The machine that makes snow scared to fall, the Snow-groomer PRINOTH LEITWOLF built by Alexandre Rossier (aka redera00 on LEGO Ideas) hit 10,000 votes and you can see why! The huge Technic build has impressed over 10,000 of you recently, so why don't we hear more about the person behind it! Be sure to congratulate Alexandre in the comments as per usual, down below!
About Yourself
- Who are you?
Alexandre Rossier, aka redera00.
- Where are you from?
Switzerland.
- How old are you?
48.
- What do you do for a living?
I'm 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 @alexandrerossier, Facebook @User_135022 rossier, YouTube redera.
- Have you created any LEGO MOCs (my own creations) that you’re particularly proud of? What is it, why are you proud 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 favorite is always the next one, but I still have some feelings for my Arctic Exploration Vehicle POLARWOLF, a science-fiction vehicle on tracks initially designed for… Santa claus in 2017.
- How and when did your interest for LEGO come about?
It all started with 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 the games.. or 'just' watch the 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).
- 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?
Snow groomers have always impressed me in ski resorts: they combine 3 vehicles in one: a battle tank, a bulldozer, a crane, and many of theses functionalities can be reproduced in LEGO. I build my first one in 1983 (motorized and controlled with cables…!). And the machines from Prinoth (previously Leitner), had the best design. Moreover, my uncle was working in that business and I had the opportunity to go with him in a few of them.
- 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 official documentation of the original Prinoth Leitwolf snow groomer. My design method is very pragmatic, and I basically start building on a top view line drawing of the machine that I print at the scale of the LEGO reproduction. The rest is experimenting, testing, improving, finalizing.
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
To package the 9 functions in the tight space left… The front blade itself has 4 functions!
- If you could talk to yourself before you started on this project, what would you tell her? What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
Do not forget about packaging cables…
- 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?
I spend around 100 hours creating the model, which is reasonable considering the excellent knowledge that I have of snow groomers, 20 hours to do the photo/video shootings and editing, and 2 hours/week for promoting and engaging with supporters.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
Very proud to be part of the 10K Club, and pretty much two years: the supporting rate was quick at the beginning, then raising slowly but evenly, and booming at the very end!
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
Close to the limit of 3,000.
- What is your favourite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
The mechanism of the front blade (up/down, tilting, left/right, adjusting the outer blade elements).
- 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 a 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 medias (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).
- 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 what that might be?
Two projects are still gathering support on Ideas, the Auto Union Type C Racecar, and the Airport Firetruck Rosenbauer Panther 8x8.
By
JacobM366