Exciting news, we have a new guest reporter for you all to meet! Griffin is 13 years old and has such a way with words that we just had to send him on assignment to the Brickman Experience at the Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre. Griffin is a massive LEGO® fan so we knew he would have an amazing time!

BRICKMAN EXPERIENCE – AN INTERACTIVE SPECTACULAR IN LEGO® BRICKS 

Written By Griffin

What a day I had! It was easy to find the secure parking, and at $10 for the entire day, that seemed like a bargain. When I first entered the Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre, I could faintly hear “Everything Is Awesome”, from The LEGO® Movie in the distance.

The Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre is a huge place, but it’s well signed, with lifts and stairs to cater for everyone. I was exited to meet our guide for the day, Ryan McNaught, who is one of only 14 LEGO® Certified Professional’s in the world (and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere). Ryan created all the models featured in the exhibition using more than 5 million LEGO® bricks.

As soon as I walked in, I saw a very large colourful mosaic of the Sydney Opera House (created by 1×1 pieces on a MASSIVE board), to the left of me was enormous brightly coloured model of a flower, a replica of the Roman Colosseum, a Ferrari, many portraits of the Bond film actors done in a mosaic style (look for the imposter), and the Sydney Opera House. There are oversize replicas of Emmet and Wyldstyle from the LEGO® Movie, where you can sit and have your photo taken with them, and so much more!

In the next room, a large model of the fire and rescue helicopter called, ‘Elvis’. Ryan explained that the first time ‘Elvis’ was being shown to the public, several children broke into the closed shopping centre at night, and pushed the model off the table on which it sat! SO MUCH DESTRUCTION! But thankfully it has been fully rebuilt and is currently on display at the Brickman Experience.

There were also models of a Space Shuttle, and an X-Wing fighter from Star Wars, as well as quite a few other models in this room. I won’t tell you all of them, you must go see it for yourself.

There was also the opportunity to build in the Mosaic Masterpiece Zone, and there is a Master Builders Training area for those who get inspired by what they see around them.

Ryan was a very nice guy. I asked him a few questions, and this is what he had to say:

How’d you get the job? Sheer Luck. LEGO® knew I had worked on the programming for the LEGO® Mindstorms robots for a while, and then they gave me the opportunity to build these awesome creations.

What inspires you to make the models? Everything, really! I can’t afford a Ferrari, so I built a model of one. I went to the Coliseum in Rome, so I was inspired to build one, and I really love Pirate Films like Pirates of the Caribbean, so that’s what inspired me to build the Pirate Ship.

What could others do to become a LEGO® sculpture maker? Make sure you are good at Maths. It’s all about Trigonometry, Algebra and Symmetry. There is LOTS of Maths involved in the designs!

GRIFFIN’S TOP TIP

Be on the look-out for all of the hidden Minifigs in Green Spacesuits (Bennies), once you have counted them all and tell them what your favourite model was why, you will be in with a chance to win a Space Lego prize pack. Go to www.bit.ly/greenspacemen to enter!

There is also a popup shop that sells LEGO® kits, LEGO® Mindstorms robot kits, and Brickman Experience merchandise (t-shirts, hats, stickers etc). I give my t-shirt two thumbs up!

When you get hungry or thirsty there is a Combi Café for you to get refreshments and a light meal (you can get a stamp to return to the Brickman Experience if you wish).

All in all, the Brickman Experience was excellent fun! It is a must do for all LEGO® fans these school holidays!

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