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Cliff Modules

We are starting a new Cliff module standard that is designed to work with our ocean standard as well as our MILS Modules.

Here are a few images of various pieces that we have as well as how they can be combined:

Here’s the modules above placed together:

The height of the Cliff is 5 bricks (from a MILS) or 6 bricks from the ocean height.  On the connecting side, the cliff face must be on the 5th, 6th, or 7th stud from the front.  This breaks from the normal MILS type standard where the transition is generally in the middle, so we can have a full 8 stud deep building on top of the cliff.

Here is a step by step guide for creating the straight cliff module:

Here is a step by step guide for the convex corner which is on a 16×16 baseplate:

Here’s a step by step guide for a concave Cliff module:

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Bricks by the Bay 2021

Several Cactus Brick club members participated in the Lego convention, Bricks by the Bay, on June 18-20, 2021.  We held a contest for Lego Storyboard Films to help motivate people to produce additional content for our presentation.  We had 3 different entries for the contest:

JC’s Entry:   A Dragon Story

Peter’s Entry:  Grogu’s Big Adventure

Corey and Stephanie’s Entry:  King Ralph LXIV visits Maug

A special thanks goes to Peter for the great video work and to Jen for the great voice overs!

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Interesting Lego Links by Cactus Brick members

We are having a mini-contest for our club members to share their favorite Lego web pages.  

Michael S.’s Link

https://www.ikeahackers.net/2020/07/lego-ikea-bygglek.html

 

Victor’s Links

Lu Sim from the Philippines made a couple of really excellent 9 brick mechs and he also posted pictures of the inner frame structures that they use. You can use his frames as a good starting off point to make your mech. 

 
Since last meeting we briefly talked about the misprinted Lego pieces that have a “marbled” effect.
 
 
 

Ian’s Links

Jaws Boat
https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-38659/Arconoide/the-orca-jaws/#comments

Brick Separator spaceship
https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_hydromancer/31342357597/in/photostream

Total Effect Pieces
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/620441286143096235/
https://brickloft.org/post/156211572982/lego-alien-abduction
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonandmichelle/25285636997

 
Peter’s Links
 
 
Some good free vehicle and other MOC designs – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-_rafaedfpKrTFFUGlU5-g
 
 
Stephanie’s Links
 
 
How to Build a Beautiful Snowflake – LEGO Creator – DIY Holiday Building Tips
 
Brickmaker Rail Road sign
 
A very different tree design that I had used once and covered the leaves in flowers.
LEGO Oak Tree How To Tutorial
 
There is an actual photo sharing group on Flickr dedicated to LEGO techniques.
Flickr LEGO Techniques
 
LEGO bonsai Tree
 
Cardinal and Bluejay
 
Bricks by the Bay workshop parts list and some instructions
 
Lego Bird MOC (using the Creator set 31092)

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Bricks by the Bay 2020

We attended the Lego Fan based convention called Bricks by the Bay virtually this year. We had a one hour session where we presented some of what we’ve been doing while there hasn’t been any opportunity for display in a short video. We also talked about our trees and the landscaping standard that includes rivers, paths and oceans. We have detailed info on those on our club standards page.

Here’s the link to the video:

 https://youtu.be/3W89EAaVqIU

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Desert Ridge Marketplace X-mas Display

We will have a large Lego display at Desert Ridge Marketplace (next to California Pizza Kitchen) opening on Black Friday, Nov 29, 2019.  The display is open to the public for free on Black Friday, Saturdays and Sundays for 3 weekends.  The last day is Dec 15, 2019.  Our hours are:

        • Black Friday: 11AM – 8PM
        • Saturday: 11AM – 8PM
        • Sunday: 11AM – 6PM

We will have a large winter village, a city, Egyptian desert, trains, Wizard of OZ, Star Wars and a community build of a large Mosaic of London Bridge.

Sneak Peak of Winter Village

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Cypress Tree

Another tree we use is a cypress tree.

Step 21

The original design was created by Tim Gould and you can see his instructions at:

https://flic.kr/p/9ti34T

We modified the top of the tree to look a bit more even and we use 3 different heights by shortening the middle section from 10 stud lengths to 8 stud or even 6 stud lengths.

Here is a pdf version of the instructions:

cypress_instructions

Here are the instructions in images:

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Bricks by the Bay 2019

Five of our club members went to a Lego convention in Santa Clara, California called Bricks by the Bay. There were about 300 AFOLs (Adults Fan of Lego) attending and a little more than 3000 visitors on the public days.  We put together a 12.5′ x 25′ large City and Train layout. It won two prizes, Small Team Large Display award and the Best Landscaping for the Wizard of Oz scenes. Here are some pictures of that display:

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Phoenix Fan Fusion 2019 Display

We had a large area at Phoenix Fan Fusion 2019 (May 23rd – May 26th). The city/train layout was 12.5′ x 25′ and another similar sized area that included a moon base, misc models and lots of Star Wars. Here’s a bunch of pictures from the event: