manglegrat

I'm not terribly excited about many of the visual changes myself, as I can live without bells & whistles and was quite happy with the basic but functional and efficient layout previously. However, I like some of the new functionality such as the .lxf file import and Brickficiency-like auto-shop option - if/when they work properly! I haven't fully tested them yet, but I'm seeing feedback that indicates the latter isn't quite 100% yet. I'll give 'em time to iron out the bugs and probably hold off on too many orders (certainly large/complex ones) until some of this dust settles... FYI they've brought back the classic wanted list functionality on the main wanted list pages again, so you can once again see your items and all the stores selling them to do a good price comparison there, although the store pages are using the new wanted list code. Look for the "Classic" button on the menu bar for the Want page, it opens up the previous menu options (my favourite option "by shop" is back, yay!). That's a positive and responsive action to support long-term customers. +5 points to Slytherin for that.

Not sure the etiquette of distributing someone else's stuff, though they did withdraw it & disappear in a huff, so... I could maybe be persuaded to share via PM. Again, I have Mac .app file only - so it's absolutely no use for Windows folks.

Yeah, it's using the excellent BlueRender mod from the ex-member formerly known as Bublible from this thread, which I see you've posted on a couple of times - sorry I don't have any ideas how to get similar results on the "vanilla" version of BR. I also have v0005 of the official one but only use the modded version just now. I tuned in to that thread early enough to grab the .app file for my Mac and read his tutorial before he left the forum. I'm sure at some point the official builds will come close or surpass the modded version, though...

Thanks! You're welcome - I wanted to give back a tiny bit for all the awesome stuff I've grabbed from others.

Thanks, guys - glad you like it!

This MOC was initially inspired by the wing design from the awesome cornwaille TIE Bomber MOC from Lego Ideas (which I also built IRL - ), by 75082 (obvs), and a nod towards MikeMo's design in this thread. Apologies for the fairly sketchy and variable lighting in the pics. It's a few studs bigger than the one in 75150 (I built this before pics of that leaked) and probably doesn't match the proportions of the movie model (never checked!) but I like the way it looks and it compares well to my UCS 10175 taking into account the scale. It swooshes well enough but I wouldn't want to bump the wings too many times mid-swoosh - as you can maybe see from the pics they have a bit of weight-related sag (which happens to us all from time to time), so the connections using two of these on either side to keep the wings tight to the body need a bit of care when the action's going down. I built it in bricks first then reverse engineered it into LDD to capture it electronically (minus the printed parts, haven't figured how to do that yet), and I added a couple of extra greebly bits to the inside of the wings that I don't have in my spares box but I think I'm going to have to track down. I could probably dial-up the greebling a couple of notches in general, but I wanted something fairly clean and focussed. (note the 1x3 inverted slopes underneath the curves in the last pic above are attached to technic holes in this piece in real life but they wouldn't connect in LDD so the digital version has 3 trans red 1x1 rounds there instead - nice enough looking for the LDD but doesn't match the lines well enough in real life for me) I did a bonus 360 render of the LDD in BlueRender (again, no printing but hey) - and yes, while it's a little back-heavy in bricks it does balance on the stand at that point: Hope you guys like it!

Cool, thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated! Actually, I'm kinda like you in that regard too - that's why I went after the Mark I first, I just didn't post that when I finished it as it's just a MOD of someone else's MOC. I really liked the SNOT-ness of that design, and the grey/white scheme. I might give a plate-based design a go someday once I've learned more about MOCing... Young whippersnappers! You're very welcome!

Thanks. Steal away! The rear one is only connected at the top/back, but with a 2-stud connection it should be OK as long as you don't swoosh your model too vigorously.

Hey, thanks! I also used pics of the Fantastic Plastic resin Thunderbolt as reference as well - the vanes are the same way round as mine on that. I'd love to see yours when you get to it! Yeah, it was to make it match with the scale of a base-model StarFury that I built to Scott Peterson's design earlier this year. It's close but probably not 100% minifig scale - I haven't actually tried to fit a minifig into that one, either! That design uses SNOT wings, and they are a little weak IRL at some of the joints between bricks (the weight of the engine pods is really pushing the clutch-power & I won't use glue). I did my version of that in LDD based on a file he sent me, but for some reason it won't render any images in Bluerender. Got it to work! I couldn't figure out how to get the different angles for the Thunderbolt wings by using fully SNOTted wings, so I stuck with plates. I had been stuck for ages trying to figure out what windshields would work, and was inspired to design this by finding the second windshield being used in a similar fashion in a recent MOC on EB somewhere (can't remember the thread, though ). I've seen a few micro-scale B5 MOCs before (some great ones here on the BlueRender thread), but the daddy for me has to be the Omega Class Destroyer by Niko here. Someday I'll attempt that in LDD...

Thanks, LegoPercyJ! The show started in 1994 so it's probably older than a good % of the folks on this site. Makes me feel really old... Anyway, I just updated my post with a better front-view angle pic and a 360. This Bluerender stuff rocks!

Hi, folks. As a fan of Babylon 5 who just watched S2-S4 again, while I've seen a few B5 MOCs in my travels I don't think I've ever seen a Thunderbolt before, so I thought I'd give it a try in LDD (pic via Bluerender w/Bublible MOD). This is v0.2: I think the proportions are OK given the restrictions of minifig-ish scale (I haven't tried putting minifigs in it in LDD as I didn't intend to IRL so I may be a bit off) and available Lego pieces. Can't quite model all the curves and angles, though! My reference for this was the pic below. I flipped round the vanes on the engines to be on the outside and while it'd be easy enough to reconnect them the other way round I'd have to lengthen the engine modules a plate or two to allow it to fit alongside the wings. In the series the vanes rotated between space (per the below) mode & atmospheric mode (mine), but I haven't tried to build-in that function. Maybe v0.3... Top view: Side view: And front(ish - as close as I could get with LDD & Bluerender) view: 360 rotation Problem #1 is the wedge plate 2x2 I've used tons of in LBG don't seem to be available in LBG yet. I tried to use only available parts in the colours I selected, but missed that one. I'm pretty sure most of the rest is available as-built, though. Problem #2 may be the strength of the SNOT connections to keep the nose section on... only building it IRL will prove that one out! Anyhow, if there are any other B5 fans out there, I hope this makes you smile a bit.

Ahah! Flipping the fixed end of the neck joint to be at the bottom and the pivot point to be at the top (no more floppy-head!) is one of those genius ideas that just seems so right when you hear it. Brilliant. Thanks for continuing to evolve this great MOC.

Got one in Market Mall TRU in Calgary. Bought a couple of microfighters (AT-AT, Snowspeeder) to get it - had to ask at customer service, but it's all good. I wasn't going to miss out on this one like I did with TC-4 (I'll BL that eventually when I get over the sticker-shock from NA sellers).

Finally, today's Canadian TRU flyer says spend $25 on SW Lego, get the TFA C-3PO polybag free... Haven't been to a store to check it out though, so YMMV. Get 'em while they're hot!

Ooh, that's a lovely looking version of the X-Wing Many thanks for sharing the LDD file, as well.

Oops, yeah - good catch. I initially had everything in the right place but forgot to clean up that area and realign everything when moving it around and re-posing it. Actually, on reflection I'm thinking the "ankle" angle in the pose above should really be a little more stretched out - which would bring the shovels and ankle spur closer together naturally, anyway. I'll probably try a more dynamic pose soon...

I was a lot more careful today when moving it around and re-posing it (admittedly I'm not going for a very dynamic pose) and you know, with your tips it was a lot more manageable. Not a single fumble, drop, head-flop or part-fall-off! And yeah, it's definitely stable enough to stand on its own - may not need that stand, after all! Actually, I found the UCS more annoying when I was moving it for the pics, below - the legs on that are much floppier. Yeah, I noticed that! Had a few head-flops before I got the angle of the body right. Ask and (with any luck) ye shall receive - though apologies for the amateur-hour setting: The Walker Family Portrait Profile & leg comparison shot. I prefer the proportions your design by far - the UCS legs feel too short compared to yours. Maybe it's more of an Endor spec model vs. your more Hoth-like one. 7657 is definitely the runt of the litter. OK, who let the dog out?! It's always looking for a belly-rub...

Just built this model tonight (took all night) after a couple of weeks of bricklinking the parts and waiting (oh the waiting) - but wow, it's beautiful in person. Definitely not the most robust, though - you're at the mercy of the clutch power in your Bionicle parts, for sure! I gave up counting the number of times it fell over and bits came off when I was trying to pose it and clumsily stop it from falling. Hamfisted fool that I am. I suspect I may be building your display stand to give it a helping hand. Or at least defend it from mine! I have it standing next to my UCS and 7657 (2007) and you know what, it gives the UCS a good run for its money from the accuracy and sheer awesomeness perspective. I swear I can see a blush of embarrassment on 7657's cheeks... Amazing job, Anothergol.

Those are great, Bob (and of course Luc - if he's reading)! I particularly love the sassy attitude in Leia's pose. Are you considering extending the range with other characters? I wonder what someone could do along those lines for Chewie, Lando, Luke...

Grabbed a Slave-1 UCS while double points are on. :D

Awesome!!! You rock, dude! Seeing that, I feel like a kid at Christmas...

I am loving the body of this design big-time. I must try to replicate it, though I'm thinking there are other wing designs (e.g. the Cornwaille-designed wings from this thread) that I'd use as variant on your design. Kudos for your awesome creativity, MikeMo!

Just wanna send you a big "Thank you" for posting these excellent designs. I've built the Interceptor and Bomber from your LDD files, and they are awesome in person. Next up is MODing my 8017 Darth Vader TIE to have something more like the wings from your TIE Bomber, though I may blend your wing designs with MikeMo's body from this thread...

This is an absolutely awesome model, and you were very kind to send me the LXF files you used as mentioned above when I emailed you, but I'm wondering - which of the files is the closest to the model you actually built? I've been basing my Bricklink wishlist to build this on the "249 Render" file, but some of the (particularly red) parts are hard to find, and that version doesn't seem to contain the 98613 part you mentioned above... I *so* want to build this, but I'm worried I end up ordering parts that won't get me anything as beautiful as the one you have pictured, above.

Me, I'm a vehicles guy, not a playset guy, so either one could speak to me, but I'd get the Slave 1 and MOD the bottom with more greebles, etc. I'm a sucker for droids too, so I'd also Bricklink some of the droid minifigs from the Sandcrawler, but I'm just not that excited by the "big brown box"-ishness of it... For me, one of them is a "wow" and the other is a "meh" - display-wise I think Slave 1 wins out.