Executive Plaza

Seems that it is contest season again, and as always, I'm throwing my work into the great pool of entries, hoping that my work is appreciated (and perhaps that I'll be rewarded with some nice prizes!).



The Executive Plaza is my entry for the ToysNBricks.com Microbuild LEGO Tournament 2012.





This was a challenging and interesting build for me. My main goals were to stay true to LEGO's original Mini Modulars set, use a combination of dark red and dark orange to create an interesting facade, as well as to try to restrict myself to a box/square-like build that would be appropriate to a place of work.



One of the highlights of the build was the second floor balcony, which adds just a tiny bit of curving to a very square build. The idea itself was easy to conceive, but the execution took a few experimental iterations with various pieces to get it exactly how I wanted.



While very simple in terms of technique, I also like and would like to highlight the loading dock in the back. I'd like to think that it is similar to some of the small touches LEGO likes to throw into their sets that often go unnoticed.

All in all, I had a blast building this and am proud of it. Now on to the next contest: EuroBricks.com's Architecture Building Contest!

Kendo

Not much here; just a quick build that I did on a whim. When LEGO first showcased the new Ninjago line for 2012 with Kendo masks, I knew I had to get a few.

I made this little vignette in about 15 minutes as an exercise in speed and minifigure posing. Forgive me as usual for the lighting and any historical inaccuracies (the Sai were just too cool to leave out).

443 - Facade

Believe it or not, I am working on this, but between being sick, being busy at work, and our camera being finicky recently, I've not been able to put out as many content updates as I would've liked.

Nonetheless, the build is progressing, and the end is in sight. More to come, promise!

443 - Resumption

After a six month hiatus, I've returned with motivation, and Christmas and Birthday money, to complete my various LEGO projects.

Top on my list is the completion of 443. We recently visited the home that I grew up in, and it has proved to be the last time we'll see it, since the sale of the complex that the condominium is a part of has gone through.

It is a weird feeling, knowing that something that I've long considered as "home" (even more so than the places I've lived since moving out) will soon be no more (it will likely be torn down and a new development project started), but a great feeling trying to recreate that place (and the good feelings that come from it) in the form of a model.

In any case, expect more action on this blog over the next few months, mainly centered around 443, but also some of my other projects (both existing ones and new ones). I may also share some of the recent works that I've built with/for my son and/or works he's built entirely by himself (he is really coming into his own as a builder... this dad is proud!). Stay tuned!

443 - Upstairs

After a period of continual readjustments, I think I finally have the correct dimensions of the house in general to start on the second level. They aren't perfect, but that's what I will just have to deal with given the medium.



So far I've finished with the two bathrooms, hallway and the air well. These are likely to be the hardest portions of my build because of the need to make sure the rooms upstairs are properly aligned with the rooms downstairs.



I do wish the hallway was a little bit longer, but unless I intend to add more height to the bottom level (and therefore a WHOLE lot more bricks), the dimensions of the bathrooms are somewhat confining me to that space.



I'm most excited to finally have the proper framework to start on the second level. The bedrooms were giving me some worry initially, but my parents were kind enough to take some actual measurements for me which have confirmed that I'm reasonably on the right course.



But every step closer to the finish line just acts as another reminder that I am woefully short on pieces. They trickle in slowly as my budget allows, but progress is slow. The good thing though is that it may well line up that I get a chance to visit my childhood home in November. It would make me happy to get a chance to see it again in person before putting the finishing touches on this model later this year. Until then, I make do with what I have.

443 - Patio and Living Room

The framework of the entire first level is finally actualized, although not yet fully complete. I had been waiting on a large order of white bricks to come in, and that has finally allowed me to lay enough foundation to be able to start work on the second level.



My challenge now will be to calculate and properly recreate the rooms of the second level in relation to the bottom level, as well as adjust the build to accommodate the modular nature of the build so far.



The living room has also seen a few minor adjustments. I've added an air conditioner, a small dresser, and adjusted some decorative elements on the side table and on the wall. Also added is what is supposed to be a clock table of sorts, represented by what is supposed to be a circular map piece that was in the set that my children got me for Father's Day (thanks guys!).

I know I say it often, but it remains true: there's more to come. I have a lot of work that I want to and am able to do (in terms of available pieces) in the next week or so, should I have the free time for it. So, stay tuned!

Church of the Master: Concept

It has been a busy month for me personally and professionally, and the blog is long overdue for an update.

That said, even though I have not spent as much time recently with LEGO as I'd like, the blog has been left unattended mostly because my work recently hasn't been cosmetic. For example, I've had to do a foundational adjustment to 443, and I've adjusted The Dark Tower so that I can add to the top half easily using random pieces for a proof of concept (rather than something I'm ready to show).

What I do have to show is a small piece of what I hope will someday be a larger work.

The Church of the Master is a Presbyterian church that I drive by every day as I head home from work. For years, I drove by it, not really noticing it, until recently when my new LEGO hobby opened my eyes to small architectural details in buildings that I once thought I was familiar with and could describe with my eyes closed.



What I liked most about the architecture of this particular church is the tower that features multiple crosses. It sits on the corner of a major intersection and looks quite nice, especially with the sun shining through it at right times of the day.

My hopes for this would be to eventually expand this out into a larger building, and maybe take some creative liberties as far as adding some stained glass and other features from similar churches.

All in due time though; I'm hoping to display some major progress on 443 soon, and that is the project that is closest to completion, so that's where my budget is going for now. Some day though...