Tag: engineering

Posted on in Uncategorized

MOC Starship X-18

My own creation is a near exact replica of the X-15 starship from the Buzz Lightyear theme. The X-15 was my favorite set from 2023 and I had the vision for a militant version, the X-18, almost immediately.

The 75346 LEGO Star Wars Pirate Snub Fighter served as the initial inspiration as it included the same canopy as the original but in a trans-dark grey instead of the trans-yellow. The trans-yellow windscreen like we see in the Classic Space theme is fun for sci-fi but dark grey brings some maturity to the ship. The Snub fighter contained plenty of useful pieces for the replica but many more pieces were needed to complete the build. A few pieces I was able to pull from my personal collection but most used were ordered separately from Bricklinks.com. One of the Bricklinks.com orders went missing in transit and took time to replace. Details were critical, getting the color scheme right was a challenge. I like how the darker grey pieces contrast slightly with the light grey and make the ship pop. They also add some authenticity as many military planes are not simply monotone grey. The decals on the wings were purchased from Brickmania in Schaumburg, IL and are intended for use on a US Harrier jump jet.

The pictures below contain side-by-sides of the original build with my own creation. The first few contain images without weapons showcasing the similarities between the two machines. Later images contain the weaponized version with 6 spring loaded missiles on the tips of the wings as well as two large guns mounted on the sides of the engines. The last image contains the custom pilot.

Posted on in Star Wars Sets

Best Lego Star Wars Helmet

#75304
834 Pieces
Ages 18+
$79.99

Design   *****
Build   *****
Cost    **
Playability *

The Darth Vader helmet is a must have for anyone collecting the Star Wars helmets. Darth Vader is known as the baddest of the bad and so is this build when complete and on the top shelf where it belongs. A lot of expert building techniques and clever piece usage help this set earn full points in design and build. These complicated techniques, lack of function, high price tag, and no minifig in sight means it scores low for Cost and Playability.

What I like most about this set are the details used to make the iconic face mask. Plenty of curved, sloped and rigid pieces are held in place by cleverly spaced studs under the eyes and on the jowls, as well as rods and clips which hold in place the eyes and jaw.

I have not decided if I will begin collecting the helmets or not. They are expensive and offer limited fields of play. While building the helmet, however, I couldn’t help but think the solid base and connecting stem inside the helmet would make an exceptional stand for a larger airplane or space ship.

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