What better way to welcome in the week than with a new member of the 10K Club, and an extraordinary build? Meet Lumik and his LANCIA DELTA INTEGRALE 16V RALLY CAR (1990). Born of a desire to create a realistic RC car, Lumik has delivered above and beyond. Let us know if you love this as much as we do!
ABOUT YOURSELF
- Who are you?
Lumik.
- Where are you from?
Milan.
- What do you study or do for a living?
I’m a dad and husband, who works for a living.
- What hobbies do you have?
Playing music, boarding on all surfaces and photography.
- Have you created any LEGO MOCs (my own creations) that you’re particularly proud of? What is it, why are you proud of it and do you have a photo of it?
I am sure there were quite a few as a kid. I always took the sets apart and built new creations - mainly castles and cars, special purpose buildings and spaceships. This is the essence of the LEGO hobby for me: build, take apart, and build something new.
- How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
My dad brought LEGO sets home, probably as soon as he was sure that I had no intention to swallow the pieces. Only recently I realised that he is actually one of the early AFOLs!
- What is the LEGO hobby to you? What does it mean to you? How does it fit in your life? E.g. build, display, meetups, play the games or 'just' watch the cartoons.
LEGO bricks are a wonderful protagonist of my childhood. One of my very first memories was a vivid dream of a remote-controlled LEGO car - a red buggy - at a time when there was no such thing. I remember looking for it as I got up, under the bed, everywhere. I asked my parents where it was, and they looked at me confused and perhaps a bit concerned. Ever since I had this fantasy of building remote-controlled cars with LEGO elements. It combines engineering, design and the quest for improved performance with simple pieces.
- What is your favourite LEGO theme (current or past)? Why? And has any theme inspired your building style or preference in any particular way?
If I had to choose one; Castle and building fortresses. And Trains, Space and Pirates for most of my childhood, and of course Technic.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set ever? Why?
Impossible to pick one, so I’ll limit myself to a few:
(7740) 12V Intercity Train. It paints a smile on my face just to think about it! More importantly, it reminds me of the countless evenings my dad spent playing with me after work, no matter how tired he was. There were books such as the LEGO Train Ideas book (7777), which inspired theme-related constructions. All the scenarios I built and the stories I created around it, the never-ending challenge of building bridges to raise the rail track. The 12V system was fantastic!(6080) Castle. “The” castle. All it’s minifigures I have on display as I write this. So many battles and memories!
(6990) The mythical space monorail, notable for how it captured the imagination!
(8660) LEGO Technic Arctic Rescue Unit - so much fun in the snow. The Technic figures were great for playability. It would be nice to have them back some day!
Last but not least, the classic car series from the mid-70s (390, 391, 395) make every collector's heart beat faster!
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
It has to be the 12V light brick from the 80’s (ex. 4 Lighting Standards Electric 12V Set 7867). Amazing how it lit up my creativity. I would use them for everything I built. The light was wonderful, as was the quality and durability.One brick I felt was missing, when building the car, was the Lego slope 2x2 curved corner piece. If I may add, I would also wish that LEGO Technic wheels would be proportioned like real-life car wheels - in other words, narrower and with hollow rims where the pivot is closer to the outside, allowing for better turning.
- Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to? Who and why?
A few years ago I came across some books published by Sariel. Based on those I came across Sheepo and his incredible builds, among others: Land Rover, well ahead of its time. I was awestruck by the ingenuity behind it. Their inspiration played a role in realising my Lancia.From the LEGO Ideas community I would like to mention 10K member Alexandre Rossier. I can identify with his attention to detail and the photorealistic looks of his MOCs.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO related websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
Just imagine that I found out about LEGO Ideas while my Lancia was well on the way! I guess that says it all.
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I wanted to build an RC car, meaning some space was needed to fit the technic that goes with it. I also wanted to build a model that was as realistic as possible, one where people would have to look twice to realise it was actually made entirely out of LEGO bricks. And it had to be an iconic car too. The Lancia Delta ticked all these boxes.
- How long was the process of making the project, and what did you have to research as well. What kind of prep, research and design phases did you go through to produce your creation?
The process, especially the building, took much longer than I would have ever thought. I enjoyed the research that went into it, the history and anecdotes, and the search for pictures to reproduce every detail, including the interior. I discovered some small bookshops I would have otherwise never stumbled upon.
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
Challenges and frustrations went hand-in-hand. I rebuilt most parts, especially the functioning ones such as suspensions and steering, several times. All the technical functions had to be reduced to fit, without affecting the exterior.The secret to its good looks lies in the proportions - these had to be respected regardless. I experimented with several building techniques to keep the body studless, the roof being a good example. The curves around the mudguards were one of the most critical parts.
The picture (03.04.2020) I chose to include captures a moment where, as I had serious doubts about any perspective of finishing my MOC, I decided to improvise a chassis with simple white panels. The result was so unexpectedly pleasing that I persevered.
- If you could talk to yourself before you started on this project, what would you tell them? What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
I did not realise how ambitious this project was; how much time, energy and resources it would take. I am proud of my MOC because of the countless challenges I had to overcome to finish it.One lesson I have learnt is that, often, when things got stuck and I would dwindle in increasingly complicated attempts, hitting a wall, the next morning a simple and elegant solution would appear out of the blue.
- How long did it take to complete the model? Did you finish it fairly quickly, or did it take a long time? And how did the build time compare to the time you spent promoting your Product Idea to reach 10,000 supporters?
The core of the building took about 15 months.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
I missed the moment by a few days. Eventually, the model started living a life of its own, appearing in blogs in all sorts of languages, and the developed momentum surprised me. I am glad it took over 600 days, as it was an enjoyable time, and I am glad it made it without much advertising.I hereby want to thank everyone who left a comment, voted and showed support for my project, whether on LEGO Ideas or elsewhere!
The many comments from people in disbelief that my Lancia was actually built with Lego made me feel like I achieved my original goal.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
Approximately 2650.
- What is your favourite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
Trial and error. All building techniques I could come up with. Combining standard pieces with Technic ones, new pieces with very old ones.
- If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
It was built the old-fashioned way. For me, it's paramount that playing with LEGO is a way to stay away from the screens that took over too many aspects of our life.
- If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
The stickers alone took over a month. Some I found online, the majority were customised or created ad-hoc by using a graphic programme. I then printed them on transparent sticker paper, which took several attempts to get the colours right; they were then sprayed with a transparent protective varnish, cut and applied. For all the sticker fans out there, the finished model sports over 80 of them.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas project?
Use software to design it; you’ll have infinite pieces of all colours and shapes. You’ll have renders and, at the end, you’ll even have instructions for it.A bright, creative and innovative Idea certainly helps too, as do products, as I found out, that can count on a large fan basis.
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
I would opt for the LEGO Old Fishing Store (21310), there is a harmony about it that is difficult to put into words, but makes it a pretty perfect set.Of course, the Medieval Blacksmith (21325) was a must for me. I was however slightly disappointed that the final product wasn’t quite as pleasing as the creator’s original.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
I love the creativity on display and the spirit of the community. It is a pool of outstanding talent.Uploading ideas is easy and great fun, and one can count on a very supportive community. My advice would be to just do it!
- Do you have plans to submit any other Product Ideas in the future? If yes, can you give us a hint of what that might be?
Temptation is always around the corner. Maybe a red RC Buggy?
