DJing is an artform and all music fans will appreciate this detailed and accurate LEGO model mixer. Tomasso’s PIONEER_CDJ_2000_NEXUS_MULTI_PLAYER has reached the big 10K, so join the (fan)club and show your support in the comments!
ABOUT YOURSELF
- What is your name?
My name is Tamás Borján.
- Where are you from?
I’m from Hungary.
- Have you created any LEGO MOCs (my own creations) that you’re particularly proud of? What is it, why are you proud of it?
I think I’m most proud of this Pioneer CDJ build, because I managed to incorporate a lot of interesting working features, while keeping it nice and clean. It got a lot of positive feedback throughout this nearly one-year period, so I’m very happy with it overall.
- How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
It dates way back. As I remember, it all started with the dumper set (6535) I got as a child. I fell in love with LEGO building, and I usually asked for LEGO sets as presents from my parents.
- What does the LEGO hobby mean to you? How does it fit into your life?
LEGO building is about creating something of your own. As a child, I used LEGO bricks to create things I didn’t have, or things I dreamt of, like cars, houses, tools, planes, and spaceships. Nowadays, I use LEGO bricks to depict anything that I like. Sometimes I see something, and I immediately start thinking about how I would make it with LEGO bricks! I also like to display gadgets on my shelves, and it’s really satisfying to show stuff I created myself.
- What is your favorite LEGO theme (current or past)? Why? And has any theme inspired your building style or preference in any particular way?
I completely fell in love with a lot of themes as a child. I loved Pirates, Western, Rock Raiders, and the Adventures with the dinosaurs. But my favorite theme ever is Star Wars. I’m obsessed with the Star Wars universe! As to what inspired my building style, I think that is the Icons sets. And for this particular model, I got a lot of inspiration from the Nintendo set.
- What is your favorite official LEGO set ever? Why?
The UCS Millennium Falcon (75192). It’s my favorite ship from Star Wars, and I always wanted to have that set. I finally got it as a present from my wife for my 30th birthday. In addition, it happened at our wedding! So that was a happy day in many ways!
- What is your favorite LEGO element? Why?
I think my favorites are brackets. I like how I’m able to switch sides using those elements. They open up a lot of opportunities to use bricks differently and interestingly.
- Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to? Who and why?
To be honest, I look up to the whole LEGO team. They do an incredible job. I’m very impressed with the work of Hans Burkhard Schlömer and César Carvalhosa Soares. I’ve learned a lot from their bigger Star Wars model designs. The work of Leon Pijnenburg is also a great inspiration to me, because I loved the Nintendo and the City Downtown sets. Also, James May did a very good job with the Ideas Typewriter and the Polaroid Camera. From time to time, I go back and check their solutions when I need some inspiration.
From the fan designers, I also look up to some great people. I find the work of Zachary Steinman really nice, and I love what Jürgen Wittner is creating with Star Wars models. And when it comes to people who often show up on Ideas, I’m impressed with the work of Hachiroku24 and legotruman. They do very professional builds.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
I mostly use Instagram for this purpose, to be honest. I dive into it and try to find the most creative people that inspire me. I love this community, because there is a very supportive atmosphere when it comes to LEGO builds. There are a lot of pages, like Beyond the Brick, that reshare nice designs and help to put people’s work in front of a wider audience.
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
For several years, I was in a DJ duo called Drop The Cheese. During that time, I learned how to use DJ players and mixers, and got familiar with those tools. Years later, I thought I would create a present for my former DJ colleague and friend, so I designed a Pioneer CDJ 2000 Nexus. It was a smaller one at that time, but I realized that this is something both the DJ and the LEGO communities would enjoy. So, I designed a bigger one, with even more features and details. And this build was born!
- How long did the process of making the project take and what did you have to research?
It took me three months. First, I created a smaller version, then started to do tests with real bricks to see what techniques worked best. Slowly, after a few redesigns, it got its current shape. I looked at many photos and videos to study how the real counterpart looks and works, but I was also able to use my memories from when I used to work with such a tool.
- What special challenges did you face creating the model?
I had several headaches during the creation of the scratching mechanism! That is when you spin the jogwheel and the waveform is sliding on the LED panel. A lot of things had to work, and I made it even harder because I wanted the LED panel to be easily removable, so that the other LED panel could be inserted in its place. I created a lot of challenges for myself!
- 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?
I would tell myself not to try the smaller chain elements, and to go for the bigger ones first!
- How long did it take to complete the modeland for your Product Idea to reach 10,000 supporters?
The whole planning, design and building process took about three months.
Promotion was another challenge. I spent a lot of time rendering the best possible 3D renders and creating 3D animations. Then I had to learn some techniques to make good quality photos and videos of the real build. I spent days in a dark room adjusting some light sources and clicking the camera! I also tried to come up with interesting and funny content to make sure it reached the desired audience. I even designed a few other DJ-related builds during the promotion, such as a mixer that nicely completes the DJ booth.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes?
It was just amazing! A dream come true. I will never forget that feeling! 10,000 is a lot, and it took 11 months to reach. It was my first submission to LEGO Ideas, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was very satisfying to see the hard work and effort finally pay off.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
It contains about 2,600 pieces.
- What is your favorite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
I really like to include working functions in my builds, and for this purpose I combine Technic elements. For example, in this project I included many turning and spinning elements with gears, bevel gears and axles. I really love when something becomes interactive and playable!
- If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
I used Bricklink Studio 2.0 the most. In the beginning, I used LeoCAD a bit as well.
- If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
I designed them myself, using references from a real turntable. Then I looked for a printing service to print it for me, onto sticker sheets.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas Product Idea?
In my case, it was three key things. First, you have to have a good idea. I had this idea, which I thought would be accepted by the LEGO community and could also please a whole new community of DJs and electronic music lovers. Second, it has to be well designed and well presented. You can ruin a good idea with a bad presentation! It’s essential to pay attention to details when designing and be professional when it comes to presenting. Don’t rush anything. And third, you have to find the best platforms to help you reach the desired audience. For me, news portals that write DJ- and electronic music-related articles helped a lot in spreading the Idea. And an extra that worked for me was coming up with additional creative and funny content, like short videos and pictures.
- What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support to your Product Idea?
I tried to communicate with people on Instagram, but what helped the most was the support of big news sites, who could share it with a lot of potential supporters. Short videos of the build also helped a lot, particularly when sites with more followers reshared them.
- What is your favorite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
I really loved the Knowledge Is Power submission by danielbradleyy for the STEM challenge. From the current product Ideas, my favorite one is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by teljesnegyzet. I’m a huge fan of TMNT, and it’s nice to see them as big, buildable figures. As for the product Idea that has been overlooked, my choice would be the Air Jordan 1 from legotruman. I would definitely have grabbed one for myself if it became an official set!
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
The opportunity it gives to fan designers is awesome! I think all of us who love LEGO building dream about having a set on the store shelves that we created. Personally, I’ve had this dream ever since I first created something on my own!
- 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?
Yes, I currently have another Idea gathering support, and I constantly think about future builds that might work for Ideas.
