Expanding Circle

Name of Model: The Blossoming Lotus

Created by: Kevin H. Knuth

Found at: http://www.huginn.com/knuth/blog/2007/05/10/the-blossoming-lotus/

Details: Here's an interesting little Technic mechanism that expands and contracts the way that Chuck Hoberman's creations do (if I were to post models made with another construction toy, it would be his Expandagon system (which doesn't appear to have an official website)). Since it's just a ring, you don't really get any of cross-sections that you'd need to build a full sphere, but I'm sure you could do lots of cool things with this if you have the parts (and of course, you probably don't have the parts). Thanks to all of the beautiful CAD material provided, you can try this one out on your own - it's not exactly building instructions, but it shouldn't be too difficult to figure it out. If anyone has an idea for a similar project on a smaller scale, I'd love to see it.

City in Hand Sculpture

Name of Model: "Rebirth of New Orleans"

Created by: Nathan Sawaya

Found at: http://www.brickartist.com/rebirth_of_new_orleans.html

Details: Professional LEGO sculptor Nathan Sawaya was commissioned to build this piece in December 2006 for a permanent exhibit at the New Orleans Public Library. The sculpture depicts a fanciful version of a rebuilt New Orleans - and the featured buildings are based on drawings sent in by kids from across the country. The whimsy-factor was piped in - the swaying buildings of the final sculpture are caricatures of the original drawings with exaggerated curvy lines and misaligned windows. The gigantic hand that holds the exhibit is probably my favorite piece of this - it completes the surreal impression given here. Over 120,000 LEGO bricks were used for this one (and that's before we get into the bright and hard-to-find colors)!

Non-Model Whimsy

A brief interruption: This isn't a LEGO model, but it's worth a look: New LEGO advertisements at adgoodness. If you ask me, this "Build It" campaign is much better than the last one they did - this is whimsical and not a reminder of natural disasters.

Detailed Hot Rod

Name of Model: HotRod II

Created by: Biczzz

Found at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=196303

Details: This is one snazzy-looking Hot Rod. It's more than just nice looking though - it's a great combination of newer studless Technic pieces on the bottom and more conventional building techniques on the top. A look at the model's bottom reveals a studless frame with suspension, steering, and a simplified gear train made entirely without the familiar LEGO studs (but still out of LEGO parts). The rest of the model, such as the perfect interior and opening doors, have been made with the more traditional LEGO parts we all know and love. If you look closely, you can spot some clever techniques used to connect the top and the bottom of the model as well.

LEGO Remake of Classic Knot Puzzle

Name of Model: Wooden Knot

Created by: Maarten Steurbaut

Found at: http://users.skynet.be/maarten.steurbaut/Knot.htm

Details: The webpage is clear and concise for this one, so here's a comment in the creator's own words: "During October-November 2006 I designed some more LEGO-versions of existing interlocking puzzles in MLCad. I intended all these puzzles to be tan, but when I disassembled my Cube I discovered I had just about enough elements to create the easiest puzzle (the "Wooden Knot") in old brown. I don't have to wait until my order (lots of tan bricks, plates and tiles) comes in to make the first and smallest puzzle! Remark: I only use bricks, plates and tiles to make all the pieces and there's no visible top or bottom of a brick/plate." Don't forget to check out his building instructions so you can try this one out yourself!

Coat Rack

Name of Model: ポールハンガー

Created by: Moko

Found at: http://blog.livedoor.jp/legolego05/archives/51140127.html

Details: This extremely clever design for a minifig-scale LEGO coat rack makes use of some newer parts that you probably don't have. The effect is worth it though, even if you don't have that part on the top or the base (I don't either). It's also surprising to me that the color scheme works too - it's hard enough just to keep track of new elements, never mind finding them all in just the right color. I love the way that minifig torsos with the hands removed are used as coats. I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hard to copy that technique and the hanger technique on a coat rack of a less conventional shape, but this is really an exceptional model.

Robotics Monday: NXT using an Etch-A-Sketch

Name of Model: EtchBot

Created by: IndyWin

Found at: http://mindstorms.lego.com/NXTLOG/ProjectDisplay.aspx?id=4d744321-9cbb-488f-87ee-86604c5dfbbd

Details: This past week, much attention has been paid to the winner and runners up of the NXTLOG 2000th entry contest (scroll down and you can read about it, at least as of this writing). Now, that winning entry was pretty clever with it's ball-as-caster trick and automated disk shooter, but I thought that this runner-up that can draw on an Etch-A-Sketch is just a bit more interesting. From what's available for documentation, it sounds like there haven't been any cool programs written for this bot, but it wouldn't be too hard to make some, I figure. It looks like the wheels that connect the motors to the dials are the only parts that included in the standard NXT kit, so you could probably reproduce this 'bot if you'd like (you do have an NXT kit, right?) Obviously, the mini Etch-A-Sketch is a non-LEGO part, but that's not really cheating because you can't operate an Etch-A-Sketch without an Etch-A-Sketch. Oh, and if you do make a robot similar to this one and can get it to draw something fairly detailed, I'd love to see a video of it.

Apologies

Apologies for the delay - it looks like Monday will be the return of the blog.

Site News: Expected Delays

Update (5/10/2007): We will be resuming regular posts today and including models for the missing days. With any luck, we'll soon be posting every day and having extra posts pre-written for when time does not permit us to write new entries.

Today's (Saturday, April 21st's) model of the day will be appearing late - perhaps even later next week. Delays in posting models can be expected for the next two weeks - after that, we'll be back in full speed.

Mountain Castle Tower

Name of Model: Tower - CCC 07 entry

Created by: Patrick Bosman

Found at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=247155

Details: This beautiful tower includes some nice sculpted scenery and some clever angled detailing. Some parts of the mountain that the tower is in were built upside-down too, which makes for some cool effects and makes it possible for the sleeping bats to hang over the heads of the minifigs. The color scheme is stellar too - a good mix of newer variations on colors with slightly more traditional colors.