Far Out Dude - Lego VW T1 Camper Van

passenger side front corner view with pop-up roof

We're blasting back to 1962 and cruising in psychedelic style with my latest LEGO build - a Volkswagen T1 Camper Van. This authentic model is a replica of the classic 1962 VW camper van. Every iconic feature is here! On the outside, the terrific detailing includes 'V' shape three-way color split at the front, rounded roof and window frames, opening 'splittie' safari windshield, opening doors, iconic pop-up roof with textile curtain surround, roof rack, rear side air intake vents and lots more! The detailing is equally impressive on the inside, from the authentic VW air-cooled flat four cylinder boxer engine, front cabin bench seat, gear stick, angled dashboard and iconic spherical speedometer, to custom LEGO® features like folding rear bench seat, folding dinette table, closet with mirror and even a painting!

front view

• Features 11 windows, authentic plaid-print textile curtains and wing mirror!
• Rear door opens to reveal detailed engine!
• Interior also features rear bench seat that transforms into a bed, ‘Make LEGO Models, Not War’ T-shirt and rear shelf with plant!
• Measures 11.8 inches (30cm) long and 5.5 inches (14cm) high!

Fletch helped me build this set. Sorting the 1332 piece set took 2.5 hrs and the build took 7.5 hrs for an overall 10 hrs. Growing up my family had multiple Volkswagens, including two vans (which we affectionately called a "bus") - a 1973 blue and 1975 tan models. So this set was extra special to me. I put it on the shelf alongside my other Lego VW set - a 1960 Beetle. See all the pics of the camper van build here.

on display

drivers side

engine

interior with pop-up camper

"To infinity and beyond!"

"To infinity and beyond"

My newest Lego build - Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear.

LEGO VW Beetle Part 2 of 2

DSC_0837.JPG
Originally uploaded by chronic-shock

I finished the set on Sunday. See more pics here.

LEGO VW Beetle Part 1 of 2

LEGO VW Beetle "Charlotte"
Originally uploaded by chronic-shock

My next Lego project is another large scale model, the classic Volkswagen Beetle. Based on the iconic 1960 'Charlotte' model, the LEGO Volkswagen Beetle features realistic details and functions like opening doors, hood and trunk, a spare tire in the front and engine in the back, an accurate interior, and more. Includes display plate with detailed specifications of the original Volkswagen model! Measures 16" (41cm) long and 6'½" (16cm) high! Realistic details include a movable stick shift, opening glove compartment and seats that fold forward! Features an engine in the back trunk and spare tire under the hood! Beetle details also includes a Volkswagen logo decal, windshield wipers and rearview mirror! The set has 1626 pieces and contains rare dark blue and sky blue pieces.

This set was a Christmas present from Santa. Part 1 took a few hours to build. I really didn't keep track of my build time. Nor did I sort this set as well as I did the Eiffel Tower. Better sorting = easier build. Lesson learned.

LEGOLAND Florida scheduled to open in 2011

LEGOLAND Florida will be the second LEGOLAND park in North America. It will be located at the historical Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven Florida and will open at the end of 2011. LEGOLAND Florida will be the biggest LEGOLAND Park ever opened and will offer a unique mix of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including spectacular LEGO models and other interactive elements for the whole family to enjoy together. It will provide a full-day, year round, theme park experience geared towards families with children between the ages of two and 12. Its design will mirror the successful concept of the four existing LEGOLAND Parks in Denmark, Germany, UK and California. However, as with the other four, it will also have its own unique “twist” reflecting its stunning location and adding a Florida flavor.

all I can say is Merlin is a genius for buying the site and placing a LEGOLAND theme park that close to Disney World. Right in Disney’s backyard, but far enough away to avoid the fallout. Legoland California is set up almost the same in relationship to Disney Land.

Related articles by Zemanta

• New LEGOLAND Coming to Central Florida (wired.com)
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• LEGOLAND Brings Promise of 1,000 Jobs to Polk (TheLedger.com)
• Owners of Legoland buy Cypress Gardens (faircarnivals.com)

LEGO Eiffel Tower Part 3 of 3

Completed LEGO Eiffel Tower
Originally uploaded by chronic-shock

I finished part 3 of the set yesterday. Build time for part 3 was approximately 2.5 hrs. Total build time of the entire set was 10 hrs. The tower stands 3.5 ft. Fletch is half the size of the tower. This was the largest and most challenge set I've ever built. Now I've got to find a place to display it!

Life-Size Lego House Built...and Demolished

Image via Wikipedia

Damn shame nobody wanted this one of a kind masterpiece (pun intended). 


Life-Size Lego House Built...and Demolished - ShelterPop
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James May's Lego House is Demolished - Daily Telegraph

James May and his full-size Lego house nobody wants - Daily Mail

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• James May's Lego house knocked down (telegraph.co.uk)
• The Lego House Looks Beautiful From the Outside Too [Lego] (gizmodo.com)
• LEGO house update (designboom.com)
• life-size LEGO house (designboom.com)

LEGO BrickFair 2009

psychadelic fish by brick chick
Originally uploaded by chronic-shock

I headed out to the 2009 LEGO BrickFair show on Saturday. This time the family accompanied me. We had a good time. It was held at it's usual location, the Tyson Sheraton Hotel. It was really crowded and hot. BrickFair has outgrown this location, so next year the show is moving to the Dulles Expo Center which is bigger and should improve the flow of people. Our favorite MOC was this psychadelic fish by The Brick Chick. This was her very first MOC. Killer job for a first time! We are impressed. Check out all our BrickFair pics.

LEGO Eiffel Tower Part 2 of 3

LEGO Eiffel Tower Part II
Originally uploaded by chronic-shock

This is part 2 of the Lego Eiffel Tower set I'm building. Part 2 took 2.5 hours to build. Below is parts 1 and 2 together. It's coming along nicely.

LEGO Eiffel Tower Part I & Part II
Originally uploaded by chronic-shock

British TV Host to Build and Live in Lego House

Image via Wikipedia

Top Gear presenter James May is planning to build and live in a new house in Surrey, made completely out of Lego bricks. This story combines two of my loves-cars and Lego. Top Gear is my favorite car show, but we no longer have cable TV and you have to live in the UK to watch the show online. May is going to have working electricity and plumbing in his Lego house. I can't wait to see the completed project.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Top Gear's James May to Construct Two-Story Lego House [Lego] (gizmodo.com)
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LEGO Eiffel Tower Part 1 of 3

LEGO Eiffel Tower Part 1 of 3
Originally uploaded by chronic-shock

My lazy Sunday activity was starting the build of my LEGO Eiffel Tower set. The LEGO Eiffel Tower is a stunning model for construction and display, built to 1:300 scale from the real tower's original blueprints. From the flag at the top to the elevators and other realistic details, this is as authentic as it gets. Eiffel Tower stands 42.5" (108 cm) high and base measures 20" x 20" (50 cm x 50 cm)! Can be disassembled in 3 sections for easy transport and storage.

This was my baby-daddy gift from the wife. It's a small way of saying "thanks for my sperm" :) Part 1 took about 5 hours to build. I sorted the pieces while we were in the hospital for Fletch's jaundice. That took me a while. The sorting really helped though. It made finding the correct dark gray piece out of 3428 pieces much easier.

The Big Lebowski LEGO minifigs

lebowski1a
Originally uploaded by Shmails

Jonathan Gilbert (Shmails) has created custom minifigs of the characters from The Big Lebowski. Way to go Donny! Check out all of Jonathan's cool movie and sports themed LEGO minifigures and MOCs.

WBMC 2011 in Legoland!

The 2011 World Beard and Moustache Championships are being held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The date is to be determined. Denmark is home to The Lego Group, the company that makes the popular plastic interlocking toy bricks, and Legoland Denmark. Lego is also my favorite hobby. So combining my love of bearding, Lego bricks and traveling around Europe is a dream come true.

20 Album Covers Recreated in LEGO

Article here. A good mix of modern and classic rock. A little overloaded with Beatles albums though. I would have liked to have seen a bigger variety of artists. Nonetheless, another great use of LEGO. The pic is Pink Floyd's "The Division Bell".

The House That Ruth Built (in Lego)

I found another Lego artist on the information superhighway. This dude is the first of only six Lego Certified Professionals in the world. He is building a Lego Yankee Stadium in honor of the 85 year stadium's closing. It contains over 45,000 Lego elements. He built it with a Manhattan gradeschooler. Even if you hate the Yankees, you have to appreciate this homage to a piece of New York history.

BrickFair 2008

Lego Taj Mahal
Originally uploaded by chronic-shock

I went to the local Lego show, BrickFair, over Labor Day weekend while Chronic was out of town. The three day affair is mainly for Adult Fans of Lego (AFOLs) but parts of Saturday and Sunday are open to the public. There was a huge turn out. Mostly kids with their parents. The AFOLs bring their MOCs (My Own Creations) to display. I'm still a rookie AFOL, so I didn't have any MOCs. Most AFOLs are on par with Trekkies and Star Wars nerds. They take it seriously. Some spend all their money on LEGO parts. Their houses are full of the bricks. I'd like to meet an AFOL who lives in a house made of LEGO. Check out all the pics from the show. BrickFair even got some press. There was a write up in the Post.

Dream Job - Lego Artist

Everyone has that "dream job" floating around in the back of their head. Sometimes that dream job is making a living from what started out as a hobby. Mine would be to make a living building with Lego bricks. Awesome right? "Never gonna happen" you say. Well one dude followed his dream and now makes a living as a Lego artist. What is a Lego artist? A Lego artist is an artist who's medium is Lego, the little plastic bricks consider toys. Check out the slideshow of some of his work. The pic is his work "Yellow". He's even made a working Lego computer and air conditioner. Check out his Brick Artist website which shows all his work. Everyone else, keep dreaming.

Lego Olympics

The Hong Kong Lego Users Group built a scale model of the 2008 Olympics. It's amazing. Check out the pic of the Bird's Nest stadium. View the entire article.

The LEGO Secret Vault

The LEGO company has a secret vault guarding almost every LEGO set ever manufactured. There are 4,720 sets in the vault-from the first sets in 1958 through 2008. They are new in box and in mint condition. One of my WAMALUG co-horts found the link to the story. WAMALUG is the Washington Metro Area LEGO Users Group. The cool gadget guide blog Gizmodo set one of there writers to Denmark to tour the LEGO factory and write about. Here's the link: http://gizmodo.com/tag/legotrip. It's a LEGO fan's dream come true.