Project Beetle: Phase Two

Phase two has been deployed and executed - Project Beetle is really taking shape now. There's only three phase's to this build so it won't be long until it's complete. Here's some images...And text, there's always text on my blogs.

Firstly, I've been having a great time which is the main reason for buying this Lego set in the first place - There's something relaxing about following the instructions, locating the pieces, the excitement of a sub-assembly coming together nicely and actually fitting into the model. Also that noise Lego blocks make as you're rifling through them looking for a particular part...So pleasing. I had Halestorm playing in the background during phase two, music that isn't probably so relaxing, but it was a good #lego-shesh nonetheless.

I was recently honoured to have steem's Lego expert @brickmanbrad resteem my last Lego post. To be honest I think there's quite a few brickheads on steem but it's been good to connect with brickmanbrad - Hopefully a few others come out of the woodwork. You should check out brickman's blog if you're interested. He runs a competition now and then and is a great advocate for Lego on the blockchain. I look forward to joining the fraternity if I am deemed worthy - I wonder if there's an initiation?

So far my build has gone well with only one missing part identified in the two build-evolutions I've completed. The part was not critical to the build, just a locking/strengthening part that is deep within the front chassis-section, and will not be seen, nor will it effect the build-quality at all. I was surprised to find that part missing to be honest as I know the factory has put some very inventive QA (quality assurance) practices in play to guard against missing parts. Still, it was missing and I'll be contacting Lego and seeking the replacement part.

With my build coming to an end I have started to consider what I will do with it. Below are the options I'm considering.

• Give it away to someone on steem by way of some sort of competition
• Sell it locally, proceeds which will go towards buying the thing I'll build next
• Give it to @tarazkp for @smallsteps and him to build someday
• Give it to my other brother (in Australia) for his son for the same reason
• Keep it and suffer through Faith's complaints about our house filling up with Lego
• Keep it as parts building up a collection of Lego blocks for my future freestyle efforts

I've done a give-away once before on Steem - I sent five people around the world some Australian products including Vegemite. It cost me a lot, $250 in postage plus the purchase of the stuff so just over $300. I enjoyed the process and I think those that received it appreciated the gesture. I'd really like to give this Lego to some worthy recipient although i's unlikely I'll do that due to the cost - Well, maybe I will but only for those who engage with me regularly and if I was to send this Lego set postage would be at the recipients' expense, We'll see how it goes.

My plan, when the set is complete, is to break it back up into its individual parts and pack it in a format that makes it reasonably easy to re-assemble. My thought was to group the parts by colour and pack them in little ziploc-bags. That way it would be easy for the next person to identify where to look for the parts as the instructions are all in colour. I'm not sure though, there may be a better way; I'll put my Lego-brain into gear and see what I can come up with.

I'm still in the construction phase though so I can delay that decision for a little while yet.

Anyway, here's the pictures of Phase Two of the build. The first and last image are what it looks like right now and the intervening images were taken throughout the build. When complete I'll take some better pictures and demonstrate the model's featires which includes moving parts and loads of great detail!

**Oh, as it turns out, yesterday I purchased my next set...It wasn't the Kombi van I was going to get...I'll do a post on it when the box arrives...It's cool! Way cool! Something typically me. You'll see.

Thanks for following along if you have been doing so.

P.s. There's a special prize for the person who guesses and comments with what set I bought for my next build - You have until about mid-week next week.

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Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default

Discord: @galenkp#9209 🇦🇺