[Alt-Build Contest] 31132 Viking Ship and the Midgard Serpent - Podracers

[KotZ]

Entry for Eurobricks' Alt Build contest: Large Category (original set, 31132 Viking Ship and the Midgard Serpent, RRP: $119.99 USD)

For my entry, I decided to take Creator's 31132, which itself is a re-imagining of an old Vikings set (7018). Creator 3-in-1s are fantastic sets for parts, imagination, and interesting builds, and this one is tied for #2 on price at $119.99 USD. Since the three builds for this set originally are a ship and monster, a building, and another monster, I really wanted to challenge myself with something different from those and outside of a medieval theme. So, what's more different than Star Wars, specifically podracing?

One of my building philosophies is if it's not a statue or microbuild, I want to include play features and serve a story and such, and a lot of alt builds back in the day had those to varying degrees, so it was important to me to include that and use the pieces provided in the set in varying ways, which allowed me to create these alt builds. In addition, I think adding in the small builds helps serve the Star Wars lore regarding podracing. It's very fast, very dangerous, and humans really aren't adept at it. Also in The Phantom Menace, we see Tusken Raiders trying to ruin the race by shooting at contestants, so I figured this would be a fun way to include these builds and pieces along with some story. So let's dive in!

Let's start with our first racer. Let's name him Harold Skywalker. He's got a tiny little podracer that didn't cost much, but it got it where it counts, kid. He's gone for a primarily blue/teal and yellow color scheme.

On a closer look, you can see the twin engines and the energy binder connecting them. The side shot can show the pod itself is built using SNOT (and the engines) and actually upside down.

A closer shot of Harald trying to steer his racer as best he can.

Our second racer is Helga Secura. She decided to spend a lot more money on her racer with a more earth tone look. It's beefier and meaner, needing four cables to connect her pod to the engines.

Helga's energy binder is actually covered by a metal shaft to protect it from any disruption or debris on the track. Unfortunately, they aren't secured well and can swing wildly, so she better be careful!

As her engines are a bit bigger, so too his her pod, which even has a small jet boost on the back for some extra speed.

Side-by-side comparison shots of the two racers, showing how they differ in size.

Next up is the starting/finish line. It's wide enough for one racer to cross at a time.

Next up are the two side builds to help the racers. It's boys vs girls today, so helping Harald is his friend Odin Nido, a sharpshooter. While Harald spent less on his racer, they decided to spend some money on a blaster and some protection for Odin to use to take potshots at the competition.

But Harald isn't the only one with some extra help! Helga has enlisted her friend Brunhilda-wan to distract and lodge some stones at the other racer! Helga spent a lot of her money on that racer, so she had to settle for an old-fashioned catapult.

And here is a final photo, comparing the original set with the alt build. While the alt build didn't use everything, I would like to think I used the pieces in a good amount of ways that are different from the original set, and I'm happy with how this one turned out!

Enjoy, and as always, comments and criticism more than welcome! I can't wait to see everyone else's builds, too!

[Clone OPatra]

Fantastic podracers! The expanded parts palette of a larger set, and Creator to boot, really gives you a lot to work with to make very clean builds. The side builds look very well-resolved too and not an afterthought.

[KotZ]

12 hours ago, Clone OPatra said:

Fantastic podracers! The expanded parts palette of a larger set, and Creator to boot, really gives you a lot to work with to make very clean builds. The side builds look very well-resolved too and not an afterthought.

Thank you! And I agree, Creator and larger sets definitely give a good variety to build with, definitely want to challenge myself with another category as well. for the side builds, I really wanted to have them feel like they would be part of a set from that time, so for you to say they don’t look like an afterthought is very welcome!