LEGO has not attempted a blimp, zeppelin, or similar airship since 1999, the 5956 Expedition Balloon which used highly specialized parts. This is unfortunate as these vessels are well and truly part of the pulpy adventure and steampunk scene.
I think Ssorg's Majestic Airship is just the thing to remedy this long overlooked mode of transportation.
Note: This airship is on a website called LEGO Cuusoo. It is like Kickstarter for LEGOs. If you can get 10,000 people to support a project, then Lego will consider producing it as an official product.
This build is truly majestic, a masterwork of style and engineering.
Besides just looking spectacular, this vessel has a lot of playability features. Probably the most critical is the handle for safe transit, hanging, and low speed swooshing (video here).
For minifig placement, the entire side wall hinges up to allow unfettered access to the cabin
The cabin door swivels down to become a boarding ramp and a retractable anchor is mounted for docking or high altitude antics.
And just to top it all off, the ailerons fins are adjustable.
Now lets take a look under the skin!
As you can see, this is not a build for the squeamish. The "balloon" is a complex network of flexible rods and axles which keep the build light and cost effective.
There is a wide assortment of rendering and photos available on the Airship's Flickr page for those who want to see more details on the sub-structure.
Otherwise, go vote!
Comments
Be the first, drop a comment!