Tag Archives: Melan-E

Blast back to the past with a bicycle and a boombox

Having grown up with the iconic Raleigh bicycle and a Boombox radio in the garage, it was tough to pass up this nostalgic blast from the past. Builder Melan-E pulls out all the stops in the detailing of each artifact of yesteryear. A few things stand out for me, including the great styling of both front and rear wheels, the reverse side of the 8×8 round element used for the speaker on the boombox, and oh! — those cassette tapes are simply charming.

Too Cool For School

The boombox and cassette tapes look like they could almost scream out a hit like “Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees.  I wonder if the cassettes would fit right into the slots, as it does look like some hinged parts were used for the tape deck.

Too Cool For School

Melanie has created beautiful detailing around the rims with 1×1 plates that go all around, plus a school backpack to go.

Too Cool For School

If you need a reference point of what a classic Raleigh looks like, I just happen to have one that my Mom had saved through the decades, brought back to life with a new coat of paint and a basket.

A penny for your farthing

Back in the late 1800s, bicycling soared in popularity. One of the more unusual bikes to emerge from this period was the penny-farthing high wheeler. It earned the penny-farthing name based on the size of its wheels, which were compared with the size of a British penny in relation to a farthing coin. Melan-E has taken this scary looking cycle and transformed it into an impressive large-scale LEGO model. In addition to looking fit for riding through the streets of London, Melan-E’s model also offers a case study in how the natural flex of stacked bricks can be used to achieve convincing curves. The wheel consists of 2×2 round bricks, and the frame utilizes 1×1 round bricks. Both examples appear to be threaded together with flex tube, allowing the bricks to curve without falling apart. The cycle is supplemented with LEGO versions of period props like a phonograph and Victorian parasol, which help create a cohesive scene that breathes life into this high wheeler.
 
Day Out in Autumn