marshal_banana

Hi thank you for your comments! Yes this angle is a problem and I will not fix it, because it will end up with an ugly gap and I probably have to cancel this angle. It would be from two to one stud. In my opinion It's a small detail that will not make a big impact on the proportions of the entire model but on the stability!

A small update. I'm still waiting for the final bricklink orders. The details of the hull are finished but I still have to make some changes here and there. The next steps are: The internal frame, the ramp, the engines and I also have to work on the crawlers again ...

Yes I know, but I'm really not in hurry, I try to build the best Sandcrawler I can achieve, so I have time.

A good start cavegod! There are so many different shades in reddish brown, that you automaticly will get a nice pattern. The assembly for the treads is quite different, compared to mine. For me I also expect a slow progress. I'm again waiting for more brown parts... I'm always running out of these

I hope it will handle the total weight. Just the chassis is heavier as expected! You' re right. The books say they do, but: - turning treads like that makes no sense at all. - the mechanism would be to complex, not stable enough and I don't have the space, because I need it for the interior and the front hatch mechanism. - other model builder did it the same way - actually I think the studio modell can't turn at all, in the movies it always drives straight!

So here we are: Second test drive with mounted chassis. Driving is no problem and fast as in the first test. Of course turning is more difficult, but I'm still happy with it. test drive 2

Cool, can't wait to see it in full beauty. Cheers.

At the moment I have serious problems with the mounting suspension! Pictures will follow as I'm a good step further. Sorry.

Crawler test drive. They are slow but strong, really strong! A single crawler can handle a weight of 5 kg! test drive I'm going to use a regular tank steering mechanism. I also think that the studio model of ILM is working this way.

Hi all. The hole thing is getting really big and complex! The new base is now 74 studs long, so the scale is more accurate and the size is close to the giant studio model! But I really have some problems with the "tank" gearbox. All my work yesterday was for nothing. Do you have some ideas and hints? I tested the first type of gearbox. It's really powerful (but the prototype was not sturdy enough.) What do you think of the second gearbox? Maybe a better solution? And this I found on youtube! Cool! I expect a good progress this weekend, so stay tune for the next steps ;-) And thank you for your help!

At the moment I'm rebuilding the base in the right size. I use the really fantastic book "Sculpting a Galaxy": http://www.flickr.com/photos/teohyc/2950208475/in/photostream/ http://www.amazon.de/Sculpting-Galaxy-Inside-Star-Model/dp/1933784032

I'm still waiting for my bricklink-orders. I've got the first bunch of drugs in plastic yesterday. A ton of the rare and expensive color dark orange for all the rust effects!

I work with accurate reference material of the original studio model of ILM Of course are the sides angled. But on the pictures it's hard to see and the wall is just half the size of the final model. But the angle is accurate. The model should be about 6 studs longer to fit the scale and there are also some mistakes in the small details. For the final model I'll take these (Do they work with normal gears?):

Hi folks. Thank's for your high interest in my project! It's a big one, and I am kind of afraid I expact slow progress but just wait and see! The next step is not so far. I'm still waiting for my bricklink orders for the powerfunctions and brown, darkbrown and darkorange bricks ;-) Brickdoctor: Yes, I taught the same thing, that should work, if the motors are strong enough. As promised some WIP's

Hi all. I started last year with my latest big project. My idea is to create a near minifig scale sandcrawler model with power functions and partial interior. I started with 3 official sandcrawlers 10144 (I got them on sale: 3 for the price of one :-). So I`ve had 4800 parts for the start, but I´m afraid it´s not enough. My goals: -IR controlled PF -steering and driving model powred by 4 xl-motors -opening (if possible PF controlled) front hatch -lights: front lights, cockpit, main hatch -accurate SNOT-hull -interior (front hatch) In the end it will be not as big as this wonderful model but over 35" long! At the moment about 30% of the hull is done. My work on this model is influented by a german builder. I saw his model last year at the LEGO fanwelt in Cologne. At the moment I am waiting for the PF stuff for the first driving and steering test. First pictures will follow next week. Cheers! MB

The sailing ships here on classic pirates are a class of its own. Fantastic techniques and rich details all over! 6. La Mort Royal 1 point A fantastic stern, rigging and sails! 9. Nuestra Senora de la Conception 4 points I love the colores it´s damned close to the real thing. The shape and all the details from deck to sails - outstanding. 18. Achill 2 points It´s far more than an empty hull. All the realistic details brings the model to live!

The SNOT-wings are a nice improvement on the original design. Congratulation! The guns are spot on and fantastic! The only thing I'm not sure about is the top of the canopy. I also had some problems with this detail... Cheers! MB

Hey guys. I'm quiet busy these days, so I'm sorry for my late replay. Thank you for the nice comments, compliments, constructive criticisms and the interesting disscussion. That is what I hoped would happen here on eurobricks. There are some good points in here. I normally work with reference material on http://www.starshipmodeler.com/starwars/smith_sw.htm or similar web resources, so It was known before, that there are some miss matching details. As always building with bricks, brings decisions and compromises on every model. The small size sets the limitations high. In this case, sure the way to small engine intakes and guns. I tried a hack out of different solutions but it ended all in less stability and problems with the folding mechanism. And yes I don't want to abandon the SNOT-wings. But there are some Ideas in my mind to solve the problem, I just have to wait for the next bricklink order. I'm also not that happy with the connection between nose and cockpit, the upper angle is to straight and the sides are not smooth enough. As color schema light bluish grey as basic color with some white splashes would be more accurate. I would also love a sand blue canopy and solid red stripes on the sides. But I'm quit happy how it turned out so far. The good thing about LEGO is, that you can easily and quickly adjust details till you are happy with the result. I will come up with more details on this project. So stay tuned!

After a great insight into the LEGO Group in Billund I'm back and really motivated to start with new creations. And I’m happy to present my latest work. This iconic Starfighter does not need any explanation. But there are some problems recreating the famous design in LEGO. So I' ve started with pointing out the most important spots on the design. Such as the windscreen, the tip of the nose and the engine intakes and the hexagonal back. Just to show you the complexity of one small detail: the tip of the nose is build in 6 different directions! Furthermore my goal was to include all important play features. So the wings fold up automatically. I used the same mechanism as in the UCS model with some improvement, so you can flip the fighter upside down, without big impact on the wing position. There is also a retractable landing gear as well as a fully closed but opening windshield. I hope you enjoy! Cheers MB!

Yes I like the scene it's a great capture. The original design of the snowspeeder is from Larry Lars and not mine. As others mentioned to improve the snowspeeder I would shorten the nose and pick an other windscreen - the angle should be the same. Beside of that it's really well done! Cheers! MB

For the price I would expect printed monitors instead of cheap stickers! But I'm really looking forward to get my hands on this! Cheers!

First of all I'd like to thank KimT and FYI Stash for the possibility of this wonderful competition. It was a lot of fun and a great experience! A thousands thaks to all those how supported me. You blow me away with all your nice comments and your votes. Furthermore thanks to the others competitors for your effort and all the fantastic entries. Nice work guys! Congratulation to the winners! Cheers!

Ah a first-hand Information. Thanks!

Hi. The application date prolonged until the end of July? Where did you get this information? I didn't found that on lego.com. Cheers!

Hey Guys. I really love this UCS-Shuttle! I never taught that TLC brings us a snot-model like this! It is a fantastic basic set for modding. I really can imagine something like that: There is a lot of space for an interior and I also thing, that it's possible to add a boarding ramp and maybe also backlights. I cant wait for this.