Explorer is a long range science and research vessel.
About this creation

Here’s a pic of me hoisting Explorer overhead to offer a full view of the ship’s underside.
Explorer is a long range science and research vessel with a crew of 8. Features include a shuttle/cargo bay, 2 storage rooms, crew quarters and bathrooms, 4 escape pods, a science/med lab, crew lounge/dining room, 2 airlock entries, and a spacious bridge. The ship is armed with dual laser cannon for blasting space debris in its path.
The model is 141 studs long, 74 studs wide, and 24 bricks high and weighs about 30 lbs. It took me about 3 months to complete, working at various intervals. Construction on the ship proceeded from the front to back, from the bottom up, and from the inside out (for the most part). I made an initial rough sketch of an idea I had for large shuttle with a forward bridge and airlock section followed by a central hub of escape pods and lounge/living areas. I had no plan for the back section, other than propulsion. I started building right away and tried different ideas as I went along.
The design and utility of this ship is somewhat of a departure from my previous large space MOCs. Explorer is not meant for combat and, unlike warships like Dragonstar or Gibraltar , it does not feature multiple decks or a conning tower. Also, while those designs were mostly influenced by anime, the design for Explorer drew on many inspirations. I didn’t set off to design it to fit into any particular popular sci-fi universe, though some people think it leans a bit toward Battlestar Galactica.
I’d say the feature I’m most satisfied with is the floor of the main corridor. This was the first thing I built and it probably took the most time because I wanted every detail under the floor grating to have a realistic purpose.
Overall, I had fun building this model and I’m pretty satisfied with how everything turned out. I tried a few different things this time and I have some ideas now for the next big ship.

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This low level shot shows the main sensor dish (blue). Above it is the exhaust for the reverse engine (trans neon green). The cylinders alongside the bridge are smaller reverse thrusters for maneuvering. The model is very sturdy and balanced and I used very minimal display stands.
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A good overall view of the design. I used several large tiles (with the studs along the edges) to minimize the exposed studs on the main body and give the ship a smoother appearance. The stickers are from the UCS X-Wing set.
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This head-on view offers a better look at the asymmetry of the ship’s paneling or plating. I inserted dark gray slopes and yellowed light gray slopes randomly to give the ship a more weathered look.
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This high angle rear view shows a more sparsely and subtly detailed rear section.
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The low angle view offers a better look at the engine exhaust configuration and the greebling on the side engines.
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A complete view of the ship’s interior to give a better idea of where everything is located. The ship is divided into 6 bulkheads. From the left is the bridge, followed by airlocks, med-lab/lounge, escape pod access, crew cabins and storage, and shuttle/cargo bay.
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An overhead view of the shuttle/cargo bay at the rear of the ship.
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A technician works on the blue Spiffcrafts Freem-drive as a toolbot stands ready to assist. On the left side of the picture are cargo containers and supply drums. To the right is a work bench (in back) and a meteor that’s being analyzed.
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This maintenance platform, with retractable ladder, was the final touch on the shuttle/cargo bay.
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An overhead view of Explorer’s living quarters and storage/hydroponics bays. At the top right of the frame is the storage/hydroponics bay on the starboard side of the ship. At lower right is the port side storage bay. The crew cabins on either side are identical and each feature 4 bunks, storage space, 2 tables and 4 chairs, and a bathroom.
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A closer view of the port side storage bay with shelves and container cylinders.
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This view offers a closer look at the intricate network of pipes, conduits, and relays that run underneath the floor.
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A tighter view of one of the bathrooms in the crew cabins. To the left is the sink, above is the toilet, and squared tile below is part of the sonic shower emitter.
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Down the main corridor, about mid-ship, are the escape pod access hatches (marked with the red doorways). There are 4 escape pods, 2 on each side.
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A crew member standing in the doorway of an escape pod, access hatch closed.
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Access hatch open, with the crew member on the right standing inside the escape pod.
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An overhead view of the med-lab (on the right) and the lounge/galley (left).
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The reverse view from above, med-lab on left and lounge/galley on right.
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A closer view of the retractable exam table (left), bio-scanner (center), and microscope (right).
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Looking in from the port side airlock hatch, with a crew member standing in the opposite airlock entry way. Explorer has 2 airlock entrances on either side, just aft of the bridge.
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A full view of Explorer’s bridge. Up front are pilot and co-pilot. On the left is the nav/comm station. To the right is science/engineering. Center is the captain.
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The science/engineering display is also a custom sticker . When I completed Explorer’s exterior, I took an overhead and side view shots and used Photoshop (namely the Find Edges filter) to create the ship schematic.
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After I posted my initial pics to Brickshelf, I went back to take pics of an individual escape pod.
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Comments
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I like it |
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December 21, 2012 |
You ever thought of applying to join the Lego industries because I've seen your work and people would pay money for some of the models you've created. You can also make Lego building instructions easy on Lego Digital Designer (LDD) |
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November 26, 2012 |
amazing work..well done |
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I like it |
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October 1, 2012 |
Hello I would like to know how much I use bricks and I wish I could help consruir one please help nesarange@gmail.com |
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September 20, 2012 |
Excellent work! |
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August 20, 2012 |
Beautiful Ship!!! |
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I like it |
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July 6, 2012 |
(Silence)...need I say more? |
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I like it |
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June 22, 2012 |
Very well done. The ship looks both inhabitable and has all the necessary functions to carry out it's mission. Nicely done on the exterior. |
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I like it |
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March 27, 2012 |
EPIC |
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I like it |
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February 21, 2012 |
o. m. g. can you upload it to ldd? then i can buy one! 100000,00000/5 |
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January 24, 2012 |
Re-addicted to LEGO after I first saw this a couple of years ago, inspirational build! |
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I like it |
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January 20, 2012 |
WOW! I love the detail, it feels like it should have its own special shutel. :D |
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I like it |
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August 17, 2011 |
this is magnificent i love the details and the interior! |
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August 15, 2011 |
Simply Amazing. One of the few spacecraft I fill people could actually live in. You put a huge amount of detail into a ship that isn't actually very big. Maybe the best starship ever! You could sell this thing for hundreds. One nice thing about it: it could be easily modified from human space exploration to Star Wars and other styles. You should have a job in Lego building. |
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May 21, 2011 |
spettacolare , bellissima l' idea delle capsule
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May 8, 2011 |
cooool!!!!!I want one! |
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May 1, 2011 |
By far this is one of my favourite lego creations. I love the use of colour and how it seems the function like an actual spaceship (Like with all the facilities lots of other ships don't tend to include) Really hope that someday I'll be able to build something as good as it. Very inspirational, Well done. |
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April 7, 2011 |
Elegant solutions from all angles. This totally rocks!!! |
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That is exactly the kind of vessel i'd like to build(i also think about Blake Foster ones, for exemple) and exactly what makes me want to do it.
When i will go back to LDD(once i will have finished my big submarine project! could you check it out please?), I'll have some ideas, and thank you for that! |
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January 23, 2011 |
That is amazing. How large is that? |
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December 28, 2010 |
Extraordinary. You deserve the 100,000 hits you have nearly obtained. Makes my old Classic Lego Space sets seem tame in the extreme! |
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I like it |
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December 1, 2010 |
Where'd you get the black drawer thingys in the background of the overhead shot? |
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November 16, 2010 |
this is my favorite of your ships and it has inspired me to build more realistic seeming spacecraft. |
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I like it |
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October 18, 2010 |
Nice cruiser but nothing can top those little Spiffcrafts. Hopefully one day we'll all be driving a full size Spiffcraft. That...is the key to world peace. Nice work!
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I like it |
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September 14, 2010 |
The details in this thing are so much more superior to my own that at first I thought the pictures where actually individual parts you made. 100/10 for this one! Congratulations! |
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I like it |
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September 8, 2010 |
I gladly give you the 200th 'I like it', this ship is unreal! All of your ships are extremely impressive...just like this one. It's all been said below this comment but I still say WOW! The details, color, shape, design, all the little rooms, escape pods, and the bridge are all top-notch. You sir, in my opinion, are one of the top all-time builders on this site. |
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August 29, 2010 |
how much £? |
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August 1, 2010 |
Your a god. I'm working on a similar design. |
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July 29, 2010 |
By far one of my favorite ships ever. I'm a sucker for inside detail and this probably has the best hanger deck ever. |
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July 22, 2010 |
One of my favorite MOCs! Definitely my favorite spaceship! I am working on building something similar. |
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June 26, 2010 |
I. LOVE. IT! This is my favourite of your MOCs! |
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June 24, 2010 |
I am a huge fan, your ships are great, I am interested in building one of my own. I especially like the explorer, would you be opposed if i built one and posted it?
Thanks, -Erik |
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May 30, 2010 |
dude its so col
i cant think of anything to say |
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I like it |
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May 20, 2010 |
Awesome and amazing ship, a mocpage I like to visit regular |
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I like it |
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May 18, 2010 |
You are an amazing builder! |
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May 4, 2010 |
Hi Dan. I just had a look on your explorer at brickshelf, where i saw the extra pictures of the engine part and the ship stripped down:-) I am on my first big ship and yes i copied the engine part. Instead of using modified bricks with studs on sides i used hinges down the tall wall side to build out from the ship. I didn't use monorail bars for the inside, so my engine structure is a little heavier, basically there is 3 walls, 1 on each end and 1 in the middle. it still got me the opportunity to complete it the way i wanted. I haven't posted any pictures yet, still working on the end of the ship and the last interior. The ship is called Glazerfire, pay my site a visit in about a month it should be done. best Soren. |
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I like it |
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April 16, 2010 |
How would I contact you if I wanted to get building instructions? I have never seen another lego creation that I liked so much in my life. |
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I like it |
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April 8, 2010 |
An amazing creation. Very good work. |
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January 20, 2010 |
Unbelievable amount of detail for such a large ship. And I love the windshields you chose for the front of the ship they look excellent. -Sam |
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Wyatt Meckler January 1, 2010 |
wow |
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I like it |
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December 25, 2009 |
Wow! I really like your creations! I would love to know how you start your ships! |
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congrats nice mods int and ext!! |
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December 8, 2009 |
Will you please put make a walkthrough on how to build this or something like that, its so cool i want one |
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November 10, 2009 |
5 years ago today omg! |
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October 25, 2009 |
Really, really impressed. this is something that I aspire to reproduce cheaply in many failed attempts.
On that subject, how do you design the models before you build them? I want to build something similar but I don't have the pieces, and I don't have the money to just buy thousands of dollars worth and experiment. is there a way to design it, count the bricks and then order those off of bricklink other than LDD?
thanks in advance |
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August 14, 2009 |
This is Beautiful. I love it. Please keep making more. |
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July 31, 2009 |
space odyssey 2001? i think so |
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July 31, 2009 |
this reminds me of 2001 space odysey... other then that im speechless... |
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It somehow reminds me of the reble blokade runner from star wars epsode VI, a new hope |
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June 9, 2009 |
Probably the best spaceship on mocpages!(: |
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June 8, 2009 |
wow (said in a low, amazed sort of voice). |
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Marcus Hallberg May 9, 2009 |
this ship is the best moc on mocpages, no in the WORLD,no in the UNIVERSE |
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I like it |
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May 6, 2009 |
Awesome shipx2! The utter detail in every part of this ship from outside to the inside; I could go on for hours about it! |
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I like it |
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May 2, 2009 |
Your best so far. I stand in awe (litterally, I'm really standing right now!) |
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I like it |
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January 29, 2009 |
This is your best ship in my opinion. |
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January 25, 2009 |
It is really cool, in some means resembles Dead Space's Ishimura. |
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I like it |
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January 19, 2009 |
AMAZING |
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January 17, 2009 |
I am currently working on a large minifig scale exploratory ship too. Although I do not have the pieces for all the detail and the size of your Explorer, I hope that someday I can complete it. I keep coming to some of your ships for ideas for sturdy building. Thanks for all the inspiration and the great creations! |
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I like it |
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January 4, 2009 |
Uh... this is probably, wait no, thats not right, DEFINETLY one of the best ships I've ever seen! Good job!! |
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December 30, 2008 |
I first gazed upon this masterpiece about a year and a half ago and I instantly fell in love with it. I've always admired massive Lego creations (mainly spaceships) and this one in particular has inspired me to build my own.
I started construction about a week after I saw this ship, so mid 2007, then over the course of 2007-2008 I have been adding to it in a very laid back manor. Its about 90 percent complete and measures 120+ studs long. I've kind of run out of necessary pieces so its at a stand still until I feel like buying more.
The only reason I took the time to say all this is because this creation has really inspired me to finally build something on a massive scale. I have hundreds of thousands of bricks and have tried to build massive ships, but they always failed and never turned out right. So when I saw the Explorer it looked like the PERFECT Lego spaceship to me and I based my creation off of it. |
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I like it |
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November 28, 2008 |
I love the nice clean look to both the exterior and interior. I usually like black ships better than light grey or white, but this is AWESOME. Now imagine this ship in black... |
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November 22, 2008 |
ummmm WOW you r great. |
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October 21, 2008 |
HOLY SMOKES THATS COOL!!! the detail is incredible!! and WOW is it huge. i like the pic of u holding it over your head! very nice job |
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October 12, 2008 |
Oh...my...god.That's awesome! I like how big it is, and I like the tiny dish on top. |
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October 12, 2008 |
That's probably one of the best lego creations on MOCpages, because of its size, and how the top can come off. It's kind of like a rebel blockade runner, which makes it even better. |
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September 27, 2008 |
The thought and back story you put into this really shows! You obviously thought out the functionality of what would be needed on a spaceship of this size and realized it via Lego with expert precision. What an inspiration! First Lego model I've seen with toilets!
My advice: make a stop animation movie of the adventure of this crew! you've created a great set for them... now put them in action! |
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September 15, 2008 |
How long did it take you to build this masterpiece?!?!?! |
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August 30, 2008 |
how did u do that!!?? |
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July 18, 2008 |
Very cool. I like the bunks. Consistency of design is impressive. |
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July 18, 2008 |
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!! WILL YOU MOVE TO ENGLAND AND SELL THIS TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M BEGGING YOU!!!!!!!
Ok, thats out of my system. |
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July 11, 2008 |
Two words for you: THE BEST! |
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July 3, 2008 |
wow!? cool ship Keep running the good work!! |
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June 19, 2008 |
its almost as big as mark kelso's invisablehand! im surprised you would risk holding it over your head. it would be bad if it slipped and broke. |
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June 10, 2008 |
Super awesome! Its great, I wish there was 1,000 smileys. =)
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June 8, 2008 |
wheres the infinity out of 5 sign?!?!
you should sell directions man I'd probably buy
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June 3, 2008 |
MY favourite creation! and this deserves it! i love colours and front of the ship, and interior is awesome! |
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April 23, 2008 |
You read Calvin and Hobbes, don't you? |
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March 22, 2008 |
Man, I need to have a room completely deticated to Lego building if I'll ever come close to the Masters. |
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March 5, 2008 |
Just very very very very excellent. A lot of good ideas, great crafting, details, legos, and time went into it and it just shines brilliantly. I'm bookmarking this so I can gaze upon the pictures during a slow day. It's something to rememebr you by, great work! |
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February 22, 2008 |
I WOULD BUY THIS OFF YOU, IF YOU WERE ENGLISH, AND IF I HAD THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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January 17, 2008 |
This is one of your greatest achievements! I love how everything is so functional, and each piece down to the last greeble serves a specific function. My favs were the landing bay (Space Man Spiff, eh? I love Calvin and Hobbes too!) and Fleebnork Duty! (Fleebnork?!?!?!?) GREAT JOB!!!!! |
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November 23, 2007 |
Spiffcrafts... who doesn't like Calvin and Hobbes...
Amazing design. How did you do this? Contact me with a small how-to for building ships like this if you have some time, please! |
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August 28, 2007 |
Simply beautyful. I really like it. Incredible details. Very impressive. Great job. |
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July 24, 2007 |
YOU ARE THE MASTER OF LEGO STARSHIPS! I WILL OBEY YOUR COMMAND... ^_^ |
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July 6, 2007 |
You are a lego god. For this is the best MOC ever! |
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June 25, 2007 |
Siply amazing. |
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May 9, 2007 |
extremely cool. How did you do it? could you teach me how to make something that big? |
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Valentin Moebs November 27, 2006 |
MY PERSONNAL FAVE!
AAAAAAARRGH!!! Quickly, does anyone know CPR? |
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November 8, 2006 |
Easily in my top 5 favorite all time MOCs. One of the first things I saw when I discovered Brickshelf, I can't beleive I haven't reviewed this yet. Really got me actually building. Thanks. I really owe you one for inspiring me to build good. I wish some n00bs would get it into their heads that you have to build good to build good, and not just say it's inspired by some good MOC. Ah, but I ramble. |
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November 4, 2006 |
It's just.........Big! |
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October 11, 2006 |
wow dat is DA BOMB.great detailing too
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September 24, 2006 |
amazing, dan. the way it's put together is great. but i have a question, i'd like to ask some more questions via E-mail. trh299@bellsouth.net is mine. i'd be happy if you responded. thanks! |
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November 13, 2004 |
Extraordanary detail! I like the custom stickers. Very impressive... and best of all, this ship is not designed for the express purpose of killing and destroying like so many others! |
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November 11, 2004 |
I *really* like the floor detail. It makes it look more utilitarian and "science-esque" than the Dragonstar's smooth hallways. It's nice to see a space force that puts that many resources toward science, and not just military use. |
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November 10, 2004 |
I was just WAITING for you to put this here after the Lugnet announcement so I could pounce and tell you how good it is. I saw each and every pic you took, and though this isn't the Dragonstar, it's an interesting departure. I look forward to more of these big ships, and I don't give a sugar that I'm a trainhead. I like the spiffs in the hangar, which has to be my favourite part. or no maybe its the science lab. No actually, I don't know. I BADLY want to build my own mega ship, and steal some ideas of yours, but right now I'm married to trains, and I don't want a divorce just yet. Keep it up. |
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November 10, 2004 |
Wow. Simply, wow. The detail you've put into this ship is incredible. Keep it up! |
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