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[MOC] Hayao Miyazaki, his Nibariki (Citroën 2CV) and Tokyo snowfall
Norton74 posted a topic in LEGO Historic Themes
NIBARIKI, Hayao Miyazaki's Citroën 2CV and Tokyo snowfall A few months ago I built the personal studio of Hayao Miyazaki, Japan's greatest animation director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, best-loved of all the Japanese animation studios. Now it seems that it snowed heavily in Tokyo, so much so that Hayao is walking in snow with his snowshoes and with his Husky. A pair of skis are already loaded on the Citroën 2CV, heading towards Mount Fuji! Hope you like it! -
[MOC] Haunted A-Frame Cabin | Monster Fighters tribute
Norton74 posted a topic in LEGO Historic Themes
Haunted A-Frame Cabin While I'm looking forward to the see my A-Frame Cabin on the shelves of the LEGO stores worldwide as it has been chosen as one of the next LEGO IDEAS sets (I still can't believe it...), I built a spooky variation of the rustic house based on the 2012 LEGO Monster Fighters series. It is a kind of tribute to the MF Haunted House released in 2012 by TLG. Size and shape are basically the same as the A-Frame Cabin, colors, details, setting and Minifigures are completely different. If you take a deeper look, you can spot many references and Easter eggs directly related to the LEGO horror theme. The gramophone, the trunk with the top hat, the glass dome with a bone inside are all objects from the MF set. The gate is also a clear tribute to the Haunted House. And take a look at the zombie heads above the gate columns, do you remember where they were in the MF set? Last but not least don't miss the magic Bat Moonstone of Lord Vampyre, the villain of the series. Enjoy and happy Hall🎃ween! -
The Crystal Mill, or the Old Mill is an 1892 wooden powerhouse located on an outcrop above the Crystal River in Crystal, Colorado, United States. Although called a Watermill, it is more correctly denoted as a compressor station, which used a water turbine to drive an air compressor, and was originally built with a horizontal wheel. The compressed air was then used to power other machinery or tools. The building is built on a mining claim named "Lost Horse", it fell into disuse in 1917 when the Sheep Mountain Tunnel mine closed. I spotted the Crystal Mill while browsing in search of new rural houses to build and it caught my eye. For the first time, I built two blocks of rocks and a waterfall made from hundreds of 1x2 trans-clear plates. Many other builders have tried their hand at this type of build so thanks for inspiring me. The story goes that an old gold digger* accidentally discovered the now disused Crystal Mill, and immediately decided to live there isolated from the rest of the world. One day an explorer** on a small boat while sailing on the Crystall River came across the old shack...What will happen when the explorer and the gold digger meet? *Mainly based on the CMF Prospector (Series 12), without a doubt one of my favorite Minifigs. **Probably the explorer was part of Jhonny Thunder's Adventures team ;)
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In search of land, promised or not Floating Dystopia is a floating barge doomed to wander the oceans of Hyperuranium in search of the promised land. It all started on February 22, 2222 when a tremendous nuclear war wiped out human civilization in less than a week. The earth thrown off its axis, its crust rocked by massive movements, and the five continents were torn completely apart and sunk deep below the sea. Only a small portion of sub-Saharan Africa was saved and the few remaining human beings were forced to leave their lands, devastated and burned, to seek a safe haven where they can live in peace and prosperity. But this land is far away and in the meantime they are forced to live a dystopian life made of deprivation and scarcity. The characters are: Kebra (advisor and childhood friend of Prince Nagast), Nagast (the prince of the sub-Saharan tribe of the Rastarians) and Hailé (the military leader of the Rastarian tribe and the bodyguard of Prince Nagast). Will they find their promised land? Enjoy!
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Theo's Trabuchet fishing hut The Trabucco (Trabuchet) is a typical and ancient fishing machine from the east coast of Italy. It's made of wood and consists of a platform into the sea connected to the coast by a tight bridge made of wooden boards. From this platform, two (or more) long arms called antennae stretch out suspended some feet above the water, supporting a huge and narrow-meshed net (called trabocchetto). My little Trabucco is the home of Theo, an old red-bearded fisherman who loves spending his days fishing and preparing the nets. Every now and then some friends visit him by boat, since the medium-azure hut can be reached by an unstable ladder starting right from the sea. Today Pablo is docking at the pole near the Trabucco, he has come to visit his friend Theo. Enjoy!
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[MOC] Magda's Garden Shed (or the Shed with the Tree)
Norton74 posted a topic in LEGO Historic Themes
Magda's Garden Shed Every time I visit a garden shop I am fascinated by the mixture of colors and shapes of the plants that you can find there. I really like that atmosphere especially in the old rustic shacks. I tried to recreate that kind of location by building a barn-shaped shed surrounded by flowers and plants. The inspiration came from a drawing by a Japanese dioramist that I really appreciate. The large tree that sprout up from the roof catches the eye and it's the leading element of the entire scene. The Garden Shed is the kingdom of Mrs. Magda (can you spot her?), a friendly Spanish lady who has retired to the countryside with her funny cat. She spends her spare time taking care of the multitude of lush plants and flowers. The diorama is full of details and strange pieces, have fun finding them. Hope you like it! -
A-Frame Cabin An architectural icon from 1950 to about 1975, the A-frame is one of my favourite rural homes ever, a triangle-design built for lounging on outdoor decks and staring at nature. I built this cabin inspired, in part, by Harlan Hubbard's book Payne Hollow, about living a simpler life in a hand-built home. The author is considered by many a modern-day Thoreau. Two brothers, Dan and Ethan, burned out on modern working believed that stripping away modern comforts and living more simply in nature would lead to a more spiritually an creatively fulfilling life. They looked for a cabin in the woods and finally found out this old wooden A-Frame Cabin. They fixed up it and now they live there happily. It's not my first cabin in the woods but it was very funny building the "A" structure and trying to add many weird details. I also played with the light to let the scene as deep as possible. To build the basement I ripped off the clever hammers technique by Letranger Absurde. Below few pictures Hope you like it!
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Winter Garden This diorama was on my wishlist since a long time. My goal was to recreate a welcoming room full of plants and flowers while using many pieces from the Scala, Fabuland and Belville series. I have been collecting these kind of pieces in the past few months, and have finally placed them in my Winter Garden. If you look carefully you'll notice many Scala pieces like the award ribbon, the watering cans, the cloth rug, the chairs, the wicker baskets and the suitcase. Even the white cat waiting for the mouse on the chair. The coffee-table legs are linked via the Scala towel bar, a piece I had never heard of, but very interesting. I also added a couple of Fabuland utensils: the camera on the cabinet and the jerry can. There are many plants and flowers and I used different kind of utensil to create the plants supports (hockey sticks for the cactus, brooms for the ficus). There are many others details and NPU, have fun spotting them! It was very funny building it and it's something different from my usual comfort zone. Hope you like it!
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Joe's Cottage (and Joe's tow truck) Joe is a lonely guy. He lives in his tan wooden cottage somewhere in the woods. His mates are birds and chickens. He loves driving his tow truck and he always helps people who are in breakdown on their way. My latest creation was inspired by a Japanese model maker who makes little cottages and shacks in the woods. I added few NPU like the speargun as light holder, pistons on the electricity pole, Ninjago hat on the chimney and some other even on the tow truck. I tried to photograph the scene making it alive and warm, it seems to me there is a nice atmosphere due to the light sideways. Take a moment to appreciate all the small details that all add up to this rustic scene. It was very funny building this and even more catching the details to insert via period pictures spotted on the web. Hope you like it!
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GENERAL STORE: A TIME CAPSULE General Stores were very common in the US back in the 18th and 19th century, especially in rural areas or in small towns. Actually, there are few of them along old nearly-forgotten interstate highways, they are like old treasures to preserve. Their main feature was carrying a general line of merchandise to remote populated places where mobility was limited and a single shop was sufficient to service the entire community. In the early twentieth century general stores often sold gasoline too. My latest diorama represents a classic general store depicted in a sixties scene somewhere in the heart of America with many elements easy to spot back then. Take a moment to appreciate all the small details that all add up to this vintage scene; the rusted pump abandoned on the ground, the phone cab, soft-drink dispenser, the gumball machine and many others. The old white-bearded man sitting in his rocking chair keeps watch carefully who arrives helped by his loyal dog. On the left a little shop for quick repairs equipped with different utensils.All around I added many details like the water tower, the phone box, the gas pump and so on. I’m very satisfied with this creation even if it’s much better live than depicted by a photo. It was very funny building this and even more catching the details to insert via period pictures spotted on the web. Hope you like it!
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It's time for Santa Claus to go! Like every year at this time Santa Claus has to get to work, children all over the world are waiting for him. In my latest diorama you can see Santa Claus leaving his red cabin at the North Pole to get on his sleigh pulled by two Huskys. He has a long way to go... I inserted in the diorama a big animal. Can you spot it? This is probably my last MOC for this year and I wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! More info and pictures here. Thanks for stopping by!
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Walden; or, Life in the Woods A few months ago a friend of mine loaned me a book I had always heard of but never read. The book is the well-known "Walden; or life in the woods" written by Henry David Thoreau and published in 1854. Walden details Thoreau's experiences over the course of two years, two months, and two days (1845–47) in a cabin he built near Walden Pond amidst woodland owned by his friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, near Concord, Massachusetts. By immersing himself in nature, Thoreau hoped to gain a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection. Simple living and self-sufficiency were Thoreau's other goals, and the whole project was inspired by transcendentalist philosophy, a central theme of the American Romantic Period. It is considered Thoreau’s masterwork. Struck by the history and inspired by the cover of the book, in the few past weeks I built Thoreau's cabin in the wood. It´s the first time that I made a woods-themed creation and I really had a lot fun building it. Hope you like it! For more detailed pictures tap here. Thanks for stopping by!
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ICE PLANET IS BACK! My latest build is an armoured vehicle decked out in Ice Planet livery used by the peaceful men as a mobile research laboratory. Ice Planet 2002 was a subtheme of LEGO Space introduced in 1993 and marked by a very cool color scheme: white, blue and trans-neon orange. Even if I've never played with these paceful guys (at that time I was a teen with other interests on my head) I've always appreciated this series. The ground vehicle is not equipped with weapons but with a lot of retro space components. Ice Planet are in fact engaged in secret researches about renewable energy rather than interplanetary wars. The canopy opens to expose a detailed little interior with such an assortment of retro-tech computers and equipment. More info and pictures here. I hope you like it The Ice Planet vehicle joins the other space armoured vehicles I built in the last few years: 1) Space Tank in Classic Space livery; 2) White Tiger Futuron Tank; 3) UFO Shado Mobile Evo; 4) B-59 Blacktron APC. Thanks for stopping by.
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Blacktron is back! Hello from Italy! Tonight I share my latest build: a big, bad and totally black armoured personnel carrier. It's based on U-59 Explosive Truck from Joe 90, a 1960s British science-fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson (the same producers of U.F.O. It's called B-59 where B stands for Blacktron, in fact this six-wheel APC is the new and lethal groud vehicle of Blacktron. The little ATV on the right is based on the Amphicat, a six-wheel-drive, skid steer amphibious all-terrain vehicle manufactured in the '60s by Mobility Unlimited Inc. of Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Amphicat was also used by Moonbase Alpha personnel in the television series Space: 1999. Back view and tank entrance. The interior with many details. This time thanks - to a friend of mine who is a pro-filmmaker - I produced a presentation video of the B-59. Below on YT. I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by! B-59 on flickr.
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Fill 'Er Up! A while back I presented the Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix pictured being unearthed in an elderly farmer’s barn. This time the little Bugatti is ready to be "fueled up" in a period gas station. Back in the twenties gasoline was sold in quite simple shacks, at times they were drugstores, at times they were pharmacies. What it's sure the early gas stations were very different from modernist or art déco ones. Recently Blocks magazine featured my Bugatti in haystack with step by step building instructions (below) and few days ago I uploaded the pics on my flickr photostream. So if you can't buy a classic racecar you can build it from LEGO! Thanks for stopping by!
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Santa is a Rodder... Hard to believe but Santa is probably a Hot Rodder and this year he has changed his classic sleigh with this snow-rod in bright red and gold. I think he's having a lot of fun with his new machine I wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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The right forklift for every circumstance. My latest build has been commissioned by a german leading pallet truck and forklift manufacturer. I've built the entire line up of its truck range plus three different warehouse scenarios: unload/upload, storage and picking scene. Every scene is fitted with the right forklifts. The three different subjects are the advertising campaign of the company and in these days my work is featured on many logistic and transportation specialized magazines. It's been very challenging and even funny building all the pallet trucks and forklifts and the company has been really satisfied by the work. Below few photos. Unload/upload: Storage: The entire line-up in all its glory : More info and pics on my flickr. Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas to all of you Eurobrickers!
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"Barn Find" As a petrolhead I've always dreamed about finding a classic car hidden for years in an old barn or shed. And that is what is called "Barn find". My latest build showcases two car-hunters discovering a classic Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix in a barn. Close to the blue machine you can see the old farmer with his dog showing the treasure, even if he doesn't know its real value. And the french beauty looks really in shape. The Bugatti Type 35 was the most successful of the Bugatti racing models, the famous "pur sang". Introduced at the Grand Prix of Lyon on August 3, 1924 the Type 35 was phenomenally successful, winning over 1,000 races in its time. A few days ago a 1925 model has been sold for over €1.4 million at the Artcurial auction in Paris. Thanks for stopping by. More pics and info: flickr
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Hello everyone! Here my latest build, the S.H.A.D.O. Interceptor, also known as Moonbase Interceptor that is the primary defence spacecraft of the secret SHADO Moonbase. The S.H.A.D.O. Interceptor appeared in the 1970s British television sci-fi show UFO. The Interceptors are white and red one-seater space fighters used over the Moon and in Earth's orbit, equipped only with a self-destroying frontal nuclear missile. The Interceptors, usually, fly in groups of three during a period of red alert. During the flight, the three missiles are fired almost simultaneously. These spacecraft can't fly in Earth's atmosphere, for unknown reasons. My brick built Interceptor has also a detailed interior, lifting the top it's possible to see the cockpit and the jet engine on the back. Below the back view. Few weeks ago I built another vehicle frome the same TV series, the SHADO mobile. Thanks for stopping by.
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My latest build matches my passion for motoring culture: it's the MOONEYES headquarters located in Santa Fe Springs, California. MOONEYES was founded by Dean Moon in 1950, the Santa Fe Springs-based hot rod shop was originally titled Moon Speed Equipment. The Moon crew was a prominent group of go-fast pioneers through the ‘50s and ‘60s, working hand in hand with the likes of legends such as Carroll Shelby — in fact, the first AC Cobra was constructed in the Moon garage. Inspired by the Dean Moon’s history I've recreated the MOON HQ, both the interior and the exterior of the building. In the garage there’re a lot of tools: a roller cabinet, a workbench, the pendant lights, a sink, the column drill press and a lot more. Everything in bright yellow of course. Remarkable the American flag hanged on the wall and the electrical outlets and conduits. What about the surfboard displayed on the wall? The exterior is enjoyable and it features many details. The two rolling shutters and the electricity poles are the ones I prefer. To complete the work I've built the well known and famous MOON pick-up, a ’68 Ford F100, and a Hot Rod based on a ’32 Ford model B. More info and pictures on my flickr. Thanks for stopping by.
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Hello, today I show you my latest build, the S.H.A.D.O. mobile "evo" from 70's British TV series UFO. The show's basic premise is that in 1980 Earth is being visited and attacked by aliens from a dying planet and humans are being covertly harvested for their organs by the aliens. The show's main cast of characters are members of a secret, high-technology international agency called SHADO (an acronym for Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation) established to defend Earth and humanity against the mysterious aliens. SHADO has a variety of high-tech hardware and vehicles at its disposal to implement a layered defence of Earth. Among these the ground units including the APC SHADO Mobile, fitted with caterpillar tracks, in the pic below the evo-lution version bruick-built. My LEGO SHADO mobile features extras: - a bubble canopy; - a front hook; - a radar antenna with auxiliar light; - a back entrance and other accessories. The crew is composed by three: commander, driver and radio operator (all of them well equipped). I recreated a detailed interior with many features, included on board computers and many weapons useful to prevent potential aliens' attacks. Here the gallery on flickr. Thanks for stopping by.
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It's Christmas time... What if Santa couldn't find his sleigh? I'm sure he'd drive a Vee Dub T2 full of gifts... Merry Christmas to all of you! Andrea Lattanzio | Norton74
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Get your kicks on Route 66... U.S. Route 66, also known as the Mother Road, is propably the most iconic road in the world. The first time I heard about Route 66 was many years ago when I listened the Rolling Stones playing "Get your kicks on Route 66". From that moment on I loved the 66 and especially all the buildings, the art deco' gas stations and the advertising signs along the road. I built a little piece of the Route to present my latest Hot Rod that has a great story at its back too. The red/white machine in the pic was owned and raced by Hayward V-Eights member Lee A. Jagla of Hayward, California. Lee got the hot rod as a gift from his parents for his high school graduation in 1960. In 1965 the “T” went into storage, and spent the next 48 years locked up in a dry garage. When Lee passed away, his daughter sold the old hot rod as part of her dad's estate. In 2014 it was advertised for sale on eBay. Jon Aksel Lier of Tønsberg, Norway, found the listing and won it. Now he happily drives a truly piece of american kustom kulture! Below disassembled The car features a '23 Ford Model T body mounted on a '30 Ford Model A frame. Power comes from a 241 cu. in. '53 Dodge baby Hemi that ran an Offenhauser intake manifold and a single 4 barrel carburetor. It ran 1939 Ford taillights and Yankee brand headlights. Painted white with a red chassis. Plus I added two red stripes on the entire machine, a little hard-top and the brand Ford in red on the back of the turtle deck. More info and pics on flickr. Thanks for stopping by. Andrea Lattanzio | Norton74
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The scooter released in 2014 by LEGO (clearly a Vespa) is really cute and it deserved an appropriate repair workshop. Furthermore this year the legendary Vespa turns seventy and this is the right circumstance to pay tribute with a specialized garage. Here it is! The new workshop features many tools and details. Let’s take a look. A workbench, with wrenches and vise, is positioned at the center of the workshop. There are also a mobile roller cabinet, the the oxy-acetylene welder and the column drill press. In the middle there are two lifts to easily work on the Vespa. On the right a red tool cabinet includes many utensils. Two pendant neon lights are hanged on 2 dark bluish gray supports. There are also trophies and helmets all around. I really enjoyed building this Minifig scale workshop and I hope you guys also enjoy this my new brand LEGO diorama. The Scooter shop on flickr. Almost two years ago I built a larger scale Vespa workshop. All the best and happy building!
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Hello, today I show you my latest build, a middle class tank decked up in Futuron livery: the "White Tiger". This medium-class tank features 2 middle-range surface-to-air guns, a rotating turret and a crew of three (the commander, the driver and the gunner). The nick name is a tribute to the invincible german "White Tiger" from WWII. Below the "Tiger" at the maintenance bay where Classic Space men are fixing and refueling it before a mission. On the right close to the door the Futuron crew. Futuron* was a peaceful and friendly population. Their ground vehicles and spacecrafts were designed to explore new planets and new dimensions indeed. But something is changing: a black menace is coming from the deep space, its name is Blacktron. The black men want to attack the Futuron people probably to steal the sought after and valued Monorail. To prevent the Blacktron attack this new armored vehicle is ready to fire. Below in plain sight. Will the "Tiger" be able to destroy the black menace? I hope you ike it. Cheers! *Futuron was a subtheme of LEGO Space released between 1987 and 1990 to replace Classic Space series.