How to Impress Your Parents With Lego

TFOLs (Teen/Tween Fans Of Lego) and UFOLs (Underage Fans Of Lego [9 and under]) are often disappointed by their parent’s reaction to the latest cool creation they either build or find online.  Non-Lego fans simply do not understand the rules of Lego and the effort that goes into any creation.  I cannot blame them–you cannot fully appreciate Lego unless you have built Lego yourself.  But still we want out parents to be amazed by the wonders of amazing Lego creations.  This guide highlights some types Lego creations and qualities found in Lego creations that cause a parent’s increased awe.  If you are a TFOL or UFOL and have your parent nearby, I suggest you invite them to read this post with you.  I will include an example of each item.

1. Brickfilms

Stop-motion animation with Lego is very popular.  Parents love the idea and think it is amazing that you can make a movie, of all things, with Lego.  Here is an old example built by rymdrelage to promote the song “8- Bit Trip”:

 

You should probably stop for a moment now to pick your mom or dad’s jaw off the floor.

Thanks to Fasinating Lego Model of The Day.

2. Robotics/Motion

You can find hordes of robotic creations online if you know where to look.  Most are made from the Mindstorms or NXT Lego robotic kits, but if that is out of your price range (NXT 2.0 costs $279.99) you can buy Power Functions Motors. 

Robots and vehicles are great, but think out-of-the-box like NeXTORM:

Amazing, right?

Thanks to The Brothers Brick.

3. Huge Size

Anything is more impressive if it’s gigantic.  Although most people don’t have enough bricks to make something the size of this model of the battleship Yamato, by Jumpei Mitsui, you can always build something impressive with what elements you do have.

Statistics:

Length: 6.6 meters (22 feet) from bow to stern

Width: 1 meter (3 feet) at the widest point midship

Scale: 1/40

Time to complete: 6 years, 4 months

Parts: 200,000 LEGO elements

Weight: 150 kilograms (330 pounds)

Thanks to The Brothers Brick.

4. Creative and Original Build

Think: is a Toa really anything new?  Is a spaceship truly noteworthy?  Haven’t you built lots of custom minifigures before?  Parents may tire of seeing the same old type of creation over and over again.  But a Bionicle lobster?  They’ve never seen that before.

So there you have it- the basics on how to impress your parents with Lego.  Now go forth and build!

Aww, Cute!

By using a combination of Bionicle, System, and Technic, I have created an adorable mouse.

It gets better.  More cute pictures are on MOCpages.  Go on, click the link.

Run! Your food will eat you!

Never let a mad scientist cook your Thanksgiving Dinner.

More pictures on MOCpages.

The BTT Wrap- Up

First of all, after a lot of confusion, Klocki has finally got their poll working.  Today (October 27, 2009) is the last day to vote. (Hopefully for my Medieval Mobile Oil Drill!)

Secondly, I have created two possible entries to the Brick Transport Tycoon Second Challenge.  My question: What if space travel had been invented in medieval times?  Well, for one thing Jousting would be very different.

JoustKing 2009- more pictures on MOCpages

 

JoustMaster 2009- more pictures on MOCpages

I think I’ll enter the JoustMaster 2009.  It’s has a more eye- catching photo.

I Beg of You…

It occurs to me now that I never posted my Brick Transport Tycoon entry on my blog.  Therefore, I present to you the one and only Medieval Mobile Oil Drill!

Find more pictures and the backstory here and here on MOCpages.

Please, please, please vote for this creation here!  For some reason my creation is called “More Pictures of Medieval Mobile Oil Drill” on Klocki, but it’s still my creation!

One-Kit Wonders Set 10193 Medievil Market Village

I recently bought  Midievil Market Village.  Despite the fact that it was missing several pieces (customer service was very friendly and sent me the missing pieces via pick-a-brick) I present you with these MOCs made exclusively from Medieval Market Village.

First, Medieval Military Princess Transport:

 

Secondly, a steampunk version of set 8014 Clone Walker Battle Pack:

Here’s a vignette entitled, for lack of a better name, “Pike Fishing accident”:

Each of my sisters built something as well.

A nice cottage on stilts:

And a farm scene:

That’s all I (and my sisters) made.  Of course, my head is brimming with more ideas, but I had to pirate the pieces for my Brick Transport Tycoon entry- which I will soon blog.

One-Kit Wonders Set 5610

I challenged myself to build something only out of the pieces from set 5610. This is what I got:

A tri-wheeled cement cannon.  It’s hard to make a MOC from a impulse set.

Flying Lizards

 

This is a Pterodactyl skeleton that I built.  In all honesty, were it green, it could be a live pterodactyl.

This model also demonstrates the difference between the new and old ball joint ball pieces (parts 4286267, new, and x201 [full piece number unknown], old).  This picture shows the elements better.

 

Both elements, of course, can fit into ball sockets and be stuck on the end of a x axle.  But each of them also have a few unique qualities.  The older version can fit a stud (see the pterodactyl’s neck) and has a x axle opening on only one end- giving it a rounder look, like a cannonball.  Standard lego builders find this version of the piece more useful.

The new version is known for its ability to have a x axle stuck entirely through it.  This makes it invaluable as a bionicle knee and elbow joint, as demonstrated countless times on Bioniblog.  It cannot, however, fit a stud.

Neither element sd more useful than the other in general- both element’s usefulness, like any element’s usefulness, is governed by situation and creativity.

Mickey D’s Got Lego

McDonald’s recently gave out Lego Racer Happy Meal toys.  The sets came with three bulky pieces custom- made for McDonalds- a bit of a letdown.  I remember the days when McDonald’s gave away actual Lego elements,  not one-piece Bionicle figurines or simple, three piece cars.

At any rate, I attempted to use a McDonald’s Lego Racer piece in a creation.  Kudos to you if you can guess what it is before I  tell you.

 

 

Give up?  It’s an Albino Hammerhead Shark.  Hear’s another view:

As President Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”…

…or crossbow.

I present to you my first published vignette, ”Out-armed”.

Sir Rascus’ sly, somewhat amused expression fits perfectly into the scene.  This angle better displays Vladak’s surprise:

Rascus’ crossbow was a bit of a challenge.  The dragons-head piece below the spear isn’t actually connected- it just sits there.