Maersk Madness Winners Announced!

[Niku]

So many great entries.

And lots of mad people too¡

[WesternOutlaw]

Woolie didn't photoshop

Adding to the madness! "Will it ever end"?, wonders the other EB moderators as Town, History, Star Wars, and Technic fans are sucked out of their respective forums to get just a glimpse of the madness within Train Tech and a small hope of seeing the shimmering Maersk blue Train Tech tag.

TheBrickster begins letting Train Tech tags tied to helium balloons fly up in the air. Somewhere in a neighborhood near you, Suzie Creamcheese begins humming the tune to 99 Luftballons as she licks her blue bumbleberry lollipop.

It's MADNESS!

[kyphur]

I hope it's allowed, I retook my photo as the sun is up around here now and the lighting is so much better.

I just used the replace option in Flickr so the link is the same.

Here's a link to the not rezised for the contest version of the updated image in flickr where you can view it different sizes (and see that Subulba is making his escape on a Segway in the background!)

BTW, just figured I'd point out the fire was big enough that we had help from 2 other Fire Departments! In the truck there is a classic City Firefighter (with silver helm) and the 2 guys in gray are Launch Control Firefighters...

Edited January 29, 2012 by kyphur

[Dakar A]

I'm MAD. Positively angry!

I'm kinda lamenting my choice not to ask for the Maersk train for christmas instead of the Pet Shop! :cry_sad: :cry_sad: :cry_sad: :cry_sad: Why!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now all I want to do is to go out and buy a Maersk already, but I sadly don't have the funds!Why this torture, Brickster !?!?

Immedeately after seeing the Engine engulfed in flame AND in the snow, it made me think of

the Top Gear "Dominator". Now all I can think about is a Maersk engine with a flamethrower, gritter and snowplow!

Maersk Mad!

Dakar !

Edited January 29, 2012 by Dakar A

[woolie]

My image is not photoshopped; I can send you the raw camera file if you like. You just have to be brave enough to sit on the side of the road with a cardboard box, flashlight, Lego train, tripod and camera while everyone stares as they drive by.

Edit: I did crop it slightly, because I like wider format (16:9 or higher) format photos when I shoot at 17mm, and the native aspect ratio of the camera is 3:2 anyway, which is different than the 3:4 of 640x480. But the image is not composited, selectively edited, or significantly altered in any way, which is the usual meaning of photoshopped in the photography community. If you want me to provide a 4:3 640x480 crop instead of my 16:9 image, just let me know and I'll attach one.

Edited January 29, 2012 by woolie

[Holodoc]

My image is not photoshopped; I can send you the raw camera file if you like. You just have to be brave enough to sit on the side of the road with a cardboard box, flashlight, Lego train, tripod and camera while everyone stares as they drive by.

Please accept my sincerest apologies!

(Its madness after all, no need to offer your RAW data)

Very well done, woolie. I wish I would be able to do such fine arts as well.

[WesternOutlaw]

It's MAD in here! Members have resorted to taking out the competition at any cost. They'll be trading in their City Modulars to get their hands on a Maersk to photograph!

Adding to the madness, TheBrickster is ssssoooooooo mad that he will now be giving the TOP 3 Entries an exclusive Maersk Blue Train Tech tag!

Classic Town.net Blog News Update: TheBrickster is causing such a stir in Train Tech that members are rioting in the streets of Eurobricks! Mass looting, pushing, and fighting for a Train Tech tag is occuring. Other EB moderators are using fire hoses to keep the unruly crowd at bay. Poor little Suzie Creamcheese! Danger Will Robinson!

It's 110% MADNESS!

[Si-MOCs]

MOVIE MADNESS!

The Maersk induced madness has taken hold and in a blurred frenzy of brick building and little light bricks, behold I created my favourite train crash scene from Super 8.

If you look REALLY hard you can find the alien. if you can't, YOU'RE MAD

edit: Woolie's shot is fantastic. Extremely great photography - I would have loved to see how you setup that shot...

Edited January 29, 2012 by SI-mocs

[WesternOutlaw]

Aliens are invading Train Tech to be part of the MADNESS! Danger Will Robinson. Help us all!

They just beamed up Suzie's tricycle - it could be you next!

[wondermonkey]

Yeah I did't photoshop mine either. I don't even know how. I took my Maersk to the beach and came home with a bucket of sandy Lego train parts!

[Si-MOCs]

Yeah I did't photoshop mine either. I don't even know how. I took my Maersk to the beach and came home with a bucket of sandy Lego train parts!

That. is. MADNESS.

[stacker9000]

Ok, I am a newbie with trains. And since we dont have any train-tracks around here in my region of the country how can any train run around here you may ask?

They have their own tracks of course.

Very cool FONIX!.. All-Terrain Maersk...Looks like the MADNESS is vergeing upon insanity!!!

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I see some great entries! Wish I could join

Haiku:

There is a Maersk train...

Pieces are stuck in the box.

No entry; anger

Edited January 29, 2012 by Leg Godt Gud

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Yeah I did't photoshop mine either. I don't even know how. I took my Maersk to the beach and came home with a bucket of sandy Lego train parts!

...and you've done a great MAD work!

[Quarryman]

I tried building my Maersk train in box, but it turned out that there wasn't enough room.

[wondermonkey]

I tried building my Maersk train in box, but it turned out that there wasn't enough room.

Haha funny!

[woolie]

Here is a 3:4 (640x480) aspect ratio crop.

LEGO Maersk Train 10219 (alternate crop) by wools, on Flickr

If possible, you can set this version as my official entry. You can also click through to view it full size.

Since a couple people asked, here is how I set up the shot. Warning, obsessive photo nerd level of detail ahead :)

I had a couple different train crossings in mind. I used Google Street View to check each one out. I needed a clear view of both the train tracks and signals, the downtown skyline, few obstructions in the background, and low traffic. It also had to be a relatively safe area -- that excluded several spots that were otherwise excellent. Anyway, this is the intersection I ended up using, in a very yuppie area:

http://g.co/maps/h7n5x

(street view link to basically the same framing I used)

I brought a cardboard box about 2x4x2 ft. I used a 12 pack of Cokes to weight it down so the wind wouldn't knock it over. I setup the base plates and track (I haven't ballasted any of my track yet -- I actually don't have enough to make a full circuit yet...) on top of the cardboard box. I then moved around a bit with my camera to find the right framing... crawling on my knees :P I used a *very* wide angle lens (17mm, full frame) that can also focus quite close to get the forced perspective I wanted. Finally, I found the right spot, moved the box, and setup my tripod down on the ground (the legs splay out to get really low.) I initially wanted to do the shot with the sunset, but it took about 30 minutes to find the right framing and exposure. Anyway, I settled on 30s, f/16, ISO 400, at almost minimal focus distance -- the front element of the lens was only about 6 inches from the Maersk locomotive at these settings. I tried some with a smaller aperture, but in the end felt the slightly out of focus background made it look more realistic. It is hard to translate "normal" depth-of-field to what you want when you're shooting models at very odd perspectives. I used live-view to get the focus correct (using the flashlight to as an AF illuminator). At the start of each exposure, I would flash the light for about 1 second to simulate the train's headlights. Then, I would quickly scan across the length of the engine to get enough exposure (it was very much in the shadow, compared to the brighter street and skyline in the background.) I made sure to hold the flashlight pointing upwards to minimize exposure to the baseplates. Anyway, it did unfortunately give some streaking effect on the side of the train because the flat sides of bricks are quite reflective. Normally, I would have post-processed to burn down these highlights, but that was not allowed in this contest.

Anyway, this contest was a great idea. I hope there are similar ones in the future :) It put two of my favorite things together.

Edited January 30, 2012 by woolie

[Legobrandon]

^I have to say 'woolie', the skyline is absolutely beautiful and the same goes for your entry.

[woolie]

A place to calm my madness when I reach the end of the mainline.

I really like yours as well. The beach scene and roasting pig reminded me of Hawaii... which was a bit more spectacular than the beaches near where I live :) The water along this stretch of the Gulf Coast is brown. Although, I did cringe quite a bit thinking of the sand getting into my shiny Maersk engine and scratching everything. At first I was hoping, thinking -- surely it must be some kind of sawdust!

Edited January 30, 2012 by woolie

[woolie]

Hello all:

I'm not sure I appreciated the mad nature of the pictures but here is our Maersk Loc heading a consists of custom well cars in front of our windmill. I hope you all enjoy it. Steve.

<3 <3 <3 <3 wind turbines!! I had the opportunity to climb to the top of one once (without trespassing, for a change :) -- swooosh!) I have frequently seen the real-life version of 7747 Wind Turbine Transport on the freeway -- although the blades are so huge that it's just one blade per extra-long trailer. I believe they are shipped into the port here before being trucked to West Texas. You should modify one of your cars to be a wind turbine transport.

Edited January 30, 2012 by woolie

[wondermonkey]

I really like yours as well. The beach scene and roasting pig reminded me of Hawaii... which was a bit more spectacular than the beaches near where I live :) The water along this stretch of the Gulf Coast is brown. Although, I did cringe quite a bit thinking of the sand getting into my shiny Maersk engine and scratching everything. At first I was hoping, thinking -- surely it must be some kind of sawdust!

Sawdust! Never thought of that, and thank you I love your skyline! I wasn't too worried about the tracks getting scratched but I was pretty careful with the Maersk. I realized when I was at the beach that I had forgotten to take the PF motor off and was worried about sand getting in there. I can imagine the passerbys gawking at you! I had a similar experience. The picture was taken on a beach on the east coast of Kauai with my wife's Costco camera in macro mode. Good luck to you and everyone else!

[brickie]

Great competition; great entries!

BUT you will have to miss out on my winning photo as Brickshelf is down.

I thought of madness and I thought about how to enter as I don't have a Maersk train.

When the light finally turned on I came up with a miniature train [ those really small train wheels and some blue and grey bricks ] coming out of a train wash.

"Honey! I shrunk the Maersk"

[woolie]

Irving was so MAD when the Maersk train took an unexpected turn, disturbing him in his weekly ritual of trimming his bush (...), that he passed out.

I'm trying to imagine how the train tracks can shift unexpectedly to end in a driveway :)

"We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

It's MADNESS at the MAD TEA PARTY with the Mad Hatter, the Dormouse, Alice & the Maersk Hare!

Very cute :)

News just in, from the LEGO police chopper...... Sherrifs have called for police backup after an unusual cargo was being loaded onto a train. Closer inspection by detectives found that a group of criminals, including a witch, a cannibal, a MAD scientist, and Dracula, had loaded containers full of Mexicans, Mimes, Artists and Sumos, and were trying to ship them to their secret hideout. Only time will tell what these criminal masterminds had in mind!

Fortunately, this is Lego Town. People being smuggled across borders in real shipping containers and trucks often does not end well.....

They have their own tracks of course! :)

Took me several looks at this image to realize what was going on :)

Anyway, here's my entry:

"When Joe saw the job advert saying "Ride the new ECO-MAERSK", he applied immediately.

Well, this was not what he thought of..."

Well, I guess this is an 18+ forum :P :P

(ps. no apology required.)

hen the UK planes and traffic stops with 5 cm with snow, the Norwegian trains do not stop with 2 meters.

It doesn't snow here, so it's left to my imagination. Do they just have a snow plow at the front of the train? Are there heating elements, or is the friction enough to melt the ice?

Great work everyone!

[WesternOutlaw]

The MAD-Meter just went up another 10 knots! TheBrickster is pleasantly mad with all the fantastic entries.

At this time, if you have submitted your image, please no more updating/or changing your picture. If you haven't shared it already, please do so in the next few hours as the weekend is winding down. In the madness, TheBrickster will be going into "lock-down" mode.

[Legobrandon]

The MAD-Meter just went up another 10 knots! TheBrickster is pleasantly mad with all the fantastic entries.

At this time, if you have submitted your image, please no more updating/or changing your picture. If you haven't shared it already, please do so in the next few hours as the weekend is winding down. In the madness, TheBrickster will be going into "lock-down" mode.

Does that mean I have to revert back to my 'crashing' entry?

Edited January 30, 2012 by Legobrandon