Millennium Marvels Round Up

Welcome to Millennium Marvels, the only challenge so far that honored cars manufactured exclusively within the 21st century. Yanno…21st Challenge, 21st century. Get it? Yeah, I didn’t think it was all that clever either. Lets just get to the round up and see how we did, shall we?

Usually we see Ralph “Mad Physicist” Savelsberg toward the middle or end of the challenge but this time he races in first with a couple of cars built for a larger secret project he’s working on. My personal spy satellites were programmed (for some reason) to only detect nudists sunning themselves on their rooftops so I have not been able to gather info as to what Ralph is building. Unless he starts doing it nude on his roof we’re just going to have to settle for these in the meantime…think Chevy Impala meets Ford Crown Vic.



Then later in the Challenge, Ralph teases us again with this trio also for his super secret project. One is inspired by the Ford F-150, the other is a Chevy Suburban and the third is the Ford Mustang. This project must be big!



Next J0n4th4n D3rk53n shows us his fully electric GV Moose van…the only car that’s either purple, blue or red depending on which picture you look at. I guess he was experimenting with the picnic edit photo section. No matter what color it is, its green because its fuel efficient.



Then later in the challenge he just had to do something sporty, so naturally he entered the Caparo T1. Neat shape!



Finally he finishes himself off with the Honda Civic. Economic and fuel efficient, the Honda Civic is one of the most popular cars in his neighborhood…and everyone’s neighborhood probably. Its like the Walmart of cars.



Next nolnet chimes in with his shiny new little Abarth 500 SS. It has a very nice shape and a lot of very advanced build techniques. It also goes vroom, apparently. Sweet!



Phillip Ryman amasses his trusty red bricks to construct a fleet of little modern marvels. First we have the 2003 Ram SRT-10.



Next comes the sporty 2004 Viper SRT-10.



Then we’ve got the 2000 Corvette C-5



And then the 2005 Mustang GT .



And later in the challenge Phillip chimes in with the new Lotus Evora.



Lets see, the photo quality of each is pretty good…each little MOC actually follows the rules of the challenge this time and well…darn, I have nothing to pick on…no jokes to crack at Phillip’s expense. For once I’m stumped. Good job, Phillip!

Rabidnovaracer checks in with the awesome Ariel Atom…the seemingly perfect car for this Millennium Marvels challenge. So perfect, in fact that Dylan Denton chimed in with his own version shortly after. Both guys assure us this was a coincidence and if you’ve followed the Lino/Nathan phenomenon I can attest that sometimes great minds just think alike. Normally I wouldn’t lump the two together in one write up but you have to appreciate both the similarities and differences of these two entries. Both emulate the complex shape of the vehicle very well. Great job, guys!





As the Smart car was already predictably taken in this challenge, Dylan later chimes in with its direct competitor from Japan…the ironically named Toyota iQ. Leave it to the Japanese to dream up a little car that’s even more technologically advanced and fuel efficient than the Smart car…and leave it to Dylan to accurately reproduce its likeness in Lego!



No millennium marvels challenge would be complete without the aforementioned Smart car…which is why I’m glad scottblank obliged with this cute little micro entry. With increasing urban sprawl, difficulty in parking and fuel becoming expensive and scarce, it seems the little car that looks like it has already been crushed in a collision is the wave of the future! Um…yay, I guess.



Raphy builds his fave dream car…the car he was meant to build in a scale that…um…well, he was meant to build over and over again. It’s the Audi RS4 in blue! Raphy liked the challenge so much he promised to enter several more times.



And as sure as a pigeon will poop on your car just after you wash it, he makes good on his promise with this cute little 2007 Ford Mustang GT-500 Shelby Super Snake. Say that five times fast!



Then comes the pudgy little custom European Ford Focus rally car. Nice shape!



Followed later by the equally pudgy 2007 Dodge Ram SRT-10 in yellow.



Next comes another pudgy 4-wide…um…no wait! Is this still Raphy? Yes, it is! It’s a miracle, Raphy constructs an 8-wide 2009 Ford F-150 Raptor! He says its awful and was rushed through it but I think this 8-wide configuration allows for so much more detail and with practice, I’m certain he can pull off some stunning vehicles in this scale. I think its time to graduate from the childish 4-wides and step up to doing this more often. This is the way to go, Raphy!



Don’t get me wrong, folks…I’m not dissing small scale vehicles. Check out, for example this pretty cool 5-wide custom Ford F-150 built by Petr Struchly. I’m digging the racing stripe and exhaust pipes. This build is chock full of tricky intricate SNOT techniques. Oh, this is unrelated but Petr is primarily an Origami paper folder. You have GOT to check out some of his Origami creations…they are mind boggling! I can see that some of the intricate attention to detail used in paper folding translated to Lego here…so in that regard, maybe it was related after all.



Until now, Lino Martins has never built a modern car. With an affinity for American classics, I’m quite used building cars with copious chrome and fins that go on for miles. That’s why this little 2005 Mini Cooper S needed a whole new mind set and a whole different set of build skills. As the Mini has a classic history, its no surprise I chose the modern remake for my entry. I haven’t the slightest clue what that typewriter looking thing is under the hood but modern car enthusiasts tell me I have accurately depicted the turbo charged Mini Cooper engine. Note the minifig space helmets for mirrors and the English side steering wheel. Bloody smashing, as the British would say!



Just as I was thinking…yanno, someone (but not me) should build the new 2010 Camaro for this challenge…my musings were answered. And BOY were they answered! Jason son weighs in heavily with the new Chevy racer in grey and red. This build speaks to my affinity for larger scale and detail. I’m digging the netting, which Jason said was his son’s idea and the silver against grey rims…are surprisingly nice looking on this model. Its something I never would have thought of. Be sure not to miss the engine and interior details. Great job Jason son…and um…Jason’s son!



Blood Red Dragon chimes in with his silky smooth entry, the Koenigsegg CCX. Yep, it’s a real car. Maybe you all knew that already but I had to look it up…and in doing so, I see that Dragon’s use of that weird black piece that I think can only be found in the new Star Wars AAT set was a very good choice for the windshield. Tiny Turbo builders rejoice…there’s a weird new piece that’s kinda useful!



Ricecracker shows us what he’s made of. It turns out he’s made “Ford tough” with this 2009 Ford F-450 tow truck in patriotic American colors…or French colors…or British…depending on your point of view. Neat!



He also has built the rugged 2009 Volvo VHD tractor trailer complete with an equally rugged looking mustachioed driver. The truck uses the R/C chassis, which makes it very cool!



And finally he tears up the road with the 2008 customized Land Rover Range Rover HST. Its shiny and sleek for all your luxury offloading needs!



Remember “At The Races” When lego911 went a little nuts with 40-someodd record breaking entries? We thought that challenge would never end! Then he disappeared for two challenges to recoup his supply of pieces…and probably his sanity. But now he graces us for this challenge and quietly sneaks in this very neat Ferrari 458 Italia 2010. It doesn’t come with a racing team, pit crew, family history or a legion of competitors…it just stands alone as one beautiful solo entry. Good to see you still have the magic, my man!



Sharpspeed presents us with the Rogue Eco…not a real car, it turns out. But he made it boxy, green and white for that “21st Century feeling”…and if by 21st Century feeling he means something out of Mad Max or Death Race 2000 with retro suicide doors then…yeah sure most of the century hasn’t happened yet so this could be plausible. Its called the Eco because it’s Eco-nomical and I’d guess its green because its also Eco-friendly. Alrighty then!



Neither green nor eco-friendly…but still a millennium marvel comes this 2009 Ford F-350 built by Charger Hornet. He says he just couldn’t resist building this truck and with rear dualies and massive exhaust pipes, I can see why. The grille and front bumper looks very accurate. The Ford F-series has been particularly popular with this challenge…and the American market as even in an increasingly eco and space conscious world of Smart cars and Toyota iQs, this remains a top seller.



Sometimes you think you have a builder pegged. Sure, Firas Abu-Jaber loves supercars so maybe it was certain he was going to build one Ferrari or a Ford GT or another. Any of them would have looked great with his signature sleek style, but Firas managed to knock us sideways and squelch any accurate predictions we may have had. Sure, he went Lamborghini this time…and knowing Firas isn’t much of a surprise…but this time he has built not one car, not two…but an entire showroom full of sleek Lambos! The detailed showroom itself, even without the cars, is a site to behold with it’s red carpet and luxurious styling. We all know Firas is a good car builder, but this should put him on the map as a great Lego architect as well. In my opinion, this has been the perfect way to end this build challenge!



With a good variety of entries and everyone sticking to the rules of the challenge, I think we did well on this one. Be sure to also show us what you can do in this month’s challenge called “Who’s Your Big Daddy?!” Where we honor legendary car builders such as George Barris, Carroll Shelby and the aptly named Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Thanks for reading everyone! Be sure to let us know you’ve been here by leaving a comment. You know we appreciate it.

Fire And Ice Roundup

This challenge was based on duality...and equal balance of the very important elements of Fire and Ice. How did we do? Well, some of us nailed it...and others...um...was more like lukewarm fire and melted ice. Lets review!

J0n4th4n D3rk53n sets the trend that lots of others will follow by interpreting fire as red and ice as white with this sort of neat panel truck. There's some cool curves on here. Yep. Sure is an interesting tour so far. Anyone want to raid the candy machine in the lobby? No? Ok, lets move on then.



Ooops, wait, we're still with J0n4th4n here! He says after 7 long hours the masterpiece is finally finished...and so early in the challenge too! Usually the heavy hitters come later in the challenge but what do I know? This is a three window coupe...mostly fiery red with a white blower and stripes representing ice. Looks like he got his thumb in the way of the picture in the lower left there.



I bet you're thinking this tour wouldn't be complete without a virtual entry from J0n4th4n, right? Well, your prayers have been answered! Its a...um...bus! Its almost tall enough to be one of them London double decker buses except the whole bottom deck is windowless...perfect for when you don't want your friends seeing you travel in one of these.



But wait there's more! (Is it too soon to crack a Billy Mays joke? Yeah? Ok then.)For when you need to haul several tons of gasoline across the arctic tundra to Bjork's house, here is the Gasnowmobile! Say it with me now...gasnowmobile. With any luck at all, it just might explode once it gets there.



Aaron Dayman heats up the challenge...and some chicken wings with this...um...Zamboni Barbecue! His interpretation of Fire and Ice is more clever than anything I can come up with so lets use his own words; "In my fave team the Detroit Red Wings colors. Red (fire) and White (ice). Built to celebrate the Wings (fire) impending victory over the Penguins (ice) to win yet another Stanley cup championship. After which this vehicle might come in handy seeing as its a Zamboni (ice) and a mobile BBQ (fire) to not only clean the ice(ice) but fire(fire) up some snacks for the celebration as well." Now that's smart thinking, Aaron!



Let's say I'm skating on thin ice, trying to impress some girl with my slick moves and I break through and get my fool self submerged in the freezing cold water. Then I'm going to need Ricecracker's Ice Swift/Water Rescue Truck, pronto! It comes equipped with tread wheels for better traction on ice and a boat and net for water rescues. just the name of his vehicle makes me feel safe...but I'm pretty sure this means the girl is not impressed and the date is over. Oh well...hope you also have some hot chocolate on that thing!



New guy Pitrek02 shows us a unique interpretation of Fire and Ice with this pair of quad ATV's...one fiery hot and the other icy cool! I'm seeing some pretty advanced build techniques here. I want to take them for a spin! I wonder if the minifig girls will be impressed if I can do donuts on the thin ice.



Pitrek02's next entry, I wanted sooooo much to be perfect! Here we see he obviously has some raw talent with this very nice interpretation of the Hummer H3. I mean, check out those reversed tires over Lego motorcycle rims...and he's pulled off details flawlessly that is so difficult in this small scale. But in a challenge that demands a perfect balance of Fire and Ice, I see the fire...but where's the ice? From such a clearly talented builder, I'm hoping this is just a temporary lapse in integrity. If the gray rocks were instead the same piece only in white...he would have nailed this challenge perfectly.



Sometimes when you mix two awesome things together you get something else awesome...like chocolate and peanut butter. When you mix the greatest Japanese battleship ever constructed in both real life and Lego with the great city of Hiroshima you get...um...well the Yamato Hiroshima...a 4 wide sports car thingy with a spoiler and some kind of...um...snowplow/cattle prod looking thing up front. Sharpspeed said he built this to honor those who were bombed in Hiroshima in 1947. (Great, just what they wanted!) Oh and...um...Mr. Speed...the bombings took place in 1945...NOT '47.



Next Sharpspeed brings us a pair of what he calls his iconic Rogue Firepower GT, one in fiery red and black, the other in icy cool blue and white. In Sharpspeed speak that has to be followed by like 14 exclamation points but...I don't know, I'm just not feeling the excitement. At least he followed the rules of the challenge and didn't attempt to honor some historic event he barely understands. Anyone wanting to raid the candy machine in the lobby now? No? Ok, lets move on.



Dylan Denton interpreted Fire and Ice with this admittedly cool pair of Formula 1 racers, one in fiery red and the other with just enough red trim to somehow still call it ice. I like the use of shifter bases as helmets. Good call! Dylan tells us not to worry...that his next entry will be bigger and better and a little more clever than just a two toned vehicle. Sounds great!





As promised, Dylan's second entry is bigger and...um...is a two toned vehicle. Not very clever, but its a good build anyway. Its a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. Anyone excited for that new Lambo Gallardo set? Meh, I think it looks exactly like a yellow version of all the Ferrari sets we've seen but it does have new rims and the steering wheel is black and not the usual gray. Looks like some great parts in it. You know why we have so many Ferrari sets? Its because the CEO of Lego and the CEO of Ferrari are friends. Too bad the CEO of Lego isn't friends with George Barris or Chip Foose!



Raphy thinks a little outside his normal box with this Hot Rodded ice cream truck called I Scream. Yeah, that was the name I gave my Ice Cream clown truck a few months back, but hey, ya got to dig the concept! It has a fiery paintjob and the other side has a window with three ice cream flavors...red, yellow and...um...gray. Yuck!



But for something a little more flavorful, Raphy tackles an unusual interpretation of Fire and Ice indeed. Here we see an icy blue firetruck! At first I thought blue firetrucks just don't exist but further research proved that they do. Still, they're a rare breed and this quite possibly be the first blue firetruck built in Lego. Way to go, Raphy!



On that note...sigh...Philip Ryman, what are we going to do with you? All month long, I bit my tongue on this one...I waited patiently...maybe at the last minute he would submit an icy car and all would be right with the world...or so I hoped. As its obvious my round up jokes at your expense in hopes to improve your integrity are going way above your head, let me word this so that you can easily understand. Philip Ryman...you failed this challenge! I see the fire but where's the ice? What part of Fire AND Ice, NO EXCEPTIONS did you not understand? Every challenge has one weird little rule that everyone must follow. Do I do this because I'm rule crazy? No...but without just one unique rule to follow all the challenges would be exactly the same. We never would have survived through 20 plus challenges if they weren't fun and unique. You insult me and everyone else when you can't even follow just one rule! Please take a break from LUGNuts until your reading comprehension and your ability to follow directions improves.



Ok...sorry everyone, but had to be said. Now we move on to someone that knows how to dazzle us time and time again. Firas Abu-Jaber ditches his modern super cars for this challenge and takes a cue for me and Ralph with this classic Volksrod. The lowered stance, fenderless design and flaming hot paintjob are spot on! And the icy cool interior...I'm digging the spinner-without-the-spinner technique to make sort of a white on blue snow flake effect. All around, this vehicle is so cool its HOT!



Nathan Proudlove and Lino Martins once again puts their collective huge noggins together for a buddy team up to construct these iconic 70's era losers straight from the list of the 50 worst cars ever made. First comes Nathan's icy cool white and blue '75 Pacer called Brain Freeze. With stylish rims, Lambo doors and a video game console in the back, this is one loser of a hatchback I'd be proud to own! Next, Lino heats up the dragstrip with his fiery hot '70 Pinto called Hot Flash. Why am I referring to myself in the 3rd person? Anyway, he...I spent most of my early childhood strapped into a babyseat in the back of a Pinto and little did I know I was traveling in the car dubbed..."the barbecue that seats four". The Pinto had a reputation to explode in a rear end collision as illustrated by this humorous reverse flames design. It also has a wheelie bar, icy cool seats and opens like a funny car...proving that even a stinker like the Pinto can be made totally hot!





Who says a Fire And Ice entry had to be red and/or white? Not Tim "rabidnovaracer" Inman. His all black entry still suits the rules for the challenge...its a '96 Chevy Impala SS that has been refurbished into a Zamboni by Jesse James and friends on that Show Monster Garage. Incidentally, that's the show that helped turn me into a car builder...albeit just a lego one. With his skill at fabricating, his unwavering coolness and bad attitude, I wanted to be just like Jesse James. Then he stopped caring about his own show then went and married Sandra Bullock...and I found other car builders to admire. Oh and check out the flaming zoomies! Nice one, Tim!



Kin.lego interprets Fire and ice with this sleek fiery red Honda NSX LN20. The Icy elements are the white interior and the blue engine. The C32B engine is modified by dropping in a turbo and an intercooler to boost the horsepower to a staggering 400hp. Why did he choose the Honda LN20? because kin.lego says its named after the challenge. Huh? Ooooh, I get it! LugNuts 20th challenge! great job!



Our resident Mad physicist, Ralph Savelsberg has had one hell of a month! First he gets a few of his fine quality aircraft indoctrinated into the UK's Museum of Science and Industry, then he gets voted by his fellow AFOLs into the top three nominees spot as Lego Ambassador for flickr. (Final results still to come!)THEN he goes and wins two top prizes over at the military group for MOCs he's entered there! We're proud of Ralph but he doesn't stop there. Somehow he finds the time to enter our build challenge with his interpretation of Fire and Ice with a red hot Fire Department Ambulance and an icy cool reefer truck. That means refrigeration, you stoners, so don't go thinking its supposed to deliver your stash! I don't know how Ralph found the time to enter this challenge with all the cool stuff happening to you but we're certainly glad you did!



Cole Blaq and Orion Pax tear a page from the good Nathan/Lino Buddy Build Challenge Rule Book to construct this very neat pair. I like the mix of old and new here...completely different car cultures...but together they make it work. Cole built the icy white Citroen GT with gull wing doors, blue interior and very neat trans light blue headlights. Orion goes more oldschool with this fiery Lowrider with highly unusual round skylights and...get this...working hydraulics! They even made the four hour trip necessary to photo the two vehicles together. Take notes, my friends...this is how to succeed in a buddy challenge. Great job, guys! Way to dedicate to the cause!





We could have ended the challenge with Cole and Orion's sweet pair and called it done. But Blood Red Dragon takes a misguided cue from Philip at the last minute and builds...sigh...an all blue and white Hailstorm RC car. The name is cold...the paintjob is chill...but where is the Fire? C'mon, man, do I really ask for that much? Why must the same people disappoint me over and over again? What am I to do, here? Anyway, kudos to everyone who did an awesome job. And for those who repeatedly just don't get it...I don't know. Maybe something needs to be done.



This next challenge is Millennium Marvels where we try our hand at building only modern cars. If our inspiration was manufactured on or after January 1st, 2000 its good. That's pretty much our only rule for this one so we're hoping its going to be foolproof. But I seem to think that of every other challenge thus far and well... Lets see how this one goes.

Junkers And Clunkers Round Up

In terms of popularity, this has been a relatively quiet month. Maybe folks were busy, maybe they were doing other things or perhaps the notion of building a disheveled junker just didn't appeal to someone used to producing perfectly crafted showstoppers. Who knows? But for those who participated, some have found that their creations were received very well...letting us know that maybe there's something magic to this whole junkers idea. lets get to the round up and see!

Azaghal Gabilzaramul says he cheated a little as he built this post apocalyptic junker a few months ago. It has a wooden side door and its kinda lopsided. He also said he'd come back later in the challenge with something else. And he did!



Later Azaghal finds inspiration from that show Junkyard Wars with this neat pair. Here is the red team's junkyard dune buggy.



Followed by the green team's half truck with caterpillar traction. Neat!



J0n4th4n D3rk53n puts his own spin on the junker challenge with this rusty old AMC Gremlin. Here's a car that's not sure if it wants to be red or yellow. It also has a little black thrown in in the rear fender. With a profile like an AMC Hornet with its tail chopped off and vaccuum operated windshield wipers (how does that work?!)The AMC Gremlin is among the top 50 worst cars ever made. Great!



Rabidnovaracer lives up to his name this month with a pet project close to his heart. Everyone knows Tim owns a prize winning Chevy Nova...but exactly ten years ago (to the month!)Tim took home an ugly rust bucket with no engine and four mismatched wheels. He replicated it nicely in Lego. To show he wasn't exaggerating he provided a pic of the sad, dejected car being towed into his driveway. With lots of tender care and quite a bit of money, Tim nursed the dilapidated old husk into one sweet ride!



Duq's first attempt at this build challenge resulted in a neat rough and tumble rat rod from modifying the car from the Indiana Jones set 7682 Shanghai Chase. Incidentally that's how real rat rods are made...except there's less Lego involved and more axle grease and sheet metal. But you get the idea!



Then he flexes some rat rod muscle with this rusted classic 1913 390 Cadillac. According to his write up anyway, he made it seem as if this was built the way a real rat rod is done...over time. First he dropped the suspension,ditched the fenders,chopped the roof,swapped out the engine from the 5541 Blue Fury hot rod set, stretched the wheelbase and gave it some bitchin' racing tires! The result: pure rat rod awesomeness!



And speaking of rat rod awesomeness, get a load of Nathan Proudlove's Lockjaw! This rusty ride is chock full of not to be missed details...everything from the suicide doors to the skull carburetors to the rats nibbling at the pizza to the beer bottles right down to the greaser working under the car. Those cool headers...was a problem I couldn't solve with my gasser. I told him I wanted four exhaust pipes that became one and I couldn't do it. Looks like he succeeded nicely!



As mentioned with my gasser pipes, Lino occasionally fails. Yep, its true. But sometimes I hit a home run out of the park and halfway to the moon! Sure, I built this '49 Buick, sure I poured over the details and sure I posted the pictures. But after a MOC is let loose online it takes on a life of its own...a life that sometimes even its creator can never fathom. Maybe it was the heartfelt diary entry of the fictional John Brick, maybe it was the overgrown plants or the little frogs guarding this old wreck...but with nearly 2000 views and 44 faves, one image of this car became one of my most popular photos in my entire stream...overnight!



In the unlikely event that you run out of gas while on your way to the car show in your junky rat rod...executioner3 comes to the rescue with his equally junky Rat Rod Refueler. Who woulda thunk there is such a service!It features a rainbow of peeled paint and rusty colors as well as tank treads...in case you get stranded at say The North Pole. I knew we should have taken that exit right after Albuquerque!



Philip Ryman, the LUGNut formerly known as Ozzy Osbourne must have gotten a cease and desist order from The Prince of Darkness himself. I'd change my name to Philip Ryman too if Ozzy showed up at my door all pissed off. I mean seriously...that guy used to bite heads off of bats! You don't mess with a maniac like that. Plus you can't understand a word he says. I remember the first time I heard "Iron Man" I was digging through my parent's tapes and put in Black Sabbath. I got goosebumps when I heard the evil heavy guitar riff, then when that scary voice came on I nearly crapped my pants! Oh...and Philip built a couple of cars. here they are.






The Ranger of Awesomeness pays a little tribute to me and the whole car-left-in-field-with-tree-growing-out-of-it phenomenon with this Willys jeep that has been abandoned by a farmer circa 1954. What's with farmers always leaving their stuff around like they own the place? Oh wait, they do! Anyway, I'm digging the tall weeds and the pink flowers. Nice!



I never use the internet term LOL. Its too overused...too fake. When you're chatting with someone and every other word is LOL it makes you think...really? You're laughing THAT much? But when I first saw nolnet's flattened 1978 VW Derby, I really did Laugh Out Loud. No kidding! The accompanying story and photo about these mullet guys crushing it with their monster truck is absolutely not to be missed! And just take a sec to really appreciate the skill involved in replicating crushed metal and burst tires in Lego. Its just flawless! AND its still recognizable as a VW. I'm lovin' it!



New guy Sharpspeed enters in his first ever LUGNuts challenge with this Dying Thunderhead Roadbeast. It has pink flowers and weeds. Kinda like my dad's lawn. Sharpspeed says this Roadbeast died doing what it was made to do...rot in a field. Hah!



Our own resident Mad Physicist seems to be a sensible, orderly guy. He probably keeps his DVDs organized alphabetically, I'm sure he balances his checkbook nicely and I'm certain he keeps his socks and underwear neatly folded and put away as opposed to strewn about the floor. This is probably why he likes neat, sensible cars. Loud exhaust pipes on a gritty rat rod just wasn't Ralph's thing...until he discovered the Volksrod. Already having an affinity for the VW bug, it was only a matter of time before the fenderless Volksrod sent Ralph's heart aflutter! Its doing it for me too!



Raphy told us...three times that Rusty Leaf would be his sole entry. Then he built two more. He also said this a rat truck with bent stacks that kinda look like bunny ears is going to be in a future project he's working on. He doesn't want to spoil the surprise but he tells us its going to have a trailer. That pretty much spoils everything! Hey Raphy, if you like rat trucks have your parents rent the movie "Duel". It was Stephen Speilberg's first movie ever. There's no swearing or boobies in it so that means you can watch it. I don't wanna spoil anything but its a totally suspenseful thrill ride!



Then Raphy ups the ante and the scale with this abandoned 70's era Dodge Daytona. he tries his hand at writing and according to Raphy's story, (probably influenced by my John Brick fake diary entry)this car can be found in a prairie, somewhere in northern Kansas. Sounds like a road trip to me! I'd say Raphy ought to work in 6 or 8 wide scale from now on. What do you all think?



But wait, there's more! Raphy reaches for his trusty blurred cellphone cam and recycles this...um...old...something or another from some previous contest. When you reuse old MOCs for our challenges its kinda like eating that meatloaf that's been sitting in the fridge for like five months and then immediately regretting it. No amount of pepto-bismol can wash down this bad boy!Oh my stomach! Someone call an ambulance!



Dylan Denton helps ease the upset stomach a little with this rat rod called "Blood Hound" he says its probably too nice to be a rat rod (nah!)and it also...wait...did I read this right? ANOTHER recycled old MOC?!Oh God here comes the heartburn indigestion upset stomach nausea diarrhea!



Dylan's next entry does nothing to relieve the nausea...but he does put a new spin to this challenge. The 1980 Fiat Panda is both a junker and a clunker fresh from the factory. Not only is this taxi cab a loathed car...but its also a loathed MOC according to Dylan. It gave him nightmares AND he had to destroy his much adored '67 Charger to build it. You're kidding?! NO! Just like the real Fiat Panda, this MOC was reduced to scrap immediately after its debut.



New guy 6nichcar...(or is it 6 inch car?)built well...a 6 inch car. Or maybe its just 5 inches. Its kinda small but its an old farmer's ute truck. It has hay bales in the back...and a farmer guy without a farmer hat and overalls. Yep. Its also the mottled color scheme of my dad's Aries K wagon. I did it! I found a way to slip in another Aries K joke. Score!



With a tail light missing and an unfinished bed, The Big Rafalski is a little embarrassed to post such an unfinished MOC...but he has captured the spirit of this challenge perfectly with this half way restored custom '36 Chevy truck with a rebuilt V6 engine and tires good for a few drags. The black and white filter gives this beauty a nice old timey feel. Rafalski says the truck won't be winning shows anytime soon but she wins a place in our hearts and is a great way to finish off the challenge. It was just the relief for the upset stomach that I was looking for!



That's a wrap, kiddies! Let's see how we do this month when we try to perfectly balance the essential elements of Fire And Ice! As this is a challenge based on duality you can team up with a buddy. We haven't had one of those in awhile. So let's see how we heat up the challenge and cool off our competition with Fire And Ice!