As part of my Wild West Train project I’ve been trying to vary the presentation as well as produce useful instructions for each stage. The final stage let me try a new experiment: packaging the ‘train set’ in its own satin lined wooden box. Fabric is kind of difficult to render without special tools so I decided to go for satin as the easiest.
And of course there are instructions for each part of the train: loco, passenger wagon, lumber wagon, boxcar and caboose.
Will Chapman from BrickArms took the summer off from work to try focusing exclusively on custom minifig accessories.
Starting with BrickWorld 2008 in June, each LEGO convention has revealed more and more new products and prototypes.
Thanks to the extra time he has now, Will has been churning out more prototypes in his garage than we can count — particularly for those of you eager for World War II accessories.
For your Allied minifigs, the Bazooka M9 (with M6 rocket) will pack a serious punch:
On the Axis side, the German Panzerfaust 30 anti-tank weapon and MG42 machine gun will complement the MP40 SMG and C96 Mauser:
One of the most intriguing new prototypes is the U-clip (“U” for universal). The U-clip can connect any two objects that can fit into a minifig hand.
The potential applications seem infinite, such as attaching a bayonet (also a new BrickArms prototype) to your Lee-Enfield SMLE, a Combat Knife (again, new) to your M4 Carbine, or simulating an M203 grenade launcher with a black LEGO lightsaber handle:
Between our earlier coverage and the Zombie Apocafest, readers should already be familiar with the Lewis gun and Combat Shotgun:
The current Lewis gun prototype solves a minor issue with the earlier version (the drum tended to pop off fairly easily) by attaching the drum to the gun with a clip-like stud. This does make the drum more secure, but it resembles T-21 blaster from Star Wars a bit less with the drum removed.
A couple of the more unique new weapons include a game-inspired gunblade and a Derringer:
The MGL (multiple grenade launcher) will enable your minifigs to take on Decepticons and Predators alike with ease:
Finally, fans of Western movies get two iconic pistols — the Colt Navy 1861 revolver and the M1917 revolver (which looks a lot like the Colt Single Action Army “Peacemaker”):
For those of you wondering when we’ll see all this great stuff in production, here’s the final word from Will:
The next mold (in black and/or bley) will include the Combat Knife and Combat Shotgun for sure, and most likely the MGL, Lewis Gun, and Paintball Gun, but the lineup is still being decided. Look for that mold in early 2009, perhaps even by BrickFest 2009 in Portland!
The swords and Colt Navy will most likely be added to a silver mold, sometime soon as well. I’m still coordinating the layout for it. The other items may be limited-edition “garage releases”, as time permits. All will eventually see production.
Did he just say swords and paintball guns? Yes indeed. Look for a preview of those in the next few days from Josh. ;-)
David Pagano, Nate Burr and myself were all recently asked by the LEGO Company to make a brickfilm to celebrate the LEGO minifigure’s 30th birthday. This is my contribution, 30 Years: The Story of the Minifigure. How many historical figures/events can you name?
Don’t forget to check out GOMINIMANGO.com for more videos and a contest (details coming soon to a blog near you!)
As a continuation to his tea house, Nathan has posted a lovely Zen garden.
The beauty of the leaning tree is likely to distract those seeking to clear their minds, while the perfect torii evokes thoughts of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism — but we won’t go there. ;-)
And now for something completely different. A Wells, Fargo & Co. overland express and assay office:
What do you get when you cross an old Civil War ironclad ship with a tank? Nathan Proudlove’s Bone Rattler, a uniquely-shaped attack vehicle that Nathan says “was one of those builds that one might have in the back of ones mind for a long time and then one day, after nearly 12 hours straight building, it practically falls together.”
I really like the design of the smokestacks and the use of the triangular Knight’s Kingdom swords.
(Yes, I actually do post once in a while. :P )
The last, haunted train out of TheBrickster‘s town of Grave Stone has finally arrived at the station.
Check out Brickshelf for all the cars clattering along behind the ghastly engine.
The wind whistles and sage brush roll by, only to be caught in the slats of the crumbling fence. At five minutes to midnight, a lonely skeleton waits for a train that will never come.
Yes, it’s another great Wild West creation by The Brickster:
I love all the eyes in the windows.
Alex Eylar‘s longing to escape the reality of “the worst college quarter yet” takes him to look towards Disneyland, where this creation took inspiration from the Grizzly River Run ride, depicting “a ridge somewhere in the northern California wilderness, complete with tumbling waterfall and quasi-hippie river guides.”
Like several of the LEGO fans we feature here, Alex Eylar (Flickr) is one of those builders whose work we could feature just about every time he posts something. Alex’s latest creations are a rootin’ tootin’ pair of Wild West battle-critters.
The Bullfrog has a very large saw blade:
The Huckleberry skitters along on the tips of rifles:
Jordan Schwartz‘s latest creation is the oil tower from the movie There will be Blood. The construction of the structure is fascinating when considering how all the angles came together nicely in the final product. Way to strike it rich Jordan!
Meanwhile, there’s a clip showing that the oil derrick is amazingly functional.
