Movie fans will love this awesome addition for their home-cinema! dimexart’s Popcorn_Machine is bright, fun, and colorful, so don’t forget to pop over to the comments and send him your congratulations!
ABOUT YOURSELF
What is your name?
My name is Mehdi Rustamov. My nickname is dimexart, but friends simply call me Mexx.
Where are you from?
From sunny Baku, Azerbaijan.
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?
The Antique Cash Register, Vintage Radio, Vintage Toaster, and Rolls Royce Phantom are the MOCs I’m most proud of.
How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
It was 1997 and I was eight. At that time, I started to improvise and rebuild several little LEGO sets. I found it so satisfying. Now I’m 36, and LEGO building is still one of the best parts of my life.
What does the LEGO hobby mean to you?
It means a lot to me! Building with LEGO helps me to relax after a day of hard work.
What is your favorite LEGO theme (current or past)?
My favorite theme is Architecture, but I haven’t seen any new sets for a long time, except Notre-Dame de Paris. I hope some new LEGO Architecture sets will be available soon! NINJAGO has become one of my favorites too, with some very interesting and rare golden parts. I love shiny and golden LEGO parts so much!
What is your favorite official LEGO set ever?
The Back to the Future Time Machine (10300). It’s my favorite movie and my favorite LEGO set of all-time!
What is your favorite LEGO element?
All flat plates. I think they are amazing, and I love using them to get the smoothest shapes in my work. Recently, I noticed some new flat parts have come out, which I have been waiting for, for a long time!
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 all official LEGO designers are great, because their work is beautifully designed. But I really love Mike Psiaki’s work. I recently finished the Ghostbusters ECTO-1 set and was so excited to have it in my collection with the DeLorean!
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
One day I was watching my favorite Back to the Future movie, with a bowl of popcorn in my hands. I thought about how popcorn is made and remembered the old machines. As a retro lover I thought that I needed to make this with LEGO bricks. It must be so colorful and fun!
How long did the process of making the project take and what did you have to research?
It took about a week to research the best model to use as the reference for this machine. But I also wanted to make my own design.
What special challenges did you face creating the model?
The hardest parts were the actual popcorn and popping them out of the pot and down into the paper box.
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?
Never give up! Go forward! You can do this!
How long did it take to complete the model and for your Product Idea to reach 10,000 supporters?
Approximately three weeks to complete the full model, and a couple of months to promote it. That is not always as easy as it seems!
How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes?
As always, just fantastic! Thanks to everyone who helped my work reach 10K!
Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
About 1,000 pieces.
What is your favorite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
The popcorn pieces! They are firm and you can’t detach the details very easily. I thought about it a lot and tried to make the most realistic model of popcorn possible.
If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
I only used Bricklink Studio 2.0 for the building process and rendering.
If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
The popcorn sign and paper box are custom stickers. I made them using Photoshop.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas Product Idea?
Be sure about your project, just believe in yourself! And don't be afraid to improvise.
What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support to your Product Idea?
I shared my popcorn machine on my Instagram and Facebook pages, and on YouTube and Discord. I was really happy every time someone shared my post; it really meant a lot to me. Thank you so much, guys. You are all amazing!
What is your favorite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
My favorite is Home Alone (21330), but I also love the insects. They are so beautiful!
What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
This platform is amazing. This is a big chance for everyone to become a part of the LEGO family and community.
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, and I will submit it very soon! I’m working on it right now. I think you’ll like this one…
