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Dear LEGO fans,
Dominik Gerlach, a 26-year-old AFOL from Germany did it. He has build the
United States Capitol with LEGO bricks. I was happy to be able to interview the
masterbuilder recently:
HoMa: How comes that you had the idea of building the United States Capitol in
LEGO?
dominik: A good question! I have seen it several times on TV. And I was
fascinated about the dome.
HoMa: When did you had the idea for the first time and when did you actually
start building?
dominik: The idea was born in 1997, the actual planning and construction started
in 2003.
HoMa: What means “planning”? Have you ever been to Washington to take pictures?
dominik: Well, planning means to buy and collect LEGO bricks in larger
quantities. And I searched for pictures and the floor plan on the internet. I
regret, I have never been to Washington and I only know the Capitol form TV and
movies.
HoMa: Have you found enough materials online, e.g. the floor plan?
dominik: I found many pictures but no floor plan. After 9/11 it is more less
impossible to find accurate measurements and figures about public buildings. But
thanks to Jan Beyer and the chief designer form LEGOLAND California. They helped
me to organize the floor plan which was used while building the model for the
miniland in Carlsberg.
HoMa: Ok, back to the LEGO model. Did you just start building or did you think
about any scale first? And at which part did you start building?
dominik: No, I didn’t just start building. I’ve choosen scale 1:40, a very
typical scale among LEGO fans building in minifig scale.
dominik: First of all I started to built the floor plan of the building to
realise the size of the model.
HoMa: But you were surprised of the size ..?
dominik: Oh yes, I was really impressed as I saw the full size of the model. I
thought to myself to be stupid trying to build such a huge building.
HoMa: But you were not feared about the size of the model?
dominik: No not really. I thought that all collected bricks so far will be
enough for the model. But this thought was very naive.
HoMa: But you were building modular so the whole building could be transported?
dominik: No, not from the beginning. It took some time to re-build everything. I
thought I could have built 7 modules each for one part of the building. But
these modules were much to big and to heavy for safe transportation.
HoMa: I remember, once you have shown me such a wall-module. A pretty cool idea
using modules like this.
dominik: Yes, using wall-modules like this was a very clever idea. In review the
best idea to realise such huge models.
HoMa: You have been working for 4 years on the model. How many hours a week or a
month did you spend in your LEGO room?
dominik: I don’t know. Sometimes I was building the whole night, sometimes I
didn’t work on this model for weeks.
HoMa: Often you will be asked where to get all the elements? We have met at the
LEGOLAND Germany where you did shopping at the pick-a-brick wall.
HoMa: But the LEGOLAND doesn’t offer everything you need. Were else did you buy
the bricks? Bricklink? Or is this your secret?
dominik: No, this is no secret. The most parts were bought in LEGOLAND Germany,
that is right. Also many so called “Wühlkisten” which I bought completely, help
of good friends form 1000steine and the retailer I can trust. But the rest I
will keep secret.
HoMa: You also needed elements which are out ouf production, even in large
quantities. I am talking about all the classic 2 x2 windows.
dominik: Yes, the windows were a really big problem because I needed so many of
them. Fortunately there were 3 persons selling enough of them when I needed
them. HoMa: 3 Persons? 3 Bricklink-Shops?
dominik: No bricklink shops, but really good friends of mine.
HoMa: Which elements were hard to get?
dominik: White windows 2 x 2, plates in medium blue in large quantities for the
roof and white 6 x 6 plates with rounded corner form old Paradisa sets
(http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=6003).
HoMa: Let’s talk about numbers ...
dominik: Ok.
HoMa: How many 2 x 2 windows did you use in the model?
dominik: 4,500
HoMa: Can you tell form other special elements how many of them were used, e.g.
1 x 2 brick in white?
dominik: Yes, 32 of the white 6 x 6 plates with rounded corner.
dominik: 15,000 white 1 x 2 bricks
HoMa: 15,000!? I am speachless ...
HoMa: Did you count all pieces or is this only a guess who many elements are
used.
dominik: I have counted every pieces while building.
HoMa: Wow, how many in total and how many tiles did you use?
dominik: In total about 750,000 LEGO elements.
dominik: 400.000 elements only for the wall-modules without the roofs and the
dome.
dominik: 2,100 1 x 1 tiles in white
dominik: And 8,200 dard grey tiles for the street in front of the building.
HoMa: What is the size of the building, without the park?
dominik: Length 3,50 m (11,48 ft) and width 0,94 m (3,08 ft) (without stairs).
Without the statue on top of the dome the building is 1,20 m (3,93 ft) high.
HoMa: How big should the table be to set up everything?
dominik: 4,50 m (14,76 ft) by 2,10 m (6,89 ft) till now. When everything is
finished it will be 4,10 m (13,45 ft) by 4 m (13,12 ft).
HoMa: What is missing? The building is already finished?
dominik: Yes, but a big staircase is missing at the back and the park needs to
be expanded. At the front the street should have 6 lanes, like the original
street.
HoMa: To transport everything you have built wooden boxes. What is the total
weight if all boxes are filled with the modules of the model?
dominik: I love to know this too, but I don’t know.
HoMa: But you have to use a mini-van if you want to transport everything to an
event?
dominik: A normal car is too small. A mini-van is the minimum and pretty
helpful.
HoMa: Back to the building techniques. You have used tons of tiles at the
basement. What was the biggest building challenge?
dominik: The dome was the biggest challenge. I have never done this before and
to fit in the oval windows wasn’t easy.
HoMa: But you will agree if I say that building rounded forms using LEGO
elements is the ultimate challenge for an AFOL.
dominik: Definitely, that is why I wanted to build the Capitol and it’s dome.
HoMa: Where will you present this gigantic MOC to the public?
dominik: The next event is in Skaerbaek in Denmark (28.-30.09.2007), and
hopefully Frechen. But I can’t confirm this yet.
HoMa: How long must the visitors be patient till everything is set up?
dominik: The setup takes 6 hours with two people.
HoMa: Dominik, thanks for this interview and good luck with the LEGO Capitol!
Links
Gallery at YouBrick.com: http://www.youbrick.com/v/Town/capitol/
The real one at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol
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In lugnet.announce, Holger Matthes wrote:
snip
WOW!!!
-Matt :)
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In lugnet.announce, Holger Matthes wrote:
All I can do is echo what Matt said. Wow!!!
JohnG, GMLTC, wondering if Dominik is a long-lost relation... :-)
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In lugnet.announce, Holger Matthes wrote:
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Dear LEGO fans,
Dominik Gerlach, a 26-year-old AFOL from Germany did it. He has build the
United States Capitol with LEGO bricks. I was happy to be able to interview
the masterbuilder recently:
|
Thanks for the post, Homa! I am trying to think of a more impressive MOC that I
have ever seen. I can’t. This is IT!
Simply stunning. Well played Dominik!
JOHN
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In lugnet.announce, Holger Matthes wrote:
That is just beutiful. While it is obviously very rich in detail, the dome
really stands out for me.
Wow. A stunner.
Congrats on a beauty!
Best,
Jonathan
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In lugnet.announce, Holger Matthes wrote:
I can only echo what the rest of the posters have said, this is totally
incredible. The attention to detail is mind blowing, and I personally find a
patriotic/iconic building built by someone from a country of different origin an
interesting twist. This has been one of my favourite MOC post in awhile. Aside
from being blown away by the MOC itself, I’m stunned by the fact of him knowing
how many bricks and pieces are in it (I sometimes wish I was that organised).
Very Cool!
Janey “Red Brick”
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Holger "HoMa" Matthes wrote:
> Dear LEGO fans,
>
> [Dominik Gerlach], a 26-year-old AFOL from Germany did it. He has build the
> United States Capitol with LEGO bricks. I was happy to be able to interview the
> masterbuilder recently:
...
> Gallery at YouBrick.com: <http://www.youbrick.com/v/Town/capitol/>
Wow! That bring back memories of working on a similar project a couple of
years ago. A friend and I, along with other helpers occasionally, did a
model of the Alberta provincial Legislature for the local train show in
the 100th anniversary year of our province. The two buildings have very
similar architecture. Different solutions were done by the Lego modelers,
however. For example, our structure looks to be considerably solider than
Dominik's, in terms of interior supports. The methods of doing the domes
were quite different as well (I was helped by a computer program that a
friend wrote, to compute where pieces go to make domes).
We haven't made boxes to move ours - so far we just put the sections on
pieces of plywood, and that has been enough. It splits into 4 large
sections and 4 smaller sections. It has taken some time, but it is
currently planned that our model will be getting a permanent home in one
of the underground corridors that is an entrance to the real building.
Any chance of Dominik's fine model getting a permanent home somewhere?
Pictures of our model of the Alberta Legislature can be seen here:
http://www.nalug.org/TrainShow2005/Legislature
The pictures there were taken before the model was completely finished.
If you look carefully, you can see some incomplete stuff on the rear
section. However, that was all fixed up after that train show. The
model has been displayed in the Royal Alberta Museum here in Edmonton
and in the Telus World of Science Center.
-Chris Gray (co-builder with John Koob of the model)
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Hi Chris,
wow, I didn’t knew about your Alberta Legislative building! Either my eyes are
getting worse or my screen: Is your model build in tan or white? If it is tan,
how did you do the main columns of the main entrance:
Are these Technic hubs or half cylinder elements? White or tan?
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... For example, our structure looks to be considerably solider than
Dominik’s, in terms of interior supports.
|
As far as I understand, Dominik started building a more massive building with
more interior supports. But this seems to be to heavy and so he rebuilt
everything to a lighter solution. Only the side walls are connected with each
other.
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We haven’t made boxes to move ours - so far we just put the sections on
pieces of plywood, and that has been enough. It splits into 4 large
sections and 4 smaller sections.
|
This picture shows some of the wooden boxes the Capitol is stored in for
transportation.
| |
It has taken some time, but it is currently planned that our model will be
getting a permanent home in one of the underground corridors that is an
entrance to the real building. Any chance of Dominik’s fine model getting a
permanent home somewhere?
|
Nothing is planned right now. The officials form the real Capitol didn’t ring up
- as far as I know :-)
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Pictures of our model of the Alberta Legislature can be seen here:
http://www.nalug.org/TrainShow2005/Legislature
|
Thanks for sharing. This building is really great. Huge and full of details!
Holger
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In lugnet.announce, Holger Matthes wrote:
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..
HoMa: How comes that you had the idea of building the United States Capitol
in LEGO?
|
A very impressive job!
I remember seeing a simlar scale version of the US Capitol during our first ever
visit to Enfield in 1992. It was set up outdoors and I think we have pictures of
Thomas looking out from inside the dome.
-Ted
.
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