About this creation

Monochrome build: Build anything, any subject, BUT we only want one color used. Choose wisely. To be clear, ‘Dark’, ‘light’, ‘sand’ , ‘trans’ etc. versions of colors count as a single, separate color each. And before you ask… when we say one color we mean ONE COLOR. Not one color for the top layer of the moc and then rainbow colored for the understructure. ONE color. No Photoshop (or similar application) to adjust the color, ONE color used.
Team: Plastic Surgeons
Link to the MocAthalon here
This is a build of Socrates' allegory of the chariot. In Plato's Phaedrus Socrates in his second speech describes the human soul as being like a charitoteer who has to manage two horses, one unruly, wilful and passionate, the other obedient and orderly.
"First the charioteer of the human soul drives a pair, and secondly one of the horses is noble and of noble breed, but the other quite the opposite in breed and character. Therefore in our case the driving is necessarily difficult and troublesome."
Comments
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April 15, 2014 |
Of course you'd get this category. :P Great work, David! |
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March 31, 2014 |
Quoting Brody Allen
Classic DAS style but still impressive
I still find it strange to think of something as 'DAS style'. Thanks Brody. |
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March 31, 2014 |
Quoting Nick Barrett
Superb; it deserves it's fives.
Just shy of the 5 fives; I'll take a score of 24 though. |
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March 31, 2014 |
Quoting Marc dZ
You're at the top of your art!!
Thanks, once the contest is over I'm going back to the silhouettes. |
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I like it |
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March 25, 2014 |
Classic DAS style but still impressive |
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March 14, 2014 |
Superb; it deserves it's fives. |
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March 14, 2014 |
You're at the top of your art!! |
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March 12, 2014 |
Quoting David ~UberBricks
Awesome!
Thanks! |
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March 12, 2014 |
Awesome! |
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March 11, 2014 |
Quoting Jon Blackford
Your best yet I think! Apart from the well crafted silhouettes, the sense of movement is great. I think Socrates would have approved :)
Thanks Jon. Picked up some extra slopes which have me the ability to slightly scale up. |
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March 11, 2014 |
Your best yet I think! Apart from the well crafted silhouettes, the sense of movement is great. I think Socrates would have approved :) |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting David Roberts
Absolutely a classic. My favourite of all of your silhouettes, supplanting James Bond. I think that you've got the shape of the horses very well indeed and horses are tricky to get right. A really impressive build.
I've just raised my own bar again. |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Kevin J. Walter
Score = 5
Much appreciated! |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Finn tegotash
The horses are amazing!
Thanks Finn; they were quite tricky, the horses that is, to get right. |
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March 10, 2014 |
Absolutely a classic. My favourite of all of your silhouettes, supplanting James Bond. I think that you've got the shape of the horses very well indeed and horses are tricky to get right. A really impressive build. |
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March 10, 2014 |
The horses are amazing! |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Golden Knight
lovely job !>.....well done
Thanks! |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Greyson Beights
With a monochrome build, you can't get much better than this. Score: 5
It's all about the outlines and the love of sloped bricks. |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Chris Phipson
Score of 5 ~ Chris.
Thanks Chris, much appreciated. |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Mark McPeek
Absolutely Brilliant! You continue to amaze me!
And you now know how tricky these fellas can be. |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Stephen Boe
The silhouettes and shaping of the figurines look amazing!
Thanks Stephen. |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting silly productions
Great build but at first glance, the main picture looks like the two horses are having a bit too much fun if you cath my drift haha, excuse my immature humor. Anyways I love the 3D shot and that wheel looks fantastic, great work. -Silly
Noooo! I can't un-see that.
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Lando L. Jackson
This is spectacular! The build is very well done, and you made a very good choice of subject matter.
That's right Lando, trying to cover all bases. |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Justin Knelsen
Great build! Awesome to see a bit more of a 3D look to this style of build. A very strong score of 4.
I felt very strongly that I had to brick build the chariot wheel. |
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March 10, 2014 |
Quoting Marty Fields
Unique and very clever.
Thanks Marty. |
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Tom Amey March 9, 2014 |
Forget your best silhouette, this it MOCpages best silhouette! The contrast between the obedient horse and the rampant horse is fantastic and you did a great job with horses' postures. Horses are difficult to draw, let alone do with LEGO! Well done, and good luck! |
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Greyson Beights March 9, 2014 |
With a monochrome build, you can't get much better than this. Score: 5 |
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Golden Knight March 9, 2014 |
lovely job !>.....well done |
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March 9, 2014 |
Score of 5 ~ Chris. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Absolutely Brilliant! You continue to amaze me! |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
The silhouettes and shaping of the figurines look amazing! |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
Great build but at first glance, the main picture looks like the two horses are having a bit too much fun if you cath my drift haha, excuse my immature humor. Anyways I love the 3D shot and that wheel looks fantastic, great work. -Silly |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
This is spectacular! The build is very well done, and you made a very good choice of subject matter. |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
Great build! Awesome to see a bit more of a 3D look to this style of build. A very strong score of 4. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Unique and very clever. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Matthew Oh
Wow David Alexander Smith, I am stunned. This is amazing, I don't know where to start, you achieve so much detail with a flat, monotone build, and your negative space use is perfect! Score = 5!
This category was always going to be one I enjoyed. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Stephan N
as I have to your Moc's said this type: Art
Thanks. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Wow David Alexander Smith, I am stunned. This is amazing, I don't know where to start, you achieve so much detail with a flat, monotone build, and your negative space use is perfect! Score = 5! |
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March 9, 2014 |
as I have to your Moc's said this type: Art |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting cyberfrank 2010
very nicely shaped and sculpted!
Thanks Frank. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting JWG 258
Definitely a strong contest entry.
I'll keep my fingers crossed. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Topsy Creatori (StoveTopCreator!)
Of course, I am going to love this one… horses! But, it is the way you have designed them that is spot on! #1 Your steady horse is on the left(left brain logic), your excitable horse is on the right(right brain passion). #2 Now a fully engaged obedient (on the bit) dressage horse will have a rounded topline and an elevated, elegantly, curved neckline, but even a properly ridden dressage horse’s topline will sway with age. So, the topline of the steady horse conveys that he has learned his lessons/gained his wisdom thru life’s hard knocks. Most appropriate! #3 Now, the steady horse’s neck position connotes that he is indeed engaged on the bit, but preparing for that of a lengthened canter position… perhaps to run for his life? Interesting! #4 Now the heads of the horses are a tad different in shape. The excitable one has a head of the (and my favorite) English Thoroughbred. The steady one has a head of a Holsteiner or even a Lipizanner! Although different… all are NOBLE! I only hope that humans will someday obtain the nobility of the horse!!! #5 And finally, those Greeks… they studied everything! It was even a Greek, Xenophan, who wrote the first book on horsemanship that is still a must read for all true equestrians today! David, you have a real winner with this one, I hope the judges can truly appreciate it!!! :)
This is one of those builds that has been gestating for quite a while. I hoped a category in the MocAthalon would give me my chance to bring it into reality. You are right, I deliberately chose two types of horses; I don't have your equestrian know-how, but I looked at quite a few photos before I cast my two stars. Your analysis adds to the build, and made me think about some things I had done at the level of instinct in different ways. Thanks, and glad you liked it. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Alex Sonny
Really beautiful. You should take photos at low light and then edit them so the seams between bricks couldn't be seen :D
It's one of those dilemmas. I've used contrast settings to remove all brick seams in the past, but I've come round to the conclusion that people like to be remined that it's brick built and these little lines help with this. The two photos in the post are first to show how I think the piece should look, and the second to give people an idea how it was built. Thanks for the comment, and glad you like it. |
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March 9, 2014 |
very nicely shaped and sculpted! |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
Definitely a strong contest entry. |
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Of course, I am going to love this one… horses! But, it is the way you have designed them that is spot on! #1 Your steady horse is on the left(left brain logic), your excitable horse is on the right(right brain passion). #2 Now a fully engaged obedient (on the bit) dressage horse will have a rounded topline and an elevated, elegantly, curved neckline, but even a properly ridden dressage horse’s topline will sway with age. So, the topline of the steady horse conveys that he has learned his lessons/gained his wisdom thru life’s hard knocks. Most appropriate! #3 Now, the steady horse’s neck position connotes that he is indeed engaged on the bit, but preparing for that of a lengthened canter position… perhaps to run for his life? Interesting! #4 Now the heads of the horses are a tad different in shape. The excitable one has a head of the (and my favorite) English Thoroughbred. The steady one has a head of a Holsteiner or even a Lipizanner! Although different… all are NOBLE! I only hope that humans will someday obtain the nobility of the horse!!! #5 And finally, those Greeks… they studied everything! It was even a Greek, Xenophan, who wrote the first book on horsemanship that is still a must read for all true equestrians today! David, you have a real winner with this one, I hope the judges can truly appreciate it!!! :)
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March 9, 2014 |
Really beautiful. You should take photos at low light and then edit them so the seams between bricks couldn't be seen :D |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Graham Gidman
Fantastic work!
Most appreciated. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Joonmin .
Wow you are really good at this!
Thanks! |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting MCLegoboy !
Nice. I recently took a Greek and Roman History Course. I loved the philosophy stuff, things that just makes your brain go mad. A thought just occured to me. You tend to use a lot of black. If you have enough clean white, have you ever considered doing something with a black backround and use white bricks?
I actually teach philosophy and art theory, so this stuff is close to my heart. Most of my White is discoloured, which is a pain. Otherwise I think the idea is great.
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March 9, 2014 |
Fantastic work! |
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March 9, 2014 |
Nice. I recently took a Greek and Roman History Course. I loved the philosophy stuff, things that just makes your brain go mad. A thought just occured to me. You tend to use a lot of black. If you have enough clean white, have you ever considered doing something with a black backround and use white bricks? |
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March 9, 2014 |
Wow you are really good at this! |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Alex Rode
No one does it better! Such fantastic piece usage to portray the scene - great work!
I'm always amazed how versatile the set of slopes Lego supply can be.
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Tim C
Well, how perfect is that? David is REQUIRED to build a monochromatic MOC. Hahaha, I love it. Okay, to the build. I'm thinking this is my favorite of your silhouette work, or any of your artistic works, and may be my favorite of your entire body of work, (though "Luke and Vader," "Darth Maul," and "Black and White 'Batman at the Graveside'," give it a run for its money). There's so much expression in this work. You were able to bring life to the struggle of your subject with a simple freeze-framed gesticulation. The lean and the outstretched arm animate this beautifully. You can almost see a grimace on his featureless face. The horses are also done well. An unmistakable shape with an almost iconographical feel to it. How you are able to add so much feeling to a work while adding virtually nothing inside the outline will always be beyond me. Superb work, David, and good luck going forward in the MOCathalon.
Well if I was going to take on this category I had to push myself! Thanks as always for the kind thoughtful words.
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting El Barto !
I'm with Matt, the detail and the action portrayed is dramatic! Good luck with the judges!
Dramatic action, I like that. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Tom Amey
Forget your best silhouette, this it MOCpages best silhouette! The contrast between the obedient horse and the rampant horse is fantastic and you did a great job with horses' postures. Horses are difficult to draw, let alone do with LEGO! Well done, and good luck!
High praise indeed. Thank you very much. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting matt rowntRee
I'm speechless. Seriously one of, if not the, best silhouettes you've done. The neck extension on the noble horse is positively stunning in translating the idea of obedience. But I have to say that the rampant horse steals the show with fantastic motion and strength. I love the driver's strain. But the piece de resistance is of course your mastery of negative space. The illusion of the "second" color is proof that you completely understand, and are apparently writing the book on, monochrome builds. I'm with Clayton, they should name this category after you. Masterpiece!
Everything was about using subtle angles (hidden hinges and cheeses) to get that motion captured. Let's hope you don't have to eat your shoe even metaphorically.
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Cheryl P
Excellent build. I like how the wheels give this a little dimensionality. Black was a good color to use. You can't go wrong there. I'm a tan person.
I'm actually investing in some tan bricks - watch this space. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Daniel Calleri
This makes me want to separate the big pile into colors just so I can have a go at the shadow form! Very cool indeed!!
Go for it. The more 2D building the better. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting clayton Marchetti
Positively brilliant! I think this is my favorite after the Batman at the graveyard. What an awesome description of our struggle in life. I really love the way you made the rampant horse wild, and the other horse in perfect stride . I like how the charioteer is holding on for dear life! A truly inspiring piece! They should name this challenge after you .
Ha! Build a mic like DAS - one day, maybe. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Gerald F.
This is splendid! You've given this entry a great backstory to go with it as well. I bet that once you saw the monochrome category you immediately knew what to build. Hahha good luck! Keep On Brickin'!
The conceded pretty quickly to me taking on this category. ;) |
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March 9, 2014 |
No one does it better! Such fantastic piece usage to portray the scene - great work! |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
Well, how perfect is that? David is REQUIRED to build a monochromatic MOC. Hahaha, I love it. Okay, to the build. I'm thinking this is my favorite of your silhouette work, or any of your artistic works, and may be my favorite of your entire body of work, (though "Luke and Vader," "Darth Maul," and "Black and White 'Batman at the Graveside'," give it a run for its money). There's so much expression in this work. You were able to bring life to the struggle of your subject with a simple freeze-framed gesticulation. The lean and the outstretched arm animate this beautifully. You can almost see a grimace on his featureless face. The horses are also done well. An unmistakable shape with an almost iconographical feel to it. How you are able to add so much feeling to a work while adding virtually nothing inside the outline will always be beyond me. Superb work, David, and good luck going forward in the MOCathalon. |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
I'm with Matt, the detail and the action portrayed is dramatic! Good luck with the judges! |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
I'm speechless. Seriously one of, if not the, best silhouettes you've done. The neck extension on the noble horse is positively stunning in translating the idea of obedience. But I have to say that the rampant horse steals the show with fantastic motion and strength. I love the driver's strain. But the piece de resistance is of course your mastery of negative space. The illusion of the "second" color is proof that you completely understand, and are apparently writing the book on, monochrome builds. I'm with Clayton, they should name this category after you. Masterpiece! |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
Excellent build. I like how the wheels give this a little dimensionality. Black was a good color to use. You can't go wrong there. I'm a tan person. |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
This makes me want to separate the big pile into colors just so I can have a go at the shadow form! Very cool indeed!! |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
Positively brilliant! I think this is my favorite after the Batman at the graveyard. What an awesome description of our struggle in life. I really love the way you made the rampant horse wild, and the other horse in perfect stride . I like how the charioteer is holding on for dear life! A truly inspiring piece! They should name this challenge after you . |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
This is splendid! You've given this entry a great backstory to go with it as well. I bet that once you saw the monochrome category you immediately knew what to build. Hahha good luck! Keep On Brickin'! |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting MortalSwordsman .
Wow David you have excelled yourself this time. Stunning
Thanks! Not too shabby is it. |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting Abby Francis
Ahhh! David! Its amazing! You are a fantastic builder!
Thanks Abby! How's the uploader problem your end? |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
Wow David you have excelled yourself this time. Stunning |
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Ahhh! David! Its amazing! You are a fantastic builder! |
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March 9, 2014 |
Quoting sam the first
Your best silhouette yet...stunning...
THanks Sam, I'm really pleased with this too. Knew it was a good idea to get that extra haul of black slopes from Bricklink. |
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I like it |
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March 9, 2014 |
Your best silhouette yet...stunning... |
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More from David Alexander More across MOCpages
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