Welcome to today's 10K Club interview. Meet Chris Nordberg, a.k.a. Norders and his truly innovative CIPHER MACHINE. Inspired by an interest in cryptography, Chris has created a truly unique build here. Leave a like to show your support!
ABOUT YOURSELF
- Who are you?
Chris Nordberg.
- Where are you from?
I’m from the UK.
- How old are you?
Same age as 352: Windmill and Lorry!
- What do you study or do for a living?
I’m a mobile app developer.
- What hobbies do you have?
I suppose my main hobbies are developing apps and designing LEGO models. A couple of years ago I built a full N gauge model railway layout, which I’m quite proud of.
- Do you have a personal LEGO portfolio website that you can share with us?
LEGO Ideas is my portfolio website!
- 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?
Not really a MOC but one day I realised I had enough parts in our collection to recreate set 10240 - Red Five X-wing Starfighter. I thought it turned out really cool, with a kind of been-in-battle-and-patched-up look.
- How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
In the late 70s early 80s. Among my first sets were the class space ships and the blue container ship that worked. I even had the ballast with the motor attachment. My folks still keep the old stuff and my kids play with it when we visit.
- 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.
For me it’s all about solving hard-build problems and making the creation work, visually and technically. It’s almost a form of meditation - you can completely lose yourself to the outside world.
- What is your favourite LEGO theme (current or past)? Why? And has any theme inspired your building style or preference in any particular way?
I love LEGO Space from the ‘80s. And while I like modern studless Technic, I actually prefer the original Technic studded beams that blend perfectly with System.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set ever? Why?
It’s still the Technic Car Chassis 8860 from 1980. I still have all the pieces and rebuilt it a few years ago with my kids. 40 years later it went back together perfectly.
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
The original Minifig red construction worker’s hard-hat, just because it’s one of my earliest memories of LEGO building.
- Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to? Who and why?
I’m inspired by every model that appears on LEGO Ideas. It’s a great community to be a part of.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO-related websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
Eurobricks.com always has something that will make you smile on the front page. Given the times we’re living in, we all need a smile.
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I’ve always been interested in cryptography and gadgets. I wanted to create something along those lines but with the steam-punk vibe of Victorian engineering.
- 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?
First I had to figure out how to make a reversible substitution cipher, so that if you spin one wheel by 180 degrees the cipher starts working the other way around. That took lots of paper diagrams and some programming to create the algorithm.Then I had to find a way to add or subtract 180 degrees of rotation at the turn of a dial. That required the development of a new concept for me - the phase controller. Then there was developing the prototype into the overall design and packaging in the final model.
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
The most difficult part was the phase controller. Its function is based on lengthening or shortening the amount of chain between the input and output shafts, effectively bringing them closer to each other or pushing them further apart. During the transition the shafts spin one way or the other, adding or subtracting half a turn. It’s basically the heart of the model and miniaturising it was a huge challenge.
- 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?
If you’re going to design digitally, build tricky functional mechanisms for real. I learnt this while designing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, where I spent far too long trying to solve problems in software that would have been much easier to solve by messing around with real LEGO bricks.
- 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 was maybe 4 or 5 months from conception to final build and submission. It took exactly 8 months to get to 10K.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
Amazing! I woke up one morning and it had passed the 10K mark during the night. That was a lovely morning.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
It’s quite a small model at just 340 pieces.
- What is your favourite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
I really like the sign on the top that tells you whether the machine is encoding or decoding.
- If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
I always use Studio.
- If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
There are stickers on the wheels (7 letters on each wheel quadrant), a couple for the ENCODE / DECODE sign, and two for the emblem on the front. For my model, they’re all printed on a laser printer, cut out and stuck on (laser prints give a slightly glossy finish).
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas project?
Whatever your model is, spend the time to make it look as good as you can. I think it’s important to make an impact with the first image people see.
- What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support for your Product Idea?
I used all the usual online social platforms. This is quite a niche model so there are not many other user groups I could go to!
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
Tower Chess by Ferbrick1. There are a few chess sets on the site but their model adds another dimension, and the pieces are really nicely designed.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
It’s a very positive community to be a part of. If you’re thinking of submitting a model, don’t rush the submission. Make your model look amazing, whatever it is!
- 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?
I’ve got a few gathering support on IDEAS right now - Magic Lantern (working image projector), The Return of Chitty, and Windmill Open Day. I’m always working on loads of model ideas, most of which won’t get submitted. But I there are one or two I might focus on to get them to submission
