GlenBricker's Review: Weekly Cuusoo

News

The Spring Review is Closed

Here is a super short summary of each of the project that have been added to the review roster.

Exo Suit – A True Lego fan's favorite. No IP and greebled to the hilt. For many this is the make or break project for the relevance of Cuusoo.
Andy/ Bugdroid the Android by Google – Simple and Cute using some classic FOL techniques that are not often found in traditional Lego designs.
The Legend of Zelda Project – The successor to the initial failed Zelda project. This one has some nice ruins that should please any "Caslte" or Zelda fan.
Land-Rover Defender 110 - UCS Technic. At 5k this project was warned about its complexity and part count. Not addressing this issues certainly got them to 10k, but may likely prevent them from being actualized as a product.

Pick of the Week

STARTREK NCC-1701 STARSHIP ENTERPRISE
by C3brix

Support Level: 95

This is a bit of a double edged pick.

Certainly I do not have to tell you what Star Trek is or the Enterprise. This is a very impressive recreation. The disc is an incredible challenge and C3brix has responded to it well. On top of that C3brix has also, it appears, addressed the design challenges of the unusual angles at which the nacelles are attached to the ship and the very limited point of contact between the main body and the nacelles. This is not only a work of art but an engineering feat!

What you may not know is that Kre-o (that is to say Hasbro) has a license on Star Trek right now and will be releasing construction toys in conjunction with the movie. What this means, is that if tradition holds (Mario Brothers, Angry Birds, My Little Pony, Dr.Who) Cuusoo will lock down Star Trek projects when the fist one gets to 1k and they will no longer allow new Star Trek projects to be loaded.

I love Star Trek. Sure, it has its faults, not trying to change this into a discussion on its Merits. In my early days on Cuusoo one of my first (unpublished) projects was to create Star Trek Lego. Fact of the matter is though that this will not happen (well, maybe a 10% chance well into the future). So, I have a side reason for wanting to see this project get as much support as possible. I want to see Star Trek get locked out. Not because I don't like Star Trek but because I think it is a shame that all these people come to Cuusoo thinking they have a shot with their Star Trek projects. I could be wrong, maybe Cuusoo WILL give Star Trek a pass but we really won't know until the first project hits 1k. I want that answer.

Honorable Mention

Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary
by Brentwaller

Support Level: 311

So Though there are MANY Ghost Buster projects I think this one excels at presentation, a very attractive Ecto-1 scale, and equipment. So many other projects leave out the trap and the PKE meter.

I really like this projects approach to Ecto-1. I have built a few Lego cars before and you can often make a car look right, make it fit one minifig with a few compromises, or make it look rather wrong and get two minifigs in seated side by side. That is not to say you can't make awesome two seater Lego vehicles, this is just an issue when you are trying to model a specific vehicle...Like Ecto-1.

Here is Brentwallers's Ecto-1 in comparison to the TeeKay's Leading Ecto-1

I find the one on the top much more visually appealing and I don't plan on having my Ghostbusters In Ecto-1 that much so the fact they all fit does not really play into my usage. That being said, if you want a full minifig scale Ecto-1 make sure you support TeeKay's. If you value aesthetic over playability go wth Brentwallers. If you just want Ghostbusters then support EVERY Ghostbusters project. Lego will make an awesome set with whatever Ghostbuster project they get but every vote on any project will make it much more likely.

Although I would rather not see new molds (Veckman's hair) being propagated in new set projects (which Cuusoo has stated will not happen) it is not something that Cuusoo appears to have an issue with allowing in projects, and I cannot deny that it looks awesome. I would also like to see more Ghostbusters projects take a legitimate stab at giving us a decent Winston. Nearly every project I have seen just gives us the "Lando."

Well, hm... Kenta947's Ghost Buster project does give us a novel Winston and everything Brentwaller's does but Kenta has not provided a production quality design and their presentation is somewhat lacking.

In the end though, as you will see me repeat later, I would like to see quality projects, of significant overlap collaborate rather than butt heads.

There is a brand new Ghostbusters project out right now with an excellent Station by C3brix. The same guy who did the Enterprise above. If TeeKay and C3brix are smart, and don't mind sharing the lime light, I think they should join forces to produce something really excellent.

Lord of the Rings Set: Minas Tirith
by Nujumetru

Support Level: 242

This is an overall fantastic design. My main problem with it is the trebuchets. Independently they look great. Integrated into Minas Tirith however they look huge and out of place, not to mention not functional. It is a bit of a quibble but I know that if I had this one display it would bother me every time I looked at it. It gave the Enterprise the edge this week.

Notables

BTTF - Jules Verne Train
by M.togami

Support Level: 852

To be very open about my situation I have at least a "working" relationship with Gruusoo, who already has a very well done Back to the Future train published on Cuusoo almost 11 months earlier. I feel my statements that follow are my honest response independent of this relationship but I want people to be aware of my connections and they can make their own judgments.

This train is a beautiful design and the Custom figures are marvels. I also have no problems with people creating new projects that are already represented in Cuusoo. I do however find it rather bad form when the new projects don't bring something new to the table.

Thus I am left with some rather conflicted feeling on this project.

I don't see a qualitative difference between Team BttF's train and Grusso's train. There are obviously variations in the design, certainly, but I don't see how these would result in different Lego products.

I see that true difference between the projects as the three custom headpieces presented by Team BTTF. Had this project been released Two months ago, it would have been my Pick of the Week. We have however been presented with a declaration from Cuusoo that new molds will not be possible for set projects. This makes their headgear, in my opinion, and illegitimate factor in comparing the two projects. In fact I feel their continued usage of such attractive headgear elements as presenting a false image of what is possible in Cuusoo to potential supporters.

I would like to think that people who have actually gotten their projects to production would set better examples for other project creators who will no doubt be copying their "tested" methods of success. For that reason I am holding them to a higher standard.

Although I am under no illusions that Team BttF needs any help advertising their project from my small website I find it hard to give them an "honorable mention" while I feel they are propagating practices that I think are detrimental to the Creator/Cuusoo/Supporter relationship.

Irregardless of this, when you discount the figures, I don't see a qualitative difference between this train and the previously existing one. With the Ghostbuster projects I can see a very distinct variation in their approach to Ecto-1 and the Ghostbuster equipment. One will result in an aesthetic dominant Ecto-1 and the other in a playability dominant Ecto-1, and the well established project did not have critical ghostbusting accessories like the PK meter or the ghost trap. I am by no means saying the trains are identical. My point is this, If you were to give the picture above or the picture below to the Lego designers, I am pretty sure you would end up with the same train in the end.

Sure, Team BttF has clip on wings and one that pops out of the Tender. but, I don't really see the clip on wings as a "feature" to write home about. The pop up one in the tender sure, if they all did it, that would be awesome. But in the end they just clip on and well, that is what Lego does.

With such similar visions of the Train set, I would have wished that Team BttF would have chosen to work with Grusso. Competition is obviously good for Cuusoo, the lead Ghostbuster project has seen many improvements over the last few days but I think cooperation is best for the community and would result in the greatest projects.

Back to the Future Train by Grusso

As above, my advice remains that same. If you want a Back to the Future train more than any individual aspect, make sure to support both projects.

Girl Guides Camping
by Shellytimson

Support Level: 84

A nice extension on the Friends line. I am a bit surprise there are not more camping sets out there. I think this project could get a little more traction if they made it a bit more generic though.

Microscale in a Box
by Blakeydrums

Support Level: 77

I always appreciate a good microbuild. The idea of formatting a small collection of vignettes, all restricted to the same dimensions is an appealing idea.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time- Kakariko Village
by Chosen_hero7

Support Level: 64

A nice collection of medieval themed content with a good use of color variety to add realism. I think this one might be trying a little to hard to get the Zelda vote though by replicating the city a bit too much and not showcasing the quintessential aspects.

Batwing Evolved
by Brickformula

Support Level: 57

A fun concept with an impressive stop motion to go with it.

Great Big Mining Truck
by Technicnick

Support Level: 45

I could not image Lego producing this as they have giant parts specifically for this purpose, but it is very attractive not the less and I think it is a fantastic MOC.

Formula 3000
by Pittstop

Support Level: 9

Pittstop always comes up with these great, unique designs but they never seem to get any traction. Although this design looks fun, with all the joints I am not sure it could actually stand on its own.