Harry Potter The Exhibition

Today, the family went to Brussels Expo because I had tickets for this unique experience. 

It`s an exhibition where a lot of props from the movies are shown, and some interactive things take place as well.  It`s also well noting that it wasn`t allowed to take pictures with the Flash on, which I duly followed (well, for 95% of the time...)

Now, there was a LOT of people, but oddly enough not that many kids in comparison, seems the franchise isn`t as big a craze as it was under the previous generation.  But our personal Harry first needed a little bit of courage to take in.

Now, the first thing that happens when entering is that you can have a memento picture taken, and at 15 euro it ain`t cheap, but with a GF and a Smurf totally crazy about it, that was do-able.

The whole queue and blank venue walls where decorated with wall posters, and then we went inside, where some people would be sorted into their house. 

The Smurf, who had lots of adoring looks (I felt like a dad with a dog in the parc, if you know what I mean ;-) ) was logically picked out and sorted into... Slytherin.

Seems our intrests don`t lie in the same house then...

The first hall detailed the common rooms and teachers of Hogwarts, including the one wizard I really liked, Lockhart.

 One could pull out these screaming plants...

The next part of the exhibition handled the noble sport of Quidditch, including a few rings to toss balls at.  Those balls where a bit heavier then Smurf Potter anticipated ;-)

 Love the Irish uniforms...

 Next, we moved into the Dark Forest and to Hagrid's cabin.  That`s a big chair to fill, and stop looking at those pumpkins!

If such a spider lurked under my bed, you`ll be burying me...

Next came the Dark Arts section, which the kid liked the most.  Here I "sinned" against the Flash rule, as the GF really wanted a decent picture of Bellatrix's gown, as she wants to create it for a cosplay in the future.  But that was the only time, I swear...

Moving to the final exhibition room, we enter the great feasting hall of Hogwarts.  here, amongst others are the dresses of the ball from the 4th movie present.

 Looks like a fun boardgame

 Hmmm, chocolate...

 Yep, and I`ve read somewhere this was indeed inspired by the most gorgeous Star Trek uniforms ever made...

And then of course, there is the merchandise store.  Prices weren`t really that much more then at conventions or online including shipping, so the GF and the Smurf did buy some thingies.  An ink and quill set for her, and a Snape wand and some dark mark tattoos for the kid.  And moi... I didn`t purchase anything as there wasn`t really anything that caught my fancy.

It was a wonderful experience, and if it comes near you, or you still could get tickets, it`s definitly worth it.

It`s also worth it to ask loudly in the crowd if this exhibition is about "that movie where they needed to throw a ring in a volcano".  You`ll get mixed glares casted your way hehehe...

Star Trek Online: Risa Vorgon Xyfius ship

Woopie, got my first Tier 6 vessel.  Well, that`s the good news, on the flip side this years special summer event vessel is a Tactical vessel... and I`m a scientist.

Now, it doesn`t really matter per se what kind of vessel you fly, but I prefer science ships for their bonusses on my main weapon, the Photonic Fleet skill, and their `Target subsystems` special trait.

But at least it`s a free ship that will be of use in the Admiralty system, as it has some great statistics.  Now to keep refining my dilithium and aim for some cool vessel from the ZEN system when the exchange lowers back after the current lockbox craze.  I just wonder how the temporal storyline that will launch this week will work, one of the boxes can contain the "Abramsverse" Enterprise and while I`m not that much a fan of the movie series, it is a damn pretty ship.

Oh heck, I`ll be rolling a toon anyways to play the temporal thingie of the past, and see where that goes in the coming weeks. 

Good times ahead!

Build Report: 40026 Statue of Liberty

What better way to wish my american friends a happy Independance Day then to build an icon of the USA.

And today, we are putting together the Statue of Liberty polybag, which came out in 2012.  It`s a cheap one still to get, going at around 7 euro, but it contained a nice pile of green and tan pieces, making it excellent value.

Opening the bag we get the instructions leaflet and a pile of parts.

First, we build up the soccle of the statue, beginning with a tan plate to which we add detail and height.

Upon this, a grey brick with 4 knobs is placed to accomodate the robes of Lady Liberty.

Green slopes and a jumper then make up her main body.

A green minifigure head is placed on top of this.

Adding a dish for her crown and a torch for the flame, the little build stands completed.

And a few additional pieces are included as well

This is one of those `special case` sets for me.  Up close, it doesn`t look like anything, but when seen from a meter or two away, it does an amazing good job.  A fun little bag, and enjoy your festivities!

Inspirational Lego 77

Another monday, another selection of cool builds I bumped across on the internet.

And we start the week with a bit of a special thingy, being Star Wars... Friends.

I actually kind of like that way of depicting the machines from the franchise, in their all bright and shiny colourscheme.

Okay, so here is a more accurate build from Star Wars then, a GONK droid.

While we all know Game of Thrones, due to it`s mature content, won`t ever be an official Lego set, this moc of Kraster`s House is a fine looking build.

The Gouda, one of the ships of last septembers shipcraze, is a small one person fighter vessel resembling a very, very dutch thingy...

Gundam 00 was a very strong series, and the lead machine, the Exia, looks just fantastic.

While I wasn`t wild about the Will Smith movie I Am Legend, this build does resemble the film very well.

Another film icon, this Lotus Esprit from James Bond is ready to dive out of trouble.

Talking movies, I loved Memphis Belle, the story about the bomber of the a-bomb and his youthfull crew.  This mosaic nicely depicts the plane`s iconic character painting.

A great looking Micky and Minny Mouse build, which looks like it would actually play music.

The final build for this week is this Ford Tudor hotrod, I just adore the way the engine block looks.

Well that was this weeks selection, hope you enjoyed it!

Luuk Luchtwanderlaar's Cabbage Plantation

Part of the ever expanding town of Quinnsville in the Brethren of the Brick Seas building story, the next thing to add onto my list was a plantation.

Now, since the game is set in a Carribean setting, the plantations that have been appearing have mostly been with local crops, like cotton, sugar, etc... 

Luuk? Luuk!?  Are you out there helping your uncle Owen?

Yes aunt Beru, the crops need watering but are doing fine, and the scarecrow we bought from that merchant Jawa'wa seems to do a fine job holding the birds away.  But it still is a mighty boring job.

Oh Luuk, don`t despair.  We need just a few more good crops and then you can join the Lord of Driftwood's fleet of merchant vessels and sail the oceans, until some pirate falls on you as prey and you will be disfigured and sold into slavery like you always dreamed off...

Yay! Thanks aunt Beru! 

So needless to say I wanted to do something different, and in one of those building ideas books I saw cabbages, and liked the way they where represented with green cheeseslopes.  Since green cabbages are an often used veggie out here, I thought it fun to have some farming entrepreneur import them to the island and give the locals a chance to have their dinner there.

I also `dutch-ised` the Luke Skywalker figure from one of the DK books, to fit in the story and with his Tatooine gown he looks good enough to walk the fields of some dusty plantation.  It might also be worth telling that I`m not a Star Wars builder or lover by far, so the figure wasn`t saved for any moc in that direction anyways.

Check this Out: Bouwsteentjes.info

Check this Out is an irregular series of websites, blogs, forums and the likes of people with shared intrests.  

Once in a while, I love to point readers of this little corner of the internet towards them, so they can share in the community, as bloggers have to aid bloggers in small niche hobbies like Lego and such.

There are plenty of them.  Lego fansites, spreading the news and picture leaks that pop over on the internet like wildfire.

But there aren`t many that are in the dutch language. 

Bouwsteentjes is one of the oldest around, running since september 2014 by two dutch blokes I know through Facebook and other social media.  Wesley and Michiel are passionate Lego hobbyists, and they run the site without any obligation to join a club or a forum and the likes.

They do have a Facebook group, Lego Verzamelaars, where you can have a heap of fun and talks, but mind you, NO selling or trading is allowed in there, so if you are looking for another group to sell your sets, don`t bother signing on in that one.

So hop over and have a look at their excellent website!

The Haul Report # 36

Remember when I said that it would be calmer the coming weeks as I`ll be mainly focussing on trading for loose parts?

Well, it was a storm of laughter that came my way... which I understand, but just look at this weeks haul:

That`s it.  Two Disney minifigures.  I traded them with a fellow BeLUG member, he needed two I had to complete his collection, I picked two from the ones he had to trade that I could use for my builds, especially the heads, hairpieces and accessories.

And that`s it.  Nothing more, nothing less came my way the past week.

I`m proud of myself hehehe...

Buccaneer - Tim Severin

The second book of the four Hector Lynch adventures by Tim Severin, it picks up where we left of in the first volume, a board a small pirate vessel on it`s way to Jamaica.

It`s also the 20th book I`ve read this year, so that is one thing to be scratched off the goals list.

Hector has roused Captain Coxon (a true historic figure) that he was a nephew of Sir Thomas Lynch, but soon this is discovered.  Fleeing the fury of Coxon, he ends up in a great trek of pirates into the jungles of Panama, trying to find a gold mine and big wealth.

Together with his friends Dan, Jacques and Jezreel, they escape the spaniards with barely their lives, but manage to capture a galleon, the Trinity, which is to become their home for the next year.  They ply the trade lanes, and stumble upon a small merchant vessel, where Hector falls for the charms of the servant maid Maria.

Upon his return to england, he is brought to court for piracy, but Maria`s confession unexpectantly saves him from the noose.  He now wants to become a navigator... and look for the girl he loves.

This book was another enjoyable read, and so far I have been fond of the series.  I wonder where the seas will ferry Hector next...

Second Give-away: Nexo Knights Knight's Cycle

Welcome all to the second give-away I`m running for the Society, and this time it`s one that will run from now until the 31st of July.

The video with all the information is on YouTube, and you can also see it below, as well as what you have to do to have a chance to win this FREE polybag.

Keep in mind, all the stuff you need to do to win are over on the YouTube channel, so make sure to comment there and not here if you want to enter and have a go at it.

Best of luck, and spread the word!