Orange-Cola Trip Dress

Finally, the third of the three character I built for my parts review of two formula 1 helmet sets on New Elementary. Initially, I was building only two. Then I found out that most of the orange parts from one set had a mirrored pair from the other one; this made them a lot more useful for MOCs. Furthermore, I rather liked the 2x3 curved slopes with digital numbers pattern. So I devised this dress rather quickly in middle of the process for the other two, and finished it with arms, legs and head after making the other two.

The concept here was more reserved and conservative, even slightly Victorian; something fitting for a governess but with fashionable orange fabrics. There is even a shoulder cape that slightly resembers that of Sherlock Holmes - but, due to the nature of those quarter domes used, they're open at the back and this slightly unsatisfying. The dress is symmetrical and closed; this fits the aspired vibe but led to certain... difficulties in design. Somehow I feel that time has driven past designs like this, using those windscreen wedges as skirt sides; they limit the movement of the legs too much, making the model difficult to pose for photographs. It lacks certain life in it.

Well, every MOC won't be an exciting success, and that's ok. This was going to have dark red stocking at first, but they were too dark with the black and orange. I changed them into white - and it's cool that neat curved slopes are that common that I was able to do so without any difficulties. I used white on the sleeves, too, making a pair of puffed sleeves tied at the wrist. I'm also happy with the dark brown hair with a big bun on top. They don't seem to make many new dark brown pieces any more, and this uses rather usual slopes and curves slopes; but sometimes simple is enough. Finally, white hair ornament on top and black and orange shoes on the bottom balance the colour scheme.

The name refers to classic Finnish pillimehu (juice box, carton, popper). It was truly mind-blowing for a kid to get both cola AND orange in the same box. The colour scheme was orange and black, of course. 

- Eero. 

Sapphire Sky Dress

This is the second of the three figures I built as a part of my parts review of two formula 1 helmet sets on New Elementary. Dark Azure was easier to work with than neon yellow, as I had pretty good collection it already. Furthermore, I had built those legs beforehand, after getting to know that I'll get the sets for MOCs but before actually receiving them. I wanted to go for full glamour look with high heel shoes with metallic shine and full lower-leg lacing (straps?). They use silver cord pieces from Ideas Fender Statocaster that I reviewed for New E some years ago. I'm happy that enough medium nougat pieces exist to make full legs; there are actually older than the legs of Aria character in Aria & Synth.

I went with a short dress to have emphasis on the legs, white trying to keep the garment purely medium azure with dark blue highlights. It worked quite well. I consolidated the large printed pieces on the hem. I'm particularly happy how the big quarter dome piece hugs the left leg. It's a tricky piece to use, but this stays well on its place. The dome is connected to the upper leg, which enables some movement, as demonstrated on the pictures below.

 The hair is, again, playful. It uses the sausage trick that I used in a similar way on After the Gala; this time, I parted the bangs symmetrically. There's a bit of Japanese idol aesthetic here, complemented with a partly visible hairband, big shiny earrings (balancing the shoes) and a big bow that utilises the singular 4x4 macaroni slope in the helmet set. Finally, I gave the figure gloves, as medium nougat handlebar plates are still limited to E.T.; and a little handbag, exhanging the aesthetics from the Sweet Sulphur Dress. I really like the bag.

-Eero. 

Sweet Sulphur Dress

 I built three figures as a part of my parts review of two formula 1 helmet sets on New Elementary, and this is the first of them. As usual with New Elementary MOCs, I've already written a text on the model there, so I'll keep this post relatively short, focusing on the aspects I touched on New E - mostly concerning the new parts and their usage.

 This began, of course, with the neon yellow printed pieces. The squiggle prints are wonderful, and wonderfully free of sponsoring brands. When it comed to vibrancy, neon yellow is difficult to beat: and I like strong colours in my MOCs. Furthermore, my camera cell doesn't seem to dislike neon yellow as it dislikes vibrant coral, so the MOCs look good on photos, too.

With the new colour, I had only a limited array to work with, and I focused on the largest pieces with the most flowing shapes and uninterrupted print patterns. The large quarter dome panel formed the top of the dress, whereas the three curved panels formed the bottom part. This was the design thorough the process. All the other things changed. Most importantly, I added dark purple as a more toned-down complimentary colour. It's a more tight-fit part of the dress, overlayed by the loose-fit neon yellow ones. Initially, I just had the neon yellow parts with some black against the reddish brown skin, but that didn't work; it was supposed to look bold and dramatic, but it didn't. It lacked elegance and looked something like Tarzan. The dark purple piece made it a lot more streetwise, in a way - more real, too.

Neon yellow is a strong element, so I balanced it with a streak of neon yellow socks visible above the boots. Generally, these heavy boots felt fitting with streetwise or punk aspects of the dress, also contrasting with the more dainty shoes of the other figures in the article (soon posted here, too). The hair is based on a skeleton arm hoop I've had around for years. I always knew it was going to be a coiffure, and I let it take its time to find a perfect figure. I'm very happy how it works with the bangs. The bag refers to the other helmet, helping to make the trio of figures a more coherent whole. 

 - Eero.

Vembu Batch 2

I posted my first batch of Vembu models in August. Getting into this second one took more time than I expected - writing at work all day takes the juices to do such thing in free time. Anyway, here's three more models.

Hyttyrex's Car

 I built this as general drone mech for the Nazorak empire. It turned out as such in the text, too, although the name managed to get me alert. I believe it was supposed to. I'm quite happy how this turned out, especially as its aesthetics are not something that would come naturally from me. The legs utilise some Botanicals piece I have in bulk, and in the windscreen I finally managed to use the trans-bright green maxironi tubes. The hockey sticks are supposed to be wings. The upper part of this can be removed easily, working as a fast, flying drone.

The Modemobile

 The Platonic Idea of a Vembu: A silly car with a Kanohi mask strapped in front. However, being so aerodynamic, the great Mahiki is made for such use. (Masterful Vince Toulouse used it that way already 13 years ago.) It also enabled me to use the cool dark green -printed cockpit from the Indiana Jones flying wing. As wheels, I used ones with the most impractical thin tyres to capture the streetwise tuning vibes.

Moporak V6

I intended this as a motorcycle for Gaggulabio's Flamers (Gaggulabio's own walger appeared in the previous batch). Instead, it turned out to be Bladis's personal bike. Just as well. I wanted this to be mostly credible, with a silly contrast between the huge balloon back tyre and the very thin front wheel - a real extreme chopper. The fuel tanks and the engine are visible, the saddle has a fashionable marbled effect. The cow horn handlebars are a souvenir from the Old Country, that is Zakazian prairies; and the Lava Monster flame mane pieces are natural motorbike ornaments. The bohrok shell and the skakdi skull bring the required Bionicle aspect to it. Is it weird that a skakdi would have a skakdi skull on the bike? Then again, real-world biker gangs probably use human skull ornaments, so why not.

- Eero.