greg3 Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) 2014 sees the Isle of Man celebrating it's culture and heritage through a series of events and projects involving the creative arts. This "Island of Culture" theme has inspired me to create a series of Lego models representing places, people and themes linked to the Island's rich history. The models will be small (fitting on a base no larger than 8 x 8 studs) and I hope to create at least one model a month during the year so watch this space!! JANUARY - The Tower of Refuge This is actually an older model that has already been posted on EB so please check out the original post http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69582 for the background info. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr FEBRUARY - Traditional Manx Cottage A typical Manx stone cottage from the 18/19th century. These can be found all over the Isle of Man and were generally thatched with straw held down with ropes or fishing nets. Inside there were usually 2 rooms; a main living/cooking area and a bedroom, with perhaps more sleeping or storage areas in the roof space. While those cottages still inhabited today have been modernised, in the village of Cregneash (which was the British Isle's first open air folk museum) you can see preserved examples and learn what life was like living in them. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Here a wife is tending the veg patch while her husband is out with the fishing fleet... for centuries farming and fishing were key industries. The national dish is said to be "Spuds and Herring". Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Thanks for looking and feel free to comment... Edited July 7, 2014 by greg3 Quote
TheLazyChicken Posted March 2, 2014 Posted March 2, 2014 Wow, these are all amazing, I really like the second one. Keep up the good work! Quote
greg3 Posted March 23, 2014 Author Posted March 23, 2014 MARCH - The Laxey Wheel Built in 1854, the Great Laxey Wheel (also known as the Lady Isabella, after the wife of the Island's Governor at the time) is considered to be the world's largest working waterwheel. The wheel itself has a diameter of 72 ft 6 inches (22.10 m) and was designed by Robert Casement to pump water out of the nearby mines. The mines have long since been closed but the wheel itself has been preserved and is now a major tourist attraction. This model was a challenge to fit onto an 8x8 plate but I managed it (just!) The proportions and the base of the tower aren't quite right but overall I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Link to more info on the wheel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxey_Wheel Thanks for looking... Comments are always welcome. Quote
BricksMcgee Posted April 6, 2014 Posted April 6, 2014 Love the tower of refuge, nicely done. Flag works well at that scale! Quote
SRT907 Posted April 17, 2014 Posted April 17, 2014 Very beautiful builds! Hope to see the full "isle" at the end! Keep up the good work, Greg! -- Serhat Quote
greg3 Posted April 23, 2014 Author Posted April 23, 2014 (edited) APRIL - Archibald Knox A bit of a change this month as the model is based around a person rather than a building.. This month has seen a number of local events taking place to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of local born artist and designed Archibald Knox. Born on 9th April 1864 in Tromode in the Isle of Man, Knox became most well known for his design work for the famous department store Liberty. Most of his designs were inspired by the Celtic artwork he had seen while growing up on the Island. He was also a talented painter, working in both oil and watercolour. He also taught art in the UK, US and back home in the Isle of Man where he died in 1933. He is buried in Braddan Cemetery. My model for this month is my own tribute to his work. The main part is based on one of his clock designs and I've added a minifig version of the man himself!! The clock is based on this one http://www.bonhams.c...s/10994/lot/38/ One of Knox's simpler designs!! (Now if only Lego would produce alll those grey tiles in chrome!!) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Archibald Knox himself. You can find out more about him here http://en.wikipedia....Knox_(designer) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Deciding what to paint! (I might print off a sticker of one of his works to put on the tile) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Artist and designer (ignore the difference in scale!!) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Thanks for looking, comments are always welcome! Edited April 23, 2014 by greg3 Quote
greg3 Posted June 3, 2014 Author Posted June 3, 2014 A bit late I know but here's the next model... MAY - Manx Celtic Cross Crosses like this can be found all over the Island. The oldest date back to the 6th Century and they contain elements of the different cultures and beliefs that were around at the time. Like Celtic crosses found elsewhere (especially in Ireland and the North of England) the basic shape consists of a cross (representing Christianity which was becoming more popular at the time) and a circle (representing the Sun, an important element of the older pagan Celtic beliefs). However, many Manx crosses also show a strong Norse influence, with carvings depicting runes and images from Norse myths. Many of these crosses can still be seen in churches around the island and records of all known crosses can be found in the local museum. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Thanks for looking.... Any comments are always welcome Quote
greg3 Posted June 7, 2014 Author Posted June 7, 2014 (edited) JUNE - The T.T. The Tourist Trophy Motorcycle Races (better known as just the T.T.) are held every year over 2 weeks at the end of May/start of June. First held in 1907, the races take place on closed public roads and attract competitors and spectators from all over the world. The course used today (known as the Snaefell Mountain Course) was first used in 1911 and is almost 38 miles long with most races run over 3, 4 or 6 laps depending on the class. In the last few years a 1 lap race has been introduced for zero emission (electric) bikes. My mini model isn't any particular part of the course but instead I've tried to capture the overall feel of the races... (In 8x8 studs!) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr First of all, the clever bike design is not mine... I found it on the 'net and just added the rider (I chose to give him a yellow helmet as a nod to the TT's most successful ever rider, Joey Dunlop, who won 26 races around the Mountain Course) Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Spectators watch from behind a roadside wall.... Part of the appeal for spectators is that you can get close to the action (although for safety reasons a lot of places are now out of bounds). In the foreground are 2 marshals (known locally as the "orange army" the marshals are trained volunteers who are responsible for safety around the circuit). Due to nature of the course (with its walls, kerbs, lamp posts, phone boxes etc) the TT is considered to be one of the most challenging but dangerous races in the world and although a great deal of effort goes into minimizing the risks with the use of trained marshals, crash barriers and padding and quick response medical helicopters, fatalities still occur. Sadly this year, 2 competitors died in seperate accidents. This model is in part a tribute to them and all the riders who risk their lives to take on the T.T. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Finally the TT logo is actually based on one from a few years ago... Couldn't quite get the current logo to look right using bricks at this scale!! Anyway, thanks for looking, comments are always very welcome... Edited June 7, 2014 by greg3 Quote
Macsen Wledig Posted June 10, 2014 Posted June 10, 2014 I really like this series of MOCs, Greg. I look forward to seeing future ones! Quote
D3K Posted June 14, 2014 Posted June 14, 2014 This is fantastic! Love the Tower of Refuge and Laxey Wheel especially! Can't wait to see the next six models! Quote
greg3 Posted July 7, 2014 Author Posted July 7, 2014 JULY - The Three Legs of Man July the 5th (or the following Monday if it falls on a weekend) is the Isle of Man's National Day and. Public holiday. Known as Tynwald Day, events focus around an open air meeting of the Tynwald - the Island's Parliament (first established by the Vikings, and now the world's oldest continuous running Parliament) and go on to include a fair, displays of traditional dancing, music, Viking reenactments etc. In keeping with this National theme, I thought this month I'd have a go at the symbol of the Isle of Man and all things Manx... The Three Legs of Man. Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr The symbol is a triskelion, an ancient image depicting 3 branches (in this case armoured and spurred legs) joined at the centre. The Manx version is known to date back to at least the 13th century when it was believed to be part of the King of Man's coat of arms. It has since become a symbol of the Island itself, appearing on the Manx Sword of State which was made in 1300. It can also be found on the Manx flag, coat of arms, coins and many other items. It is often accompanied by the motto "quocunque jeceris stabit" (whichever way you throw, it will stand). In keeping with the other models in the series, it's 8 studs wide. It took me a while to come up with a way of connecting the legs at the right angle at this scale but I'm pretty pleased with the result... Any comments etc are always welcome. Cheers Quote
eurotrash Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 This has been a great series to follow. I keep waiting for a Cavendish build, but I guess that'll be broken for a while. :( Quote
greg3 Posted August 27, 2014 Author Posted August 27, 2014 (edited) AUGUST - The Manx Electric Railway (Tram and stop) The Manx Electric Railway is an electric tramway running up the East coast of the Isle of Man. The railway was built in stages between 1893 and 1899 and still operates, using many of the original Victorian and Edwardian era rolling stock. The line was built to link the capital Douglas with the old mining village of Laxey (where another electric tramway takes people up to the Island's highest point at the summit of Snaefell (620m)) and the town/harbour of Ramsey. At its height in the early 1900s, the railway transported thousands of tourists to beaches, glens and holiday camps, as well as moving goods and livestock to/from the various farms, homes and quarries along the route. The line was also used to collect and deliver mail. By the 1960s however, cheap air travel had led to a dramatic drop in tourist numbers and most goods were being moved by road. When the Laxey - Ramsey section had to be closed in 1975 due to damage caused by landslides, there was talk of scrapping the entire line. Fortunately, it was decided to keep the railway and to market it as a tourist attraction along with the Island's steam railway and horse trams. The damaged sections were repaired and over the years more of the old rolling stock has been restored. The railway now operates during the Summer and is still popular with visitors and vintage transport enthusiasts. More info here http://manxelectricrailway.co.uk/ h image by g.nat, on Flickr My model tram is based on an 1899 "Winter Saloon" image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr There are over 60 named stops on the route. Many of them just served a single farm and are now rarely used. Others are marked with a modern bus stop style shelter but several of the more popular stops (those serving small villages or tourist attractions such as glens) still have their original shelters which have inspired my version. It has a corrugated metal shelter, painted green, and with a roof mounted sign. There's also a post box (a throwback to when the mail was collected and delivered by tram) and a small garden area tended to by members of the local community. image by g.nat, on Flickr image by g.nat, on Flickr Thanks for looking - comments always welcome!! Cheers. Edited August 27, 2014 by greg3 Quote
Bookworm Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 This series of builds is so much fun to look at! I love how you are representing different traditions and aspects of history from the community in just 8x8 squares. You are putting in a lot more detail than I would expect in so small a space. Well done! Quote
Boulderer Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 Just found this series, and i'm really glad I have. I love the simplicity of the builds and the incredible way you have managed to make them so evocative of the subject. Brilliant! Quote
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