We have this week's final 10K Club Interview. Meet Starbrick_SG1 and his STARGATE SG1: EMBARKATION ROOM. Fans of the show and sci-fi at large will be sure to love this. Leave a like to show your support!
ABOUT YOURSELF
- Who are you?
My first name is Marc, but I'm better known as Starbrick_SG1.
- Where are you from?
I come from France.
- How old are you?
I am currently 38 years old.
- What do you study or do for a living?
I studied history at university, today I work as a manager in a post office.
- What hobbies do you have?
I am a very creative person. I do a lot of photography, I draw, I paint, I cook, I read books and watch a lot of movies. But my greatest passion is the LEGO hobby.
- Do you have a personal LEGO portfolio website that you can share with us?
No, not yet. I have a little channel on Youtube with a few stop-motion LEGO videos based on my proposal. I also have Instagram, twitter and Facebook accounts where I share my passion and my projects.
- 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 Embarkation Room is my first MOC of this size. I've done a few little Stargate-themed creations, but nothing on this level yet.
- How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
I remember very well having received my first set (LEGO pirates 6251) from my parents when I was 3 years old. A little bit later I remember having built the Cosmic Fleet Voyager (6985) which had a huge impact on me. Since then I haven't stopped with LEGO building!
- What is the LEGO hobby to you? What does it mean to you? How does it fit in your life? E.g. build, display, meetups, play the games or 'just' watch the cartoons.
LEGO sets are a big part of my daily life. When I build a set, time stops around me and all the fatigue and stress of my day disappears. I build sets with my wife, and others with my daughter. LEGO building has found a special place in our family.I also really like to put them on display in my LEGO room, but also in the rest of the house. My wife loves the new botanical collection.
- What is your favourite LEGO theme (current or past)? Why? And has any theme inspired your building style or preference in any particular way?
The LEGO Classic space theme, without hesitation. From a very young age, it has shaped my imagination beyond the clouds.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set ever? Why?
Well, the choice is not easy. If I have to choose a set that I have already built, I would definitely choose the Millenium Falcon (75192) for its size, its details and the sleepless nights spent on it. If I had to choose a set that I want today, I would say the Titanic set (10294) because I am passionate about the history of this sadly famous liner.
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
This question is one of the most difficult for me. If I have to choose just one, then I'd say the "handlebars with angular handles" (98397) because it allowed me to create more real-life replicators for my Ideas proposal.
- Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to? Who and why?
I was thrilled by the proposal of the French Aymeric Fievet on the Central Perk of Friends. I said to myself: "Why can't I also create the Stargate set I've always wanted"? He helped open the doors to the playoff sets and I'm grateful to him for that.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO-related websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
Not a site in particular, but I really like to find out about upcoming sets, watch reviews from other fans and find some cool inspiration from other people. There are a lot of blogs and sites around the world, but only one LEGO family.
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I'm a big fan of TV shows, especially science fiction ones. When I discovered Roland Emmerich's film Stargate in 1994, I loved it! (when I was 6 years old, I already knew the names of all the Egyptian, Roman and Greek gods).I have passed through the Stargate and I continued the journey for more than 10 years with Stargate SG-1. With 10 seasons, 3 movies and 214 episodes, it was one of the longest-running science fiction series of all time.
Stargate Atlantis and Universe series surfed on this popularity for nearly 4 more years. The Stargate Fandom is very important throughout the world. The sci-fy conventions dedicated to this franchise in the USA, Canada, France, Germany, and Czech Republic, for example, attract a lot of fans. I think we've all been waiting for an official Stargate LEGO set for years, like the other TV show sets already made. I simply decided to create the set that I wanted myself.
- How long was the process of making the project, and what did you have to research as well? What kind of prep, research and design phases did you go through to produce your creation?
The creative process was quite long. I started by documenting myself on the series and the sets in order to model this emblematic place. For me, the stargate cannot be displayed without its embarkation room. I spent hours dissecting dozens of episodes, original plans, and books (Kathleen Ritter's book is very detailed, by the way).The virtual modelling took a few weeks on the computer, and then the real test phases began. The real LEGO stargate was able to hold its rounded shape without any problem. The rest of the customization (torsos, door decals and stargate details) followed. 6 months were necessary in the end.
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
The Stargate itself, without hesitation. Appearance, size, weight, lift, thickness, and customisation: everything was a real headache!
- If you could talk to yourself before you started on this project, what would you tell them? What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
I would do everything the same way. Mistakes are necessary to learn. Every day either I learned. I'll tell myself anyway to hold on tight, anything can happen with motivation. Creation is a long work but when you have reached your goal, the pride is huge. You just have to keep believing and 10,000 people can believe too.
- 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?
The longest thing in the build was getting all the parts needed, some from my stock, some ordered from the internet. Once the primary model was built in a few days, I spent several weeks improving it. Finally, the time spent on construction was less energy intensive than the promotion itself on social networks.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
It took me a little over a year to gather 10,000 supporters. When we see the 10,000 votes approaching, we begin to take a look at all the progress made since the start. I am proud to be part of the very exclusive club of 10K and allow the series to try its luck.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
Approximately 2500.
- What is your favourite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
The technique used to give the Stargate its rounded shape.
- If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
I still had my good old Lego Digital Designer which helped me a lot with the design. I also used Studio software.
- If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
I used Photoshop for the creation of exclusive torsos and stickers. I based it on photos of shoots, and screenshots of episodes, then I drew each torso one after the other before printing them.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas project?
A LEGO Ideas proposal is a long journey. You must continue to believe in it until the end. Votes do not come by themselves, you will need to have regular communication. If you don't believe in it yourself, then how do you convince 10,000 people?
- What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support to your Product Idea?
I used all the possible social networks and fan blogs to promote my Stargate Ideas proposal. I was lucky enough to get the support of a dozen actors from the show and even one of the scriptwriters/producers. They were lovely and shared my proposal on their own social networks.Some reference Stargate YouTube channels with thousands of followers (Dial The Gate, etc.) and Internet blogs (Gateworld, Stargate Fusion, Le Médiavore, etc.) have been a great help to me. I had the luck to do several interviews to promote my LEGO design.
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
The Dolorean Time Machine (21103) in 2013, was the first Ideas set I bought and hold a special place in my heart.
- Do you have plans to submit any other Product Ideas in the future? If yes, can you give us a hint of what that might be?
The participatory side is very nice, with comments, follow-ups, and contests. You must always try to surpass yourself, to offer something of quality, well detailed, but above all to take pleasure in sharing it.
- 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?
Sci-fi has given us a lot of great moments. If I have to embark on a new Ideas project, I think it will most certainly be a theme related to a movie of Paul Verhoeven, Ridley Scott or James Cameron. But shh, it's a secret!
