rodiziorobs

Following

Very cool! There is NPU left and right, especially at this scale. Some of them look quite delicate, but I'm sure they're fine once you enclose them in the bauble.

This sounds similar to me when I was coming out of my dark ages, so I'll share what I did. I was overwhelmed by all the new pieces and colors, and didn't know where to begin. I started out just building with my existing collection--the newest set was probably from 1997 or so--so I could become familiar with the system again. Then I slowly picked up incomplete newer sets wherever I could find them for cheap (eBay, local classifieds, etc.). This meant I didn't always know or care what I was getting, but that I ended up with a lot of pieces and colors I had never seen before. I slowly learned things like SNOT building, creating smooth surfaces and curves (none of which really existed in the early 90's like they do today) using new pieces and techniques from those partial sets/mixed lots. It gave me an odd assortment of things to try and figure out while the limited number of them made me try and find all the ways I could use them. This helped me realize which kinds of pieces I wanted to stock up on and which I only needed a few of. I probably have a little surplus of pieces I have never/rarely used from those couple years (it took me awhile to figure things out; YMMV) but I imagine most everything has been used somewhere or another. Along the way I tried using LDD but found it too daunting, since I wasn't familiar with any of the pieces already. I use it occasionally now, but now I prefer to just let my fingers do the thinking with actual bricks once I have an idea in mind. Good luck!

and

cribbage

I occasionally save them, and then reuse them to pack presents in for others. It confuses them for a second when they pull back the wrapping to see a LEGO box

formation.

I had been checking everyday in hopes of being picked...now I hope I don't! (...until the 24th, that is!)

Nice hover(?)pod! The colors work really well on it.

Agreed on the overdose of brown from the background, but once you can see the speeder on its own, it looks awesome! I kind of get a podracer vibe from the engines (but in a good way--they looked cool regardless of the movie)

The ship looks fantastic, but I think you did the best work with the 'figs: in particular, Supreme Grand Admiral Steampunk-Steve is really good!

The ship is really good, but my favorite is the Kawa launch platform.

Sweet little vignette!

Always a gentleman, that Sal. He is an example of fine manners even when expropriating goods from hapless Kawas!

Love the double-decker tank, guv'nor, and of course the story

Very nice! This is probably one of our best MANTIS builds this week!

Nice hoverchair

That shot of the anti-air auto repeating hand cannon is great, and I love the Kawashita pump!

I love the clean lines on that airship! Looks like the balloon might float away on its own any minute, though

Location: C06, Hyreal Tags: Spying As he embarked upon what was to be his latest adventure, M. Scorpio Starstriker, esq. reflected on the completion of his most recent expedition. Which is to say, he reflected on that part which he knew about. Mme. DuBois--although she preferred the more colloquial appellation "JEX"--had recounted to him the strange creature they had encountered, and how the beast had resuscitated Scorpio after his fall. However, the beast's premonition about his impending demise was still unknown to Scorpio; Jex had not found the courage to tell him. Blissfully unaware, Scorpio marched across the field to where he was to rendezvous with Scroggins, the mechanic charged with preparing his flying machine. Blissfully, of course, until he heard behind him a familiar voice: the nasally squeaky voice of M. Laszlowe, Head of Supervisory Accountancy at MANTIS & Co. "M. Starstriker, I must protest this mission! You have yet to complete your papers for the last disaster you caused a fortnight ago! Not to mention the development we have had with the prisoner in cellblock B!" Scorpio ignored Laszlowe's outbursts until mention of the prisoner. He turned abruptly and asked, "What development?" "She has said she is willing to talk, but only to you. And but two days ago we caught her outside her cell, somehow armed and assaulting one of our own guards. She did not attack any other of our personnel, insisting that the guard in question was actually a Kawa operative." "Where is the prisoner now? And the guard?" "The guard is still under investigation. The prisoner has been transferred to maximum security." "Ah. Well then, M. Laszlowe, it can wait until after this mission." "No, It cannot, M. Starstr..." But Laszlowe was cut short as Scorpio began walking again toward his destination. "I was to arrive at five to noon, and you have already detained me too long," called Scorpio over his shoulder. "Get back here right now!" But Scorpio kept walking, with Laszlowe struggling to keep up. "Is she ready, Scroggins?" "Aye, M. Starstriker. Lit the igniter about two hours ago, and now the envelope is filled." "Right on time, Scroggins, as usual." Laszlowe chimed in again, "M. Starstriker, I am putting my foot down!" "Then go put it down somewhere else! I have my instructions straight from the CEO and Mr. Cor himself, that all spying operatives are to commence a mission at once on this globe." "And what is the nature of this mission, M. Starstriker?" This was said not by Laszlowe, who had stormed off, but by none other than Mme. DuBois--Jex. "I cannot say too much, my dear, but it would appear that one of the Kawa operatives that MANTIS has been tracking has suddenly gone missing, and they want airborne surveillance to try and track him. I am to do my best to spy him out from the heavens, but that is all I can say." "Oh, but do say you'll take me with you!" This time Scroggins had the answer: "I'm sorry, Miss, but the envelope is calibrated to only carry a certain amount of weight, otherwise the flying machine will never make it off the ground. Begging your pardon of course, Miss. You can certainly watch." "Hmpf. They won't let me near the tools, and they won't even let me go up in one! Do they think I don't know how to pilot this flying machine?!" "Well, Jex, you did crash the last contraption they gave you. Maybe it's something personal," chided Scorpio. "You tease. Fine. I will wait for you on the ground then." "Don't forget your MANTIS™ spyglass©, M. Starstriker, " reminded Scroggins. “Darling,”Jex began. “Are you quite sure you are feeling all right? Remember that just a day ago you were on the verge of death!” “Dearest I feel more alive than ever. My body is rejuvenated, my mind—why I can recall things I haven’t in ages! Why, that reminds me of something about the prisoner that I must tell that horrible M. Laszlowe when I return!” “What is it, Scorpio?” “Oh, it’s far too good to spoil here. Remind me to tell you later after I chat with our dear accountant. Ta ta!” And with that, he shut the gate on the basket and commenced lift-off of the flying machine. "Good luck, we'll see you at the end!" Jex called out. "Be careful!" She wanted desperately to tell him about his future that must shortly come to pass, but could not bear it. Surely it would not be today? No, he would be safe at least for this mission. "Why must you stand so far away, Miss? The flying machine is perfectly safe," Scroggins assured her. "It is not the machine I fear for, dear Scroggins, but the operator." **************** More pics below the spoiler: C&C Welcome!

. Santa Claus

These are quite nice, well done! I would love to see Helm's Deep shrunk down to 16x16!

charity

weapons

marshmallow