My entry for CCC4 - Black Samurai

NickGreat · Post by **NickGreat** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:08 am

Hi to everybody. I'm really ashamed to say thatI haven't been here since last year (with 1 miserable post) but I'll be coming here more oft now.

First let me (re)introduce myself proper; I'm more of a collector of minifigs, but I do very much enjoy customizing them. I am not adverse to cutting, glueing Lego, so I am definitely not your purist (thanks to Kaminoan and Redbean no doubt).
Some of you may know me from MCN by the same name (Hi guys!).
I'm not fantastic at building original Castles and stuff, but I do enjoy the new KK sets (and especially the figs). Heck, I bought a couple of the KK2 Chess sets just for keeps!
What I truly love, are the ninja themed subsets of Castle, that were released, many years back.
Me, I have loads of ninjas and samurai tucked away, but not too many of the sets itself.

Without much ado, here is my entry/contribution for the CCC4. The Black Samurai!

Image changed to thumbnail by moderator. Do not post images larger than 400x300 pixels in the forums. Thanks.

Gallery folder http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=217161

My inspiration draws from the ancient times (and even now) where some asian cultures tattoo their backs with verses of strength, believing that it gives them power, faith or respect.

His glaive-like weapon is made by using a modded 1x4 tile, a scimitar hilt and a (lightsaber) rod.
The sword holder on his back is made in the same way as my Red Samurai.
And the GreenGoblin faceplate, glued to the the round hat.
Also used for contrasting effect (or at least I hope so), are the awesome vambraces from MCN Store.

Many thanks to Kaminoan for helping me out with the printing of decals.

Cyclonis · Post by **Cyclonis** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:24 am

Well, this definately has my vote!

This is an awesome custom, up there with the other two (red and white...and maybe more.) and this would have to be the best. Theres something about him that is...creepy. Hehe you must have heaps of those goblin masks, it's a great choice for them. Anyway, I'm really bad at wording things, so I'll just say that it's truly awesome!

-Cyclonis

NickGreat · Post by **NickGreat** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:40 am

Thanks Cyclonis. I'll hold on to that vote first if I were you (though), not withstanding the current great entries, I'm sure more fantastic ones will surface before the end!

It does look creepy even to me; gave me a spate of bad luck while building it. Hopefully, my next one will be cheerier.

Fry_slayer · Post by **Fry_slayer** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:10 am

The Samurai master returns!

Hmm... i might as well enter a fig or two, seeing that u literally own the catagory now

NickGreat · Post by **NickGreat** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:36 am

What?! You're entering too?!! That'll effectively kill all my chances of ever winning!
Heh just kidding; I love seeing your works! Now I'M excited!

supernova · Post by **supernova** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:20 am

I must say, this is a very fantastic custom!

While I'm quite purist, I do enjoy seeing customs and this is on the top of my list

I'm waiting for the gallery to be public so that I can see other pics!
All the best for the contest!!

Blasterman · Post by **Blasterman** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:31 pm

Very impressive, as I've come to expect from you Nick.

The Panther · Post by **The Panther** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:44 pm

Very nice. You'll probably win with this big hunk o' greatness, but I might enter anyway.

lil Jon · Post by **lil Jon** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:32 pm

I'd respect that guy. That's some nice work. I had a hard time telling if the pictures were in black and white.

wunztwice · Post by **wunztwice** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:44 pm

So very stiff competition here. Youve done an excellent job with this guy. Everything is very clean and I can't spot anything I don't like. The piece usage is great. I wish you well in the contest!

smcginnis · Post by **smcginnis** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:07 pm

Very nice samurai, Nick. I especially like the weapon, and the characters on the barding, and the flag, and the armor, and the mask/hat, and the silver horse helmet.... Oh, that's everything. Great job

~smcginnis

P.S. I also really like your other two samurai.

stuifzand · Post by **stuifzand** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:11 pm

I'm a purist, but I saw this on brickshelf and I'm truly amazed.

It looks fantastic, it's a piece of art!

Azaghal · Post by **Azaghal** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:11 pm

Wow. I mean . . . Wow.

And I thought the "Red Samurai" was good - this takes it to a whole new level.

I'm still puzzling over how you did the weapon from the 1x4 - did you bend it somehow, or cut it into that shape?

Either way, great job!

Recluce · Post by **Recluce** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:58 pm

Great job Nick! I love that weapon, that's unique! The characters in silver are very striking with the black. I think the only thing I don't like is that the barding and horse helm are not really modded other than paint. I'd like to see you take those to another level and work on some shaping or something with them. Same thing with the torso armor... very plain, and actually hard to see in that picture. Some accents with silver (Rub 'n Buff would have been good) would have created some depth there.

Shurtugal · Post by **Shurtugal** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:36 pm

WOW!!!

That is just an all-round eye-pleaser!

well, the one thing that bugs me is that the characters on the barding are so perfectly in line, it just doesn't wuite give the whole farbric effect.

P.S. I love how there's writing on his weapon.

P.P.S. I love the weapon.

P.P.P.S. It's mindblowing how you've found ways to use the Green Goblin mask. It's definately your signature style. whenever I see a see a Ninja/Samurai with a Green Goblin mask (hehe I know there's only 3 so far) I think NickGreat. Simply awesome.