Series 4 collectible minifigs are out in USA

Series 4 was not scheduled to be released until April, but is starting to appear in the USA. Check out the info at the minifigs mini-site at this link: minifigures.lego.com

Basketball LEGO

A lot of people like LEGO and basketball, but are not aware of the LEGO sets, players and parts that were out  around 2003, especially set like 3433 Ultimate Arena.

There is a great little stop-motion LEGO basketball short film, recreating some of the highlight clips from past games.

Video link is here: usatoday.com video greatest-ncaa-moments-recreated-with-legos

As USA Today says:


"Every year during the NCAA tournament, CBS puts together highlight clips of some of the greatest plays the tournament has ever seen. And though we are sure you've them all -- you've never seen clips like these. That's because the players, the coaches ... everything is made up of Legos. Yes, Legos. The best part, though, is that the video below is a pretty spot-on representation of the real plays they memorialize. Just a smaller court, smaller ball and, yea, the Lego players."

Minifig photography and light

Sometimes you have to follow your heart for your true career.


From a wonderful LEGO photographer known as Balakov, (real name Mike Stimpson).

From the UK, Mike is a self-confessed Lego geek and Star Wars fan, and when he isn't taking pictures, he's working as a computer programmer. Mike's Lego photography work has been featured in various magazines and UK newspapers, as well on TV for the BBC.


In his vast portfolio, Mike has 710 images of toys, and he regularly adds to the amount. His shots vary from reenacting famous movie stills, posters, and photos to Star Wars sets, as well as more general toy photography.

A LEGO reconstruction
of the  famous 1932 photograph
"Lunch atop a skyscraper"
taken by Charles Ebbets

Predominantley though, he photographs Lego Star Wars, with fun results.
In fact, he even has a book published with his Stormtrooper images inside, called "Stormtroopers, We Love You".
Link here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1449123


















There is a good interview with him, discussing his photographic techniques.

Link here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/222318/inside_the_mind_of_a_lego_photographer.html

Someone has a bigger minifig collection than me!

The world’s largest display of LEGO® Star Wars™ clone troopers was composed of 35,310 individual models and was built by LEGO® in Slough, U.K., on June 27, 2008


(via: http://amodularlife.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/a-special-treat-for-lego-star-wars-fans/

Details of more LEGO world records can be found here: http://www.recordholders.org/en/list/lego.html 

LEGO Star Wars III game - landing end of March in AU

Link here to the TV ad recently screened. LEGO Star Wars III trailer Very funny!

The engine used by previous Lego Star Wars games has been upgraded and can now handle over 200 movable objects on-screen. The graphics are more detailed than before and the lighting has been enhanced to give more feeling of depth.

The game also features scenarios in which players can command large armies of Clone Troopers to fight against 
the Droid Armies, and Story Swap mode, where players can swap between two characters in separate areas whose stories run simultaneously. The game will also include split screen combat, brand spanking new character features including lightsaber throwing, lightsaber slicing, picking up droids, and stepping on pads in which the Jedi can do combos to destroy objects. Vehicle levels have been upgraded, and now, players can land their ship and begin fighting on foot.


The game drops on all consoles on March 22 in the US, March 25 in Europe, and March 30 in Australia. 


(via: ComicBook Movie.com)

Nannan Zhang AFOL - Dallas News video interview

I have blogged about Nannan previously as a LEGO builder I greatly admire (see permanemt link to his photostream on lower right of the blog page). I just watched an interview with him showing off his collection at his parents' home in Plano Texas. It is always interesting to see how others sort, store and manage their LEGO parts collections. Nannan shows us his wall of drawers of LEGO and some of his early and recent creations at this link: dallasnews.com video Nannan Zhang





One of his recent MOCs is "The Phantom Cart", a LEGO 3D representation of Salvador Dali's painting. See the original and more info on Flickr at this link: flickr.com nannanz/5509195743/

via: brothers-brick.com 2011/03/08 

LEGO Parties and cakes - continued - LEGO cookies - how to

In recent blogs I had some LEGO themed birthday cakes and party ideas (pinata, bunting etc).
I just saw these LEGO biscuits/cookies, and followed the link back to the tutorial with pics.
These are NOT commercially manufactured. They are homemade.
The tutorial shows a great idea on how to get these professional-looking results. Link: LEGO-minifig-style cookies

New official LEGO USB drive

LEGO has officially launched their LEGO Minifigure USB Drive. Open the minifig from the middle to reveal the USB connector! The head is tethered to a keychain and the hands are movable. It will look a bit strange with a LEGO minifig coming out of your USB port!

The USB drive has a capacity of 2 GB, enough for everyday activities, but it is priced at US $24.99!.
Purchase from LEGO website, change your location to USA (as it is not available to order from AU yet).
USA LEGO site - LEGO® Minifigure 2GB USB Flash Drive

Knit a brick. A true LEGO brick!

A standard LEGO brick just does not do the job of holding a door (see left) so lizzyastro from the "instructables" ideas web site did something about it. She knitted a cover for a real brick, with bottle caps used to form teh stud shapes. The result is a real "LEGO brick"!









Instructions for how to make your own are at this link: How to knit a giant Lego brick doorstop


(Link via:  http://www.neatorama.com/2011/03/10/giant-knit-lego-brick-doorstop/)

LEGO mecha-elephant - poachers beware!

It's monsterbrick (Brandon Griffith) again - just posted on Flickr. It took me a while to spot the elephant inside! Of course - it is a mecha. (I featured monsterbrick's amazing Bionicle Cobra and his Star Wars chess set in September last year. (ref: http://blxbrx.blogspot.com/2010/09/bionicle-cobra.html).
For more of his current work go to this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/monsterbrick/

Another LEGO optical illusion

Winner of Guinness Book of Records for the world’s hardest Lego construction - the Penrose Triangle.

The picture to the left is available on a T-shirt by Spikerama, and can be bought through redbubble - link here: http://www.redbubble.com lego-of-my-brain


Try and make it yourself in LEGO. Instructions below:

LEGO optical illusions

Loking at this board, it is hard to believe your own eyes, but all the lines are straight! They appear to be curved but they are not.

Impossible bench

Escher's "Relativity"
details and bigger image, click here: http://www.andrewlipson.com/escher/relativity.html

Escher's "Balcony"
For details and enlarged pic click here: http://www.andrewlipson.com/escher/balcony.html

Escher's Waterfall
For larger image click here: http://www.andrewlipson.com/escher/waterfall.html

Impossible Arch

(via: http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/best-ever-lego-illusions/)

More optical illusions made in LEGO can be seen at Andrew Lipson's web site. Ckick here: http://www.andrewlipson.com/lego.htm

LEGO Pinhole Camera, and how it works

Flickr user Chase Lewis created this working pinhole camera using ordinary LEGO pieces for his high school film photography course.

Researching his design, he discovered this Shutter Mechanism below, and decided to use a modified version of it in his camera.

For details of how it was built, go to this link: foundphotography.com LEGO Pinhole camera



For another camera option, have a look at this web page: www.foundphotography.com updated-35mm-lego-camera-design/

LEGO March monthly mini model build

"The monthly mini model build has been a popular hands-on event in LEGO® Stores since 2009!

Can’t make it into a LEGO Store this month? (there are none in Australia - ed.)
Learn how to build this LEGO mini model from the comfort of your own home!


Click on this link here: Download the building instructions


– only available until March 8!"


or go to the mini model builds web page here: shop.lego.com Minibuilds

LEGO used to represent information

3D has been used effectively to represent data. This cartogram is a very effective representation of geographic data using LEGO. The map shows emigration or immigration numbers per country. The volume of LEGO bricks IN EACH COUNTRY represents the number of people who moved to or from the country.

LEGO can be used to represent timelines, projects, lots of ideas.

Information representation is best kept simple, and colour is powerful.
LEGO bricks are simple colourful modular units that lend themselves well. What could you do with them?

More pics and details at this link: infosthetics.com 3d_infographic_maps_built_with_lego 

LEGO costume - how to

The 5 finished home-made LEGO costumes

The author says it took about 40 to 50 hours to make all the costumes. 

For a good write-up and more photos of the building process. Click on the  here at  http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com/coolest-homemade-lego-minifigures-group-costume-18.html

For lots of photos of the making of the costumes go to the Flickr photostream here: LEGO costumes in progress and completed

Feature MOC builder: Crimson Wolf

Crimson Wolf - Swordfish II Monoracer (Dec 2010)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crimson_wolf/5287973519/in/photostream/lightbox/

Older stuff below (2008-2009) I really like it.
Many great ideas in smaller MOCs, also very diverse creations. See Crimson Wolf's full photostream here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crimson_wolf/with/3152018651/

Shinto Shrine (Dec 2008)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crimson_wolf/3105848181/in/photostream/

Judgement (Dec 2008)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crimson_wolf/3119178507/lightbox/

Mag-Lev Cycle 3

Mag-Lev Cycle 2-b

Mag-Lev Cycle 1-b

Jump Fighter (2008)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crimson_wolf/3113034895/

Ideas for new Collectible Minifigs in future series?

Email me at blxbrx@gmail.com if you have ideas that you would like to see in future Collectible Minifig series, and I will post your ideas here.
I will also pass them through to the local LEGO Ambassador, who says LEGO are interested to hear what is still wanted.


Some ideas I have already seen:
> -Old-time divers with the big round brass helmet and baggy suit
> -Soda jerk (guy with the little paper hat)
> -50's woman with beehive hairdo
> -Matador
> -Fishman (creature from black lagoon)
> -Rockabilly
> -Nerd
> -Ragdoll
> -Evil Space Queen (to go with retro robot)
> -Ballerina
> -Cowgirl
> -French courtesan (to go with musketeer)
> -30's/40's Flapper (to go with gangster)
> -Sasquatch (big foot)
> -Duckling costume
> -Chicken costume
> -Hippy
> -Hair rocker
> -Glam rocker
> -Scarecrow
> -Martian (nomal guy but green with antennae)
> -Goblin
> -Super heros (Legoman? Brickgirl?)
> -Scottish guy in kilt (with undies)
> -Victorian Lady (with bustle skirt)
> -Burglar (with balaclava)
> -Angel
> -Aladdin

Hillbilly

Bunny suit (like the gorilla suit)

Scientist (with long white lab coat)
Spanish/Mexican Dancing Girl (to go with Mexican)
The various Aliens from new theme
Game show host

TV/Movie Camera man
Jogger (with sweat band)

Rescue worker (orange overalls with checked pattern - think SES).
Ballerina
Tram or Train Driver and Conductors
British Palace Guard (with Bearskin hat)
Chinese Emperor
Sultan
Ethnic men and women:

• Eskimos 
• Arabs (Women could be in Burka)
• Australian Aboriginal dancer (with tribal markings)
• Maoris
• Zulus

> -Cyclist

> -Chinese warrior (like the hidden army)

> -Chariot driver

> -More ancient military ones (like Spartans and Centurions) to allow more variety in ancient armies ie different Roman or Greek soldiers.

> -Cleopatra

> -Zeus

> -Hercules

> -Poisedon

> -Amazons (female warriors)

Amazing LEGO facts

LEGO is the biggest manufacturer of tyres by volume: 306 million a year.

French company Michelin makes the most "real" tyres, though (200 million).


Goodyear are 2nd.

How To: LEGO Birthday Parties Ideas = Flickr group

If you want to do a LEGO birthday party theme, there are lots of possibilities, Some are quicker and easier than others. I showed a couple of LEGO-themed birthday cakes in earlier blogs. What else could you LEGO-ize?

Bunting, goodies bags, biscuits, cupcakes, pinata.
Then there are LEGO activities to do. Someone built a track to race the LEGO cars the guests made before

More ideas at these Flickr links: Flickr: Lego Birthday Parties and TTau Turns Five

Malaysian LEGOLAND - progress update

Taj Mahal, requiring 42,500 LEGO bricks and 3,000 man-hours to build

The builders are working day and night to complete 15,000 Lego model structures for the $256 million Legoland Malaysia, which is slated to open late next year.

Other iconic Asian structures you can expect to see include Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin buildings in the world. The Taj Mahal alone required 42,500 bricks and 3,000 man-hours to assemble.

The 31 ha attraction will be the sixth LEGOLAND theme park in the world and the only one in Asia. The five parks had a combined attendance of more than 6.5 million visitors last year.
Full article at this link: thejakartaglobe.com legoland-malaysia-to-open-next-year

Currently three future Legoland parks are being developed throughout the world. Legoland Malaysia is planned to open in Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia in 2012, and would be the first Legoland in Asia.^[3] Legoland Dubailand is planned to open in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was originally scheduled to open in 2011, but has since been delayed. In January 2010, Merlin Entertainments purchased the former Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida, with the intention of converting the former botanical garden and amusement park into Legoland Florida, which are expected to be opened at the last quarter of 2011. ref:Wikipedia , link: .wikipedia.org Legoland

Pricewatch LEGO - Myer, up to 30% off toys till 27 Feb

LEGO 30% off = 20% (+ 10% extra if you show MyerOne Card & the voucher (that Myer should have emailed to you). A voucher link is below. Offer expires Sunday 27 Feb 2011. Toys not available at Myer Forest Hill and Werribee. Details and copy of the voucher you can print are here: www.myer.com.au Voucher

Largest LEGO Mosaic: DK and the LEGO Group sets world record

At Shoreditch Town Hall in London, England  a team from LEGO Brick Association and DK team  completed a mosaic measuring 97.5 square metres, using 384,000 LEGO bricks and 1500 LEGO baseplates - which sets the new world record for the Largest Lego Mosaic. 

Read more details, and watch the video of its assembly at this link here: www.worldrecordsacademy.org largest_LEGO_mosaic