to run a presentation or activity should e-mail proposals or questions to me (my first three initials @ morfydd.net—please mention BrickCon in the subject). If possible, please include a possible title, brief description for the event program, and any time constraints or facility requirements. Events are typically scheduled to run up to fifty minutes but can be scheduled for more or less time.
I need proposals by September 6 to have time to prepare the schedule and the program. Earlier is better.
BrickCon is an annual adult Lego hobbyist convention and exposition in Seattle. BrickCon 2009 will be October 1–4, 2009, in the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. For more information or to register visit
http://www.brickcon.org/—
TWS Garrison
http://www.morfydd.net/twsg/
LEGO: CA+++ SW++ GA+c #++++++ LS+++ P+++++ YB77m
Announcing Zombie Apocafest 2009 – coming to BrickCon this October [News]
UPDATE: Planning is now underway for the next Zombie Apocafest. Read all about it in our Zombie Apocafest 2009 strategy, tactics, & logistics post.
——–
The LEGO convention season is upon us, and BrickCon 2009 is just over four months away — time to start planning your trip and what you’re going to build. Likewise, it’s time to start planning collaborative displays.
With a successful Zombie Apocafest 2008 under our belts, we at The Brothers Brick are pleased to announce Zombie Apocafest 2009.
To celebrate this announcement and as an example of one of our new prize categories, I’ve turned 7639 Camper into a mobile zombie defense platform.
This year, we’re splitting up the prizes into four categories:
- Best Original Vehicle (last year’s winner: Andrew Lee’s Truck)
- Best Apocafied LEGO Vehicle (new category; example above)
- Best Original Building (last year’s winner: Paul Hetherington’s Casa Baron)
- Best Apocafied LEGO Building (new category)
There are still many details to iron out, and we’re definitely open to suggestions. What kind of overall theme would you like to build toward? If you were there, what worked last year? What didn’t? Let us know in the comments.
Registration now open for BrickCon 2009: Imagination in Motion! [News]
Registration is now open for BrickCon 2009! BrickCon is a private convention and public exhibition for adult fans of LEGO, and will be held October 1-4, 2009 in Seattle, Washington at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.
BrickCon is the longest continuously running LEGO fan convention in the US. Last year’s convention drew more than 250 attendees from all over North America and Europe, with a significant contingent from Billund, Denmark.
As in years past, I’ll encourage those of you who haven’t been to a LEGO convention (or BrickCon specifically) to check out our past coverage of Brickcon here on The Brothers Brick and look through the photos in the BrickCon group pool on Flickr.
Highlights of last year’s BrickCon included the ChiefLUG BSG Viper Fly-In, the announcement of 10193 Medieval Market Village, and our very own Zombie Apocafest 2008.
For me, BrickCon is all about the people. Even though we’d been blogging together for nearly a year, I met Josh in person for the first time at BrickCon 2006. Similarly, Nannan and I met for the first time at BrickCon 2008.
LEGO conventions are also a good place to learn that LEGO fans don’t all look like their sig-figs in real life.
With an emphasis on a relaxed fan convention experience, BrickCon is a great way to sit back and get to know all those fellow LEGO fans you’ve only met online — an opportunity to talk about something other than LEGO, in some cases. That’s not to say that the public exhibition isn’t an awe-inspiring spectacle. BrickCon 2008 drew over 7,000 visitors in the 8 hours open to the public on Saturday and Sunday!
This year’s theme is “Imagination in Motion!” and looks to be even bigger and cooler. So, what’re you waiting for? Register today!
ChiefLUG Battlestar Galactica Viper Fly-In at BrickCon 2008
It was recently brought to my attention that we missed covering a
major collaborative display at BrickCon last October. This was a major oversight on our part as this display was incredible. In fact, I think it was one of the best collaborative displays I’ve seen.
Ryan Wood, founder and namesake of ChiefLUG, organized the first ever BSG Viper fly-in. Ryan, Mark Sandlin, and Andrew Lee built 13 foot of hanger bay, which was filled to overflowing. So much so that there were Vipers covering all the tables around. The final count was 35 Vipers and other Battlestar Galactica-inspired craft. It was most impressive! 
I saw every imaginable Viper on display, from pink Pardisa-inspired to Black Fantasy-infected. I was amazed at the amount of time and effort Ryan and the ChiefLUGers put in to this. 
Needless to say, it spawned a huge bandwagon of Vipers online! You can check some of them in this post, by clicking on the pictures, or you can see the whole fleet in the ChiefLUG Flickr Group.
Way to go, ChiefLUG!
BrickCon 2008: Andrew’s wrap-up
How do I put this? BrickCon 2008 was amazing, but just a little bit more stressful than years past, as I demonstrate in this photo by Adam Hally:
Nevertheless, it was the best LEGO convention I’ve ever been to! Highlights for me included:
- Zombie Apocafest 2008
- Nannan crashing at my place
- 10193 Medieval Market Village
- A chance to have great one-on-one conversations with guys like Mark Larson, Joe Meno, Jonathan Bender, and Kelly McKiernan
- Paul Hetherington’s “Casa Baron” winning “Best of Show” (hey, it was part of the zombie layout; I can be proud)
- LEGO Playthemes Creative Director Matt Ashton autographing my 7979 Castle Advent Calendar (photo by Nannan below), which he designed
Various bloggers have posted their observations about the con:
- Read more about the Zombie Apocafest on Valve’s Left 4 Dead Blog.
- Listen to Wayne Hussey and Daniel Brown on LAML Radio, and hear from Bill Ward about recording for LAML Radio.
- Read Hillel’s thoughts on admitting he’s a “LEGO geek” (hurray!) and see tons of great pictures on the Jackson Fish Market blog.
- Read about the “Minifig Beauty Pageant” on Model Building Secrets.
I love seeing the looks of wonder and amazement on people’s faces as they find something cool that they never thought could be made from the little plastic bricks they have lying around their house. But I tend to find the public hours a bit overwhelming:
Of course, as attendees get home, they’ve started uploading pictures they took at BrickCon. Abusing the HTML list tag even further, here are a few that I’ve found so far:
- Adam Hally
- “Arpy”
- Ashley Glennon
- Brandon Griffith
- Brendan Mauro
- “Brickfan”
- “Cartoondude”
- Caylin Feiring
- Derek Schin
- Don Solo
- Heather “LEGO Girl”
- “House of Fur and Fir”
- Joe Meno
- Josh Wedin
- Lino Martins
- Mark Neumann
- Mark Sandlin
- Lonnon Foster
- Ryan “Chief” Wood
- Steve Witt
- Ted Godwin
- Thomas Wunz
- The Tomster
- Trevor Van Aalst
And with that, I’m taking a week off. :D But fear not, dear readers! There are plenty of other LEGO blogs to sate your LEGO appetite.
I can’t wait for next year. Until then, build on!
Zombie Apocafest 2008: Children, avert your eyes!
Zombie Apocafest 2008 just wrapped up at BrickCon, and I spent about an hour taking pictures.
Front and center in the display was Ryan Wood‘s beautiful watchtower:
Josh, Nannan, and I awarded “Best Zombified Building” to Paul Hetherington‘s “Casa Baron”:
Paul’s building has a full interior, including comfy chairs and a working elevator. We loved the art deco details, many of which incorporate organic shapes:
The similarly unanimous choice for “Best Zombified Vehicle” was Andrew Lee‘s awesome truck:
In addition to the Zombie Defense Weapons Packs donated by BrickArms, the good people at Valve (the studio that brought us Half-Life and Portal) sent along a bunch of Left 4 Dead T-shirts and a great billboard:
Valve even invited a bunch of people to tour the Valve office on Friday night, where Lonnon Foster posed with Gordan Freeman (photo by Don Solo):
The LEGO zombie display wouldn’t have been possible without the organizational genius of LEGOLAND California model maker Gary McIntire — who even spent the plane ride up to Seattle creating custom zombie heads.
At least 35 participants contributed nearly 30 original buildings, dozens of vehicles, and hundreds of minifig zombies and survivors.
LEGO Certified Professional Dan Parker contributed a super-detailed mall, complete with a LEGO Store, baby store, Spencer’s Gifts, and food court:
Will there be a Zombie Apocafest 2009? Undoubtedly.
In the meantime, check out the full Zombie Apocafest 2008 photoset on Flickr.
BrickCon 2008: Friday, October 3rd
I’ve uploaded a few of my photos from today to Flickr. We’ll fill this post with something more than this later, but first, sleep!
Nannan has also uploaded his photos:
