"Feel the power of the Dark Side"

To go with the Star Wars theme of my games room a.k.a. The Gentlemen's Quarters, I bought a Lego Darth Vader clock, about 9" high.  Placed on the windowsill, I think the hot weather must have got to him as the alarm became permanently set on, regardless of the switch position on the back.  So I thought I'd take him apart and fix the switch.

Then I realised I could complete him.  Presumably Lego didn't include the cloak so that the alarm and time set buttons on his back were easily accessible (the light and snooze function are operated by pressing down on his helmet).  But it didn't look right.

The Darth Vader figure from the Death Star provided the template and scaling for the alarm clock.

I lengthened the cloak a little as the Lego version wasn't as long as the one in the films, and cut it out of some spare black fabric.  The thin fabric even flaps in the breeze coming in through the window.  The alarm switch is now fixed as well.  An easy and effective mod.  May the Force be with you.

Of course, now I'm thinking about making him a lightsaber...

Ghostbusters Ecto-1

This is my first day not at work for the Christmas holidays so I settled down this afternoon with my present from Kieron and David - the Lego model of the Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance from Ghostbusters aka ECTO-1.

First thing to do was to get a suitable movie playing in the background...

Six packets of Lego plus the instructions book...

...makes a big pile of Lego:

Sorted into colours (I know this looks OCD but even the instruction booklet recommends this!):

And the Ghostbusters themselves were put together just as the ECTO-1 first appeared on screen (well, the first time sprayed up in the right livery).

The chassis:

Starting to look a bit more recognisable:

Marshmallow Man toasted!  Just the (very detailed) roof to complete:

Finally finished.  Ingenious kit, great fun to put together, and a real nostalgia trip.  Thanks chaps!