Welcome to today's edition of the LFC Blog! Before we meet up with one of my good friends, Lane, I'd like to thank you, the reader, for all the support over the years! We appreciate all the messages you've sent inquiring about the blog! We hope to publish more interviews and content, but life is really busy!
LFC Blog: Welcome to the Blog Lane! Tell us about yourself. When and why did you start building Lego fire trucks? LS: Hi! I’m Lane. I live just outside of Vancouver, BC, Canada and I’ve been building Lego fire trucks since approximately January 2016. At the time I had just discovered Mocpages (it was already nearly dead by then) and first built some highway maintenance vehicles, but eventually discovered the LFC and have been hooked since! LFC Blog: I can't believe that has been close to 6 years ago! Who/what inspires you to build? LS: I’ve lived in Western Canada all my life, and I take much of my inspiration from trucks here. Often, I’m inspired by the rigs in a place I’ve recently visited! In terms of builders, James K and Zak O were major inspirations at the start (and have continued to be) but now there are so many more, especially the members of the former Studington Fire Rescue. LFC Blog: James and Zak certainly are legends for the many techniques they've developed over the years! What's in the name Stud Ridge and why did you settle on the current color scheme? LS: Stud Ridge came about because there is a city near my home called Maple Ridge, and I thought I could add a bit of a Lego-related flair to it. Other departments such as Arbutus Island, Silver Point, and Dogwood, are inspired by the west coast of BC. LFC Blog: I love hearing how local towns inspired us! It definitely makes us unique. What is the most challenging rig you've ever built? LS: Tough to decide on one “most challenging” build. Each has its own challenges, whether it be some interesting SNOT or getting an aerial device to look just right. Rigs using a new building technique often pose a big challenge, and I can certainly attest to that when I first tried out 5 wide pickup chassis and then later 5/6 wide commercial cabs. Despite that I think my original “quiller” was maybe my most difficult. At the time I was new to building Lego fire apparatus, I wasn’t very familiar with Bricklink and ordering pieces, and the rig was a monster (if memory serves correct it was longer than a large baseplate)! LFC Blog: Aerials are one of the most difficult things to create! Integrating new techniques with current builds often takes a bit of trial and error to perfect it! What is your most favorite rig and why? LS: In real life: probably Terrace BC’s Engine 12, a E-One eMAX 4x4. I love E-Ones, I love 4x4s, and I was born in Terrace, so all these combine to make me love it! Brick-built: Seems to change every month! Right now, it’s Arbutus Island’s Engine 531, an International Workstar/Rosenbauer Timberwolf. I love the versatility of it, it can function as an engine, rescue, and brush truck, all in a short wheelbase, 4x4 package! LFC Blog: Haha! I can relate! My favorite build tends to change every time I build a new rig! What is one Lego piece you wish were manufactured and why? LS: I really wish there was a 1x1 modified brick w/ grille pattern. For those who still use old-style snot for roll-up compartments like me, it would open a huge realm of possibilities for new compartment and grille designs. LFC Blog: That part seems to be a heavy favorite among many builders! Maybe we should create a petition to LEGO! What are your future plans for your department? LS: Lately I’ve been on a side-departments kick and so my main department, Stud Ridge Fire Rescue, has fallen a bit by the wayside. As much as I’d like to, I can’t buy/build all the rigs I want at the same time! Right now, my goal is to finish up Arbutus Island Fire Rescue (I have about ten more rigs to go) but more than likely I’ll get distracted and build yet another side department 😉. Sometimes I consider completely overhauling SRFR into a much smaller city department than my current plans to better integrate it with my side departments, but I haven’t made any final decisions. Being at university with only a few rigs leads to all sorts of possible build plans! LFC Blog: Looking forward to seeing what you have cooked up! What is the best part of the Lego Fire Community? LS: My favourite part of the LFC is how ideas can build off one another to create some real kick-ass builds. I love that I’m able to ask builders that originally inspired me to start building fire trucks what they think of a building technique or rig idea. LFC Blog: Indeed! I love that we can bounce ideas off each other to make our MOCs better! How would you like to see the LFC grow better? LS: I’d love to see more variety and building more for oneself rather than building for others. To put it simply, your rigs don’t have to (and shouldn’t) look the same as everyone else’s! Give them something that sets them apart, whether that’s a building style or what they’re inspired from. Ultimately, some of the trucks I’ve built I love, but many other builders might not be fans of, and that’s okay! The most important thing is that you like what you’ve built. An aside: I’d also like to see more people building in actual bricks! There’s nothing wrong with designing things on stud.io or LDD (I do it as well, especially when I’m away from my bricks), but having that be the totality of your builds is just not the same, plus there you can get away with all sorts of instability that would drastically affect the build in real life. LFC Blog: I agree 100%! It's actually getting more difficult to differentiate the various builders today since most typically use the standard body configuration developed by Paulo/James. Any tips or advice for new builders? LS: To new builders: Your rigs aren’t going to be top-quality right away, and that’s perfectly fine! The beauty of Lego is that you can take stuff apart and put them together over and over again, improving each time. It’s much more rewarding to learn through building yourself than buying pre-built trucks. Also, don’t be afraid to be critiqued, that’s how everyone improves! LFC Blog: Indeed! The only way to get better to try again until you're happy with it! Thanks for your time Lane! Great talking with you today, and we certainly hope to see more creations from you!
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~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. |