Review - The Art Of LEGO Scale Modeling

Review - The Art Of LEGO Scale Modeling

There are many genres and themes that AFOLs build. Some people build castle, some build space. You may find that characters or dioramas are your thing. But there's a coupe of builders that specialize in making things big, detailed and most of all accurate to the real world counterparts. This is the realm of LEGO scale modeling. And now there's a book from No Starch Press to highlight these magnificent builders and their MOCs.

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He Wields A Mighty Hammer

It's not easy being a LEGO Community Manager. There's all the phone calls, travel and email. There's the continual complaining from the whiny AFOL community. And if one more person asks about monorail track, someone's gonna get hurt. Well builder Si-MOCs understands this anguish, and gave Kevin Hinkle a mighty hammer to wield, and wield it he did.

Hinkle Hammer
HINKLE SMASH

Doof Wagon

The discerning gentleman prefers to travel in style and comfort, surrounded by his favorite things. Perhaps those things are burled walnut, fine grade leather and a superior sound system. Then again maybe those things are a ridiculous sound system, a harness suspension system and a FLAME THROWING GUITAR! Builder Pepa Quin seems to prefer the later.

The Doof Wagon

LL26 Seeker

I grew up with Classic Space, so I've been enjoying the almost daily re-imagined versions of the original sets.  But what's really nifty are the completely new designs, like this rover by Chris Perron.  First thing I noticed were those tires.  They look like the multiple airbag wheels actually used by the various space agencies.  Plus it looks wicked fast! 

LL26 Seeker

Jack-In-The-Box

I never had a jack-in-the-box as a kid, but I remember my cousin having one and it scared the crap out of me. You would crank the handle to a somewhat creepy rendition of Pop Goes The Weasel, at least for the first three measures. Then it was almost time for the "Pop", and the timing was always just a little off. Sometimes it was a full crank, sometimes 3/4, sometimes 1 1/2. I don't know if it was intentional, but it sure caused a lot of child anguish and stress. Then the damn clown would pop out and it was time to change your shorts. This version by ~Likus~ doesn't "pop" up, but the crank does make the clown go up and down, which is *almost* as creepy.

Jack the Master of Mischief

Fuel Up

I have mixed feelings on this. First, it's fossil fuel, which we really need to get beyond. But, how many times have you been rescued by the side of the road with one of these? This is also exactly like the gas can I used as a kid to fuel up the lawnmower I hated using. But then again it's also the one we would "borrow" when we needed to set something on fire for a super-8 movie (kids, don't set stuff on fire, it's dumb like I was). And lastly this one's built with LEGO by Pepa Quin, so overall it has to be a positive.

Guzzolene

Gizmo

Man the early 80's were a great time for movies. Think about how many fantastic films came out at that time, there were so many. It was also a time when I was finding myself as an artist and filmmaker, and was warped and inspired for life. One such inspirational films was Gremlins. It had cute moments, crazy moments, laughs and scares, and some of the best creature work ever caught on film. And of course, everyone fell in love with Gizmo, as depicted here by builder paddybricksplitter

Gizmo

Where The Wild Things Are

I read it as a kid, and I read it to my kids as an adult. It's Maurice Sendak's classic book Where The Wild Things Are. It's got a unique look that's instantly recognizable, and has been captured perfectly in this MOC by Max Pointner. There's also some clever part use here, like the croc tails on the tree, genius.

Where The Wild Things Are Main 2

You Enter A Large Chamber...

The torch light reveals little in the way of decorations or furniture as you cautiously enter. You cast your eyes about the room and see two skeletons, one hanging from the wall, this room has seen death. The pungent scent of decay and neglect burns your nose as you hear the faint drips of an unseen leak. A quick check for trap doors reveals nothing, so you continue your search. In a dark corner there's a chest... 

Dungeon Group Shot
Loot Times
Dungeon main

BrickNerd LiveBuild - Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine & More

There's a whole lot of mystery to be solved here. How many bags in the box? What condition is the sticker sheet in? Are there any printed elements? Solve these and more as we build the Mystery Machine live! Building starts at 9am PST. Visit the Facebook page for a link to the Google+ Hangout to chat live with us. See you then!

Lawn Pwner

It's been many years since I've used, let alone owned one of these machines. I loathe yard work, I really do, so I pay someone else to do it for me. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate the wonder that is the modern lawnmower. There's something very satisfying in a machine who's sole purpose is to spin a whirring blade of death and decapitate blades of grass. This version by Pepa Quin is more my speed though, small, quiet and made of bricks.

Lawnmower

Oh The Retro Feels

As a card carrying charter member of the 8-bit club (no, that's not a real thing) I have the deepest affection for this MOC by Burglarhobbit. When we popped in the cartridge for The Empire Strikes Back way back in 1980 we marveled at the graphics, they were so "lifelike". Oh those were simpler times. Fun fact, I still have the poster for this game rolled up in my garage, it's rad.

IDSMO - R3 - PEW PEW!

But It's Not Over

I've often wondered where the "fat lady sings" euphemism comes from. I suppose I could google it, but that would be too easy. But the notion that nothing is "over" until a heavyset woman wearing viking armor, not unlike this MOC by Pepa Quin, comes out belting operatic tones seems really odd. What if your opera is set in ancient Mongolia? She would be completely out of place. What if it's set in modern Los Angeles? Actually, that's not much of a stretch, never mind.

Brunhilde