I have to thank Matt Dawson for the contents of this post. He is clearing out his collection a bit and e-mailed me to see if I'd like to take some of it off his hands. The item in question was a Lego model of a VW Splitscreen campervan.
Of course I aid yeas and on Monday, we met up in central Brum where this marvellous vehicle became mine.
The kit was produced by Lego earlier in the year. It's a serious model made up of 1334 pieces and requires 2 A4 sized instruction books to show the potential owner how to build the the model. Matt had been through this, saving me several hours. Admittedly, by the time I got the model home, I had to re-read some of the diagrams to repair the damage boxing and carrying the van had caused. I'll be honest and admit that one day, I'm going to have to take the model to pieces completely and build it myself. That can wait until I have a spare weekend. In the meantime, I'll just enjoy Mr Dawson's handiwork
Designing this model must have been a heck of a challenge. A VW isn't a simple, Lego-friendly box. There are lots of curves to contented with. The designer obviously wanted to go to town too so we get a pop-top roof and all the doors open. There's even a little engine in the back!
Inside, a rock'n'roll bed can be made from one of the seats. The wardrobe opens to reveal a t-short bearing the legend "Make Lego models , not war". Details including hairbrushes, lava lamp and wine glasses are included to make your campers feel at home.
Now, I've often through that being a professional Lego builder must be a dream job. Spending all day assembling fantastic structure from little plastic bricks just sounds fun. I bet though, that like any job, much of it is dull and repetitive. Yes, there is the joy at seeing a giant advent calendar on display at Covent Garden in London, but I bet most of the work involves planning out the project, estimating the bricks required and costing how long it's going to take to build.
8 comments:
Glad you got hold of one! It's a seriously clever piece of Lego engineering, but if you read up on the geometry of Lego pieces you realise that no "cheating" is needed to make it work. I believe that it was originally a fan-made design that was adopted as an official kit.
I've had thoughts of rebuilding mine as right-hand drive but haven't knuckled down and attempted it yet.
It's is a brilliantly clever design. Putting the steering wheel on the correct side had crossed my mind too. It's a bit harder than it looks and the side doors need to move which means the interior has to be swapped around. Do-able though. Maybe one day.
I would love to see that modificaiton--maybe if I troll around the interent, I could find it.
Any way you slice it, Lego is a pretty cool toy--just in time for Christmas.
I have become fond of Nanoblocks myself--smaller than lego, so a good chance for more detailed work.
In think there is or used to be a piece of software that lets you do a lot the tedious design work. I know I used one to design a Sentinel loco a few years ago, which might have been Ldraw
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbofin/8257445521/
Love the gingham curtains-did you run them up yourself or are they included?
That's pure Denmark gingham Neil. All the way from Legoland, or at least the box the kit came in according to the instructions.
The conversion to RH drive wouldn't be too hard. The doors would only need the white plates near the window swapped sides (and the mirror turned the right way), but you'd have to disassemble the front of the vehicle to get at the gear stick and pedals. The dashboard you'd simply mirror the instructions rather than follow them.
Of course, if you wanted it RH drive, I could've modified it for you before you took ownership!
Not the cab doors, the side doors Matt. They are on the other side of a RHS vehicle so you don't emerge into the middle of the road in the UK (and Japan and Australia).
And even if I had know about the conversion, you don't think I'd have let have ALL the fun do you?
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