iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Grand Admiral Thrawn, built for Star Wars Weekend with @portlugpdx.bsky.social. See this puppet-able bust at Bricks Cascade next weekend! #legostarwars #legomoc

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

It's not a cheap hobby, but what I value the most are bulk bricks for custom builds. Usually the cheapest way to shop. Best way to get those are bins at our awesome local used shops, Bricklink, and TLG's Pick a Brick, depending on how specific and new/used I'm looking for.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

The curved slopes don't stop coming! This is definitely an overdue basic one, though.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Utility vest, GO! Looks awesome and useful 👏

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Clink! 🍻 I like changing up my LEGO DOTS patches on my vest depending on the event I go to, like Bricks & Booze! Thanks @kylozar.bsky.social for the camerawork and voiceover help! #legodots #legomoc #legobuilds

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

The wolf eyes from LEGO 21354 Twilight The Cullen House work great on other animals, too! See the full set review and more of these MOCs: www.newelementary.com/2025/03/revi... @newelementary.bsky.social #lego #legomoc #legobuilds #afol

A hawk chases a hare, both custom builds made from LEGO bricks. They both feature a printed curved corner piece with a black eye with a white highlight. These form the hawk's eyes, while the part is rotated to form an open mouth and a single tooth on the rabbit. The hawk's wings are spread and talons are ready, while the bunny is frightened and sprinting from the bird.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Speed build challenge, this African crested porcupine was built in 10-11 hours with parts in hand. Well, I got some long Technic axles, Mixel joints, and pointy white bits before starting! This prickly pal has a Technic skeleton, is poseable, and can even be picked up by one particular quill.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

The LEGO patch vest is all spiked up now! Official chrome or ink silver, even third-party chrome parts, are too pricey so I spray painted some LBG cones. They're secured with stainless steel #12x¾" screws, so they're not going anywhere!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Spoke with a friend about this over the weekend, apparently the internal tools only allow customer service to order 999x too. Though some elements - if they're all you need - won't qualify for free shipping in multiple orders 🙄

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Interesting! I recently had to place multiple qty 999 orders to get more than 1,000 for a large project. I wonder if that's still allowed. Also, I hope PaB standard be back soon in the US. Not that I'm optimistic about our international trade at the moment. 😭 My big project still needs more parts!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Sometimes, and if I'm lucky, I think that about all the strangers I see too.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

I think it would wear out from rotation pretty quickly, another reason to save this build as a potential up-scale project later.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

It's a weird one, it's been around since 2009 but only in 91 sets in that time, with no more than 8 copies in a single set. Most have just one or two.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

The 1x2 beam with angled bar (85940) is the key part in this build, and one part which I sometimes forget exists!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

With the LEGO head out of production, making my own might be something I consider soon.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

I sort by part type but am at the point where some bins are overflowing. Those are getting divided by color families - grayscale, warm, and cool. Might not be long until some get divided by more specific colors.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

How often do long parts fall sideways through the holes? These seem neat but I always wondered.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Wow, so many Throwbots! I had the purple one, still have some parts floating around, but can't find the super rad belt clip case. Oh well!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

The face one makes when you see your flowers in bloom, naturally!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

A much smaller vehicle since I need to focus on things other than ✨the big one✨

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

A Hog it is indeed! I'm starting to think the suspension's lack of linkages is the most sci-fi thing in Halo. Floppy steering has been a frustrating problem in several versions, but I think I have a better solution now. I have one of the arms built IRL, I'll try to remember to bring it to PortLUG!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

A bigger look at that wild 4WD RC chassis I've been working on. I'll start (re)building this physically to make sure it works after a couple other projects, but this is one I've wanted to figure out for a while. #legorc #legotechnic

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Now it really looks like Tomb Raider ruins! Great mix of masonry, torches, and leaves.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Boone has a series of tutorials on YouTube, they're a great starting place! Look up the hotkeys which save a lot of time (as with all software) in positioning bricks, navigating the brick picker, changing views, etc. Too many tips to share here but if you have more Qs others here and I may have As!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Ooh hoo hoo, nice effect with the UV on the trans-neon! I found my smart bulbs can get close to that wavelength; it's a lot of fun.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

These mini builds are awesome, so glad I got to see some of the secrets within 😉 I've been on an IG break and will probably be there and here until @flashesapp.bsky.social starts up, then I'll move that direction.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Sadly he does not. When will TLG finally add this long-requested feature to minifigs?

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

The biting mechanism started as a happy accident, originally this was just going to be a stationary model. Once I learned it could bite a minifig, then began all the weight and spring tuning. Finally working reliably! *knocks on wood*

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Thank you! It's got the cake inside it's mouth too, didn't pull it out for this vid but it can lure Sims too.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Trying out video here with my latest update to my #TheSims #Cowplant #LEGOMOC. Chomp! 🤠

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

The minifig heads make the owl look so fluffy! Nicely done.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Yes, always. 😅 For me, avoiding glare on LEGO bricks takes small adjustments in positions and angles until things look good in camera. The big soft boxes *are* softer, but they're also big bright objects for the plastic to reflect. Tripods to keep relative positions helps while getting dialed in.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

The strobes use some kind of flash-specific incandescent, and overall they weren't cheap. Had it for years so couldn't venture a guess these days. A more versatile light I use is a constant LED square with white warmth adjustment (on-board) and RGB (via app, boo). It's a GVM 800D-RGB.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

I can share what I use! It's all studio stuff I borrow from my wife (the real photog of the couple) My main light is a strobe flash, an Alien Bees B800, with a Paul C. Buff transmitter setup and a Visico soft box. The secondary light in the flash setup is also a B800 with a beauty dish. (1/2)

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Reposted by Zach Hill - LEGO builder

ivyBONES @ivybricks.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Lego Alakazam

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Seems like most of my builds have a lot of lime green, so that one until I build with other colors.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

The energy effect for the psychic is amazing! So simple, but with such personality.

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Already putting reddish orange to good use! And hey, I feel like Bluesky is starting over but given the state of *other sites'* ownership - feels worth it. Glad to have more LEGO friends here. 💜

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Light aqua aeroblades were not on my 2025 bingo card!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Thanks again for the chat and all your work on some of my all-time favorite games!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Mr. Yellow Zinc acquired! Not too bad of a custom figure imo

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Meeting Nicki Rapp @itsuhrapp.bsky.social has been a highlight of #FanExpo Portland! We chatted #TheSims and game voiceover, and of course I had to bring over my #cowplant #LEGO build!

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Oh yeah, and this is a video game vehicle! 👾

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Zach Hill - LEGO builder @zaxbrix.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

This has been in the workshop stage for about a year now, finally making more progress. Still gotta hook it up to motors to validate it, but the last steering design didn't work. This time, I think it might. It uses direct steering instead of a rack, which is where it was sloppy previously. (2/2)

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