Lego Printer.....no joke

First click play. Done? Amazing yes? Apparently Youtube user "horseattack"'s printer was a side project done on evenings and took about 3 weeks. The printed picture come out at about 75 DPI (Dots Per Inch)and the printer even works with the normal print mechanism on OS X. Though it doesn't use an RCX, in all it's a commendable achievement that yields excellent results.

There's a storm coming.....

Blizzard_Peak, originally uploaded by m_o_n_k_e_y.

Flickr builder m_o_n_k_e_y's Blizzard Peak mecha looks not only menacing but fantastic. From the wonderfully sculpted Gundam-style legs to the the to the pleasingly simplistic cockpit the Blizzard looks ready to take on any large horde of arctic creatures out there. I especially love the attention to color scheme that is worked into the model. The combination of the green/blue strip with the white/black blocking is nothing short of genius. Check out this an his other Mecha in his flickr set as well as his Vic Vipers for Novvember.

Anubis Starfighter

(For starts: Wow it's been a long time since I've blogged something!) :x

This slick star fighter by Thrawnie caught my eye. The hunched cockpit reminds me of a vulture, and the wonderful angles on this beauty are really stunning. Bravo.

Anubis 00, originally uploaded by Thrawnie.

Remeber it's "big-boned", not fat....

Lego: T53 (Golem), originally uploaded by Kidgunsmoke.

....because Kidgunsmoke's powerful looking juggernaut looks like it could put some hurt on. Overall the lumbering, heavy-set feel is very effective and despite being scattered, the white/bley/orange lends itself to the model well. The legs are nicely constructed as well. Click through the picture to his stream for more pics!

It looks pretty hungry......

Specimen 082 (main view), originally uploaded by -Disty-.

Lets hope for flickr builder Disty's sake that Specimen 082 has been fed recently. Having been in the works since November (of last year) at long last the project has finally been unveiled, and frankly I think it was worth the wait. Besides the monster, the cage is also quite fearsome, incorporating a pleasing repetition of bionicle & technic parts to form the body. The creature incorporates a pleasing combination of blue armor for the main parts of the body and rare purple krana & kratta to form the fleshy parts of the things body. All this paired with an orange eye makes for a pleasing color scheme. Check out the rest of the detail on his stream!

I Love Things That Move

Dv0urr-006, originally uploaded by spacie 11.

When I first saw this walker by spacie 11, I was in love. But then I found out that it is motorized, and then I had to blog it. Amazing work.

PEHP Billboard

PEHP Billboard, originally uploaded by Xarquar.

I have always been a fan of clean lego creations and clean photography, and this billboard by Xarquar has both, I love the lettering and the orange and the photography. Well done!

From the sea to the skies

15, originally uploaded by de-marco.

Thought we were gone didn't ya? Think again!

Today we at USB bring you this interesting steam-punk Pirate bi-copter from de-marco on flickr. The greebles and the feeling evoked by the canopies used for the cockpit are gratifying and evoke an air of "WWII era" aircraft. Check out his set for more detailed shots.

Thanks to my friend tbone_tbl for the tip!

Shape-Over-Structure

Archer, originally uploaded by The Lanterne Rouge.

After creating his Hero Factory antagonist with Lego's create-a-villian for a forum contest, Eurobricks user “The Lanterne Rouge” went the extra mile and actually made his villain, “Archer”. The concept-to-model execution is great, and I enjoy how he used the Toa Metru Chest Covers and the Hockey Slammer Helmets to create the torso. Further more this model is an good example of shape-over-structure, a concept that many Bionicle builders would do well to consider. Check out his Flickr account for more photos.

Car with guns.....yeah

AIT-3 Armored Personnel Carrier, originally uploaded by The Brothers Merz.

Joe & Will Merzlak are two AFOL builders new the online community who not only can build but have got a nack for presentation (a winning combination). Their first three creations, the AIT-3 Armored Personnel Carrier (above), the Carcal (right) , and the Mass Effect inspired ARTAV "IFV" (left) all impress with usage of interesting techniques, greys, and highlights. All this paired in a unique vignetted/ heavy bohkeh presentation merits a contact add. Keep an eye on this Duo's stream!

Thanks to Luke Lyons for the reference.

The Nomad

-Stacker- posted this neat armor using his Powerpants design. I definitely believe "NPU" is an appropriate term to use here.

KX6 Auriga

If I were microscale, this would be pretty high up on my list of things never to get in the way of. Yloquen cranked out this little war machine, and it is utterly terrific. The shaping of the front gives this a menacingly hunched posture, and the red accents give this a nice punch of visual flair.

KX6 Auriga, originally uploaded by Yloquen.

στύραξσαῦρος

Styracosaurus003, originally uploaded by aurore&aube.

aurore&aube once again shows his ability to sculpt with this amazing model of a Styracosaurus (stih-RAK-uh-SAWR-us). I have always enjoyed how he is able to achieve a believable shape while still retaining pose-ability. I also like how he crafted the muscles using the smooth 2x2 round dishes on the head. Check out his stream for more similarly interesting models.

MK-101 Spacemule

MK-101 Spacemule, originally uploaded by Yloquen.

Now this is a nice spacecraft! The MK-101 Spacemule by Yloquen on Flickr has angles blow my mind, and I love the color patterning throughout. The small stickers add a lot of character to the MOC without overpowering the shape with needless details. I even like the two studs on the front prongs, a rare occurrence as I like MOCs to be smooth and stud-free. All in all, an excellent build, and I look forward to more!

Check out Yloquen's photostream for more sweet build!

Brickfair 2010: Fair Recap

Hey I am back with the last in USB's Brickfair 2010 posts. Unfortunately, there were so many excellent creations from new builders, I couldn't get them all! So, in parting, I will put down a few of favorites. But first here are some highlights from the fair.







- Nathan Shields, who we had spotlighted earlier for his floating rock house, won best SHIP with his Star of May.












- Karyn Traphagen's Modulex Green house got second in the miniature category.










- Ktorrek's model of the Normandy SR-1 from Mass Effect won best sci-fi creation.









- My Shinken Vic Viper won best small space craft. :)












- Some bridge thing, that has a bunch of tan cheese, came out.







Now here are a couple of would-have-been-blogged-if-had-more-time Favorites from the fair.





























































































In closing here are some links to the many flickr photo galleries of the event (Originally compiled by Dan at Fascinating Lego Model of the Day). Including some video from Fox & CNN who also made it (camera work = major fail). Enjoy and be there next year!

Richard Schoonover's flickr photos
Cale Leiphart's flickr photos
Brendan "BernMarsh"'s flickr photos
Joe Meno's flickr photos
BrickJournal flickr set: Brickfair 2010 Preparation
BrickJournal flickr set: Brickfair Set 1
BrickJournal flickr set: Brickfair Set 2
BrickJournal flickr set: Brickfair Set 2 (yes, two with the same title)
Official group pool
BernMarsh's flickr set
notenoughbricks's flickr set
jchanes927's flickr set
cajunjoel's flickr set
Joe Architect's flickr set
MiniBricks Madness' report
KateKintail's brickshelf gallery
pjmoyer's brickshelf gallery
Cale Leiphart's flickr photos
Brothers Brick blurb
qiaochang's flickr set
morganbarr's flickr set
rclaburn's flickr set
Rob Bender's flickr set
AB Quest's flickr photo sets
TJJohn12's flickr sets: Thursday Friday
rschoonover's flickr set
Brickapolis' flickr set
pcgeek's Brickshelf gallery
dan_larson008's flickr set

Y-Wing

flailx posted this great rendition of the Star Wars Y-Wing. The simplicity of detail in the middle section, and the landing gear is quite impressive. And check out that cool turret above the cockpit!

Y-wing, originally uploaded by flailx.

The Claaaaaw!

Joel.Baker constructed this utterly amazing scene from the original Toy Story movie where Sid pulls Buzz and Woody out of the claw machine in that Pizza Planet arcade. Yeah, of course you know that scene. Well, he just made it out of Lego. BAM! Go check it out for yourself, it's amazing.

The Claw, originally uploaded by Joel.Baker.

Terran Marine

ABS doohickies created this insanely awesome rendition of the Terran Marine from Starcraft 2. The entire MOC is absolutely awe-inspiring, and the use of rubber bands is icing on the cake.

IMG_3237, originally uploaded by ABS doohickies.

Transformable Optimus Prime

ROTF Optimus Prime (Transformable !), originally uploaded by Noble Team.

This amazing truck by Noble Team on Flickr not only looks great, but can actually transform into Optimus Prime! How many people can say that about their lego cars! Both forms look awesome, and the transformation function makes this one of the best optimus models around.

Short Horn APC

Short Horn APC, originally uploaded by Malravion.

This APC by Malravion on Flickr is amazing in its detail and pleasing in its shape. The wheel technique looks great, as does the use of flexible axles to outline sections of the vehicle. It even has a detailed interior! I especially like the forward mounted turret and the two verticle black shapes built into the front. Altogether an amazing vehicle that I'm sure any military fan would love to have in their collection.

Be sure to check out Malravion's photostream for more awesome MOCs.

Corvette C2 Convertible

Ewok in Disguise has been busy and made this beautiful Miniland-scale Corvette C2.























Features include lots of details and a nifty windscreen.
Because that was not enough apparently (:S) he built an awesome decor to go with it.























Good job Ewok in Disguise!
.

Brickfair 2010: Day 2

Hello all, coming at ya with day two of Brickfair 2010. Fortunately/unfortunately your faithful fair correspondant was up too late at the running of the bulls to do a post this morning, but here it is. Lets skip the formality and cut to the business eh?

Find #5 Modulex Green House

Before the fair, I had never seen the fabled "Modulex" architechture bricks, but I must say I was taken aback by their miniscule size. Karyn Traphagen, beautifully utized them in this microsized plant house to create a scene with a unique feel. This model could be a possible winner for the "Best mega-micro

Find #6 Suncrest

Nathaniel Shields brought a large number of models to brickfair but out of all of them his Suncrest floating rock house stood out the most. Aside from the natural sense of "wow" one gets when you see a floating rock scene, nate's included some nifty details such as flying vehicles, an old cross, and birds nestled in greenery. Check out more pictures on his flickr stream.

Find #7 BZP Kopaka & Onua mosaic

Despite some initial difficulty, the BZPers came through with, not one but, two impressive mosaics. My favorite is the of the toa of ice as it truely does the art style of Carlos D'anda justice and perfectly recreates part of the iconic pose Toa Kopaka strikes in the very first comic.

Thanks for reading!

Brickfair 2010: Day 1

What up readers? Its cha boy Dablackcat here at Brickfair 2010!

As promised, here are pictures of some of the un-sung highlights of Brickfair. As we all know, what we see online is only a fraction of all the creations of the lego community. The other fraction ends up at conventions. Seeing as the goal of USB is to find these unknown builders, events like Brickfair naturally become the perfect place for scoping out new or unrecognized talent! So what did we (well just "I" I haven't found Tito yet....) find in day one?


Find #1: "Salt Water Aquarium"






First off is this impressive scene by the wife of Starbeanie. Underwater dioramas have always impressed me and the custom build fish and the rare technic scuba fig are nice features.

Find #2: "Normandy SR-1"





Of the few Normandy models I have seen, this has got to be the best. The technique used for the main body is amazing and feels very authentic. "Ktorrek", the creator, even made a M35 Mako tank to keep it company. Unless something bigger comes, this could be a possible winner for the SHIP or Sci-fi catagories. Check out more photos on his stream.

Find#3: "The Nautilus"







This impressive group of mircoscale ships, built by D. Sheffiler have great looking color scheme along with many turrets and missle tubes to boot. I especially like the usage of grilles on the sides of the battle ships in the front.





Find #4: D-Day Omaha Beach







Edward Dellarso's diorama of the storming of Omaha beach is quite action packed. Seriously, its amazing how many of those fire elements he was able to stuff in that room.









Well thats all for today! I now must embark on the slightly more difficult task of finding my fellow blogger among the masses. Enjoy!

Microscale to the Max!

Spaceships, originally uploaded by Ingraman.

These amazing Microscale ships by Ingraman on Flickr are simple exquisite. A perfect blend of smoothness with chunky, greebly parts, these could be life size and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. I usually hate backgrounds that aren't solid colors, but the photography here really works with the models and brings out the minute details. Excellent work!

Check out his photostream for more sweet stuff and a couple of awesome hardsuits!

Mech

Tigmon74 built this astounding Mech in honor of his brother currently on duty in Afghanistan, and boy is this tribute awesome.
The layout of this Mech is reminiscent of one of my favorite games - Mech Assault - the cockpit being located in the chest, the hunched shoulders with missiles on top. It all comes together for one amazing MOC. Check out this shot to see it in action!

Mech, originally uploaded by Tigmon74.

GHL Hovercraft

.Jake's new snazzy hovercraft is amzing. The tubing bellow is excellent, but the Plating in front really takes the cake for me. See this photo for a shot of the crate inside the hovercraft.

GHL Hovercraft - 3/4 w/ container, originally uploaded by .Jake.

"This bed is too small!"

"This bed is too small!"
Originally uploaded by Jameson42

I love Toy Story 3. For me, it was a more than a movie, but like the last chapter to a great book. I loved the first and second movies, and the third one really hit home. This particular MOC by Jameson42, well the usage of the Lotso figure is very creative, and the techniques used on the bed are just downright awesome. Well done Jameson, well done indeed.

-Alex

Red, White, and Blue

egatniv-44, originally uploaded by legodrome.

This stunning ship built by legodrome on flickr has one of the best and most unique shapes I've seen in a long time. The coloring is expertly done to match the printing on the wings (better seen here), and the effect looks awesome. The triple engines on each wing are also a nice touch. Be sure to check his photostream, 'cause he has some sweet stuff!

Crab anyone?

Bio-builders ~Blue Diamond~ & ~Reality~ have turned out some amazing Bionicle Ussal Crabs for display at Brickfair 2010. The reason for building these cute crustaceans was a request from popular & talented Bionicle MOCist ToM for builders to bring enough of the little buggers to fill a table. I look forward to seeing these guys along with all the other crabs and Bionicle creations that will be on display for the public's enjoyment/surprise/puzzlement. Who knows? I might even take a gander at the system stuff too :P.