Congratulations to Pablo Sánchez who is 11 badge holder of the 10K Club! This success was achieved with his latest projects called Claus Toys, The Lisbon Tram, and The Sewing Workshop. Let's see what is behind these models and a little more about Pablo aka Bricky_Brick.
Please do help us congratulate him in the comments down below!
ABOUT YOURSELF
- Who are you?
Hi! My name is Pablo Sánchez.
- Where are you from?
I'm From Madrid (Spain).
- How old are you?
39 years young
- What do you do for a living?
I'm a Camera operator and Director in some productions.
- What hobbies do you have?
My main hobby is LEGO, I suppose that as an AFOL it is now a hobby but also the toy with which I started, I have seen its evolution and it is unavoidable not to include it as a way of life. I am also passionate about photography, music, comics, cinema, bicycles, and travel among others.
- Do you have a personal LEGO portfolio website that you can share with us?
Yes, I try to take advantage of social networks, some more than others. In this case, I use Instagram to announce recent projects. I also have a small shelter on Facebook where from time to time I share something of what I am doing. And a YouTube channel. Still, I have to organize because there are many projects presented and it is difficult to promote all creations equally, day by day I add something to the portfolio and share it as long as it is not designing a new project. I think my best portfolio is currently on the LEGO Ideas website.
- Have you created any LEGO MOCs (my own creations) that you’re particularly proud of? What is it, why are you proud it and do you have a photo of it?
On other occasions, I have shown some digital models and I hope to be able to show more real models from now on. I have been preparing for some time to model two projects that will possibly see the light one day and I am giving all my time to it, I promise to show you something new soon, in the meantime, I will continue playing to find some technique to offer.
- How and when did your interest for LEGO come about?
My interest in LEGO was for a reason that now as an adult I understand. It gave me the possibility to create what I wanted, and that for a child is spectacular. I have not told it on other occasions but maybe it is time to open up a little more. These pieces for me were like my second parents. I have always mentioned my father as a banner and proof of this is the gratitude I owe to this company or great family that accepts the feedback of its clients in order to evolve and that only deserves an important detail. My sister was born with special needs and care that today she also needs and during my childhood, my parents could not attend to me at all hours although they tried to make the most of time with me. and LEGO was my refuge. The hours for a child are long if he is bored, and that is unforgivable. This gave me the ability to evolve, to create new things all the time, without stopping, without getting bored. Logically I did not think that when I was 6 years old, but today I can understand many things. I like this Legacy and I hope that minds that may fall into boredom before falling in love with creating something for themselves whether you are 5 or 80. LEGO is forever.
- What is LEGO for you? What does it mean for you? How does it fit in your life? E.g. build, display, meetups, play the games.. or 'just' watch the cartoons.
LEGO for me is an escape from difficult moments too, in which once inside LEGO, you can make it easy, it is a way of life, an expression of our mind reflected in bricks. Build asks you to display and then answer questions at a meeting, Somehow they are linked elements. In relation to video games, I think it is the part that gives it like since it is the way in which we see the minifigures move even if it is in a digital way it is compensated with the real construction.
- What is your favourite LEGO theme (current or past)? Why? And has any theme inspired your building style or preference in any particular way?
Without a doubt Space and Pirates. The themes I grew up with LEGO, with great mystery stories, challenges, and treasures from space or under the sand. My father liked the movies about pirates and cowboys and I liked to watch them with him. I suppose space is like discovering what is outside and how man makes ships to understand the mystery beyond the stars. One of the themes that inspires me a lot is the expert modular line. I used to design buildings but maybe is time for a Spaceship?
A theme that I am discovering late is Ninjago, I do not know how I could spend so much time without realizing the attractiveness of their sets. Especially the Bounty from the Ninjago Movie.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set ever? Why?
In the past: when I was a child 6990 Futuron monorail or 6399 Airport shuttle To put it in some way, it was my first LEGO train, even if it was a monorail and I liked that it was elevated over the city, I liked the sound that this engine made, the Futuron monorail had lights and you could add sound, it was a set Very complete with unique pieces nowadays discontinued. I would like to see those old pieces again
Nowadays there are many good sets, I really like The Ewok village, The Saturn rocket, the Old fishing store, The Assembly square among others, I think these three have a special design if we compare them with the aforementioned, it looks great evolution in techniques and new pieces to achieve those shapes, I would add the Ecto1 by Mike Psiaki, and Pirates of Barracuda Bay with Milan Madge and Austin Carlson, in which Milan applied amazing techniques to create the shapes of the ship.
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
All the pieces have their function, some more than others, to build I like the modified pieces 15444 and 32952 make a good team in my opinion. I also like 41682 2x2 brackets, the two-direction build model expands the possibilities of creativity. I also like clips and handle pieces.
- Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to? Who and why?
I think LEGO has the best in its teams, on other occasions I have mentioned some of my favorites such as Jamie Berard, Mike Psiaki, Milan Madge, Niels Pedersen, Marcos Bessa, Cesar Soares, Sam Johnson, Adam Grabowsky, Robert Heim among others. From the unofficial, there is a lot of talent in a lot of builders, very difficult to mention all.
The one that has most inspired me is perhaps Niels Pedersen, I grew up with his sets and prioritized that construction line, over time I was influenced by the use of modified bricks to build in two directions, and I saw that pattern in Marcos Bessa perfectly applied in the Ewok village.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO related websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
I usually visit Bricklink and Brickset a lot to know the existence of pieces, models, colors, news of new products, a chronology of the sets, ... Today there is a lot of information and generally saturated, but there are certain pages that maintain that journalistic vein and the love for its content.
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
Claus Toys
I love modular buildings and the LEGO line of winter sets and decided to unify it into a single concept. It is a risky project but I did not stay calm if I did not share it with the LEGO Ideas community. I think the feeling from the community has been very positive towards this model.
The Lisbon Tram
I really like European cities and have visited some of them. I have not been to Lisbon yet and I love reading its history and curiosities that led me to want to build this model. Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world and the oldest in Western Europe, ahead of Paris or London, or even Rome. If the data does not fail me, the trams were acquired in the United States and at that time they were called "the Americans." You just have to see its decorated walkways or its buildings filled with tiles forming patterns. A city that is beautiful in a pic view, I only imagine being able to experience its gastronomy or its culture. In short, I couldn't have Lisbon close by and I brought it closer to me in a LEGO way.
The Sewing Workshop
In my life, there are people I know close to the world of sewing and I have learned to value this union even more. Imagine the minifigures making clothes, weaving, searching for fabrics, drawing patterns, or sewing with an automatic machine. I thought it was fun and I decided to place them in a building that did not guarantee the 90-degree rules to integrate 4 independent walls leaving triangular spaces with another visual perspective relative to a frontal diorama.
- How long was the process of making the project did, 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?
Claus Toys
This one near three weeks, I was very inspired by this model, but first I was looking at where to place the minifigures. Would it be modular? would it be independent? What shape would it have and what pieces was it going to use? These are the phases that I apply 1-Idea 2-What is it going to be and who is it for? 3-Storm of sub-ideas 4-Discards 5-Unification of concepts 6-Pieces for of the scene 7-Construction 8-Postproduction.
The Lisbon Tram
This one near a month, but first I was looking at where to place the minifigures. Would it be modular? would it be independent? What shape would it have and what pieces was it going to use? These are the phases that I apply 1-Idea 2-What is it going to be and who is it for? 3-Storm of sub-ideas 4-Discards 5-Unification of concepts 6-Pieces for of the scene 7-Construction 8-Postproduction.
The Sewing Workshop
I think I remember that it took about two weeks to raise the building, but first I was looking at where to place the minifigures. Would it be modular? would it be independent? What shape would it have and what pieces was it going to use? These are the phases that I apply 1-Idea 2-What is it going to be and who is it for? 3-Storm of sub-ideas 4-Discards 5-Unification of concepts 6-Pieces for of the scene 7-Construction 8-Postproduction.
- What special challenges or frustrations did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
Claus Toys
Definitely the 45-degree gable roof. I must say that before I had looked at how Chris McVeigh had made the roof in LEGO Elf Club House (10275), in this case, the roof is placed at a different angle respecting the front image of the building as a whole.
The Lisbon Tram
I suppose that in this case and with this architectural ensemble it was to recreate a street that would unify some concepts of Lisbon. Regarding the construction, perhaps the most difficult part was the ground since I wanted to find a track width for the tram using pieces placed horizontally. A detail that I liked being able to include (thanks to the ease of the triangular pieces) is the flag of Lisbon on the sidewalk.
The Sewing Workshop
It was fun designing this building especially for the direction of the ground relative to the building and that was perhaps the challenge. But the most difficult part and with real headaches was making the spiral staircase in a modular and diagonal format.
- If you could talk to yourself before you started on this project, what would you tell him/her? What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
Claus Toys
Maybe I could have used fewer pieces for details and thus left pieces to be able to change them for another season of the year since in Lapland we not only see snowy landscapes. In spring its landscapes are spectacular.
The Lisbon Tram
In this case, I would have liked to include a canned sardine shop (a classic from Lisbon) instead of the electric bike rental shop, electric because Lisbon is not flat, and in this way, I could give more playability in the model, but even so, it is a thorn in the side not to have included that section.
And need to add that the one that worries me the most is that until a few years ago I used to excessively use pieces that were either discontinued or not integrated into the color palette, today I try not to use them, and if I do it is as a suggestion. That limits in some way certain shapes that can be acquired in the model.
The Sewing Workshop
The one that worries me the most is that until a few years ago I used to excessively use pieces that were either discontinued or not integrated into the color palette, today I try not to use them, and if I do it is as a suggestion. That limits in some way certain shapes that can be acquired in the model.
- 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?
Claus Toys
This model achieved its goal in about a month, really fast, and it took about a month to design it so the time here is balanced but not common.
The Lisbon Tram
This model achieved its goal in about a year and it took about a month to design it so time is unbalanced.
The Sewing Workshop
Adding the renders and texts, about a month, since in those days the renders took me longer than normal. Some projects take me longer. I don't normally think about whether it takes a long or little time to make the model, but how to use the time that is possible and the inspiration for it. It is usually unbalanced, It usually takes longer to get the acceptance of 10,000 supporters than to build the model. If my calculations do not fail about a year and 6 months, slowly and carefully.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
Very happy, as with every project that reaches 10k, happy not only for me but for the people I do not see and have taken their time to dedicate a few words or vote for the project.
Claus Toys
This model achieved its goal in about a month.
The Lisbon Tram
This model achieved its goal in about a year.
The Sewing Workshop
If my calculations do not fail about a year and 6 months, slowly and carefully.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
Claus Toys
This model is near 3000 pieces.
The Lisbon Tram
This model is near 3000 pieces.
The Sewing Workshop
I think this one is in the limit or near the 3000 pieces, with a lot of details.
- What is your favourite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
Claus Toys
Many techniques are known and used in recent years by professionals and fans of LEGO, I have only played with other colors and showing the techniques on the outside, such as the brackets that form lines on the wall of one of its facades. I also like the balconies made with modified 1x3 tiles and skeleton legs.
The Lisbon Tram
The part I like the most is the sidewalk and the small vault in the middle of the model.
The Sewing Workshop
Many of the techniques already exist, but perhaps the use of a diagonal pattern led me to increase the distance between the stud and the stud in millimeters, and those millimeters had to be adjusted. This is the case with spiral staircases.
- If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
I usually build digitally and use Studio2 and the renders in the same program, A couple of months ago I started using Blender, a fantastic tool for animation and realism of models.
- If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
I like prints more than stickers and from a digital starting point, it has its logic. When I build the building I do need the stickers to put them on the pieces and for that I use Photoshop.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas Product Idea?
Yes, being yourself, and creating something for yourself is a good start. The next step is that you like it and possibly there are people who follow you in your Idea.
- What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support to your Product Idea?
I use social networks like most creators. I would like to be able to publicize them through events but now we cannot have that so the methods of advertising the models are basically directed to social networks that are currently somewhat saturated.
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
The Apollo competes for the first time with The Pirates of Bahia Barracuda in my top 1. But I have to add that the building techniques of the Treehouse seem excellent to me as well as the work done in the Old Fishing Store.
There are many good ideas that deserve to be official, but I understand that it would be unfeasible to produce 100 LEGO Ideas a year to give an example, apart from licenses and other things.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
I find very good feedback between LEGO and customers. And just being able to share a creation that you value with a lot of people around the world is nice, you can comment on other creations and give your opinion since it is a very important part to work in a group and also leave the creative bubble that can sometimes be negative if we lock ourselves. This is only a part, the contest adds more fun and without realizing it, we can be in the top ten most voted creations. It is a platform that helps you to value yourself, to see that your work either as a hobby or profession can be rewarded by a lot of people who value you every time they click the support button.
- Do you have plans to submit any other Product Ideas in the future? If yes, can you give us a hint what that might be?
Today I have several ideas but none to design yet, so I guess it will be a while until the next project, best regards and many thanks to the LEGO Ideas community, see you soon.
By
Kamila9