Production notes for The Adventures of Diavo and Joe, Episode VII: Enter The Stargate.
coolestintentions@gmail.com

 

How'd they do that?

 

The Stargate

I saw a CG Stargate online of similar design and liked it.  I made a smaller version with only 7 chevrons (instead of 9, but the bottom 2 you rarely see in the TV show).  It consists of 103 pieces.  I counted & categorized the pieces in case I decide to see if bricklink.com has those pieces in dark grey -- the SG would look better in dark grey instead of normal grey, but I work with what I have.

 

The Stargate's Inner Ring Turning

Once I made my Lego Stargate, I needed an inner ring.  My best idea was to make one in Photoshop, print it out, then attach it.  I did this (33 glyphs out of 37).  When I went to attach the ring, I only just put the lower part between the Stargate itself and the steps leading to it, and it stayed in place thanks to the triangles which overhang.  Then it was a matter of having patience to turn the ring a little, take a shot, turn, take, turn...

 

The Stargate's Chevrons

Each chevron (the triangles that lock onto a glyph) consists of 2 sloped bricks which mirror each other, with a 1x1 round stud in between (grey normally, translucent orange when locked).  I painted a black stripe on each sloped brick to add just a little detail.  They are attached to the Stargate by... double-stick tape.  I cheated, yes, but the mounting alternative in pure Lego was too clunky.  The chevrons I made are better IMHYCO than anything else I've seen in Lego online, plus mine are functional -- they move to lock in a glyph!

 

Transport Rings

These came out really impressive when animated in the movie.  They are made of 4 black arches each, pieced together.  On the nearby wall is a section of studs which they attach on to.  Then you put the first one on the top just on camera, then move it down 1 stud, then 2 studs, then 2 studs, then 3 until it gets in place at the bottom.  This creates an excellent acceleration effect.  For the teleport light I used a portable lamp and brought it closer each frame until maximum brightness, removed D&J, then brought the light away.

 

Jaffa Helmets

I took the dragon helmets from an era of Lego castle sets and added a solid black face plate from the old Blacktron space sets: they clipped on nicely.  Then I dry-brushed the whole thing with light grey to show some detail, then I painted the eyes of the dragon on top red (although I wish they stood out more).  Voila: the Lego version of the Jaffa snake helmets.  Originally I thought I might make snake helmets out of clay, but I'm glad I thought of this idea: a homage to classic Lego and more original and creative than emulating the Stargate SG-1 helmets.

 

Eyes Lighting Up

Just a pair of lens flares in Photoshop, one set at 33% brightness, the other at ~75%.

 

Mirco-Nuke Bomb

You only see it briefly, but it's cool.  In Episode 4 I sliced a Lego lightsaber in half so that I could show a lightsaber being destroyed (twice actually).  I didn't cut it in half, just one end off.  So I cut a green lightsaber blade in half, stuck the 2 ends of my cut-up lightsaber on and tada -- an odd looking device, complete with handle.  Joe joked that it also looks like mutagen ooze from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.