Hasta La Gadget!

This amazing contraption you see here is a time machine. Before you get too excited, you should know that it doesn’t actually work, but that doesn’t make the feat any less awesome. That’s because it’s actually an incredibly detailed scale model of a fictitious time machine, created by a professional film and TV model maker.

This one-of-a-kind model took Steve Howarth over 1500 hours during a two year period to build, and it looks amazing. It’s made from perspex and styrene, and set onto a formica MDF base. The thing is loaded up with tiny LEDs to illuminate the scene, and even has sound effects and speakers built in.

The model is currently for sale over on Etsy, with an asking price just north of $17,000(USD).While that may sound like a lot, I think the guy who built this deserves more than $11 an hour for his time and materials. Plus, the lucky buyer will get film rights for a story which goes along with the time machine.

Flappy Bird became a worldwide phenomenon – more so when its creator Dong Nguyen pulled it out of various app stores. While he’s still mulling it’s return, the flapster is still very much alive in the hearts and minds of people all across the globe (and on their phones.)

An unusual way of immortalizing the awesomeness of Flappy Bird is this three-dimensional figure of the titular character that’s crafted from solid gold.

The gold Flappy Bird was created by Vietnam-based goldsmithing company N3D, who explain that they are created it in order to “honor this world changing bird and demonstrate the craftsmanship of Vietnamese people.” Makes sense, since Dong is Vietnamese.

Farther down the listing, N3D add that proceeds from the sale of the bird will be used “to support people with difficult situation in Vietnam.” That’s pretty vague, but at least it sounds like they have some good intentions.

You can check out the auction listing for the solid gold Flappy Bird here.

[via C|NET]

A few years back, LEGO builder Marshal Banana created an incredible Star Wars Sandcrawler model. Later, the model would find its way to Cuusoo, but never quite got to the point it needed to go into production. Now, it looks like LEGO has managed to finally release its own Sandcrawler kit, though it’s not as epic as the 10,000 piece original.

LEGO’s version of the Sandcrawler is about 1/3rd the number of bricks, at 3,296 pieces, but still looks pretty awesome. Part of the Ultimate Collectors’ series, the model is quite large, and has plenty of room for minifig Jawas and droids inside. Overall measurements for the vehicle are 18″ (L) x 9″(H) x 6″ (W).

It’s got a number of moving parts, including a ramp on the front that can be raised and lowered with the turn of a knob, a droid-lifting crane, and even has that vacuum sucky thingy for lifting up droids.

While its treads aren’t motorized, they can move when pushed across a surface, and they can be steered too. Here’s hoping someone figures out a way to hack a motor in there.

The set also comes with a number of minifigs, including four Jawas, Luke Skywalker, Uncle Owen, C-3PO, R2-D2, R5-D4, and four other droids. It even comes with some spare droid parts, because that’s what Jawas do. Below is just a sampling of the minifigs included:

You can check out the full details of the LEGO Sandcrawler in the video below:

LEGO expects to ship the Sandcrawler this May, and it will sell for $299.99(USD) at shop.lego.com.

Chris Burden says his amazing Metropolis II—a gigantic retrofuturistic city model where thousands of slot cars race forever—is not just a city model. Of course it’s not. It’s a goddamn amazing jesuschrist look at that city model. It looks glorious in this short by Henry & Rel.

Read more…

LEGO already has some really cool DC Comics sets, but we can never have too many. This “Assault on Wayne Manor” design by LEGO Cuusoo contributor DarthKy is definitely worthy. Bruce Wayne’s mansion has never looked so amazing (though his Batcave has.)

In this proposed set, you’ll get Wayne Manor and minifigs of Ra’s al Ghul, Red Hood, Firefly, Batgirl, Lucius Fox, Bruce Wayne, Alfred, and Batman. The manor even has secret passages and a Batcave. Because what would Wayne Manor be without the Batcave.

The set is designed to hinge out into multiple sections, so you can open it up and reveal each section of the interior of Wayne Manor’s interior.

This set is estimated at 2,000-2,800 pieces, and the detail is quite impressive.

The Batcave even has some of Batman’s best known trophies, including a T. Rex, a giant Lincoln penny, Mr. Freeze’s gun, a Joker card, and some green Kryptonite. What, no Two-Face coin?

If the set gets 10,000 votes on Cuusoo, LEGO has no choice but to look at it and evaluate it for possible production. It’s almost halfway there. I think it will reach the goal easily – and it doesn’t hurt that LEGO already has a business deal with DC Comics either.

You can find more images of Wayne Manor over on Flickr, and show your support by heading to Cuusoo now and casting your vote!

[via Nerd Approved]