A drawer full of heads and 30 million bricks: inside the secret warehouse where Lego masterpieces are built
Sitting at tables around the warehouse or standing around models are the Lego builders painstakingly placing bricks, after consulting computer models that show the 'rough shape' of where the bricks go.
One group of six are working side by side on a giant model of a beanie, which they are creating for a motor neurone disease charity event. Another Lego builder is working on a model of a dinosaur destined for a Lego store in New Delhi in India.
No photographs are allowed that include any of the Lego builds under construction because of strict confidentiality agreements.
Overhead cameras film each Lego build on time-lapse, with the footage to be released once the build is finished, and small exhaust pipes hang from each work station to extract the fumes from all the glue.
While building Lego might be literally child's play, McNaught and his team take it very seriously.
'Everybody knows how to put two Lego bricks together, that's an easy thing to do,' he says. 'We teach a certain method and style of Lego building.'
McNaught says Lego is not designed to be made into giant structures, so there is a lot of skill and technique in the 'artistry of Lego' which needs to be taught.
He uses a method called 'north, south, east, west', which means that you alternate direction when building layers of bricks, which helps with strength and stability.
'There's also a technique we use called SNOT, which stands for studs not on top. We turn bricks in different directions, which give us shearing strength,' he says. 'There's a whole heap of things like that. On average, it takes a person about two years before they're proficient in those techniques. Call it an apprenticeship, if you will.'
The Lego builders work at adjustable tables to protect their backs, and McNaught says the main occupational hazard is calluses from the hard plastic blocks.
'We have really good calluses on our fingers,' he says. 'If you look at anyone who's a builder, you can see exactly whether they're left-handed or right-handed or both-handed, because of the calluses.'
McNaught is one of only 21 certified Lego professionals in the world, which gives him permission to use the Lego brand and to contract to Lego.
But this title does not give McNaught any discount on the crates of Lego he purchases.
'We wish,' he laughs. 'We pay a fortune for Lego. We're the No.2 or 3 consumer of Lego in the world.'
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McNaught estimates he has 30 million Lego bricks in his warehouse, with the Star Wars Lego exhibition alone using more than 8 million bricks and taking McNaught and his team more than 25,000 hours to build.
The exhibition opened on Star Wars Day, May 4, and runs until the end of January; 35,627 tickets have already been sold.
Tim Rolfe, director of exhibitions and experiences at Museums Victoria, said the exhibition was on track to be a bestseller.
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Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
A drawer full of heads and 30 million bricks: inside the secret warehouse where Lego masterpieces are built
Sitting at tables around the warehouse or standing around models are the Lego builders painstakingly placing bricks, after consulting computer models that show the 'rough shape' of where the bricks go. One group of six are working side by side on a giant model of a beanie, which they are creating for a motor neurone disease charity event. Another Lego builder is working on a model of a dinosaur destined for a Lego store in New Delhi in India. No photographs are allowed that include any of the Lego builds under construction because of strict confidentiality agreements. Overhead cameras film each Lego build on time-lapse, with the footage to be released once the build is finished, and small exhaust pipes hang from each work station to extract the fumes from all the glue. While building Lego might be literally child's play, McNaught and his team take it very seriously. 'Everybody knows how to put two Lego bricks together, that's an easy thing to do,' he says. 'We teach a certain method and style of Lego building.' McNaught says Lego is not designed to be made into giant structures, so there is a lot of skill and technique in the 'artistry of Lego' which needs to be taught. He uses a method called 'north, south, east, west', which means that you alternate direction when building layers of bricks, which helps with strength and stability. 'There's also a technique we use called SNOT, which stands for studs not on top. We turn bricks in different directions, which give us shearing strength,' he says. 'There's a whole heap of things like that. On average, it takes a person about two years before they're proficient in those techniques. Call it an apprenticeship, if you will.' The Lego builders work at adjustable tables to protect their backs, and McNaught says the main occupational hazard is calluses from the hard plastic blocks. 'We have really good calluses on our fingers,' he says. 'If you look at anyone who's a builder, you can see exactly whether they're left-handed or right-handed or both-handed, because of the calluses.' McNaught is one of only 21 certified Lego professionals in the world, which gives him permission to use the Lego brand and to contract to Lego. But this title does not give McNaught any discount on the crates of Lego he purchases. 'We wish,' he laughs. 'We pay a fortune for Lego. We're the No.2 or 3 consumer of Lego in the world.' Loading McNaught estimates he has 30 million Lego bricks in his warehouse, with the Star Wars Lego exhibition alone using more than 8 million bricks and taking McNaught and his team more than 25,000 hours to build. The exhibition opened on Star Wars Day, May 4, and runs until the end of January; 35,627 tickets have already been sold. Tim Rolfe, director of exhibitions and experiences at Museums Victoria, said the exhibition was on track to be a bestseller.
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
A drawer full of heads and 30 million bricks: inside the secret warehouse where Lego masterpieces are built
Sitting at tables around the warehouse or standing around models are the Lego builders painstakingly placing bricks, after consulting computer models that show the 'rough shape' of where the bricks go. One group of six are working side by side on a giant model of a beanie, which they are creating for a motor neurone disease charity event. Another Lego builder is working on a model of a dinosaur destined for a Lego store in New Delhi in India. No photographs are allowed that include any of the Lego builds under construction because of strict confidentiality agreements. Overhead cameras film each Lego build on time-lapse, with the footage to be released once the build is finished, and small exhaust pipes hang from each work station to extract the fumes from all the glue. While building Lego might be literally child's play, McNaught and his team take it very seriously. 'Everybody knows how to put two Lego bricks together, that's an easy thing to do,' he says. 'We teach a certain method and style of Lego building.' McNaught says Lego is not designed to be made into giant structures, so there is a lot of skill and technique in the 'artistry of Lego' which needs to be taught. He uses a method called 'north, south, east, west', which means that you alternate direction when building layers of bricks, which helps with strength and stability. 'There's also a technique we use called SNOT, which stands for studs not on top. We turn bricks in different directions, which give us shearing strength,' he says. 'There's a whole heap of things like that. On average, it takes a person about two years before they're proficient in those techniques. Call it an apprenticeship, if you will.' The Lego builders work at adjustable tables to protect their backs, and McNaught says the main occupational hazard is calluses from the hard plastic blocks. 'We have really good calluses on our fingers,' he says. 'If you look at anyone who's a builder, you can see exactly whether they're left-handed or right-handed or both-handed, because of the calluses.' McNaught is one of only 21 certified Lego professionals in the world, which gives him permission to use the Lego brand and to contract to Lego. But this title does not give McNaught any discount on the crates of Lego he purchases. 'We wish,' he laughs. 'We pay a fortune for Lego. We're the No.2 or 3 consumer of Lego in the world.' Loading McNaught estimates he has 30 million Lego bricks in his warehouse, with the Star Wars Lego exhibition alone using more than 8 million bricks and taking McNaught and his team more than 25,000 hours to build. The exhibition opened on Star Wars Day, May 4, and runs until the end of January; 35,627 tickets have already been sold. Tim Rolfe, director of exhibitions and experiences at Museums Victoria, said the exhibition was on track to be a bestseller.
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
Victoria pockets another $1 billion from the TAC
The Transport Accident Commission will deliver Victoria another billion-dollar windfall this year, an $800 million improvement on forecasts in last year's budget. The Allan government insists the TAC remains financially sustainable as it receives its second dividend above $1 billion in as many years and forecasts a similar payment in 2029. But the opposition has criticised the move as it lowers the commission's insurance funding ratio, from well above its target to the middle of the range. State budget papers show that in the 2024-25 financial year, the state government will receive a $1.13 billion dividend from the Transport Accident Commission, up from forecasts of $300 million in the last budget. Loading It is the second billion-dollar payment to come from the TAC in as many years after then-treasurer Tim Pallas requested a $1.08 billion dividend in 2023-24 which was approved. The treasurer has the power to request a dividend or 'capital repayment' from the insurer, after consultation with the organisation and TAC minister. The most recent dividend means the Victorian government has now received $2.87 billion from the TAC since 2019, including capital repayments of $255 million in that year and $400 million in 2022. The budget is also forecasting another $1.15 billion dividend in 2028-29, revising previous estimates that would have delivered yearly contributions in the hundreds of millions.
