Posted by
Dan
at
11:02 PM
| Name of Model: Star Wars #1 |
| Created by: Tommy Williamson |
| Found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/geekytom/15544292118 |
Details:  At this year's DesignerCon, there will be a Comic Bricks art show. The whole Comic Bricks Flickr Pool is worth checking out, but my personal favorite is this Star Wars cover. I always prefer a mosaic background when one can be done, and it's particularly effective in this case, allowing brick-built lettering to pop and the fiery effect around the Death Star to show up properly. Having the round sections of the Death Star itself be one stud out from the background makes it possible to use actual curved elements too, which really makes the roundness more obvious in a situation like this where parts of the "circle" are obscured. Then there are the characters - Luke's outfit comes across perfectly and there's no mistaking the plate hinge making an appearance as his nose.
As a sidenote, the builder of this particular model is Tommy Williamson of BrickNerd fame. Word on the street is that he's doing this model-blogging thing better than we are these days, but please, don't leave us, we still love you! It's alright - most of us LEGO bloggers actually get along in person (I'd show photos of our secretive cabal's last meeting, but what happens at BrickCon stays at BrickCon, and besides, no one looks good in photos of secretive cabals meeting in a basement under the cover of darkness), and longtime readers will remember I've raved about his builds before.
DesignerCon is at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California (USA) this Saturday, November 8th, from 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, November 9th, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Tickets are $7 per day at the door.
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Posted by
Dan
at
11:11 PM
Name of Model: B-Wing Starfighter™ |
| Created by the LEGO company |
| Found at: http://shop.lego.com/en-US/B-Wing-Starfighter-10227 |
Details:
We've fallen somewhat behind in covering headline-grabbing new kits recently, but LEGO is still churning them out. One of the ones we missed was the latest Ultimate Collector Series Star Wars kit - the B-Wing Starfighter. From the October 1st release date to December 31st (or while supplies last), LEGO is including an exclusive TC-14 minifigure with the purchase of the 10227 B-Wing Starfighter.  Like the last few UCS kits, this one is nicely in minifig scale (as compared to the regular kits, which usually have strange proportions in order to fit minifigures). Both Jedi News and FBTB have reviewed the kit, which looks like an interesting build.
Here's the official announcement:
10227 B-Wing Starfighter™
Ages 16+. 1,486 pieces.
US $199.99 CA $249.99 DE 199.99€ UK 169.99£ DK 1699 DKK
Take on the Empire in the Ultimate Collector Series B-wing Starfighter!
Now you can experience the ultimate B-wing Starfighter from the Star Wars galaxy like never before. This fantastic model features everything you would expect from our premium collector range, including rotating, self-levelling cockpit and realistic wing configurations for landing and flight. And when you’re finished battling in the skies above Endor or helping to restore freedom in the galaxy, place this highly detailed B-wing Starfighter on its own dedicated display stand and fact plaque. Measures 26” (66 cm) wide and 15” (38 cm) high in flight configuration, and 17” (43 cm) high on display stand.
• A highly detailed Ultimate Collector Series B-wing Starfighter model
• Features rotating, self-levelling cockpit
• Features realistic wing configurations for landing and flight
• Includes display stand and fact plaque
• Model can be detached from display stand
• Measures 26” (66cm) wide and 15” (38cm) high in flight configuration, and 17” (43cm) high when mounted on display stand
Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning October 2012 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone. |
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Posted by
Lego Model of the Day
at
11:03 AM
| Name of Model: Star Wars Lego Artoo-Detoo R2-D2 |
| Created by: SPARKART! |
| Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36161867@N08/sets/72157626425806979/ |
Details:  It's Star Wars day again (May the Fourth be with you! Yadda yadda yadda...), so here is a sculpture of R2-D2 on a classy black stand. I'm not really sure what the scale is on this sculpture (it's a bit large for most of the popular ones), but the details come across very well. Perhaps the scale was chosen so that the markings on R2-D2 would be close to full stud widths. The signature angled posture is captured here beautifully, but he can be stood up as well. It's not easy to use this many small slopes to make something appear this round - although steam engine builders have mastered the technique at a smaller scale, the effect doesn't tend to come out as smoothly there. |
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Posted by
Dan
at
11:34 PM
| Name of Website: BRICKITGOOD |
| Created by: Mr. Corey Sanders |
| Found at: http://www.brickitgood.info/ |
Details:
Here's a new feature I'd like to get started on right away (mostly because I just found out about this great website): a spotlight on useful resources within the LEGO community. BRICKITGOOD is the work of Mr. Corey Sanders, a schoolteacher from Nevada who runs (and personally funds) an after-school LEGO program for elementary-school aged students. The site features a wide variety of models, with plenty of photos for each one. Most of the models also include instructions - some of which are in LEGO Digital Designer format so you can easily buy the parts needed to build them. An advantage (for teachers especially) of creating building instructions is that you can save designs while taking the models apart - which is particularly important when you need to make the parts available again for other students. In addition to creating instructions for his own designs, he has also created instructions for a number of popular models that haven't been available to the public (such as promotional items that were only given away as glued models). These models are a great starting place for your original creations - or you could try rebuilding some of the designs as shown. The events section covers student creations, regional events, and the 2004 Master Model Builder search (yes, when you build lifelike sculptures this well, LEGO takes notice).
The photos below show examples of the variety of material available on the BRICKITGOOD website, and each one is a link that takes you to the appropriate section of the site.
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Posted by
Dan
at
12:40 AM
| Name of Model: STAR WARS™ Miniland Opening |
| Created by LEGOLAND California Master Builders |
| Found at: http://california.legoland.com/plan/shows_and_events/STAR-WARS-Miniland/ |
Details: 
The real news is in the headline. A variety of scenes, characters, and vehicles from the Star Wars universe will soon be coming to a special new space in Miniland at LEGOLAND California. Although we've seen LEGO release official sculptures, minifig-scale sets, microscale accessories and even "midi scale" ships, this is the first time they've officially done anything in miniland scale (keen observers can probably tell you about the "unofficial" use of Star Wars characters in the park so far - LEGOLAND Master Builders have a surprising sense of humor when it comes to including fictional characters in real cities in a surreal manner). The new area is scheduled to open March 31st, 2011. Since this has been covered in many places already, we're going to go into round-up mode:
Official announcement
Press Release (includes a few photos)
FBTB coverage (FBTB is a LEGO Star Wars fansite that was given a press pass to an announcement event. They have photos of that event and some exclusive behind-the-scenes photos)
LA Times article (they mention that several scenes will be animated, although the official press release only cited the Cantina band as animated)
Modelbuildingsecrets's Weblog post (blurb at the end explains that this idea was toyed with back when Mariann Asanuma still worked at the Model Shop - but that they haven't allowed cities outside of America in LEGOLAND California's miniland until now)
In related news, the LEGOLAND California Star Wars Days 2011 event has been scheduled and will be on June 18-19.
Is there anything we missed? E-mail us at legomodeloftheday@gmail.com
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Posted by
Dan
at
10:58 PM
| Event Info Found At: http://www.nasuhai.co.jp/event/lego.html |
| Photos by: kelvin255 (Kelvin Lok) |
| Photos found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelvin255/sets/72157625566538544/ |
Details:  It's Christmastime in Japan's Nasu Highland Park. The LEGO pavilion there has a few seasonal displays up now, but apparently the Tokyo miniland layout (which features a bunch of landmarks, although some have been made a bit generic) is a semi-permanent exhibit. Another highlight is a large Clone Wars set-up, and there are also several large sculptures. This appears to be like a small LEGOLAND park - apparently there are LEGO-themed rides here for most of the year as well (although these photos focus on the models on display). |
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Posted by
Dan
at
4:00 AM
| Name of Model: LEGO DEATH STAR ORNAMENT |
| Created by: Chris McVeigh |
| Found at: http://web.me.com/chrismcveigh/mintinbox/home/Entries/2010/11/29_Lego_Death_Star_Ornament.html |
Details:  We've found the perfect gift for the man who still thinks there isn't enough of Star Wars on their LEGO tree. Wait, what do you mean not everyone has a LEGO tree? Where do you put all the LEGO ornaments?
Anyway - this Death Star ornament design is all ready for you to give a try. Model instructions are available from the link above in both PDF and LDD formats. You can also download the parts list to try it with parts on hand, or if you're feeling adventurous, you can buy the parts through LEGO Digital Designer's Design By Me program.
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Posted by
Dan
at
12:30 AM
| Name of Model: 10212 Imperial Shuttle |
| Created by the LEGO company |
| Found at: http://www.brothers-brick.com/2010/06/18/lego-star-wars-10212-lambda-class-imperial-shuttle-due-out-september-2010/ |
Details:  Last weekend at Brickworld, a new Star Wars set was announced. A sort of revival of the UCS (Ultimate Collector's Series) line of scale models of large vehicles, this is, well, a large, exceptionally detailed version of a Star Wars ship. Most surprising, however, is the unusual construction - it appears that a several new sizes of Technic beam are included in this set in large quantities for the wings. The full announcement is at the link above, and you can also check Shop at Home to see if it's in yet (currently expected to come out on September 1st 2010). |
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Posted by
Dan
at
4:00 AM
| Name of Model: X-34 landspeeder |
| Created by: Garbageman13 |
| Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28530273@N07/4344257147/ |
Details:
 Let's face it - it's an incredibly difficult to build a true MOC (My Own Creation) in the Star Wars theme. Everything tends to be a minor modification to make things "more like the real one" even though the "real one" is part of a fictitious movie universe. To the extent that we see "civilian" characters in a Star Wars set-up, it's because the diorama that shows off the realistic true-to-the-movie vehicles, creatures, and other elements is so large and full of landscaping that it needs filler. Many an impressive Star Wars themed diorama is actually just a display setting for sets (not that there's anything wrong with your giant layout of Hoth or Endor - but you could certainly put those snow and forest building skills to more creative uses). What we have here today, though, is that rare model that exists in the Star Wars universe but doesn't try to tether itself to a specific movie/comic/video game idea or claim to merely be "inspired by" something. This is a nice-looking landspeeder in a rare color showing off some original greeble-work. Sure, at some level it's similar to the Luke's Landspeeder kit. It's not Luke's, or any other major characters', though - it's somebody else's. It's not easy to try to parallel a kit but still come up with a unique creation (using whatever parts you have on hand in a rare color makes it even more of a challenge), but this model succeeds on that front.
Normally, I'd delve into techniques here a bit, but this model's actually not a difficult build (again, if you actually have the parts). Well-placed jumper plates, 1x4-1x2 brackets, and 1x1 bricks with Technic holes are really all it took. In spite of all the time I spend talking about crazy techniques, sometimes a model can turn out well even if it is fairly simple to construct. |
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Duncan "donuts_ftw" Lindbo recently came across the Buzz Lightyear wing element from the Disney series of Collectible Minifigures and built this beauty. This microscale version of the X-Wing Fighter (from Star Wars, now also owned by Disney) also makes great use of the new Flat Tile 1X1 ½ Circle, White element (found in a few Mixels sets) to get the shaping of the wings right at this scale. There's also some clever studs-not-on-top (SNOT) work - note the lime clip ring plate in the cockpit to connect the two 1x1 plate with tooth elements on the sides. Notice that (although I'm not sure how he did it - perhaps white clip ring plates attached to either side of the lime one?) the bottom set of wings is attached upside-down relative to the cockpit and top set of wings - a nice bit of symmetry that keeps the handle bar plates from marring the shape of the spaceship.
occasionally without skipping a beat. In this case, we see 
logos and iconography brilliantly added to a 
-style pod racer. The technique for the roughly life-size cans is particularly clever - and fortunately for coke fiends like myself, well detailed in the work-in-progress photos of this model. Building a round mosaic with a size requirement is an impressive feat, even without working it into a complete model concept. 
, 
, or 
.
