Welcome to the penultimate 10K Club Interview for this review period. Today, we meet Alessandro Benedetti, aka Mitsu-san78 and his fantastic Mach Patrol set. Inspired by a love anime series Daitarn 3, this set will be sure to appease any fans! Show your support in the comments.
ABOUT YOURSELF
- Who are you?
Hello everyone! My name is Alessandro Benedetti, aka Mitsu-san78.
- Where are you from?
I’m from Italy.
- How old are you?
As my username suggests, I’m born in 1978, so I’m 44.
- What do you study or do for a living?
I am a mechanical engineer, and I work as a designer.
- What hobbies do you have?
Well, of course I love LEGO building, which is my main hobby. When I want to relax, I just build by following the instructions, and when I want to challenge myself, I love designing MOCs - especially to recreate the subject of some TV shows I love. Other than that, I like to cook and relax by playing board games and videogames with my children, who I am raising as huge LEGO fans.
- Do you have a personal LEGO portfolio website that you can share with us?
I'm fairly new to the AFOL world, so I only have a Facebook and Instagram page where I'm posting my (few at the moment) works. You can find them here: facebook and instagram.
- 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?
Speaking of recent times, I am proud of my LEGO Ideas project, because it was the first time that I ventured into such an adventure, and it was a great thrill to follow its path. Aside from that, I remember with great affection another MOC that dates back to my childhood. I had made a huge spaceship that could be divided into many different vehicles with as many pilots. The only photo I have unfortunately came out blurry, but we're talking about the late 80's.
- How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
When I was 7/8 years old, my father one day brought home the LEGO set 6368. I was fascinated by this novelty, even if at the time I had some difficulties in assembling (the instructions were terrible compared to today's!). After this, at every birthday or Christmas I always asked for LEGO sets, and as a teenager LEGO Technic. Then, as happens to many, I went through the Dark Age. For some years, thanks to my children, I have rediscovered the passion for LEGO building, so I have recovered all my old sets from the garage, and now they look good in the living room.
- 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, LEGO building is a concentration of memories and emotions. They are my childhood games that survive to this day. To make you understand better: for some years now, a Christmas tradition has been consolidated in my family, in which we all ask for LEGO sets, and on Christmas morning everyone opens their new set and we all get together on the kitchen table to build.
- 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 have had many favorite themes over the years, but the one that has remained constant is Pirates It is no coincidence that I have a nice Black Sea Barracuda Galleon in my living room, and the Barracuda Bay pirates in my library. In addition to this I have also always loved classic Space, in particular, the monorail which is the reason why as a child I built many spaceships, like Benny in The LEGO Movie.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set ever? Why?
If I had to choose just one, I would say the Black Sea Barracuda Galleon. I still remember the emotion as a child of receiving it for Christmas, as a gift from my grandmother, and how I immediately started to build it.
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
I love brackets and curved slopes. When I resumed my passion for LEGO building in adulthood, I had a little shock at these very particular pieces, since the last time I built something, the pieces were almost only classic bricks. It was a bit of a challenge to learn how to use them to recreate curves and patterns that I didn't think possible.
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I have always been a fan of anime and manga, and I love sharing the shows I loved as a child with my children. A while ago I saw with them the anime Daitarn 3, which is a classic mecha anime from the 80s. In this anime, the protagonist Haran Banjo pilots the Mach Patrol and after transforming it into a jet, he flies inside the giant robot Daitarn 3 to fight enemies. One day my son said to me "daddy, why don't you make the Mach Patrol with LEGO bricks?". From that moment a period of sleepless nights began for me, trying to replicate the model as faithfully as possible.
- 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 design of the model took about two months. To better study every detail, I observed frame-by-frame all the stages of the transformation shown in the anime.
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
On many occasions I have had to start over entire sections. In fact, the one I made at the end is the sixth version of the Mach Patrol, preceded by many failed experiments. The most difficult part was the tip of the jet coming out from the front, because the space available was really limited, but I still wanted to insert the yellow side tips so that they could come out, and I wanted to respect the shapes and design of the original.
- 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?
Make a great presentation right from the start. Seriously. Regarding this, I think I have paid for my inexperience in the world of AFOLs and Ideas.
- 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 took me about two months to complete the model, working mainly in the evening, and an innumerable amount of time to promote it, so much so that it became almost a part-time job.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
I almost couldn't believe it. Honestly, on more than one occasion I thought about giving up, and that I would never be able to reach 10000, and sometimes I struggled a lot to continue promoting and sharing. So, when I saw that the finish line was starting to be within reach, it was difficult to believe and understand how I got there. It took 1 year and 9 months to reach 10k, it was a very long journey.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
There are around 700 elements, considering the Mach Patrol and the minifigures of the main characters.
- What is your favourite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
My favourite technique is the SNOT, which I mainly inserted into the side parts of the car, to which the wings are attached
- If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
I made my project digitally because I don't have many pieces. In the past I used LEGO Digital Designer, but now I use Stud.io exclusively, both for design and rendering.
- If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
In my project there are some stickers on the front of the car and on the sides. I made them with Paint, and applied them to the model using Part Designer, which is a program linked to Stud.io.In the same way I made the outfits of the custom minifigures.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas project?
First, choose a subject you love. The passion for your project and the subject will be the fuel for the huge promotion campaign that needs to be done.Second, prepare the best presentation possible. The first days are those in which there is more chance to reach the main page, and thus have more visibility, so it is necessary to take advantage of this time window as much as possible. As I said, I paid for my inexperience, and perfected the presentation later, losing a lot of momentum.
Third, prepare the sharing strategy before submitting the project.
Fourth, share like there's no tomorrow.
- What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support to your Product Idea?
I must admit that I had to force myself a lot in this, since I have very little confidence with social networks, but there was no other way. I have advertised and shared my project mainly on Facebook, on which I have made literally thousands of posts. I also recommend Instagram and Reddit. I also contacted the comic shop in my city, and was ready to print flyers to distribute in toy stores, but luckily it wasn't necessary.
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
Speaking of Ideas that have been approved and produced, my favorite is Barracuda Bay. The atmosphere that this set transmits is truly unique!Regarding projects that may have been overlooked, recently there have been some projects on TV shows from the 80s that I think deserved more attention. In general, the film production of that period produced a large number of cult films, which would make the happiness of many AFOLs. Just think of the enormous success of the ECTO-1 and the Delorean just released. And, of course, an 80's anime line would also be a sales bomb. Just saying...
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
What I find wonderful about LEGO Ideas is the very fact that anyone can propose their own project, thus opening the doors to anyone who loves this world, and somehow wants to be part of it.I would like to encourage all fans not to be afraid to upload their own projects. There are projects of all levels, from master builders to those who are just starting to build, but are full of enthusiasm.
The advice I can give is to try to add as many details as possible, and always ask yourself if some part of the model can be improved, even at the cost of starting over.
- 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?
Yes, I am finalizing a new project that I hope to upload as soon as possible, but I always have little time available. The model is finished, but now I have to make the custom stickers and a great presentation. I would like to make a promotional video in stop motion. The subject is still top secret, but I can say it's a very popular film. Stay tuned!
