This week we're flying (virtually) to the USA where our next 10K Club member resides. Please welcome Ryan Rydalch, a.k.a Savath_Bunny, the multi-talented administrative assistant who created the marvelous and seemingly modular Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The Bus LEGO Set that, according to Ryan, would be the perfect plane for any spy mission, be that Marvel related or otherwise. It would turn out to be a tedious building challenge whereby the logistics of gathering all the bricks contributed to an even longer builder process.
Help us congratulate Ryan on becoming a part of the exclusive LEGO Ideas 10K Club!
About Yourself
- Where are you from?
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
- How old are you?
30.
- What do you study or do for a living?
I’m an administrative assistant at a hospital.
- What hobbies do you have?
I love LEGO bricks (obviously), but I also enjoy drawing and sketching. I’ve published two children’s books about little owls and I enjoy reading comics in my down time.
- How and when did your interest for LEGO come about?
I enjoyed playing with LEGO sets as a child (the undersea exploration and Egyptian pyramid sets), however the fascination returned full force when the first Avengers film debuted. I saw the LEGO Marvel superhero sets and started buying them, and from there everything seemed like a must have. Now my entire office is a building ground for LEGO creations and new sets.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set? Why?
I’ve really grown to love the new modular sets of the city buildings. Each set has its own unique story and hidden secrets, which I think makes them all the more fun to build. Currently the new Brick Bank is my favorite. The details in this model astound me and the “money laundering” trick is hilarious.
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
I’ve always had a nostalgic love for the transparent 1x1 bricks. These bricks were always the treasures and magical stones that were the focus of my LEGO adventures. Even nowadays, I still use these little 1x1 bricks as my Infinity Gems or a Sorcerer’s Stone in my various photoshoots.
- Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to? Who and why?
I look up to Jamie Berard for his contributions to the sets I enjoy the most (the modular builds), and he’s a great example of how one person can go from building for entertainment and then turning it into a career. Another LEGO enthusiast I have always admired is Tim Lydy on Flickr. Tim’s vision of constructing vignettes and character builds are the perfect balance of imagination and talent.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO related websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
I often go to Flickr to find some beautiful examples of how people are using LEGO bricks for a variety of set ideas. There are thousands of photos that circulate through my feed and it’s so enjoyable to see what other people are creating on a daily basis.
About Your Project
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
After watching the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series, I loved how The Bus was filled with a variety of rooms of operations that could satisfy any team’s secret mission. With the aircraft housing a science lab, medical pod, holding cell, private office and lounge, it seemed to have it all. I thought this would be the best playground for any spy mission (Marvel themed or otherwise).
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
Finding all those black bricks! After hunting on LEGO.com and various other sites for spare parts, I had LEGO bricks coming in by the pound every day to my house. Playing around with various building patterns was fun, but not being able to find 100+ of the same curved brick really limited my ability to create the perfect (round) aircraft.
- How long did it take to complete the model?
It was about a 5 month span between sketching out the idea, ordering all the bricks and compiling the model. I probably only spent about one week figuring out the build after all the pieces arrived, however I had to sacrifice some aesthetic appeal with the lack of certain pieces being available.
^ Ryan spent plenty of time planning the details of his build that would eventually reach 10,000 supporters!
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes?
It took a while to reach 10k, but when I started to see the number climb from 1,000 to 5,000 to 9,000… I started to get truly excited, especially with 5 days to go and 1,000 votes needed. I got some marvelous help when Clark Gregg and Ming-Na Wen retweeted my LEGO Ideas shout out. That had to be the greatest surprise of all when the actual Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. came to my aid when I needed it most.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
I honestly lost count after 2,000. With my modifications having to be altered as my supply became limited, but I probably capped out at 3,000 pieces. I imagine that there are tricks to making smaller spaces and sleeker curved walls, but I’m happy with how the model looked when the last bricks fell into place.
About LEGO Ideas
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas project?
If you really want to have an idea take flight on LEGO Ideas it all stands upon two important pillars (or bricks): clever creations and community involvement. Great ideas get noticed, but not always. After you post your project don’t stop there. I recommend engaging with other community members by voting, commenting on projects and following others on other networks like Flickr or Twitter. There is a wonderful community out there who loves LEGO just as much as you do. After that, I suggest you start posting fun creations where others can enjoy them. The more you post the more people will start to wonder what you’re building next.
^ This bus has even got space for Lola!
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas project (besides your own of course)?
I really enjoyed the LEGO Research Institute set. Each character had their own personality and every vignette had such fun details to really inspire the imagination. I still have that set standing in my office today as inspiration to keep learning and keep building.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?I would definitely build up a fun collection of bricks so you have some variety. Not having the perfect pieces can sometimes hinder your next step forward (but not always). On the flip side, I also encourage others to dabble in the unknown. I always enjoy seeing how a saw blade can suddenly become a beautiful piece of architecture, or how an ordinary hinge can make the perfect set of jaws for the creature in your story
By
hasanjensen