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Swert

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Blog Entries posted by Swert

  1. Swert

    The Tower of Plimps

    By Swert,

    Basically, it's a ToP. It's for the Minecraft scene my studio's been building that will be at Emerald City ComiCon.
     
    And I had to fight an uphill battle just to even get this built. Seriously, nobody else knew about it except me. I'm just not regretting it at all.
     
    Also to answer a question that will be asked, we got a lot of that gold brick from both the 50th anniversary tubs and the 2x2 came in those golden ornament packs.
  2. Swert
    So I should disclose, I have too much stuff. Like seriously, -too much stuff-. For about 10 years I only had one big shelf to work with. It wasn't nearly good enough to display anything with. So, now that I can officially say I am old enough to have whatever I desire, I bought 3 brand new bookcases for my room.
     
    Basically, I cleaned up my room. Shocker for me, really.
     
    Link to OneDrive folder (public for all, read only, no login required)
     
    I took 9 photos in total, each showing one section of the bookcase in total. The last photo in the folder was taken after I made some minor changes, but was taken so you could see all of it relative to each other.
     
    Basically yeah, it's a pretty spiffy setup for me, and I'm happy with it. I just wish I had more shelving to make room for some of the newer sets coming my way (Eyeing buying myself ECTO-1, and I also spotted the new Eiffel Tower, plus I plan to buy Wyldstyle's motorcycle set in March.)
  3. Swert

    Earworm songs

    By Swert,

    You know, I don't get it. Everybody says Everything Is Awesome is stuck in their heads, though it isn't in my head. I've even been playing the Lego Movie videogame and they play it every time you obtain an objective, and it STILL isn't stuck in my head.
     
    Having said that, I somehow got all of the songs from RWBY Volume One's soundtrack stuck in my head now. Perhaps it was a -bad- idea to download both soundtracks to my phone on the same day.
     
    Also blah boredom and blah busy work schedule.
  4. Swert
    http://www.empmuseum.org/at-the-museum/upcoming-exhibits/block-by-block-inventing-amazing-architecture.aspx
     
    The same exhibit I blogged about back in the summer that went to West Palm Beach, FL in the Norton Museum of Art is now in the EMP Museum in Seattle, WA. Build by Dan Parker and his crew at TbP Group in Tacoma, WA (of which I am the shop foreman of) it features 10 skyscrapers of various sizes and colors, from across the world.
     
    The models include One World Trade Center, the Hearst Building and the Fuller Flatiron from New York City, the Space Needle from Seattle, Willis Tower from Chicago, and more. There is also a build area set up near the models for kids to play and build their own skyscrapers to add to the EMP's Mini Megalopolis.
     
    I will personally say I was looking forward to this one being built up for months now. The 10 models are in the home state they were created in, on display in a beautiful building, and I was given the opportunity to set them up myself. I am particularly proud of my Taipei 101 model, which was designed by both Dan and me.
     
    I hope to have a gallery of photos to share soon with everyone.
  5. Swert

    Seattle Seahawks FC

    By Swert,

    So, I was browsing the web the other day, and I saw a collection of logos based around the NFL teams with both German and Italian Football (Soccer) club logo concepts. I was impressed, but the two Seattle ones were kinda meh. So I made my own using a better shield.
     
     



    (The watermark's kinda to keep someone from stealing it and calling it their own outside of BZP. That'd irk me to no end if someone had.}
     
    It could use work, I'm not a fan of those stripes (I'd like to find a better solution) but I'm keeping those feathers. Man, that was hard to make into a pattern.
     
    So yeah, comments? If I gain interest, -maybe- I'll consider the other 31 teams. No promises, this one took me an entire evening to conceive in my head.
  6. Swert

    I accidentally Gaming

    By Swert,

    So back on Friday, during the huge flood of Steam sales, Bioshock Infinite was one of those games on sale. I didn't buy it.
     
    But I was gifted it by a friend as an early Christmas present
     
    So now I'm playing it off-and-on (CURSE YOU WORK! *shakes fist*) and enjoying it immensely.
     
    ... Granted, had I not read the spoilers like a month after it came out, I'd probably enjoy the twists more. But fortunately knowing the story is actually not enough to prepare me for some of the twists and turns it has.
     
    I also have to continue playing Assassin's Creed 4, but I finished that main storyline already (Man that was a thing, wasn't it?) and I had a chance to play Forza 5 during Thanksgiving at my brother's (got an achievement, w00t! ... It was for completing a race, not so w00t.) I managed to smoke him in the last race, when he commented "This isn't going to fair, this is just for my amusement." He proceeded to spin out off the track twice, and I took the opportunity to catch up and blocked him from ever passing me. The satisfaction of seeing him go "Oh come on!" (in less BZP-friendly terms, I might add) is always satisfying.
     
    So yeah, that was a thing. I'll probably go play more Bioshock after work tomorrow. I also helped a buddy in Minecraft with some things he was having trouble with, but turns out he just needed a kick in the rear end to get an idea going. Let this blatant foreshadowing sink in for a bit. Of course, by now nobody's reading this part except for maybe you (yes YOU John!) and has no idea what I'm talking about. Ho hum.
     
    Man I should sleep.
  7. Swert

    What have I done?

    By Swert,

    No seriously, what have I done? Well, I saw a photo of Turakii on Facebook earlier, and someone said it looked like she belonged on a movie poster.
     
    So I put her on one. Along with Toa Lhikan Hordika. And myself as Loki.
     
    Note, I didn't want it to be a perfect photoshop job. I just wanted it done for humor purposes. And yes, the tie is REQUIRED.
  8. Swert
    .... Me.
     
    So yeah, picked up this gem at the studio, it was part of a glued TRU/Target/Walmart/WHERVER DAN PICKED IT UP display. Fortunately for me, they only use hot glue.
     
    It only occurred to me when I was on the phone with Electric Turahk that I had picked up what is essentially Lhikan's Hau.
     
    ... Whoops.
     
    Anyway, planning to make it a Lego-pure wearable mask. I have ideas in mind, including the rubber axle connector trick, or using the treads option (we have plenty in the studio). I've got at least 3 connecting points to work with, and I could always hang 'em off my glasses if worse came to it.
     
    I do plan to fill in the hole with dark red material to make it more in line with a Hau, though. That and there's some glue residue and scuffing from when I had to remove the Rhotuka (I kept that as well, btw.)
     
    Lastly, I also nabbed a near-mint condition Kahgarak gold head and a set of the pincers. I plan to buy material to build the body up, and have a fully restored Kahgarak for my collection. Or I could build a better one for myself, whichever becomes cheaper down the line.
     
    So yeah.... I'm doomed
  9. Swert
    Hey everyone,
     
    So, I finally looked around and realized, given how busy I've been, I haven't done anything on BS01 lately in terms of changing out the main page's feature content. Granted, a certain podcast interview miiiiight have been an influence on that front. Anywho.
     
    So, because we've had Core War, The Coming of Botar and Gali's quote featured for what feels like months now, I'm open to suggestions. Please feel free to post your suggestions in a reply, and I'll get right on it... Friday. I'm working Thursdays :|
     
    Thanks!
  11. Swert

    Top ten... whatevers.

    By Swert,

    #1) Lego
    #2) Bionicle
    #3) Internets
    #4) Peace
    #5) Land
    #6) Bread
    #8) There is no seven
    #7) This is #8
    #9) Confused yet?
    #10) Me too.
    #11) Wat?
     
    Long day at work, fad on the blogs started, I jumped in on it, typical Swert behavior.
  14. Swert
    For no reason whatsoever, the Staff Survivor game got overrun by BS01 staff?
     
    That'd be hilarious.
     
    Also I just got done with a huge week of work, gluing a commissioned mosaic designed from scratch. I'm tired, but I still have one more day to work on the week alone, and I have to prep for a birthday party with a Technic theme.
     
    Yes, there's some Bionicle in the pack, but not much. We also have almost every Star Wars technic droid set going towards it, too. I've gotta finish repairing the Droideka and the Pit Droid, but the others appear okay (skipping C-3PO and one of the Battle Droids we had.)
     
    Fun times.
  16. Swert

    The 13th Doctor

    By Swert,

    Seriously, given the arguments I'm hearing today, it seems the 13th doctor should be a 10 year old redheaded girl.
     
    That covers -everything- the people wanted in the Doctor right there.
  17. Swert

    Man, Cincinnati...

    By Swert,

    It's raining like crazy over here.
     
    Oh, and it's 6 AM. I'm still on PDT mindset.
     
    HOORAY FOR REDEYE FLIGHTS!
     
    I'll be in Detroit by 11 AM their local time. So 8 AM my time.
     
    I need a nap x_x
  18. Swert
    This is basically a log of what transpired last weekend for me. Both the good... the bad... and the epic.
     
    On Friday evening, I flew out from Seattle at 11:15 PM PDT. At this point, I was awake since noon. I did not sleep on the flight, and I did not sleep again until 3 AM Sunday morning. I then arrived in Cincinnati around 6 AM EDT. From there, I waited 3 hours til 9:45 AM, where I departed towards Detroit Metro Airport.
     
    Once I touched down and collected my bag, I walked out and met up with Toa Lhikan Hordika (henceforth referred to as "TLH") and Lady Kopaka (henceforth referred to as "LK"). I then got a call out to Avohkah Tamer (henceforth referred to as "AT") and got his ETA for when we can check in at the hotel. From there, we went to TLH's parents' house. For the record, TLH was marrying Turakii (henceforth referred to as "Turakii"... redundant, I know.)
     
    Once there, we ended up with a huge downpour and thunderstorms. I got a photo taken with my phone of the aftermath between myself and TLH:
     
     
     

    We're just a bit damp... just remember that the shirt I'm wearing is LIGHT blue, and that gives you context on HOW damp.

    From there, we went to go meet back up with AT, and enjoy a wonderful day of just getting to know the real us for awhile. This lasted with a group party until like 1 AM. AT and I then went to our hotel room and crashed for 2 hours until sleep.
     
    The next day is where the big stuff happened, really. First off, I woke up and got ready for the wedding. I elected to ride with a fellow wedding attendee (he was at the same hotel as us) so AT could go do other stuff, and we got elected to go pick up a giant gorilla stuffed animal (there's a backstory to it, we shall not be repeating here) for photos for the wedding reception.
     
    This is where things took a negative tumble for a bit.
     
    On the way to the church, we were pulling in on a left turn, and we got smashed in the side by a driver coming from the opposite direction. The short story is we believe he was speeding, and we KNOW he didn't attempt to stop, and I am perfectly fine injury-wise. I have some skin abrasion on my arm, but otherwise I'm just fine.
     
     
     

    The gorilla in the truck, pre-accident. No photo exists of the aftermath, I was too traumatized by it (as you could well imagine).


    Coming from this low, we could only go up from there.
     
    Anyway, wedding happened, then reception, finally got to the end of the evening where AT and I sat and watched YouTube by hooking my laptop up to the HDMI of the hotel TV and tethering to his phone's 4G connection (who needs hotel TV? YOUTUBES!)
     
    The next day, we all arrived at TLH's parents' house to pick up LK and go to the airport. TLH, Turakii, LK and I were flying out that day to respective places, they went to Washington DC, I went to the real Washington. Keeping in mind at this point I was terrified of EVERY SINGLE DRIVER IN MICHIGAN NOT NAMED TLH OR RELATED, this trip to the airport was less than thrilling.
     
    After lunch at the airport, I walked all the way down to the gate I was departing from, after a heartfelt moment of hugs and goodbyes for us. I then snapped a photo of the happy couple before I left.
     
     
     

    Why must she photobomb me when departing? Now I'll never remember her for not being non-photobombing.

    On the flight back, I just cruised by and watched the tops of clouds and lands. It was a memorable flight, and I landed safely (much smoother than the one in Cincinnati, I might add) and took a bus back to Lakewood.
     
    All in all, a wonderful little trip, though I think I made them promise me I didn't have to do the car accident bit over again if I go back that way. It's a shame I couldn't go to BrickFair (I worked the very next day, and Dan's already making sure I won't forget it) but I'm sure everyone going will be happy there.
     
    Plus, I got to witness the beginning of a new chapter for two people. I'll take that over a convention every single time, no questions asked. I'm sure I am not the only one in this mindset.
  19. Swert
    Man, this week.
     
    So, tomorrow at around 11:15 PM PDT I fly out towards Cincinnati, where I then wait for 3 hours at 6 AM local time (EDT) to 9 AM to catch a flight to Detroit. From there, I get to meet awesome people and attend a wedding the next day. Wootness to that.
     
    Meantime, since last Tuesday I was working on a megafig version of a wonderful character to build in Lego, that being Iron Man. The chest was a combination of the Mk III Arc Reactor core, plus the Mk VI styling and a hint of Mk. VII detailing. The legs were based on Mk. III. The head was the run-of-the-mill one Lego releases with every Iron Man set so far, excepting War Machine; In other words, Iron Man.
     
     
     
     



    Head needs work, I want to redo the legs (they were done back in April, so I'm not ashamed of that) and the chest should get more black lines. I -love- the use of Xpods for the thruster exhaust on the feet.
     
    And yes, there's plenty of dark red material in it. I ain't even mad.
     
    So there ya go, Iron Man. One of 5 superheroes ready to be displayed (and will be displayed at great lengths).
  22. Swert
    Whew!
     
    Okay, so... for the past 6 weeks or so, I've been swamped at work. I've had to build 10 large skyscrapers (4 to 9 feet in height, pure Lego no gluing) plus set up for another show in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (which we handled, the client loved it, they want more work, yay us). This is literally the first night I've had where the next day I get to do absolutely nothing. I'm going to be seeing Man of Steel in the morning. NO SPOILERS KTHX. (Cue the several "HE'S FROM KRYPTON!", "HE'S CLARK KENT" and "HE'S SUPERMAN" replies.)
     
    I'll try to get photos to you guys asap. So far, the exhibit's still being set up down in Florida.
     
    Meantime, I'm just posting here to show up again and assure people I'm still alive. However, I just learned today I missed out on booking a hotel in Seattle for BrickCon.
     
    ... ALL the hotels in Seattle, that is. Guess I'm busing it in every morning.
     
    Great.
  23. Swert
    This is what I've spent my entire time the past month and a half on. We do not have public photos of all the models just yet, but we do have one with a photo of a commemorative model that we are giving away 25 of on our social media page. The requirements involve having a photo of yourself in both the Space Needle observation deck and one of the Willis Tower skyboxes, plus 'liking' our page. (For more information on the model itself, contact me via my email, swertmastra (at) gmail.com)
     
     



    The event goes on starting from June 20th, 2013 til October 20th, 2013 at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, FL. Price of admission is $12 for adults, $5 for Students (with valid photo ID) and free for children aged 12 and under. Thursdays are free admission through June, July and August.
  24. Swert

    What's Krakalin, BZP?

    By Swert,

    No seriously, I honestly have no idea where BMan got the name. So what is it?
     
    Anyway, some things to note, since I feel it's noteworthy:
    BS01's prank was written last-minute on March 31st by a team consisting of Zo'Tomana, Cholie and myself. Kayru and BMan offered input later.
    The prank concept was about a week old. It was literally started up in a conversation between like 5 staff members. We waited until the last minute to post it.
    I actually did my part this time around (though it seems unnecessarily) to lead a misdirection on everyone. If you recall, I had two blog entries related to a 'GL01' concept, between a logo and a suggestion for one. That was the misdirection. It failed, but nobody saw our prank coming anyway. So it succeeded.
    This was the fourth worst thing I could have done. Let that one sink in for a second.
    Alternatively, I could have done the following:
    Faked evidence that Bionicle was returning (I'm seriously glad I didn't do that one, in hindsight.)
    Faked evidence that a new buildables line was coming (I was leaning towards fake Doctor Who, but that required work)
    Posted that I was acquiring BZPower (ALSO glad I didn't do that, in hindsight.)
    So to answer a question I see being asked a lot, none of the answers on the topic were legit. Basically, I sat here in a Skype call and gave 90% of the answers. Input was put in to flesh them out, so at the end I'd say about 30-40% of what you saw was from me.
     
    Oh, and there was also a deleted answer from that list. A question was asked about Jaller transporting back up to the Red Star and returning by Takutanuva. I had a wonderful answer for that I now quote:
     
    "The rest of the story takes place in Jallers head as he dies."
     
    I think this one was a tossup to keep or remove. Obviously the entire list screamed prank, but leaving this one in would have seal it away. BMan decided to remove it. I think it's best we did, but I still feel good to share it.
     
    Now think about that one for a second: 2004-2010, all in Jaller's head as he slips into a coma. I think it'd make for a doozy of a theory, don't you agree?
     
    (I could write a whole blog entry on that one alone, too. I just might.)
     
    Anyway, prank over. Glad you guys enjoyed it. Please forward all pitchfork and torch assaults to my new home, Dorek's house. Kthx.
  25. Swert
    Life is too crazy, everyone.
     
    So I now have about one month to immediately blitzkrieg build 8 new tall buildings, some Patent models, fix up our Monticello we have, plus some other minor things, then pack them all up and ship them freight to Florida and Michigan.
     
    I am very proud of one of my models, which I will be posting soonish. It's a recreation of the Lego model #10124 Wright Flyer Creator Expert, built in close to 1/2 its scale. My boss was so happy with it, he immediately photographed it and plans to put it on our social media page. I'll be getting that photo later today. I have other photos as well, so I may just make a topic about it instead of a blog entry.
     
    Overall, it's hectic to say the least. At least I've had plenty of chances in the studio to use the new laptop. I'm very much adjusted to W8 now, I can't imagine why there's still holdouts for it.
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