LEGO Brand Ribbon Building

[brickbuilder711]

So in the fall of 2011 I was hit up with a very challenging but fun project. The LEGO store was about to open in Sawgrass, FL near Miami and I was offered the project (to build almost all of the display models for the store) by GFLUG. Knowing myself to be a lazy slacker during school, I took up the offer as it would keep my interest balanced and make my time more manageable. Not to mention thus far my best grades were in that period... I think it was an energizing way to spend my fall. While you could think it took away time from friends, I was able to get together multiple times.

The project consisted of 99 models, plus ten they eventually asked me not to build. I had friends commit to the build, since I had the single person disadvantage for the LUG, being the only enthusiast in Southeastern Florida. The original time to build it was one month. I knew once I got it if it could be done, it could be. Well, I was wrong. While the friends had failed to provide assistance, save from one who deserved a cut of the rewards and got it, it was mostly a one man job. But, I was saved by the powers that be of City government holding licensing for the longest time from the store and the construction being delayed a good month and change. This one man show was finished October 29, 2011 at 3:43 PM, and of course, after such a haul I would take a note of the time.

ANYWAY. Here are the videos, very poorly produced but with good reason, I suppose. I didn't have much time to shoot them in such a relaxed manner. Eight parts are up on YouTube, and a ninth, the part with me in the store filming my work, which NO employee complained (!), will be posted tonight.

Enjoy these episodes. They are fairly short so maybe 30-40 minutes total, so you can lay out your time enjoying them.

So my closing thought:

The project went by almost perfectly, and I got rewarded well for it. I do not want to get into the detail but the payout exceeded $400 USD, but it was not in cold hard cash, but in value of brick. I did this more for the enjoyment aspect than as work for full pay, though, but the full incentive was a nice act of courtesy. For a hint see the Space Shuttle review posted on December 23. Despite the fact I had to wait a bit and stand my ground to maintain the reward, I recommend taking on this project. It exposes you to sets you haven't seen, which all economically have diminishing marginal returns, and a steady paced activity to do.

Edited January 15, 2012 by brickbuilder711

[Si-MOCs]

Very cool!

I can't believe you basically built ALL these sets. I wish you joined EB earlier and started posting these videos back then - I think EB would have been some good moral support and give you a good shot in the arm!

I was lucky to help out once at one of our two store openings - we had a lot more people than you - but I do recall a bit of 'ribbon stress' when there were some last minute sets that *had* to be built.

I'm curious - how did you manage to transport all the models? Did you rent a van? or Truck?

And good to hear they're extending some rewards to herclian efforts like yours

[brickbuilder711]

Very cool!

I can't believe you basically built ALL these sets. I wish you joined EB earlier and started posting these videos back then - I think EB would have been some good moral support and give you a good shot in the arm!

I was lucky to help out once at one of our two store openings - we had a lot more people than you - but I do recall a bit of 'ribbon stress' when there were some last minute sets that *had* to be built.

I'm curious - how did you manage to transport all the models? Did you rent a van? or Truck?

And good to hear they're extending some rewards to herclian efforts like yours

Thanks!

We transported the models by request of one employee SUV and our jeep. Our jeep hit the cap with all of the big models. Much of the biggies were on my car, incl. FB, PS, GE, and others.

[Vindicare]

Haven't watched the videos yet, but that sounds like a lot of fun. I'm on disability, so I have TOO much time on my hands. How did you get approached to build these? Do you belong to a club that TLG got into contact with and thereby found you? That's cool they paid you in "bricks". It's like a mini shopping spree.

Edited January 17, 2012 by Legocrazy81

[brickbuilder711]

Haven't watched the videos yet, but that sounds like a lot of fun. I'm on disability, so I have TOO much time on my hands. How did you get approached to build these? Do you belong to a club that TLG got into contact with and thereby found you? That's cool they paid you in "bricks". It's like a mini a hopping spree.

Yes, I'm an on again off again part of GFLUG. One of the members hooked me up with the contacts.

[Vindicare]

D'oh! I hit reply instead of edit...

Edited January 17, 2012 by Legocrazy81

[dr_spock]

That's crazy, 99 sets. I did some of Brand Ribbon builds for our local store opening. It was fun, got to build some sets outside of my usual themes. It was crazy trying to meet the deadline.

[prateek]

I'd say you're lucky, but that's a lot of stuff. Great job though. I'm sure that was a fun experience nonetheless. I'd love to do one, but maybe not with all the sets.

[just2good]

I really wish the grand opening was in October. I was off that day, and I planned on going. But then it got delayed to December, and I missed the grand opening.

Good job on the building, I saw some of your constructions at the store. Nice to know there's another South Florida LEGO TFOL/AFOL.

[brickbuilder711]

I really wish the grand opening was in October. I was off that day, and I planned on going. But then it got delayed to December, and I missed the grand opening.

Good job on the building, I saw some of your constructions at the store. Nice to know there's another South Florida LEGO TFOL/AFOL.

Yep, and likewise.

The long awaited Ep. 9

Of course, for the valued continuity of the series, I took the opportunity to film the models in-store just last month. Of course, being my pride and joy, they just couldn't say no.

Edited January 29, 2012 by brickbuilder711

[Vindicare]

Yep, and likewise.

The long awaited Ep. 9

Of course, for the valued continuity of the series, I took the opportunity to film the models in-store just last month. Of course, being my pride and joy, they just couldn't say no.

Very cool builds! I really like the Miniland LEGO store. For the unofficial sets, do they send instructions/pieces on how they want it built?

You went a little fast by some of the displays, too.

Edited January 29, 2012 by Legocrazy81

[brickbuilder711]

Very cool builds! I really like the Miniland LEGO store. For the unofficial sets, do they send instructions/pieces on how they want it built?

You went a little fast by some of the displays, too.

Yes, instructions in printed letter size paper (like how one would print custom instructions) were sent.

I think I was on a little hurry that day, so I cut the fat and went through. Plus, maybe I had the thought that many people have seen the models before in other stores.

[The Blue Brick]

I really wish I could have took on this project all by myself. I got to build two sets myself a couple years back. You are extremely lucky though, knowing me, I would have got overwhelmed by the deadline dates. Also, what sets did you get to keep if any, I watched your space shuttle review, but that didn't help.

Edited January 29, 2012 by The Blue Brick