This Vic Viper was the first that nnenn has shown us at the start of 2008. I had to learn that this starfighter came from the the 1985 Gradius games. The player controls a ship known as the Vic Viper in this scrolling shooter, which you can actually play here. Thanks to nnenn, just about every active Lego builder on Flickr now knows what it is.
Be sure to join us in sharing your own thoughts on Nate’s online eulogy.
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
In his latest Vic Viper, Peter Morris dispenses with minimalism in colouring and replaces it with all the gaudiness of a racecar. His ARX-02a Victoria’s Viper is loosely based on the 2009 Acura ARX-02a and the racing influence is a definite plus. It’s always a challenge to pull together this many colours but he’s managed with aplomb.
Andrew Lee is calling it the Raptor. I call them T-Rex parts. I expect that everyone will call it awesome.
I’m sure I’m going to have to do a round-up post at the end of the month with all my favorite Vic Vipers. In the meantime, I couldn’t resist posting one that I just saw.
Stefan (Brainbikerider) has a pretty different take on the Vic Viper shape. His ship is a lot less pointy than most, and barely has wings. It’s also great. He’s done some great color-blocking and used stickers impeccably.
Vic Viper VOAT Vinivious by Uspez Morbo
Eldorado Fortress Redux by Kris Kelvin
Once again I find myself with more neat stuff to blog and no time to do it all justice. At least I added names this time. Does anyone else find the new version of flickr really frustrating for obtaining image deeplinks?
The good folks in the LEGO Starfighters group on Flickr have started a new Novvember. That means that many people are building Vic Vipers, inspired by the game Gradius, all month long.
I’m digging the one below by legodrome, and I’m sure there will be many more nice fighters to come. I feel that the black stripes on the front are rather sharp.
This Vic Viper by Mark Stafford (Nabii) has a very unique look to it. Incorporating boilerplate techniques with a variety of Mecha-style weapons and details, he has created a blend that is very refreshing!
A result of Novvember, here are almost all of the Vic Vipers built by Nnenn and the participants. You can see them all on Flickr’s Vic Vipers pool!
During November, Nnenn ambitiously set out to present a new variation of the Vic Viper each day of the month. While the LEGO fan community on Flickr has known Nnenn to be one of the most prolific builders, no one has ever seen a builder post one new medium-sized LEGO creation for each day of an entire month. In the end, Nnenn did it; the result was “Novvember.”
In this exclusive interview with The Brothers Brick, Nnenn shares his thoughts on the project and how he managed to get everything finished without losing his sanity.
This fighter map from Nnenn shows all 31 Vic Vipers unleashed during November.
The Brothers Brick: What gave you the idea for Novvember?
Nnenn: Novvember came about as an effort to populate the Vic Viper group Peter Morris and I created on Flickr. We had each built and contributed a few VVs (based on the Gradius shmup series) to the pool but then came a period of stagnation. Since I have little tolerance for the myriad of unnecessary (or redundant) community groups, I felt something had to be done to warrant its existence. Dedicating a month to the cause, and the play on its name, is a carry-over of something I’ve done with my family for some time: we have such things as ‘Fun Friday, Special Breakfast Wednesday’ etc.
TBB: How long was the planning process? Had you been building Vipers before the start of the month or did you build all of them during November?
Nnenn: The idea began to germinate some weeks beforehand and I began building VVs about mid October… so I had several done before the official month began. The ‘official’ announcements were simply fun afterthoughts that helped garner momentum.
TBB: Describe your thought process on coming up with so many variations of the Viper.
Nnenn: During a ‘slow’ time on a visit to my in-laws, I remembered what Peter had said in his LAML interview about sketching ideas before building (something I rarely do) so I picked up a pen and covered three sheets with starfighters… most of them with dual forward prongs. Many of those became the basis for later models (the original paper is now fairly ragged with use); the rest came about by my usual method of fiddling with piece combinations.
TBB: What was the most challenging part of the whole project from start to finish?
Nnenn: Getting a model posted every single day was, by far, the most difficult aspect of the project. Many times during the month I thought about refining or making changes to whatever I was building but couldn’t because I needed to be moving on to maintain my ‘daily’ goal. So quality definitely suffered (as some have noted) but overall I’m pleased.
Years ago, I learned the tremendous educational value of completing many small projects over laboring over a single work for eons: An illustration professor I had would assign his students the task of developing twenty or so thumbnail solutions to some visual problem. When we presented our ideas, he would demand thirty new and unique sketches, declaring that our first attempts would always be the weakest and the least innovative. He said it wouldn’t be until number fifty or so that we would be forced into completely new territory. I wonder what Novvember would produce if we had four more weeks…
TBB: What are your opinions on the public’s reaction, and what do you think of the other builders’ contributions to Novvember?
Nnenn: I predicted we’d initially have a handful of contributors and then see several more trickle in throughout the month. But I never worried about generating interest… I was too focused on doing my part, so-to-speak. The results, however, have been both surprising and wonderful: a ton of participants have helped my initial jesting about a flood of VVs become reality. A few with short attention spans have complained or thrown around some negativity but those types are inevitable and besides, nothing was done with malicious intent.
TBB: Name a few of your favorite Vipers from both your builds and those by others.
Nnenn: Though I’m not one for favorites, I actually went back and spent some time perusing the pool… but I found myself picking out positive aspects from them all. So go pick your own!
TBB: Do you have any plans after NoVVember?
Nnenn: Right now I’ll build anything but a VV; I guess I’m a little spent. Doing more variations might push me but my investment in the hobby is more grounded in fun than in work, so I’m done… until next time.
TBB: What are your overall thoughts on how everything turned out?
Nnenn: Funtastic.
Previous interviews on The Brothers Brick:
Chrispockster uses parts from various short-lived themes to get a wide variety of interesting colours in his version of a Vic Viper (yes it’s still NoVVember). I reckon that the range of shapes, textures and colours makes this the most unusual take (so far at least) on the two-pronged Viper shape.
This incredible Steampunkish Vic Viper is pure win! Mark Stafford has outdone himself. There is so much awesome goodness here, I don’t know what to say. I’ll just shut up and let it speak for itself.
