MEGATech Showcase: LEGO Frenzy! Beth Snyder July 1, 2014 Features It probably hasn’t been as long as I think it has since we did a LEGO Showcase, but it feels like a hundred years. And boy do I have some neat things for you today! None of these are playsets you can buy, although a few of them can be found on the LEGO Ideas (formerly LEGO Cuusoo) site for voting. Most of them are just incredibly neat things that some of the best and brightest LEGO builders have come up with, and they’re fabulous. First up is an amazing replica of one of the scenes from The LEGO Movie I will never forget. Especially since I now own a copy, so in addition to the three times I watched it in the theatre I’ve watched it twice more at home. This of course is the scene where everyone escapes Cloud Cuckoo Land in the Master Builders’ submarine, and it was built by Imagine Rigney (who is now one of my heroes). The attention to detail is awesome! Source: Nerd Approved You’ve seen Salvador Dali’s “The Elephants”, right? Jin Kei decided they should be re-created in LEGO, and they’re amazing. While it doesn’t seem to be made entirely of LEGO, there are definitely bricks in use here. It may not be an exact replica of the elephant in the famous painting, it’s definitely close enough to impress. Source: Gizmodo While we’re looking at art re-created in LEGO, how about Escher’s “Ascending and Descending” as created by Daniel Shiu and Andrew Lipson. The two of them have teamed up to create several other famous works, but this one caught my eye. Their attention to detail makes what was a two-dimensional drawing into a three-dimensional sculpture of beauty. Source: AndrewLipson.com Moving from art to literature, here we have Homer’s “The Odyssey”, as interpreted in LEGO by VirtuaLUG (a group of builders). Several folks worked on different aspects of this one, to bring the story (as well as a bit of “The Iliad”) to life. Given how huge it is and how much detail there is, I find myself wondering just how long this one was in process before they declared it done. Source: Nerd Approved Adly Syairi Ramly decided we needed to see a bunch of rock bands made of LEGO, and I agree. There are actually 20 different ones, ranging from the Beatles to Tegan and Sara, and you really need to click on the source article to see them all. If you’re a fan of the bands, the LEGO minifigs altered to portray them are instantly recognizable. Source: Oh Gizmo Here’s one you can vote on! Head over to LEGO Ideas to cast your vote if you’d like to see the Batmobile become a LEGO reality. Sam Gras created this one because his daughter wanted a car for her Batman and Robin minifigs to ride in, and I love him for it. If this one becomes a reality, it would also come with a Joker minifig, because it’s just no fun if you don’t have a villain to chase. Source: Technabob Since we’re into cars now, how about The Homer? Brian Williams (not to be confused with the NBC News anchor) created this one, based on the car designed by Homer Simpson in a 1991 episode of The Simpsons. It’s even got Homer and his brother in minifig form! Of course, even though Homer meant well, this car was the reason for the failure of his brother’s car company, but you’ll have that. The LEGO creation, however, is a definite winner. Source: Laughing Squid Here’s another one you can vote for over at LEGO Ideas if you’d like to see it in stores. If created, this would include Fred and Wilma’s house, Fred’s car, and Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty minifigs. It’s pretty simple, but I kind of want one. Enough so that I’ve voted for it… you never know. Source: Craziest Gadgets Flower pots are pretty boring, aren’t they? Maybe not, thanks to Jin Kai. These are flower pots made of LEGO, with movie themes. Pictured here is Star Wars, but there is also Lord of the Rings and The Simpsons, each with minifigs. The first two, by the way, are up for voting on LEGO Ideas in case you’re interested. Obviously you’d have to choose what plants you put in them carefully, but they’re really neat. Source: Nerd Approved While we’re in Star Wars mode, take a look at this R2-D2! Not only is he made entirely of LEGO, but he’s full size and fully functional. As in, walks and lights up and beeps and boops and in general rocks my world. Shawn and Lara Steele created him, and they actually call him L3-GO. Toward the end of the year it took them to build him, Nikita Steele, Laurel Lee Steele and Hosik Lee stepped in to help, and he was premiered at Emerald City Comicon 2014. I wish I’d been there. Source: Gizmodo Did someone say Star Destroyer? We are still talking Star Wars, after all, so this seems to fit right in. Jerac built this one, and it measures over two meters long. It’s done using the SNOT method (studs not on top), for an overall clean and finished look as befits a Star Destroyer. I remain in awe of people who can look at a big pile of plastic bricks and end up with something this cool. Source: Nerd Approved I never got into Super Mario Brothers (I know, I know), but I would totally put this aquarium in my living room. Kelsey Kronmiller and her boyfriend decided this was what they wanted for their fishy friends, so they built the castles out of LEGO, glued them all together (although they used something other than Kragle), and ended up with an awesome creation. I’d love to see it once the finned interlopers move in. Source: Geekologie Speaking of fish… This Jaws set is currently seeking votes on LEGO Ideas. It makes me giggle. Is it just me, or does Bruce look just a little too friendly? At any rate, it would come with the Orca, the shark (big enough to fit a minifig in its belly), and minifigs of Martin Brody, Matt Hooper, and Sam Quint. And also two barrels, because it would have to. Go vote. You know you want to. Source: Technabob This thing creeped me out bad when I saw Ghostbusters. Heck, it creeped me out in the TV commercials, so I guess that makes sense. This is also seeking votes on LEGO Ideas, and if it makes it you’ll be able to create a 13-inch (34 cm) tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man for your very own. It’s got about 1,800 pieces, and is roughly 1/2 scale of the included minifigs (Walter Peck, Gatekeeper and Keymaster). Which means even though it’s not very tall compared to you, it’ll be it’s hugely creepy self when it takes on the Ghostbusters. Source: Geek.com I finally watched Frozen last week, which means I kind of want Elsa’s Ice Palace in LEGO, if only because my niece’s girls would lose their minds if I owned it and they didn’t. I’m like that. This is another one currently on LEGO Ideas, and if voted in it would come with Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and the ice monster (if he had a name, it escapes me). They’re not traditional minifigs, however, but the Friends style. Fohzen came up with this one when his daughters wanted a Frozen LEGO playset, as I’m sure any girl under the age of 10 does. Source: Gizmodiva Why is she posting a picture of a London bus stop in the LEGO Showcase? Has she lost her mind? Nope! Because this bus stop is made entirely from LEGO! It incorporates 100,000 LEGO bricks, and is fully functional with seats, windows, and route signs. Don’t believe me? Head on over to Regent Street in London, and directly in front of Hamley’s Toy Store you can see it with your own eyes. Trueform, a company that makes street furniture, created it, and I wish it was here so I could sit in it every day. I wouldn’t take the bus, I’d just sit there marveling at it. Sadly, it’s only temporary, as it was a project designed to celebrate 200 years of London buses. Source: Gizmodo I’ll close this one out with something you certainly don’t see every day. This six-foot tall replica of Bender is not only made out of LEGO, but his stomach door opens to reveal a liquor cabinet. Sure, you could probably put other stuff in there, but why would you? This is the work of Adrian Drake, and it contains 20,000 bricks. He’s even got a cigar between his fingers. I want one for my living room… this is even better than the fish tank! Source: Geekologie Share This With The World!
