Join BrickNerd as we take a look at the amazing models by Jack (aka BigPlanes), and see just where his big planes have taken him!

This Is Your Captain Speaking…

John: Hello and thank you for talking with BrickNerd. Please tell us a little about yourself.

Jack: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed by BrickNerd! My name is Jack Carleson, also known as “BigPlanes” on my social media channels. I’m 20 years old, and currently attend Arizona State University as an architecture major.

John: You are certainly well known for your impressive plane models (Flickr and Instagram). How did you end up making this your specialty?

Jack: For most of my life I’ve had an interest in aviation, and a fascination with planes. The engineering and design behind a large aircraft like a 747 getting off the ground is something that has always amazed me and inspires me to want to build airplane models. I first picked up LEGO, like many others, when I was a kid and mostly had an interest in city and ninjago sets. As I got older, I viewed LEGO as less of a toy and more of a way to make scale models in a similar way that many make balsa or dye cast models. For about the last 7 years I’ve specifically built LEGO airplane models and for about the last 5 years have run a YouTube channel dedicated to it.

The Design Process

John: Tell us about your design process. Is there a certain element (wheels/tires, or interior seats) you use to establish the scale, or do you tend to build in a certain scale so models can be displayed together?

Jack: I follow a fairly standard process for building airplane models. All of my planes are built at 1/40 scale which is roughly minifigure scale. This gives me the option to display minifigures with my models if I decide to. I first print out a scale blueprint of whatever plane I’m working on. I don’t use any software to design my planes, I do it all by hand. I will typically start with the inboard wing section and work my way out. I also build my planes in modular sections to allow me to transport and store them which is very important.

LEGO Ideas

John: I know you have had two models submitted to LEGO Ideas which achieved the required 10,000 supporters. That’s a huge accomplishment, so congratulations! Sadly, neither was selected to become a LEGO product. Do you think this was primarily due to the complexity of your designs and construction or other factors?

LEGO IDEAS - Southwest 737-800

LEGO IDEAS - Boeing 737 Passenger Plane

Jack: I have been very lucky to have two of my builds make it to the 10k supporters milestone on LEGO ideas. This was only possible due to the support of my viewers on YouTube and other social media platforms. Unfortunately, LEGO does not share with us creators why certain models get rejected, but the most logical explanation is that they were too large and/or too complicated.

On Display

John: You have generously donated two of your models to aviation museums for display. Your B-36 Peacemaker went to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tuscon Arizona. The 747 Air Force One (Presidential) is at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton Ohio. Tell us how you decided to part with the models after such an investment of time and money?

Jack: Parting with models that you’ve put your heart and soul into can be difficult. When dealing with builds that can be over six feet in footprint, space can start to become an issue. I had three realistic options to solve this problem. The first option was that I could box the models up, and place them into storage, which many of my models are as I write this. The second option was I could sell them, and attempt to make some money back, or the third option was to donate them to be put on public display in museums. For my largest and most iconic models, the choice to me was obvious. Although I could have sold some of my builds for considerable amounts of money, I would have lost all control over how they were displayed, and the models may have never been seen by anyone again. This is the reason that I worked with museums to create permanent displays where my models can be seen by the general public while at the same time ensuring a safe environment for them.

First Class Upgrade

John: Your models have certainly provided you with some unique opportunities. Let’s start by hearing a little about your visit to SouthWest Airlines headquarters.

Jack: Yes, some of my models have gained the attention of large airlines. In July of 2022 I was invited to SouthWest headquarters in Houston, Texas and given a tour of their facilities, including the 737 flight simulator.

John: It wasn’t just domestic opportunities you’ve had, but also international! Your A380 caught the attention of a certain international airline. Please tell us about that process and where it took you.

Jack: In July of 2021 Emirates Airlines took notice of my LEGO A380 model, and I worked with them to create a video of it for their social media channels. Later that year, Emirates invited my family and me out to Dubai to experience EXPO 2020 in person which was totally unexpected and an amazing experience! Just about a month ago, I flew back to Dubai to assemble the LEGO A380 which will now be on permanent display at the Emirates Innovation center in Dubai. This was a long time in the making, and the final display turned out looking amazing! I will have a video posted soon revealing the display, and the Emirates social media team will also be publishing a video in the near future showcasing the display.

When Jack built his Emirates A380 model, little did he realize that he and his family would get to experience the amazing aircraft for themselves!

Innovation

John: With each new project your construction techniques become even more refined. Is there a specific area you’re still hoping to improve? Any specific element you’d like to see LEGO produce to make your building easier?

Jack demonstrating the structural integrity of his model with a “swoosh” test!

Jack: My builds have come a long way over the last few years. With each new model I learn ways to improve the next one. One thing that I’m always looking to improve are the small functions/ features of the planes. Functions such as motorized flaps and spoilers or retractable landing gear. Whenever I build a new plane, it’s always a balance between structural integrity, aesthetics and functionality. In order to increase one category, another category usually suffers. Achieving the perfect balance is something that I’m always trying to improve on. I would like to see LEGO release more curved elements to help me create more refined shapes and have more options when building plane models.

John: What’s on the horizon for future building projects?

Jack: Right now I’m working on an American Airlines DC-10. This is a jet I’ve wanted to build for a long time and I’m glad that I’m finally getting around to it! I can’t make any guarantees for the future though. I’m a full time student and spend most of my time at school. When I have free time at home I’ll work on projects, but finding time is becoming increasingly difficult. I still fully intend on participating in the community and hope to take on projects in the future. Only time will tell!

John: We certainly thank you for sharing these insights with BrickNerd readers and look forward to seeing future models and the journeys they will take you on!

Best of BrickNerd - Article originally published June 13, 2023.

Now that you’ve seen a sampling of Jack’s work, surely you must have a favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

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