New Contest: Pigs on the Wing

From the Mind of Tim "Gambort" Gould came the cave racers.
From the strangeness of Reasonably Clever came the concept of making animals the pilots.
From the magic of Brickforge comes some swanky swag.
(And Prizes from Reasonably Clever and Tim as well!)

Click to read all about it.

New Contest: Clue #3

Full details tomorrow.

New Contest: Clue #2

Full details soon.
Next hint tomorrow at noon.

New Contest

Full details soon.
Next hint tomorrow at noon.

Pumping Iron: Winners Announced

The wait is over! The results are in, the creations have been ranked, and it's time to reveal just who walks away with the prizes from the Pumping Iron contest!

As usual, the top place models were all within a few points of each other - although this time the first place finisher had a good 20 point lead.

I've listed the rankings for the top 20 models - if your model didn't make that grid, you can always claim that your build captured spot #21. I won't argue.

To jump to the winner's grid, click the logo!

I'll be contacting the winners in the next few days to arrange for shipment of your prizes.

Thank you again to everyone who participated! I hope to see all of you again when we announce our next contest! (Probably next week sometime)

Contest Thoughts

Winners in the Pumping Iron Contest will be announced on Friday.

I'm working on concepts for the next contest - I have a theme in mind, but I have to hear back from the potential judges before I move forward with that.

That said, I'm always open to suggestions, ideas, and friend-of-a-friending. Anyone know of a person (or persons) who would make a fun celebrity judge for a contest?

Pumping Iron: GRID IS FINALIZED

The Entry Grid is now FINAL! We have an amazing SEVENTY ENTRIES for our judges to sift through - I'm working up the spreadsheet to be sent out now, and hope to have results back in a week or so.

In the meantime, talk about your favorite entires here - anything inspire you to try your own version? Anything strike you as particularly clever?

(Just don't bash anyone's effort - all our builders deserve respect.)

Pumping Iron: The Final Hours

The Entry Grid has been updated again - we're almost at 60 creations! You still have a few hours to get things submitted - but personally I'd rather be out watching the Iron Man movie.

(Remember, you HAVE TO SEND ME AN EMAIL following the entry instructions to get on the grid. Don't just post a comment, it won't count. And it has to be in my inbox by 2:22am Eastern Standard time on May 3rd.)

I don't envy the judges this time - there's some really funny and creative stuff on the grid. Picking the winners is going to be a tough job.

Pumping Iron: More Entries, BETTER PRIZES

The Entry Grid has been updated again - we're now at 35 models! (We'd be closer to 40, but you HAVE TO SEND ME AN EMAIL following the entry instructions to get on the grid. Don't just post a comment, it won't count.)

I also heard from Will at Brickarms today - amazingly, he's upped the coolness of the Brickarms prize packs!

First through fifth place, in addition to the Exo-Force prize, will now receive a
Brickarms SILVER SERIES III Pack!

The special Brickarms Grand Prize is now a SILVER Ultimate Pack!

What are you waiting for? Go build something!

Pumping Iron: Grid Update and Rules Clarification

The Entry Grid has been updated with all models submitted so far. We're up to 30 models at the moment - and there's some really creative work in there!

I have received a few questions wanting clarification on the rules. My fault, as I wasn't very clear in my restrictions. Let me try and rephrase things:

As long as your creation looks like it's armor designed to be worn by a mini-figure (or whatever scale) you're good to go.

You don't have to build around an actual mini-figure unless you want to.

Or, to phrase it yet another way: If you were to pretend your final model was completely hollow, a person of the same scale should be able to fit inside. Like a suit of armor.

If in doubt, email me with a description of what you're looking at building and I'll give you a thumbs up or down.

In the meantime, I've posted a clarification to the rules page as well.

Remember, you have until 2:22am Eastern Time on May 3rd to get those entries in!

Pumping Iron: Grid Updated

The Entry Grid has been updated with all models submitted so far. We're up to 17 models at the moment.

If you'd like the bragging rights of winning a prize in a Reasonably Clever building challenge, this looks like a good contest to enter - lots of prizes and not that many builders to compete against. (Although there are some really nice models in the running already...)

Why do so few of you share my love of Iron Man? *sigh*

Remember, entries must be in my mailbox before 2:22 AM (Eastern Standard Time) on May 3, 2008.

ETA: Sigh - Blogger not updating again. Note to self: Research MoveableType this weekend.

Pumping Iron: Second Grid Update

I've just posted the next four models (#8-11) to the the Entry Grid. Like last time, I've started creating multiple pages for the entries - 10 per sheet - to help with load times.

Remember, entries must be in my mailbox before 2:22 AM (Eastern Standard Time) on May 3, 2008.

Pumping Iron: First Grid Update

I've just posted the Entry Grid for the models submitted so far. Remember, entries must be in my mailbox before 2:22 AM (Eastern Standard Time) on May 3, 2008.

New Contest: Pumping Iron

Iron Man. You know him. You love him. You wish LEGO would pick up the license and make toys based on him. But you also know that just isn't going to happen.

Iron Man. Cooler than Batman because he's completely bullet proof. And he can fly.

Iron Man. The basis for this month's contest. (So if you honestly don't know who Iron Man is, here's the Wiki on him.)

Over the years, Iron Man's armor has undergone a number of changes. It's been rebuilt, streamlined, melted-down, rebuilt again, modularized, customized and optimized.

One of the coolest ideas about Iron Man, though, is that he has prototype armor designed for special missions. He has a Deep Sea armor. Stealth armor. Space Armor. An armor designed to fight the Hulk. Heck, there's probably even a prototype somewhere of his EZ-Bake Oven Armor.

Your challenge this month is help Iron Man tackle a tough job by designing and building a Special Mission Armor Set.

What special mission? That's up to you. Maybe he's on an Ice Planet. Or fighting Ninjas. Or
Pirates. Or Pirate-Ninjas. Maybe he's just having trouble cashing a check. Surprise us.

This contest runs from April 1st until May2nd - just in time for the US opening of the new Iron Man film!

Sound like fun? Well, we're just getting started!

When it comes to Custom LEGO Weapons there are none better qualified to judge than Will Chapman, founder of
This Tony Stark of LEGO builders will be rating all entries on the key quality of Special Mission Functionality.

Will has also donated weapons from his new mold, not available to the public until mid-April!

Want to learn more? Check out these links!

• Full Contest Info, Including the PRIZE LIST
• The Entry Grid! (with a Sample Entry to get you thinking!)
• Brickarms - because you know you need to know more about them.

Steampunk Winners Announced!

Reasonably Clever's LEGO Steampunk in 50 Bricks or Less contest has reached the end and the results are here! This was an amazingly close contest - and once again everyone who took part is to be commended!

Here's what our Celebrity Judge Jake von Slatt of The Steampunk Workshop had to say:

"Thanks everyone for giving me this opportunity! I was amazed and surprised at the number and variety of entries, when I first read the contest rules I thought 'what can you do with only 50 bricks?' Turns out you can do a lot! The top cluster of entries were pretty tightly matched, and on a different day any one of them might have come out on top. But it's clear that everyone put in a lot creative effort and I'm pleased to see that the Lego-istas (Lego-folk? Lego-nattii?) are such a vibrant part of the Steampunk world!

Cheers,

Jake."

• The Top 13 Models
• A listing of all the entries

I'll be contacting the winners over the next couple of days to arrange for prize selection and distribution.

Once again, a hearty "Thank you" to all who participated, and I hope to see you all again in our next contest. Details on that will be announced April 2nd!

Steampunk: Grid Update - Honorable Mentions

In order to help load times, I've broken up the entry grid into nine parts, with around 10 creations per page.

The final page contains the entries that didn't make the final spreadsheet for one reason or another. I still wanted to showcase the effort those builders made; I consider all of them "Honorable Mentions".

Thank you once again to all the builders - this contest couldn't have happened without you.

Steampunk: Final Entry Grid is Up

I've just uploaded the final entry grid for the Steampunk in 50 Bricks or Less contest. We had a grand total of 83 legal entries* - a record for Reasonably Clever. Thank you to all who participated!

I'll be mailing off the scoring spreadsheet to Jake von Slatt shortly - winners will be announced once he's had a chance to complete things and send it back to me.

*Unfortunately, I did end up having to remove a few models due a lack of parts list/grid as the rules required. We had over 90 models enter the contest.

Steampunk: Problem entries

I'm working up the spreadsheet that I'll be sending to our judge - and I'm marking the entries that haven't met the "show your parts" requirement. Remember: If you don't have either a shot of the parts spread out or a text list of the elements your entry will not be counted. I'm being lenient on this - if you've made an effort to show/list you'll be fine, but please check the list below, just in case. Just giving a total part count IS NOT ENOUGH.

I'll be updating this post as I build the chart in hopes of catching the attention of any problem builders before the entry deadline. Which is tomorrow at midnight (EasternST). Just sayin'.

All entries submitted as of 9:00am on 3/14 have been posted to the grid. If I missed your entry somehow, please let me know asap. Thanks.


Part lists needed:

• Entry #13 By: ArielJ (Mobile Missile Platform (MMP))
• Entry #14 By: ArielJ (The Fabulous Flying Thing)
• Entry #15 By: ArielJ (When Themes Collide (AKA Pohatu on steam))
  
• Entry#16 By: ArielJ (Imperial Army Landing Ship)
• Entry #18 By: Yellost (Jet pack Flier)
• Entry #21 By: takua777 (a steam suit )
• Entry #22 By: takua777 (steam chair)
• Entry #54 By: Roren42 (speeder)

Requests:

• SirNadroj, would you break your flicker stream into a few sets (one-per-entry) so the judge has an easier time of finding the right photos?
  

Post your entries here: Post #2

The first entry post is really quite full - so, to keep from missing anyone, here's a fresh post to enter in. (Previous post is now locked)

Steampunk: Grid Update

The Entry Grid for the Steampunk contest has been updated with ten more creations. This brings the entry total to an astounding 49 models - with more on the way, I'm sure.

A couple of rules clarifications - if you're wanting to cut up the rigid hose that LEGO makes, that's okay, as LEGO does that themselves. Each individual snippet of tube counts as its own element.

The 2 part lever (base and handle) counts as a single element, as that's how LEGO counts it. If you break it up to use the parts in different places, then count it as two parts.

Same thing with the 1x2 hinge brick - for the purposes of this contest, if you use it as a complete assembly then it's one element. If you break it up and use each part individually...then it's two parts.

You have until midnight EST on the 15th to submit your entry. There are some great LEGO kits awaiting the winners!

Steampunk: Entry Grid Update

The Entry Grid for the Steampunk contest has been updated with seven more creations.

Just a reminder, but please include a photo of your creation in "a grid of parts" style, or provide a text listing of the pieces you used. If I can't find either when I'm putting together the Judgment Spreadsheet for our Celebrity Guest Judge, you'll be disqualified. Just sayin'. (I'm going to start compiling that spreadsheet this week, so I can post a warning for anyone who's already entered. But I expect there'll be a rush of last-day entries, and those folks won't have a second chance to provide that part list...)

You have until midnight EST on the 15th to submit your entry. There are some great LEGO kits awaiting the winners!

Steampunk: Grid Updated

The Entry Grid for the Steampunk contest has been updated with eight more creations. This is really shaping up to be a tough competition!

Remember, you have until midnight EST on the 15th to submit your entry. There are some great LEGO kits awaiting the winners!

Steampunk: Entry Grid

Due to technical issues (like, oh, my not confirming you could post images in blog replies...) we've had to tweak the entry process for the Steampunk in 50 Bricks contest.

The only change is that I dropped the "post a sample photo" requirement. All you need to provide commentary and a link to your photos in the entry thread - I'll be taking care of making up a grid of contest entries as I've done for other Reasonably Clever contests in the past. If there's a photo you want to be sure I use as your sample, please make sure I know. (And if you need changes to the way things are displayed on the grid, also just drop me a line.)

It looks like it's going to be a very tough competition - I've just compiled the first 23(!) entries.
You can take a look at them on the Official Entry Grid.

If you've entered and I didn't include your creation, please email me again - I don't think I missed anyone, but it's been a busy couple of days.

Remember: You have until the 15th to post or email me with your entry!

Steampunk: Post your Contest Entries Here

This is it, gang! The time has come to share your Steampunk in 50 Bricks creations! Check the rules by clicking on the logo if you're unsure of what you need to post. If you're having problems, you can also email me and I'll help you get things entered.

Steampunk Contest scores guest Celebrity Judge

This just in! For those of you who were concerned about my possibly grabbing random strangers off the street to rate your Steampunk creations, worry no longer.

Jake von Slatt of The Steampunk Workshop has agreed to serve as judge for our LEGO Steampunk Challenge.

If you're not familiar with his work, I suggest you start out with his amazing Steampunk Keyboard Mod and continue reading with his interview with Wired magazine. You'll soon understand why we're so thrilled Jake was willing to get involved!

Steampunk Contest Reminder

No, I haven't forgotten about this contest, and neither should you:



I'll be making use of a suggestion from the comments and creating a NEW BLOG POST on the 1st where everyone can start sharing their entries. Later, I'll be taking those entries and compiling a standard entry grid like I've done for the past few contests (mainly for our judges' convenience.)

I'm looking forward to what everyone has come up with!

LEGO Steampunk: Sample Entry

Geoffrey H. isn't entering the contest, but that didn't stop him from putting together a great mini-model. I'm going to use it as an example, and to answer some questions people have had about the contest.

The first thing you'll want to share is a photo of your creation:

This photo can be up to 640x480 in size. (The shot above is 366x462)
Yes, this is from LEGO's digital designer. Virtual models are allowed provided you use only parts issued by LEGO. (And in color that have actually been produced!)

Next, you'll want to include a link to any additional photos you have of your model. These can be any size, and as many as you like. If you don't have anywhere to host them, I'd suggest signing up for a free account at Brickshelf or Flikr.

You'll want to use the additional photos to show off your creation. Here's two more that Geoffrey submitted:

One of your shots should be of the parts displayed so we can see all of them. Alternatively, a text listing of the parts you used is welcome. Whichever is easier for you. Basically, we want to see what goes into your model - and keep an eye on that 50 part limit...

Finally, you'll probably want to include a bit of text talking about your model. Here's what Geoffery wrote...

I'm not entering the contest so I figured I'd see what I could throw together in 50 pieces using LDD for the SteamPunk contest.

It's a little blocky, and lacks some decent detailing, but it's an example of what one can throw together using the 50 piece limit.

The boiler assembly was tricky to get as there wasn't really that many elements larger than a 2x2 round brick in the entire LEGO palette. So I opted for a multi-stage boiler with the blue 1x1 rounds representing an input from the reservoir hidden in the base of the vehicle and the output
driver pipe is from the tan 1x1 rounds leading out the other side of the boiler.

Straightforward studs-up construction has been used, no hidden tricks.

I couldn't provide some lunch for the driver, perhaps I could rework it but this is what I came up within a half an hour time limit I set myself - hey building the contest entries shouldn't take much free time out of your day.

I also don't have a name for it. Suggestions welcome.

Cheers ...

Geoffrey H

And there you have it. A nifty non-entry to get your own creative ideas flowing. If you have any more questions about the contest, please post 'em here.

Well, dang.

My Steampunk Falcon didn't even make cut to the second round of the FBTB contest. If the other entries weren't so great, I'd be quite depressed.

As it is, I'm bummed. But whatchagonnado?

*sigh*

Had a good time at the convention - still not home yet.

Here are two Bonus Strips I worked up for the Convention Booklet. It was the first time I'd ever been asked to contribute something like this, and I was more than happy to help out. For those of you looking for a RC fix before Tuesday, here you go.

Strip 1 | Strip 2

LEGO Steampunk in 50 Bricks or Less

Keeping the steam going from the FBTB Steam Wars contest, Reasonably Clever is pleased to announce the following:



This contest will run from February 1st until March 15th - click the logo above to read the full details, rules, and list of prizes!

Workbench: Ian's Steamwheel

Partly as a gesture of goodwill, partly just to see if I could, I spent some time last night trying to convert Ian's Steamwheel from a LEGO CAD file into reality.

Its going...okay. Some of Ian's color choices haven't been released by LEGO so I'm having to tweak the color scheme a bit. There are also a couple of small design glitches (gears not meshing, parts not fitting exactly right) that I don't think anyone could have spotted in the LCAD environment.

Still, it's an interesting challenge. Of course, if this wins over my Steampunk Falcon over in the FBTB contest, I'm going to demand choice parts from Ian's prize set... ;)

Someone else's Contest

For those of you wondering why I haven't posted a new Contest yet, it's because I've decided to enjoy someone else's for a change.

That's right, I've been sucked into

Click the picture to read all about it. (Pops)

Steampunk has been on my mind a lot lately - I was playing around with it a bit when Ian sent me a LDraw Model he had been working on. Then several of my friends emailed me about this contest. I knew I had to enter.

My entry will be ready in the next couple of days - I just need to finish up the engine area and do a bit of detailing. Look for the big reveal this weekend.
(And here's hoping no one else submits a much better rework of the same ship before then!)

Anyway, no new Reasonably Clever Contest until this one has run its course. We'll start something up for the Feb/March timeslot.

Transfomer Challenge - The Results!

The December Challenge is O-VAH!

Midnight has come and gone here in Michigan, and that means I can upload the entries and results of this challenge.

Before I get to that, however, let me first say Thank You to all those who participated. This, as it turns out, was a real bitchkitty of a contest. Maybe the reason there aren't many transforming LEGO sets on the market is because they're really, really tricky to make.
(Crowd to Doyle: DUH.)

We had one more entry before zero-hour, bringing the total Transformer Army to nine. Click on the grid to go to the contest page, where you can check out each entry in detail!

Go ahead. I'll still be here when you get back.

All done? Cool. Then you know who won, who placed, and who tried.

I couldn't have picked a better batch of winners. We had a very multi-faithed winner's circle. - from the commercialized Santa, to a Nativity (well, sort of), to a Jewish dreidel.

Hearty congrats to the three builders who will be receiving prizes: George Fox, Pumpkinetics, and Jonathan Skinner. Look for an email from me later today, guys.

I also want to showcase the work of Phillip Thorne, who sent in a "Contest Non Entry" of his unfinished, but still kick-butt works-in-progress. Check them out here. (Love the hat choice on Santa. Wish I had used that in the strip.)

Finally, Doug7172 had a couple of entries that didn't make it in before deadline, but just barely. Please take a moment and check them out as well.

Once again, thanks to everyone who entered, or at least thought about it!

Now it's time to start brewing up the Deep-Winter Challenge....what shall we build this time?

VS

Transformer Challenge - Final Hours

The December Challenge has entered the final hours - if you're finishing up a build, best get to it! Photos need to be in my mailbox by Midnight EST tonight!

Right now there are eight entries - here's a sneak peek of the entry grid. Check back tomorrow to read all about them - and find out who won!

VS

Transformer Challenge Update

Yes, the December Challenge is still happening. I've just decided to post all of the entires at once - when the contest closes. (So far I have entries from Doug, Pumpkinetics, George Fox, and Dan Main.)

I know this is a change from the normal "post as I get 'em" methodology, but there's only a week left to the challenge anyway.

Next time we'll go back to the normal routine...and hopefully pick a contest that will garner a few more entries!

December Challenge: Too much?

I'm starting to worry that I'm asking too much in the December Challenge. I've had a few folks email me saying as much, and an equal number looking for some hints as to how to get started.

My thought was: if you have any small transforming toys lying around (And I just sort of assumed everyone did) you could look at it and just...copy the bends and twists that make the transformation happen. Yes, I know, that's a bit much to just wish into existence.

That said, I've done some looking on Brickshelf for inspiration, and I've found some neat galleries that might help with ideas and construction tips:

• The Gift
• Trypticon
• Racecar
• Transform-Bot
• Transformers: Evolutions
• X-Wing Fighter
• Prime

But what do you guys think? Shelve the challenge for next year when there's more time to build? Go ahead and see if anyone can figure this out by the end of the year?

I'm tempted to just let it run and see what happens - but the crushing disappointment of a contest that no one enters...can my fragile ego survive that?

VS

December Transformation Challenge: DETAILS!

All the details are up for the December Challenge. Click here to see the page, or just read about it here.

Holiday Transformation Challenge
The final Reasonably Clever Challenge of 2007 is here!

Your job? Build a Holiday Themed Transformer out of LEGO bricks!

Maybe you'll make a Decpticon tree that changes into a robot. Maybe you'll create an Autobot Santa who is also his own sleigh.

Use your imagination, or just watch all those sappy Christmas movies that are on constant rotation on TV these days and drink heavily. It's all the same to us!

Whatever you build, you need to send (CLEAR!) photos of it, along with a short text description to bat_hero@hotmail.com by
Midnight, December 31st!

Entries will be judged on three criteria:

Holiday Mode (25 points)
Robot/Alternate Mode (25 points)
Coolness (50 points)

Enter as often as you like, international entries are welcome.

Why bother? Because you might just win...

1st Prize: LEGO set 6208: Star Wars B-Wing Fighter!
(no box)

or one of THREE 2nd prizes of a Bionicle Inaka 8727 -Toa Jaller

What are you waiting for? Time's running out...go BUILD!

Oh! And here are a couple of Wallpapers for your desktop. Each is at 800x600. Click to open.

Holdiay Transormation Challenge

Details will be up tonight, but I wanted to announce this latest Challenge before time got away from me...



The basic premise is to build me a holiday themed item that transforms somehow. Maybe a Santa who becomes a sleigh, or a tree that turns into a robot. Be creative!

Entries due by December 31st - that gives everyone a chance to build with any new LEGO bricks they get for the holidays...

Anyway, watch the Blog for more details tonight!

A December Challenge?

I was wondering if there'd be any interest in a "Quickie" December challenge?

I was thinking something along the lines of "A Holdiay Themed Transforming MOC"

Like a tree that turns into a robot, or Santa into a a sleigh or something.

I've got some more prizes lying around I'd like to get out of the house before I buy even more when after-Christmas Clearance hits...

Mars Re-Mission: Scoring is on-line!

Just uploaded the scoring chart for the contest - I thought I'd cross-post it here as well, for discussion's sake...

EDIT:

...okay, that's not working. Just go here to look at the table.