No, we’re not done yet featuring all the great LEGO creations debuted at BrickCon 2012 last month! Michael Kuroda (madoruk) just posted his massive map of Hyrule from the original Legend of Zelda.
Each LEGO stud represents 16×16 pixels on the in-game map, and the overall LEGO map is 256 studs wide by 88 studs tall!
One of the things I really like about Michael’s work is that he builds in a lot of different genres, so be sure to check out his photostream for lots more good stuff.
Anupehr has been creating some incredible LEGO versions of famous landmarks from around the world. One of her most recent, the Rialto bridge, won ‘Best Architectural Style’ at BrickCon earlier this month. This is one builder to keep an eye on. She has managed to fly under the radar for some time but she has some incredible skills.
Check out the whole set of pictures for more details.
Continuing our coverage of great LEGO models debuted at BrickCon 2012, Paul Hetherington just posted his FUN HAUS! building, which won “Best in Town.” (Paul has a serious winning streak going — he also won Town trophies in 2010 and 2011, and won our “Best Apocafied Building” prize during Zombie Apocafest 2009 for his Turns at Midnight carousel.)
Paul’s funhouse was inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebrations, as well as the work of artist Pooch. The building features moving cars as well as letters, so the video is well worth a watch.
We’re not even close to being done featuring all the awesome LEGO models debuted at BrickCon 2012 earlier this month. I had the privilege of hanging out with Catsy as he assembled his LEGO Halo ringworld for the first time right there at the con — it was simply too huge to fully assemble at home!
Nearly three years in the making, Catsy’s ring is built from more than 11,000 bricks and spans just under 5 feet. Catsy tells us that it’s 1,467 mm wide, to be precise.
The construction techniques Catsy used to build this took some serious engineering prowess. Here’s Catsy in his own words:
The outer ring (hull) consists of eight more or less identical segments (with minor variations in texture or the use of old gray for contrast), each 72 studs long. The inner ring (landscape) floats freely within the outer ring and stays in place purely by friction and tension.
The photo above shows off the overall detail really nicely, but I just love this next view.
Guy Himber, aka V&A Steamworks, has created a mind-blowing, mouth-watering, magnificent, and majestic Mold-A-Rama machine. I saw it at BrickCon and even got to breathe the same air as the builder. Let me tell you, it was a pleasure and the machine definitely deserved the “Best Use of NXT” award that it received. I didn’t get to observe the effects in person, but I understand that many paying members of the LEGO-viewing public were reduced to quivering pools of confusion while trying to figure out how Guy’s contraption worked. And that, dear readers, is the sign of a great LEGO build.
I insist you watch the video:
David Frank (aka Fraslund) has been working on a medieval Castle layout for most of the last year and he finally unveiled it at BrickCon. His work was nothing short of breath-taking. The level of detail was stunning and I discovered incredible new details everytime I looked it over. David is definitely a builder to be reckoned with. Take time to examine all of his pictures of this creation, both wide-angle and closeups. You won’t be disappointed.
As people upload their BrickCon photos and pics of the LEGO models they waited to premier in person at the con, we’ll be highlighting the ones that caught our eye.
The only thing more impressive than Blair Amos‘s mustache at BrickCon this weekend was his mecha. His “Reaper” multiped mech incorporates a truly unique canopy. Blair says the canopy is a “windshield from inside [an] airplane cockpit — the first piece of the whole build. [It] has three oddly placed stud-size holes where the screws go in.” Nice!
Earlier today at BrickCon 2012 here in Seattle, LEGO unveiled 10937 Arkham Asylum. The set includes 1,351 1,619 pieces, will cost $160, and is due out in January 2013.
UPDATE: 10937 Arkham Asylum Breakout is now available!
Here’s the full press release:
10937 Batman™ – Arkham Asylum Breakout
Ages 14+. 1,351 pieces.
US $159.99 CA $209.99 DE 159.99€ UK 129.99 £ DK 1399.00 DKKThe villains have broken out of Arkham Asylum and must be stopped!
Sound the alarm! The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy and Scarecrow have escaped from Arkham Asylum with the help of Dr. Harleen Quinzel. These villains are about to wreak havoc in the streets of Gotham City! Help Caped Crusaders Batman™ and Robin swoop into action and put those good-for-nothing criminals back where they belong! Chase after the security van as it breaks through the gothic gates! Then throw each villain back behind bars in 8 highly detailed rooms. Includes 8 minifigures: Batman™, Robin, The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Scarecrow and a guard, all with assorted weapons or accessories
- Includes 8 minifigures: Batman™, Robin, The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Scarecrow and a guard, all with assorted weapons
- Features Arkham Asylum, security gate, gothic décor, moss, vines and ice elements
- Vehicles include security van
- Security van features opening back doors, removable roof and stretcher
- Arkham Asylum features opening cell doors, special Poison Ivy cell with transparent doors, the Mr. Freeze icy tower room, the Dr. Harleen Quinzel office and changing room, medical treatment room and security reception area
- Security gate features opening double doors and security camera
- Weapons include Batarang and kendo stick
- Recapture the villains!
- Break through the gate with the security van!
- Open all of the cell doors and let the villains out!
- Unleash The Joker from his cage restraints in the security van!
- Arkham Asylum measures over 12″ (32cm) high, 13″ (34cm) wide and 5″ (14cm) deep
- Security van measures over 2″ (7cm) high, 5″ (13cm) long and 2″ (6cm) wide
- Security gate measures over 5″ (12cm) high and 9″ (24cm) wide
Chris took a shot of the new wing piece you can see behind the angels:
Awesome graphic, Iain Heath. And remember, register now to guarantee engraved bricks, swag bags, and other good stuff.
While some other LEGO conventions have individual builders reserve their own table space, BrickCon is all about large-scale collaborative displays. Each year since 2008, The Brothers Brick has sponsored a display, ranging from a highly coordinated zombie apocalypse to our anything-goes celebration of all things Japanese.
Last year, we tried something even more anarchic than a zombie apocalypse — a totally unstructured experiment in planetary colonization — which we think came together fairly well, so we’re going to try it again this year, as “Numereji 2422”.
As we said last year:
Our hope for the Numereji 2421 display at BrickCon 2011 is that the contributors will be free to create their vision of what kind of community would develop from a group of crash survivors isolated for a generation, and how their reconnection with other space travelers would play out.
We worked up quite a backstory and suggested lots of inspiration last year, but many potential contributors said they didn’t really get the concept until they’d seen the actual display at BrickCon (ah, the consequences of an experiment in anarchy!). Here are a few links to help refresh your memory:
Naturally, there are many other opportunities to contribute to a display in whatever way works best for your building style or preferred theme. Here are a few of our favorites:
| Theme | Description | Info/Discussion |
|---|---|---|
| Numereji 2422 | The official collaborative display for readers of The Brothers Brick. Do you have space fever? Will you be a peaceful colonist, a rogue smuggler, alien trader, or the long arm of the galactic law? You decide! | Right here, or on Flickr |
| Bricks of Character | The notorious Iain Heath & Tommy Williamson are at it again, bringing together LEGO and all your favorite characters from TV, movies, and video games — as long as they’re not minifig-scale! This year’s Bricks of Character display also includes Heather Braaten’s Darlings, a memorial to a beloved LEGO fan we lost earlier this year. | Info | Discussion |
| Castle | BrickCon is famous for its massive, sprawling, and still somehow well-coordinated castle displays. Each year, LEGO Castle builders up the ante with taller spires, bigger armies, and more integrated motion. I can’t wait to see what Josh and his team pull together this year. | Classic-Castle.com |
| The Dark Side | Most LEGO models are meant to be appreciated in the light. But Roger Hill’s “Dark Side” display brings together all the LEGO models that glow in the dark and blink their lights. Given how hard it is to photograph LEGO in the dark, these are models you’ll definitely want to see in person. | Contact Roger through BrickCon.org |
| Microscale | Coordinator Steve Oakes shared a wonderful vision for the Microscale display at the SEALUG meeting yesterday. In addition to the usual Micropolis modules and mini-trains, this year’s micro display will include a microscale version of BrickCon itself, complete with tables, stanchions, and Miniland-scale attendees! So, build a tiny version of whatever you’re bringing to BrickCon, along with a Miniland version of yourself to admire your own tiny creation. Awesome. | Contact Steve through BrickCon.org |
| Superheroes | With the release of official DC and Marvel Super Heroes sets from LEGO, now’s the time to bring all those LEGO superheroes and supervillains together — LEGO Avengers (and others) assemble! Sean Forbes is coordinating this display, which isn’t just limited to minifig-scale models. Bring your mosaics, statues, vehicles, and anything else inspired by comic books. | Contact Sean through BrickCon.org |
See the full list of themes & collaborations — from Architecture to Town/Train — on BrickCon.org.
Not sure which theme, collaborative display, or category your LEGO creation fits into? For example, does a microscale space fleet go in Microscale or Space? (Probably Space.) Read over the full list, and then just ask us and we’ll get you pointed in the right direction.
Important: Regardless of whether you choose to contribute to one of the group builds, it’s still important to register your LEGO models (MOCs — My Own Creations) as well as yourself. Registering all the MOCs you plan to bring ensures that coordinators know how much space we’ll need. You can’t just show up on Thursday morning with a six-foot spaceship! This really wasn’t an issue until last year, but BrickCon has grown to over 500 registered attendees, and only registered MOCs will be guaranteed table space.
The BrickCon 2012 private convention kicks off on Thursday, October 4th — that’s less than a month away!
If you want to guarantee yourself an engraved brick badge, swag bag, and other benefits of pre-opening registration, now’s the time to do it. Registrations after next Saturday, September 15th can’t be guaranteed these goodies.
Still not sure you want to come? BrickCon is our favorite convention because of its relaxed atmosphere, fun (non-LEGO) stuff to do around the venue, and the great people we get to hang out with each year.
Of course, the heart of the convention is the LEGO itself. Be sure to check out the BrickCon photo pool on Flickr to see photos of LEGO models, people, and events from years past, as well as pics of creations you can expect to see there this year.
Register today, and we hope to see you at BrickCon in a few short weeks!
I’ve found the Mars Curiosity Rover landing incredibly inspiring, and decided to build a rover of my own to explore the distant planet we made up for the Numereji 2421 display at BrickCon 2012.
Here’s the first photo returned by Horizon from the surface of Numereji in 2382 — a low-resolution “haz-cam” photo of a nearby feature with interesting, layered characteristics potentially indicative of sedimentary processes (and thus the presence of liquid water). This photo represents the first indication that Numereji might be able to sustain human life.
After traveling at a substantial fraction of the speed of light for several decades, the rover lands safely, but the 14-minute delay for Mars-Earth communication (depending on their relative location) recently experienced by JPL scientists translate to 14 years of terror, as scientists wait to receive data from Numereji 14 light years away.