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Author Archives: admin
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Captain Spaulding built a scene from French writer Jules Verne’s science fiction novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. What makes this vignette a hit is the use of a framed ocean backdrop to to put the scene in context. The custom seaweed looks to be made from cut up sprue pieces. The effect is nice if you can overcome this non-purist technique.
Prettier with water
Water makes a lot of landscapes look better by giving them a sense of life and movement. In this diorama by Tom Simon, water is used to great effect in enhancing the look of the scene. In particular, the color gradient of the river and the widening flow of the waterfall are techniques that warrant imitation. With such great irrigation, I wonder why there are no crops in the field.
Arrested development
It’s been a while since I’ve blogged anything I’ve made but I’m fond enough of this one to put it up. Because if you’re around my age Neo Space Police I makes more sense than Neo Classic Space.
Many, many, many thanks to Pete Reid for this. It wouldn’t exist were it not for him.
Motorized Scania R500 recovery truck
Ralph Savelsberg (Mad physicist) has built a colorful and complex model of the Scania R500 recovery truck, featuring remote-controlled drive and steering. I love the half plate inset on the sides and the colored lines that run across the vehicle. As with Ralph’s style, you can see the exposed studs on the top that contributes to the sculptural quality of this model.
Check out the video to see the truck in action.
Battalion Aid Station, Normandy, June 1944
After I built my US Army Dodge WC54 ambulance, it deserved a proper historical context — a Battalion Aid Station in a ruined farmhouse courtyard.
In the US Army, Battalion Aid Stations are the first line of medical treatment after battlefield first aid by medics or fellow soldiers. Wars of the 20th-century saw many conscientious objectors serving as non-combatants in the American armed forces, often as medics. Army medics served heroically, charging into battle alongside their armed comrades. Eleven received the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of their actions in World War II.
My Battalion Aid Station is based on historical photographs from the Western Front in 1944 and 1945, after the Normandy Invasion on D-Day. Naturally, I had to convert a couple of the more immersive shots into black and white:
Though the muddy lane with the M3 half-track and hedgerow was an afterthought — one that nearly emptied my bin of plant pieces — I’m quite pleased with the result:
Because the subject matter fascinates me so much, I built a great deal of detail into this that you can’t see in a single photo. Check out the photoset on Flickr for more.
(I’ll be discussing some of the build process for my improved ambulance separately, because I think the role of constructive criticism in improving one’s models is something that deserves its own post.)
LEGO Mindstorms for Dummies
Product Description
The LEGO MINDSTORMS products are great fun for children and adults alike, and can be used in millions of different combinations to build interactive creatures. But the power of Dr. Frankenstein can be very confusing, and figuring out which of those 700 pieces goes where is a big challenge. LEGO MINDSTORMS For Dummies is the perfect answer, with insightful help that goes beyond the Constructopedia. Simple examples are used to convey complicated ideas, opening the doo… More >>
Lego pattern illusions
Of the many patterns by Katie Walker (eilonwy77), her offset square patterns are my favorites because they create the illusion of boxes flying out of the page.
The color variations in this one below create the illusion of height. Very clever.
Acrobattery
Ed Diment (Lego Monster) brings us an aircraft of a more terrestrial variety in his Red Bull Air Racer. The larger 1:22 scale allows some nice extra details and a smoother profile.
Heavy Corvette Thakrar
I have no idea what the name means, but that doesn’t make this ship any less awesome. Robb (Dasnewten) has graced us all with another fantastic creation.
It crams in myriad angles, as well as nooks and crannies. There’s also some great surface detailing mixed in, not too much, and not too little. The overall effect is quite believable as a functional space craft.
