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LEGO Ideas Missing ‘Hidden Figure’ explained?

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When the “Women of NASA” LEGO Ideas set was released, many wondered why Katherine Johnson was not featured, despite inclusion in the original submission….

To Celebrate International Women’s Day, Mattel has announced a number of Barbie Dolls based on real life, inspirational women. As well as Katherine Johnson, we also see Pioneer Aviatrix Amelia Earhart and Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo. Further global role models (16 in the initial series) will be rolled out over the coming months.

Does this explain why Ms Johnson’s likeness was not released to LEGO for the Women of NASA set? I’m not sure, but if plans were already in motion, I reckon it’s a better than even money chance. However, I am glad she has been made available as a role model for Children around the world.

Even if not in Minifigure form.

(Via geek wire)

Catching up on the Buildup to Christmas

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Day 3: do you see what I see?

This bright green gift is made of 24 pieces, including a 3×3 white plate. The model is not quite a cube: three studs Square at the base, would mean it should be six and a half plates tall. A selection of cheese wedges fashions an elegant bow on top.

The great thing about such a cuboid shape is that it provides a great opportunity to demonstrate the differences between using a typical wide angle lens such as that from a phone, and a 50mm lens.  

On the left, the image was captured using the telephoto ’50mm’ lens on an iPhone 7plus.  On the right, the standard wide angle lens was used. 

Do you see how the distortion is reduced when the ’50mmm lens is used?  It makes a huge difference in the shape of the model.  Food for thought, especially if you are planning to take some photos of you minifigure a in the wild, but not lug the SLR around.

Day 4: fauna.

Is it a puppy? Is it a monkey? This debate lasted for a whole day on some forums. I’m going with puppy. Such detail in 26 pieces. Even the tail moves.  I can see where the controversy lies: you may imagine a dog’s nose be set up more as sitting in the end of a snout, rather than on top of the jowls/ mouth like this. But the rest of the build suggests canine. Place your vote here.

 Until tomorrow….

play well.

Play on: LEGO City My City 2

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As I browsed through my mobile platform’s App Store recently I came across a LEGO game that was new to me, the somewhat awkwardly titled LEGO City My City 2.  Having missed both the placement of a colon and LEGO City My City 1, I had no idea of what to expect.

Perhaps more correctly LEGO City: My City 2, this is an app bundling various LEGO City  games for your favorite mobile platform.   Unless your favorite platform is Microsoft Mobile… If you prefer to play on desktop, you can find them here.  Th play experience is superior on the mobile platform, as the games are already loaded and ready to go!

Construction missions and Games are based around this year’s LEGO City Subthemes: Police, Prison Island, Fire, Airport and Volcano Explorers.  First you select a mission to complete – a number of bricks are required to be collected to complete these missions – building a new fire training facility, rebuilding an airport and so forth.  There are then a variety of mini games to play in order to gain studs.  Studs are gained by passing over them in the game field, completing the mission in the allocated time, and also a time  bonus.  Studs are converted to bricks at the end of a game.   The current exchange rate seems to be 10 studs to the brick.
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Vale Mixels: Six Lessons from Five Sets.

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Mixels: you either love them or hate them.

When these characters arrived, about three years ago, a lot of LEGO fans didn’t quite know what to make of them. Brightly coloured, with seemingly chaotic design initially, they have developed a reputation for disguising some advanced building techniques in what may otherwise consider a ‘weird, colour themed parts pack,’ with an attractive price tag.

img_7753Like Ninjago, Elves and Nexo Knights, I have not invested in the multimedia aspect of the series.  Mostly for time based reasons.  Other than some of the first wave, I haven’t focussed on Mixels at all in my collection.  I have picked up a few for parts, and sometimes it is obvious, looking at the parts for sale, when a BrickLink store has just broken down a new wave of these sets for stock.

So, I thought I would take a look at a random selection of characters from my local department store and see what they have to teach us.  I ended up with Tuth (41571) from wave 8, Compax (41574), Sweepz (41573), and Screeno (41578)  from wave 9. Unfortunately there were none of the Ninja inspired Wave Nine Mixel sets to be found at my local shop- having been and gone already.

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An introduction to the Rambling Brick

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Hi.

I’m an Adult Fan of Lego in Melbourne, Australia.

Very rarely I feel a need to speak to the Universe.

…The Universe is not obliged to listen.

Sometimes I get excited by things that others find mundane or old hat.

You know… those interesting little techniques that everyone else knows about, or that got tucked away in the corner of the instruction manual of a set that I thought was just awesome.  New pieces… perhaps not new to you, perhaps new to me.

Perhaps I will review a couple of sets.

Perhaps I will discuss photography. When do I need to step beyond a smartphone, torch and a piece of A4 paper?

Perhaps this will be my final post…

I have a family, a day (and occasionally night) job, a volunteer job and a dog.  I may not post often.