LEGO
Can a grown-ass adult man play with LEGO? Well, it would only be weird if I push LEGO vehicles around on our living room floor while making motor sounds, right? (please say yes)
In all seriousness, I grew up loving LEGO, and spent countless hours creating masterpieces throughout our house in the 70’s and early 80’s. Fun fact: some of the hand-me-down bricks I inherited were covered in scorch marks, while others were partially melted. Rumor has it my dad and brother (mostly my dad, I’m guessing) tried to make a real fireplace out of LEGO bricks that was lined with aluminum foil. I think the carnage left behind pretty much says how well that experiment worked out.
As a joke one Christmas, I bought myself the LEGO Saturn V Rocket and wrapped it up from Santa. I always thought it was kind of silly for an adult to play with create with LEGO, but I figured what the hell, you only live once. Things kind of snowballed from there!
I recently learned there is an entire online community dedicated to creating and sharing custom LEGO designs. Software packages exist to create digital designs, and then output parts lists and complete instructions to share. Fans can purchase LEGO parts from online marketplaces like Bricklink. What’s more, there are independent companies like Brickmania that produce their own LEGO designs, albeit very pricey ones. Who knew.
PAC-MAN (#10323, 2651 pieces)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0281-768x1024.jpg)
Tiny Plants (#10329, 758 pieces)
Wildflower Bouquet (#10313, 939 pieces)
Back to the Future Time Machine (#10300, 1872 pieces)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0276-1024x768.jpg)
Mars Rover (#42158, 1132 pieces)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0280-1024x768.jpg)
Jeep Wrangler (#42122, 665 pieces)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BF5BD8B4-9491-41FE-9818-C2F7ECAB9519.jpeg)
Bonsai Tree (#10281, 878 pieces)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4AF68A93-F523-470B-B1B8-470686B30374-1.jpeg)
Atari 2600 (#10306, 2532 pieces)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/C1EDDDB8-8FC3-472C-8F0B-9ED4C6F3A684.jpeg)
P-51 Mustang
This one is actually not an official LEGO kit. I paid a nominal fee for downloadable plans, then purchased pieces through Bricklink. Color scheme is for the Tuskegee Airmen. (Google it for an important history lesson!)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6D1D3768-3397-49B0-97DE-7DB8B4E0709D.jpeg)
Lego Saturn V Rocket (#92176, 1969 pieces)
It’s about three feet tall. Kept me busy for a few nights around xmas! I’m pretty sure the number of pieces is not a coincidence.
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2003-488x1024.jpg)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3527-scaled-1.jpg)
Land Rover Defender (#42110, 2573 pieces)
This was easily the most complex LEGO build I’ve undertaken. I actually quit at about 25% done and started over because stuff simply wasn’t fitting right.
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_2574-scaled.jpg)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_2591-scaled.jpg)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_2580-scaled.jpg)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_3528-scaled.jpg)
Ghostbusters Ecto-1 (#10274, 2352 pieces)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_3531-scaled.jpg)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_3446-scaled.jpg)
1967 Ford Mustang GT (#10265, 1471 pieces)
This is one of my favorites, and the closest I’ll ever get to owning a 67 GT!
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_3517-scaled.jpg)
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_3520-1024x768.jpg)
When I was looking at these pictures, I realized I had the hood scoop facing the wrong way!
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_3515-1024x768.jpg)
SR-71 Blackbird
This one is on the someday list, after I better understand how Bricklink works.
![](https://wiscmapper.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/sr-71-1024x732.png)