Is there a contest going on that I’m not aware of? The recent crop of sky-fi fighters makes it seem as though dieselpulp may be replacing steampunk as the fan-created theme du jour.
Anyway, I couldn’t blog the more recent fighters by other builders and pass up my favorite, the P-79 Stratofighter “Steel Wind” by Jon Hall:
The judicious sticker usage and gorgeous presentation truly enhance what would be an awesome fighter regardless.
Fredo Houben (Fredoichi) seems to be taking a break from the tiny mecha we love so much to build a series of sky-fi fighters, which we also love.
Check out more of Fredo’s sky-fighters in his photoset on Flickr.
EJ Nichols (Gold_2) has combined the sky-fi aesthetic with the Vic Viper form, and the result is rather awesome.
(Coincidentally, the XP-55 Ascender was a World War II prototype that would fit right in to the fantastic world of sky-fi.)
Rod Gillies (2 Much Caffeine) blends sci-fi and history to create an alternative fictional aircraft from the German air force during WWII. As much as I like the innovative greeble sandwich aircraft, I like the tan hangar with its dark tan accents even more.
The builder would like to acknowledge that the swastika does not reflect any pro-Nazi sentiments. It is for historical representation only.
Our third installment of interviews by Keith Goldman takes us into the mind of a builder that — let’s be honest — you either love or hate. Take it away, Keith!
This week’s builder is known as “nnenn,” and should need no introduction if you’re a fan of science fiction models, or a follower of any number of groups on Flickr.
Nnenn’s name has become synonymous with both great building and controversy, beginning with his debut on Classic Space forum, where he managed to rile up more than a few purists with his tape, knife, and clone-brand components.
I take special notice of any builder who has fan-boys, if nothing else to make sure their army isn’t larger or more rabid than my own.
I met nnenn, as per his rather specific instructions, at the Palm Springs Wind Farm in Palm Desert, California: I didn’t actually see him, but we spoke through a grating at the base of a windmill. There was no small talk, we just talked about LEGO.
Keith Goldman: You always have interesting backgrounds for your creations. How do you select the background color for each model, and what sort of lighting do you use?
nnenn: I shoot everything outside by hand; winter is a struggle and wind is my foe.
The background posters are chosen for contrast: first, in value (dark for a light model, and vice-versa) or second, in color (blue for an orange model, etc.) I approximate the original color when digitally imaging so the model’s reflectives don’t look odd.
KG: Like many sci-fi builders, you have mentioned that your models draw inspiration in part from the “Terran Trade Authority” series of illustrated books from the late 1970’s. Is there any other go-to creative reference you consider when designing a model?
nnenn: I’m influenced by many things (including other builds) but I don’t have a dominant source of inspiration, nor do I keep a ready reference bank. Because seeing the same thing repeatedly tends to dull the awe, I purposely avoid perusing my muses (which is why I don’t keep ‘favorites’ on Flickr, incidentally.)
Though I am rarely at a loss for ideas, I do become unmotivated from time to time, so a few quick glances does more to spark my competitive side than provide fodder for new content.
KG: Do you purchase clone-brand sets, or is there a Bizarro-World BrickLink? If the answer is sets, which theme if any do you prefer?
nnenn: I’ve wished many times for a way to get clones by the piece (I’ve even contacted MegaBloks about it) but no, I resort to purchasing whole sets for just a handful of unique parts… themes don’t really play a part in my acquisition decisions. I’m holding out for cost-effective 3D printers.
More of Keith’s interview with nnenn after the jump: Continue reading
Apparently, an anime movie called Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise came out in 1987. Never heard of it, but this fighter by Mike Psiaki sure is awesome.
This is micro-scale at its absolute best. When I saw a thumbnail of this build by Fredoichi, I thought that it was minifigure scale. I can’t think of a more impressive feat for a creation at this scale than to read as bigger and more detailed than it is.
Is the Crimson Skies fad coming back? If the Red Zephyr by Jonhall18 is the start of the comeback, sign me up.
This plane has a great feel of bulk in all the right places. I like the airfoil shape of the wings, and the bubble up at the front of the fuselage adds a great touch of the fantastic.
Soren Roberts may be best known for his mecha, but this tank certainly demonstrates that he’s capable of building outside his comfort zone. It’s frequently when a builder leaves the genre he or she is best known for that truly interesting things happen.
Nnenn reminds us with his newest creation that he is still the master of Sky-Fi. What I particularly like about this creation is the enchanting picture below, where the creation is merged with a perfect background.
Reminiscent of the planes from Crimson Skies, Scotty‘s Glenflight A-450 “Buzzard” looks almost microscale, but it actually fits a minifig:
