FAQ Q: How are the models made? A: They are made with LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) Q: How are the models rendered? A: You need two programs first "LDD to POV-ray" to convert a LDD model to a POV-ray file and then POV-ray" to render the model. take notice that it will use the view angle from LDD Q: Are all the models originals? A: Most are but a very few are rebuilt from images found with google Q: What scale are the models? A: I have found that the messurement 1 stud = 33cm (/ 1 foot) works well in relation to a minifig all models are made as close to real life scale as possible Q: What are the detail limitations? A: They are as close as possible but details under 33x33cm (1x1foot) are usually oversized on the models or skipped entirely, altso a common model error is the cockpit canopy as the LEGO pieces are limited to Original LEGO parts Q: Are the models to scale in all planes? A: No, allthough lenght and width is off by max 33cm (1foot) the models are not to scale in height due to the fixed LEGO brick size, that beeing said, i try to make it the aproximate height by eyeballing it so that it looks right. Q: How do you start to build a Model? A: I open wikipedia and find the meassurements of the model (usually near the bottom of the article), the main numbers are lenght and max width, i then launch LDD and use 3x1 flat bricks (1m/3feet) to mark up the size of the model. Then (depending on what i build, lets say a airplane) i start out by building the wings, angles are important here and is it is off the model will never be good, if i cant eyeball the angles and dimentions i copy a image of the model into Mspaint and meassure it with lines there. after the main wings are good i start on the alerons and tail, after those are done i just connect them all with TEMP bricks in their aproximate position, the fuselage(body) is usually fairly easy to build and straight forward , the nose and cockpit are the usual head scratchers (it will need to hold a minifig with a helmet) and if i got a model that is simmilar i will just copy it and modify it to fit, on a few occations i cheat and do a google search to see how other people has done it and copy them. The last thing i do is details, clean up the model and if it is a fighter i usually give it a realistic combat load. If it is a ship i start with the main deck, i find a overhead image of the model and eyeball the curves, then i build up the superstructure and if it is a military ship i equip it with weapon systems, then depending on how many bricks i have placed i decide if i will build the bottom or not. Q: How many bricks can you place in on model? A: LDD has a maximum limit on 77,000-ish parts but in reality it depends on your CPU, my last PC with a AMD Phenomx4 CPU started to lag at 11,000 parts and crashed at 13,000 parts, my new PC with a Intel I7-4770K CPU handles 17,000 parts before it starts to lag and crash at 20,000 parts. The size at the model is also crucial, an American Super-carrier sized model is simply too big and you cant see the other end of it as it is outside of render range, this usually means that a crash will occur at wastly lower brick counts or at random times. Q: Have you seen your models evolve as times go by? A: Absolutely i have done this for years and a few of my earlier models are simply not up to par, one of my first models was a Eurofighter but when i compare it to some of my recent models i find it substandard and hard to recognize, one day i will rebuild it though. Q: How long time does it take to build a model? A: A fighter plane takes 3-4 hours, a ship takes everything from 3-8 hours but i usually build it over a few days so its not like i build it in one go unless im really hyped. Q: Who are you? A: Im a 32 year old man with a 3 year old child and a lovely wife, i live in Norway Q: Do you build with real LEGO? A: Sadly, not for a while. I got a crate of LEGO stashed in a dark corner on the attic. but it is a living dream that my kid will like it as much as i did when i was a child. Q: Do you try to use standardized templates for things? A: Yes i got LDD save files with a bunch of scale built things like Missiles and Weaponsystems, its a simple process of opening the file and just select what i need and copy it back to what im building. It saves alot of time and gives some consistencies between the models. I have uploaded my most used LDD template saves to Brickshelf. Q: What is your favorite/least favorite model? A: Hard to say, I like the shape of the F16 so much that i would choose it, Although the Hind is by far the most challenging model i used a model from google so i cant take full credit for it (but i did build it from 1 single image so it was by no means a easy challenge). My least favorite of my posted models is easy, as i feel my F15 model is to much off, and i plan on a major modification / rebuild soon.