We're back and starting 2018 with a new round of 10K Club Interviews for projects that are currently in review.
This week's 10K Club member, Arne Jahnke a.k.a. Rainer Zufall, has his wife to thank for the motivation and inspiration to build his successful project Gilmore Girls - Luke's Diner, which gained 10,000 supporters in just 3 weeks.
Help us congratulate Arne on joining the exclusive LEGO Ideas 10K Club and for sharing his story with us!
About Yourself
- Where are you from?
I'm from a small town in northern Germany, quite near to Denmark.
- How old are you?
I'm 36 years old.
- What do you study or do for a living?
I work as an engineer for the PTI in Germany.
- What hobbies do you have?
Old cars (especially my Ford Taunus), photography, medieval and viking stuff and – of course – LEGO.
- How and when did your interest for LEGO come about?
Of course, I played with LEGO bricks when I was a child. At one point, I thought I was too old for LEGO, but fortunately I never let go of it completely. Now and again I took a look at the LEGO section in stores to check out what was new. Then in 2011 my son was born and as I took a further look at the LEGO shelves later that year I saw the LEGO Black Pearl. A few days later I decided that there would never be a pirate ship with black sales again and I had to buy it in order to hand it to my son when he was old enough. The ship was my excuse to buy and play with LEGO sets again and it was only the beginning.
- What is your favourite official LEGO set? Why?
I'm not sure at all, since there are so many great sets. I like the great King's Castle 6080 very much, because it is the most important set of my childhood.
- What is your favourite LEGO element? Why?
I don't know if I have one favourite element, but for example I like the mechanical arm 98313/53989. There are other elements I use much more but this is one of the elements that make slim and interesting natural or mechanical constructions possible to build.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO related websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
Bricklink.comNot just for ordering bricks, but also to identify bricks and sets and to check which bricks in which colours are available while working with LDD.
About Your Project
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
It's quite simple. We were on vacation in Denmark and since I wasn't able to take ton of bricks with me, I only took the laptop with LDD (LEGO Digital Designer) and therefor I was able to “work” while sitting on the couch next to my wife. As I began working on another project, which actually should become my first one submitted to LEGO Ideas, my wife, who is a big fan of the TV show Gilmore Girls, asked me, if I would be able to build Luke's Diner as well. And since it was our time we were spending together, it was a nice idea to build something that was not just fun for me but for my wife as well.
- What special challenges did you face creating the model? What was the most difficult part to recreate?
I think it was the big sand blue cupboard behind the counter. I had to build it several times to get the cups looking natural standing in it and to fill all the tiny holes around it which appeared as a result of the “snotting” behind the scenes ;)
- How long did it take to complete the model?
It took just around a week or 10 days to build the project in LDD. As I was on vacation I was able to build and puzzle a lot on night shift. It was like taking my time for the family at day and playing LEGO at night ;)Rendering the images for LEGO Ideas took nearly as long, since I never done this before.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
The project gained the 10000 supporters in three weeks. It was amazing. What happened a few days after I submitted the project, was as impressive as the fact itself that the project reached the 10000 votes. I never thought this could happen. You wouldn't believe how much time I spent in front of the computer just searching which blog or online magazine wrote the next article about the project. It was really exciting.
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
1100.
About LEGO Ideas
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas project?
Of course, the project should have something that makes it more interesting than other projects, but I think even the best project could have difficulties getting supporters if it’s not presented it the right way. So, take high quality pictures or let the rendering of one image take an entire day. Also choose the right picture for the overview, as it must make the visitor click on your project.
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas project (besides your own of course)?
For the moment, it is the "Belisarius" Skeleton Pirate Ghost Ship, because I'm sure my son would have so much fun with it, and for me it would be a great set to present in our living room. So folks, make sure to visit the profile of member Delusion Keeper, take a look at this amazing pirate ship and – of course – support it ;)
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
It is the possibility of submitting my own LEGO creation to this platform which may lead to what I think is one of the greatest awards a LEGO fan could imagine – LEGO producing my idea.Tips? Just give it a try! :)
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By
hasanjensen