The Librarian

Thank you for the comments - very kind of you all! My one regret is that I didn't think to find a way to do those magnificent sleeves of his! And I'm still holding out hope for a Missy Lego Dimensions pack featuring all incarnations of the Master! I'm up to three Cybermen now, so hopefully I'll be able to get some more Cyber-centric MOCs online soon! I have this feeling I'm going to end up with lots of those tags, so I'll have to think up some more ways to use them . . . Drat! The one reference I failed to get in! Now how exactly does one build a bowl of custard and fishfingers at minifig scale . . . ?

So, a couple of months ago I started building a new TARDIS console room, just to see if I could get a working time rotor going up and down in the middle of it (turns out I can). And, well, the project . . . grew somewhat. I still need to invest in some proper lamps but I've done my best to photograph it with the current sunny weather (well, sunny intervals - it is a Bank Holiday) to share with you all. I do hope you enjoy it - I've thrown in as many references as I could fit to all sorts of Doctor Who stories in every medium. Doctor Who Diorama by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr You've had the place redecorated . . . by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Dress for the occasion by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Both the Doctor's and the Master's TARDISes are separate modules - took me a while to work out how best to fit them together. The Master's TARDIS by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr And to think it all started as a mild curiosity in a junk yard . . . Just a battered old Police Box by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr As a bonus, here's a little Cyber Tomb-ette using those lovely, lovely (seriously, I need more) Cybermen figures. Modular Cyber Tomb by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr More images and all Doctor Who related MOCs on my flickr can be found here. General housekeeping: I can't claim any credit for the 9th and 10th Doctor figs since I've seen some fairly similar combinations knocking around but I haven't seen the 7th and 8h done this way before. There are two modified pieces in this MOC - a Batman torso with the bat symbol markered over and a crowbar piece scarified for the sake of art. Do let me know what you think!

Lovely start! Those panels are a wonder for console-building, though I've found it difficult to fix the angles - are you just going to go with freely positioning them? I really like the look of the right-hand wall too - very nice roundel work! I actually think the red-on-grey approach looks tremendously striking in this context, funnily enough - don't think I've ever seen a console room design using that colour scheme and it does work well. Are you planning to include a scanner screen of some kind? The overhead girders bring to mind the 8th Doctor's console room with it's screen-on-a-scissor-lift scanner . . .

Thanks for all the comments, chaps! That represents the Emperor Dalek, as seen in the Dalek Chronicles comic strip. It's a design I'm rather fond of, so I wanted to see if I could replicate it in Lego - it's not perfect, but I consider it a passable first effort.

So, despite all the Star Wars builds I've been posting recently, I am at heart a Whovian. And with the new series starting today (in two hours, forty one minutes to be exact), I thought it was high time I shared a few builds. Which are surprisingly numerous given I've been sick all week and have had plenty of time to distract myself with Lego. I decided, for no reason at all, to build a TARDIS console and while I could have built the Doctor's TARDIS, I don't really have the parts to build an appropriate minifig. So I turned to a few of the lesser known Time Lords . . . and it sort of spiraled into a series. So without further ado . . . The meddlesome Monk is an object lesson in why irresponsible use of a time machine is a very bad time. With his mark IV TARDIS (it's in show-room condition, you know), he knocks from one end of the history to the other looking for new ways to turn a profit or just have a good time, heedless of the consequences of interfering. Be it giving laser cannons to the Anglo Saxons, anti-gravity lifts to the ancient Britons or hyper-advanced medicine to the Holy Roman Empire, the Monk meddles just to see what will happen – and to see what trophies he can pick up along the way. Since I started building a traditional console, it was only natural that I'd chose the Monk to take the place of the Doctor. I wanted to capture the fairly plain design of the original TARDIS set, but add a few of the twists suggested by Big Finish's audio plays, which state that the Monk keeps a load of trophies hanging around. I'm very pleased with how the console came out here! Sideways in time and across the boundaries that divide one universe from the next is a world in which the reality of King Arthur and the Knights of Camelot was far closed to the legend than it is here. And in that world, where magic is advanced enough to be indistinguishable from technology, there exists a mysterious wanderer in time and space, who can change his face and traverses the stars in a ship of wonders. His name? Merlin! This started as a steam-punk console room in the vein of the Scream of the Shalka webcast but veered sharply into castle-punk instead. I'm very pleased with the time rotor on this one, and the downstairs area with its home comforts. Expelled from the Academy following that nasty incident with the giant mouse and the Lord President's cat, the Rani escaped into the cosmos with one purpose in mind: to further her scientific research. To her, the universe is one giant Petri dish and the people in it are just one long list of test subjects. She would be happy never seeing the Doctor ever again, but he keeps insisting on getting in her way and making long speeches about medical ethics . . . hopefully one day he and the Master will annihilate each other in an explosion of ego and she can get on with her work in peace. I've always liked the design of the Rani's TARDIS from Mark of the Rani, so much better than just redressing the normal console room. I wanted to capture the shape of the round console - and I just had to include the baby T-Rex! It is perfectly possible that Irving Braxiatel does not actually privately run the universe. But he definitely has the people who do on speed-dial. The proverbial man of wealth and taste, Brax is a collector par excellence, firmly of the opinion that the treasures of the universe would be far safer in his hands than left to the vagaries of time and chance. For all his charm, there is a darker side lurking under the urbanity – so it's a good job that Bernice Summerfield (archaeologist and professional drinker) is usually around to keep an eye on him! Brax is one of my favourite characters from the Bernice Summerfield series (of course he is, everybody loves Irving!) and I wanted his TARDIS to reflect his urbane, art-collector persona. I'm very happy with the bookshelf (though obviously I claim no originally on the build techniques here) and I'm quite pleased with his more advanced console design (his being a Type 70, it's way in advance of the Doctor's or the Monk's) When Professor Chronotis retired from the hurly burly of Capitol politics and settled down as the occupier of an obscure chair in a distinguished Cambridge college, he may possibly and quite by accident forgotten to tell anyone that he was taking his old Type 12 TARDIS with him. Fortunately, it is safely locked in the shape of his college rooms and will be no trouble to anyone. Now if he could just remember where he left the milk for his tea . . . A small build but satisfying nevertheless. I based the console on the BBCi webcast version, rather than on the original set from the lost story, Shada. Oh, I also built some Daleks (with the usual techniques!) Which leaves me with the dilemma of what to do with a horde of Daleks and no Doctor . . . but of course there's only one reasonable response to that . . . Abslom Daak - Dalek Killer! Here's a link to a slightly fuller gallery with a smattering of alternate views: link Enjoy!

Thanks for the comments guys - and many apologies for not replying sooner. I have been having a hectic time of it lately and only today got around to checking this thread again! I'm afraid it's unlikely . . . the way I build is more luck than judgement, so it's very hard to reverse engineer my creations for instructions. I could probably do it, but it would take a while and I'm not going to have the space and time in the near future. Sorry! Thank you so very much for your kind words and for blogging the ship! I'm very happy she struck such a cord with you. She actually started from the minifigure - I'd built Master Grel there quite a while ago and initially started building a ship in his colours based on a heavily modified Y-Wing, but it never went anywhere. However, after a little thought, I realised the Gauntlet was a much better basis! I absolutely see what you mean. The cockpit, I admit, is slightly due to a restriction in how many windscreens I have in trans-orange! I think if I had some more blue wedge plates to hand, I would definitely have tried to avoid the right-angle at the top though - something to definitely consider in the future. As for the guiding lines on the wings, I think this is slightly the victim of changing my intentions half-way through. I was originally going to have guns mounted on the outer edges of the wings, but nothing really came of that idea, so I ended up relying more on the natural point of the wings than the pattern, which chiefly exists to replicate the sticker on the nose. I'm not planning to revise her much at the moment but if I do, I will have to bear all your comments in mind to see if I can improve the sweep of the patterning.

So, following on from my definitely-styled-as-a-Star-Wars-ship ship and my extension of an existing Canon vessel, here is something that is only really Star Wars because I decided it is and have put a Cathar in charge to prove it. See? Fortune's Thorn - urgently leaving "Scarper lads, it's the law!" *Ahem* Let's try that again. Fortune's Thorn - crew A bold and rakish Pirate Captain and his crew (including a Verpine, or as near a Verpine as I can get with current figures). And their marauder, Fortune's Thorn (AKA an excuse to build vertical): Fortune's Thorn She's inspired in part by Dr Ahpra's starship from Star Wars: Darth Vader, but erring more towards a nautical shape in space. And bright red. I am very irritated to find the yellow super structure showing through so brightly thanks to my flash, but otherwise, I'm quite pleased with the shape. She was originally half the size, but I thought increasing her mass would do her a bit more justice. Also: guns, lots, for the shooting with: Fortune's Thorn Landed, also showing off rear guns and greebling: Fortune's Thorn - landed And an interior, albeit one that is very hard to photograph: Fortune's Thorn - captain's chair Fortune's Thorn - living space I hope she tickles a few fancies, despite being relatively off the cuff. Full gallery is here.

Thank you for all your comments, chaps - glad you like the model! The pilot's chair is hinged to allow for the 'drop through the floor' mechanic, so the idea is that it lowers down into the main part of the hull to allow the pilot to get in. There's not much of an interior, unfortunately, and it's too cramped to allow for the swivel chair I wanted to put in there - but the idea is there. I'm actually working on another model that has a very non-traditional colour scheme for a Star Wars vessel - so watch this space! One of the things I love about the original Clone Wars Mandalorian ships is how unique they look while still fitting into the overall Star Wars aesthetic. The Clone Wars were really good at coming up with ships like that but I think the Gauntlet is really one of their best efforts - so I was very happy I managed to capture some of that in this model. And she is as sturdy as she looks too: not impact proof but not likely to fall apart in the hands either. Thanks again guys!

Thanks for all the comments guys - I'm really glad I managed to achieve what I set out to do and create a ship that was recognisably 'Star Wars' in origin.

So, continuing on from my previous creation, set in a post-Legacy era setting where the Jedi have scattered into various sects (honestly, this is largely irrelevant but it amuses me to play with something based on the future of a canon that is no longer canonical), here is a space fighter type vessel for the dapper Force-using Mandalorian about town: The shape is based on the Gauntlet fighter/transports used by the Death Watch in The Clone Wars (Kom'rik class for those wanting to look it up on Wookiepedia), though scale-wise she is much smaller than that. I wanted to evoke rather than match exactly. She's blue because I had a lot of blue (and practically no grey, thank you my last creation), while the name and motif is taken from the serendipitous use of Nightwing's glider's nose for the curve of the nose-cone. Like the Gauntlet, she lands with rotating wings and has a rear access hatch. Also like the Gauntlet, she has an underside hatch, through in deference to the scale, there is only room for the pilot - named Panak Grel by grabbing a bunch of letters and arranging them into something that sounds like it might come and punch you in the face - to eject and jet-pack into battle. What she has that the Gauntlet doesn't is a natty under-bonnet storage compartment for a speeder bike. [/url The bike itself is not particularly special and exists mainly for Grel to charge into battle swinging a lightsaber stave. Anyhow. Full gallery is here and all comments welcome. Enjoy!

Thanks - and (unfortunately perhaps), it's not based on any actual extant Star Wars spaceship. I drew inspiration from the Blockade Runner, but also from the concept version of it, the Republic Cruiser from episode 1 and this model kit. I was going for a Star Wars feel, not accuracy to any one source.

Thanks guys! As mentioned above, I've gone on to modify the Ateryn Dawn to include more greebles and those all-important new 'eleven minute' gun turrets! I'm hoping this does in fact count as an improvement, but I'll let wiser heads than I be the judge of that. Ateryn Dawn - updated by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Although, having said all that, the added detail is mainly on the top and sides; I didn't touch the belly due to that needing a small wheelbarrow of tiles to fix . . . Ateryn Dawn - updated by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Close up on the upper turret: Ateryn Dawn top gun by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr And on the gubbins that's taken the place of the big blank space on the rear flanks: Ateryn Dawn anti-neutron frangulator by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr I've also modified the first post with a new image and more shots can be found in the full gallery. Enjoy!

Thank you all for your comments and feedback! And thank you Lobot for blogging this - I'm a bit flabbergasted to have that happen on my first post in this forum! To answer a few specific comments: The abundance of studs is half due to choice, half to simple practicality - I really mean it when I say this creation has wiped me out of grey components! Even with the selection of 2x2 and 2x4 tiles I acquired over the course of building her (and leading up to building her, come to think of it), I just don't have enough to cover everything. It's a shame, because while it was always my intention to leave some exposed studs for texture, I would like to smooth over some of the more egregious bits - particularly underneath and on the engines. Maybe when I can afford it, I'll try covering her up a bit more! Something that has really hit home looking over the pictures, particularly the rear of the flanks, which are just inexcusably lacking in fiddly bits. To mitigate this somewhat, I would argue that as a ship that sits somewhere between an Imperial Shuttle and a Republic Cruiser (Consular rather than Venerator, that is!), there shouldn't be a massive amount of greebles anyway, but this is mainly just an excuse. I have now spent the better part of the evening applying fine details (plus closing up a few gaps), so will update with new pictures later in the week. Well it was a trifle longer than two minutes . . . maybe seven? This is stumping me a bit, I'm afraid, so any suggestions would be extremely welcome. The reason the turrets are as they are at the moment is because they can only be five plates high without risking being taller than the landing gear is deep and thus causing nasty dents every time the ship lands. I'm quite fond of the central hub and I need the guns to be able to rotate through 360 degrees horizontally and 180 degrees vertically for the design to make sense (think the Falcon's quad guns, only remotely controlled). Originally, I was planning on giving them proper bubbles with a gunner's seat but that proved unworkable. I've played around with a few variations tonight but I haven't yet hit on a version that conceals the pins, allows the barrels to move in sync and hides as many studs as possible without totally compromising the structure. If anyone has any ideas or has built anything with a similar footprint, I'd be grateful for the advise! My image for the ship was always to have the guns mainly pointing to the rear . . . but yes, can't really argue with that one! If I'm honest, not having to worry about accounting for any new canon in that era kind of makes it easier to play with, but yeah, it would have been nice to see a bit more of that future - I really must get around to picking up the second volume Legacy comics at some point, now I think about it . . . As I said above, I'll try and get some more pictures with updated greebles up later in the week, probably Wednesday since I have the day off. In the meantime, allow me to share a few groups of characters that populate the setting for the ship: Jedi Wayfarers and Shadows by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr A trio of Jedi Shadows and a quartet of Jedi who go incognito most of the time. Jedi Duelists by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Masters of the way of the lightsabre (the Countess' sabre is dark blue when not being the top of her walking stick) Witches and Mandalorian Knights by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Assorted others. Concept Jedi and Cephlapod Master by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr I adore Star War concept art. Also, even octopuses can be in touch with the Force.

I must admit, this is probably my first proper, finished Star Wars MOC since I was about ten and building Darth Vader out of Castle parts and no doubt the odd multi-coloured X-Wing. Over the years, I've generally collected Star Wars Lego purely for the parts but recently - probably due to a certain trailer - I have had a suddent surge of inspiration for the theme. The result is 87cm long, features a full interior and has probably done me out of grey bricks for the foreseeable future! [EDIT: based on feedback from folks on this thread, I have modified the original model - see a dozen or so posts down for details!] Ateryn Dawn - updated Original version follows: Ateryn Dawn by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr The vessel is called the Ateryn Dawn, the idea being that the chap who owns it (Jedi Shadow Rhaga Venn) is from a planet called Ateryn (totally made up and non-canon, I just liked the sound). For ease of canon, I imagine it being after what was the Legacy Era in the old EU, with the Jedi Order broken up into various different chapters and sects. Venn's saber is a custom piece since I couldn't find an easy way of getting hold of the one instance of a trans-clear 4l bar Lego have actually - it's meant to represent a white blade. Ateryn Dawn crew by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr The ship is based on the concept and final designs for the Blockade Runner and the Republic Cruiser - this is essentially the next step down in the market, probably some sort of courier originally but very much old-fashioned and second-hand (as with all the best Star Wars ships). I imagine it being fast but not heavily armed and what weaponry there is is mainly defensive. Ateryn Dawn by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr The interior includes a cockpit, a cargo bay in the nose, a lounge-diner-second cargo bay, a workbench and utility room, a fresher and two bunk rooms, plus access to the hyperdrive at the back. Plenty of room for Jedi training! Ateryn Dawn lounge by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Apologies if the picture quality is sub-par, by the way. This is the first time I've taken pictures in my new flat and the lighting has been atrocious (especially since this is apparently 'rain on Cambridge' weekend). But hopefully it all gives the right impression! Venn's speederbike by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr This has all rather set me on a Star Wars MOCing binge, so I have a few more models to share in the coming weeks. All comments welcome and appreciated! Link to full gallery

Thanks for the comments, ladies and gents! Though...anyone care to elaborate on what's wrong with my Batmobile? What with several 'strange looking' and 'not a fan of' comments, I'm wondering what people don't like about it. It's based chiefly on the Batwing that appeared in the Justice League Unlimited episode 'Heart of Darkness', which can be found on this page: http://dcanimated.wikia.com/wiki/Batwing The 'hover pods' were inspired by the Arkham City Batplane, though, which I considered adhering to more closely but I wasn't sure how to get the cockpit shape.

I've had a busy Easter. First - unfortunately, the weather at home was miserable, and I only had a little time to take photographs. So they stink. I've tried to tidy them up, and I hopefully will get decent shots done in the future. But I wanted to share the creations and I don't know when I'll get a chance to reshoot the pictures. Second: the main business of the day. The Batmobile! I tried to merge the Tumbler with the more 'traditional' bat-themed vehicles. I planned this extensively in Ldraw beforehand, since I wanted to get the shape just right. I'm very pleased with the result, though I wish I'd been able to get some weapons in there. Maybe I'll figure something out eventually. The Batmobile by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr The Batwing! Since I'd built him a car, I thought I'd build him a jet as well. Not based on any particular design, though the Justice League Unlimited version had a heavy influence. The Batwing by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Metallo! The kryptonite powered cyborg, ready to go toe-to-toe with Superman. I am ludicrously pleased with his shins. Metallo by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Shazam! A Captain Marvel minifigure, because I'm a fan and I wanted one. I need some proper transfer paper, though, and some printing on that cape. Captain Marvel by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr Mr Atom! The villianous robot, here to smash up your city and steal your Lego bricks! Someone for Captain Marvel to fight! Captain Marvel versus Mr Atom! by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr That's all for now - though I've also uploaded several minifigures I've either customised or made spiffy display bases for. Enjoy!

Thanks for the comments everyone! Full points! That's exactly where I got the basic outline for the Brainiac robot from. The cruving/prongs shape just seemed a perfect fit once I got it at an angle. Instructions, as requested, can be found on Flickr: Lex Power Suit Instructions 3 by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr

(Sorry if anyone comes in before I've finished editing, I hit post instead of preview!) So, being a comicbook fan, I'm naturally pretty excited about the whole 'Superheroes' line. If I'm honest, I'm primarily in it for the Magneto minifig coming out later this year but that's not to say the DC stuff hasn't gotten my creative juices flowing. Having got hold of the Lex Luthor power suit, I decided that I'd rather have someone else piloting the giant robot and give Lex a more appropriately sized set of armour ala the comics and Justice League cartoon. And who better to run around in a giant robot that the evil computer mind himself, Brainiac! Supervillain Teamup by Librarian-Bot, on Flickr As you can see, I did my best to get the 'diode' pattern in as much as possible, even if I couldn't on the minifig itself. I used the Wicked Witch's head because it's, you know, about the only bright green head avaliable and rounded the ensemble off with some drones and bottled cities. Lex is your average Lego hardsuit design in as much green and purple as I could scrape out of my collection. I had to use black as a contrasting colour but I think that kind of works. Full set here! Enjoy!

Cheers, glad you like them! The 'Vahki' was more or less Rahkshi inspired. I replicated the body design I used for the Lehrak as far as possible and added the Vahki segments as I went along. It was one of those models that 'just happened'! The last model in the set is a Makuta, although it's not really meant to be any one in particular. I don't have a Mask of Shadows, so I used the Onua Mistaka mask as a substitute. It looks about right to my mind.

Thanks! I've updated with the Pohatu and Onua's torsos - not sure I can do Takanuva: don't have the Nuva armour in Ldraw....

...I whipped these up. Hope they'll be useful to someone! The heads don't exist in Ldraw yet, but it's just you basic Metru head. http://www.flickr.com/photos/39048426@N03/...57624119689638/ See the finished products, ina variety of colours and with various alterations, here: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=40666

Thanks! Glad these have gone down well too! Well, it certainly forces invention! And I am fond of those feet... And thanks, I'm glad I've managed to make them look good! Incidentally, I think that spear is the biggest weapon I've ever built for anything. Dratted thing's over a foot long!

Thanks again guys! Having found a hand design that it worked, I decided to give it to them all. I supposed I could have saved parts and left Gali with hooks but...it seemed better to have it standard all round. Except for Onua, of course, but there was never any question of what his hands were going to be! Please, by all means, use my stuff to help you! I'm actually planning to put up some sort of break-down/instructions - I designed them all in Ldraw before I started building, so for once, that'll be easy. I look forward to what you come up with! He's still shorter than 'standard', though you're right, possibly not as short as he should be to keep the proportions the same across the board. In fact, since I shortened Gali and Lewa and made Takanuva taller, I suppose I've muddled them all a bit. Well, if we hadn't have gotten Stars, I'd never have built these! Tahu was even originally going to have the sword from his Stars version....but then I decided it looked silly and went with the original, which works a treat.

Less happy with this lot. I didn't spend as much time planning them out. Oh well. At least I'm giving a chance to the black hats as well as the heroes. Once more, a full set of pics on flickr: here. Enjoy!

Wow. Thanks everybody! And a spot on the front page too...I'm honoured! The inclusion of black is kinda necessary, given my lack of (the right) parts, but it did seem to come off looking ok. I'd have preferred to use colours closer to the originals (for Gali, Lewa and Tahu's arms, mainly) but just never got hold of the right bits. I used the original limbs because...well, it was easier to do it that way and I've seen some great MOCs that have used them. There's one of Pohatu that really inspired me to try it - this - so if that builder knocks around these boards, credit to them for some of the building methods! You're right about Gali, unfortunately - I couldn't think up a good way to bulk them out. Again, nothing in the right colours! As for MOCing Bionicle...I dabble from time to time. Nothing I've made felt good enough to post before! Ah, lack of parts is a pain. I bought several new sets just to get this lot built - not even for big parts, either, mainly it was looking for better coloured axles and pins! The first year masks are without a doubt the best. There's just something very elegant about their design. That's not to say that later masks didn't look good, of course, but as a set, I don't think the first six can be beaten. And I have to admit, I didn't really follow the story beyond the Bohrok - my dedicated set-buying stopped at four of the bugs and everything after has been bought more or less at random, because I wanted particular parts. I wouldn't have the Mask of Light if I hadn't been hunting down Rahkshi parts! Thanks again, everyone. I'm still a bit shocked that these seemed to have gone down so well! I've just finished photographing my 'second wave' of tribute models - which I don't think are as good but hey ho. I'll get them up later...and in case you're wondering, it's the bad guys!