Blackicep8ntball

Wow I second the compliments on the Atgar - that's a huge improvement over TLG's. Also a fan of your "jumping" snowtrooper... adds some good motion to the MOC. Really, a nice collection of mods overall - makes you wonder why TLG didn't do some of them in the first place. Is it just me, or is your anti-infantry canon barrel drooping a bit?

Wow this definitely is good for some laughs ! And the first scene with Obi-wan is pretty well done too. For your Pooper Trooper (who takes the cake, btw), did you try using yello legs where he's sitting (inbetween his torso and the white "pants") so it looks more like he's truly using the facilities? Wonder if it might work better than the black. Just a thought!

I would have to say that I do most of my work with Space and Sci-fi stuff, but I really enjoy the classic Castle and Pirates themes too. But my tastes are ever-broadening

Hey all, It appears that there is not yet a South Carolina LUG group in place. As a citizen of that fine state, I'm interested in starting one, or if there is one that I'm unaware of, joining one. Sooo... Does anyone know of an SC group? I know there are some general "southern" LUGs (i.e. DixieLUG), but I'm looking for something that meets closer to home. It there is not one yet, anyone else out there who would be interested in starting one/joining one? Thanks!

Team "Black Ice" was a paintball team I played on (very briefly) back in highschool. "Blackicep8ntball" became my email address, AIM sn, etc. and it has just stuck ever since. And yes, I know if you try to pronounce "p8ntball" it comes out as "pate-ntball", but hey, I was in highschool when I made it .

Just found the 7676 Republic Attack Gunship at Toys-R-Us. Given that it recently went out of production, I considered it a lucky find. If only I had the money to keep it... up it goes for sale on eBay!

It's crazy, but the women never do seem to understand our obsession with these toys . Glad you rediscovered your Lego collection, and hopefully you won't have too many pet incidents ... that is funny about your cat though. I've lost a couple pieces to the dogs myself. Anyway, enjoy the forum rday1982, and hopefully I'll see you around!

Welcome Henrik! A Dane in Spain... so you're kind of like a Spanish Danish . Very nice introduction, and catchy title for your thread too. You've got quite the collection of MOCs, so it's easy to see you've got some skills! Looking forward to seeing more of your builds. Cheers!

I second this - they would be well-received, especially with all the recent Hoth sets. They'd be kinda boring by themselves, but could be spiced up with an AT-ST and some troops. I'd also like to see a UCS Slave I, although it's somewhat unfortunate they've already saturated the line with four different versions of that ship at minifig scale. (I'm sure this one's already been mentioned, and if so, then I second it ). Also, what about a droid control ship? Probably UCS, but they could to it off-scale and put some minifigs with it, like they did with the Tantive and Star Destroyer.

@ KielDaMan - Thanks for the feedback. I'm a lot like you in that I've had to work on my posts - I tend to want to write something quick and off the cuff, but eventually realized that I didn't like seeing that same sort of stuff when I built something. I always hoped people would notice a certain feature and point it out. Hopefully we'll see more of that here. Glad I could use your comment, -R8-. I was looking back through the forums to find a good post to use as a positive example, and yours fit the bill perfectly . Thanks for mentioning the kind of feeback you like too - hopefully we'll see a lot more people mention what kinds of feeback they like to see, helping members get a good feeling for what good feedback looks like. This is a really good point, Roncanator (and precisely why I asked for more contribution to this topic! I knew I wasn't going to think of it all). I'm going to modify the original post to reflect this. Coincidently... I'm going to have to use the edit button to do that . - also some very good points, Artanis, and I'm especially glad you mentioned the "preview posts" button. I made a glaring error in not thinking to mention that in my original post, so I'll be adding your tip in as well. Thanks for the continuing feedback and kind comments all, and keep bringing in the tips and your thoughts!

I appreciate the kind words guys. I actually learned some stuff while writing it, interestingly enough . @ Flare... I wondered if you'd notice your name in there. I was just trying to think of a name, and for whatever reason yours came to mind. Must have just seen a post of yours in a forum somewhere. Hope you don't mind! @ Burman & Jim: thanks fellas - hopefully it will be helpful to old and new.

That about sums it up for me too

Huh -interesting. Yeah, it's gotta be pretty rare. Between my brothers and I and the countless sets we've purchased, we've never so much as found a box with one missing piece. Your mix up sounds like a much larger scale.

Hey BrickTango, welcome to the Eurobricks fansite! Maybe one day they'll change it to "Worldbricks"... we're not all "Euros" . Haha anyway, enjoy the Brick Expo. As for MOC... I've always pronounced it by its respective letters, "M"-"O"-"C". But then, I'm just one guy . Enjoy the site, and if you ever find out the real answer to that question, let us know. Cheers!

Definitely some architecture lovers here! I'm sure you caught the newsflash on the front page about the upcoming Bridge model... heck, that one might do the trick to get me buying the architecture series. Also, here's an incredible MOC to check out: The Ancient Lady's Museum. It's minifig scale, but certainly has wonderful architecture. Welcome to EB and enjoy the stay!

Hey teacher Jacob... must be handy to have an excuse! I, unfortunately, have none, so people just think I never grew out of my childhood years . Oh well. And yeah, I know how it feels to have a "not excited" wife - but hey, you could certainly be into worse things! Anyway, enjoy the site, and it's good to have you here.

Haha wow very nice, Roncanator. Clever, humorous, and simply but effectively executed. And that's interesting about "Dark Vador" in French - I never knew that. Good thing "Dark Vador" picked out the right helmet , otherwise he might not have become the top 5 movie villian that he is.

Haha unbelievable... this sucker is the oldest bump I've ever seen - nearly a 5 year bump. Oh well, it is worth seeing again. Chris Giddens is/was quite a builder. For those who are curious and don't know about him, you can see more of his stuff at his Pre-Classic Space website. Check it out. Anyone know if he's still building and active in the Lego community?

I completely agree - it's unlikely that it'll go away anytime soon, and I'm certain it's a huge money maker. I would love to see the two side by side. Thing is, it's very unlikely that TLG's license with SW allows them to do that. It would be like Wal-mart allowing both a McDonalds and a Burger King in the same store - they're competitive to each other. So, solution: Lego Legends with Star Wars

This list of tips is not here because we currently have a big problem with poor posting; in fact, I joined EB because of the quality of it's members and their posts . Rather, these tips are something that I looked for when I joined (not so very long ago), and didn't find. As one wise writer once said (and I paraphrase)...If there's something you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, write it! This tutorial is here to help people improve on what they do most here at Eurobricks: post comments in forums. This is a collection of tips designed to help you write more substantive comments, better criticism, and ultimately, more effective posts. As Rudyard Kipling said, “Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.” But, you might think, why put in the effort? First of all, well-written posts help you look like a more intelligent contributor. But that's not all. If you start writing effective comments, you'll stick out in the crowd and people will remember you. In the end, these people will reciprocate, and you'll gather more friends and see more comments on your own works. Tips for responding to MOCs: People spend hours, days, months, even years on building some of the magnificent works you see here. They’ve posted their masterpiece for you to notice, and they’ll appreciate a well-written comment to no end. Tip 1: Notice the details! - One of the most difficult, painstaking parts of an original build lies in its details. Point them out! Follow builder's links to their Flickr or Brickshelf page – you’ll find amazing things you would otherwise miss out on. Tip 2: Write something you’d want to see on your own MOC. - Read through the posts on your MOCs and pick out the ones that you appreciate most. Learn from those writers. For example, which of the following comments would you prefer? "Cool MOC", or (from user -R8- over in Sci-fi:) "I think what really draws me in is that it's made out of mostly standard bricks and plates, balancing both the traditional LEGO look as well as the incredible realism of the model." ^ I’d trade a dozen of the first comment for just one of the second. Tip 3: Use the builder’s screenname. - Salespeople use this trick all the time, and it helps make your comment more personal: use the builder's screen name! E.g.: “Flare, it’s evident you’ve put a lot of effort into your ship” - Be careful, however, not to overuse someone’s name… you’ll look like you’re trying a little too hard ;-). Tip 4: Artful and Constructive Criticism. - When I post an MOC, I like to know other people might improve it. However, writing criticism can be tricky – post only to help, not to tear down. Start by taking the time to study the work so you can offer a critique that is well-thought and helpful. Always begin with the strengths, then address the weaknesses and problem areas using positive language. Be objective, especially if the piece you’re critiquing is not a style or genre that you love. Make solid suggestions for improvement. Don’t be vague. Offer your critique without using strong, negative language. E.g.: “I think a different color would really bring out the detail” goes a lot further than saying “Blue looks terrible there”. Be patient with yourself as you learn how to critique effectively (Several of these tips on criticism are courtesy of Melissa Donovan) Tips for responding to reviews For starters, if you haven't yet checked out the Reviewer's Academy, check it out by clicking HERE. Writing a review is not simple - a good review takes hours and hours of effort. Courtesy of some members of the Reviewer's Academy, here are some tips on offering quality feedback to a review: Tip 1: Tell someone why a review is good. - Review Academy instructor Def suggests that you highlight the positive and tell why a review is good: point out when a reviewer has fully covered the set, taken clean, clear photos, offered attention-grabbing commentary, or even used software tweaks for the photos. Tip 2: offer your own opinion of the set. - Review Academy instructor JimButcher says, "[t]alk about how you agree or disagree with some of the reviewers statements, or simply present your opinions on the set." Tip 3: discuss the content or description of the review. - Review Academy instructor Big Cam suggests you "[c]ompare things, talk about things, be honest, what's good, what's bad. Ask why!" Some general tips: Tip 1: Take a minute and proofread your post! - Read back over your comment at least once before finally posting it. You’d be surprised what you might catch! Recently, a user on EB took a few sentences to correct another user’s writing. However, in correcting the other person, the user left a glaring grammatical error in his own post. If only he’d proofread… - Use the "Preview Post" button to help in your proofreading. This handy little button allows you to view your post in final form, but it doesn't yet publish your post to the forums. (Courtesy of Artanis I) Tip 2: The edit button: - You can use this invaluable tool to go back and correct your post even after it's been posted; however: - this tool should be used carefully and sparingly, especially if you're changing the substance of a post, if you've been quoted, or if others have posted after you. (Courtesy of Roncanator) - If you make a substantial change after your post has been up for awhile, make a footnote explaining why you've made changes. This could avoid controversy or accusations down the road. (Courtesy of Artanis I) Tip 3: Quality over Quantity: - New users (and some not so new) frequently post all over the place, trying to build up their post count for whatever reason. If you’re looking to be establish yourself here, a few quality posts will take you a lot further than hundreds of short, dime-a-dozen lines. Put the work into it and it will pay off! - At the same time, this shouldn't discourage frequent participation! Some of our best contributors are those who makes excellent, substantial, and frequent comments, keeping the forums lively. - In closing: this guide is far from complete. All of you have styles of your own, and all of you appreciate different kinds of feedback. Please share your own tips below, and feel free to discuss the kind of feedback you like to see. Who knows? You may see your tip brought up here with your name beside it! Thanks to Siegfried for his generous help with this tutorial. Thanks for reading, and keep brickin’!

Wow that story must have taken quite some time to write and type up. Interesting how you threw the politics in there... added an element of realism to it (have to admit I chuckled out loud at the George Bush the III comment ). I wonder, though, how the aliens seem to have the more advanced technology, yet the humans were the first to make contact on Mars? Maybe we had the propulsion tech but they had the medical tech.

Haha well, it's good that your kids are enjoying the SW sets, Daniel's Dad. Buut... there will always be new kids coming in and discovering Lego... I mean, I even remember wanting older space sets that were retired shortly before I was old enough to begin collecting. Not sure TLG should keep SW around just because new kids/collectors missed them. There would be new sets to catch the interest of new kids, just like there always has been. I really wouldn't mind TLG going back to the "Lego Legends" and re-releasing the same old sets again. I'm not concerned about the value of my old sets going down due to a re-release of the same set - heck, the more the merrier. I just would love to see some good space sets that bring back the feel of the classics.

Wow. And the prices go up, figure count goes down. Oh well. However, maybe they'll add some more/larger ships or supplemental features to make the packs a little more appealing. Thanks for the update and I look forward to more!

Haven't seen it in the US yet! I'll be keeping my eye out.

I'm afraid the Star Wars line has put a damper on other space lines... a futuristic, AFOL spaceship would take away from comparable SW sets, and so until TLG takes a break from SW, I doubt we'll see much. Yeah, we got the shuttle, and it's "space", but it's not "sci-fi", and I think that's what people are looking for. Cheers!