Pricewatch LEGO - Catch of the Day - Atlantis & SW Slave 1 - 50% off

http://www.catchoftheday.com.au LEGO - almost sold out!

Lego Star Wars and Atlantis Sellout!

Huge savings - 50% off!

Three sets to choose from. Make your selection at checkout!

• Option A: Atlantis Exploration HQ - RRP $79.99, today just $39.99!
• Option B: Atlantis Portal of Atlantis - RRP $159.99, today just $79.99!
• Option C: Star Wars Slave I - RRP $149.99, today just $69.99!

Finding Lego sets for cheap is no easy task, but fortunately we've been able to do the finding for you. Tonight you can choose from three awesome Lego sets and save 50% off the normall RRP

More info at the link here: catchoftheday LEGO

LEGO model of the day at blxbrx - Lasse's Bowling Alley

Great detail in this piece, right down to little things like the coats hanging in the coat check room, made from torsos (see right side of the toilet photo), the snack food and the air hockey table in the top pic.

See the original photos and more in more detail at this link: Bowlingcenter build by Anne Mette Vestergard Lasse) at brickshelf.com

Collectible Minifigures Series 4 (CMF4) - tips & tricks to pick them

Ok - I will be trying to find the most reliable cheat sheet for the bump codes before they are released in Australia. There are uneven numbers of each figure in a box (details below), so some are rarer than others, and the rare ones will be sought out by those with "cheat sheets".


From that guy on fbtb.com:
 "Just picked up three cases from a TRU nearby. Distribution in each case I have is as follows:
    3 Viking    4 Skater    4 Artist    4 Hazmat    5 Rocker    4 Frankenstein
    3 Mustekeer   4 Soccer    5 Werewolf    5 Sailor   4 Surfer Girl
    3 Fishing Gnome    3 Hockey    4 Geisha    3 Figure Skater    2 Mad Scientists
  P.S. the dot coding system is back in effect, in fact I feel like the dots are more pronounced so far"


Meanwhile, there are some guidelines coming out of the US for how to pick each figure in the sealed bags:

From Rook, on fbtb.com:
 "Yeah the Hazmat Guy (helmet) and Japanese Girl (2x2x2 slope: dress) are the easiest to feel.
 List of easiest items to feel (for me):
   Hazmat Guy: Helmet,   Japanese Girl: Dress (2x2x2 slope),  Artist: Brush,   Wolf Man: Bone,

   Frankenstein: Hard to tell but hair piece is the only thing different.   Musketeer: Sword,   Sailor: Scope
   Hockey Guy: Hockey stick,   Viking: Shield,   Skater Boy: Skateboard,  Soccer Player: Trophy
   Ice Dancer: Ice skate with no hockey stick in bag,  Surfer Girl: Surf Board,  Gnome: Fishing pole
   Punk: Guitar,  Scientist: Unknown (I assume rubber hair)"

From Lich_Barrister on fbtb.com:
  "The scientist's flask is easy to distinguish if you're not sure on the hair
    (is it the Hazmat top? The hockey pads?) and a sure shot."


From Prince Kahuka on fbtb.com:
   "I thought the Crazy Scientist was fairly easy to find, precisely because the hair is soft rubber and easy to feel for since it's probably the only squishy Series 4 piece. The Punk Rocker mohawk, on the other hand, is a hard rubber (it has a little flex to it but not much)"


From jasonjunker on fbtb.com:
   "The Crazy Scientist is the toughest to find since there are only 2 per box. 
    The hair on the scientist is soft rubber, like the Punk Rocker mohawk..."

Collectible Minfigures Series 4 - cheat sheet / bump codes

Series 4 (orange) is already in Toys'R'Us, Fred Meyer & Kroger stores in the US, selling for US$2.99, if you know people in the USA. They are yet to be distributed to the US Target stores.
Meanwhile several guides to the bumps on the bottom edge are out. You can google 'LEGO "Series 4"' with 'bump' or 'cheat' and check a few out. I will verify them when I have my own bags to open & check against. This list is developed by minifigcollector.com:

Early versions of the sheets are usually less than perfect, and most people find the dot sheets hard to work with in the stores. I will verify them ASAP and post better charts as they come up. Click here for link for a bigger version to print off: minifigcollector.com (bumpcodes-series4.png)

Catch of the Day - Lego Star Wars Clone Turbo Tank again 50% RRP

They have re-listed this, again at 50% off and very low postal charge of $6.95 to all states of Australia. This is the same deal I listed for 24 hours last Saturday. Re-listed and just under 14 hours left at the time I am posting this! For more info or to buy, click on this link here: catchoftheday.com.au Clone Turbo Tank
. 

LEGO World Record - ball contraption video

 Seven LEGO enthusiasts set out to create the world's largest Great Ball Contraption and broke a record while doing so. In all, they used 93 modules to build this impressive gadget.


Have a look at video of this great record-breaking design at this link: Video: World's largest Great Ball Contraption

PriceWatch LEGO - Catch of the Day 50% off RRP SW Clone Tank

Lego Star Wars Clone Turbo Tank

RRP $239.99 - today just $120! Save 50%! (incl GST)

plus postage ($6.95 to all states)

Stop Cad Bane with the Jedi Knights and the Turbo Tank!

Loaded with lasers, cannons and missiles, the Clone Turbo Tank rolls through Separatist opposition, just like in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Stop the ruthless bounty hunter Cad Bane from sabotaging it with the forces of Anakin Skywalker, Ahosoka and Jedi Knight Aayla!

• Includes:
  • 7 minifigures: Anakin Skywalker, Ahosoka and Jedi Knight Aayla, Cad Bane, 2 Clone Troopers, and battle droid
• Realistic details such as moveable guns, foldable scout walker, dual cockpits and panels that open to reveal a loaded interior
• Carry the Clone Turbo Tank with the sturdy, pop-up handle
• Tank goes anywhere with flexible suspension and wheels that turn with model
• 45cm in length and 20cm height

Link here: www.catchoftheday.com.au (LEGO Clone Tank)

What would your school look like in LEGO?

A 12-year-old boy has built a model of his Merseyside school using 10,000 Lego bricks.

Laurence Duncan, who wants to be a structural engineer, spent 10 months recreating Merchant Taylors' Boys' School in Crosby (UK). His school was one of the first buildings that came to mind. "It seemed simple at the beginning," he said. "But then all the detail had to come in and that took a long time."

Laurence, who spent about two-and-a-half hours a week on the model, is now starting work on his next project - a motorised scooter. More at BBC News here: bbc.co.uk/news

Images of new Harry Potter sets due June 2011

Images of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II sets, including the Battle at Hogwarts and the duel between Harry and Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest. The sets, out this June, will feature: a forest tree, Voldemort and Harry with wands at the ready, and Bellatrix Lestrange, Nagini the snake, and Hagrid in the background.


The second Deathly Hallows: Part II-related LEGO set is the aptly-named Battle of Hogwarts; the set includes two Hogwarts turrets and Astronomy Tower, and a variety of characters including Harry, Neville Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Lucius Malfoy, Professor McGonagall, Gregory Goyle, and a dementor.


The third and final set (picture not shown here) is the Knight Bus set from Prisoner of Azkaban, featuring Harry, Stan Shunpike, and driver Ernie Prang before the huge three-decker bus.

The LEGO sets were first revealed at the 2011 Toy Fair earlier this year.


For more details and higher resolution pics in their gallery, go to this link: snitchseeker.com harry-potter-news

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/