Index

Page numbers in italics refer to photos.

acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), art, LEGO as, 7, 125. See also mosaics; 162–163 my own creation (MOC); scale adult fans of LEGO (AFOLs), 8, 13, modeling; vignette themes 23–32 Asanuma, Mariann, 247–249 collections of, 19–21, 42, 143 Ashton, Matthew, 203 (See also collecting) Askildsen, Tormod, 65–66, 178, 185 couples as, 86–87, 215–222 automatic binding bricks, 51 “Dark Ages” and, 7, 24, 147–149 Female Fans of LEGO, 76, 81, Baerwyrm (MOC), 135 85–87, 109 Barnes, John, 173 as growth industry, 65–66 Batman’s Buggy (LEGO set), 235 LEGO Group marketing and, 54, Becraft, Andrew, 108–110, 190 55–56, 82–87, 95–99, 177–187, Bellaire, Ohio, 122. See also Toy and 203 (See also LEGO Group) Plastic Brick Museum origin of term, 24–25 Belville challenge, 69, 69–78, 83 See also building; collecting; Bender, Charlotte Ann, 261–262 conventions; usergroups Bender, Jeffrey, 3–6, 223, 230, 230–232 Agents Volcano Base (LEGO Bender, Jonathan, 133, 223, 233 set), 238 Bender, Kate, 7, 9, 34, 37, 149–151, Airport ShuttleCOPYRIGHTED (LEGO set), 41 207–214, MATERIAL 215–222, 234–240 Alpha Team (LEGO Deep Sea birth of Charlotte Ann, 257–262 Mission), 73–74 building by, 191–192 alternate build events, 69–78 in Denmark, 153–159, 172, alt.toys.lego (ATL), 24 183–184, 187 Alvarez, Virginia, 82 LEGO building by, 95, 101–103, Ambeck-Madsen, Peter, 114 215, 215–222 Amoskeag Manufacturing Berard, Jamie, 85–86, 180–185, 190 Company, 182 Bertrand, Marc, 91 Aqua Raiders (LEGO set), 71 Bertrand, Rita, 91 Armstrong, Tommy, 136, 139, 143 Bertrand, Vic, Jr., 91

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Bertrand, Victor, 91 Brown, Conrad, 140 Beyer, Jan, 185 Brown, Dan, 2–3, 64, 133, 255 Billund, Denmark (corporate LEGO at BrickCon, 194–198, 205 Group headquarters), 154, at Brick Show, 137, 138 159–161. See also LEGO Group LEGO Group and, 149 Bionicle (LEGO sets), 17, 53, 54 museum design by, 139–141 Mask of Destiny (Web site), 29 Toy and Plastic Brick Museum, MOCs made with, 135 121–131 Sledge and, 124, 131, 135, 143, 196 See also Toy and Plastic Brick biplane, 47, 48–49 Museum Blackstone Group, 128 build in a bag events, 201 Blacktron Intelligence Agency building (MOC), 79 build rooms, 19–21, 23, 86, 91–94 Blake, James, 210 contests, 69–78 blind build events, 200–203 detail building, 49 Bonahoom, Bryan, 59, 63, 69–70 rainbow building, 49 Bonahoom, Kathie, 86 set building, 182–185 Bonktron, 112–113 supports for LEGO structures, 31 bowling alley (MOC), 199 tools used for, 50, 62 BrickArms, 61–62 See also collecting; conventions; Brick-a-thon, 76 mosaics; vignette themes; Brick Bash, 13, 14, 26–32, 121, 196 individual names of LEGO sets Brickbay. See BrickLink.com (Web site) Burj Dubai (MOC), 63 BrickCon, 106, 189, 190, 192–198, Burks, Jared, 60–61 199, 199, 205–206 bus (MOC), 189 blind build, 200–203 BZPower (Web site), 53 Dirty Brickster, 203–205 BrickFest, 26, 182 Café Corner (LEGO set), 184 BrickForge, 61 Canvin, Steven, 173–175 BrickJournal, 15, 104, 179, 202 Castle (LEGO Belville), 71 Brick Kicks, 147 certifi ed professionals program, BrickLink.com (Web site) 194–195, 249 inception of, 38 Chapman, Will, 61–62 sellers, 41, 42–43, 55, 61, 90, 91–94, Charlie (dog), 35, 38, 233 124, 151, 163 Chicago House of Bricks, 13 Toy and Plastic Brick Museum Christiansen, Godtfred Kirk, 51, and, 122 83, 169 BrickMaster (LEGO program), 145–152 Christiansen, Jan, 159–164, 167, BrickMaster (magazine), 146, 147 186–187, 210 BrickScope, 39, 42, 92 Christiansen, Ole Kirk, 50–51, Brick Show, 2, 122, 137, 138, 197 168–172 Brickstructures, 179, 230–232 clamps, 229 Brick Testament, 114–116 Classic-Castle.com (Web site), 109 Brickworkz, 142 Clikits (LEGO set), 84 Brickworld, 57, 59–60, 62–68, 121, collecting, 19–21, 42, 143 179, 196 adult collectibles, 210–211 alternate build contests, 69–78 build rooms and, 19–21, 23, 86, Female Fans of LEGO, 81, 85–87 91–94 Minifi g Customization, 60–62 expense of, 36–38, 43, 54, 67–68 Brothers Brick (Web site), 108–109, 190 Fifty Years of the LEGO Brick (LEGO Brown, Carol, 123, 131 Group), 210–211

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LEGO Collector’s Guide (LEGO Darrow, Brian, 63, 79 Group), 210–211 Darth Vader (model), 233 by LEGO Group, 170–171 Dayman, Aaron, 193–194, 205 locating used LEGO sets, 36–38 Deep Sea Mission (LEGO set), 73–74 for married fans, 86–87, 215–222 delivery truck (MOC), 33 saving childhood collections, 28–29, Dirty Brickster, 203–205, 243–244 33–35 DUPLO, 15–17, 19, 30 sorting and, 45–46, 47–56, 89–90, debut of, 51 91, 218, 220 Micro bricks, 91 Collicott, Allison, 18, 30 Tyrannosaurus Rex, 216 Collicott, Benjamin, 18 Dynamic Adult Learning, 97 Collicott, Duane, 11, 13–21, 31–32, 38, 63–64, 86 Eaton, Ron, 238 on AFOL events, 137 Empire State Building on Toy and Plastic Brick (LEGO set), 179 Museum, 121 Enfi eld, Connecticut (LEGO Group Collicott, William, 19 U.S. corporate headquarters), 10, color, 54–56, 167, 185 128, 181–182, 223–230 customization of minifi gures, 54 Erickson, Tom, 2, 124, 138, 139, 194, LEGO Ambassador Program 197–198 and, 109 Executive Discovery, 96 marketing to girls/women by exhibitions, 186 LEGO, 82–87 Expert Builder (LEGO sets), 38 pink bricks, 82–83 translucent bricks, 105 Fast Flyers (LEGO set), 183 complexity, of LEGO sets, 58 Female Fans of LEGO, 76, 81, Connect & Build pen, 209 85–87, 109 constructionism, 96 Fifty Years of the LEGO Brick (LEGO conventions, 26–32, 186 Group), 210–211 Brick Bash, 13, 14, 26–32, 121, 196 Fine Clonier Decals, 60 BrickCon, 106, 189, 190, 192–198, Finley, Abner, 64, 71, 75, 77, 204–205 199, 199, 200–206 Flickr, 108 BrickFest, 26, 182 Forrest, David, 52 Brick Show, 2, 122, 137, 138, 197 Foulds, Jim, 118–119, 197 Brickworld, 57, 59–68, 69–78, 81, Friberg, Helle, 177–180 85–87, 121, 179, 196 Chicago House of Bricks, 13 Galidor: Defenders of the Outer layouts at, 31 Dimension (LEGO action fi gure), LEGO Group representation at, 53–54 65–66, 148–149 (See also LEGO Gerling, Steve, 225–228 Group) Gibson, Frederick, 90 public displays at, 27, 137 Giddens, Chris, 178 video gaming and, 119 glue, 5 Cook, Alice, 83 goat lifeguard, 129 cow (MOC), 1 Godzilla, 57 Creator LEGO sets, 58, 183, 219 Gondry, Michel, 7 customization, 60–61 Google, 98–99 Grand Traverse Lighthouse (LEGO Dale, Tracy, 76, 82 model), 64 Danish Trade Exhibition, 50 Greater Midwest LEGO Train Club, 65 “Dark Ages,” 7, 24, 147–149 Greater Midwest LEGO User Group, 57

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Greco, Felix, 73 LEGO brick design Green, Suzanne Rich, 25 elements, 63, 94 Green Grocer (LEGO set), for girls/women, 82–87, 109 184–185, 239 invention of, 50–51 Guinness World Record, 130, 143 manufacturing, 35, 95, 159–164 guns, 61 patent on, 90–91 Gyugyi, Paul, 24 separators for, 65 sloped LEGO pieces, 48 Harry Potter (LEGO sets), 53, 54 studs and tube design, 28, 51, 89 Harry Potter (MEGA Brands, Inc.), 91 terms for, 37 Harshbarger, Eric, 37 LEGO Chess tournament, 70 Hassenpin, 173–174 LEGO City Advent calendar (2007), 80 Hassenplug, Steve, 63, 173 LEGO Club Magazine, 58, 146 Hempel, Ralph, 173 LEGO Collector’s Guide (LEGO Group), Henderson, John, 202 210–211 Hershey, Robert D., Jr., 155 LEGO Creator Beach House (LEGO Hietbrink, Bruce, 106 set), 102–103 Higgins, Bill, 123–125, 128 LEGO Digital Designer (LDD), 167 Hitchcock, Christina, 26 LEGO Direct, 56 HiTechnic, 179 LEGO Factory (design program), 167 hobby sellers, 43–44 LEGO Group, 165–166, 172–175 Houdini (cat), 58, 211 Ambassador Program, 108 Hunt, Jeff, 25 Bionicles and, 54 Hussey, Wayne, 197, 212 brand of, 177–187 Community Development, 7, 56, 65, Idea House (LEGO Group), 165, 146–149, 185–187 168–172 competition of, 16 IndyLUG, 63 consultants, 90 International Institute for Management corporate headquarters (Billund, Development (IMD), 95 Denmark), 154, 159–161 Idea House, 165, 168–172 Jensen, Jette Skovgaard, 165–167 Inside Tour, 168 Jorgensen, Kirsten Sofi e, 50 Kirkbi Ag and Lego Canada Inc. v. Ritvik Holdings Inc., 90–91 Kenney, Sean, 108 LEGOLAND parks, 128, 155 (See Kirkbi Ag and Lego Canada Inc. v. Ritvik also individual LEGOLAND parks) Holdings Inc., 90–91 LEGO Serious Play, 95–99 Knudstorp, Jørgen Vig, 54, 81 licensing by, 7, 43, 53, 179, 209 Koelback, Lars, 84 manufacturing, 35, 95, 159–164, 177 Korte, Brian, 141–142, 143, 145, marketing by, 7, 24, 54–56, 82–87, 149–150 95–99, 109, 118–119, 147–149, Kristiansen, Kjeld Kirk, 52, 95, 96, 169 177–187, 203 Kristiansen family, 54 model design, 225–228, 247–250 mold warehouse, 164 lamp, designed with LEGO, 236 New Business Group, 177–179, 185, Langrish, John, 192–193 209–211 lasers, 18 origin of LEGO name, 50 Laswell, “Purple” Dave, 23, profi t and loss of, 52–56, 84 29–30, 56 set building by, 182–185 LDraw, 167 space and castle play themes, 36 Leach, Chris, 31 Technic and, 51, 52–53

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3-D Model Center, 165–167 marketing Toy and Plastic Brick Museum and, to AFOLs, 55–56, 177, 185–187 123–125, 128–131 “Dark Ages” and, 7, 24, 147–149 U.S. corporate headquarters to girls/women, 82–87, 109, 203 (Enfi eld, Connecticut), 10, 128, LEGO Group brand and, 177–187 181–182, 223–230 LEGO product mix, 54 U.S. debut of, 136 LEGO Serious Play and, 95–99 Web site of, 18–19 LEGO video games and, 118–119 LEGO Imagination Center (brick See also LEGO Group and mortar store) (Mall of Mars Mission (LEGO set), 48, 73, 127 America), 82 Martins, Lino, 205–206 LEGO Island (LEGO set), 118 Mask of Destiny (Web site), 29 LEGOLAND Billund (Denmark), Massachusetts Institute of Technology 155–156, 157–159, 165, 172–175 (MIT), 52, 95–96 LEGOLAND California, 104, 136, Master Model Builder Search, 181, 233, 243 194–195 employees of, 245–247 Mattel, 54 Miniland, 104, 243, 249, 250–254 Maumee River Crossing Bridge model cities of, 254–256 (LEGO model), 13–14 LEGOLAND parks McDonnell, Chris, 71 history and locations of, 155 McDonnell, Noah, 71 ownership of, 128, 155 McIntire, Gary LEGO Mindstorms, 52–53, 95 LEGOLAND California, 243, LEGO-ometry, 162 247–256 LEGO Racers (set 8152), 200–201 San Diego LEGO User Group and, LEGO Serious Play, 95–99 243–247 LEGO Set 1082, 165, 171 McKee, Jake, 56, 108, 148 LEGO stores (Northbrook Court McLaren, Allister, 112 Mall), 66–68 Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of LEGO System of Play, 51 Technology (MIT), 52, 95–96 LEGO train clubs (LTC), 26 Medieval Market Village (LEGO set), LEGO train enthusiasts, 74 202 LEGO Universe (game), 62, 118–119 MEGA Bloks, 16, 55 LEGO Users Group Network Kirkbi Ag and Lego Canada Inc. v. (LUGNET), 25–26, 52, 107, Ritvik Holdings Inc., 90–91 112–113 MEGA Brands, Incorporated, 16, 91 LEGO Yellow Castle (set 375/6075), Meno, Joe, 11, 15–21, 28, 31, 48, 73, 3, 171 74, 86, 105 Lehman, Todd, 25 at BrickCon, 202, 204 Libera, Zbigniew, 113–114 BrickJournal and, 104 licensed products, 7, 209 on couples building together, 222 cost of LEGO sets, 43 on female fans of LEGO, 83 HiTechnic and, 179 LEGO Group contract with, 179 LEGO sets and profi t/loss, 53 on LEGO video gaming, 119 Little Miss LEGO Beauty Pageant Merlin Entertainments, 128, 155 2008, 203 Michigan LEGO Users Group, 31 Loch, Kevin, 107 micro bricks (DUPLO), 91 micro scale, 104–105 magazines, 146–147 military toys, 61 Mall of America, 83 Millenium Falcon (LEGO set), 23, Mankellow, Gary, 96–99 29–30, 160

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Mills Corporation, 124 alternative themes for, 111–119 Mills Mall, 197 Baerwyrm (Sledge), 135 Millyard Project (LEGO exhibit), biplane, 47, 48–49 181–182 bowling alley, 199 Mindstorms building from sets vs., 102, 104 Mindstorms Discovery Center bus, 189 (LEGOLAND), 172–175 candy dish, 216 NXT, 174, 179 cow, 1 success of, 186 delivery truck, 33, 35 User Panel, 173–174 displaying, 101–103 minifi gures, 34, 38 goat lifeguard, 129 in Billund, Denmark, 156 Godzilla, 57 Brickworld Minifi g Customization, LEGO as art and, 7, 125 60–62 MOC cards, 59 building to scale for, 104–105 photographing, 107–110 color customization of, 54 space display, 79 female, 93, 202–203 vending machine, 111 heads of, 76, 177 Yoda, 145 LEGO City Advent calendar (2007) zombie farmer vignette, 101, and, 80 106–107 manufacturing of, 160–161 Millyard Project (exhibit), NetDevil, 118–119 181–182 New England LEGO Users Group Minifi g Customization, 60–61 (NELUG), 181 photography of, 110 New York Times, 155 sales of, 93 Nielsen, Aksel Krabbe, 159–164 vending machine (MOC) and, Northbrook Court Mall, 66–68, 122 116–117 Nowitzki, Dirk, 129 Miniland (LEGOLAND California), 104, 249, 250–254 Off Roader (LEGO set), 240 Miniland (LEGOLAND Denmark), Orduna, Jette, 168–172 158–159 Ovesen, Jesper, 54 MOCpages.com (Web site), 108 Modulex Planning System, 245 Pace, David, 63 mold warehouse, 164 packaging, 44 monorail, 105–106 paint, 5–6 mosaics, 37 Papert, Seymour, 96 self-portraits, 59–60 Paradisa (LEGO sets), 82–83 in Toy and Plastic Brick Museum, 130 Petrie, Chris, 76, 77 Yoda, 145 Petsche, Tim, 252 See also my own creation (MOC); Phantom Menace, The, 12 vignette themes photography, 35, 107–110 Mount Rushmore (LEGO model), Piaget, Jean, 96 153, 157 Pick A Brick tubs, 66 Mueller, Thomas, 2, 144, 194–196, 205 Pirates (LEGO sets), 61, 62, 218–221 Mukherjee, Jai, 209–211 Pitt, Jules, 55 Muri, Greg, 55 Plastica (LEGO robotic band), Museum of Modern Art, 7 130–131 M/V Stewart J. Cort (LEGO model), 20 Potomac (Mills Mall) Store, 197 MyLEGO Network, 147 Proudlove, Nathan, 199 my own creation (MOC), 26 public displays, defi ned, 27

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Pulizzi, Joe, 146–147 sellers, 39–44, 56. See also individual “purists,” 14 names of Web sites and stores set building, 182–185 quality control, 43–44 Shipwreck Hideout (LEGO set), 215, 218–221 Railbricks, 74 Sledge, Breann, 124, 131, 135, 143, 196 Rasmussen, Robert, 95–96, 98 Smith, Brendan Powell, 114–116 Rasmussen and Associates, 96 Smith-Meyer, Paal, 178 rec.toys.lego (RTL), 24–25 social networking, 147 retail stores, 122, 128, 197 sorting Brick-a-thon, 76 by color, 47–56 Brickscope, 39, 42, 92 need for, 45–46, 89–90, 91 LEGO Imagination Center (Mall of numbered bags and, 218, 220 America), 82, 83 space display, 79 Potomac (Mills Mall) Store, 197 Space Skulls (LEGO set), 179 Ripley’s Believe It or Not, 37 speed building, 70 Ritvik Toys, Inc., 91 SpongeBob SquarePants (LEGO sets), robotics, 52, 130–131, 172 36, 43 Robotics Invention System (RIS), Spurgeon, Jeremy, 74 52, 172 Stabno, Andreas, 39–44, 91–94, 151 Roos, Johan, 95 Star Justice (LEGO set), 179 rubber band holders (LEGO), 92 Star Wars, 36 cost of, 43 Saarinen, Eero, 245 C-3PO, 62, 224 San Diego LEGO User Group, Darth Vader, 233 243–247 Greedo, 61 Sandlin, Mark, 178 LEGO video games, 117–118, 119 Sawaya, Nathan, 194–195 Millenium Falcon, 23, 29–30, 160 Scala (LEGO set), 83–84 minifi gures, 41, 60–61, 93 scale modeling, 20, 104–105 MTT Trade Federation, 12, 58, 112, Burj Dubai, 63 258–259 Grand Traverse Lighthouse, 64 Yoda, 145 Grand Traverse Lighthouse (LEGO Stegosaurus (LEGO set), 207, model), 64 211–214, 215–216 LEGO Group model design, Steininger, Dan, 227–228 225–228, 247–250 Sterling, Dave, 64, 74, 81, 85, 103, 162, LEGOLAND model cities, 254–256 220, 222 Maumee River Crossing Bridge, Sterling, Stacy, 64, 81, 85, 222 13–14 Stories from the Book of Genesis, 115 Mount Rushmore, 153, 157 Story of Christmas, The (Powell), 115 M/V Stewart J. Cort, 20 studs and tube design, 28, 51, 89 Sears Tower, 3–6, 63, 179, 223, Studs Not In a Row (SNIR), 117 230–232 Studs Not On Top (SNOT), 116–117 Veteran’s Glass City Highway, 13–14, Sundance Yacht Sales, 195 31–32 Super Car (LEGO set), 52 See also vignette themes Swanberg, William, 38–39 Schiling, David, 173 Sweden, 84 Sears Tower (LEGO set), 179, 230–232 Technic (LEGO sets), 38, 51, Sears Tower (MOC), 3–6, 223 52–53, 173 Sears Tower (model), 63 Ten Commandments, The (Powell), 115

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Thompson, Jeff, 24 See also conventions; individual tiles, 95 names of Web sites tires, 105 Todd, Bruno, 244–245 Varszegi, Erik, 226–228 Toy and Plastic Brick Museum, 2–3, vending machine (MOC), 111 9–10, 64, 121–131, 133, 133–144 Verdier, Matthew, 24 cow, 1 Veteran’s Glass City Highway (LEGO Crack House, 144 model), 13–14, 31–32 History Room, 135–136 Victor, Bart, 95, 96 LEGO Crack House, 124 Victoria LEGO Users Group LEGO Group and, 149 (VICLUG), 193 Space Room, 124, 135 video games, 18–19, 58, 62, 117–119 Western Room, 136 vignette themes, 106–107 Zoo Room, 121, 126 airplanes, 48–49 Trade Ethical Council against Sexism animals, 39 in Advertising (Sweden), 84 architectural models and, 3–6, Trade Federation MTT (LEGO set), 13–14, 20, 31–32, 63, 64, 104–105, 12, 58 122 Traffi c School attraction (LEGOLAND DUPLO Tyrannosaurus Rex, 216 Denmark), 158 Holocaust, 113–114 trains, 105–106 religious, 114–116 translucent bricks, 105 zombies, 101, 106–107, 189, Tricky Dick (tortoise), 147 189–192 Tucker, Adam Reed, 62–63, 86, 122, See also mosaics; my own creation 179 (MOC); scale modeling; TWINLUG, 82 individual names of LEGO sets Vollbrecht, Bill, 243, 245, 246 usergroups Greater Midwest LEGO Train Club, Walner, Esther, 71, 72, 76, 81–82 65 Walt Disney World, 181 Greater Midwest LEGO User Ward, Bill, 107 Group, 57 Washington Metropolitan Area LEGO IndyLUG, 63 Users Group, 26 LEGO Users Group Network weapons, 61 (LUGNET), 25–26, 52, 107, Weiss, Beth, 63 112–113 Westin Chicago North Shore, 60, 65, Michigan LEGO Users Group, 31 69 New England LEGO Users Group White Stripes, 7 (NELUG), 181 Witt, Steve, 185, 224–230 San Diego LEGO User Group, 243–247 Yellow Airport (LEGO set), 180 TWINLUG, 82 Yoda (MOC), 145 USENET discussion group, 24 Victoria LEGO Users Group Zarkan (BZPower user), 53 (VICLUG), 193 Zombie Apocafest, 189, 189–192 Washington Metropolitan Area zombie farmer vignette (MOC), 101, LEGO Users Group, 26 106–107

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