Subject:
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IndyLUG in the flyer today
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.org.us.indylug
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Date:
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Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:18:55 GMT
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Viewed:
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681 times
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We made the front page In living color. The article takes up 1/2 the front
page and then a quarter of page 2.
I'll scan the article so everyone can see the pictures.
http://www.flyergroup.com/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=36880?hc_story
here is the article
LEGO loco
Group creates tiny town from plastic blocks
By Gus Pearcy
Flyer Staff Writer
BROWNSBURG -- Pictures cannot do justice to the huge train set created by
the Indy LUG Club. It's truly something you have to see. From the three
working trains to the giant castle surrounded by fairy tale scenes, this
14x18 foot wonderland is made entirely of plastic building blocks called LEGOsª.
Steve Martin of Brownsburg says he's been an AFOL (Adult Fan Of LEGOs) for
nearly 30 years. Martin and nine fellow enthusiasts have formed Indy LUG
(LEGO Users Group).
Martin says he and his buddies met through the Internet on a website called
LUGnet. Only two are from Hendricks County. The others, mostly college
students, come from Bloomington and Lafayette.
"We kind of started about August of 2001 but it really didn't go anywhere,"
Martin said. "About the same time last year, we got to critical mass and
started doing stuff."
That stuff has been six months of 10 people working on the train layout to
enter at the Great American Train Show at the state fairgrounds this weekend.
Mark Peterson of Clayton says he's been designing with LEGOs almost all of
his 21 years. He says it's a relaxing hobby.
"I remember in high school, I got kind of harassed a little bit because I
still played with LEGOs," Peterson said. "It's something a lot of people
don't do, so it's kind of unique."
LEGOs, the 45-year-old toy blocks that snap together using a patented
stud-and-tube coupling system, come in various shapes and colors. In
addition to buckets of LEGOs, there are many kits to create buildings and
vehicles. There are also LEGO train systems.
Indy LUG's LEGO land comes with everything. Some of the attractions include
three trains, tunnels, a skyscraper, a petroleum factory, a castle, Snow
White and the seven dwarfs, McDonald's and Rally's restaurants, a park, a
train station, a hobo camper complete with campfire, a water tower, two
churches and a trailer park with one of the trailers engulfed in flames. No
one was counting, but Martin guesstimates that more than 150,000 LEGO bricks
have been used in creating the model.
"I built the castle," Martin said. "And I was amazed at how many bricks it
takes to build something up like that."
Trains are run by computer and the switches are being controlled by the LEGO
Mindstorm -- computerized blocks used for robotics.
Members are quick to point out that hardly any of the attractions are kits.
Each member uses their own LEGOs to create individual scenes or buildings at
home. The club meets once or twice a month at Martin's house to combine all
the pieces on his train tables that were built specifically for LEGOs.
Like any hobby, LEGOs are relaxing, but Peterson admits there is also a show
off motivation.
"It's the satisfaction of taking pictures and posting them on the Internet,"
Peterson said. "So other groups can see what we've done."
Indy LUG would also like to draw a few more LEGO enthusiasts into the club.
For more information about the group, call Martin at 858-0387.
gus.pearcy@flyergroup.com
You can see the complete layout of the Indy LUG train set at the Great
American Train Show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 18-19 in the Marsh Blue
Ribbon and East pavilions at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Admission is $7.
mark
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