LUGNuts Goes Wingnuts…Roundup

We're all certified car nuts around here. But, whether it be the frightening sonic boom of a jet breaking the sound barrier, the color and shape of a stealth bomber or the thrill of having your junk hanging out during crotch check, truth be told, there is just something freaking cool about aviation. For month after month during these challenges, after building car after car, I occasionally wished I could build something else…like an airplane. Which is why I devised a little challenge I like to call LUGNuts Goes Wingnuts…all about cars, trucks and bikes inspired by aircraft. For the first time ever, we also had the option to build the aircraft to go along with our automobiles. After all, long before cave men invented the wheel, they looked to the skies at the giant birds attacking them, and wished they, too, could fly. So it makes sense that we have this challenge. So how did we do, anyway? Let's take a look, shall we?

It makes sense that Peter Blackert starts us off with a car that can fly from the children's classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It also makes sense that the book was originally penned by Ian Flemming of James Bond fame. See the connection there? Flying cars…secret agents. See what I mean?





It was Peter's Mustang/Mustang combo a few months back that got me started on this challenge anyway so this time he comes back with a USAF Mustang P51-D, notable for the canopy having greater visibility to the rear.  The car is the 2010 S195 Mustang special AV-X10 edition, which incidentally has blind spots the size of an oncoming Accord no one ever saw. The "Detroit Doll" on both are a neat touch.



I was hoping there would be some hot bi-plane action all up in here. Peter delivers with this old timey 1922 Packard Twin-Six 3-35 Roadster and the LUSAC-11. Both were built in the Packard plant and both was powered by a 425 Packard-developed V12 Liberty engine.



How were the opposing forces doing at the time? Peter tells us that the fearsome Baron Manfred von Richthofen (famously known as the Red Baron) was shot down and badly injured in 1917 in this Albatross D.V. He would have whole-heartedly enjoyed this 1923 Mercedes 28-95 Targa Florio Roadster had he have not been shot down again and killed in 1918. Tough luck, dude!



Both named Comet are this red duo, the de Havilland DH88 Comet aircraft of 1934, designed for the MacRobertson Air Race and Mercury Comet Cyclone Hardtop Coupe of 1964…which won no races. I can attest that the '74 Comet started itself in the driveway, handled like an oxcart, and didn't help a impressionable teenage Lino get any action with the ladies.



Perhaps my action with the ladies would have been better had I have had something resembling in size and shape to the 1938 Graf Zeppelin II airship or the 1934 Maybach DS8 Zeppelin Cabriolet Spohn Streamliner.  At 6ft5 and well over 6000 pieces, that Graf would have been a contender for the largest LUGNuts entry ever had it not been a render.



The only British military aircraft to see service during WWII was the Supermarine Spitfire. As a result, this had become the most famous aircraft in Britain as well as throughout the greater allied forces. Knowing a good thing when they see one, the Brits also devised the Triumph Spitfire, both in lovely British racing green. Action with the ladies assured in one of these puppies!



Ever wondered where the '48 Caddy got its iconic tail fin shape? Peter tells us that the Cadillac design team under Harley Earl were allowed to visit the top-secret aircraft development facilities, just prior to WWII, and drew inspiration from the formidable double-finned aircraft that went on to be called the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. 



Peter Also tells us the Lockheed P-38 Lightning directly inspired the 1950 (and 1951) model year Studebaker. I don't see much of a resemblance there, but to make matters stranger, he says that the Star Wars Naboo Starfighter…directly inspired by the P-38 Lighting! I can see that.



I guess there is an advantage to computer rendering…other than the ease of building without handling any actual LEGO pieces. You don't have to wait until August to see what you can do with those tasty dark green fender pieces when the official Mini Cooper LEGO set comes out. Peter has them here. Both car and plane are named after the mosquito.



Last on the Peter slab is a true beauty and the beast story...The Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde (1969) and Chrysler Concorde (1998). One has the grace of a swan, the other, I guess, was cool at the time, but reminds be of a bulldog's ass. One Concorde I've never seen in real life, the other, maybe I have, but can't remember it.



Everyone knows Lino Martins likes to build strange and unforgettable cars so it makes sense that I choose a plane to match this idea, the strange and unforgettable Vought V-173 "Flying Pancake". Yes, it was real and yes it actually flew…very well, in fact. Strangely it did not inspire the Star Wars Naboo Starfighter but should have. The matching fuel truck…ironically, a forgettable afterthought.



Our resident aircraft expert, Ralph Savelsberg was the inspiration for this challenge and was privy to it happening several months in advance. That's cuz he invented the time machine! Anyway, he makes building aircraft seem easy but truly it isn't as evidenced by this 1941 Buick Century US Navy staff car and the Wildcat. The link between these two goes further than their user…both were constructed in the General Motors plant.



Tim Inman rounds out the challenge with this stunning G-Power X6M Typhoon RS V-10. The link to aircraft? This automaker is BMW, also known for building aircraft engines. As stated in the intro paragraph, it seems our affinity for cars and our underlying interest in aircraft are intertwined within our DNA. They go hand-in-hand…or rather wing and wheel…or something.



Is that all of them? Seems it is. This was a rather short and sweet roundup. I'm winding down this write up and my coffee is still warm. That's a rarity around here. This challenge offered the chance for all of us to step outside our comfort zones to try something new and it seems only the admins stepped up to the plate. The rest decided that, just like Mary Poppins, they are practically perfect in every way! That's OK. The way to follow up a dud challenge is to come up with a sequel to one of our most popular challenges of all time. Its been pointed out that after 53 months (holy crap, 53 months!) Agent Janus is back in a new challenge we like to call Rise, Ultra Agent Janus! The new official LEGO Ultra Agents line came out this month so an Agent Janus tie in was inevitable. Vehicles with ejection seats, hidden missile racks and sharks with freakin' lasers on their heads are all the rage in the world of secret agents, spies, and espionage. I'm working on a top secret entry myself. I'd tell ya what it is, but according to Ultra Agents protocol, I'd have to kill ya with my tiny, womanish hands that are clearly not registered as weapons. So instead tune in next month, same bat-time, same bat-channel, to see how we have all done in this awesome new secret agent challenge that is sure to be ripe with "shaken, not stirred" jokes. Later, dudes!

Places, Everyone…Roundup

So last month I joked that I’ve been learning how to play guitar on Rocksmith for a few months now and the best I can do on a song is 67.9% accuracy. As a result, I wrote a particularly mediocre roundup and hilarity ensued. At the end of it, I wrote something along the lines of “Here’s to hoping I can bring my guitar playing and blog writing up to a solid C-...but no guarantees.” Frankly, I was going to ditch that idea and write about something else this month. But, wouldn’t you know it, I revisit the song “My Generation” , after a long hiatus of doing other things, and, low and behold, I score 70.3% accuracy!  So welcome to the roundup that I am obliged to make a solid C-. That’s good enough to get me a real estate license but not good enough for say...air traffic control. You heard me real estate agents. Do you want me to repeat myself? Yours is an occupation where passing a high school equivalency test is good enough. Its the job you get when you’re a mom who turns 45 and you no longer have a cheerleader’s body due to popping out a couple of kids and your rich husband leaves you for a younger woman. Think about that as you gulp down a couple of Zoloft with a gin chaser, won’t you? Think I’m being too harsh? Then I challenge you to prove me wrong, dear readers. Prove me wrong. Anyway, this month’s challenge is called Places, Everyone...all about cars, trucks, and bikes with place names.

Once again Peter Blackert starts us off and takes this as an opportunity to build every car in the history of the world ever. His first entry showcases a couple of oldsters standing next to an Ibiza SEAT MKIV. Peter tells us Ibiza is an island with an uninhibited party atmosphere and is a popular place for young Brits to make a dicks of themselves.

This must be what he means...note the shape of the man’s head.

Next on the SEAT slab is a Toledo 5 door liftback in blue. Toledo is a small ancient city in the centre of Spain, and is also the name of the province in which it is located. Its also a place in Ohio where I found a humungous bra just laying on the street in front of God and everybody.

Next up is the larger SEAT C-Segment Leon. Peter tells us the city and province of Leon lie in the northwest of Spain and is an ancient city founded by the Romans. The city has played a major role in Spain's cultural, trade and political life for nearly two millennia.Orange shoes and vest apparently required.

Largest of the SEAT range of vehicles is the SEAT Alhambra MPV. This vehicle has three rows of seats for up to 7 passengers. And also Peter tells us about Moorish Kings and fortresses in Alabama or something.

Shown next is the 1986 Holden Calais Turbo.The place of Calais is a port city in France from whence Brits frequently enter Europe and wash their hair.

This 1966 Buick Riviera was awesome! 'Riviera' being a name commonly associated with the Mediterranean lowlands of France and Italy and where I assume Ricardo Montalban was from flexing his pecks and sexing up the ladies.

This is a 1956 Ferrari 860 Monza Barchetta Sportscar racer and is named for the Italian Monza race circuit where the four cylinder Ferrari sportscars debuted in 1954. See, with Peter around we learn lots of things.

Named for the body of water and the island nations contained in its warm pirate-riddled water, the 1954 Packard Caribbean Convertible was intended to remind people of a relaxing life by the beach in sunnier climes. I think of rum.

But lets face it, I often think of rum. That and that one hilarious time I didn’t flush at a Burger King bathroom. Anyway, taking its name from the Corsica Company coachbuilder on Corsica Street, Kings Cross, London, is this one-off sinister looking 1930 Bentley Speed Six Corsica Coupe. Nice!

Who am I kidding? It was more than once. Boy, were those Burger King employees pissed! Adding some much needed class to this joint is a 1924 Bugatti Type-23 Brescia. Amazingly, race-track success spurred serious demand, and close to 2,000 chassis were produced. This is Chassis No. 2243, a green Tourer.

Peter says my pre-challenge spiel is always a place for good ideas. Indeed it is. But I never reveal my own ideas in the write up. Bet you didn’t know that! Anyway, here is the 1957 Chrysler New Yorker Hardtop Coupe.

Named after the inland plateau amongst the mountains south of where Peter grew up in Australia, the Monaro was the Australian GM outpost - Holden's answer to the American V8 Muscle car idiom.

Next on the Peter slab is a couple of historic Holden Belmonts. The 'Belmont' name was attached to 4-door sedans, wagon, and also the commercial vehicles, shown here in tan Ute (utility) and white Panel Van forms.

Proving to be an inspiration to us all, a brick version of this rendered 1919 Australia Lincoln Six Speedster was brick built by Flickr member 'Lazy Meerkats' for display at the Birdwood museum and it also made it to Melbourne's 'Brickvention'.

See, kids, copying relentlessly does pay! Copying from my own write up, Peter finds inspiration in a 1956 Lincoln Capri Hardtop coupe shown here in what looks to be prosthetic leg orange.

When I think of Milan I think of expensive handbags, fashionable boots and sleek, expressionless models on the runway showing off the goods in sheer outfits. Peter thinks of the 2010 mercury Milan in dark grey.

The very small town of Tarago in Australia apparently inspired this 1990 Tarago minivan. You can probably fit the entire population of Tarago in it and still have room for Burt Reynold’s mustache.

Morris Motors was founded in 1912 and was named after an orange overweight finicky homosexual cat who hawked 9Lives cat food for a living. Right? I’m pretty sure that’s true. Anyway, here’s a 1959 Morris Oxford in sand green.

No its not just a place to buy books, CDs and the occasional women’s undergarments online. Its also not just a huge jungle in Brazil, which is also the source of most of the Oxygen we breathe. The Amazon was also a Volvo in 1956. Who knew!

The Ford Motor Company was big on exotic locations to name its vehicles in the 1960s. The Cortina, first introduced in 1962, was no exception. Shown here is the Cortina MkIV from 1976 in classy beige and brown.

And, lastly, Japan is known for square watermelon and groping on crowded subways. Its true, there is even a name for it...frottage. They are not known, however, for cars with place names. One exception, and notably also for being named after a Japanese city, is the Mitsubishi Sapporo of 1978. 

When you grope someone on a subway that isn’t crowded that’s called a lawsuit. Not that Dohoon Kim would know anything about that. He does, however, know all about the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, named after a beach where groping is encouraged.

He also knows all about the Dodge Royal Monaco, named after a small country where its OK to leave an unflushed surprise in a Burger King bathroom. Probably. Actually, I didn’t really research that one. I’m pretty much just dialing it in at this point.

And speaking of an unflushed surprise, Tim Inman squeezes out this stunning 1941 Graham Hollywood. Man, he makes it hard to write jokes when this creation looks so good! I love the chrome elements.

Loek1990 renders an Opel Monza concept car. Sorry, no jokes here. I’m still drooling over Tim’s Hollywood Graham. Man, what a beauty!

OK, must think funny thoughts. Must think funny thoughts! OK, got it! Here goes. New guy, Sir Manperson, admittedly the only recent LUGNuts member I was afraid to look at his photostream while at work for fear of seeing hardcore gay porn, builds a 4-wide Charger Daytona.

Turns out Manperson is just a normal kid who likes cars and LEGO. Nah, go ahead, have a look, I checked, its all safe. But he does have a habit of apologizing for everything he posts. His second entry, he apologetically calls the Pebble Beach.

Never needing to apologize for anything he does is Ralph Savelsberg and his 1958 Plymouth Fury known as Christine. Its a story about a boy who loves his car and his jealous scornful car that goes on murderous rampages every time he smiles at another girl. I think I dated her once!

And speaking of murderous rampages, Lino Martins finishes us off with this 1984 Monte Carlo SS all decked out in over-the-top Donk attire. Donks are a phenomenon you find primarily in the US “dirty south” rap culture. I saw a few of these while visiting New Orleans. My tagline: “Safe, Practical, Sensible. The Monte Carlo SS”. Ironic considering I’ve never built anything safe, practical or sensible.

And with that bombshell we end yet another unsafe, impractical and senseless roundup. How’d I do? A solid C-, just as expected. Hey, at least I pull through with my promises. So what’s in store for the future of LUGNuts, then? Next month, I promise a mediocre roundup for a little challenge I like to call LUGNuts Goes Wingnuts. Lets face it, aircraft are pretty cool and ever since I lit my first paper airplane on fire and threw it into a third grade classroom, I’ve been fascinated by things that fly. Our own Ralph Salvelsberg (whom I presume had a less destructive fascination with aircraft) offers his inspiration and expertise in the matter. Plenty of cars bikes and trucks were inspired by aircraft so this will be your month to build them. Also, for the first time ever in LUGNuts history, you may also build the aircraft that inspired your automobile entry. Sound good? So tune in next month where I promise to spend a couple nights writing mediocre jokes and wishing I was building instead, the eight of you might get a chuckle out of it (or not) and somebody will leave a comment having nothing at all to do with the roundup. I promise.

Designing the Ralston Rhino...Roundup

So, Lino, you might say. You've been learning to play guitar on Rocksmith for like four months now. How's that going? To which I'd say, thanks for asking, disconnected voice used only to make a point. I'm doing just fine. So fine, in fact, that I can play The Who's "My Generation" with 67.9% accuracy. I'm bragging about that one cuz that's my highest scoring song. The rest, not so much.  Most, much, much worse. But hey, 67.9% is a solid D+ if you prefer the letter grade method. That was a passing grade at my old high school, and if it was good enough for my high school councilor then its good enough to follow me through everything I do in life. So whether I'm filing my taxes, installing a kitchen sink, doing brain surgery, firing a gun into the air, or even writing this roundup, I will do it with 67.9% accuracy. That's my solemn promise to you, dear readers. So welcome to a roundup that you may find to be overall a good effort, but insufficient in nearly a third of the important facts. We call it; Designing the Ralston Aardvark.

First on the Ralston Rhino slab is Peter Blackert with his sand green Rhino MkIV Off Road Jet. The rules said the Ralston Rhino had to be a truck and your definition of "truck" can be pretty loose...pickup, semi, van, SUV, etc. This one looks to be in the SUV variety.



Next, Peter pounds out the MkIV Off Road Rhino specifically for the Dakkar Noir races, which is sponsored by the stuff high school jocks spray on to cover up the smell of ball sweat. It is shown here in Magnum racing livery, which is the company that makes condoms for the exceptionally endowed. Not that any of us would know that.



I like what Peter has done here. With the Family crest and even the font, he has created a brand identity that is consistent, even throughout the ages. Here we see the 1932 Ralston MkI Type 8R-32 Tourer Half-Track in dark blue.



The Ralston Purina Puppy Chow Type 8R was also produced in a six-wheeled-drive, triple axle configuration, shown here with Coupe bodywork. The 1932 Ralston Rhino MkI Type 8R-32 Coupe - Triple Axle was incidentally the best vehicle for bird watching.



Incidentally that was the most entries Peter has ever submitted. Good going! Somebody call Guiness. And by Guiness, I mean the Irish beer that is like a meal in itself. Moving right along is two entries by AadenH. Here is one.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aadenh/13215032865/

And here is the other. Now I know the rules are pretty loosey-goosey, but they specifically stated the Ralston Rhino had to be a "truck". Both these entries look decidedly car-like. He even included the word "car or two" in his write up. Makes me wonder if he even paid attention at all.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aadenh/13215620064/

Tim Inman takes a stab at the Ralston Rhino. His version is a dark blue people mover with gull-wing doors and a twin turbo V-6 with working pistons. Because of this build, Tim was voted People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. In your face, Hugh Jackman!



Finally some big damned trucks up in this piece! Lino Martins makes his Rhino part semi, part charging beast, part command center, part UFO...and with anti-gravity frictionless load pulling action...only about 67.9% plausible. The front also looks like a cat wearing wraparound sunglasses.



In The LEGO Movie, some guys had beards. Some guys loved really big sausages. That was just their thing. Poor Emmit was deemed unremarkable and rather boring. But all that would have changed had he have had this sweet Ralston Rhino entry by Volume X.



Even Batman was in the movie. And as he "only works in black...and really dark grey" he would totally blow his wad for this Ralston Rhino Flatbed Bat-Hauler for when your other bat-equipment craps out.



Volume Y comes back a third time and this time he sees into the future and the exciting new Ultra Agent sets slotted for August of this year. This version of the Ralston Rhino is standard issue super agent gear.



Finally in a challenge for futuristic concept trucks, The Raphster presents something that looks suspiciously like a classic Roadrunner car. So classic, in fact, that it made it into the LUGNuts calendar a year or two ago. His quip about the date indicates that it was an April Fool's joke but he never swapped it out with a real Ralston Rhino. Bummer, dude.



Is that all of them? Yep, I think it is. So how'd you like the short and sweet roundup that was 67.9% accurate? Pretty much like all my other roundups, then? Yeah, I agree. And, as it turns out, only 67.9% of the entries were actually concept trucks. That just goes to show ya that barely putting in a minimum effort is good enough for us here at LUGNuts. So what does the future hold for this blog? Next month we've got a challenge called Places, Everyone...all about cars, trucks and bikes with place names. Whether yours be the Buick Riviera or the Subaru Outback, places are where its at. So tune in same bat-time, same bat-channel next month to see our half-assed attempts at Chevy Malibus and Chrysler New Yorkers. Until next time, here's to hoping I can bring my guitar playing and my blog writing up to a C-. No promises, though.

Viva Italia...Roundup

Welcome to the most popular blog in the history of the world EVAR!... is what I'd be saying if we were all about pictures of cats wanting to haz cheezburgers. I actually applied to work for those guys awhile ago. Needless to say I didn't get the job. Turns out my particular brand of sardonic slander doesn't bode well with their "family oriented"humor. I haven't a goddamned clue what they mean by that. I told them getting drunk and making out with a chubby cashier behind the dumpster at Walmart is precisely how families are made. Who's more family oriented now? Anyway, long story and two restraining orders later, I'm here entertaining the eight of you instead. Its probably for the best, cuz here we're all about grown-ass men building LEGO cars, trucks, and bikes, which is way better than cute cats with misspelled slogans, in my opinion. This month's challenge was called Viva Italia! and is all about - you guessed it, Italian vehicles. Now Italians are people who know a thing or two about making families! They also talk with their hands. And they're very passionate about racing and super cars. Lets see how we performed, shall we?





When you throw Peter Blackert an Italian challenge he takes it as an opportunity to build every Italian car ever made. First up, the 2007 Maserati GranTurismo in dark blue. get yourself comfortable, cuz there's plenty more.



Next on the Peter slab is the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, which was released in 2007 and marked a return of the rear-wheel-drive sportscar for the famous Milanese maker. And by "maker" I'm pretty sure he means baby maker. That's a spicy meat-a ball!





This wouldn't be an Italian challenge without a dozen Ferraris strewn about the yard. This pale yellow model here is SN 09437 GT - the first of the series of 10 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyders and one of the rarest. I'm pretty sure I found a rare nart spider in my bathroom.





It totally freaked me out cuz it was hiding behind the roll of toilet paper, and I ran outta there with my pants around my ankles screaming like little girl. But enough about my weekend. Here's a blue Lamborghini Diablo.



Next Peter asks the all important question, do you love fast cars, beautiful women, espresso and talking with your hands? Sure, we all do! But if you have four kids from all that passionate Italian family making, then you might want this '58 FIAT Multipla Abarth.



Or you can leave the wife and kids behind at break-neck speeds in this 2007 Ducati Monster 695. Take off into the sunset to the nearest Italian cafe, your family will never find you there.



And while you're making googly eyes with the cute Italian barista at the cafe, your wife and kids can hunt you down in the Alfa Romeo164 V6 Executive Saloon. Peter tells us it was designed by Enrico Fumia of Pininfarina Ralston Purina Puppy Chow...or something.



Peter also tells us the '74 DeTomaso Pantera GTS, like many of us, is a hybrid of cultures. Italian body, iron heart made in Detroit and with maybe even a bit of Australian lineage. Just like the chubby cashier at Walmart.



Follow on from the long-running Ferrari 308 Series was this, the Ferrari 328 GTB Berlinetta of 1986. The styling was by favoured design house Pininfarina and by the pen of Leonardo Fioravanti-Frappacino Linguini Gelato. I think.



Peter says the Alfa Romeo GT (Type 937) of 2003 was the sportiest Alfa Romeo available during part of the 2000's.Though smartly styled by Bertone, the car was not a high point in Alfa Romeo history. Does this mean it wore platform shoes and listened to disco?



Next on the Peter slab is a 1969 Fiat Dino Spider 2.4 V6. I saw dino spiders in Hawaii. Big suckers! It crawled in and says- I can haz eat yur face? And I says- No! Stomp! Then two days later one of his buddies showed up.



The Lancia Aurelia B20 Coupe (Series IV) sports the world's first V-6 production engine. No kidding?! It also sports the world's first in-dash spaghetti strainer and it plays the Godfather soundtrack constantly. And like all Italians it lives with its mom until the age of 32.



Adding some much needed class to this joint, the 1933 Isotta Fraschinis were some of the most glamorous vehicles in the world during the late 20's and early 30's, costing even more than Duesenbergs. It was designed by Castagna Antoni Ravioli Pepperoni.



Peter tells us the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider of 1938 truly were the Veyrons of their time. They were rare, ultra fast, stunning and individual, and originally designed by Cappicola Provolone Salami Mortadella. Clearly my entire Italian vocabulary comes from the Deli.



The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SN 27355 was famous RHD Ferrari racer driven by Stirling Moss. This one in striking navy with blue stripe. Peter tells us it has a cappuccino maker...or something. I don't know, I stopped paying attention like six entries ago.



True fact: Italians are more likely to have sex in their cars than anyone else. It probably has everything to do with living with Mama Mia until you're almost middle-aged and also, how can you not when every last italian owns something as glorious as the 1956 Ferrari 250 Tour de France, SN 0563GT?



Built for the Kardashians with their cushy wide asses and their pampered needs is this 2008 Ferrari California. It was the first front engined V-8 Ferrari and It was designed, like the Kardashians, with a removable top.



And what busty, wide-hipped babe would be complete without this Ferrari 458 Spider based concept, issued in 2013, called the Pininfarina Sergio? It should be the requisite accessory for anyone named Hilton or Kardashian but does it have a removable top.



How can you make a car coveted by strip club owners even more douchy? Why you slam the stance down and give it a spoiler the size of a strip club bouncer as evidenced by this Slamorghini Gallardo built by LegoJunkie. Or Slambo for short. Nice touch with the roof rack.



You wouldn't know it from the first 20 or so entries, but Italians are all about F1 racing. Nathaneal L well represents F1 with this Ferrari F14 T. While all Italian, this car would be nearly impossible to have sex in...unless, of course, you consider the kind of sex one has by himself.



The Bing-Bong Brothers say this Lamborghini Miura SV. is the prettiest bull I've ever seen. What the hell is the story with them, anyway? Are they really brothers or is it just one guy? Or are they some sort of married couple like Siercon and whatsherface? For the love of God, can somebody please get to the bottom of this mystery!



While its clear I lack journalistic integrity, I also lack the ability to know an Italian car when I see one. While searching the net for something to build, I discovered the Fiat Bugster concept off-roader. It was cool, different...right up my ally! But halfway through building, I learn the concept was devised in Brazil, not Italy.



While I fumble with my own failures, Fe2Cruz does us all a public service. He says "So the Round Up might have more humor...I give you the Italian lawnmower. Don't miss his Urban Dictionary link on the definition of Italian lawnmover. Thanks for the humor. Comedy is hard. Try making a Ferrari 328 GTB Berlinetta funny.



"So the Round Up might have something small...I give you the Ferruccio Lamborghini's early diesel." Yep, Lambo builds tractors. Actually, I think that's how they started. Probably. But what do I know, what with my lack of journalistic integrity and all.




"And if the Round Up might prefer something just right...I give you, from the Leno Collection, a 14 MPH Maximum Lamborghini Tratorri R485." Thanks for the public service, Cruz. It was just right indeed.



And speaking of busty women with curvy hips (like 10 entries ago), Tim Inman builds us a stunning rendition of Rita Hayworth's 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Ghia Coupe. Just like Rita Hayworth herself, this coupe is worth a second and third glance. Also jest like Rita Hayworth herself, a poster of one of these can get you busted out of Shawshank in like twenty years.



NKubate is famous for taking one set and one set only and creating scores of diverse rides. Two books so far surely proves this. But this time he breaks from the norm and uses more than one set to build this classic Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. Can this mean a whole other book, then?



No, Don't Talk To Robots didn't build something from the hit 70's series Buck Rogers. Buck frequently talked to a robot whose head was shaped exactly like a circumcised penis. Instead our newest active member built this 1976 Alfa Romeo Navajo without mentioning it to even one robot.



Which is probably for the best. Robots can't keep a secret worth a damn. Take that blabbermouth C-3PO, for example. Ralph Savelsberg knows all about that. He invented robots. Probably. What else would a mad physicist do? Besides build the cool Ferrari GT 250 SWB California from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.



Is that the end of our roundup? I think it is. So what did we learn today? We learned that Italians talk with their hands, they live at home with Mama Mia well into their thirties and sex in a F1 racer is nearly impossible, unless its the kind of sex done alone. We also learned that I'm a culturally insensitive jerk with the journalistic integrity of an orange utan and I don't know an Italian concept car from a Brazilian one. We also learned that a poster of Rita Hayworth can get you sprung from Shawshank...or just sprung. Also, talking to robots with heads shaped like penises is generally a bad idea. I'd say that was a successful, well-rounded roundup, then. But what does the future hold for LUGNuts? Turns out this month's challenge, called Designing the Ralston Rhino, is all about the future and concept trucks. Only three rules apply: It needs to include the letter "X" somewhere in it's design, it needs to be a truck (interpretations of "truck" may vary) and it needs to be called the Ralston Rhino. Everything else is up to your own crazed imagination. Will yours be a spaced-out pickup or a retro-inspired cement mixer? I guess we'll have to tune in next time to find out. I'll promise to bring my lack of journalistic integrity. Until then, thanks for making LUGNuts the best blog in the history of the world EVAR, in spite of what those cheezburger guys say. And as always, happy building, y'all!

Freakin' Balls-Out Sweet 75th LUGNuts Challenge Extravaganza...Roundup!

Welcome to the best blog on the net that no one reads. Why are we the best blog on the net? Cuz we feature some of the best LEGO cars, trucks, and bikes ever built on this football we call Planet Earth. Why does no one ever read us? Cuz it seems people really love pictures of cats and dogs with cute misspelled words, apparently. Also, sadly,we have never posted any videos of hot naked co-eds bouncing on trampolines. But all that is about to change!

No we're not about to do the trampoline thing and the I can haz cheezburger and whatnot. Sorry. We're sticking to our LEGO car buildin' ways, but you may have noticed a little facelift around here. Pretty sweet, right? I also suspect this very special Freakin' Balls-Out Sweet 75th LUGNuts Challenge Extravaganza will bring in a few new looky-loos. You see, normally we slave away building for these challenges with no personal gain other than bragging rights. But since this is our special 75th challenge, we threw in some awesome prizes! The rules were simple: Ask for a random assignment. Build accordingly. If you win first, second, or third place, both you and the person who suggested your assignment win sweet, sweet LEGO sets and all the fame, glory, and sex-crazed groupies that is naturally inherent with grown-ass men playing with Legos. I assume you all have groupies, right?

Anyway, since you may be new here, lets do a round of introductions of our admins: I'm Lino, I do most of the writing and have a kick-in-the-nuts sense of humor. Nathan, my co-founder, does all the HTML around here, Ralph is sensible and conservative, but can't help it cuz he's Dutch, Peter builds a bazillion cars but never on time...and Tim always pays for strange. Now that you're all caught up, let's get on with the roundup, shall we? First the winners.

If you live in Latvia, hide your girlfriends and daughters because they're all going to be clamoring for Peteris Sprogis and his 1967 Ford Mustang GT 500. He could have stopped at just building the car, but Peteris shows us how to win first place with the addition of a horse trailer and a diorama. In other words, its a Mustang pulling a mustang! He takes home the super awesome Technic Service Truck set for a well deserved win!


Incidentally, his friend and fellow Latvian, Rolands Kirpis suggested the winning build so he takes home the City Cargo Truck set. The two top prizes go to Latvia, it wrecks havoc on the LUGNuts budget, but its all worth it knowing the Latvian ladies have two new LEGO superstars to drool over!

I'm no good at ancient history, but something like four score and 100 years ago, God wanted Noah to build an ark or something. Everyone thought he was plum crazy but it all turned out well for Noah and a bunch of animals. Now, pretty much the same thing happened; Curtydc heard the random ramblings of the LEGO car gods and pulled through with the Lamborghini Egoista. For his efforts, he takes home the Technic Monster Truck!



For suggesting the second place winning vehicle, Raphy is the proud owner of the City Grand Prix Truck. Now all the animals will be saved from certain head exploding doom. Who's crazy now?

Before you answer that, consider the fame, glory, street cred...and Technic Motocross Bike that will go to our 3rd place winner, Lego Junkie and his Ford RS200 Rally Racer. I was just there, and I've come to the sound conclusion that Hawaii has three things: flowing lava, foot long centipedes...and a star LEGO builder sure to appease even Pele's wrath. Good going, Lego Junkie! May you never seek rehabilitation of your LEGO addiction.



But just like the other two winners, somebody had to have suggested them first.  Dylan Denton fit the bill by suggesting the build and as a result now has the City Firetruck. Sweet!

Those were the winners, now let's showcase the rest. Definitely a worthy contender for the win was Marin Stipkovic and his awesome Foden Steam Wagon as assigned by Dennis Bosman.

Marin chimes in again with this cute little Trabant 601 as assigned by pasukaru76. He even mimicked the composition of the original photo suggestion, with the Trabant up on a shelf in a warehouse somewhere.

Proving lightning can strike three times in the same place, Marin erupts again with the Nike One Concept Car as suggested by curtydc. It was a good idea with great execution. Its like something out of Star Wars.

As it turns out, Marin was the busiest little bee in our whole challenge. And why not? The rules say you can (shampoo, rinse) and repeat and he does just that with an encore performance. Pasukaru76 wanted to break the sound barrier and Marin pulls through in spades.

Curtydc wanted the curvaceous Rally Fighter and Pasukaru76 answers the call of duty with good racing style and a desert diorama. It takes me back to the old Octan Racing challenge. Remember that one?

Proving multiple entries to be a good winning strategy, Lego Junkie pulls through again with this Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Convertible as assigned by Marin Stipkovic. it had great styling, but his other entry squeaked out the win.

A self proclaimed noob comes along with some great advice...Don't Talk To Robots. That's his name...and its some good advice. Anyway, he proves that even noobs have a few tricks up their sleeve by being a very close contender for the win with this '73 Camaro as assigned by Marin Stipkovic.

Judging this challenge was as hard as Chinese Algebra. Part of the difficulty was choosing other winners over this awesome "Double Trouble" hot rod as built by Legotrucks and assigned by Peteris Sprogis.

Pasukaru76 wanted something fast, old school, rocket-driven, experimental and unusual and CleverNiftyDude lives up to his name with the sleek Opel Rak 2. Nice!

We go from rocket powered and experimental to something boxy and practical but that's how it goes when you answer the crazed whims of the LUGNuts members at large. Dylan Denton wanted the 1961 Subaru Sambar van and Rolic does it in Dubai police livery.

I'm not even sure if I should include this one as it is only half a bike. But since I said I'd give everyone equal billing and I was personally rooting for this one, Nolnet proves the Confederate Motors B120 Wraith as assigned by Curtydc is a not so easy rider. Bummer, dude!

Lastly, CleverNiftyDude mumbles something about a 1987 Toyota LiteAce Van and Silcanter squeezes out one final entry, thus bringing an end to our challenge. The clocked tolled its midnight chime and we had to bring it all to a screeching halt. That's how it goes.

So, what did you all think of the roundup? I think for a prize challenge, we had very few entries, but as us admins know, this business of building based on random assignments is hard work indeed. Many have tried, few have succeeded. Oh, and speaking of which, us admins had to sit out building for this one as we were the financiers of the prizes...which means, now that I think about, introducing all of us in the beginning was pretty stupid. Oh well. But us admins...and incidentally everyone else (even you!) can build for this month's challenge. Its called Viva Italia and its all about (yep, you guessed it) italian cars, trucks, and bikes. This challenge will give you a good excuse to talk with your hands and live with Mama until you're 35. Oh, and if that doesn't convince you to build for this challenge, a recent poll says that Italians are more likely to have sex in their cars than any other nation. I'm sure living with Mama until you're almost middle aged has everything to do with it but I never imagined the Fiat 500 or even the Lambo Gallardo was conducive to hanky-panky. But what do I know? Anyway, thanks for reading and thanks for making LUGNuts the best LEGO group ever. Until next time...Mama Mia, thats-a spicy meat-a ball!

Diorama-Rama Roundup

Remember building dioramas as a kid? Basically you take a shoe box, draw an erupting volcano in the background with crayons, fill the inside with glued-on fake grass, paper trees, rocks, and toy dinosaurs, present it for science class and then get a D on it...cuz it turns out the Cretaceous Period didn't have Hotwheels cars. Who knew, right? Well anyway this month's build challenge cleverly named Diorama-Rama is sort of the same idea, except instead of dinosaurs and erupting volcanoes this is more about building LEGO cars bikes, and trucks, then placing them in some sort of diorama setting. Did we all get a D on this month's science project? Lets take a looks, shall we?


Peteris Sprogis starts us off with a duo of dios (see what I did there). The first being this...Orbita retro futuristic concept bubble top car in a setting that looks sort of like a helicopter hanger. Hey, when its the retro future, anything is possible!





Second on the Peteris slab is a road blaster in some other artsy futuristic setting with what looks like the first entry apparently destroyed in a yellow heap in the background. Cobblestones are the way of the future. Remember that. Invest in cobblestones.





Meanwhile Ralph Savelsberg paves over said cobblestones with this HAMM HW 90 B Roller, doing its business. Doing this business has to do with neatly converting a studded plate surface into smooth tiles and not so much about locking yourself away with a magazine and the bathroom fan on. Sweet colors!





Tim Inman knows all about living in filth and squalor as evidenced by this hilarious dio of Cousin Eddie's camper home from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Perhaps more kids would get better grades on their dioramas if, instead of dinosaurs, they featured Cousin Eddie siphoning the shitter. Just my hunch.





Loek1990 builds us...or rather renders us...this Renault Midlum Boxvan, converted to a Hot Dog van. He tells us this dio is based off his favorite Hot Dog truck in the market next to the city hall where he lives. Obviously Loek lives in Mos Eisley cuz I'm pretty sure that's the Star Wars cantina back there.





No stranger to breathing life into renders is Peter Blackert with his first of many entries, this one called Conrod's Clubhouse. You see, not only does Peter render cars, he has an entire town figured out called Motor City where rival clubs build awesome hot rods. I'm totally stealing that tree technique!





Every town needs a town hall...preferably one where I am the Mayor. Yeah, I know, I'm just about as mature and responsible as an ice cream truck full of howler monkeys, but still Peter thinks I'd do a bang up job keeping peace between the rival car clubs. So long as I get a special parking spot for my Hudson Hornet.





The other car club in MotorCity is the 'Lugnuts Customised Car Club'. Shown here is their clubhouse. The building opens up to show a detailed interior including car lift and engine bench. A town where rival car clubs rule? Sure, if Speed Racer can find primitive tribal cultures fixated with auto racing, then Motor City seems pretty feasible.





I would totally live in a town full of customs and hot rods. Especially if they had a diner like this. Considered neutral ground by the two feuding car clubs, the Lugnuts and the Conrods, is Nani's Diner. Serving hamburgers, icecream and milkshakes to the citizens of MotorCity. I love that surfin' Woody!





Around the town of Motorcity, the Lugnuts gang members have various garage buildings for working on their cars, (I'm totally digging the purple and white leadsled!) or hiding from the Fuzz. That fuzz will ruin any wool sweater. I recommend taking it to the dry cleaners instead of machine washing it yourself.





Why do they have to hide from the Fuzz in Motor City? Why street racing, of course. The Fuzz are the bane of any grease monkey's existence. They're just out to cramp our style, harsh our mellow, dampen our buzz...or whatever other hip, cool ways to say shrivel our boners.





For his last entry, Peter goes from boner inducing Motor City where I preside as mayor to this JCB FASTRAC 8310 Farm tractor on an outback Australian farm. I preside over nothing in Australia. I don't even know what the hell they're talking about half the time. I mean, what the hell is a "banana bender" anyway?





For that matter, what does "corker" mean? Whatever it means, Jonathan Derksen has no doubt created one here. He joins in on all this diorama fun with this Snow Bucket with a classic big block engine and sandwich board advertising...absolutely nothing at all.





A few years ago LEGO produced pieces in copper color. Lino Martins shows off just about his entire collection of rare copper parts with what I thought to be my first ever Steampunk creation called Copperhead. Ralph says I failed at Steampunk but succeeded in building what looks like an OCC tribute to H. R. Giger.





Lego Junkie squeezes out the final entry of this challenge and bends the diorama rule quite a bit by not really having a diorama at all. Its a dune buggy with its outer shell propped up on a couple of sawhorses. He figures since he only creates about one car a year he may as well prop it on sawhorses. Seahorses would have been awesome.





Anyway, that concludes one corker of a challenge! Did anyone crack a fat over that one? On second thought, don't answer that. Instead consider the limitless possibilities of next month's freakin' balls-out sweet challenge cleverly named...Freakin' Balls-Out Sweet 75th LUGNuts Challenge Extravaganza. Pretty awesome, right? Why don't we name every challenge in such a way? Well, this 75th is very special. Normally peeps build for no reason other than to fulfill the challenge and for me to crack jokes in the roundups about boobies and farts or something. But this time we are thanking our members for making LUGNuts great by enticing builders with some pretty sweet prizes. The rules are simple: ask for a random assignment, then build accordingly. Top three gets awesome prizes. If you suggest the three winning entries, you too get awesome prizes. Shampoo, rinse, then repeat. Sound good? I think so. There has been some great suggestions laid out so far, but how will it all turn out? Who will win the prizes? We'll just have to wait and see. I hope you enjoyed this diorama roundup. If we've learned only one thing, its that dioramas aren't just for toy dinos anymore. They're also for Cousin Eddie siphoning the shitter. See ya next time!

Take It To The Next Level...Roundup

This month's build challenge was called Take It To The Next Level...all about cars, trucks, and bikes from video games. There's a lot to work with here and as everybody loves video games this one was slotted to become the best challenge in the history of the world ever. But in reality...not so much. It was one of our most underpopulated challenges in our long history. I can presume the reason, ironically, is everybody was out playing video games or something. That's OK, I've been playing a video game of sorts. Rocksmith 2014. Its helping me learn guitar and while I still suck at it, I'm making pretty good strives. I have just about built up the calluses on my fingers so my countdown to snorting coke off the ass of a prostitute like a rock star can be significantly shortened. So lets get this short round up over with so I can get back to finally nailing down Blitzkrieg Bop, shall we?

Even when the party is down to a dull roar you can always count on Ralph to bring the chips and the dip. And by chips and dip I mean Starsky and Hutch. But wait, you might say. Sure they're great oldschool TV stars but what do they have to do with video games? Turns out there is a game starring the dynamic duo of the pork chop sideburns.



And speaking of dynamic duo, Angelina Jolie lost hers recently. The world gave a collective sigh when she announced her double mastectomy but it was for preventive measures so probably a good thing. Anyway, Ralph built her in her awesome booby-havin' glory and also her Land Rover from the Tomb Raider game.



Peter Blackert usually brings the entire party with booze and strippers and also a bouncy house included, but this time he has brought along a very demure wine and cheese for a quiet little get together. The wine being this Mercedes AMG Vision Gran Turismo from GT6.



And the cheese is of the Italian variety with this tangy Lancia Delta Integrale Rally car in Martini livery from 'SEGA Rally' and 'SEGA Rally 2' arcade games. This was appreciated by everyone who participated in the challenge as we're all old farts who remember SEGA Rally. Where are all the whooper-snappers, anyway?



Showing our age, Nathan Proudlove and I bring a little heavy metal music to this party in the form of two entries from the game Brutal Legend. This entry is The Deuce or "The Druid Plow" and it marks Nathan's first car in over a year and a half so we were all pretty thrilled.



And Lino Martins contributes the Brutal Legend Tour Bus. You see, when it comes to Heavy Metal you can never have enough skulls, flames, and gnarly exhaust pipes. The Tour Bus delivers all three in spades. I'm digging the two different scale Eddie Riggs figures. Mullets required.



And finally Tim Inman delivers the bloody goods in his gatling gun havin' Meat Wagon from Twisted Metal. I was hoping someone would build from Twisted Metal. In fact, it was the whole reason I created the challenge. Now I can die happy while choking on my own vomit...



Is what I would say if I were an actual rock star. But I'm not. It would be really rock and roll to die choking on someone else's vomit like that dude from Spinal Tap. But considering I don't usually stay up late, I'm too deathly afraid to throw a TV into a pool, and I'm not so much into cocaine and prostitutes, my chances of truly becoming a rock star are pretty nil. Probably for the best, really. Anyway, that brings us to the end of this all-admin build challenge. What's in store for next month? Turns out its a little challenge we like to call Diorama-Rama...all about cars, trucks, and bikes, within a diorama setting. See, dioramas aren't just for toy dinosaurs anymore...unless, of course, you make it that way. Alrighty, now I shall get back to unlocking the mysteries of the riff to Blitzkrieg Bop. Joey Ramone, you were a punk rock genius. Probably not so much a math genius. Also you were probably no good at picking stocks, identifying birds, gardening, reading, writing, driving, balancing your checkbook, or Scrabble. But when it comes to punk rock and choking on your own vomit, you were the best. You'll be missed.