Next Camberwell Sunday Market is this Sunday Jan 2, 2011

See you there! (Happy New Year to all!) Best wishes for 2011.

LEGO Compass - without a magnet!?

"A compass that doesn't need a magnetic needle? That might sound impossible, but the ancient Chinese worked out how to make one 4500 years ago.  An ingenious combination of gears and wheels ensures that a "pointing chariot" features a needle that always points in the same direction. Now you can make one too—from Lego bricks."  New Scientist TV.


I didn't know the Chinese had LEGO 4,500 years ago!

In earlier blog entries I have shown you LEGO creations that are working computers (Babbage) and a LEGO reconstruction of the enigmatic Antikythera mechanism, but another ancient machine has now been recreated (and works) made in LEGO.


Go to the original New Scientist TV web page to see video of it working, and links to kits of parts, parts lists, and instructions on how to build the "pointing chariot" step-by-step. Link here: newscientist.com no-magnet-compass-out-of-lego

NEW - Police Minifigure Collection (set # 7279) at LEGO S@H

New minifig collections, available now from LEGO Shop at Home (S@H) for AU $14.99. Details at shop.lego.com set 7279  Before you order, remember there are postage charges (from $25 to $45 standard post = 13 business days) on top of the purchase price, so it pays to buy several things from S@H at once, and share that postage. (post cost details at shop.lego.com shipping_and_handling)

Les Paul Standard in LEGO - by mondayn00dle

Les Paul Standard

This is such a great work of LEGO art. It was not until I looked at the large scale photo at flickr Les Paul Standard that I saw the White Wedge, Plate 4 X 2 Right piece and understood the scale and detrail achieved. Superb! See more from mondayn00dle (Brian Kescenovitz) at mondayn00dle's flickr photostream including the haunting "Broken" and the funny "Housecleaning" which is also known as "Nine lives, ten rockets... do the math"

Housekeeping - or  "Nine lives, ten rockets... do the math"

Thrilling Dusk: A LEGO® creation by Rags naRock : MOCpages.com

Thrilling Dusk: A LEGO® creation by Rags naRock : MOCpages.com: "Branson Air Truck".

Animated GIFs show fantastic detail and moving parts. A great way to display your own creation. He has also made comments on how he did the animations, so you can try it too. Another thing alot of people appreciate is a "back-story", where you are given the (fictional) background of this vehicle. He has done it well at the link above.
(via brothers-brick truckin-in-air)

LEGO film by Kieran Phillips of Warrandyte in State Finals

A SHORT stop-motion film featuring Lego characters by Warrandyte lad Kieran Phillips has been commended in a statewide environmental short film competition.
To see the film, go to this link: Futureshots - It's Their World But It's Our Choice
(via Manningham Leader, ref: Manningham Leader article)

NEW! First Ninjago minifig sets arrived in Target Camberwell today!

Become a master of Spinjitzu! (Kai = Set # 2111)

Spin your way to victory and become a Spinjitzu master! Quick to anger, even quicker to act and armed with his golden sword, Kai is ready to battle for weapons and glory! Use the 4 battle cards included in the set to influence the outcome. Set includes 1 minifigure, 1 orange fire spinner, 3 weapons, 1 character card, 4 battle cards and LEGO bricks.

• Includes Kai minifigure
• Features 1 orange fire spinner, 3 weapons, 1 character card, 4 battle cards and LEGO bricks
• Battle with your friends!
• Spin Kai on the orange fire spinner!
• Collect all of the Ninjago battle sets!
• Stands over 2” (5cm) tall

Help Cole to master Spinjitzu! (Cole = Set # 2112)

Spin your way to victory and become a Spinjitzu master! Calm, steadfast, very strong and armed with his golden staff, Cole is prepared to battle for weapons and glory! Use the 4 battle cards included in the set to influence the outcome. Set includes 1 minifigure, 1 green earth spinner, 3 weapons, 1 character card, 4 battle cards and LEGO bricks.

• Includes Cole minifigure
• Features 1 green earth spinner, 3 weapons, 1 character card, 4 battle cards and LEGO bricks
• Battle with your friends!
• Spin Cole on the green earth spinner!
• Collect all of the Ninjago battle sets!
• Stands over 2” (5cm) tall

There are at least 3 different sets available now. (I have shown 2 of them above). They are priced at AU$16 for each set.

Go and ask for Tchien (Manager of  Toy section) at Camberwell Target ASAP!

The link to LEGO's Ninjago web page is here: ninjago at lego.com 

Pricewatch LEGO - Myer - TOYS for up to 2/3 full price.

Myer Chadstone had a photocopied flyer in front of their Chadstone store saying:
"Xmas Offers. Toys. 3rd toy Free when you buy 2 toys in one transaction. Third item must be of equal or lesser value. Excludes nursery, consoles & console games. Offers available Tuesday 21st December to Friday 24th December"
Maybe also their other stores, but it may be worth a phone call to Myer to check!

What do you call over a million LEGO bricks that bite?

A VERY great white shark (made of  LEGO). There is a new exhibition just opened at the Sydney Aquarium for the next 12 months called On The Loose. Link to minisite is here: On The Loose exhibition

Australia's own LEGO Certified Professional (Ryan McNaught) went to Sydney to help with the installation, and has posted a series of behind-the-scenes photos up on Flickr at this link: flickr photos from ryan mcnaught

Jaws!

Jaws!, originally uploaded by TheBrickMan.

Ryan McNaught pretending to hold up the huge LEGO shark as it arrives to be displayed at the Sydney Aquarium exhibition called "On The Loose"

Another angel, but too big to hang on a Christmas tree

David Winkler created this huge and very detailed angel. I had not seen it before (it is from 2005), and I thought I would share it with you. David wrote about his model: "Original mesh courtesy of Stanford University, based on scans of a replica of the Italian sculpture "Bringer of Light". The physical Lego artifact built from these plans won the Brickfest2005 sculpture category."

He has also created it in the LEGO CAD software LDraw.

"LDraw™ is an open standard for LEGO CAD programs that allow the user to create virtual LEGO models and scenes. You can use it to document models you have physically built, create building instructions just like LEGO, render 3D photo realistic images of your virtual models and even make animations. The possibilities are endless. Unlike real LEGO bricks where you are limited by the number of parts and colors, in LDraw nothing is impossible."

ref: LDraw.org home page. For more info on LDraw, the link to that page is here: 

ldraw.org (home)

Christmas table - LEGO place card holders

Also from zakka, for your Christmas table. Maybe a different LEGO minifig for each (matching that person?)

Link here to original article: zakkalife lego-place-card-holders

More LEGO Christmas tree ornament ideas

Some simple ideas today. You just need fishing line and some LEGO blocks or minifigs.

Original article and pics found here:
   zakkalife lego-christmas-ornaments

LEGO Star Wars III game

Lego Star Wars 3 is an action/adventure game that takes place between Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith in the Star Wars timeline. The story pulls both from the films and from the successful CGI Cartoon Network TV series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

"Lego Star Wars 3 is larger in scale than any Lego game before it. The developer can get up to 300 Legos on screen at once for huge, epic battle scenes or space fights, creating a real sense of chaos and urgency in some of the high points of the story plot. We saw the arena from the end of Attack of the Clones recreated using over a hundred different Legos on screen at once all fighting each other - and it looked almost as chaotic as the scene from the movie felt." (Gamepro)

There are a few new Jedi abilities, such as being able to throw lightsabers around like projectiles or use the force to lift battle droids and utilize their gunfire. Clonetroopers come in several flavors, too, including some armed with chainguns and others with rocket launchers.

One of the Clone Wars’ new gimmicks is something that LucasArts is calling Scene Swap, allowing players to swap back and forth between pairs of action sequences running at the same time.

More details and info:

 Official Lucas Artswebsite for legostarwarsiii

Gamepro website

Gameinformer website

Release Date: mid Feb 2011

New link added - printable dot ID sheet for Series 3 minifigs

Check out the Series 3 ID sheet for the new dots system (replacing the barcodes).
at http://www.itsalltrue.net/?p=10415&page=2
You can click on the page to get a printable version. I have also put up a link to the printable version in my Useful Links (bottom right)

More LEGO official website Christmas instructions

Last week I showed you the wreath, candle and angel from the LEGO festivefun webpage. Go to this link for the instructions for these and also for the LEGO reindeer, snowman, presents, bell and more, all with PDF instructions. Link:  LEGO festivefun

LEGO Pricewatch - Target

Lego Fire Station 7208

$89.00

Save $51

More LEGO in the full catalogue, details here - click on link: LEGO in Target catalogue, sale from 15 Dec 2010

Lego Technic Mobile Crane 8053

 $99.00 (Save $81 / 45%)

More Target bargains - link here:LEGO in the new Target catalogue

blxbrx LEGO models of the day - by Henrik Hoexbroe

Mark Twain sternwheel river boat as used in Disneyland. 130 studs long. Minifig scale

Tonight I saw the paddlesteamer (which is a bit older), then I came across the Cutty Sark. Incredible detail, made from LEGO. I didn't believe it was LEGO until I saw the closeups at MOCpages

   (link: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/240551)

and on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/hxmiesa/5241099003/in/photostream/

Show your LEGO Speeder Bike (LSB) at Brickvention 2011?

Did you see my Speeder Bike competition blog posting yesterday? (They re offering a 1st prize of a Speeder Bike with Chrome Stormtrooper)

Is anyone interested in making a Speeder Bike of their own design?
I might arrange to show a group of them at Brickvention 2011 on Jan 15/16 2011.
Email me at blxbrx@gmail.com if you are interested in your design being on display in the Melbourne Town Hall on Jan 16th 2011, for 5000 LEGO fans to see!

What is a Speeder Bike? "Basically a speeder bike is a motorcycle which can fly and therefore needs no wheels."
   ref: http://www.flickr.com/groups/976016@N24/discuss/72157625382203643/
" There are enough examples for what qualifies as a speeder bike here in the photo pool."
    The Speeder Bike photo pool on Flickr is linked here: Flickr LSB pool

LEGO model of the day at blxbrx

Andy's Room from Toy Story 2 by pepa_quin. This pic is just part of an brilliant diorama.

You MUST see the detail in this, including the amazing bedspread. (30 photos) at Flickr. Link: flickr pepa_quin Andys Room
This came to me via "Fascinating LEGO Model of the Day" (Dec 11)
LMOTD is a great site! See it change every day at this link: lmotd or access it from my Useful Links area on lower right of this blog.

LSB - LEGO Speeder Bikes. Competition. Watch, or enter yourself.

2009 3rd prize, by T. Oeschner

Do you like LEGO Speeder Bikes? There is a group on Flickr focussed on them.
   Link: flickr LEGO Speeder Bikes photo pool
There is a competition just started on Flickr. It runs to 31 Dec 2010, for the best LEGO Speeder Bike design.
Details of the 2010 competition went up 2 days ago here: 2010 Competition Rules
For ideas, have a look at the Flickr Speeder pool above, and also at last years's competition winners at this link: 2009 LEGO Speeder Bike winners
For more of Tom Oeschner's great LEGO work, including his 2010 entry & a useful building technique, go to this link: Flickr TOechsner

blxbrx LEGO model(s) of the day

Well, it is actually 193 models today. I could not show enough detail if I put them all in 1 photo here. See them all & more at the links below.
193 is how many Vic Vipers were built and collected for Nnovvember 2010. (The double "n" & "v" are deliberate: the VV is for Vic Vipers & the NN honours Nate "nnenn" Neilson). nnenn pioneered Vic Vipers, & started the traditional build of them in November).

What is a Vic Viper? "Starfighters  inspired from the Gradius games, with: 1) Single dorsal tail, 2) Dual forward prongs, 3) Rear lateral wings."  Links:

See detail of the models in detail here (link: flickr Vic Vipers group pool).
What is a Vic Viper: Free Vic Vipers nline instruction course 
nnenn's photostream here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nnenn/
More about nnenn here: lmotd pays respects to nnenn & his vic-vipers

Inside a LEGO factory, preparing a giant exhibition

This is just part of the huge Lego display, entitled On The Loose, that will open on December 22 at Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife World. See the people on the right behind Crocodile Dundee's arm to know how big it is! More detail in the original story. Click here: dailytelegraph.com.au - its-stacks-of-fun-with-mega-lego

Sun 12 Dec is last open day before Christmas for Camberwell Sunday Market

The Sunday Market is closed on Sunday 19 December for all stalls.
"the Council does not permit us to trade on any Sunday within 10 days before Christmas",
   ref: http://www.sundaymarket.com.au/Default.aspx?p=5 
I am back open again on 26 Dec - Boxing Day when the Sunday Market re-opens.
I will be there for all the kids (and adults) who were given cash for a Christmas present so they can buy LEGO!

LEGO Christmas ideas: If you like Christmas, LEGO and Star Wars, then ...

If you like Christmas, LEGO and Star Wars, what could be better than...
.... a LEGO Death Star Christmas tree bauble!

I highlighted the work of Powerpig (Chris McVeigh) over at Gizmodo in an earlier blog (scroll down later), but he says, "A little surprise for you all. I hadn’t intended to do anymore Build It Yourself projects this year, but once this idea popped into my head, I couldn’t let go of it! The Death Star ornament is a fairly intricate build, but it’s a lot of fun. " Go to his web site for more detail, & instructions in LEGO Digital Designer 4.0 on how to build it. Link Powerpig , article found via  Powerpig at gizmodo

Pricewatch LEGO

Target 20% off all toys. So series 2 minifigs are only $3.00 each.
Not many of them left at Target Camberwell (3 boxes, lots of mimes)

Christmas LEGO - a really big Advent Calendar

24 Days of LEGO Christmas is the name of this LEGO model. It was created by brick_a_brad and this whole building is one giant advent calendar. You can look at future "days" now, by zooming in on the rooms in the linked main  version of this picture (link: flickr brickabrad lightbox, or you can see the rooms revealed day-by-day at their web page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brickabrad/sets/72157625352594180/

It was found through one of my favourite sites - http://lmotd.blogspot.com/ (Fascinating LEGO Model of the Day):  "This was part of an even larger project for a few toy store windows, and you can see some behind-the-scenes photos and photos of the other parts of the displays in this photo set. You can see much of this model already, and there are also some bits in LEGO Digital Designer showing the design process for this model and the ski lift scene."

LEGO Christmas - MisaQa's angels at Flickr - link

To see her series of angels in detail, go to this link here:

   MisaQa's angels on Flickr

LEGO Christmas building ideas

(LEGO's website with PDF instructions to download)
"Download inspirational ideas to make the most of your LEGO^® bricks this festive season.  With 8 ideas to start with, and more added every week, waiting for the holidays has never been so fun"
Link for more ideas, and the pdf instructions is here:lego.com (festivefun) 

! 

Lots more ideas, and more being added 

Christmas LEGO ideas at blxbrx every day now

I will regularly link to Christmas themed LEGO ideas over the next 3 weeks or so.

I saw this Angel Tree at the Fascinating LEGO Model of the Day and had to tell you all about it too.

There are lots of close up pictures. Easy to make candles.
Go to this link for more:http://lmotd.blogspot.com/
This builder (MisaQa) is VERY good. I will add a link in my favourite builders links section if you want to see more later on, or click here now: MisaQa collections on Flickr

Lots of ninjas - New series Ninjago in 2011

For an introduction click on this link:
     http://ninjago.lego.com/en-gb/default.aspx?icmp=COHomeNewsUKNinjago

See the real Series 3 Collectible Minifigs at Camberwell.

My first 9 of the new set have arrived today. The real things are SO good!
I have numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14 & 15 so far.

Check them out at Camberwell Market on this Sunday!

LEGO model of the day - Will.I.Am at the AMA

LEGO is not always considered cool, especially after a certain age.

Meanwhile one very cool guy - will.i.am from the Black-Eyed Peas - shows his appreciation of LEGO. will.i.am wore this LEGO hat & LEGO bling around his neck at the AMA - American Music Awards - recently in November, where they performed as feature artists and collected top award

More pics at this link here: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/dTurIATnrMK/2010+American+Music+Awards+Show/G6yC9O6LbG3/will.i.am

If you are an AFOL, you are not alone.

The Brickvention 2011 website (see my links) refers to AFOLs. If you haven't heard of that before, it stands for Adult Fans of LEGO.
There is a good blocumentary by Jess Gibson, featuring several AFOLs.
"Passion combines with creativity in this documentary that features a selection of AFOLs (Adult Fans Of LEGO) from the Pacific NorthWest."
Check it out at this link: http://vimeo.com/9581676

blxbrx LEGO model of the day - Tron (original) Light Cycles & how to

It is not a new model (Aug 2009). When I was looking on Flickr for a good LEGO model based on the new Tron Legacy film (coming soon) I found this simple clean design. The bonus is - there are instructions (6 pics) on how to build your own cycle. Click this link: 2x4's Flickr photostream

blxbrx LEGO model of the day - Babbage's Difference Engine (in LEGO)

A working hand-cranked Difference Engine made using LEGO® pieces

What is a "Difference Engine"?

Before the day of computers and pocket calculators all mathematics was done by hand.

Many machines of various designs were built, but the most advanced and famous of these was not. The Babbage Difference Engine.

Because of engineering issues as well as political and personal conflict the Babbage Difference engines' construction had to wait until 1991 when the Science Museum in London decided to build the Babbage Difference Engine No.2 for an exhibit on the history of computers.

by Andrew Carol

This is the 3rd generation of Babbage Difference Engine made with LEGO. It is modeled after Babbages Difference Engine #1. The 3rd generation operates five times faster than the 2nd generation.

This machine can evaluate polynomials of the form Ax^2 + Bx + C for x=0, 1, 2, …n with 3 digit results.

A new answer is produced every 20 turns of the crank: 10 turns of the crank adds the bottom two digit register into the middle two digit register. The next 10 turns of the crank adds the middle two digit register into the top three digit accumulator, yielding the next result.

For more details, history, & what a difference engine is, as well as more photos and videos of it working, go to this link: LEGO Difference Engine .

Andrew Carol has also built an Antikythera Mechanism (Eclipse Predictor) made with LEGO 

This machine, modeled after the ancient Greek original, can calulate the date and time of solar and lunar eclipses over a hundred year period. It is an analog computer with over 100 gears and 7 differential gearboxes. It is accurate to a day or two over it's range.

Pricewatch LEGO - Toys R Us - Buzz 1/2 price

ToysRUs is doing this set for $34.99 until 9th Dec.

ToysRUs says this is half price, but LEGO ShopAtHome (online) has them at $59.99, & their price is usually about RRP.

Other LEGO specials on p18 of the ToysRUs catalogue at the link: toys-r-us catalogue to 9 Dec