Nornfang

The bard of brick weapons Nick Brick is back with another stunning MOC. This time it's the Nornfang, a specially tuned SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle from Halo 5. It's working features include removable magazine, moving trigger, sliding bolt/charging handle and the ability to widen the eyes of anyone who views it. In the game this thing will drop a Spartan in one shot, in real life it will drop jaws all over the internets.

Nornfang - Halo 5: Guardians
Nornfang - Halo 5: Guardians
Nornfang - Halo 5: Guardians

Best Idea Ever

What better way to spice up a summer gathering than severe food trauma? Yes, it's Jarts, or lawn darts! Oversized, weighted lawn missiles with sharpened steel tips, what could possibly go wrong? My family actually had these when I was a kid, they were fun and terrifying at the same time. Between these, my dad smoking in a closed car, no seatbelts and pop rocks and Coke, it's amazing we made it out of the 70's alive. Thanks for the nostalgia JT!

LEGO Jarts

Tick Tock

I'm having flashbacks to being a kid, and the agonizing wait until Christmas. Where time itself can be empirically observed to slow down, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. I am of course talking about the four day wait I have until Star Wars comes out. Perhaps if I had this wonderful clock by Legonardo Davidy the hands wouldn't mock me to the same level.

Cuckoo!

TRAC BALL

I have fond memories of my formative years on Mango Street here in Lompoc. It was where I lived when I got my first movie camera, saw Star Wars, played lawn darts and (once those were determined to be the stupidest invention ever) TRAC BALL. These wonders from Wham-O are actually still around and allow you to throw a perfect curve ball despite having zero athletic ability. I will however caution against the attempt to catch a Stretch Armstrong thrown by your brother, it will break it (I speak from experience).

LEGO Trac Ball 2

Imperial Pew Pew

One of George Lucas' strokes of genius on the first Star Wars was to use real weapons and blanks as the basis of the blasters. The recoil and power were evident as the actors shot, and with the addition of Ben Burt's sound design and ILM's optical, it was a convincing illusion. The E-11 Stormtrooper Blaster was based on a Sterling sub machine gun, and this version by Nick Brick is the best brick-built version I've ever seen, and the quality we've come to expect from Nick. It even has a foldable stock, which while never used in Star Wars, is still a testament to the accuracy of this build.

Star Wars E-11 Blaster Rifle
Star Wars E-11 Blaster Rifle

Wheels Of Steel

I've always wanted to play with one of these, but the opportunity has never been there. I cut my teeth on early hip-hop and electro, with the likes of RUN DMC, Newcleus and Sugar Hill Gang (yes, I used to break dance too, that was a LONG time ago). This half-scale twin Technics setup by delta.triangle makes me want to break out my vinyl. 

Lego DJ Setup Half-scale [1:2]

Feeling The Pressure

The latest Iron Builder rages on, and if history is any indication, both builders should be equipped with one of these little babies by cmaddison, because the pressure is 'building' (see what I did there?) I've personally never competed, and I don't think I ever will. Because I'd be redlining from the start and probably blow a gasket by week two . 

Pressure Gauge

Dino-Grabber

We've all had one, you might still have one, the classic dinosaur grabber. They're handy for grabbing things just out of reach, terrorizing family cats, menacing fish (just watch E.T.) and with the addition of a fun costume, entertaining puppet shows. This one by Takamichi Irie doesn't function like a real one, but then again the real one isn't made of LEGO now is it?

T-Rex Pincher

Pretty Sneaky Sis

I know I played Connect Four as a kid, but I don't remember owning it, so it must have been at a friends house. I vividly remember the commercial though, and that kid's tragic haircut. Builder jtheels is on a roll with these brilliant little doses of nostalgia. Makes me want to break out my plaid pants and play with GiJoe while eating a peanut butter and relish sandwich (the 70's weren't pretty)

LEGO Connect Four

The Device That Stole My Childhood

When I look back on 1977 it's with fondness and awe. In that one pivotal and influential year we got the Commodore PET, CHiPs, Jimmy Carter, Atari 2600, Three's Company, Saturday Night Fever and of course Star Wars. And then there's this device. Prior to Electronic Football we were quite content to just go outside and throw dirt clods at each other. But that all changed, our thumbs grew new and interesting calluses and we never saw the sun again. Hey Gameboy, 3DS, PSP and all other handheld gaming devices, meet your grandfather. Nice build jtheels.

LEGO Electronic Football Aged

MIDA Multi-Tool Scout Rifle

This is awesome. How many times have you been playing a first-person-shooter and thought "man I wish I had a full scale model of this weapon to display". Well builder Simply Complex Simplicity did, and when ahead and built one from LEGO, and it turned out phenomenal. Not only that, he put together a fantastic video about it, check it out!

Marker! *thwack!*

There was no way I wasn't going to blog this. Since the invention of "talkies" filmmakers have needed a way to synchronize picture to sound, since generally they are recorded separately. There have been a number of ways of doing this, and several technological advances through the years, but when it comes down to it, nothing beats a good old classic clapboard. Nice build Cole.

LEGO Clapboard (Working)

Simon

Red, blue, red, red, yellow, green, blue, red, blue... In the early 80's electronic gaming was huge. And between this device, Electronic Football and Merlin the future was clear, electronic gaming was here to stay. Sure the beginnings were crude, just flashing lights and buzzing (practically neolithic by todays standards) but we LOVED them. Thanks for the dose of nostalgia jtheels.

Simon

Toss Across

Just last night my wife and I were talking about toys from our childhood. Though I should point out the discussion started about the most dangerous toys (we actually had lawn darts, amazing) soon the conversation drifted to toys in general. I had Toss Across as a kid, and seeing this brilliant recreation by jtheels brought back a lot of memories. Mostly of how we used to wet the bean bags and put them on a lightbulb to cook the beans, it smelled oddly appetizing.

Toss Across Final