Ragnar_Deerslayer

Cute! Simple and austere, much like the Nordic winters. The facial expressions are really what sell the scene, though. Ragnar

For some reason, the link is sending me to Toto Hermanto's Flickr page. When I type in the URL, though, I get your page. Anyway, welcome, and cool steampunk! Ragnar

Welcome! I've always been interested in Mindstorms, but I never got into it (first set came out the year I went to college, and had too many other things going on). Looking forward to seeing your builds!

Welcome! I'm coming out of a 20-year break myself. Ragnar

Sweet!

LotR was what got me back into LEGO as well - I just kept staring at the Battle of Helm's Deep boxed set every time I went to Wal-Mart, until I asked my wife to throw me a LEGO-themed birthday party for my 36th birthday this past May. I still didn't get the Battle of Helm's Deep, so I ordered it myself afterwards. Welcome!

I would love a set of LEGO slot racers, like the trains. Welcome! Ragnar

The Swamp Witch (With “Flick-Fire” Guardian Swamp Toad!) Deep in the swamps of western Murkwood, where the stream flows down to the foot of the mountain, you can find her. Some say she was born of magic, crawling from the slime of the swamp. Some say she was a beautiful princess, cursed by an enchanted mirror for her narcissism. Some say she eats the flesh of children and unwary travelers. Others say she can be bargained with. All say she's a powerful witch that can brew a potion to solve any problem . . . if you can pay the price. Jack Trumbull was at the end of his strength. He had been lost for three days in the swamps, and was out of water. He had long ago despaired of his quest – his brother was wasting away from a magical disease, cursed by a powerful sorcerer he had unintentionally offended on his last visit to Eubric Freeport. Jack was no hero, just a village farmhand. He couldn't afford the powerful magics for sale in Eubric, but he had heard of someone (something?) else that could help him. Then – was that the flicker of a flame up ahead? It looked different than the “fairy lights” that appeared in the swamp at night. Or maybe it was his fevered brain deceiving him. He moved closer, sliding through a narrow gap in the rocks. He saw her – rough planks made a narrow boardwalk over the water, and the witch, back turned, was stirring a cauldron over a fire some distance away. He gulped and began to approach, not noticing the pair of eyes that watched his every step. He made it halfway across the planks before a huge, slimy mass launched itself at his face. “RRRRIBBBIT!” croaked the witch's guardian swamp toad. “AAAAAH!” shouted Jack in confusion as he lost his balance and fell off the planks and into the muck of the swamp. As he staggered to his feet, shaking with fear and spitting the mud out of his mouth, the swamp witch turned and smiled – a vicious, saw-toothed smile of a predator. She opened her mouth and began to speak, in a ragged, croaking voice: “I know why you have come. I can give you the potion you need – for a price. You must steal for me the reflection of a beautiful princess, who has never yet seen her own face!” Jack approaches the Swamp Witch: The Swamp Witch stirs her brew while Jack watches in fear and trepidation! The stream cascades over the rocks as the Swamp Toad prepares to attack! Enjoy! Ragnar

Where can I set a swamp scene that is at the foot of a mountain? Might there be a swamp towards the western edge of the Murkwood? Help me out! Ragnar

Welcome to Eurobricks! I visited Toronto one time . . . nearly 20 years ago . . . okay now I feel old. Ragnar

Welcome to Eurobricks! And I think your railways look great! Ragnar

Welcome! I'm working on my first few MOCs myself. I'm looking forward to seeing your town and train layouts! Ragnar

Welcome, evweb! Ragnar

Welcome! We're glad you're here. Ragnar

Welcome! Looking forward to seeing your MOCs. Ragnar

Cool setup there! Do you just collect, or do you design your own creations? Ragnar

Welcome! I'm looking forward to seeing your town plan! Ragnar

Welcome! I love your sci-fi MOCs! They're clever and humorous while still being awesome! Ragnar

Welcome back! I hope to see some new brickfilms! Ragnar

Early in their journey, Frodo and Sam crossed various brooks and streams in the Shire. This is one of them. From another angle, we can see a friendly Shire-Frog watching them pass. (He's waiting to jump on the stepping stone Frodo is currently occupying.) A bird flying West saw the scene from this perspective: So, this is my first MOC since I came out of my two-decade-long Dark Ages in May. I chose something small and simple to get started. (I was pleased to discover the "vignette" was an accepted form, since I really don't have many bricks in modern [non-rainbow] colors.) I really did this as an exercise in making an embankment: trying to show a slope with various layers of dirt (and grass, of course, on the top). I quickly realized the slope would have to go sideways if I wanted to keep it in the 8x8 vignette space and still show the creek. The photography aspect was harder than I thought: my point-and-shoot camera doesn't have shutter speed or aperture control, so I had to wing it. Originally, I took the photos inside, but they came out yellow-tinted (incandescent light) and even more grainy than these. I took these outside, near sunset, with a sheet of blank white paper as the background. I'm at a loss to explain the blue tint. I appreciate any feedback you could give me. Thanks! Ragnar

My sets growing up: Basic Sets: 112 Universal Building Set (1977) 720 Basic Building set (1985) Town: 6522 Highway Patrol (1987) 6698 RV with Speedboat (1986) Space: 6780 XT Starship (Light & Sound) (1986) 6809 XT-5 and Droid (1987) 6820 Starfire I (1986) 6825 Cosmic Comet (1985) 6827 Strata Scooter (1987) 6846 Tri-Star Voyager (1984) 6847 Space Dozer (1985) 6848 Inter-Planetary Shuttle (1985) 6882 Walking Astro Grappler (1985) 6892 Modular Space Transport (1986) Technic: 8040 Universal Set (1984) 8055 Universal Motor Set (1986) I was really a Classic Space fan (mainly for the WHOOSH factor of the spaceships I'd create). After about 1986 or 87, I played with my LEGOs intermittently, but I didn't request them for Christmas and birthday.

More rock work might be good, but I also like it at the size it is. It's very carefully detailed, but small and intimate. The ring takes center stage, and the council circle isn't overshadowed by anything bigger or heavier. Ragnar

You do a really great job giving each of the two towers its own distinct feel. Theme and variation: it works! Ragnar

That's a clever and beautiful construction! Ragnar

Good start! That dude on the back of the elephant looks like he's about to fall out. The ground looks fine, just a little bare. In general, unless the ground is a well-kept yard, more irregularities = greater verisimilitude. I like the way you've turned some of the square 1x1 pieces to change up the angles, but you need more of them: their irregularity draws attention to the straight rows of studs; in their relative isolation, they look a little out of place. Ragnar