bjr2457

All in all done, Thanks, Brian Darrow

No regrets ... yet.

I have two more public exhibits scheduled (Great Train Expo, Collinsville, IL & Great Train Expo, Indianapolis, IN) after which I will be dismantling the BIA and selling the parts off on Bricklink. The BIA was fun to build and display over the last eight years however I've reached the point I need to pare down my collection. Plus I want to focus on rebuilding my Alpine Mountain Train Layout. So if anyone is interested in purchasing the whole thing before I begin the deconstruction after my December show I am willing to entertain serious offers. Other wise Bricklink will be the place to find trans-yellow and monorail stuff come January. Here's a link to my brickshelf gallery showing the BIA in it's current configuration: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=460354 Thanks, Brian Darrow

Several well known vendors will be diplaying their products at the Indy Brick Jamboree. Here's the list for the exhibit: Brickmainia BrickForge Milton Train Works M E Models The Indy Brickyard Shatterpoint Entertainment Bricks and Boards Brian Darrow

Yes, just an exhibit of several AFOLs creations and not a convention per se. If you're close to Indianapolis in the middle of October swing by and say Hi.

The Indy Brick Jamboree is October 16 -17, 2010 in Lebanon, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis . This a 9000 sq. ft. AFOL exhibit open to the general public. This year’s exhibit focuses on works by Brian Darrow, Jeramy Spurgeon, Mark Peterson, and Daniel Siskind. Several other well know AFOLs have been invited and will be added as space allows. This is a family oriented exhibit that will continue on an annual basis each October. Several internationally recognized venders will also be on hand selling LEGO sets and custom compatible pieces.

Dave, Thanks for the nod on my MOC pages. And thanks to everyone else for the kind words on my 6989 rebuilds. Nathan Todd, our "Irish" IndyLUG member pointed me to this thread at our club meeting yesterday. Brian

Signed! I'd buy 10! Brian Darrow

The sails are non-LEGO cloth tied up with non-LEGO string. I'm usually a purist when it comes to my MOCs but this time I was going for the overall look and feel of a fully rigged ship. It just couldn't be done without using supplimentary stuff. Here's a link to a close up of the raised sails from my brickshelf gallery: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=3796447 Brian

You got the story right on the mark. I envisioned these pirates getting sucked into the Bermuda Triangle hundreds of years ago only to find themselves sailing out into the modern world. They liked the look of this South Florida beach so they row ashore for a little afternoon looting and pillaging. Most of the beach vacationers are running for the lives, but right in the middle one woman has stopped to snap a few pictures with her new digital camera.

[is it me or are the ship close to the original Lego one? just with more realistic sails and ropes ? ( really really realistic sails and rope btw^^) Thanks for the kind words. You have a good eye for classic pirates ships ... sailing out of the Bermuda triangle are the Skull's Eye Schooner, Renegade Runner, Red Beard Runner and my all time favorite the dreadful Black Seas Barracuda. I just couldn't bring myself to hang the standard sails on the ships since they'd be anchored, so I rigged them up. How long did it take you to make by the way? I worked a couple of weekends on the display. The ships rigging and sails took some time but it was one of the most enjoyable LEGO MOCs I've built. It took me back to my grade school days when I built a number of plastic sailing vessels and rigged them. LEGO is just too much fun!!!! bjr2457

It is actually very stable and has been displayed many times without one single mishap. *sweet* Once the entire thing (monorail & support towers) is linked together it won't budge at all. I built it with the idea that lots of people would be around it so I didn't want anything less than an ox falling on it to mess things up....that monorail stuff is pretty pricey :'-( Here's what it looked like back in 2003: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=73345 and here are pictures from the redesigned 2006 BIA: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=162282

not even to mention that you never, ever dismantle your Message Intercept Base for whatever moc :-P the best base ever!! hang on... do i feel another poll's coming up? :-P BlackTron 1 ... Best Theme Ever! 6987 Message Intercept Base... Best Space Base Ever! The color scheme and design typify the Golden Age of LEGO! Of all the sets I've ever stolen parts from for a MOC this was by far the toughest to do...but some day when the BIA is returned to the Parts bin all the 6987's will be reunited :-) Brian Thanks for the compliment! I did sit down once for hours and watch the 3 monorails weave throught the BIA. *wacko* It was very cathartic. Brian

Some of the parts came from my personal collection, however. I rely heavily on Bricklink.com for parts for my bigger projects. I used to scan ebay on a regular basis when I was looking for all the trans-yellow BlackTron specific parts ... but the quality of stuff one gets from ebay can be pretty poor at times. The BIA (Blacktron Intellegence Agency) does have a bunch of rare parts and as I found more I rebuilt it a little bigger each time. Unlike some builders who have a finished picture in their minds before they begin, all my stuff is always "A Work in Progress". :-)

Thanks for the kind words. I've been very fortunate to have a great club over here in Indianapolis Indiana. Most of my projects started small and grew as we participated in more shows in the region. Brian LMAO Welcome to EB. That's some work. You have my awed respect.

It comes apart in sections for transporting and fits in custom made boxes. :-) When not being displayed it remains stored in the garage. Married 26 years this October 4th and she hasn't booted me out yet ;-) Here's a link to my Brickshelf page for detailed pictures of the Blacktron Intellegence Agency now in its 5th permutation over the last 4 years. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=bdarrow Brian