Yatkuu

Aloha everyone! I am happy to present my entry in the category "Design a new Classic-Style set" - Big Kahuna's atoll Big Kahuna's atoll - Main view 2 by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Big Kahuna's atoll - Main view 1 by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Big Kahuna's atoll - the Moai by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr I wanted to give the old Islanders sub-theme a proper homage, and this is the result or at least what I wish LEGO would do, if they ever wanted to revisit the theme and make a set that would look good next to the Barracuda Bay and the new Eldorado Fortress. I went all in with the colors, the wildlife... and tried to depict a little slice of island paradise. Thanks for watching, and best of luck to all in the contest!

Fixed! Thanks for the suggestions! Fixed! Thanks for the suggestions! Fixed! Thanks for the suggestions! Fixed! Thanks for the suggestions! The re-design removed that issue! Thanks for the suggestions!

Thanks for the feedback! You raised a good point with the palm tree, I had forgotten to include an attachment point, this is now fixed (see below)! For the roof... I kinda like it this way but I hear your point. I might try smthg else at some point.

Hello everyone, I am happy to present my entry in the "remake a Classic Set category", Sabre Island Redux. This is version 2.0 of my entry, after addressing the main comments and suggestions that I received from the Eurobricks community! A big thanks to @zinnn; @Horation; @iragm; @Third Navigator and @durazno33 for their feedbacks! Sabre Island Redux 2.0 by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr The main concerns were: 1. the water base was using a mix of wedges and rounded plates, making the contrast with the rounded sand base a bit confusing --> this has been fixed with a wedges/straight angles only water base 2. the water base was too small to allow the boat to stand next to the dock --> this has been fixed with a larger base on the dock side 3. the mix of white profile and dark red masonry bricks was too heavy --> I find myself guilty of trying to "over-texture" my builds from fear of ending up with bland walls. This was a simple fix, remove the white profile bricks, and soften the impact of the dark red masonry bricks by adding a plate above or below them. 4. the small roof using 1x1 round bricks was too "thick" --> While I liked my original solution, it was a also bit flimsy. In the end, I re-used the design from the new Eldorado Fortress for a more compact and simple solution. 5. the soldiers had no way to get to the upper floors --> this one gave me quite a headache as the original set did not include any ladders or stairs so I had to come up with a solution that would not change too much the original set look I was going for. At first, like any self-respecting AFOL, I came up with an overly complicated solution using a rounded wooden staircase see here), but this felt more like a MOC than an official set and it was too different from the original set so I scrapped that idea. In the end, I used this simple 3-wide staircase just as the comments that I had received suggested! For the access to the tower, I came up with this pivoting ladder as a solution that is both functional but also not too intrusive on the design. As I was working through these changes, I had to raise the upper floor by a couple of plates, this allowed me to make the upper floor modular for easy access to the ground floor - yay, an extra play function! Overall, I think this is a much better build than my original version. I rarely revisit my MOCs as I tend to loose interest as soon as I am done, but I am very happy with this result so a big thanks to the Eurobricks community for the feedbacks. I have hidden my initial version of this build behind the below "spoilers" tag for anyone who wants to compare the 2. Thank you for watching and best of luck to all in the contest!

Can immortal beings go through a mid-death crisis...? And if they can, when on earth would it strike? Well, let's dive into the fascinating tale of Pharaoh Hotep, a timeless ruler who found himself in a pyramid-sized pickle. It all began in 2011, when LEGO released the Pharaoh's Quest series. Talk about an ancient punch in the gut! Hotep had been relegated to the shadows while his rival, Amset-Ra, stole the spotlight as the hero. Deep down, Hotep yearned for a mere cameo, a fleeting moment of fame, but alas, nobody gave a sphinx's whisker about him anymore. This was rock bottom for our bewildered Pharaoh. He spiraled into depression, and even his ever-loyal mummies grew tired of his ceaseless whinging. But hope shimmered like a desert mirage when his therapist dropped a quirky suggestion: "Find a hobby, mate!" Now, Hotep was no ordinary ruler. Well hidden beneath that regal facade beat the heart of a true music enthusiast. So, imagine the astonishment of his entourage when he revealed his newfound passion for... rap music! Pharaoh Hotep underwent a transformative rebirth as "Po-eth" and decided to convert an unused funeral chamber into his personal recording studio. Here he is, adorned in golden chains and draped in royal swag, laying down his epic first single, "The Pharaoh's Rap." And that, my friends, is how an ancient ruler resurrected his groove, proving that even an eternal being can unleash their inner hip-hop superstar. The Pharaoh’s Rap by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Recording by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Mummy sound engineer by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Here's the link to the MOC thread:

I am happy to present my entry in the Category B - From the office of....Pharaoh Hotep Can immortal beings go through a mid-death crisis...? And if they can, when on earth would it strike? Well, let's dive into the fascinating tale of Pharaoh Hotep, a timeless ruler who found himself in a pyramid-sized pickle. It all began in 2011, when LEGO released the Pharaoh's Quest series. Talk about an ancient punch in the gut! Hotep had been relegated to the shadows while his rival, Amset-Ra, stole the spotlight as the hero. Deep down, Hotep yearned for a mere cameo, a fleeting moment of fame, but alas, nobody gave a sphinx's whisker about him anymore. This was rock bottom for our bewildered Pharaoh. He spiraled into depression, and even his ever-loyal mummies grew tired of his ceaseless whinging. But hope shimmered like a desert mirage when his therapist dropped a quirky suggestion: "Find a hobby, mate!" Now, Hotep was no ordinary ruler. Well hidden beneath that regal facade beat the heart of a true music enthusiast. So, imagine the astonishment of his entourage when he revealed his newfound passion for... rap music! Pharaoh Hotep underwent a transformative rebirth as "Po-eth" and decided to convert an unused funeral chamber into his personal recording studio. Here he is, adorned in golden chains and draped in royal swag, laying down his epic first single, "The Pharaoh's Rap." And that, my friends, is how an ancient ruler resurrected his groove, proving that even an eternal being can unleash their inner hip-hop superstar. The Pharaoh’s Rap by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Recording by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Mummy sound engineer by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr As a bonus, I leave you with the lyrics of Po-eth's 1st single. Listen up, y'all, gather 'round, I'm 'bout to unfold, The tale of Pharaoh Hotep, a legend untold. In ancient Egypt, he ruled the land, Guarding the Re-Gou Ruby with a red iron hand. Hotep, the Pharaoh, resting in his ancient tomb, Traps and puzzles, ready to seal trespassers doom. Johnny Thunder ventured in, seeking the prize, Unaware of the trials, where danger lies. (Chorus) This is the Pharaoh's rap, let it be heard, Po-eth on the mic, droppin' rhymes, absurd. Hotep's domain, where legends come alive, Red hands unleashed, blazing through the vibe. Within the tomb, his legacy remains, Chambers rigged with traps, causing screams and pains. Baron von Barron dared to steal the precious stone, Unaware of the curse that would soon be known. The Ruby vanished, a mysterious feat, Pharaoh Hotep emerged, victory complete. Dragging the Baron into the depths unknown, Red hands glowing, his power fully shown. (Chorus) This is the Pharaoh's rap, let it be heard, Po-eth on the mic, droppin' rhymes, absurd. Hotep's domain, where legends come alive, Red hands unleashed, blazing through the vibe. Hotep's legacy lives on, a timeless tale, His spirit in the rhymes, his rap won't fail. Lego Adventurers, a world of dreams, Where Pharaohs rap and nothing's as it seems. So remember the tale of the Pharaoh's might, Red hands of power, shining through the night. In Lego Adventurers, his story prevails, Po-eth's rap legacy, a treasure that never fails.

Welcome to Camelback Manor, the assisted living facility where Johnny Thunder and Sam Sinister spice up their golden years with thrilling adventures! On this particular day, the grand event was a high-stakes Monopoly game, with a scrumptious cake as the ultimate prize. As luck would have it, Johnny emerged as the victor, playing fair and square. But lo and behold, Sam Sinister, being his mischievous self, had a different opinion. He dramatically points his hook at Johnny, accusing him of cheating with a twinkle in his eye. In a delightful twist, the whole retirement community bursts into laughter, knowing that Sam's accusations hold no weight. However, little does Sam know, Johnny's wheelchair has been secretly modified with turbo boosters, courtesy of their mischievous grandkids. As Sam puffs out his chest, ready to challenge Johnny, our wheeled hero zooms away at lightning speed, leaving Sam in his dust, grinning from ear to ear. And so, the Monopoly game might have ended, but the race for retirement glory has just begun at Camelback Manor! No cake for Sam Sinister by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Johnny Thunder (retired) by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Link to the MOC thread:

I am happy to present my entry in the Category A - Great Adventure Welcome to Camelback Manor, the assisted living facility where Johnny Thunder and Sam Sinister spice up their golden years with thrilling adventures! On this particular day, the grand event was a high-stakes Monopoly game, with a scrumptious cake as the ultimate prize. As luck would have it, Johnny emerged as the victor, playing fair and square. But lo and behold, Sam Sinister, being his mischievous self, had a different opinion. He dramatically points his hook at Johnny, accusing him of cheating with a twinkle in his eye. In a delightful twist, the whole retirement community bursts into laughter, knowing that Sam's accusations hold no weight. However, little does Sam know, Johnny's wheelchair has been secretly modified with turbo boosters, courtesy of their mischievous grandkids. As Sam puffs out his chest, ready to challenge Johnny, our wheeled hero zooms away at lightning speed, leaving Sam in his dust, grinning from ear to ear. And so, the Monopoly game might have ended, but the race for retirement glory has just begun at Camelback Manor! No cake for Sam Sinister by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Johnny Thunder (retired) by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr

Aaaah, Adventurers... this is a great reason for me to come out of my Eurobricks slumber... count me in!

Here comes.. Game #7

Alright, I got one more! Game #6 Answer:

Thanks! I tried using the heart tile but I found it was not the right size/color. It does not exist (yet) in red and it is a tiny bit too large for this scale... but good thinking! Well.. I have thought about it, but here's the thing... the rules of this contest are that the games must be playable on the Nintendo Switch. I think that for now only the original NES game and the Super Metroid can be played.. so these are the only titles I could try to build. The problem with this is that I have not figured our how to build a recognizable Samus at this scale...

Great series! I assume you must be familiar with this Flickr group: LEGO Album Covers | Flickr I am not sure your vignettes would fit in this group as they are not exactly matching the format of an album cover - but in any case you have done a fantastic job with these.

Hi everyone, I have built a few video game themed vignettes for a contest on the BrickBuilding channel on Discord.. so, I thought I would share these here and turn it into a little "guessing" game. You can try to guess the title of each game, the answers are hidden in the spoiler tag sections along with a reference picture. Game #1 Answer: Game #2 Answer: Game #3 Answer: Game #4 Answer: Game #5 Answer: So.. did you guess them all.. and which one is your favorite?

Hello everyone, I just wanted to share a small video I made to promote my project. It's the first time I am trying this - I hope you like it.

Hahaha, ZYEGO? Maybe for an April's fools ;-) One of the characters is using ball joints (the Upper bow) - I love ball joints but they are not really aesthetically pleasing, so unless the joints can be hidden I would try to stay away from these. Also, even the ball joints are limited in their range. The idea is not to build an "action figure" but focus on the challenge of the building experience - "how can I build with this angle/ do a stud reversal to attach this bit here?.." That being said... if this project ever gets to the review it would be up to TLG to consider the feasibility... but I think that at this scale this is the most accurate you can be. With regards to the use of yellow.. honestly I had not even considered it! I am s used to see brick-built characters use "Tan" as skin color.. I will give this a try to see how it looks - thanks for the suggestion! Thanks! The absence of facial expressions is another limitation from the scale. But.. it is also by design as the character is meant to be gender neutral (and faceless) on purpose. This allows to focus on the poses.. and (at least in my mind) facilitate some sort of projection.

Thank you! Thanks! The project has just reached 100 supporters, so... it means it now has a little over 1 year to reach the next threshold (1k). I have not really started doing any promotion on the networks.. so this is the next step! Also, the Ideas staff, picked the project to be featured in their weekly newsletter, there is still along way to go but this is definitely encouraging.

Hello Eurobricks! I am happy to present to you my latest creation, or rather series of creations that I named YEGO. YOGA + LEGO = YEGO Yes, I know that’s an easy pun. YEGO by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr I have practiced Yoga occasionally since my teens (I’m in my 40’s now). I started it because I had stress management issues and it really helped me. I keep doing it every now and then, whenever I feel like my body needs it… a few breathing exercises, a few poses… A few years ago, the idea to mix Yoga and Lego crossed my mind (that’s usually how it goes, if I like something I eventually try to give it the LEGO treatment). That being said, Yoga in LEGO form is not exactly intuitive or straightforward. LEGO is not exactly known for its bending properties... so, how to tackle this? I then thought of trying a brick-built character. My first one was the Lotus (Padmasana). Relatively simple, it seemed like a reasonable challenge. I was quite happy with the result… but it left me wanting something more. So, I continued to explore the possibilities until I had a series of 3 different characters. These first creations remained on a shelf for a while... every now and then I would have an itch to build another, until the day I was looking at 9 different characters striking all kinds of improbable poses. That’s when I realized I had a good idea, and that this concept could very well take the shape of an official LEGO set. YEGO is therefore now a LEGO Ideas project! Imagine a YEGO “starter kit”. A small set, 300-350 elements? Allowing to build 3 characters in different poses. Most of the elements are common to each pose... the possibilities are endless. The set could also include alternate building instructions – like a “Creator 3 in 1” set or the BrickHeadz “Brick me” set. The base character is meant to be neutral and androgynous – but it is also easily customizable. For instance, it would also only take the swapping of a few elements to represent a different skin tone or a different color of clothing. But the concept does not stop there. I envision that this set could also serve as an introduction to Yoga. Build the poses, and then practice then for real! I am mostly thinking of the younger audiences here (there is no age requirement to practice Yoga) … what better way to initiate your kids to Yoga than to do so with a LEGO set? If you feel that this project is interesting, I encourage you to click the link below and vote to show your support! https://ideas.lego.com/content/project/link/154cc77a-0764-4bc3-a17f-8ecc3916bd97 Here are a few additional close-up views of the different poses. Some are quite simple… others a lot less! That is another inevitability of the AFOL syndrome… we tend to over-complicate things quite often…) Left: Upward Bow (Urdhva Dhanurasana) Right: Scorpion (Vrischikasana in Pincha Mayurasana) Yego duo 1 by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Left: Warrior I variation (Virabhadrasana I) Right: Lord of the Dance Pose (Nataraja) Yego duo 2 by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Left: Warrior III (Virabhadra III) Right: Tree pose (Vrksasana) Yego duo 3 by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Left: Cobra (Bhujangasana) Right: Triangle (Trikonasana) Yego duo 4 by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr Lastly, some of you may remember that this is not my first attempt at LEGO Ideas project. In 2010, my project “Shaun of the Dead, the Winchester” secured the necessary support to reach the review stage thanks to the incredible support of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. Sadly, it was then denied by LEGO. If you are interested to hear more about that story, check it out here: https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/64112-an-internet-tale-winchestershaun-of-the-dead-project-on-cuusoo/ I can at least say that this slightly disappointing experience was not entirely for nothing – as it got me the fun name tag of “Valiant Effort” on this forum! (I never knew who to thank for that btw ). I had told myself never again… but you should never say never… and, I swear, this time no Zombies!

Roughly 6 months in the making, at last my roller coaster project is complete! Final pictures are visible in the original post above. This layout was presented at the NCLug public display "LEGO Palooza" 2019 at the Moorhead Planetarium in Chapel Hill NC. The creation was a big success, the visitors - big and small - all liked it. The parents noticed the details such as the velociraptor claw in Grant's hand, the goat next to the T-Rex.. the raptor pen fences all bent and broken.. thing that fans of the original movie would care about. The kids were all about the dinos.. and Sponge Bob. Sponge Bob is my "secret weapon" when it comes to public displays. I always hide him and Patrick in my creations - it never misses and the kids go crazy when they see him. This time I had Patrick in one of the coaster wagons, and Sponge Bob was riding a Pterodactyl.

Hello everyone, time for a new update - I got my hands on some rollercoaster tracks! So, I was able to lay down a first draft layout design, just to see how all the pieces could fit together.. and here is a video for it. Jurassic Park ride - track layout draft #1 (for some reason I can't seem to be able to embed a video so the link will have to do.) Also, I worked on some "flywheel" designs. My first attempt was to try to have wheels on each side of the track, forming a sandwich to get the wagons to move. This was an epic failure. Here are 2 videos showing the results - beware of the sound, this thing was very loud... not sure why, maybe some connections were not right. Either way this did not work, at all. FYI, the motor being used in this design was a train engine. Flywheel attempt #1 Flywheel attempt #1 - FAIL! So, I decided to investigate how LEGO had figured out that problem with the official coaster. This should have been my first move... because it worked like a charm. Flywheel attempt #2 Success! Now to be fair it is not exactly a flywheel system, the wheel are only on one side - and I used a chain link to get the wagons up the slope... but it works, it's super smooth and quiet so it's a definite win. This time I used a medium Motor with an IR remote to control the speed.

Hi everyone, time again for an update. First of all thank you for the advice on procuring the flex tube and alternates! In regards to the parts sourcing for the project, I still don't have any tracks but I do have one update for anyone interested. I found that the track pieces can be purchased from the Parts and Replacement section of the Shop at Home so I placed an order there - it beats the BL prices by a wide margin! LBG flex tube can also be ordered this way so my fences will soon be all wired up! Now for the project update... I give you the Jeep Wrangler T-Rex chase scene! The Jeep design is based on the 2 Wrangler models of my good friend Pixel Fox - see here and here. I am planning to use this scene as a backdrop for a section of the roller coaster.

Nice! I didn't know this piece.

Thanks everyone for the enthusiastic comments! I got one update today with the visitor center that now has a roof. It is a pretty convoluted design of wedge plates... but I think it looks okay. I was also able to incorporate 4 windows to get more light inside of the building. Now I think I will tackle some fences for the t-rex scene. The challenge here will be to find a way to put some wire on them. I need some LBG flex tubes in big quantity and these pieces are just waaaay too expensive for that purpose. I am actually considering to pick up a non-LEGO alternative... I know, not ideal. I heard of this vendor that has some pneumatic flex tube sold by the meter but I would prefer to find some custom flex tube as I think it would look better. Anyone has any tips on that?

Hello Eurobricks! Like a lot of folks I am super excited about the new rollercoaster sets being released by LEGO. For some reason however, the 1st thing that struck my mind when I heard about all this was... a Jurassic Park coaster ride. The original JP movie is an all time favorite of mine - and the release of the JP sets definitely placed me in a Dino mood. I have no experience in building coasters - and I may very well end up failing this project - but I am thinking that with the help of the EB community I would stand a better chance to succeed in my project. As you all know, the coaster tracks are not yet (widely) available - as a matter of fact I own zero tracks right now. BUT that has not stopped me from taking a head start with this project and I have already built a few structures . So, this topic is a Work in Progress thread - I want to share the progress and pick your brains for ideas if I ever get stuck. Without further ado - here is what I have so far. The starting point of the coaster will be the JP Visitor Center. Right now it is essentially a half visitor center.. and it has no roof... and I took a bit of a creative license with the design. I do think it is however reminiscent enough of the movie building to be recognizable. The idea is that the track will line up with the back of the building - I will probably build a platform on the other side to finish everything up so the track would be framed by the building on both sides. The building is quite large, I am planning to build a gift shop on one side and a restaurant on the other and try to fit a space for MF to wait in line for their turn... The roof will definitely be a challenge - I will have to balance the need to have a structure to "finish up" the look - but at the same time try not to hide the interior too much from view as I plan to show this creation at public displays. I don't plan to connect all structures of the coaster with baseplates - that would be too big for me - but rather have all the pieces floating and only being connected by the tracks to allow for some flexibility. I am hoping that the height of the building will allow me to insert a small track drop at the exit so the cars can gain a bit of momentum (like in the official coaster set). Update - Visitor center with a roof! Next "stop" will be... the JP gate - of course. Pretty simple - the idea is that the track will run through the gate. Next will be the Raptor pen. Here as well, the idea is that the track will run through the building - right in the middle of it. I left a hole in the back wall under the tower for that reason and the tower is somewhat modular to allow access to the inside. And this is where I see my first technical challenge - I am hoping that it would be possible to build some sort of "flywheel" system inside the tower structure using power functions in order to give the cars a boost of acceleration to get them moving. There should be enough room to fit a battery box and a motor with the necessary Technic contraption (at least I hope). A contraption that would use a wheel and tire on each side to "shoot" the car up the track. (the best comparison I can think of is how an automatic Nerf blaster works. The problem is - I have absolutely zero Technic building skills and I don't know if this plan is even remotely realistic. After the Raptor Pen, I'm thinking of having a steep incline (that is, IF the high incline track pieces seen in the creator fairground set are ever available in grey) followed by a drop and some turns - much like the official coaster set. Instead of using beams and scaffolding I am hoping that the whole thing could be dressed up as a small mountain - volcano perhaps? But I have not gotten this far yet. Update - I give you the Jeep Wrangler T-Rex chase scene! The Jeep design is based on the 2 Wrangler models of my good friend Pixel Fox - see here and here. Hello everyone, time for a new update - I got my hands on some rollercoaster tracks! So, I was able to lay down a first draft layout design, just to see how all the pieces could fit together.. and here is a video for it. Jurassic Park ride - track layout draft #1 (for some reason I can't seem to be able to embed a video so the link will have to do.) Also, I worked on some "flywheel" designs. My first attempt was to try to have wheels on each side of the track, forming a sandwich to get the wagons to move. This was an epic failure. Here are 2 videos showing the results - beware of the sound, this thing was very loud... not sure why, maybe some connections were not right. Either way this did not work, at all. FYI, the motor being used in this design was a train engine. Flywheel attempt #1 Flywheel attempt #1 - FAIL! So, I decided to investigate how LEGO had figured out that problem with the official coaster. This should have been my first move... because it worked like a charm. Flywheel attempt #2 Success! Now to be fair it is not exactly a flywheel system, the wheel are only on one side - and I used a chain link to get the wagons up the slope... but it works, it's super smooth and quiet so it's a definite win. This time I used a medium Motor with an IR remote to control the speed. Update February 2019 - At last the project is complete! Here are the final pictures. Welcome... to Jurassic Park by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr JP roller coaster - the visitor center (front) by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr JP roller coaster - the visitor center (back) by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr JP roller coaster - the loading platform by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr When the Dinosaurs ruled the Earth by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr JP roller coaster - the Raptor pen by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr JP roller coaster - the swamp by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr JP roller coaster - the T-Rex chase by Gregory Coquelz, on Flickr And a video of the roller coaster in action! Thanks again for everyone who commented on the project, it was a lot of fun and a solid learning experience on my end.

Here is a new dropbox link. Enjoy!