Product Idea |

Big Mouth Billy Bass

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Hello everyone!

I probably don’t need to introduce the iconic Big Mouth Billy Bass, the animated and singing fish that became popular in the 2000s. It’s become a part of pop culture, appearing everywhere—from our homes to TV shows like Wall-E, The Simpsons, The Office, The Sopranos, and even in Queen Elizabeth II’s castle!

So, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that no one had ever created a LEGO version of Big Mouth Billy Bass! After months of work, procrastination, and countless restarts, I’m finally ready to present my version of this famous fish in LEGO form.

A functional Big Mouth Billy Bass, at 1:1 scale, made up of 2,000 pieces, and something I’m particularly proud of!

Design and Mechanics

I loved working on this MOC, especially the design where I experimented with various building techniques. But it’s the mechanics that turned out to be the most challenging. Here’s how everything works:

  • A power button connected to two terminals of a LEGO Power Functions battery.
  • Two Power Functions motors that drive a central axle.
  • A gear system that adjusts the necessary ratios to drive two separate axles.
  • Each axle is connected to a crank system that moves the fish’s head and tail.
  • The movement of the head activates a lever system that opens and closes the mouth (which returns to place thanks to an elastic band that I haven’t yet learned to include in my 3D renders).
  • Finally, to stop the movement, you just need to return the button to its position via a clever mechanism located under the frame.

Display

For displaying the model, I added a hook and a stand at the back, so you can easily showcase it either on a wall or a shelf.

A Few Improvement Ideas

Add a sound brick so the fish can actually sing, just like the original!
A Christmas kit to dress up the fish during the holidays, as a tribute to the various festive editions of Big Mouth Billy Bass.

Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank my parents for their support throughout this project, which they probably never thought would be completed, my grandfather, Bon Papa, for sharing his wonderful passion for fishing with me (the true inspiration behind this MOC), and finally, my amazing girlfriend who I love and who supports me in everything I do.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my creation!
If you enjoyed it, don’t forget to support this project so it can become a reality!

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