LEGO: My Micropolis Module

Just in time for Brickworld, I've finally gotten around to building my own Micropolis Module. It's a 1/2 block showing LEGO mining in downtown Micropolis.



Most of the action takes place below street level, taking advantage of the four-plate-workable-depth of the base. Features include a wee little crane, bull dozer, and security checkpoint. (Click on the photo to go back to my Flickr photostream for more.)

Maybe not the most original work in the universe, but not too bad for a first attempt. If you're at Brickworld, see if you can find my module in the big collaborative display.

Micropolis returns at Brickworld!

And now, a message from TwinLUG:

The contest may be over, but the FUN doesn't have to stop!

The first-ever massive Micropolis collaborative layout will be held at Brickworld this year.

Your task: To construct one or more Micropolis modules to add to the huge city layout.

The micropolis standard can be found here: http://twinlug.com/micropolis-micro-city-standard/ and a number of sample MOCs built according to the standard can be found filling the entry grids from our last contest.

We are hoping to have a HUGE layout, and already have a large number of modules confirmed.

Get building, and have fun!

Bad Day: Bad Day Winner!

It's time to wrap up the Bad Day contest. All this week we've been revealing the winners in each category, leading up to the big one...the Bad Day itself.

This was the most-entered category - probably because the top prize was that uber-sweet set, 7637 - Farm. Yes, builders will go a long way to take home a couple of Holsteins.

Like the Basic Module results, I've modified the entry grid to show the ranking of the top ten models with the rest of the crowd under the well-deserved heading of "Honorable Mentions."

But you can find out the top prize winner by just reading on...

Roguebantha's A sad day

Yes, the same model that claimed the Special Judge's Prize was also the model that unanimously earned top honors from the contest judges. Can you blame us? Just look at that model. Just LOOK AT IT!

Clever, well designed, and an AFOL in-joke all in one. It tugs at the heartstrings with the message that some disasters are personal in scope. Well played, Roguebantha. Well played.

Actually, all of our contestants did very well. The strict building rules may have kept the number of entries down, but it also helped keep the quality of those entries uniformly high. I consider this one of the most successful contests so far.

And, remember, just because this contest has ended there's no reason to give up on Micropolis. TwinLUG is going to have a display at BrickWorld where everyone is welcome to contribute a module. Take advantage of this chance to build with a larger crowd! I know I'm looking forward to the chance.

A special thank you to TwinLUG, our Judges, and all those who took part in the competition!

Bad Day: DoublePlusGood Module Winners

The Bad Day contest parade of winners continues today with the DoublePlusGood Module category.

The top model in this category scored LEGO Set 7945 - Fire Station, with the second place finisher taking home set 4916 - Mini Animals.

As I mentioned yesterday, this was another tough category for the judges. All six of the submitted models were of superior quality and the voting was extremely close. Once again, though, there was a clear winner once the points were average out.

Who was it, you ask? Well read on....

Brian Kasprzyk's

Empire State Building / Independence Day

Truly an impressive build, no? The before-and-after versions were a plus, but it was the overall construction that sold this model for me. Just because it's Micropolis doesn't mean it can't be a freakin' HUGE build.

Take a look at other entries to see more quality work - and see the results of the very close race for 2nd place.


Coming up is the big reveal of the most active category - the BAD DAY. Who won THE FARM? Who came close? Tune in tomorrow and see!

Bad Day: Double Module Winners

The Bad Day parade of winners continues today with the Double Module category.

The top model in this category scored LEGO Set 7632 - Crawler Crane, with the second place finisher taking home set 4916 - Mini Animals.

Before the reveal, let me say that both the Double and DoublePlus categories were extremely tough for the judges. We only had a handfull of entries, and all of them were top quality work. Still, someone had to win...

Rook's
FutureTown: Repair Shop and Landing Port

The judges were mixed on who should earn top honors, but the average point total put Rook's effort at the head of the pack by a full point. Personally, I think that's due to the stylish twist on his Landing Port sub-module.

Again, this was a tough call - take a moment and bask in the creative glow from the other entries. It'll be well worth your time.


Tune in tomorrow for the DoublePlusGood Module winners!

Bad Day: Basic Module Winners!

The Bad Day parade of winners continues today with the Basic Module category.

The top model in this category scored LEGO Set 4210 - Coast Guard Platform, with the second place finisher taking home set 4916 - Mini Animals. (Not wanting to wreck the final reveals on who won what, winners will be contacted early next week to arrange shipment of the major prizes.)

So...who won this category?

Vito's Twin Tower Hotel

The judges were unanimous in declaring Vito's model "Best of Show" in the Basic Module category. For me, the innovative detail of the window-washing platforms was the "little something extra" that made this model stand out from the crowd.

All the models were very well done, though. The top five placements are identified on the revised Entry Grid - with the remaining models all earning an "Honorable Mention" status.

Tune in tomorrow for the Double Module winners!

Bad Day: Time to start announcing the winners!

The Bad Day contest is over...and the judges have all responded with their rankings!

Every day this week at noon I'll be announcing another group of winners from the contest...starting today with Special Guest Judge Mariann Asanuma's favorite creation. This builder will receive a free copy of Mariann's book - "Building Secrets from the Masters - How to Build a Round Ball with Square Bricks."

And the winning entry is....

Roguebantha's A sad day

My disaster isn't he biggest but it may be the saddest. The 200 year old chestnut tree behind Cafe Corner and beloved by generations of children has been struck by lightening! Will it survive?!

More at Flickr

Mariann had this to say about the model:

This was a pretty hard decision! I liked a lot of the entries and I had a several favorites. But when it got down to it, I had to decide on Roguebantha's A sad day. Although there were a lot of really good entries. I was judging on the intricate details and the overall "story" of the model. Even though it wasn't the biggest "disaster" model, I thought it had a lot of heart and some very clever techniques.

Tune in tomorrow to find out who took home prizes in the Basic Module category!

Bad Day: Entry Grids are closed!

The Bad Day contest has ended, the entry grids have been updated with the expected rush of last minute creations, and now the anticipation builds as things are turned over to the judges.

I hope to have the grading spreadsheets in the judge's hands in the next couple of days - hopefully we'll be able to begin announcing winners late next week.

The final count was 45 legal creations spread over the four categories. We saw the most action in the Bad Day grid - looks like a lot of you wanted a shot at the Farm. Can't say I blame you.

A warm thank you to TwinLUG for sponsoring this contest and to all the builders who took the time to compete! And don't forget - if you're attending Brickworld in June, there's going to be a huge Micropolis layout you can take part in. So, even now, it's not too late to be thinking about building for Micropolis!

Bad Day: Let the rush of final entries begin!

The Bad Day contest ends soon - this Sunday, in fact. You've still got time to build an entry - and while there's some really good entries up already, the strangely low turnout for this contest so far means you can still claim a large share of the spotlight. I've updated the entry grids with the entries I've received so far - as of 10:00am EST on Friday. (Blogger seems to be having FTP update issues again, so who know when this will post.)

Remember, you have until May 3rd to get your entries in! Get to building!

Roguebantha's entry: A Sad Day.

Bad Day: Things get worse (or better, depending.)

The Bad Day gets worse for the citizens of Micropolis - another batch of entries arrived over the weekend. I've updated the entry grids with them - browse and be amazed!

We scored a blog mention over at The Brothers Brick, so hopefully we'll be reaching a even wider audience with this contest. Reasonably Clever fans have had a few extra weeks to work on their creations, though, so I'm still hoping for a "home team" advantage.

Remember, you have until May 3rd to get your entries in!

Ian Healy's entry: Cthulu Released.
If a busy webcomic author like Ian has time to build and entry, so do you!

Bad Day: An Entry for every Grid

More submissions to Bad Day have arrived...and now there's a contender for every category. So someone is going to win those fabulous LEGO sets. It could even be you...but if you don't play your odds of winning a prize are, frankly, pretty bad.

I've updated the entry grids - take a look at the competition and then get to building! Remember, you have until May 3rd to get your entries in. You can enter a model in each of the four categories if you're feeling particularly competitive!

(Mookage's entry: Big-Head Rex versus the Lava Scorpion : Smackdown Downtown.)

Bad Day: More entries ahoy!

More submissions to Bad Day have arrived...and I've updated the entry grids to hold them. Looks like we might just have a fight on our hands for those excellent prizes.

Remember, you have until May 3rd to get your entries in. Or it could be a really Bad Day for you as well!

(Dragma's entry: Tsunami bad day.)

Bad Day: First Entries are up.

The first submissions to Bad Day have arrived...and I've created the entry grids to hold them. I'm a bit concerned, though...is no one competing this time around? Or are you all waiting until the last moment?

You do have until May 3rd to get your entries in, of course. But right now I'm worried that the Micropolis might start to resemble Detroit...

(This is Brick Alchemist's Vacant Lot Entry. Timely, no?)

New Contest! Bad Day for Micropolis

It's time to announce the next Reasonably Clever contest! This time, we've teamed up with TwinLUG.com to present a challenge unlike any we've offered before. Working within the Micropolois Standard, it's time to bring on the disasters.

Click the pic for details!