Hot Air Balloon

[j3tang]

I'd like to get some help from boardies here for an important day in my life. Several years ago, me and my significant other had an enjoyable time floating through the air in a hot air balloon. I've made up my mind that I'd like for her to spend the rest of her life with me and I plan on one more excursion through the air, but this time I plan on popping the big question to her and I'd like to commemorate the occasion with a MOC of a hot air balloon that will hide the ring. She loves playing with my Lego too, but boy am I glad that she doesn't visit these forums :)

I recall that there was someone who wrote a book on Lego creations and building round objects with bricks. I don't recall if there was ever instructions on building the balloon, but it would be a nice read nonetheless. If someone can point me to the right direction regarding that book, that would be great.

I've also been browsing other's creations and came across a very nice example and I'm going to need some help with this:

The proposal won't be for several more months, so I've got some time to build this thing and I'm going to try and tackle this MOC slowly and from the above photos I'd like to get started with the basket first. It looks to me like the basket is made up of a whole bunch of round plates to give it the basket-weave look, am I correct? Could someone elaborate on that?

Thanks for any help I can get!

Cheers!

[Madcat2000]

There have actually been a couple of sets that included a hot air balloon. The balloons themselves were made of two large half circles, which could easily be hinged to allow it to be opened. Here are some pics.

Link 1:http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=5988-1

Link 2:http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=7415-1

Hope that helps. Good luck with the MOC, as well as several other things.

Edited April 12, 2010 by Madcat2000

[Mr. Lego-builder]

Congrats on finding that special someone!

As for the book, the only source that I can recall is a section in the Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide. In the book there is a section (Chapter 7) dedicated to building spheres. I've had the book for some time now and it's great! Unfortunately, there are no official balloon instructions, but it can easily be modified to accommodate the shape.

As for the basket, I do believe you are correct. It seems to be made of 2x2 round plates.

[Cecilie]

Maybe you are referring to this book? http://www.modelbuildingsecrets.com/

I haven't read it, so don't know if it's any good, but it has a balloon on the cover...

[j3tang]

@Madcat2000: I did come across those images but it just didn't strike me as what I wanted to be using for the occassion. I have an idea as to how to make it open up, so I'd prefer to try to stay away from such specific pieces. Thanks for the comments though!

@mr. lego_bildur: not quite what I had in mind, but you're right that the tips for building a sphere would definitely be easily adaptable to a balloon.

@Cecilie: That's the one I had in mind!

Thanks for the link to the two books!

[cash0two]

Content removed by Jim

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2016 by Jim
Bumping, promoting and hijacking

[Jim]

@cash0two You are bumping an old topic to promote your own idea. That's bumping and hijacking someone else's topic just to promote your LEGO Ideas. This is a multiple fellony and you will face a long period of jail....

Just kidding about the jail of course, but I'm serious about the other things. Joining EB to promote your Ideas project is against site guidelines and so is topic bumping (unless useful). So please read the site guidelines before you post anything else. Thanks!