[MOC] Back to the Future DeLorean Time Machine and Jules Verne Time Train

[Goonmo]

Hello all,

Like many others, I was very excited to see Back to the Future enter into the lego world with 21103. For me, the coolest part of that set was the ability to have the time machine look like it did in all three films. Over time, though, the look of the set really started to take a toll on my opinion of it as a whole. The model was way too chunky and proportions were way off. It didn't look like a DeLorean at all.

I started looking at other MOCs to look at different techniques and gather inspiration, but most MOCs suffered from the same problems. They're usually too large or too fragile. Inspiration was also taken from Speed Champions. Lego is usually able to fit a large amount of detail in such a small model, and I felt like techniques used in these sets would be the best for capturing the details of the DeLorean. With this year's shift to 8 stud wide cars that could fit two minifigs, this MOC started to take form.

I didn't need the car to have all the bells and whistles. I was fine with the doors not opening, and I don't think it's possible to have the wheels fold down into hover mode in a good way in minifig scale. I just wanted it too look like a DeLorean, fit both Doc and Marty at the same time, and be able to switch between the looks of all three films.

I started with an 8 stud wide model based off the new Speed Champions chassis, but it felt way too big, so I took the challenge of making it 7 stud wide instead. Here's a view of the bottom so you can see how the base of the model is constructed.

Like I said, I wanted to be able to make the car look like it did in all three films, just like the original set. Here's the time machine as it appears in Part II, with Mr. Fusion, the hover conversion, and barcode license plate.

...And the Part III version. I'm really waiting on Lego to release the Speed Champions wheels in red. Maybe the white ones in 76897 could be combined with other parts to look like white walls, I'll have to mess around with it eventually and see. Also, not pictured, but the wheels can be swapped out with part 55423, although I'm fairly certain the chassis construction is too wide to fit on standard Lego train tracks, which makes it incompatible with something we'll get to later...

Here's a couple shots of the interior. I tried to be as accurate as possible and incorporate the original printed pieces from 21103.

I'm pretty happy with where the MOC sits at this point. The only things I can think of at the moment that I would want to change are the Part III wheels, and it would be great for Lego to release a windshield piece that would fit the DeLorean well. I'm thinking a 6 stud wide piece that tapers to 4 studs wide at the top, like a smaller version of 19212.

My other major frustration with Lego Back to the Future is Lego's reluctance to dive deep into the theme. I know we have two Dimensions packs and the BrickHeadz, but all of these focus on the same versions of Doc and Marty and all of them mainly focus on the first film. Back in 2013, Lego Cuusoo user m.togami (who submitted what became 21103) submitted the Jules Verne Time Train from Back to the Future Part III. It ended up achieving 10,000 supporters, but wasn't approved. I remember multiple other users submitting the same idea as well, but they never gained full support or were never approved. So in these instances we have to build what Lego won't give us by ourselves.

Like the DeLorean, I looked at every MOC I could for inspiration, but wanted to differentiate from them. Many of them use yellow and red pieces for the detailing on the outside of the train, but I wanted to use pearl gold and dark red to make it look a little more steam-punky and I feel like they are more accurate colors as well. My model also features custom stickers to show various details, like the flux capacitor and the ornate windows of the cab.

My goal for both of these MOCs was to create models that felt like official sets as much as possible. Lego releases for this property have been super sparse, so who knows is we'll ever get any other minifig scaled sets from these films ever again. Maybe someday I'll get around to building some sort of model of the Hill Valley Clocktower, but this is it from me for now.

Thanks for looking!

[deraven]

Very nice.  Pretty solid rendition of the Delorean at that scale, and the fact that is can seat both minifigs along with the rest of the details is great.  Good Time Train as well with it being close to system scale.  Your stickers fill in a lot of the look and details nicely.  Great build!  

[Jerry McGlade]

Very nice recreation of the car! I have not watched the movie with a train but it looks fantastic! Great work!

[odomman22]

Both of these look awesome!  Nice work