Technic Baby Twin Otter (Seaplane) with Dizzying Amount of Features

Name of Model: Baby Twin Otter

Created by: Cpt. Postma

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpt-postma/sets/72157625234088680/

Details: Apparently the most popular Technic creation at BrickCon this year (it also won a trophy at that event), this seaplane with a wingspan of nearly 5 feet (just over 1.5 meters) is modeled after a DeHavilland Twin Otter. I'm going to try to keep this short - although this hasn't been singled out post-documentation on any blogs, much has been said about it already. Here's the list of features from the flickr set above: Specifications: Wingspan 59.5 inch (151 cm) Length 43 inch (110 cm) Height 28 inch (71 cm) Weight 26.5 lbs (12 kg) Passengers 9 (incl. 2 Crew) Motors 5 Cylinders 6 Large, 3 Small Compressor 6 Cylinders Total Switches 3 Sensors 1 Touch, 2 Rotation Power 1 RCX, 2 Battery Packs Pieces 20 000 (estimated) Working Features: Elevators Rudder Ailerons Flaps Landing Gear (With Main Gear Suspension & Casting Nose Gear) Independently Variable Throttle Independently Variable Propeller Pitch Regulated Compressors in Engines Regulated Auxiliary Compressor Navigation Lights Beacon Light Passenger Entry Door Sliding Pilot Seats (allowing entry) Folding Wings The information above is for the flickr set, but there's actually more documentation for this model spread out across a few sites. For the long write up (by a Technic expert who didn't build this personally - I've briefly mentioned his Technicopedia a few times), you'll need to look at this post on the Eurobricks forum (of all places - we actually try to avoid linking to Eurobricks because of their set-news-leaking habits). There are also photos (again, by Blakbird instead of the builder) on Brickshelf in a BrickCon 2010 directory, not to mention two YouTube videos that were made by the builder. That's the extended reading when you're done with the 59 flickr photos linked above. For extra credit, write a report on that, create an LDRAW set of instructions for the plane, or build your own that's even larger, more detailed, or more functional.

From the Cockpit of a Plane...

Name of Model: Furball Bullseye 190, 31

Created by: -Mainman-

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mainman/4653947426/

Details: Forced perspective is a difficult thing to truly do right in LEGO. This photo is how it's done. There's just the one picture of this model, but it's so perfect that you don't really need a second photo (and there's likely an issue with the model not looking as good from other angles anyway). The idea behind the forced perspective technique is to mix scales in a way that makes some things look further away. In this case, we see a cockpit that is built at about half of actual size, with microscale planes and missiles in the distance that are about one hundredth of regular size. The mountains on the backing mosaic are at even smaller scale. Even though the different parts of this model are very close together, they look like they're fairly far apart. More importantly, this looks more realistic than most first-person plane-driving video games. The illusion of screens is created by using old dark grey inlays inside of frames built in the newer dark bluish grey color. Additional studs-not-on-top trickery with small lime plates creates the details on the screens. A similar technique is used for the mountains in the background - the snowy mountaintops are surprisingly complex, and the rows of peaks in the front are brought out by using an older shade of grey, and some brown in front of that. Even the dark green plates for foliage turns out to be spot-on. Most of the techniques have already been picked apart in notes on flickr, so if you're still curious, check out the link above (you can also "embiggen" further).

Detailed Airplane

Name of Model: not given

Created by: RyanMugs

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dp3/galleries/72157623180696401

Details: This year at BrickVention, one model truly stole the show. From this angle, it just looks like a large plane model - impressive already, but not particularly unique. The backside, however, shows a realistic cross-section of the plane - the entire QF A380 has been rendered in perfect minifig-scale, interior cabin and all. There are easter eggs (characters, movie references) and accurate details (three floors, chairs for first and second class, bathrooms, a cockpit, landing gear, etc). A mix of NXT and Power Functions components automate some of the features. Did I mention that the jet engines actually spin?

F-4 Phantom Plane

Name of Model: F-4 Phantom inspired MOC

Created by: drclark1

Found at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=259492

Details: This snazzy plane makes great use of some upside-down sections and hinges. The wings fold up, revealing weaponry (I believe it's weaponry - I should probably research the subjects of these models before posting them more often than I do) underneath the wings. The landing pad here is a great touch too - and of course, there's matching landing gear too. I love the way that large wheels were used as jets here. Does anyone know where those hollow gray parts on the front on either side of teh cockpit are from? I don't think I've ever seen those before.

This is Tuesday's model of the day.