brickmania

Thanks for all the kind words. Most folks have been overwhelmingly supportive as this thread has shown. I've only just now decided to speak up because the number of people bootlegging my stuff has shot up considerably in recent months. There really isnt a huge amount of financial rewards for what I'm doing so must speak out to defend what little return I actually have coming to me. Just to be clear, I have NO problem with people reselling and of my kits or original instructions CDs or licensed versions thereof (the only kit I have licensed is 3739 Blacksmith Shop to Lego and my CD-rom to A & M productions). Once someone buys my kit they are free to resell it on eBay, donate it to a museum, break it up for parts, toss it in the trash or whatever they like. I DO have a problem with people making UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTIONS for sale or other public distribution. Sadly there are some people are manufacturing their own versions of my models and copying my instructions for resale. For the moment I'm just spreading the word that I don't approve of this activity because it hurts my ability to keep on doing it. Thanks again!

In recent months I have run across several people selling my kits and/or instructions without my permission. While I appreciate that my models and name have become marketable items, I do not appreciate that other people are using them to make money without sending me royalties, let alone bothering to ask my permission. Playing with Lego bricks is one of my foremost passions in life, but doing Brickmania kits also involves endless hours of just plain work. I have recently resigned my "real job" in order to fully concentrate on the new generation of Brickmania kits and instructions. With a family to support this means I have to be very conscious about making a positive return on my investment of time and money. When someone else is selling my products it takes away from the legitimate return I should be receiving for my time, skills and material expenses. With this in mind I am outlining my position on reproducing Brickmania's kits and instructions. 1. I control the copyright on all Brickmania instructions, kit packaging, website and all images contained therein. Permission is granted to make a backup or printout of my instructions for personal use only. Any other reproduction for sale, transfer or other distribution is not allowed except with my written permission. 2. My instructions and kits are intended for the end-user to build a model of my design for their own personal use and enjoyment. These designs are also my intellectual property and may not be resold or otherwise distributed without my written permission. In other words it is not OK to use my instructions—even if paid for them—to recreate my designs for resale. 3. My kits, models, instructions, web galleries (Flickr, MOC Pages, etc.) and web site content may not be reproduced in any other medium without my written permission. The exception being posting of images of models derived from my kits and instructions on personal web blogs and galleries. In this case I politely ask that credit be given for my design and a link provided back to http://www.brickmania.com. Faced with the prospect of not being able to put food in my kids' bellies I must insist that these guidelines be respected. Failure to comply with these may result in expulsion from the fair lands of Brickmania, legal action, an all-expenses paid vacation in federal prison, and/or a visit by the Brickmania goon squad.

Another excellent plane and your are definitely raising the bar again! I'll respond to your email about the book shortly... been really pressed for time these past few weeks and my in box is flooded!

Looks beautiful and I don'twant to take away from the fine job you did... but I have some recommendations to make it closer to the original car. 1. The lego train windows are the wrong shape for that car. I would suggest thin wall panels on their sides to shape the windows right. This negates your shortage of tan window frames and will let you make a much longer car. 2. Get rid of the opening doors. They are the also the wrong dimension (too wide) and real train doors open inwards, not out, I would recommend recessing a 2-wide door using jumpers and you'll just have to pretend it opens. 3. American trains don't have bumpers. Rebuild your boogies without them. OK, I'm new here so I don't want to come across as being a jerk on one of my first posts. These are simply honest suggestions.

Thanks and thanks! I'm already involved in a lot of online communities but I hope to find time to participate here too.

I currently happen to be working on a minifig scale type UBIII U-boat. Although this is a World War I design, it was the basis for the famous type VII of World War 2. My model is currently built down to only the waterline because I currently only need it for a picture prop. I will eventually build the rest of the hull and interior. There is a folder HERE on Flickr with details on how it was constructed.