Board game enthusiasts can build, play, then fold and display with this towering LEGO chess set by Ferbrick1 titled 'TOWER CHESS. Read all about the project here and be sure to congratulate them in the comments below!
About Yourself
- Who are you?
Fernando Cava.
- Where are you from?
Zaragoza, Spain.
- What do you study or do for a living?
I am an engineer.
- What hobbies do you have?
I love spending my free time with my family, going to the movies, reading, enjoying a good TV series, or watching F1 or rugby. But a hobby I have been faithful to throughout my life is building with pieces. LEGO is my favorite.
- 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?
Yes, a remote controlled F1 car. Unfortunately, for licensing reasons, it could not be accepted for LEGO Ideas.
- How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
I have been passionate about building with pieces since I was little, but my passion was reactivated when I became a father and saw that my children also liked building. It was the perfect excuse to accumulate lots of LEGO sets in my house.
- What does the LEGO hobby mean to you? How does it fit into your life? E.g. build, display, meetups, play the games or 'just' watch the cartoons.
I have always liked designing things and making them. Since I was little, I have loved giving free rein to my creativity and being able to build whatever I imagined. You could say that LEGO had something to do with me becoming an engineer!
As a hobby, there is nothing I like more than making a LEGO construction with my son, who has inherited my passion for bricks. We have a multitude of sets, and we proudly display them in our house. For us, they are works of art.
- 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'm from the 70s, and Star Wars was the movie that marked my childhood. So, it's easy to decide that my favorite theme is LEGO Star Wars.
- What is your favorite official LEGO set ever? Why?
My favorite set is the Millennium Falcon (75192), of course. The creativity and multitude of details make it a wonderful set.
- What is your favorite LEGO element? Why?
I don't have a favorite element. I find the element that manages to provide the solution to the design need that arises in any phase of a creation to be fantastic.
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I had recently uploaded my creation of the F1 Alpine to LEGO Ideas, so I wanted to start another design, but didn't have any specific ideas. The idea came from a conversation I had with my children, where we were talking about how some of the LEGO Star Wars sets had changed over time, how they evolved and became more realistic pieces with more details. I reflected on a comment my son had made, that he preferred an older set, because although it was not as visually spectacular as the latest model, he considered it to be more playable. He told me that he loved assembling the sets, but that it was very important for him to be able to play with them once they were finished. I had never really thought that way.
That idea of playing with the set once assembled made me think about creating a construction that was very visually attractive, but whose main function was to be played with once assembled. I chose the game of chess, because the idea of a father helping his son build the set and then teaching him the movements of the pieces and playing that first game together, seemed fantastic.
- How long did the process of making the project take and what did you have to research? What kind of prep, research and design phases did you go through to produce your creation?
The time it took me to complete the project was not excessive. I think it was approximately a month. Developing the F1 took me much longer!
Once the game was selected, it was a matter of thinking about a design that would not go unnoticed. I was looking for different chess games and found a wooden one in which the board was folded in a semicircle around half a structure. This served as inspiration for me.
Initially I was very clear that I wanted the pieces to have as much reality as possible, so I focused on developing the horse, since I considered it to be the most complicated piece to make. Based on the dimensions of the horse, I developed the rest of the pieces, and those dimensions in turn conditioned the size of the board and the support tower.
- What special challenges or frustrations did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
It was a challenge to find a functional solution so the board could be folded without the pieces causing an excessive thickness of the board. Another design challenge was to fold the board and ensure that a piece managed to join it in a stable way, and that it could later be opened again. Initially I solved it with 1 x 6 Plate Hinge with 2 and 3 fingers on the sides (4507), but later realized that I made a mistake. It is very difficult to open the board if it is mounted on the tower, and excessive pressure could destroy it. I have attached a new idea for the locks, which is much more functional, although not as pleasing aesthetically.
- 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?
The truth is I didn't think I could reach 10,000 votes. If I had known, I would have spent a little more time on the details. For example, I would have added the printing on the outer edge of the board, of the numbers and letters that identify each square on the board.
- 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?
It took me approximately a month to complete it, using my free time. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have dedicated practically no time to promoting the idea. I have occasionally thanked the users who have given me their support.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
It has been very satisfying. Perhaps that unattainable dream that I had as a child will come true, and at 53 years old I may become a LEGO designer.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
Approximately 1,800 bricks.
- If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
The software I use for my creations is Studio 2.0
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas Product Idea?
The advice I can give is don't think about the 10,000 votes, just focus on enjoying what you are doing. Find what you like the most and give free rein to your creativity.
- What is your favorite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
I have two favorite LEGO Ideas products, the oldest being the NASA Apollo Saturn V from saabfan, and the most recent the Orient Express from LEt.Sgo.
The product I think is fantastic and has been overlooked is the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane from Din DJarJarin. It’s a shame it didn't receive more votes.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
The creativity of people. It is fantastic to be able to surprise people every day with the most ingenious creations.
One piece of advice – don't think about it, just create and upload your idea. I'm sure people will support you and encourage you to continue with your passion.
- 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, but I am still deciding with my son. Perhaps he will be the one who finally develops it, but in the event that I do, I can say that it will be based on a movie from the 80s.
By
JacobM366