Captain Nemo Posted June 22, 2018 Tree of Worlds Each year, a group of Eurobricks members meet together in Schaumburg, Illinois, at the annual Lego convention Brickworld Chicago, to construct one large and crazy collaborative build. This is the result: This year, 18 members of our online community came together to build one crazy display--a massive free-standing tree, six feet tall, holding on the end of its mythical branches, Elemental Worlds--realms embodying all of the most important elements of the universe. This build took a year of planning, building, headaches, and Swedish Fish to construct, transport, rebuild, and finally display to the public and private attendees this past weekend. To build the tree itself, a small number of us met up a for a few weekends prior to the event to pre-build the entire piece. This worked wonders, as it meant we didn't have to build on site...in theory...until we arrived and found out we didn't organize well enough and had to rebuild half the trunk from scratch... One of the coolest aspects of the tree was that it was situated on the convention floor, in a wide open space. Utilizing planning and generous fire safety regulations, we are able to position the tree in a vast wide open space, which meant that all the aisles in the hall seemed to lead to it. This made the display a landmark of the convention, so much so that we noticed people start to use it as a meeting-point. For those interested in logistical construction, we supported the tree with a simple wooden frame (somewhat visible on the progress picture above). It was...mostly successful! Additionally, we must thank LEGO themselves for their great Event Support program (via their Ambassador Program)--which allowed us to buy many many many more brown bricks that we thought we'd need at an affordable rate. We otherwise would not have been able to build this creation. --- So who built this? Eurorbricks--that's who! Well more accurately, a number of Eurobricks members did: Front Row, Left to Right: @Hinckley, @Quarryman, @Ryushi, @CorneliusMurdock, @soccerkid6, @LittleJohn Second Row, Left to Right: @Darkdragon, @ZCerberus, @Kristel, @Captain Nemo, @MKJoshA Third Row, Left to Right: @Prune Face, (Tree), @Silver.Smith, @Rogue Angel, @Gideon, @Vincent Kessels Not Present at Convention: @Bob De Quatre @RoxYourBlox ---- Who Built What? Each member of the collab built a realm on a branch and/or helped construct the tree itself. The Ice Realm, by @Gideon, who also apparently took 1000 photos at the convention, many of which are shown here. The Night Realm by @Kristel--her Dragon was nominated for Best Creature...it was also at one point destroyed after a great fall and had to be rebuilt...thanks in no part to unnamed persons who know who they is Edit Z- There was one sober person there... he takes no responsibility for the incident. The Gem Realm, by @Quarryman, who also came so close to finishing his individual build this year! Edit:Z- Quarry was also nominated for Best Land Vehicle for another build! The Harvest Realm, by brother builders @soccerkid6 and @LittleJohn. This was their first Brickworld Chicago, and we were very excited to have them join the team...and teach them the important lesson that you need to put Technic in heavy things if you want it to hang upside down. Edit Z- Little John was nominated for Best Teen Creation and SoccerKid6 was nominated for Best Individual Layout and won a Judge’s Award for their castley creations. Speaking of heavy things, @MKJoshA built the Earth Realm--which ended up being too heavy for the tree when it snapped a branch overnight (although for the record, all the sober members were not in the convention hall at the time of the incident...) So we were forced to make a quick fix by moving his realm to a nearby table and moving the Bee to the end of the branch. So...sorry again Josh! The Water Realm, built by @Captain Nemo, because of course. Edit Z- Nemo wracked up 4 more nominations for Best Creature, Best Sea Vessel, Best Large Building and Brick World Master! The Heart Realm, by @CorneliusMurdock, who we apparently don't love enough, because we broke his heart like three times. The Thirst Realm, by @Darkdragon, ironically located next to the Water Realm and under the furnaces of the Forge Realm. Dark Dragon also won the award for Best Train, which was part of her individual layout. The Forge Realm, by @Silver.Smith, with a very cool Forge Deity. The Nature Realm, by @Rogue Angel, which contained numerous flowers that were constantly knocked off. The Nebula Realm, by @Hinckley. The fire ship on his realm was nominated for, and won, best Sea Vessel. Edit Z- Hinckley also took home a small brick for his Best Large Building! Additional Builds In addition to the Tree itself, we constructed numerous other builds to decorate the display. Builders: @Captain Nemo (Dragon Snake, Bear, Dream-Catcher) @Hinckley (Bee, Beehive, Mushroom) @Ryushi (Greenery placement) @ZCerberus (Frogs, Flowers) @Bob De Quatre (Stag Hall Design), @Prune Face (Lighting) Edit Z- Ryushi captured a big brick for Best Replica and ZCerberus got the nod for Best Spacecraft thanks to table space donated by Hinck and Nemo! Transformation One of the best things about the display was that it transformed. During the annual World of Lights (in which the convention hall lights are turned off, leaving only lights on the builds) the tree transformed from a mythical representation of the universe to that of a physical one--with the realms becoming floating planets. Accolades The Tree of Worlds was awarded the Best Group Display at Brickworld Chicago 2018. This is the third consecutive win for Eurobricks! The Fire Ship won the award for Best Sea Vessel and the Night Dragon was nominated for Best Creature. Additionally, our very own Root-Admin @Hinckley finally won the prestigious Brickworld Master award. -- Finally I'd like to thank everyone once again who participated in this undertaking that was our display! It was a lot of hard work but we are very happy to show off the results. If you would like to see more images, please view the Flickr Pages of Gideon and Hinckley Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hinckley Posted June 22, 2018 Excellent and thorough write up, @Captain Nemo! I don't think we've ever had such a well–documented topic for any of our displays. As our group grows, so does our documentation! We've been through a lot of growth over the last 5–6 years and I'm so happy to build with this group every year. It seems to just get better and better. I really enjoy the stuff we've come up with, under Nemo's excellent guidance for the amazing creative ideas he has shared for us to participate in. Being able to collaborate but still express our individual creativity is a staple of our group. Over the years, we've figured out how to meld our creative individuality together to seem cohesive in a group display. Great work, everybody! I'm looking forward to many more years, working with all of you, winning or not. Although, I hope we get that fourth win in a row and beat VLUG's record. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dvogon Posted June 22, 2018 Wow! This is just amazing!!! I have no words... I have to see with great detail (and time) each photo. There are so many interesting build techniques there to learn of! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gideon Posted June 22, 2018 Great summary of a truly world-class project! Way to go @Captain Nemo So thankful to have been allowed to take part in the effort and for all the fun building, displaying and finally destroying the tree Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
makoy Posted June 22, 2018 That's very awesome group layout. I like it Treemendously! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roadmonkeytj Posted June 22, 2018 The pictures dont even do this justice .... There was so much for the eye to see ... This was my first brickworld ever and I was pleasently suprised when I learned I actually knew a hand full of the people that built it. Good job ... There was so much to see... Im glad I saw it the first day in its full glory. And although the flowers kept falling off it made a neat picture as if nature was existing in lego form. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZCerberus Posted June 23, 2018 Super Accelades to @Captain Nemofor the idea, sketches, and running the forum for this year’s collab! 18 Best Group Layout Trophies thanks in large part to your efforts! Three cheers for Nemo! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Lots of talent in the builds, but I am most proud we do it with fun, original ideas and minimal ego. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carebear Posted June 23, 2018 Beautiful!!! Great Great Great Work!!! - Congratulations!!! Greetings Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clone OPatra Posted June 23, 2018 This is absolutely amazing, all of you! I'm in awe of every single section. Also, awesome Groot-headed figures in the Earth Realm @MKJoshA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteFang Posted June 23, 2018 Amazingly incredible piece of awesome collaborative display for Eurobricks! 3 cheers for all of you great builders. Nemo, thanks for breaking this one almighty display into collective efforts. I love the various builts being able to put together into one epic giant tree. I throughly enjoyed reading and indulge in this coverage. Excellent work and congratulations to all of the trophies received. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MKJoshA Posted June 23, 2018 7 hours ago, Clone OPatra said: This is absolutely amazing, all of you! I'm in awe of every single section. Also, awesome Groot-headed figures in the Earth Realm @MKJoshA Thank you! I wanted to show the battle between rock and root in my Earth Realm and the Groot figure seemed a good member to use for the root side of things! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soccerkid6 Posted June 23, 2018 Wonderful recap of a truly amazing project! It was a privilege to contribute this year, and we certainly learned our lesson about using technic Congratulations to everyone who contributed on earning the well deserved Group Layout award Also thanks Gideon for getting some great pictures of the tree Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrickJagger Posted June 24, 2018 This is an incredible MOC, easily the best EB has taken to Chicago. Every single realm is packed with detail and the concept itself invokes a lot of imagination and creativity. My personal favorite builds were from @Gideon for the realistic temple architecture (I'm a sucker for European history) @MKJoshA for the rock golem and @Captain Nemo for the outside-the-box and abstract construction used in the Water Realm. Congratulations to everyone involved Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hobbythom Posted June 24, 2018 Awesome stuff. The different realms are really creative and well build. My favorite part however is the snake. The sculpting mimics the weight of the serpent draped over the tree really well. Good stuff! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peppermint_M Posted June 24, 2018 Eesh, that is an amazing build. It looks fantastic all lit up. Things like the Brickworld Collab absolutely define what Eurobricks is. A community that comes together to build some unreal creations by cooperating and working with each other. Looking forward to what you're going to try to build and top this! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LegoModularFan Posted June 24, 2018 Woah, what a mind-blowing display! Wonderful job to each one of you who worked in this incredible display! It's so nice to know we have such wonderful MOCers on here and just unbelievable how easy it's to contact with them if wanted! It's really difficult to choose my favorite part, each part of the tree has something unique! Keep up the incredible work both in MOCing and in being part/moderating this wonderful forum! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pandora Posted June 24, 2018 This is an absolutely phenomenal build, and to have won is also icing on the cake! Huge congratulations to all the builders for your incredible hard work, it really is astonishing. There's so much to love, but the Water Realm, Nebula Realm and Nature Realms - just gorgeous, and they all look so good in World of Lights. The whole is a fantastic idea and it's been executed brilliantly, I really cannot praise you all enough. I'll echo what Pep has said and agree that this really is something for everyone at Eurobricks to be proud of as it represents our best qualities of collaboration, cooperation, creativity and joy. Also, thank you for the brilliant write up @Captain Nemo! @Hinckley, congratulations on winning Brickworld Master, best Sea Vessel and Best Large Building along with the group win - a seriously impressive haul of trophies! Well done everyone! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KotZ Posted June 24, 2018 Wow! That's an amazing build. Congrats to everyone for the win. There's so many cool aspects to this. I think @Silver.Smith's forge realm and @Gideon's ice realm are my favorites. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Posted June 25, 2018 Wow, excellent work guys! This is, yet again, an amazing build! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vedosololego Posted June 25, 2018 WOW ? The tree itself is an absolute wonderful creation, but every single world is an awesome gem. Creativity here is at maximum level. Compliments to everyone of the builders. Only sad to can’t see it live. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BacktoBricks Posted June 25, 2018 That is just amazing; every build is truly inspiring and then to put them all together ... wow. Due to personal interests, I really love the night dragon and the forge :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treffer21 Posted June 25, 2018 WOW.....Just stunning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
choops1 Posted June 25, 2018 That build was amazing. My wife loved it and kept pointing things out to me. The flowers, the icicles, the frogs, and the eyes and wings of the dragon should be noted. Great Job by everyone Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkdragon Posted June 26, 2018 Excellent wrapup and great photos from many folks. I wish my realm was more photogenic, I think it looks better in person but I wasn't able to get a decent photo of it. Everyone did an amazing job on modules and on helping as a team to get it all ready in time for the show. It was a lot of fun to be able to attend BW again and be part of the collaboration. I'm really happy that we won and looking forward to another win next year! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hammerstein NWC Posted June 28, 2018 What an absolutely magnificent creation! A true testament to teamwork and creativity! Hats off to all involved looks to me that everyone bought their A-game and individually people hit it out of the park too! Well done all! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
