A Dot Named Stud

Last Train Home

"A sudden global increase in paranormal activity has caused an economic boom for the professional ghost hunting industry!

Exterminator companies are taking care of everyday hauntings: Ghostly pests, ravaging through the fridges and pantries of suburban family homes - they don’t stand chance against the classic Ghost Vacuuminatorᵀᴹ!"

To kick off Halloween season, a fun little build for today.

The van is modelled off a Fiat 900T. Obviously, the main inspiration behind the whole concept were the Ghostbusters movies, but Lego‘s Hidden Side and an old book series I used to read influenced me as well. I had lots of fun with this one, especially the stickers, including ghost tally marks on the windshield and the cartoon-style ghost painting on the doors.

"Small hotels like this particular location are very common in the year 2049. Often located at points of high traffic, these businesses offer affordable accommodation for tired fishing trawler workers, treasure hunters or other fortune seekers.

It’s not uncommon to see other businesses like small food shacks or small convenience stores for sailors settle next to these hotels, creating makeshift communities on the high seas."

This was my first bigger structure-focused build I completed in 2023, shortly before starting work on my Avalon trading outpost. I began drafting ideas in early February and finished photography in the middle of March.

"Deadliest Catch" (not the TV show!) is - like "Avalon" - another world created by me to serve as a loose background for my models. It’s somewhat Cyberpunk but also not quite, conveniently set in the same year as the second Blade Runner movie, and centers around maritime life on nuclear seas. Lots of treasure hunters, fishermen, smugglers and the like. I never came up with a proper genre/aesthetic name.

Functioning elevator on the side of the hotel and adjustable vacancy sign

I‘m a big fan of travelling and everything surrounding this - hotels, different means of transportation, train stations, etc. - so this model was a lot of fun to put together. I especially enjoyed adding all the signage and the wooden walkways, piers, and stairs.

Play features in my builds are very important to me, so I included a functioning elevator, fully interior and docking space for two small boats.

Printed and vintage parts are another fun thing I like to use in my models, the printed "Hotel" brick was originally offered only in 1956!

The Home Office Package

"Welcome to Avalon, the new frontier!

Hermes Station is a trading outpost set up by the Interplanetary Trading Conglomerate and the last stop before the vast dune valleys of the Pluton Desert. It's teeming with exhausted spaceship pilots, local settlers and wandering traders, each looking for their next bargain."

This is my second larger structure-based model I‘ve completed in 2023. From the ideas' inception to completed photography, I worked for about four weeks on it.

It’s set in the fictional world of "Avalon", more of a loose background created by me for this and any future builds rather than a fully planned out universe. My main inspiration was the "Edena" cycle by Jean Giraud "Moebius", other inspirations include: Real world oriental architecture, Star Wars' Tatooine, classic Lego Town, and other bits and pieces that I enjoy.

Play features include: Removable domes on both towers, removable second story on the tall tower, a back wall that can swing open, and a full interior.