These models were both completed in 2004, but for some reason they only seem to be making the rounds recently. They are both phenomenal, though, and are well-worth the recent attention (and of course, they make for a fitting tribute to their inspirations' author). I'm thrilled with the information provided on these models - complete parts lists and LDraw-format CAD files. LDraw is a fantastic fan-created software program that allows for thorough documentation and instruction generation for LEGO® models (The official LEGO® CAD software, LEGO Digital Designer, does not include a life-like variety of parts, but does allow for special-ordering of parts and creations - personally, I recommend both software titles as well as MLCAD for LDraw.). Of course, the 3861 grey pieces used in the Discovery probably make this a bit difficult to try to make on your own, but you know, you could if you wanted to (of course, finding the parts could be a problem of it's own - and don't get me started on the differences between different shades of grey LEGO® pieces). The Leonov is a bit of a show-stealer, though, with motorized armature in it's middle. Oh, and apparently you can check out even more great "making of" action on these models in the first issue of BrickJournal.
These are Wednesday's and Thursday's models of the day.
Details: It's tempting to try to split this into two models. I could write about how it is an amazing helicopter, with great details, elegant construction, and a decent sense of scale/proportions (which is surprisingly rare in LEGO® helicopters, especially in the official sets). I could write about how this is an excellent "mecha" robot. This is really a Transformers model, though! Which means that this thing is spectacular, and one of the most amazing morphing models we've seen in quite some time. There are some photos showing the transformation as well. Oh, and apparently this was done for a contest at the Russian-language site http://www.doublebrick.ru/ - so maybe we'll be seeing some more exciting Transformers coming up.
Details: Here's a pair of great LEGO® MINDSTORMS NXT projects, with one of them controlling the other. The joystick flows quite well - I'm not sure how it was done (the description's in German), but it looks like it works very smoothly. The program on the dozer features a nice minifig-head graphic that looks like it's riding in the dozer. It's not just a charming detail, either - the head turns to face the direction that the dozer is driving. In addition to a regular steering system, the bulldozer also includes a 4-cylinder engine that can be started up without moving the vehicle. It's hard not to like a dozer that realistic. The completely-covered but studless look of the exterior is very classy too. I have no idea whether or not this is based on last year's Motorized Bulldozer set, but those treads do look like the same newer style to me.
Details: Piece of Peace is a touring exhibit that features landmarks from around the world rendered in various scales. The blog post linked to above is a round-up of details and photos of the exhibit that the Brothers Brick put together. Most of the models are worth featuring individually (and there are quite a few pictures that are linked to from the site above instead of being immediately visible), but there's only so much time and there are so many great models here. If you're like me, you probably don't recognize that many of the locations, but there is a list of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/ that can make it easier to figure the rest out. These are all very impressive - it's worth bookmarking and finishing later if you don't have the time to look at them all right away. Oh, and if you live in or near Nagoya, Japan, you can visit this one through March 24th.
Details: Photographer johnpiercy found this beautiful display of animal sculptures at the Burlington Mall in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. I have no idea how long they'll be on display, but apparently they are there now and were brought in for a "fun zone" event that ends today. It looks like there is/was a guess-the-amount-of-parts contest as well, but I have no idea if/when we'll see any of that information surface online. The koala bears in particular are excellent, and a great example of just how much can be done with newer colors like tan and stone. The leopard mosaic is another highlight, and I love the way that round 2x2 tiles were used to make paws on the young tiger.
Details: This masterpiece was done as an entry to the Classic-Castle.com 2008 Battles Contest. Newer "goblin" minifigs are attacking villagers and Crown Knights - and there's an excellent detailed medieval village here too. Some highlights:
Grey goblets are used in place of fences in the bridge.
The smooth look of the water was achieved by putting blue bricks on their side.
Complete landscaping - sculpted grass, slopes for rocks, and even a decent dirt trail leading up to all of the buildings.
Just in front of the bridge, you can see someone who jumped headfirst into the water to escape a goblin
White 2x2 round plates give a realistic smoke-from-a-chimney effect
If you follow non-LEGO weaponry, you'll probably recognize some of the unusual weapons used in the battle (I'd call that cheating, but it's not too noticeable here...)
Details: Every once in a while, someone asks whether or not it would be possible to build usable furniture out of LEGO® bricks. The answer, of course, is yes, as it's been done before. Of course, just the amount of hard-to-find tan bricks required is impressive, but this is actually a half-size scale model of the Schou furniture company's real table. There are links to two chairs that were part of the same commissioned project on the page above as well. Personally, I'm a big fan of the angle work - the legs are built at a 45 degree angle from the tabletops. The pictures don't make it entirely clear just how this was done, but I suspect that some sort of turntable component was used (LEGO has made a variety of turntable components over the years and some of them are quite small and easy-to-hide). The tabletop also uses some well-placed studs-not-on-top effects to get a teak look. It doesn't look very sturdy (those bricks appear to be laying in there closely, but not actually attached to each other), but it does a good job of getting just the right look.
Details: Here's a fun bit of whimsy - four spacemen in a small chamber, getting ready for some sort of battle. Three of the have guns, and the fourth has Indiana Jones' whip. The punchline?
Aboard the Tantive IV, Happy McNova misheard the command as, "Bring a whippin'."
The whimsy factor is fun enough, but the well-placed slopes and tiles round this out very well - it's a good application of those techniques. Those are probably 1x2 1/2 offset "jumper" plates keeping the minifigs in place, by the way.
Details: This detailed steampunk-styled organ was made for a contest being held by the website Reasonably Clever. The contest is challenge to get people to build steampunk-themed models that use 50 or fewer pieces. The contest ends on March 15th at midnight EST, and more models entered into the contest can be seen at the "Contest at" link above. This particular model has an interesting back story and a few nifty techniques. Click-hinge parts and minifig legs flesh out the sides of the organ. I'm digging the use of small white tiles and a 1x4 cockpit component for piano-style keys too - it's a bit impressionistic but a great way of getting the right effect at that scale.
died this past Tuesday. Clarke is a widely-respected Sci-Fi author who is acknowledged as the first to propose the use of communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Clarke also wrote many famous Sci-Fi novels, including 
