Mariann Asanuma

No, I scanned in an old picture. The model itself was taken apart long ago. I could rebuild it, but if I did it wouldn't be the same. I'm a different sort of builder now and I'd want it to be more accurate and detailed.

Hi all. I wanted to share an old model of mine that I made quite a few years ago (either 95' or 96') I can't remember the exact date. This was way before I became a Master Model Builder (or even thought that I might get the chance to) This was my very first LEGO animal sculpture. I created it as an enemy of my Aquanauts. I really didn't know much about LEGO sculpture at that point and if I was going to make it again, it probably would be a lot different. I don't have the model any more, and the pictures aren't the greatest (this was pre-digital age, for me at least). But I hope you like it anyway. You can read more about it at my Model Building Secrets blog.

Sandy, you've obviously not been to the western part of America. There are a lot of places where the "skewed" mountainside look like that. It happens where two of the tectonic plates meet in a subduction zone it pushes entire sections of land at an angle, creating the "skewed" effect. Great job SlyOwl!

Okay, I've been reading this through thoroughly. On one side, this idea sounds exciting. On the other side there are an awful lot of rules. Now, because I worked at LEGOLAND and actually did some of the ordering for them let me make a few things clear. One thing that a lot of you seemed to skip over in the rules is that it can take up to 3 months to receive the bricks. Although this is normal, sometimes it took up to 6 months in the Model Shop, you can't plan to use the bricks until you have in front of you. With Bricklink and PaB at least you can get it in a fairly reasonable time. As for what is a "licensed part?" Licensed parts are only the ones specifically for a license. For example any of the Star Wars minifigs. There is a grey line however. Lightsabers, both the blade and the handle are from Star Wars but have been used in many other themes since they were created. Any specific type of plate, even if it is only in the X-wing, most likely isn't considered a licensed part. LEGO doesn't look at the parts in the same way AFOL's do. To them it isn't a "rare" element even if it is in only one set. So rarer colors and elements don't factor into it -- on their side. A "restricted part" most likely the special Q elements that only the Model Shop can order. These elements are a small amount of parts that LEGO doesn't sell commercially any more, because they don't make it for a set. I do see some benefits to this, and I understand it is a pilot program. Since it doesn't matter one way or the other since I'm in the states, I look forward to see how this plays out.

I don't know if this is the right forum or not, if it isn't please move it moderators. I just wanted to let everyone know that I was interviewed on Pixelated Geek. If you've ever wondered what I sound or look like here is your chance to see. I don't know how to embed the video, so if some one can do that that would be cool. Let me know what you think of my first video interview.

Now that I've played LEGO Rock Band a little (it was at Comic Con) I want it even more than I did before. Before anyone grips about LEGO going out of their "comfort zone" try the game yourself. Its fun, family friendly, and yes LEGO is jumping on the Band Wagon (pun intended). My only grip is that I'll have to buy a new game system -- PS3 or Wii -- to play the game. But I was planning on doing that anyway.

Here's some pictures I took of the Bionicle Mosaic. In case you were wondering, there were 875 6x6 white plates, each with a different mosaic pattern that made up the whole mosaic. We pulled the bags out one at a time randomly, so it was kind of a "mystery" build for the first day, because you couldn't really see what the whole picture would be. This picture is while Mark (he's the one in the picture) and I were working the building event. It took two days and many Comic Con attendees to help us build this. Here's the finished model. Mark and I also worked on a giant Bionicle Mask. The original idea was to put it on the mosiac, but it turned out to be too big. So we ended up just having it on display. I wrote about it on my Model Building Secrets' Blog You can see more on my Flickr Photostream

Don't worry, there are women here on Eurobricks that understand. You know you are a fan of LEGO when . . . You buy more storage units for you LEGO than essentials like clothing or food. You miss all the really interesting panels at Comic Con, but make sure to go to the BrickJournal (also interesting ) and LEGO Star War Visual Dictionary panels. You spend 90 percent of your time at the LEGO booth at Comic Con, thus missing out on almost everything else. Even after spending lots of money at Comic Con (mostly on LEGO) you still want to check out LEGOLAND and see what they have.

Yes, I know that, but you can still build with the magnet bricks, and you can even take the magnets out if you want.

I'm not into the Pirate Coin Bank, since it is made of cardboard, but I just might have to get it for the trans-blue octopus. I've wanted that for quite a while now. The 4x4 gold bricks are very cool. I wish LEGO would just bite the bullet and make more chrome available. The Pirate Tic-Tac-Toe is also pretty cool, but I don't know if I'll go for that one or not.

You know you are a fan of LEGO when . . . You look at every building, car, and statue in the real world and try to think how best you would build it You stop by every toy section of every store you go to, even if you know they have nothing you want You buy the Comic Con LEGO exclusive, despite it being $50 and worth less than $20 in parts or minifigs You want LEGO Rock Band (and will buy it), even though you know that it means you have to buy another game system than the one you have.

Thank you. Yes, that's mine. Here's what it looks like if you can't go.

Great pics. I love the one that you took of my LEGO Comic Con logo mosaic.

I'm sure people will be jealous of this -- The last movie I watched was District 9. I got to see the world premiere preview at Comic Con last night. It was even introduced by Peter Jackson himself! The director Neill Blomkamp and also the main star Sharlto Copley was there. I even got to take a picture with the actor. Without giving anything away, it was a little too violent for me, and had too much language (I didn't know it was R rated). I liked the story and there were some cool effects and concepts. It was a pretty intense film too.

Very cool.

I'll see you there then! Also, I just found this press release: Also, DK Publishing will be handing postcards out. LEGO will also have an exclusive Star War set that will be limited to 500 sets available only at Comic Con. Just thought you might want to know.

I'm going. In fact, I'll be at the LEGO booth helping out. So if anyone is going, stop by. Madoka, sorry, but unless you want to pay ridiculous scalped ticket fees, there's no way to go. The tickets sold out in April.

Thanks for posting the link. I filled it out right away. I'm actually really excited to see all the questions about BrickJournal! It shows that LEGO will pay attention to something they didn't make if it gets big enough. (Of course I have to admit, I'm a little biased since I write for the magazine. )

Here's a few pics of Hinckley and the other contestants in action And I have a whole bunch more on My Flickr Photostream

I was able to be there, so I was one of the first to actually be able to congratulate him in person. It was the first time that we had met in real life. I took lots of pictures of the build. I'll upload a few of them later. For those of us watching, it seemed like a long time, but for those building, the two hours flew by. I'll also be posting more of my thoughts on the Search on my blog.

In my own way I'm trying to change this problem. I want to prove that girls can do it too! LEGO.com called me "the first and (so far) only female freelance LEGO artist in the world!" Does that tell you something? That's why I started writing books so that both girls and boys could learn how to build better with LEGO.

It's not just that males and females are different. LEGO doesn't gear there products to girls as much as boys. They did a small study like 25-30 years ago that told them girls liked to play instead of build. Which is why Belville and Scala were created. Although I've loved LEGO all my life, they never had the sets I wanted as a child. Now as an adult, with Cafe Corner, Green Grocer, etc. They are finally producing things I would have wanted back then. If they actually had a Town in their Town sets instead of people constantly needing to be rescued, saved from fires or to catch bad guys, it would appeal to more girls. Also they don't make enough animal sets. Some of my favorite sets are the Creator line, but even so, most of the animals appeal more to guys -- dinos, lizards, lions, etc. LEGO is slowly coming around that there are female fans of LEGO, but its taking them a long time.

Well, I don't think they invite people from other countries. Mainly they just look at who comes. Oh, by the way, tomorrow is the last day to apply

Once again LEGOLAND is looking for a few good Model Builders. Just thought you guys might want to know. Although I never went through the “Model Builder Search” process (I got hired before they started doing them), I was involved in the past two searches. It is an intensive hiring application, but it needs to be. Many times when we (Model Builders) are working we have to build very good and very fast. You can read more about it on my blog.

You can also get printed custom printed bricks from Tommy Armstrong's the Brick Engraver.