BenA
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Everything posted by BenA
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Thanks! I've decided I'm not going to worry too much about parts of it being a bit delicate. I'll keep it as close to this version as possible. I've also decided I'm going to build a second one to help me get the instructions right. The internal structure will be the same, but on the outside I'm going to try a different colour scheme, just for fun. Thinking maybe a birch tree, with pale bark and autumn coloured leaves.
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Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion
BenA replied to The Jersey Brick Guy's topic in LEGO Town
I like it! I'll wait and see what it looks like in hand, but I might be tempted to replace the cat statue with a tree... perhaps a tall, slender Birch like the one in front of the bookstore. I know that would obscure some of the architectural detail, but from the pics at least I think a natural element could boost the cosy feel. Also, delighted to see the sand green bricks with groove included. It would be amazing if they appeared on pick-a-brick... -
Thanks, much appreciated!
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Thanks! I'm planning to make instructions at some point in the new year, so hopefully you'll have the option to build your own! In the meantime, let me know if there are any parts of him you're particularly interested in and I'll be happy to take some more photos Thanks! The construction is "mostly" sturdy His skeleton is very sturdy, and I think I can make it even stronger with some of the new joints that are available in the T-Rex skeleton and the Fortight Team Leader Mech. But some of the detail is quite delicate, mostly because a lot of it is hinged to allow for poseability at the hips, ankles and knees. It's not too bad - you can pick him up and move him without too much trouble, but again I think I can improve it. I could either remove some of the poseability or use different hinges (e.g. ball and socket joints instead of actual hinges). Or I could do both. The feedback I've had from people who want instructions is they would keep it as a display piece, so lots of poseability and strength are not top priorities. What do you think?
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Thanks, yeah he's pretty big - over 70cm tall. I'll upload a couple more pics to give a better sense of scale. There are a few animals hidden around him including a frog, rat and snake! Thanks! You know what they say - don't be hasty!
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Thanks all. Thanks. I'm pleased with the organic, gnarled look - it was the main aim, and I hoped it would stand out from other Treebeard mocs out there (many of which are amazing). I found it a pain at times - it was way more parts-intensive than I expected, lots of hinges, brackets, cones, 2x2 round plates and tiles with hole, and an absolute ton of 'animal tail' parts... many bricklink orders were made! But worth it in the end! Haha, there's plenty on show if you know where to look. On his legs and arms, the roots and branches are attached to his skeleton, but for his torso, some of the curved bricks form part of the core structure itself - that way I could have a hollow area inside. I'll try and get better pics of it at some point.
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They all look great! You've got a good knack for capturing their likenesses - especially the heads/faces.
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Nice! I especially like his head, although the whole thing is very cleanly done. Wondering how easy/difficult it would be to incorporate Blaster's carrying handle into the legs somehow? I feel like that would really set his alt mode apart
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Can't believe I missed this earlier in the year, Mr H. He's coming along very nicely indeed!
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Thanks, much appreciated! Thanks! I'm pleased with how the colours came out. In future I might do a Spring version with lots of flowers and brighter green leaves, and an Autumn version, with lots of red, orange and gold colours. But for now, he's staying as he is
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I shall not pass! (Sorry, somebody had to say it ) I think it looks great - although the price is questionable. Are they the same wings as on the fell beast?
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I know it was a typo, but "Bad End" made me smile - especially in the context of what you were saying!
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I didn't really mind the lack of detail on the Fell Beast head, but it did inspire me to have a go at modding it. I reworked the head almost entirely, and while I was at it added reigns, modded the saddle and put the wings on ball joints. It has pretty much the same range of articulation as the original, although I had to sacrifice the tongue. I think I'm going to leave it like this, what do you reckon? Suggestions welcome! Wing mod instuctions here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C763T25o_4m/?igsh=MTN6Zzg2eXhta2V0ZA== Head mod instructions here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C763jGmIVcU/?igsh=a2NkZGJsaXNlcG04
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Love the seamlessly angled joins between the walls. The floor and rockwork are also top notch. Yep, would be happy if this was next year's official LOTR set, great job!
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@RichardGoring
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I read somewhere that if they were real, Barad Dûr would be around 1500ft tall, and Orthanc would be around 150ft. That got me thinking, could the GWP could be an 'architecture-style' version of Orthanc - miniature, but still roughly in scale with Barad Dûr? That way they could be displayed together, and Lego could claim to have given us "the Two Towers" . In support of my - admittedly highly unlikely - theory, I think BrickClicker did describe the GWP as 'an 18+ display set' - key word 'display', not 'play'. And even more tenuously, if I remember right, didn't one of the maps in Rivendell incorrectly show both towers - could that have been a hint!??? If the GWP did turn out to be a mini-Orthanc, it would be great if it came with another minifig. Maybe not Saruman due to needing a new hair/beard mold, but perhaps another Orc... Or Grima, just to really annoy the resellers To be clear, I don't think any of the above is likely, but it's fun to speculate! Final edit, I think the heights I quoted were based on the movie versions. Not sure if they'd apply to the book versions or not. But the sets are based on the movies so
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Haha, thanks. There are some amazing ones out there so that's high praise indeed! Thanks! I think it can be improved - I had a play around last night and added some tan underneath a section of the water to simulate the stream bed. You can see it on the bottom left of the waterfall in the pic below. I think it also helps the water stand out more, although it might be too bright now! I've got some dark tan parts on order so will see if that hits the sweet spot...
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Thanks both! And yep, good idea about adding some blue for contrast - might give that a go!
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Pippin is trying to explain that they're lost but Merry's not listening - he's just found a biscuit in his pocket! Just playing around with a few ideas ahead of a much bigger moc I'm planning. This is one is a test of a waterfall/stream technique I wanted to try. I got hold of about 30 this part and figured it might make a decent flowing water effect. But in the end it was a lot more difficult than I anticipated because there's not much back/forward rotation in the clips. I ended up with quite a few 'illegal' connections, although I think they could be designed out with a bit of planning. I quite like the end result - I think I got some of the flowing movement I was after, although I next time I'm going to try adding some tan/dark tan under the water pieces to simulate the stream bed. Hopefully it will help emphasise the effect more. Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics - comments/suggestions welcome! Edit: Thanks for the frontpage!
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I know, right? I emailed the store manager and asked, and his response was: "Regarding the LOTR polybag you received with your purchase - you're right, it is an older set. Occasionally, we have very small quantities of previous promotions, which we can then use as little extras for kids, perhaps on their birthday or another special occasion. In this case, we were able to use the polybag as a reward for those first few customers who bought the Rivendell set, as a thank you to them for supporting the store." So I guess they must have had some really old stock lurking in the back . Makes me wonder what else they've got back there! Really nice touch though.
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Picked up mine today in store at Liverpool UK. Got there at 09:30ish, store opened at 11:00. I was the only one there until about 10:15, when quite a few folks showed up in quick succession. I reckon there were 30-odd in the queue by opening time - hopefully a good sign! As others have said, there was a really good atmosphere and the staff were great, everything packaged up ready at the till. I got a number of GWP - Frodo and Gollum, The removal truck, Houses of the world 1, a VIP keyring, a sailor minifig with a yellow duck (slightly random, but hey, not complaining) and most unexpectedly of all, polybag 30210 - Frodo with his green shirt. I think that was from 2012?!! I most definitely wasn't expecting that last one, but it was a great addition. If anyone from the Liverpool store is reading this, thanks!
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Me too! Spent the last couple of years picking up LOTR minifigs for a large scale moc and it's cost me a fortune! With a bit of luck the D2C will a) be true and b) be Minas Tirith so we can get Orcs, Rohan soldiers, Gondorian soldiers, the Dead, the Witch king, Eowyn, Denethor and Faramir in one go! I can dream, right?
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Eeeeeeeeee!
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Thanks - I'm not a quick builder, but I'd better get to it! Hadn't thought of that, I'll give it a try, cheers If it does stick out too far I think I have an alternative using a modified plate with ring (ID 4081). Just need to pick up a few of them in brown.
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Just playing around with a few ideas for a Treebeard moc. Thinking if I can get him done I might put it on Lego Ideas as a "UCS" version. He's not really based on the movies, more my interpretation of him from the books. Except for his moustache, he's surprisingly sturdy, clips and bars hold everything in place pretty well. At the moment I'm not sure about his eyes - they're pearl gold but I think they need to be brighter... or maybe I've overdone his eyebrows. Here's a slightly earlier version... Part of me prefers them slightly simpler. Thoughts and suggestions welcome!