Today's 10K Club interview is dedicated to our LEGO Ideas member, a double 10K badge holder and sportscar enthusiast, Alexandre Rossier. Following the success of his previous Snow-Groomer Prinoth Leitwolf idea, he comes with a vintage race car.
Please welcome Alexandre Rossier (aka redera00) and his creation Auto Union Type C Racecar. Help us congratulate him and learn more about his creation.
ABOUT YOURSELF
- Who are you?
My name is Alexandre Rossier, aka redera00.
- Where are you from?
Switzerland
- How old are you?
49
- What do you study or do for a living?
I am a designer.
- What hobbies do you have?
Music (I am also a professional trumpet player, and made several CD and TV/radio recordings and performances), photography, video production, illustrator, motorbiking, sportscar enthusiast.
- Do you have a personal LEGO portfolio website that you can share with us?
Only on social media (Instagram, YouTube).
- 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?
I have created many MOCs: locomotives, dioramas, buildings, science-fiction vehicles, and cars at various scales, from 6-stud wide to 60cm long. My 2020 Santa Claus Prinoth Exploration vehicle is my current favourite one, with its front tracks units and rear hub-less wheels.
- How and when did your interest in LEGO come about?
The set 367 Moon Landing in 1975: I saw it assembled in a local store and I fell immediately in love: the lunar module, the roving vehicle, and the three (strangely!) astronauts.
- What is LEGO for you? What does it mean for you? How does it fit in your life? E.g. build, display, meetups, play games, or 'just' watch cartoons.
LEGO is all about unleashing your creativity: nothing is impossible: Have an idea, sketch it directly with bricks, experiment, improve, finalize! I have a LEGO room in my flat where I create and store my MOCs. I hardly expose them in public.
- What is your favourite LEGO theme (current or past)? Why? And has any theme inspired your building style or preference in any particular way?
LEGO Space (for their creativity, elegance, playfulness) and Technic (for being able to create complex machines). I love to mix LEGO System and Technic to create a realistic and functional vehicle.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set? Why?
LEGO Technic chassis 8860, because it was the first realistic car with gearbox, suspensions, steering, engine, and I got it as the first prize at a local LEGO competition in 1982; and NASA Apollo Saturn V 21309, which is just gorgeous: faithful to reality, full of unusual assembly methods, beautiful!
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
LEGO Technic shock absorber. It was so innovative in 1980 that it was not even pictured on the official pictures of the LEGO chassis 8860. It is still in production today!
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I saw for the first time the Auto Union Type C in a historic hill climb race in 2006 and was impressed by its cleanliness and modernity: mighty V16 engine, beautifully crafted lightweight architecture, double-tires at the back. But there were no grey curved parts in the LEGO range that could allow making an accurate reproduction of the model. But twelve years later, I had everything available thanks to new parts that LEGO had created.
- How long was the process of making the project did, 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?
I had many pictures of the real model, taken at various events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed or the Klausen Rennen revival, plus a gorgeous and highly detailed die-cast 1:18 model. The challenge was to create a realistic model with working functionalities (steering, spinning V16 engine, removable bodywork to admire the frame, …).
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
I wanted to have the louvers on the bonnet made with LEGO elements, not stickers. I made many experiments before achieving something strong and realistic.
- 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?
Approximately 50 hours to create the model, and 20 to do photo/video shootings. I did not spend so much time promoting the model on IDEAS, but many worldwide famous car blogs featured my project.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
Two years. I promoted the model at the beginning, and at the very end. Not so much in between since I was focusing to promote another IDEAS model, the Prinoth Leitwolf snow-groomer.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
2,300
- What is your favourite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
The rear bonnet, and the engine/gearbox detailing.
- If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
I create them with graphic software and print them on semi-glossy adhesive paper.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas project?
Be passionate about your project and believe in it!
- What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support to your Product Idea?
Social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube). And many blogs and websites from car magazines or enthusiasts promoted it as well.
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
NASA Apollo Saturn V and I liked the UCS Space Shuttle Atlantis.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
Impressive to see all that creativity from all around the world. And my tip would be to do something original, or done in a way that has never been done previously…
- 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?
Another vehicle, on top of the Airport Firetruck Rosenbauer Panther 8x8 which is still gathering support.
By
Kamila9