Few months ago, I was talking to you on this blog of an incredible diorama of the Battle of Helm's Deep (or Helm's Deep).

A true artistic and (inevitably) financial performance, this crazy diorama has traveled according to conventions and has undergone some changes over time.

Richard aka GOEL KIM, sent me an email to let me know that her baby was "finally" finished: The fortress was dressed in rock and the number of minifigs in situation increased from 1700 to 2000.

What to say ? that I really admire the work done, that the reconstitution of the scene is epic, that the level of detail is exceptional for a diorama of this scope and that the modularity of the whole, intended to facilitate transport and assembly / disassembly is unparalleled ingenuity.

I stop the superlatives there, and I invite you to go and view the latest photos in Richard's MOCpages space.

The starting point is simple: The Tantive IV LEGO version was available in two sets which have their qualities and their faults: In 2001, LEGO released the UCS 10019 Rebel Blockade Runner set, superbly reproduced but stuffed with stickers. In 2009, the (play) set 10198 Tantive IV took over with a more compact, more playable format, but with an overall appearance that was necessarily less "finished" than its predecessor.

Veynom wanted a Tantive IV that was both presentable and playable. Rather than rely on the whims of LEGO, he built it himself.

The result ? A superb vessel of 102 studs long and approximately 2500 pieces, with a detailed interior, removable panels for easy access, a real cockpit and a landing gear capable of supporting the 4.4 kg of the machine.

A good big playset that my son would like to have at Christmas if I believe his remarks when discovering the album of the flickr gallery of Veynom devoted to this MOC ...

An image that comes froma Bricklink topic where a potential seller of Czech nationality (Follow?) asks for information about the above minifigure.

This version is obviously inspired by the series The New 52 from DC Comics: Red hair, belt, bust, and mask shape all match Gail Simone's BatGirl pretty well.

So, an official minifigure coming in 2014 or a well-made custom? If you have any info ...

(Thanks to Johan for his email)

LEGO has just unveiled a new set from the "Maersk" range (Gone are the "Maersk Blue", place at"Medium Azure") with this version of the new freighter in the fleet of the Danish shipping company: The Triple-E, the first of which was launched last June in South Korea.
The first sets resulting from the partnership between the two companies date back to 1974 with the first container ship (1650), followed in 1980 by the first truck also dressed in the Maersk colors. Other sets were subsequently marketed including the train set 10219 (2011) and the cargo boat set 10155 (2010) which is itself a reissue of set 10152 released in 2004.

Below, the official press release, some photos and the presentation video. It will be without me, I'm not a big fan of boats, but I'll let you make up your mind.

Availability announced for January 2014 at a price of 129.99 €.

Build the Maersk 'Triple-E' container vessel - a true giant of the seas! US $ 149.99, CA $ 179.99, FROM € 129.99, UK £ 109.99, DK 1199.00 DKK Presenting the largest ship in the world - the record-breaking Maersk 'Triple-E'. Built from over 1,500 bricks, the model recreates the real vessel in amazing detail. Our LEGO designers have included rare colors such as medium azure, dark red, sand blue and sand green. There are rotating gold-colored screw blades leading to the brick-built twin propeller engines, which you can view through the window built into the port side of the ship. You can even customize it by adding or removing the containers. This authentic set includes a display stand and fact plaque with detailed information about the ship and, as a finishing touch, there's the gold coin that is added under the mast of all Maersk Line ships for good luck on their voyages. This model is perfect for LEGO fans! Features include rotating gold-colored propeller blades, brick-built twin 8-cylinder engines, viewing window into the engine compartment, adjustable rudders, detachable lifeboats, removable containers, rotating crane arms and a special 'good luck' coin. Includes rare medium azure, dark red, sand blue and sand green colored elements. Play with the model on carpeted surfaces or mount the model on the display stand. Building instructions also include interesting facts about the real ship. Includes 1,518 brigs. Ship (mounted on stand) measures over 8 ”(21cm) high, 25” (65cm) long and 3 ”(9cm) wide.  Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning January 2014 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone.

You know, the Star Wars 1313 video game that was in the boxes of LucasArts will probably never see the light of day as such: Disney closed the studio as soon as its acquisition was finalized (See this article), giving no precise information on the future of the project.

But Disney should nevertheless benefit from the efforts made by the game development team by recycling the technology of motion capture which makes it possible to transcribe in real time the movements of the actors by integrating them into the game environment via a very powerful rendering engine.

The advantage of this technology is obviously to reduce the time and cost constraints associated with post-production and it's a safe bet that the next cinematographic opus of the Star Wars saga will make good use of this process ... nostalgic for rubber costumes and puppets will be at their cost. 

The video below is a very self-explanatory presentation that will let you understand what it is.