How This Guy Builds Amazing Lego Models | WIRED
WIRED・13 minutes read
PJ Catalano, a master model builder at Legoland California Resort, emphasizes the importance of physically building Lego models and the meticulous planning that goes into each project, including sorting bricks by color and type. Legoland's diverse nature caters to both mathematicians and artists, with staff wearing steel-toed boots to avoid stepping on stray Lego pieces and utilizing special tools like stud and plate counters for precise construction.
Insights
- Legoland model builders meticulously plan and construct models by sorting bricks by color and type, utilizing structural techniques like north-south-east-west for durability, and incorporating movement and animation features into their creations.
- Prospective Legoland master model builders undergo a rigorous assessment process, showcasing their speed and skill in Lego construction by creating complex models like a three-dimensional apple, highlighting the blend of mathematical precision and artistic creativity required for the role.
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Recent questions
How long has PJ Catalano been working at Legoland California Resort?
Eight years
What kind of footwear do staff at Legoland wear to avoid stepping on Lego pieces?
Steel-toed boots
How do the Legoland team prepare for a project before building a Lego model?
Determine size, footprint, and sort necessary bricks
What structural technique is used to reinforce Lego models at Legoland?
North-south-east-west
What is the process for becoming a Legoland master model builder?
Competitive assessment building models like a three-dimensional apple
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Summary
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"Master Model Builder at Legoland California"
- PJ Catalano, a master model builder at Legoland California Resort, has been working there for eight years and loves physically building Lego.
- Staff at Legoland wear steel-toed boots to avoid stepping on Lego pieces, and the park's diverse nature appeals to both mathematical and artistic individuals.
- When starting a project, the team determines the size and footprint of the model before prepping with the necessary bricks, which are sorted by color and piece type.
- Lego offers a wide range of colors and elements, with each piece having specific characteristics like studs and plates.
- Building Lego models involves understanding basic concepts like the equivalence of three plates to one brick and four plates to two studs, leading to more complex structures like snotted letters.
- Lego models are reinforced using a structural technique called north-south-east-west to ensure strength and durability, with every brick meticulously placed for optimal support.
- Legoland's toolkit includes hands, a rubber mallet for securing pieces, Lego pliers for easy removal, and homemade tools like stud and plate counters for precise construction.
- Models at Legoland can incorporate movement, lighting, and animation, with an animation team dedicated to enhancing the models' interactive features.
- Becoming a Legoland master model builder involves a competitive assessment where candidates build models like a three-dimensional apple, showcasing their skills and speed in Lego construction.
