robuko

Welcome, Kirk Valentine! Glad to have you with us! Join us in a flagon of ale, and let`s discuss what can be done to bring peace and profit to Avantia. The fish trade sounds like a very promising place to start, and the Petraea General Trading Company has some keen interest in your water purification systems. Lord Shale, apologies for the late reply. I was referring to the tiles 4,5,and 6 studs above the lowest window on the right hand side. Your build is going to be epic! Happy Easter, enjoy the egg! I am making very very slow progress on challenge 3. I still haven`t finished the ground, in the first scene. And that`s after 3 days of holiday this week Oh well, time to speed up.

Hello I'm from Kaliphlin. I am an Active Builder and Member. What I like most after a few months is the community aspect. I think I am lucky in that Kaliphlin is a particularly thoughtful guild, with a lot of good members. See Erynlasgalen, NiceMarmot, Basiliscus and Kayne`s posts here, for instance - I agree with all of you on almost everything guys ! I haven`t really done any MOCs before Historica, it got me to organize some of my bricks and start building. And, I just bought Photoshop so I hope I will learn a new skill there. I have definitely learned from builders in other guilds too, in building and presentation techniques. I like it that the guild leaders make an effort and post in other guild forums, we have had some interesting debates in the Kaliphlin thread sparked by happenings in other guilds and members of other guilds have joined in very easily. The mini challenges have all been fun, and quite varied too, especially the variety in Mitgardia with Navy and Micro. I have had very high quality feedback from 2 of the guild leaders when I asked for it, which I really appreciated. Things I think could be improved - I think the competition building has become overdominant, which gives a lot of the reward to those with the time, bricks, and skill to put together big super builds. I feel that given 3 or 4 insanely talented builders in each guild, it`s hard for us mortals to make a good contribution. The time element is most demanding for me, so I would prefer size or brick limits. I end up spending all of my time on the competition build of the day, when I would like to do more free builds - I guess I do it because I feel that is the incentive structure we have at the moment. Concurrent contests is good, and so is the "badge" system in Avalonia of having individual build challenges with no time limit. I think we have a number of relative newbies to MOCing in GoH, and if we can find a way to encourage those of us with less experience, that would be good. I think the Albion build has been a really successful way to incentivise a bunch of smallish MOCs (except the gatehouse!). There has been talk of a University in Petraea to show off building techniques, and guest interviews, I think these are both good ideas. For me, as I value the community aspect and don`t really care about the conflict bit, I would prefer more mini community builds - but I know there will be plenty of sensible opposing views to that. We have quite an exhaustive list of unbuilt stuff on our first page! We have a decent chance to do something with Classic Castle, I would like to hear more about that. I voted for the Watchtower as the best challenge because of the greater degrees of freedom around that build compared to the other 2, and I am surprised it is currently the most popular as the general quality of building is obviously getting better. I would like GoH to keep going as long as it`s fresh. I think the concept would work perfectly in sci fi. Probably as a concept it would work beautifully in pirates too, but I can`t really distinguish one boat from another, so I would be less interested in that. I think pirates would struggle to pull in new builders, and as Kayne said, many of us have time for at most one thing. PS Trent, or any other interested non-members, you are very welcome to join any of the guilds at any time. You don`t have to do any fantasy stuff at all, in fact I think most builders haven`t.

That`s a sensational moustache!

Wow! These are both absolutely first class, and your design is so much better than the Lego Red. Could you please post more photos? I would love to copy the Red for my 2 year old. Cars is such a tough franchise, children who like it are generally young, and curious and destructive enough to make short work of any MOC! Are you thinking of building a Hudson? He is my son`s favourite character, but there is no model in the Lego range, only Duplo. By the way, he loved your DeLorean too! We just saw BTTF3 this week and I think he remembered it.

What!! where? I`ll take 3! I just built it this week and I love this set. It made me feel 8 years old again. So many clever allusions to classic space. My 2 year old likes it too, apart from the scary aliens.

This is hilarious. Way to break to fourth wall! I love the rioting Jaegers in the first shot, and the grumpy barmaid.

Not at all! I figured it was a lot easier for me to do the build and test than for you to do it. These have a maximum clamp width of around 2 technic beams with 1 peg installed, and the way I got them together was to clamp at one peg on the beam at a time, then slide up the beam and do another peg. With this design, it can be expanded in parallel to touch the beams at several points along their length by using axles instead of some of the pegs, and replicating the design further up. Let me know if you want me to have a go at this, or if you need any building instructions. It`s a relatively simple design but my photos are not that clear...as usual... I`m sure you can see what I mean about 8189 now, I just didn`t know how to express it They can also be expanded in clamp width, or length, to handle a wider gap, but when I tried this it came at the cost of some force transmission loss, because the beams bend. To make the pincer gap narrower, you could add another beam between the jaws so that it closes completely, if you want to adapt the design for picking stuff up etc. Anyway, let me know if you want me to try any mods. As I say, it is probably easier for me than for you, though I am sure there are builders with better ideas here. I am very happy to help, you have given so much to so many of us, and this is a small way to say thanks.

Many congratulations to Gex, the Petrea Court Composer! This was a fun contest, something a little bit different. Well done Mikel too, for a thoroughly entertaining entry. I would love to see all these stories illustrated one day, in blocks of course. Funny how it ended up being all Kaliphlin, must be because of all those schools and universities we have. It's a shame that Abu Ali's school didn't enter any pupils I am sure if SkaForHire was not busy moving house, we would have had another great entry Thanks to Jakon for hosting the contest, we will be very happy to have a drinking song contest with Mitgardia anytime Although, they are all probably too busy cracking on with some excellent builds, from what I hear.

I would love to submit some of nnenn`s designs to cuusoo as a tribute to his eternal brilliance, may he rest in peace. But the submission rules are original works only. Any thoughts?

@Grum 64, I see you found some tweezers while I was away, great stuff! Good luck with motorizing the Mog! Let us know how it turns out. I had a go at making some technic tweezer/clamps for the purpose of clicking 2 adjacent beams together, they worked reasonably well when I tried, using my mouth only. Maybe it could be of some use to you. I experimented a bit with different lengths, this seemed ok but I won`t claim it`s optimal. I am using the right hand side to bite on, it would probably be more comfortable if I made that thicker at that end. As I said, I am not much of a technic builder, I am sure there are others in this forum who can do a much better job, and I have not really optimised this design - it`s currently build to maximise the output with minimum flex, so that the pegs will click in. The three central pegs are the blue 3s, the others are the usual grey ones.

Just saw the first episode of season 2, same high quality as season 1. I guess we are the Dorthraki/ Mitgardia is Winterfell/ Avalonia is King`s Landing/ Nocturnus doesn`t really fit.... beyond the wall? The bard thread has become a contest between 3 great Kaliphlin entries. Well, we are the patrons of the arts round here, as Mikel said. Do have a look and vote for your favourite tune! Lord Shale, your build is fantastic so far. It strikes me that the brickwork on parts of the right wall, and the planking on top, would probably be more popular with voters if they are a little more irregular.

Great choice of building, and lovely build. There are lots of angular buildings in this contest, probably because it`s easier for the builder, and unfortunately this is how architects behave too. Kudos to you for something different.

And, there`s Fuchal inside! I love the roof here, lots of great techniques. The Town hall feels very dark and smoky, probably why they left that window open Very nice build. I think it could do with a bit bigger chimney breast, but that`s because I think it must be smoky in there!

A bunch of the boys were talking the talk you hear when the embers are low. The kid`s harmonica played an air that was sad and sweet and slow. The flickering light in the desert night was lonesome and threatened to fail. But then Old Jed spoke to the listening folk, and so began the tale. Before the Black Oil there was not so much here, but fortunes were made all the same Some fortunes were made through toil and trade, some fortunes were made in a game The House of Qhatan owed its start to one man, and his name should not ever be said In front of that House, for that man was a louse, and their fortune is theirs now he`s dead. The outlaw McGee was a troublesome soul, who could charm any girl in a town. He found that this route to a rich merchant`s loot would every time not let him down, For fathers would pay just to send him away, and to keep him away from their wives So that they could get on with their business at hand and live their responsible lives. McGee would take hold of the family gold but it never stayed long in his hand. He liked drinking and gaming, back-room entertaining, and spent a lot more than he took. Well, he ran up some debts that just couldn`t be met, and couldn`t be paid with his looks So he picked up his load and was forced on the road to take up honest work on the land. Now Sancho Qhatan was a Kaliphlin man who had found pretty stones in a stream. His beautiful bride glowed happy with pride as he showed her how he`d have them set But that was before the outlaw McGee, the worst of all man that he met Walked into the bar, grinned at him from afar, and made desolation his theme. "My friend," said he, "you don`t know me. I`m a stranger who traveled the road. You need men that are sound to dig Rakath ground, for what you have found is The Lode!" McGee was a knave but he spoke like a friend, and his eyes sparkled honest and straight While they dug Qhatan`s grave and they brought him his end, as the mark fastened onto the bait. The Bride gave a shiver, "Dearest, stay by the river, and don`t go up into the hills. There are grey wolves and bear, floods and landslides up there, and who knows what terrible ills?" But the beasts were the least of her cares, wolves and bears were as nothing compared to McGee. His fatal charm, that brought her harm, smiled, " Sancho, you`ve got me. I`ll watch your back come wolf or bear, and I`ll stay right by your side To fend attack, I`ll be right there, please reassure your bride. McGee talked on like a trustworthy soul and Sancho fell under his spell For Five per cent of the take of the whole, Qhatan walked straight into hell. McGee kept his promise to watch Sancho`s back. When the two men arrived at the place Where the diamonds were found, some still there on the ground, a fierce look came onto his face And he launched his ungodly attack. McGee staked the claim, made his name and great fame, from the fruit of his murderous intent And he shamelessly lied to the young widowed bride as he forced himself into her tent. Well, the desert is tough, and its men can be rough, but McGee was a low piece of slime Who grew rich as a lord and amassed a great horde from the diamonds that came from the mine. The passage of time brought the truth of his crime. When the body of Sancho was found It was clear that his life met its end by a knife, and not by a slip of the ground. No jury or judge could be found, nor a court in the town, to try this contemptible cad For the fear of a grudge, as all the folk thought that justice could never be met On a fortune so great, it was just tempting fate, to oppose him and all that he had. The bride of Qhatan, how she cried and she ran, and the town made its choice to forget. The bride bore a son, who was blond like McGee, and not curly haired like her Sancho But she raised his as one of the family born free, and she called him her sweet little Pedro. This Pedro became a young rake of some fame, for his smile and his looks were so handsome But Pedro`s fate was decided by hate, though his manner was courtly and winsome. He gained his chance at a formal dance, where his good looks had got him invited The Lord would judge the debutantes, in their contests of sweet melody The girls were excited and Pedro delighted, for the Lord of this town was McGee. "My Lord McGee, you don`t know me, but I think you know my face　 From　when you shave. And from your grave, you can ponder on its grace" And with his blade he calmly slayed his father, that treacherous swine. "I am Pedro Qhatan, I`m the son of that man, and I`m taking his fortune as mine"

Forest-loving friends, you may also know of the flowering guava of Kaliphlin Which is renowned for the varied angles of its branches. The PGTC can arrange shipment of trees and fruit for suitable carriage fees.

Erudhalion, epic build! I love all of it. It seems Lord Shale is working on something incredible too, that curved wall is brilliant and I love the woodwork. Gex, Lord Flagg, thankyou very much for your ideas. I would never have though of studs-in, it`s a great approach, and the liftarms use is inspired. I will probably use snot for front and rear, and something similar to Gex`s idea but studs-out for the main section. The size is troubling me, in reality airships are MUCH longer than the passenger compartment. There is a amazing airship on KOOOZOOOO or however the megabluck you spell it (thanks, autoeditor!). At 245cm long at microfig scale, you see the scale issue! I did not include reference pics because I just invented the piscithopter, and there is nothing to refer to although, a rainbow coloured tuna is probably the nearest thing to my idea.

Seriously! Brilliant scene. My Lords and Ladies, Ibrahim travels now to the City gates, picking off seagulls at a mile distance, for practice.

Beautiful work gabe! I love pretty much everything about this, the buildings speak for themselves. I will highlight that you have managed to fit in 30 minfigs in a totally unobtrusive and natural manner, and all of them have some interesting activity. Phenomenal!

Angeli, this castle is a jaw-dropper already. It's going to be amazing. Love the sports team photo, and those doors are brilliant, I thought they were painted until I read Abu Dun! ^ What are you using for wings on Planetar? Another superb custom minifig from you! We will send a trade representative when the celestial palace opens

The PGTC scribes and bards are travelling until April 1st, they have a tale to chill the hardest heart. Maybe the time zones will bail them out

I am all anticipation about both the falls and the background scenes! Oooh, yes please! Although, I can guarantee I won't be early, still not started! My photography apparently sucks, I can never tell what's in focus until I get it on the big screen, and I have no idea about lighting. NM, thanks for your kind words of encouragement. I have just placed my first BL order. My PAB envy just went up another notch! I would love any guild advice on how to build either airships or fish (ideally both, for the crashed piscithopter), to a size of around 30 studs? I want to show it wrecked and also, seperately, whole. I am wondering whether to go with a lowell sphere style cigarillo (good for inflated, colour and design freedom, hopeless for crashed) or a steampunky frame (good for crashed, how to deal with the tatters of covering though? and hard to build). The nose is a particularly tough part to get right.

Looks awesome, great rockwork and stairs! Looking forward to seeing more of this build!

Just popping by to say, again, how much I love your work!

Mikel, another beautiful micro, and a very intriguing build - I agree with Cristoph, you might want to think hard about what you are going to photograph within before you build up much higher. Nice eggs, I am also thinking about eggs for my build. Yours look far more menacing than I am planning! Arom and Nira Alled, well met and welcome. May Fortune guide your searches. If you are looking for Lost Vegga,... it's not There Well done to all on the free builds, we have had some crackers and deservedly scored well. DC and ZCerberus especially have done exceptional free builds in both size and technique, so I cannot begrudge our Avalonian friends their higher score. I have a storyline now for the crystal quest, but I don't know if I have the bricks or the time to make it happen. The intention is Deathly Hallows meets Sinbad, as directed by Miyazaki, and I would love to add a little bit of Muppets inspiration. It will probably look like a splodge of bricks though. The scale is probably beyond my ability, though it would be a footnote compared so some of the WIPs going round!

While other guilds murder strangers at whim, Kaliphlin treats all with care and respect. With your hospital, school, and observatory, you have given much to our great lands. Thankyou Abu Ali! I especially like the minifig poses here and the toolkit, and roof.