Kodan Black

That was me attempting to hide the non-gray bricks that back the gray wall to prevent light leaking. I actually messed up on the 3rd pic and you can see some "behind the scenes" on the far left. I try to solely back the scenes with black so even if it somehow showed through it would just appear dark, but sometimes I use other colors when low on black. I have some new ideas on things to use to block the light though going forward that may help. Hopefully I can keep steadily raising the caliber of builds/posts to keep up with the group. You guys have some pretty inspiring builds, I even float to the other forums because I like to try and glean new building techniques. Correct. I have acquired via Bricklink many new SW Yellow minifigs. I have quite a few fleshies, but the best you can hope for is seeing their torsos/legs with proper yellow hands and head. Sorry, I just don't like the fleshies, I'm disappointed TLG went in that direction.

It is supposed to be a dark hallway without a door, I kinda was disappointed in how it turned out. My main issue was that I literally had no more gray bricks to use for the hallway. I really wanted to build at least a stub one, but I just ran out. Thanks for the feedback thus far!

Posted a new freebuild: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=103298 Probably going to have to dismantle it next week to get going on the next one though. Don't have enough grey bricks to keep all my builds together I'm afraid. Will probably have more flexibility once my online PAB arrives, but that is sometime between today and January at this point.

It has been several months since my complaints about not getting any real action. Hard to even believe I ever felt that way. Since then the increase in both pirate and rebel activity is astonishing. We've had to pull short sleep shifts just to keep enough TIE presence in our sector. The officers seem to be unsure of whether this is just raiding our transports and freighters for supplies or something bigger. Now when I walk into our squadron's ready room I don't have that uneasy feeling of not belonging; it has become routine. As I walk in today I see a service droid cleaning the table and an intelligence officer checking on the latest reports. I'm a proud member of 4th Squadron - TIE Interceptors: The Flying Rays. One of the hallmarks of our squadron is that our techs always seem to get the most out of an engine and we seem to consistently have the fastest TIEs. That little speed advantage has proved invaluable in so many combat sorties... getting to the action faster to save a comrade or in dog-fighting. It is like they say: Speed kills! The days are not easy, both the rebels and pirates pose a constant threat. Stealing cargo or whole ships, inevitably we know that whatever they take will be used against us. I've been ordered to not "finish combat" against any opponents in the hopes that we might capture a pilot and gain information. I know what my reputation is, but I also know how little we pilots really know about the big picture. I wouldn't want to end up a prisoner, who knows what the rebels would do to me; so I allow my enemies a swift end in combat as it should be. As I walk in I catch site of "the hat". Once you've proven yourself in combat you get to wear it for a week around the ship; a tradition sufficiently old that no one even remembers where it started. You can always tell the new crew members aboard ship as they always either ask you about the hat or give a weird look. The pilots, even those in other squadrons with their own traditions, know ... we share a bond that you just can't explain. Once you've worn that hat you earn the right to have other pilots learn your name. I remember well the feeling of that hat and how different everyone in my squadron saw me once I had proven myself worthy of it. "The hat" sits right near the doorway to the gantries that take us to our TIEs. A reminder of where our focus needs to be as we head out, and the red and white warnings are a signal to all non-pilots not to enter. That is our domain. I'm so engrossed in reading after-action reports, maintenance logs, and general Empire news that I hardly even realize that other pilots have arrived. Dez talks to an intelligence officer to find out what he can about recent trends and what to be prepared for. Arseneau is using the computers to do research of his own. He has never been very social, I like flying with him though as his radio transmissions are always short and to the point. The droid is fortunately not bothering me just yet asking if it can clear my cup. I suspect he is secretly eyeing Arseneau's temporarily abandoned cup and plotting how to remove it without being verbally abused. I suspect Tom is getting a few extra minutes of sleep. He always says that is the best preparation he can do. In mere minutes all of this will be forgotten and I'll be cocooned in my cockpit, alone with my thoughts aside from the occasional radio chatter. Will today be the day a rebel fleet shows up or will we be dulled by tedium. Dez is convinced something bigger is coming, but I'm not so sure. It seems more harassing than probing us and I'm not sure the rebels will change tactics to a stand up fight. It isn't really their style. OoC: Build overall: Please critique and judge.

http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?colorID=86&itemID=107271 http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?colorID=86&itemID=113356

Haha, are you serious? That is crazy. The brick built animals, the awesome waterfall, all the plants and the variety of trees and colors ... the buildings. I mean, there is so much there. It is like sitting down at a table and someone tells you all that food is just for you. The building shapes are great and flow so well with the whole scene. The sheer quantity of water there is overwhelming and then you realize how balanced it is by the forest on both sides and ... wow. Just nuts and has such an organic, natural feel to the whole thing, it is like I can hear the rushing water and noises emanating from the forest.

This reminds me of Spaceballs: "Now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb." (Sorry, not implying you are dumb!) First I have to say that tractor rocks. It just looks so right. Even if it was operated by someone guilty of treason! The past scene is great, though I have to say that I've never seen quite such a perfect path on any farm I've been on. I understand wanting to break up the color scheme some but that flat path stands out a bit. Maybe if it wasn't grey? The story is very good and pulls you in. I like the waiting room chairs in the character scene, they fit very well. I get the need to have the crystal as part of the story, but the lack of any security search does seem a bit far fetched. I'll have to mention to my superiors about the poor training of our troopers at that prison. Overall a solid build and entry.

I'd keep within the 4 builds restriction (I believe that resets at the start of a new episode). I guess I could run into an inconsistency in a future episode depending on what my freebuilds were doing, but I figure I'll just story tell my way around anything like that. I've got like 8 freebuilds floating around in my head, so I want to try and get some out into real bricks!

Can I ask a "rules" type question? How strict is the timeline for freebuilds vs. episodes. I have a freebuild I am working on that is a few months beyond this contest's build but I wasn't sure if I could post that now since the episode build is "current". And in general I have some freebuilds that would be set a few weeks/months apart but I certainly don't want to post them that infrequently. So is it ok to post freebuilds that are semi-future given that episodes are current?

AMAZING! The detailing is phenomenal. The front propellers, the greebles, everything! Really a beautiful build.

That is a great build, I like the layering in the tower and under the ground. The wall is very imposing despite being just a tiny slice. You captured the feeling very well.

This was worth the wait! The past scene rocks. The stone path through the brush, the fountain, etc. is not just very Naboo-ish, but very pretty. That little carport (speederport?) is fantastic. The lighting is great and the little details like the family all waving bye as Goatman heads off with the furniture help "make" the scene. Something that CANNOT be overlooked is how the plant by the pipe and the vines on the building grow in the last scene. What attention to detail! The story is very compelling and brings the scenes alive. Great build and entry.

May just be me, but the lbg/dbg combo works well. I think it would be kinda monotone otherwise. As a "practical" thought you could see it as either replaced parts or even just ones that have more wear/aren't as clean. Like a car's exhaust might have the pipes that look all dirty and with a bit of rust but there is a chrome exhaust tip that looks nice since it is usually the only visible part.

Yeah a droid or even a couple people walking together maybe? Or a pair of stormtroopers with a wookie in handcuffs.

*raises hand* Been occasionally collecting over the years, but we bought a big house after we sold our condo/townhouse so I finally have room to build.

Definitely has that concept car look, but you just know that once the manufacturer decides to put it into production it will look like a Toyota Camry. People always get excited when they think the concept car will be made as is, then it ends up this tepid, bland thing. I think the brick version looks better than the LDD one.

Looks nice, the roll-up cabinets design is well executed. It has that solid, chunky feel that fire engines do in real life. I like the ladder/steps in the back and the steps up into the cab also. I'm not terribly familiar with Euro fire trucks, is this more of a rescue truck since there are only the 2 seats?

This is really good. The mood is perfect, it feels like pictures taken inside the real thing! You really captured the feel of the cantina scene.

I'm not very familiar with Old Republic, but the bike looks cool. And it also seems like it is rather "realistic" in how it is put together. Nice use of parts, very sleek and well thought out and quite compact too. Great little build!

That is really cool. I like the gun and the trashcan searchlight. It has a powerful looking stance and chunky legs that would be perfect for keeping it still. The blue striped leg works well for the unit insignia. Even the little base is well built and seems to fit right in. Great build.

I'm sure we'll see a new falcon and x-wing, but given that we've seen 88 seconds of teaser trailer for a movie over a year away, I'm sure there are PLENTY of things we haven't seen yet that will be sets too. You figure there will be a few of the bigger $100+ sets, quite a few of the mid-tier priced sets and likely 5-10 sets under $30. They'll want to get both new character minifigs out also. I'm excited at the possibilities. As more trailers roll out over the next year I'm sure we'll start getting more of an idea of what may be coming also.

I like the past scene with the command center feel and the wrecked droids. The present scene is minimal, but I think with the small size and the concept of it really being a set up for the past scene, it works. I wasn't sure if the dotted line was a road or what at first. Maybe spin the scene 180 and add a wall or something in the background to set the location better?

This is my first Episode build, is it usually this quiet a week and a half before the deadline? I kinda figured there would be more going on at this point. Are people just busy with the approaching holidays or is there typically just a flurry of builds posted just before the contest ends?

There is a lot going on there. As a car racing fan myself it has the right feel and so many cool details all over. I think I most appreciated the smug look on the faces of the drivers, a very realistic part.

Quite the intriguing little microhouse. Lots of neat details and aside from the toilet, fully set up. I like how it blends into the natural surroundings too. A very well thought out build!