Since it’s first flight in 1966, the Russian Soyuz rocket system has become the world’s most frequently used launch vehicle. With over 1,700 flights in 50 years, this Russian stalwart has hauled cosmonauts, satellites, and cargo aloft, with its relatively simple design creating an enviable reliability record. However, this LEGO version of the latest Fregat version of the Soyuz is anything but simple — Jussi Koskinen has pulled out all the stops to capture every last feature of the spacecraft’s detailing. The scale of the effort involved is impressive — the model took 18 months to put together, and measures over 1.25m.
The overall structure of this massive model is excellent, and the shaping and angles on the lower boosters are particularly good. The smaller details are worth a look too — don’t miss the texturing around the base of the boosters, the scaffold-style connection between stages, and the nice integration of the Russian flag into the upper stage’s colour scheme. This formidable model wouldn’t look out of place on display beside the LEGO Ideas Saturn 5 set, and that’s high praise indeed.
It’s been really hard lately to stay hopeful and helpful. I’m sure many people, like me, feel isolated and frustrated and frightened. I don’t think I know how to not feel those things, but every time I communicate, volunteer, donate, engage, I can put them behind me a little.
It would take a hard heart not to be moved by Kendall Brown‘s adorable digital LEGO Totoro and Satsuki. As with his Elf and Narwhal and Wizard of Oz characters, which we recently featured, it’s a perfect example of how to build in the BrickHeadz theme. In this case it’s the selection of cartoon tile eyes, perfectly spaced, which captures Totoro’s quizzical expression and lifts the build to another level. Mix in all those extra touches like the flicks in Satsuki’s hair, Totoro’s tummy fur, and atmospheric Photoshop rain and you have a fitting tribute to one of the greatest animated films of all time.
This vintage 1970 Chevrolet C10 and accompanying mobile tiny home by Thomas Gion may just be the cutest LEGO model I’ve seen on eight wheels in a very long time. To begin with, the sand green and white color scheme both fit the era perfectly and look fantastic, making the tri-tone truck completely believable. Then, the shake-siding on the tiny home, made of 1×1 and 1×2 cheese slopes, brings a homegrown vibe to the trailer.
But best yet, much like a real tiny home, the trailer packs a lot more on the interior than you would expect. Thomas has utilized every stud of space, packing it with a left bed, bathroom, kitchen, and foldaway dining set. The only problem I see is that there’s no place to store the ever-growing LEGO collection!
With millions of new videos uploaded every week, YouTube is the world’s most popular platform for user-uploaded content.
While the majority of uploaded works cause no issue, copyright holders regularly file strikes or claims against uploaders, complaining that they’ve used their content without permission.
As reported on many occasions, this can sometimes prove controversial and today the Kenyan government waded into a dispute after a rendition of the country’s national anthem was subjected to takedown demand.
The video was uploaded by 2nacheki, which claims to be the largest YouTube channel from Africa. It featured their take on the ‘Top 10 Best National Anthems in Africa’, with the Kenyan anthem coming out in the number one position.
Unfortunately, however, the channel soon received notification from YouTube that their video had infringed upon the rights of UK-based music company De Wolfe Music, a claim that was made via content monetization company AdRev Publishing.
Needless to say, the channel was pretty shocked to see this claim on their account. Not only does the Kenyan government consider the piece (titled ‘Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu’ (‘O God, of all Creation’)) to be its property, but it was written by the Kenyan Anthem Commission in 1963 to serve as the state anthem after independence from Great Britain, where De Wolfe is based.
Only adding to the complications is that since the anthem is more than 50 years old, it has officially fallen into the public domain. This has caused the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice to issue a joint press release denouncing the action against a piece of its heritage.
“The National Anthem is over 50 years and has thus fallen into public domain. However, given the place of National Anthem in any country and the provisions of the National Flags, Emblems and Names Act (Cap 99 laws of Kenya) there is additional protection of the anthem against misuse and improper use,” the statement reads.
“Under that Act, the use of the National Anthem, emblems, names and other similar symbols is restricted and its use shall be subject to written permission by the minister in charge of interior.”
It’s unprecedented for a national government to get so closely involved in a YouTube copyright dispute so it seems probable that the claim against the video will be resolved relatively quickly.
However, that a third-party company can so easily claim content of others as their own is a problem that will take a while to fix, unless there is a more vigorous response when dealing with controversial takedown attempts.
Years in the making, Blake Foster presents one of the finest examples of LEGO spacecraft masterwork with the Ugly Duckling Long Range Research Vessel. It’s a rare achievement; it boasts impressive measurements at 168 studs long, 47 studs wide, and 45 studs high (approximately 52.5×14.5×14 inches), yet its size doesn’t prevent Blake from carefully considering every stud on his craft inside and out.
I know if I were to pick a favorite detail, parts usage, or motif on his research vessel, another favorite will reveal itself, reinforcing what I mean by careful consideration of every last 1×1 square section. I do have a favorite view: the front, with the extended red-and-white tower and internal runway, as well as defining the general Y cross section down the length.
Blake makes bold use of larger LEGO elements to excellent effect. For example, note the light gray dump truck buckets and yellow Alpha Team mecha feet.
Similarly, an array of Death Star spheres are very well integrated into the ship’s hull in shape and color blocking.
I’m impressed by the depth created in negative and hollowed-out spaces on the Ugly Duckling. One fine example of this is in the larger rear thruster which curves inward if you take a closer look. Again, large LEGO elements are integrated beautifully in the thruster; dark gray rafts work well here.
The bridge, comm array, and twin vehicle bays help define the scale. Details in this area are reminiscent of classic spacecraft such as the USCSS Nostromo
With its inspiring and believable design, I consider Blake’s Ugly Duckling to be an instant classic in LEGO spacecraft design. It is and will be fine inspiration to LEGO builders for years to come. Explore all photos on Blake’s Flickr, both in its work-in-progress and completion stages.
There’s nothing like a stiff breeze in your sails and a bit of steampunkery to make the workday fly. This rickety windmill by Martin Harrishits all the right notes with its exposed framework, abundance of gears, and plethora of thingamabobs that are the hallmarks of the aesthetic. The LEGO ship rigging elements pull double-duty here as framework, with Martin even taking advantage of their flexibility to bend them into place. Now the real question is: what does it power?
These Cryo Pods built by Peter Reid evoke the eerie feeling of Ridley Scott’s Alien hiding in the corner ready to pounce. The abundant use of grey paired with dramatic lighting gives off the feelings of being far away from earth and long travel in cold reaches of space. The scene is built with almost no LEGO studs visible, which also tricks our minds to believe that this could be larger than what it actually is — at first glance almost close to a movie-scale prop.
At 96×168 cm, this sprawling space layout is a phenomenal build. Creator Dale Harrisnotes on his harrisbricks blog that the display is a personal love note to the Classic Space theme’s limited colour palette and retro tech aesthetic.
The base mixes some great rockwork landscaping with integrated architectural elements. This provides the perfect backdrop for a whole host of vehicles and play features, while also serving as a nod to the LEGO Group’s epic 1980s promotional photographs. Dale has clearly studied his subject matter, and possibly those old catalogue shots too, dropping in the requisite radar dishes, robots, rovers and other spacey goodness.
The interior of the base is a fantastic build in its own right, with spacemen and mini-rovers darting everywhere.
We also get several distinct spaceships to dock at the base’s various landing pads.
However, my favourite components have to be the portable pod base units, which provide a sense of realistic space exploration to the build.
I’m a sucker for history and trains, and Rob Winner delivers on both counts with this slice of the Illinois Midland Railway in LEGO-form. According to the builder, the real line was only 1.9 miles long. This was in large part because of a crooked businessman making big promises and running off with the community of Newark’s money. Regardless, the little town made use of the railway to connect with nearby Millington. Rob’s model is meant to represent the railway during the 1940s, back when World War I veteran William Thorsen was running the show. Thorsen is depicted with the vehicles he operated, including a Vulcan 0-4-0T steam engine and Ford Model T railway inspection car.
The engine shed plays its part well, looking weathered and forgotten. Rob pulled this off by adding vines and slightly tilting brown plates outward to simulate loosened wooden boards. It’s a stark contrast to Thorsen standing among railway equipment that looks well taken care of. Then again, he is their devoted caretaker! This juxtaposition is inspiring, symbolizing the fight to persevere against all odds.
There is something primal about the feeling one gets when they look out at the ocean. It’s the great expanse of the unknown that inspires profound curiosity. While the sea fascinates us, it also humbles and reminds us just how small we are. This beautiful and terrifying build by Ralph Langeris a snapshot of that reminder.
Built with lots of hinged parts, this tsunami swell perfectly captures the moment before disaster strikes. Just imagine how ominous it would look photographed against a dark backdrop! We cringe at the thought of being the people in that ship at the wave’s crest. But let’s not forget how awesome the little microscale lighthouse and village are! It’s a perfectly crafted landscape and a clever use of parts!
I think there’s a little knowing joke going on in Aukbricks digital-LEGO recreation of Monica’s kitchen from classic 90s sitcom Friends. Although it’s a rendered build, the model sticks to available bricks, many of which rely on the colour palette found in the LEGO Friends themed sets. It’s a choice that absolutely works, and captures the idiosyncratic, homely yet prissy look of the room. It also means that if you had the requisite 6,000 pieces needed, you could absolutely build this model yourself. So, if you are a super-fan like Aukbricks, who claims to have watched the shows entire run 15 times, you too could pour over all the familiar details of this wonderfully accurate set in the comfort of your own home.
Via the pics subreddit. I kind of liked this snarky comment: "It's like a house of horrors for trees. Inside the corpse of their former comrade are the processed remnants of their treebrothers and treesisters."
Sharalee Howard is the artist who created this epic Little Free Library inside a more than 100-year-old cottonwood tree stump outside her home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Howard was inspired when her family decided to remove most of the tree after branches began to fall. The core of the tree was starting to rot, and she felt inspired to create one inside the stump that remained from the tree. The library features a swinging glass door, steps, and interior and exterior lights.
Last April, Food52’s Cookbook Club chose Smitten Kitchen Every Day as their book to cook through that month, but I promise, this isn’t the point at all. The club has monthly picks and a yearly Bonus Book, a cookbook participants cook through at their leisure. So while April was my book’s month, for 2018, that book was Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden.
!["I [suspect] that we are throwing more and more of our resources, including the cream of our youth, into financial activities remote from the production of goods and services, into activities that generate high private rewards disproportionate to their social productivity. I suspect that the immense power of the computer is being harnessed to this 'paper economy', not to do the same transactions more economically but to balloon the quantity and variety of financial exchanges." --James Tobin, July 1984](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/technical_analysis.png "\"I [suspect] that we are throwing more and more of our resources, including the cream of our youth, into financial activities remote from the production of goods and services, into activities that generate high private rewards disproportionate to their social productivity. I suspect that the immense power of the computer is being harnessed to this 'paper economy', not to do the same transactions more economically but to balloon the quantity and variety of financial exchanges.\" --James Tobin, July 1984")
