Stargate Atlantis - Stargate And Puddle Jumper!

Hello. I recently challenged myself to see if I could build a stargate model based on Stargate Atlantis and was so pleased by how it came out I thought I'd submit. The stargate is modeled after what I refer to as the Sheppard-class stargate and is approximately 24 studs in diameter and about 3 studs thick, weighing in at about 500 pieces.  The model has no exposed studs and rather polished. The image with the blue inner ring is the current build model; it seems like every time I think I'm finished with the model I find another aspect to tinker with. I would love to see what others could do with this base design.

However, not all Atlantis stargates are located on the ground, some are in planetary necessitating another means of traversing those gates - in the show they have gate-sized transport ships affectionately called "Puddle Jumpers". I designed and built such a jumper that can not only fit through my stargate but features a full interior. The jumper is 41 studs long and contains about 900 pieces.

I made a video detailing the builds here:

A stargate is a wormhole generator, allowing one to step between different planets as easily as stepping between rooms, allowing trans-galactic communication and trade. The show Stargate Atlantis, the 2nd live action spin-off of the Stargate movie, is based on the concept that the mythical city of Atlantis did exist but was a city-sized starship that fled Earth long ago to escape a plague ravaging our galaxy. The show follows an expedition team attempting to reach the city-ship in the nearby Pegasus galaxy and their adventures both on unexplored worlds and in the city itself.

The core concept of these builds is that the Stargate is a bridge between worlds, anything and everything could be on the other side of the 'gate, leading to boundless opportunities. Considering the creative nature of LEGO, this seemed a perfect combination. Any different series, from Castle to Ninjago to City to Blacktron, could easily interact just by stepping through the gate as well as any original concepts as well!

[I also think a couple of stargates could make for a rather nifty set of book ends]

The stargate is free-standing and stable. It features an attachable blue event horizon to simulate the gate being active and a conversion kit to attach the event horizon to the rear of the gate. Otherwise, the ring is open with the backside being near identical to the front, just with different colored plates on the outer rim.

The Jumper features seating for four in the cockpit and another six in the cargo area. Show-accurate retractable defensive weapon pods and engine nacelles are also included and I'm very proud I was able to fit those items into the build without sacrificing the interior. The vessel can be entered by the rear hatch that doubles as a ramp and also has a sliding pressure door separating the cockpit from the cargo module, in case one wishes to open the aft section while in space.

If you look closely in the cockpit, you'll note the pentagonal plate representing the dialing computer used by the flight crew to remotely access the Stargate.

I've also designed a pedestal play set inspired by the Atlantis gate room to house the stargate. It's not show accurate, but it gets the point across, containing two consoles and a DHD ("Dial Home Device" - effectively the control panel used to activate the stargate). The opposite side of the pedestal is modeled after the SGC from where the initial expedition departed to the lost city-ship of Atlantis. The two halves of the pedestal are modular, allowing one to open it up to remove the Stargate and attach the event horizon as desired.

Ultimately, both models are still being refined, every time I think I'm finished I find something else that can be enhanced or otherwise improved, that's half the fun!

Thank you for your consideration and I'll see you on the other side!