Shave and a Haircut

This is my second attempt at a vignette. This time, it is a standard 8×8 plate.

What started it: I really don’t know what made me think of a barbershop. As soon as I became interested in making a vignette, even before the dinosaur wash, I knew I was going to eventually build a minifigure getting a haircut.

What I like and don’t like about it: I was reminded that building on such a small stage is a challenge. I enjoy a challenge. I wanted to build a more detailed barber chair, but discovered I couldn’t get the details I wanted and keep the scale. (Plus the fact that minifigures don’t have knees.) I wanted to give the barber a mohawk, but couldn’t figure out how. I wanted to build a barber pole, but couldn’t figure out how. I wanted to construct a pair of scissors, but couldn’t figure out how. I like what I came up with. I like it a lot.

Hazardous Environment Suit

This is what to wear when heavy lifting is required, and the environment is less than pleasant.

What started it: That gatekeeper in the movie Labyrinth- the one with the memorable line: “Who goes?” That’s what I envisioned, but a more industrial, friendlier version. Originally, I envisioned this being a lot bigger. The “body” as it is now was going to be just the control booth for a much bigger “body.” It was going to have jointed arms and legs. I wasn’t sure how I was going to build the joints, or if I’d have enough pieces to build it all, but I was going to work something out. Then, as I was almost finished with the control booth, I remembered that I had a parts from several of the Technic Throwbot sets. I decided to go simply with the pre-built limbs. I built this immediately after the hot rod of the future.

What I like about it: I wanted to have a multiple-part door than would open up to reveal a much larger door, and this turned out to be much better than I had envisioned. I like that the three sections of the door have to be opened in a specific order, and they have to close in the opposite order, or they won’t work. I surprised myself there.

What I don’t like: I hadn’t planned on it having a “face.” That just happened. If I had known that the control booth would become the body, I wouldn’t have made it so boxy. Also, I couldn’t quite work out a strong method of securing the limbs to the body – the shoulders have a tendency to fall off.

Hot Rod of the Future

This is a cutting-edge, electric hot rod, built for racing. The motor is behind the driver’s seat, and the batteries are behind the motor, and also beneath the driver’s seat.

How it started: I started snapping pieces together, experimenting with ways they can fit together. I’ve never completely planned out any of my creations, except for vague ideas of what I’m going for. All of my creations have been improvisations – some more than others. I had no idea what I was looking for when I started this thing. It took shape as it went along.

What I like about it: As I realized that I was building another vehicle, I wanted to avoid using the obvious curved windshield and do something unexpected. That windshield looked like it fit perfectly, however, so I went with it. Even though I’m not completely satisfied with this creation, building it was full of challenges – figuring out different angles, and how to fit them together, and how to fit them together securely and firmly – and I had a lot of fun puzzling it out.

What I’m not thrilled with: I seem to have a problem with designing the back ends of cars. In an earlier version, the back end of this one was a lot thicker and heavier. It looked even more like a delivery van than it does now. I wanted the back end to be as light as the front, but that curved windshield presented a set of problems. It required that the roof be placed over the pointed motor, and the roof had to be somehow secured to the only two pegs on the back, and it had to secured strong enough to stay put when the windshield is lifted. So the back end is heavy-looking, but it is strong.

Dinosaur Wash

After a busy day, every dinosaur needs to be washed and fed.

What started it: I’ve been reading about the art of the Lego Vignette, so I decided to try making one myself. A standard vignette is done on an 8×8 base. In order build my dinosaur wash, I had to use a 16×16 base, which officially makes it a “Bignette.” It’s my first attempt, though. I will try to build something truer to the art in the future.

What I like about it: I think it turned out well. I hadn’t thought of the hose when I envisioned this, and it was a last minute addition, but I like it.

What I don’t like so much: I’m not completely satisfied with the spilled water and soap effect, and I wanted to somehow make soap suds on the dinosaur, but I just couldn’t figure that part out.

Espresso Shop

OK, Phillip, here it is. My first “building,” although I suppose it’s more of a “scene” than “architecture.” It’s my crowded espresso shop, built to the proper scale. Judging by the clientele, it seems to be a combination leather bar and underage wizard hang-out. Oh, and there’s a cowboy in the corner.

How it started: Like I wrote in the previous post, Phillip wanted me to stop building vehicles and build a building. I immediately decided I wanted to build an espresso shop. I had that huge curved green plate and knew it was going to be a corner shop. I had originally envisioned a more enclosed building with people inside, but it quickly evolved into an interior space with a hint of the exterior.

What I like about it: As I added the red and black accents to the walls, I began to worry that it was looking more like a candy store than an espresso shop. Once I added the tables and the espresso machine, I think it really does look like a place to go get a latte. I like the laptop in the corner. (I knew the place would have to have at least one laptop computer.) I think the espresso machine turned out well, even at the smaller scale. I especially like the way the espresso cups turned out.

What I don’t like so much: I really struggled to find a way to make the chairs. I wanted typical, four-legged, straight-backed chairs, and just couldn’t figure it out. I settled on a more trendy, Ikea-type seating. Considering the fancy red and black highlighted walls, maybe the trendy seats suit it better. I wanted to continue the black-and-white tile pattern throughout the shop, and I wanted a more “espresso”-looking sign out front, but I go with what I got, and that’s what makes it fun.