by norton74 | 13, Dec, 2022 | Builds, Latest, Top builds
A few months ago I built the personal studio of Hayao Miyazaki, Japan’s greatest animation director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, best-loved of all the Japanese animation studios.
Now it seems that it snowed heavily in Tokyo, so much so that Hayao is walking in snow with his snowshoes and with his Husky.
A pair of skis are already loaded on the Citroën 2CV, heading towards Mount Fuji!
楽しい時間をお過ごしください
Back in 1998, Hayao Miyazaki designed and built a house for his production company, called Nibariki. This house is located nearby Studio Ghibli’s main building. Nibariki means 2 horsepower in Japanese and the name is a clear tribute to the beloved Citroën 2CV that the artist has been driving for more than forty years.
Above you can see both Mr. Miyazaki’s new office and his Citroën 2CV. And of course our beloved masterful storyteller too.
Miyazaki bought his first 2CV as a university student in the early 1960s. It was a right-hand-drive model, imported from the U.K. and painted bright yellow.
A 2CV first appeared in Miyazaki’s first feature-length film, 1979’s The Castle of Cagliostro. An action-adventure tale involving a mischievous gentlemen thief, the well known Lupin III, and featuring multiple car chases, including the heroine, Clarisse, escaping in her 2CV.
Miyazaki’s current Citroën is a 1987 2CV 6 painted in light gray and is exactly like the one you see in my latest creation.
by norton74 | 6, Dec, 2022 | Builds, Latest
Antiquated looking outhouse is my latest creations with its California reddish brown wood cab, side lanterns, old fashion horn and a furry seat. Replica of the California Show Car of Bob Reisner which was shown on tours and in leading Car Magazines back then. The model is based on a 1924 Ford Truck Body with a 289 cubic inch Ford Cobra Engine.
The Outhouse has been on my wish list for a long time. It is my fourth Show Rod and it joins the Beer Wagon, Fire Truck and Paddy Wagon I have built over the last few years.
If you are into Hot Rods don’t miss my previous interview with Chuck Miller, the car designer behind the Fire Truck and Tom Daniel creator of the Beer Wagon and many others Show Rods.
“There was a time before I was born and into my early childhood in which Show Rods were a thing. This is where automotive customizers with lots of imagination pushed the limits of what a hot rod can be. Anything from a bed, to a wine barrel, was fair game, and esteemed LEGO builder Andrea Lattanzio captured one such Show Rod nicely here. It is the “Outhouse” originally dreamed up by Bob Reisner in 1969, probably while sitting on the throne where frankly most good ideas come from. I mean, as outlandish as this seems to be, it has practical applications when you consider that you can do your business while still making good time to your destination. Just wash your hands, which I presume you’d have to do at your sink-themed Show Rod sold separately. This is Andrea’s fourth trip to the Show Rod loo; the previous being a Fire Truck, Beer Wagon, and Paddy Wagon. While you’re already sitting in the place where you do your best scrolling anyway, why not check out these hot rods from Andrea and other like-minded friends who can’t be bothered with building a boring Toyota Corolla.”
(“ Now you can go while on the go” The Brothers Brick – December 9, 2022)
“This time the phrase is more than metaphorical! Built by previous bloggee Andrea Lattanzio, this is the ‘Outhouse’, a Ford V8-powered toilet-in-a-shed based on a 1924 Ford truck, as constructed by hot rodder Bob Reisner during the bizarre novelty hot rod scene. Wooden handling and the aerodynamics of, well… an outhouse aside, this TLCB Writer is rather enamoured by the practicalities of Bob’s creation – you’d never need to use a highway services restroom again! Take a dump on the interstate via the link above!”
(“ Built Like an Outhouse” The LEGO Car Blog – December 7, 2022)
by norton74 | 9, Nov, 2022 | Builds, Latest
As with the Guardian of the Abyss, I also made a very “spooky” version for my latest Haunted A-Frame Cabin. With this background it looks even scarier and honestly I love it.
I have also added some extra photos that show the details and some curiosities of my latest work.
Hope you like and ejoy!
by norton74 | 22, Oct, 2022 | Builds, Latest, Top builds
While I’m looking forward to the release of my A-Frame Cabin, chosen as one of the next LEGO IDEAS sets, I built a spooky variation of the rustic house based on the 2012 LEGO Monster Fighters series.
It is a kind of tribute to the MF Haunted House released in 2012 by TLG.
Size and shape are basically the same as the A-Frame Cabin, colors, details, setting and Minifigures are completely different.
If you take a deeper look, you can spot many references and Easter eggs directly related to the LEGO horror theme.
The gramophone, the trunk with the top hat, the glass dome with a bone inside are all objects from the MF set. The gate is also a clear tribute to the Haunted House.
And take a look at the zombie heads above the gate columns, do you remember where they were in the MF set?
Last but not least don’t miss the magic Bat Moonstone of Lord Vampyre, the villain of the series.
Enjoy and happy Hall🎃ween!
by norton74 | 1, Oct, 2022 | Builds, Latest, Top builds
My latest creation is loosely inspired both by the story of the writer Xavier Liras, creator of the Spiral Universe, and by the illustration of the artist Alexander Shatohin.
Below you can read a very brief summary of Xavier’s story that describes my creation well.
The story goes that the Guardian of the abyss lives right on the edge of the abyss. His job for generations has been to explore the Abyss and its mists and gain insight into what is happening in the world.
The Abyss has many levels, it is the manifestation of the psyche of humanity.
There is a terrible war going on in this world now that could plunge us into extinction. The Guardian must lure Wolf Fenrir to the surface and be devoured. But the wolf will not be able to kill him completely and, back in the abyss, he will be forced to spit it out. Only then will the initiation of the Guardian into the deepest Abyss begin.
It is the first time that I have built an animal made of bricks, in this case the head of a wolf, and it was fun and challenging. I think I can still improve the shape but for now I’m happy with that. I hope you enjoy!
“Drawing inspiration from author Xavier Liras and illustrator Alexander Shatohin, builder Andrea Lattanzio shares a tense moment as the Guardian of the Abyss lowers himself into the jaws of the mythical wolf, Fenrir. There are great details throughout this immersive LEGO scene, as well as some innovative building techniques. I particularly like the shaping of the olive-green fir tree, the use of cloth elements for roof patches, and the use of a minifigure accessory molding sprue for the doorknob. The wolf emerging from the mists is also worth a close look, with a yellow gear-shift base for an eye and a maw full of pointy teeth.”
(“There seems to be a wolf at the door.” The Brothers Brick – October 12, 2022)
![“Beer Wagon” designer Tom Daniel talks about his creations and his career [Special interview for Norton74]](https://norton74.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4407_2500-whiter-1080x675.jpg)
by norton74 | 6, Sep, 2022 | Builds, Latest, Top news
Few years ago I built the Lego replica of the “Beer Wagon”, a radical Show Rod built by the legendary car designer Tom Daniel in 1967. Then I built another Tom Daniel’s vehicle, the “Paddy Wagon”.
Those vehicles, known as Show Rods, and many others, were built from the ground up, were distinguished by an unconventional design, brilliant colours and amazing craftsmanship. Their engines were extremely powerful, yet they rarely touched the road. In other words, these cars were meant to be looked at, not driven. Yes, Show Rods were paradoxical.
The Show Rods phenomenon peaked between the 1960s and 1970s in the United States and Tom Daniel was one of the most representative designer of that crazy era. Between 1967-1975, Tom designed 75 cars for Monogram Models. These were iconic models that are still top sellers today like the Beer Wagon indeed and the Red Baron. His designs were so influential that custom car builders sometimes crafted full-size versions of his kit designs, often commissioned by show promoters.
But his work wasn’t limited to just model car kits. George Barris called him on a Friday night wanting a design for a TV show involving a family of monsters. Overnight Daniel dreamed up the Munster Koach for Barris, although the credit for the design by Daniel often gets mis-stated. He also designed the Bat Cycle for the 1960s Batman television series. It consisted of a Yamaha 250 and was linked to Robin’s sidecar, which was a detachable go-cart (source: Fuel Curve).
After building the Paddy Wagon I got in touch with Tom Daniel asking to chat with him about his career and his famous vehicles. If you’d like to know more about Tom’s creations and Show Rods phenomenon this interview is a great resource.
Fasten your seat belts, wear your helmet, let’s go!
Hi Mr. Tom Daniel, thanks for accepting to have a chat with me. Just few questions about you and your creations.
N74: When your interest in cars and Show Rods started and why?
TD: Soon after WWII was over – in the late 1940s – returning GI’s began building hot rods and customs (“Show Rods” as such were still in the future), and I was just in High school – and starting to draw custom cars.
N74: Can you tell me a little bit about your background? I mean, are you a self-made car designer or did you study design or something like that?
TD: During late high school years, I discovered the Art Center School during a field trip to the original campus on 3rd Street in west Los Angeles. After graduating high school in 1955, ACS accepted my portfolio (which I created during my senior year in high school); then began a tough 4-year grind learning to be an industrial designer – (Transportation Major; Product design minor).
N74: In a few words, if possible, tell me which are your career milestones.
TD: Graduating high school; then ACS with a BPA Degree; then being hired by GM to join their Styling Staff at the GM Tech Center north of Detroit, Michigan; Flying with the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis; Working as a design-engineer on the APOLLO MOON Project (with) North American Aviation at the Space and Information Systems in Downey, California.
N74: Why and when did your cooperation with Monogram start? And what it represented for you.
TD: This came about as a result of my long time “Off the Sketchpad” articles and drawings for Rod&Custom Magazine (as well as other “car” magazines.) The Monogram people liked what I was designing and drawing. The BEER WAGON was my 1st model kit design for Monogram – and it was a hit right away… then came my Red Baron – and LIFTOFF!
N74: As you know I built the replica of your Beer Wagon and Paddy Wagon; can you tell me where the inspiration to build them come from and when?
TD: Childhood remembrances.
N74: Any curiosities about the Beer Wagon and Paddy Wagon?
TD: Monogram said they wanted a design of a hot rodded Beer Wagon in 1:24 scale. When I started the designs, It was HUGE, and I had to shrink the entire design down to about ¾ size.
N74: Which are your favourite creations?
TD: WAY too many to delineate here. LOL!
N74: Have you been influenced by other car designer? If yes, which ones?
TD: I have admired many of the Italian and German car designers (of the 1950s era) – as well as some Americans, but my designs are my designs…. Done strictly for my pleasure. Just so happens, LOTS of people also like them to this day – some 50 + years later.
N74: Are you working on something new or are you just enjoying your time?
TD: I am working with ATLANTIS Toy & Hobby in New York – who now have a good selection of the (former) Monogram Models/’TD’ tooling.
N74: Recently I built also the “Fire Truck” designed by Chuck Miller. The Fire Truck and the Paddy Wagon look having the same source of inspiration. Is this correct? Have you ever known Chuck Miller?
TD: The only thing those two designs have in common is the ubiquitous “C” Cab designs used in the late 18th century. Under contract, he built the 1st 1:1 version of my RED BARON model kit design Monogram Models manufactured in 1968. He did a pretty nice job – but NOT accurate to my original design in many detail aspects.
Many thanks for your time Mr Tom Daniel, it has been an honour chatting with you and I’m sure LEGO fans, and petrolheads in general, will appreciate the interview. Keep it up!
More info about Tom Daniel works: www.tomdaniel.com
