Following a quick break due to the software upgrade, we return with this week's 10K Club interview featuring a Swedish school teacher whose big passion for LEGO bricks is only rivalled by his love for Star Wars. Please give a warm welcome to Robert Lundmark, the creator of the UCS Rey's Speeder project.
Help us congratulate Robert on joining the exclusive LEGO Ideas 10K Club!
About Yourself
- Where are you from?
I live in Skellefteå in the north of Sweden.
- How old are you?
I´m 41 years old.
- What do you study or do for a living?
I'm a school teacher.
- What hobbies do you have?
I have lots of different hobbies. I like drawing and painting, singing and playing the guitar, all kinds of sports, and building things in general, especially with LEGO, of course.
- How and when did your interest for LEGO come about?
My interest in LEGO started long ago, way back in the late 70´s when the LEGO system line saw the light of day. I just loved the space theme and was lucky enough to get a few space sets for birthday presents. Through the years my love for LEGO never really disappeared and when I got kids of my own I naturally started buying sets for them to build, and a lot of times we built them together. The thing that really got me building seriously as an adult was when my achilles-tendon was injured in a floor-ball game about three years ago and I wound up at home, leg in cast, with nothing to do for four weeks. I started building with my kids´ LEGO and wound up with a giant X-wing, almost a meter in length. I was hooked!
^ Robert tweaks his giant X-Wing. It looks like he may need a lift for cars to work on this MOC optimally.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set? Why?
The 918 is still my all time favourite model. It´s perfect.
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
My favourite LEGO element these days has to be the 87087. It enables you to build in every direction and to do so many things in so many ways.
- Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to? Who and why?
I don´t know that many LEGO designers but I really like the work of a fan designer called "Letranger Absurde”. I think his builds are innovative and artistic and he uses bricks in ways you never thought of.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO related websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
Flickr and The Brothers Brick are two websites I visit regularly.
About Your Project
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
My interest in Rey´s speeder was awoken(!) when I first saw Star Wars - Episode 7 last Christmas. Watching the movie I felt like a kid once more, for the first time in a long while. I was falling in love with Star Wars all over again, pouring over all the amazing designs of ships and aliens, new but still so familiar. The most eye-catching thing of them all, I felt, was Rey´s popsicle-like speeder; the shape of it, the colour, the worn down state that makes it look fantastic and realistic at the same time.
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
I knew I had to build it. I wanted to recreate it, get to know it, but I didn´t know how. I didn´t know if it could be constructed with LEGO in a way that would do it justice, but I had to find out. The most challenging part was getting all the lovely curves and swooping lines just right. I tried several different versions before I finally found the most suitable pieces for the shaping of the body and when I did, everything kind of fell into place.
- How long did it take to complete the model?
I guess it took me about three months, whilst building two other large models at the same time; Poe´s X-wing and Teedo´s Luggabeast.
^ There is no denying that Robert is a big Star Wars fan!
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
I just loved building the UCS Rey´s Speeder and was really happy with the way it turned out and when I realised that so many other people liked the project and wanted to support it was a great feeling. So many kind words and nice compliments made the journey of the speeder on Ideas a real treat. People kept telling me that it was going to make it to 10K but I didn´t believe them. Well, they were right and I was wrong and when it finally hit 10000 it felt so good. I was relieved and I was happy.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
1500- 2000 parts to complete the model.
About LEGO Ideas
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas project?
I don´t know if I have any advice about creating a successful Ideas project. If it´s a labor of love, I think it shows. If you´ve poured your heart and soul into the build to make it everything it can be I think people will appreciate that and support it.
^ Robert takes a minute to pose with his UCS Rey's Speeder - What is your favourite LEGO Ideas project (besides your own of course)?
My favourite LEGO Ideas projects are the Jurassic Park models by Senteosan. I love the movie and I love dinosaurs and I think his creations look great.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
The thing that I like about LEGO Ideas is the community and the positive atmosphere; builders from all over the world and of all ages coming together in one big melting pot, supporting each other in a nice way.
If I have any tips to give to someone who is thinking about uploading an LEGO Ideas project it would be to get a good photographer to shoot your model, getting it to look its best.
By
hasanjensen