If you want proof that dreams can come true, then you should meet Aaron Hall (also known as CTDPower) the fan designer of the LEGO® Ideas River Steamboat.
A childhood lover of LEGO sets with experience in computer aided design and architectural design, he turned to making his own creations in his spare time.
“Building LEGO sets is probably my strongest childhood memory. There isn’t a Christmas or birthday where a LEGO set wasn’t topping my wish list. One of the first big sets I really remember dreaming about was the LEGO Pirates: Black Seas Barracuda. I was very surprised when I got it that year!”
Little did Aaron know at the time, but one day he would get another LEGO set based on a boat, only this time he would be the one who designed it.
The model that Aaron submitted to LEGO Ideas and for which he achieved 10,000 supporters is based on the iconic river paddle steamer, the kind of boat that once chugged up and down mighty rivers around the world.
And while many of us might dream of one day seeing one of these boats for ourselves, for Aaron it’s a regular occurrence.
“I see them on the Mississippi River, which runs right past my hometown, and I’ve taken a few tourist rides on paddle wheels in the past. Coincidentally, my office is actually on a retired side-wheeler paddle ship that has been converted into a floating barge.”
So, the inspiration for the set was around him almost every day.
But it’s one thing thinking that something might make a good LEGO set and a whole other thing actually designing that.
When he hit upon the idea, where did Aaron start?
“Typically, when I design a model, I already know the scale I’m going for (Minifigure scale is my favourite), so the next thing I do is imagine what the hardest part of the model will be to recreate in that scale, given the elements I have available. Once I had that area of the model worked out. I then designed the rest around it. For the River Steamboat, there was no problem area really, so I sort of created one by deciding to use boat hull elements to pay homage to the old pirate ship theme. I used those as the base and designed up from there.”
Good to see all those childhood hours playing pirates with the Black Seas Barracuda were put to excellent use!
After that though, the real work started, and asked if Aaron did much research into this unique vessel.
“I did lots of research! I really wanted to make the model as accurate as possible, so it could be enjoyed by even the most critical of nautical enthusiasts.”
And like for any design, the desire to be authentic while working within the limitations of LEGO bricks often throws up challenges.
“The real challenge was trying to keep the proportions and scale accurate, while also keeping it playable for Minifigures. Everyone knows LEGO Minifigures aren’t strictly proportionally accurate, so designing models for them that also look real-world accurate is always a challenge.”
Well, it’s a challenge he clearly overcame. The LEGO® Ideas River Steamboat perfectly captures the look of that distinct style of craft, and it is that look that Aaron believes has led to its continued popularity.
“There’s no other ship that looks like a paddle wheel. People may not know the history, but one look at a paddle wheel and you know you are looking at something that has stood the test of time and is still making its way up and down the river.”
After the success of the River Steamboat we wondered if there were any other models on his radar (or perhaps that should be in his telescope).
“Having my set chosen for production by the LEGO Group has been a dream come true. A dream that I’ve had since I was a little boy. But it’s also a childhood dream that should come true for others. So, although being chosen a second time would be an honour, I will likely not pursue it at this time. I will, however, still participate in activities and challenges. This has been such a huge accomplishment, and I am very grateful for the entire experience.”
If you want to know more how we prepared Aaron’s design for production, then check out our interview with LEGO Ideas designer Marina Stampoli…
Discover how the LEGO Ideas designer worked with Aarons design to make this set a reality.
By
MexMittens