Umbra-Manis (2024)

06/01/2024

Another little Christmas build, originally built during the DigiLUG Christmas party, then delayed for a while as the render was giving me a bit of trouble. (This dome part from Trolls has a frosted texture, which made everything inside indecipherable)

04/01/2024

Another year in the books! I also hit 500 Flickr followers this year, so thanks to all of you! Celebratory build to come eventually...

My output this year skewed heavily towards sci-fi, especially thanks to my year long project of speeders in retired colors (I've featured 3 of them here). I'm planning a group shot with all 12 here in the near future as well.

My favorite build this year would probably have to be my SHIPtember entry, the RTSS Chiltepin, as I'm very happy with how everything came together on that build.

Some common build themes for me made a return, namely Tron & M-Tron. No Blacktron this year but I'm sure it will make an appearance next year.

Many a project remains a WiP, we'll see if any of them make it out for 2024!

01/01/2024

Thanks to the advent of large drone deployment centers, Santa no longer needs the cargo capacity of the full sleigh, only the speed. This is where the Tinsel-600 Model Sleigh Speeder comes in, featuring maximum speed and maneuverability for old Kris Kringle. He can easily select the target house, aim, and the selected present is deployed from the nearest drone ship.

This is the 12th and final entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Rust, Gold, Metallic White, & Bright Violet.

Thank you to everyone who has followed this series of models this year, it's been a great motivator to keep building something small every month, as well as experiment with colors I never would have used before!

30/11/2023

Sometimes it's all about retro style in the hover-lanes.

This is the 11th entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Bright Yellowish Orange, Earth Orange, Dark Grey, Brown, Silver and Transparent Fluorescent Blue.

17/11/2023

Delivering only the most important of documents and goods throughout the towering heights of the city of Aetheria, this courier weaves through the clouds with ease!

This is the 10th entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Medium Red, Dark Royal Blue, Dark Grey, Medium Green, Gold and Transparent Fluorescent Blue.

09/11/2023

For quickly moving cargo around docks, cargo bays, and more, turn to the Hexadic Hauler! The latest development in M-Tron technology is here to increase efficiency fourfold galaxy-wide!

Dipping back into the well of M-Tron for some little transport fun!

29/10/2023

Even the simulations are no refuge for those who have made powerful enemies. Small speeders such as this one allow assassins to appear and disappear with shocking speed and silence.

This is the 9th entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Bright Reddish Lilac, Silver, Dark Grey, and Rust.

06/10/2023

The RTSS Chiltepin, a long range resupply vessel of the Republic of Texas. An armament of two forward batteries, two side batteries, and a forward accelerator cannon serve to defend against any solar rim threats who would intercept cargo bound for mining operations. A squadron of fighters remains ready inside, with docks on either side of the bridge for quick deployment.

SHIPtember 2023, what an experience! I originally didn't think I'd have time to participate, but all of Space Kook's talk about Republic of Texas spaceships got my gears rolling. The Texas flag containers were built in a day around the start of the month, and then everything else happened in the last 6 days of the month, except the renders which needed more time. I didn't end up getting the underside finished, but it's got a solid frame in there, despite being digital. For those curious, a Chiltepin is the official native pepper of Texas, and I thought it was fitting with the orange containers.

31/08/2023

Barriers constructed in the desert wastes stand no chance when you have the power of the Wasteland Rhino!

This is the 8th entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Sand Violet, Dark Grey, Rust, Brown, Copper & Speckled Copper (Copper, Diffuse).

09/08/2023

In a future where space travel and colonies have become commonplace, many colonies have museums dedicated to the explorers who came before. This particular exhibit in the Titan Museum of Space Exploration honors the very first explorers who left earth to settle beyond the safety of it's warm atmosphere. Residents and travelers alike frequent the museum, observing space suits, models of space craft, and replicas of early robot assistants.

The 3 areas of the exhibit include Classic Space suits, micro-vehicles, and robots. The surrounding museum area also has a cleaning robot, which can be stored on the ceiling area.

For the current Lego Ideas challenge I wanted to go beyond just making a MOC within the Classic Space aesthetic, setting it in a future where Classic Space astronauts were the daring pioneers. This model is presented digitally, but is comprised entirely of existing parts. (Although letter tiles are very expensive).

02/08/2023

After the fall of the Empire at Endor, a great many surplus imperial units became available to the galactic citizenry. Some, like these Mouse droids, were used for transportation.

23/07/2023

Operable on land or underwater, the Nykra Alpha series is a reliable workhorse for single operator transport.

This is the 7th entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Royal Blue, Dark Grey, Transparent Fluorescent Yellow, & Sand Red.

30/06/2023

4 vectored engines, forward blasters, and a side mounted seat. It's go time.

This is the 6th entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Dove Blue, Dark Grey, & Sand Blue Metallic.

16/06/2023

I've revised my memories camera model, now featuring a wider variety of subjects than the family centric model from the original!

Snapshot Memories is live now on Lego Ideas, and needs your support!

https://ideas.lego.com/s/p:237191c097c04e2183ba0452ea8214d0

This model is made up of 446 parts, and features the main vintage style camera and four interchangeable vignettes. The vignettes are: Anniversary Dance, Birthday Thrills, Mountain Sunset, & The Height of Pet Luxury.
Camera Features Include:
Opening Back Panel
Removable Film Canister
3 Moving Switches & K***s
Removable Lens
Sliding tracks to easily switch between models inside the camera

18/05/2023

The fastest ride you can buy with limited fine motor skills and vocabulary!

This is the 5th entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Medium Green, Dark Grey, Light Grey, & Transparent Fluorescent Yellow.

11/05/2023

S H A D O W

01/05/2023

TRON HoverPod Transport System

Individual transports pass quickly above the streets of the grid, suspended by the series of propulsion rings, while still allowing for plenty of pedestrian program traffic below.

19/04/2023

When the open streets call for cape-whippingly fast speed, turn to the Citor-IV, latest entry into the Citor family of hover bikes.

This is the 4th entry in my monthly series of speeders built using retired (legacy) Lego colors. This model uses Bright Bluish Violet, Earth Orange, Dark Grey, Rust, and Sand Red.

17/03/2023

Night time means race time in the city, and this bike, known as "Fuchsyntha" has been on the cops' "Unable to Catch" list for quite a while.

This is the third installment in my monthly series of Legacy Color Speeders, as this build uses Bright Violet, Dark Grey, and Dark Royal Blue. (The background is made of current colors for aesthetic reasons).

15/03/2023

An extra image of my recent microscale build, Exeter Tower, that wouldn't fit in the previous post due to conflicting aspect ratios.

https://mecabricks.com/en/models/LyjWOOWpjJr

12/03/2023

A futuristic microscale building I finished a while ago. Might make more of a city at some point. Secondary view will be in another post because instagram hates different aspect ratios.

(Yes, the name is a reference)

24/02/2023

Crossing the white chocolate plains with protection from egg cannons! I couldn't make a rabbit rover without making a chocolate version eventually.

18/02/2023

The Optimal-Speed Highly Irradiated Transport is designed to quickly move radioactive cargo and waste from point to point, keeping the cargo cool thanks an onboard coolant system. No lifeforms are at risk, thanks to the advanced robot pilot.

This is the second installment in my monthly series of Legacy Color Speeders, as this build uses Grey, Dark Grey, Sand Violet, Bright Yellowish Orange, Dark Royal Blue, Trans Fl. Yellow, and Green Phosphorescent.

Mecabricks: https://mecabricks.com/en/models/VzvMqBMGvJp

14/02/2023

Bringing action to the bottom of the sea with some Atlantis themed action!

This is closer to what the original intent was for the Rabbit Rover frame, now with a large O2 tank and lots of lighting suitable for the depths.

https://mecabricks.com/en/models/Jk2EW70Zv9A

05/02/2023

Armed with 3 Carrot Cannons, this modern rover is prepared to traverse any hazard on Gardenius VII!

I wasn't trying to make a rabbit-themed rover for , it just kind of happened when the rear structures looked like ears and the crate became a head. So here we are!

3D View: https://mecabricks.com/en/models/0DvYN3Gba9e

18/01/2023

Cruising across the desert, she's a rusty old bike, but as long as the engine runs she'll get you there in one piece.

The first entry in my 2022 project to build a speeder every month for using legacy (retired) Lego Colors. Exceptions for minifigure parts and prints.

3D View: https://mecabricks.com/en/models/7X2Rn09G2ZY

14/01/2023

I've been working on lots of new speeders that aren't ready quite yet, so here's a Flashback to an older design!

Umbra-Manis