Today, we have the privilege of presenting Christian Collins, one of the younger members of the LMFD. Enjoy the interview below!
~Michael LFC Blog: Thank you for taking the time to join us today Christian! Tell us about yourself. When and why did you start building Lego fire trucks? CC: For those who don’t know me, my name is Christian Collins, otherwise known as Double C or simply CC. I'm a 22 year old FF/EMT-B from the great State of Texas. I started building with LEGO around the age of 4, and had a fairly decent sized custom built town a few years later. But it wasn't until I seriously began learning about a career in the fire service that I started to build custom apparatus, around mid 2004. LFC Blog: That's awesome! I remember seeing your builds on MOCpages wayyy back in 2007 or so. Who/what inspires you to build? CC: Back in the day my biggest inspirations were Bob K, Matt J, Paul B, Mike L, D H and the rest of the LMFD. Later on during my MOCpages days, influence came from the likes of Alex W, Martijn M, Zak O, and many more I'm sure I'm forgetting. As far as apparatus inspiration I get my ideas mainly from local North Texas departments. LFC Blog: All those guys are legends! What's in the name Brickville and why did you settle on the current color scheme? CC: To be honest I don't know where the name Brickville came from. It was just something 9 year old me came up with and it stuck. The original color scheme was white over red with white stripe, but in the past few years I’ve been transitioning to all red with a black stripe, inspired by many local departments that have made the same change. You will see both schemes in the department still, and even the old scheme making a return on some new “old” rigs. LFC Blog: Cool! Your current scheme reminds me of Plano, TX. What is the most challenging rig you've ever built? CC: I could type up a whole laundry list here. Every new design has had its fair share of challenges, from my old Fords to my newer Spartans. If I had to name a “most challenging” I’d say it was settling on a good Spartan design. It took several years of subtle changes and some major overhauls for me to finally be happy with one. LFC Blog: I agree. Spartan Gladiators are challenging to portray accurately in 6-wide. What is your most favorite rig and why? CC: It's a 3-way tie between Truck 610, Rescue 603, and Medic 612. Truck 10 because it’s a 1980's model E-One aerial, quite possibly my favorite apparatus of all time. Rescue 603 because it's my oldest apparatus, built in 2009. And Medic 612 because I’m a sucker for a good boo boo bus. LFC Blog: Those are great pieces (pun intended) of work! What is one Lego piece you wish were manufactured and why? CC: If TLC reads this, give me a good Halligan damn it. My minifigs deserve a good set of irons. LFC Blog: Haha! Yes, we need more tools! What are your future plans for your department? CC: Currently Brickville stands at 12 stations in 3 battalions. Over the course of the next year I plan to expand that number to 15 at least. Beyond that I couldn't say. In early 2019 I'll be getting married and moving, so the future is a little uncertain for the LEGO collection. Rest assured it won't disappear though. LFC Blog: Congrats on your engagement! We look forward to seeing more of Brickville in the near future! What is the best part of the Lego Fire Community? CC: The people. I have made many friends through this wonderful community and got to see many accomplish their goals and dreams. The sweet builds are just a bonus to sharing a bond with like-minded people from across the globe. LFC Blog: Indeed, the community is what makes the LFC special! How would you like to see the LFC grow better? CC: More individual style. I see too many copy-cat builds recently, especially on Instagram. I would also like to see the return of an Emergency Bricks style site. LFC Blog: That would be awesome to have a dedicated website for the LFC! Any tips or advice for new builders? CC: Develop your own style, be patient, get out of your comfort zone, respect those who came before you, and above all don't take it too seriously. At the end of the day we're just boys (and some girls) with our toys. LFC Blog: Great advice CC! Again, thank you so much for taking the time to do this brief interview, CC; and we hope to see more of your builds soon! To all the readers, thank you for your continued support! We truly appreciate all the positive comments! If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to the blog so that you will be the first to know when interviews, walk-arounds, or special featurettes are posted!
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Today, we have the distinct honor of featuring my dear friend @Sponki25, who is the creator of LEGO NYC. You may have seen his truly captivating work over on MOCpages, Flickr, or Youtube! Enjoy the interview below!
~Michael 1) Tell us about yourself. When and why did you start building Lego fire trucks? I'm Sven, a 36 years old AFOL from Germany and was always dreaming of building something really huuuuge XD. I build Lego ever since I can remember. I started to build mocs very early because I always loved to build things I know from my personal life/experiences, as example the truck my father was driving, a airport terminal with all the details a terminal needs and much more. Had a really big town with many nice stuff in there. When I grew older interests changed and I gave all my Lego to my nephews. I started collecting car models in 1/87 and 1/18 scale but was limited with my creativity. After some years without Legos I bought some new parts and started building something with it. And the great feeling came back. I bought more and started to build a highrise. That was the start of LegoNYC XD During that time I was watching a TV show called "Third Watch" and loved it instantly. Due to that I got addicted to NYC's emergency vehicles and it was clear that I wanted to build some of them with Legos. The first models turned out okay but I wanted more. Away from handpainted decals to better ones, better and more details so that the models look like the real deal. I could tell you much more but for that I would need several hours. Now I cut this short and continue below XD 2) Who/what inspires you to build? Actually? So many talented builders, especially from the LFC. But all started with Sean Kenney and Mocpages. He was the first one I used designs from because he built some really nice NYC related stuff and that was exactly the stuff I needed for my city. Over the years I got so much inspiration from so many very nice and talented builders, developed my own very high standards and building techniques. It's hard to say with a list of names. I can say, all my Mocpages favorites inspired me a lot. 3) What's in the name LEGO NYC and why did you settle on the current color scheme? FDNY - Fire Department City of New York. Self explaining XD 4) What is the most challenging rig you've ever built? Regarding the building techniques it's my L-5. Regarding my decalwork it was the 150th anniversary truck. Spent hours and hours to get all the stickers attached XD 5) What is your most favorite rig and why? I love every single rig of my collection but there are three rigs I connect special memories with. First is TL-13 because of this rig I made friends with a firefighter who is working on the real one. He saw pics of the model on Mocpages and sent me a message because he really wanted this rig for the firehouse. After some mails I decided to send it over to NYC for almost free. Only wanted some shirts and stuff from them in exchange for the model. They received the model, I received my shirts and much more. They gave the model away to a colleague as a special gift for his retirement. That was awesome! Last year I was able to visit the firehouse and my friend FF Jason S. in NYC. That was an awesome experience. I got a fantastic tour of the real TL-13 , could enter the drivers seat and much more :) Spent some really awesome hours there and I'm still in friendly contact with Jason. Second one is E-54. Built it after I accidentally ran into a bunch of firefighters at FDNY firehouse E-54, L-4, Battalion 4 on our first evening in NYC. Had some great talks, got a apparatus tour from FF Jose Prosper, a really nice guy from E-38 who was there that day. And the Third one is Chicagos E-98. This was built as a giveaway for the awesome surprise day I had with the firefighter of E-98. Our USA trip started in Chicago and on our first day there we were heading to John Hankock Center. On our walk I spotted CFD E-98 and Battalion 1 parking in front of the firehouse. Instantly decided to change the plans to get some nice pictures of the rigs. Very funny fact is that I always wanted to build CFD units beside my FDNY units. And I started with Battalion 1. Sven first time in the US in a big city with lots of firetrucks and then it's exactly the real version of his first CFD Lego model he spots there on the first day, LOL. Unbelievable how small the world can be. Okay, long story short. Got instantly in touch with Battalion Chief 1 and the ff's of E-98. We got a house tour, a truck tour and finally they decided to put me in the complete turnout gear of a CFD firefighter. I couldn't belive it and my heart was bumping heavily... I can tell you, that was absolutely awesome. I'm still in touch with the guys especially Battalion Chief 1 and I'm invited to come back to the firehouse at any time. Ps: They really love their surprise gift they got from me. 6) What is one Lego piece you wish were manufactured and why? Not one Lego piece. It's a whole model. I would love to see some US firetrucks as sets and not only the European versions. If only a part, a new designed SCBA would be great or a new rollup door or tools or a new ladder or... okay I stop it now XD 7) What are your future plans for your department? That's pretty easy. Building more FDNY units :D 8) What is the best part of the Lego Fire Community? You guys. All the very nice, friendly, awesome people who belong to the LFC. Have many friends over there and I really enjoy all the beautiful models they build, the inspiration I find in other models and much more. A big thank you to everyone for the great friendship, all the help, the tips/suggestions and critique. Highly appreciated! Because of you I improved my work a lot. 9) How would you like to see the LFC grow better? I would love to see a new site where you can chat with the guys in real time from time to time. Or a reactivation of the existing page (Emergencybricks) which was a very nice place. Finally I wish we all had a bit more freetime to be able to chat etc. Being busy the most time is one the main reason for such a inactivity beside that many moved over to other sources like Facebook (I personally don't like/have Facebook) 10) Any tips or advice for new builders? Hmmmmm, very difficult. Most important for me is being friendly. Don't mind asking a experienced builder for help. And if something isn't working, never say die! In the 2nd entry, we take a look at this blog's new co-editor, Martijn Meijdam, or better known as MM in the LFC. Founder of Studdsville Fire Department and Mercury County.
1) Tell us about yourself. When and why did you start building Lego fire trucks? My dad was a firefighter, and my uncle was an EMT so the fire part of the building came to me kinda natural. But when i was 4 years old, (I'm now 31) my dad bought two 6440 Jetport Fire Squads for me, and I was hooked. 2) Who/what inspires you to build? My inspiration comes from a lot of builders over the years, but when I started, Tom D. Bob K. Steven Asbury, Matt J. and a few others were BIG inspirations for the start of what is now Studdsville. But 11 years down the road, there are dozens of builders that inspire me, and I'd like to thank them all for letting me use their builds, their tips and tricks, critiques and ways to improve. . 3) What's in the name Studdsville and why did you settle on the current color scheme? The name just came to me, I was first thinking in the lines of Brickhaven or something similar, but then Studdsville popped into my brain, and I liked the sound of it, been stuck eversince. As for Mercury County, I'm a HUGE fan of Queen, so that explains a lot I think. The color scheme of SVFD was something that I thought I looked good on the rigs, later I went to all red rigs with a blue stripe for the older rigs. 4) What is the most challenging rig you've ever built? That must be Crash 3, the Oshkosh TI-3000, the cab was an absolute nightmare, but in the end, I had a beautiful rig. 5) What is your most favorite rig and why? Engine 13 by far, I'm a sucker for the Pierce Quantum, and this rig is just everything I would want on a US built Rescue-Engine. 6) What is one Lego piece you wish were manufactured and why? A 1x1 round plate with studs on both sides would be handy, for hose connections and adding more detail to rigs. 7) What are your future plans for your department? There are 2 Type 3 Wildland units ordered, and I recently changed to a Task Force system, and that put a dent in the coverage, so I need 2 or 3 new Task Forces to get back to strength. And to expand the Air Ops Division. 8) What is the best part of the Lego Fire Community? The people, different characters from all over the world, sharing the same hobby, that forms a bond, and even tight friendships. 9) How would you like to see the LFC grow better? More respect towards eachother, over the last few years I've noticed that there are issues between people over stupid things like where they live, what they build and how they treat the more veteran builders. And more diversity in the builds, I'm getting a little Arrow XT saturated. 10) Any tips or advice for our new builders? Get out of your comfort zone a little, try to expieriment with different styles, brands and types. The only limit is your imagination! To kick things off on this blog, here is a brief interview with the webmaster, Michael (or Da Tilla guy, as he is known by close acquaintances), the owner of Castle Beach Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Studington Fire & Rescue Station 11.
Tell us about yourself. When and why did you start building Lego fire trucks? I grew up a block away from the busiest fire station in Los Angeles (Station 9 - "Skid Row"); so seeing the fire trucks (especially the tiller) go in and out of the fire station was always a treat for me. One of the earliest Lego sets I ever got was set 6477-1, and I remember playing with that pretty much all day! Even though I had Matchbox and Hot Wheels fire trucks, I always returned to Lego simply because of the functionality offered. It wasn't until I saw Steven Asbury's Rescue 1 that I was inspired to create my own. My first MOC back in 2007 was actually a model of that (See the revised model here). Who and what inspires you? In terms of building techniques, I could list off so many people: Steven Asbury, Paulo Rodriguez, James Kontoules, Mike Lucio, Bob K, Rodney G, Tom D, Paul B, Matt J, De Herndobler, Martijn Meijdam, Sponki25, Zak Overmyer, Christian Collins, David Hensley, Tim J, Brian Stanis, Diego K, Alex Wallace, Henry H, and Callum R all have had some sort of influence over the years. (Sorry if I missed anybody here; I'm just going off the top of my head haha). In terms of real life influences, LAFD, Pierce, Spartan, and Seagrave take home the honors. What's in the name Castle Beach Fire Department and why did you settle on the current color scheme? To be completely honest, I really don't know why I chose Castle Beach! I guess I wanted something more original than having "lego," "brick," or "stud" (no offense to all my friends who have that in their city name :D). But I do remember seeing Castle Rock, CO Fire Department and wanting to incorporate something similar. The "Beach" part most likely came from the fact that I was really close to the beach at that time in my life. Like I said before, I grew up in Los Angeles, so I wanted a color scheme that would remind me of that place! Plus, the Lego sets usually were red with a white stripe, so part colors were not an issue :p What is the hardest rig you've ever built? The hardest rig I've built so far has to be my Rescue Platform 2, a 2016 Pierce Quantum with a remounted 95' Baker Aerialscope. The Pierce Quantum chassis has always fascinated me and has been a mainstay in my fleet since the inception of Castle Beach Fire Department. Thanks to new bricks that Lego recently released, I am now able to incorporate the curves along the front portion of the rig! The Aerialscope was also a challenge to build! Going into the build, I knew that I wanted to have 3 sections, just like the real thing, but at the same time, I did not want it to be super bulky. It was during this time that I stumbled upon David Hensley's Aerialscope model and used that as a base for the aerial device. It sure is one of the most ingenious designs out there! What is your most favorite rig and why? Currently, my most favorite rig is Truck 1, a 2017 Pierce Arrow XT dual axle 107' Ascendant tiller, not only because it's a tiller (duh), but also simply because of the amount of details I incorporated into the build. From the reels underneath the aerial ladder to the rear ladder tunnel, this rig is simply stacked with little things that all add up to the whole rig! What are your future plans for Castle Beach Fire? I'm looking into adding an airport fleet here really soon, and expanding my county Los Angeles County. Other things I'm working on include working roll-up doors (which are a pain to stabilize in 6-wide builds), new medics, and a forestry division :0 What is the best part of the Lego Fire Community? Probably the best part of the LFC is the interaction with amazing builders! Being able to share ideas with other people is something I truly cherish! How would you like to see the LFC grow better? For one, I would like to see people actually build the rigs they design on LDD. While LDD/Stud.io/CAD work great in terms of planning and designing rigs, to me, it's just not the same as actually building it in real life. But probably the most important thing I would like to see in the community is that people learn from their mistakes. No one is perfect, but admitting one was wrong and apologizing goes a really long way. |
~Committed to presenting outstanding LEGO firefighting MOCs from around the world!~
Blog Updated: 10/28/22
PurposeWelcome to the Lego Fire Community Blog! Presented here are outstanding builders who captivate their audience with their MOCs (My Own Creation). The purpose of this blog is to educate others of exemplary builders both past and present. DedicationThis blog is dedicated to Eric S. McDonald, the Fire Chief of the original Lego City Fire Department who died unexpectedly on Aug. 21, 2002. His vision is what started the whole LFC, and for that we are eternally grateful. About the moderating teamChief editor - Michael P. - Founder of Castle Beach Fire Department and Los Angelego County Fire Department Archives
October 2022
DisclaimerThis website is not affiliated with The Lego Company, or any real life fire department for that matter. All builds presented here are original works by the respective builders who gave strict permission to utilize the photos on this website. None of the photos were/are kept for personal use. |