"I enjoy working with humans, and have the greatest enthusiasm for the mission." - HAL 9000 computer, of the spacecraft Discovery.

As everyone knows, HAL went whack during the flight to Jupiter and Dave Bowman had to take manual control. Even though HAL controlled the entire spacecraft, the only external interface we really see is of a tall video camera panel and speaker grille with his name printed on it. (Is it any coincidence that HAL's primary interface is so reminiscent of the black monolith that started his descent into insanity?)

UPDATE: LDraw file and instructions are now available on BrickShelf: Instructions.

• 32 studs tall


• 10 studs + 2 tiles wide


• 2 bricks, 1 plate thick


• 6 x 6 camera lens


• Camera "eye" lights up


• Sides are 2x2 bley tiles held on with SNOT bricks


• Front detaches easily


• Interior contains lighting mechanism from ExoForce set


• Does not try to kill everyone in sight

Although deceptively simple, this LEGO rendition of HAL's interface took a bit of fiddling. I've always been impressed with MOCs and official sets that look like the parts were made to go together exactly that way; when you look at it you say, "Well, DUH" at how obvious it all is. This is the closest I've gotten to a MOC like that... the camera eye, arches around curved bricks, and the lighting mechanism all combined made me giggle, "that's so frikkin' COOL!" In all honesty, it's hard to convey through pictures, especially the way the lens lights up.

If there's enough interest, I'll try to put together LDraw instructions. I mean, who wouldn't want a HAL 9000 interface on their desk?