Bruce interviewed Craig Lee recently and has posted part of the conversation on the front page of Classic Castle.

Let’s face it, you have to buy a lot of airplane sets to get enough doors to do anything with. Then once you have them, you have to deal with the crappy connection points these things offer. Kudos to this builder for a job well done, and one more for using half of a minifig trike in the same creation.

Some may say that building all in one, neutral, color is “easy” and perhaps a “cop-out” to avoid having to think about color I say that while this may be the case, it still looks good. It also makes sticker usage come to the forefront, as that’s where most of the contrasting color (mostly white in this case) comes from. There is a little bit of yellow and blue on this sucker, but apparently none of the photos are of that side of the chopper.

It also turns out that trying to photograph something with even a tiny bit of yellow on it against a yellow backdrop is a disaster.

Sometimes a model shows a lot of dedication to a cause that is worthy of blogging. In this case Matt Hamann (jaster) has carefully and cunningly connected every piece of scrap machinery in his gondola and attached it all to the base. He has no bar with clips left. That, dear readers, is dedication to a cause.

Sometimes a brick is not just a brick, it is the brick. Jason Heltebridle (Moctagon Jones) has a picture of a brand new brick with a single stud on the side. I realise the same effect can be achieved with a 1×1 technic brick and quarter pin but this new part will align properly and not swing.

It also came as a PDF which made life much more difficult. I’ve converted the PDF pages to images and uploaded them to flickr. It comes in UK, US and German forms.

And from the FAQ:

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I join the LEGO VIP Program?

  To join the LEGO VIP Program, visit your nearest LEGO Store and see a LEGO Store Associate to pick up a card. To complete your registration, you must go online to VIP.LEGO.com and submit your member profile. You can find a complete list of LEGO Stores at stores.LEGO.com

• How do I collect points with my LEGO VIP Card?

  When you are ready to make a purchase at the LEGO Store, hand your VIP Card to the cashier. Your points will be instantly added to your card as a part of your purchase transaction, and you can view the points you’ve earned at the bottom of your receipt.

• What about my current paper loyalty card?

  If you own a loyalty card with valid stamps on it, just bring it in store and exchange it for a new LEGO VIP Card. We will transfer all of your spend amount across so you won’t lose out, plus we’ll still give you the 25 bonus points for signing up.

• How do I check my points balance?

  There’s a points statement at the bottom of your receipt, which will tell you how many points you have earned on that transaction, and what your current total balance is. You can check your balance by visiting VIP.LEGO.com and selecting the ‘My VIP’ tab.

• How do I add family members to my LEGO VIP Membership?

  If a family member is over 13 years old and resides at the same postal address, you can add them to your LEGO VIP Account. To do this, your family member must first join up in store and collect their own unique LEGO VIP Card. They can then ask a Store associate to create a ‘shared membership’. If you already have both cards, you can also create the
  shared membership by contacting our Consumer Services department. It is important to note that all members within a Shared Membership can earn and redeem points from the same points account. LEGO is not responsible for any points redeemed without shared member approval.

• What happens if I need to return items to the LEGO Store?

  If you return the item with your receipt you can exchange it for another product or refund. We will require your VIP Card to adjust the balance accordingly. For more information on the LEGO Store return policy, please consult your purchase receipt or a Store Associate.

• What if I change my address?

  If you move, please let us know! You can email our Customer Services Department, and include your old address, new address and VIP Card number.

• What if I have lost my LEGO VIP Card?

  If your card is lost or stolen, please contact a LEGO Store Associate for a replacement card. The lost card will be deactivated and your points balance will be transferred across to the new card. LEGO is not responsible for any points redeemed on a lost or stolen card.

• Do my points ever expire?

  Yes, if your card is left inactive for a consecutive period of 24 months, we will reset your points balance. Before this happens, LEGO will notify you via email.

I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise when someone who works at Pixar builds something from their movies. What continues to be impressive is how great Angus’s models end up being.

The NS 1800 (link in Dutch) is a common sight on railways in the Netherlands and I’ve seen various LEGO versions of it and its predecessor throughout the years. This one by Danden is a particularly fine 6-wide specimen and, even better, beautifully photographed for our viewing pleasure. And I have to give extra credit for managing to line those cheese slopes up so perfectly.

Thanks to Carl Greatrix for pointing me to this beauty.