WHaCKOLuG

Sorry blogger... but I must move on.

2012-01-16T20:31:00.001-08:00

As you can see, we havent posted for ages. The group is great and going strong, but I have long abandoned this blog. I jumped around for a bit, (Lugnet, facebook) but now I am content for the ease of posting all Ontario LUG news on the Brickfete.com forums. If you are interested in LEGO and live in Southern Ontario, join us for one of our monthly dinners ... and follow our activities, on www.Brickfete.com "Ontario LUG New" forum.

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

2010-03-17T23:01:00.000-07:00

Whale and Ale Pub
Victoria St. Kitchener
6 pm (ish)

Build challenge, "Spring has Sprung"... no limit on piece count or size.

Hope to see you all there.

Sunday Jan. 17th, 2010

2010-01-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Whale and Ale Pub
Street: 1120 Victoria Street North
City: Kitchener, ON

Building Challenge - Winter Wonderland
Build something using only white LEGO elements.

Sunday, Dec 20th

2009-12-22T04:09:00.000-08:00

Time: 6:30pm
Location: Janey's apartment for our "Holiday" Potluck
Street: (address given out upon request)
City: Guelph, ON

This month for a change of pace we will be having a Potluck dinner instead of meeting at the Pub.

Quasi Minutes....

In Attendance: Janey RB, Jenn W, Jef T, Jeff VW, John B, Carol R, and Chris M.

News: We really did not discuss any news since we were too busy with activities. We started the event with a quick look at a few 2010 sets, the entire Toy Story line, the little mini cooper, and the Apple Tree House.

Soon after everyone was settled we started with a build in the bag challenge. A few of our members were new to the concept so after a quick description we were off running, so to speak. Apparently the not so clear bags increased the challenge level but the REAL challenge was realized when the item, when in the process of being built would no longer fit in the bag, LOL. So we quickly gave in, and dumped the bag contents into a Ziploc instead. After much jovial "complaining", colourful language, speculation on who would win, both Jenn and Jef had a photo finished. Well done to the both of you. It is duly noted that Janey was the first to give up, after poking a hole in her bag and somehow ending up with extra pieces in her bag. Carol stuck with the small bag longer than anyone.

After that we discussed who would be involved and which sets we would use for the drafts. It was decided to go ahead and draft the (insert set number here) Pirate set.

We then enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner and the company of everyone there.
After dinner 4 members, Janey, Jenn, Jeff, and Carol participated in the draft with the parting help of John and figure building "skillz" of Jef. Half way through the drafts, we stopped to enjoy some of the wonderful desserts that were brought, and then opened our Secret Santa gifts. (see Challenge info for more on the Secret Santa)

Show and Tell: 7 sets from the 2010 product line.

Moc and Tell: No mocs were officially shown, but members did get an insight on Janey's (lack of) sorting, and a few WIPs.

Challenge: Secret Santa pics and descriptions to come soon (hopefully)

Sunday, Nov 15, 2009

2009-11-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Whale and Ale Pub
Street: 1120 Victoria Street North
City: Kitchener, ON

My "interest or passions" Challenge (please see "Minutes" of last meeting).
Good luck to all of those that play.

Quasi Minutes....

In Attendance: Janey Red Brick and Jef

News: We really did not discuss any news since it was such a small turnout.

Show and Tell: Janey brought 2 new"ish" sets to share.

Moc and Tell: No mocs.

Challenge: Jef brought a jet plane to represent his interest/passion in flying/planes and Janey brought in a basic built brick tree to represent her (and I quote) "hippy-dippy tree hugging" passions.

Next meeting - Dec 20th
Next meetings challenge - "Secret Santa"

Sunday, Oct 18, 2009

2009-11-01T09:40:00.000-08:00

Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Whale and Ale Pub
Street: 1120 Victoria Street North
City: Kitchener, ON

The "Tea Cup" Challenge (please see "Minutes" of last meeting).
Good luck to all of those that play.

Quasi Minutes....

In Attendance: Jenn Wagner, Janey Red Brick, Jeff Van Winden, Jef with one f, John Bradey, Chris Magno, Mike Sheils and Dave Koudys. Note - both Carol and Andy Cook sent MOCs in their absence.

Yet another awesome meeting guys (and yet another apology for the lateness in my "report", next meeting I hope to report that night, before the details become hazy.)

News: "Officially" we discussed upcoming events once again, and a few fun activities for us. We will start with "drafts" (parts drafting) at our next meeting in November for those that want to play, as well, we decided to steal ParLUGment's "Secret Santa" idea, and do that for our December meeting (names will be pulled this November meeting). Our December meeting will be a potluck, held at Janeys, so you all can check out how badly I sort and how many unfinished projects I have, that will never see the light of day.

"Unofficially" we discussed who is hot, who is not, on the upcomming Leg o "ABS" calendar, and various other silly things. *Yes, we really are such a serious group. /end sarcasm.

Show and Tell: Janey brought in small Lego elements that are recently new to the line (micro figs from the game series, 2 x 2 jumpers plate, 1 x 1 round plate with hole) as well as a collection of newly released Lego books. I believe one of the two Jeff/Jef's brought in older Lego books. Chris brought in and demonstrated his plastic pellets for our amusement, wow could they ever bind with a brick.

Moc and Tell:
Dave brought in a motorized and rcx'd "Classic Space" radar dish array,

Watch it here in action... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln85K4yRzcQ

deborah brought in her picnic tables (ok, this is like the one she brought it, but not the actualy one, since the one she brought actually had custom engraved "wooden" tiles, but I do not have a picture of it, yet)

and a perceptual calendar...

and Jef brought in his butterfly knife...

Teacup Challenge:
This challenge turned out to be the hardest challenge yet... unlike most of Lego products, and their ability to be easily connected to other elements, it was VERY difficult to find anything that would hold these cups in place.

Jenn brought in her "Eat at Joe's" sign...

Janey brought in an WIP amusement park ride...

Jeff brought in "Classic Styled" spaceship...

Mike brought in a few train cars (here is one of them)...

Carol, who was not able to attend sent this cool power-point presentation of her horse MOC...

Andy, who also was not able to attend sent his ol'style Duncan yo-yo MOC in with his mom, (yeah, that me)...
All of these photos of the Tea Cup Challenge (except for Jeffs Spaceship) are Mikes and used with permission. Jeffs Spaceship picture belongs to Jeff, and is also used with permission.

Next meeting - Sunday Nov 15th
Building challenge was undecided at this time. It was decided later that night that we would go with building something that showed the rest of the group something about another interest or passion you have. No size or piece limit.

Sunday, Sept. 20th, 2009

2009-10-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Whale and Ale Pub
Street: 1120 Victoria Street North
City: Kitchener, ON

The Soccer Net Challenge (please see "Minutes" of last meeting).
Good luck to all of those that play.

Quasi Minutes....

In Attendance: Jenn Wagner, Janey Red Brick, Andy (Blue Brick) Cook, Jeff Van Winden, John Bradey, Carol and Mike Sheils

Awesome meeting guys (my apologies for the lateness in my "report"- details are becoming hazy.

News

"Officially" we discussed upcoming events and more about Lego's LugBrick program, and how we would approach that. We discussed Toy Building Zones grand Re-Opening and extended an invite to members to display.

Show and Tell: Janey brought in the new fire station and the new dark green train.

Moc and Tell:

Carol brought this cool office vignette.

John brought in this amazing office tower... each floor fully detailed, complete with lighting on the first floor, elevators and a roof top garden.

Two members, Carol and Janey, rose to the soccer net challenge...

Carols fishing net...

and sun glasses...

Janey's gazabo...

(Yes, she is getting drunk in there... giggle)

Special * note - Jeff VW had already brought a few examples the last meeting when he challenged us such as a building awning, sorry, no pictures. (And yes, he made me add this)

Next meeting - Oct 18th
Next meetings challenge has been set by Mike, who generously handed out many large scaled teacups and saucers to members willing to take the challenge.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

2009-08-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Whale and Ale Pub
Street: 1120 Victoria Street North
City: Kitchener, ON

Thanks to a suggestion from a member Jef, we are going to go forward with a small building challenge next meeting.

During the previous dinner he mentioned how he had read how many bricks there were per person had they been equally divided out instead of how we hoard them all... (which after research we found was actually 62).
... and he went on to say that it would be cool to actually to a build with that exact amount of bricks as a challenge, and we couldnt agree more!

So here is your warning!!!
We are encouraging all to bring a MOC (my own creation) that includes EXACTLY 62 pieces. Should be fun. Cant wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Quasi Minutes....

In Attendance: (10) Jenn Wagner, Janey Red Brick, Chris Magno, Jeff Van Winden, Jef Theysmeyer, David Koudys, Iain Hendry, Phil, Carol, and Jason Allemann

Wow, I for one had a great night last night, thrilled to see old friends, and happy to make new ones.

I must add... "Whoooo hooo, yay us!" 3 meeting in and we broke into the double digits!!!

News: Meet and greet, we chatted and introduced ourselves to those that did not know each other, struggling to hear each other over the huge and growing party next to us, we eventually we moved tables so we could hear each other a bit more easily. We gossiped. teased and giggled, and shared lots of general chit chat and merriment.

"Officially" we discussed the larger "exclusive and/or hard to find" Lego sets at The Toy Building Zone, as well as Lego events in November, and Lego's LugBrick program, and how we would approach that. We also discussed how dinners are now at 6 pm, instead of 7, although anyone is welcome to just show up whenever they can make it.

"Unofficially", I am proud to say, regardless of Chris' outstanding effort there was not a successful coup to overthrow WHaCkaLuG by rtlToronto, nor did he even convince the masses to change our name to "GLUG" although he did penetrate my brain with that word, which seemed to just spit out at weird uncontrolled intervals.
Funny enough we did approve a bit of a name change for WHaCKaLuG which will (in Jeff's honour) be now known as WHaCkOLuG, adding the O for Orangeville. Please note, there will never be a "T" in WHaCKOLuG to represent Toronto, so sorry to Chris, but TWHaCKOLuG is OUT!

Show and Tell: Janey brought in numerous small Lego items to pass around for those that have not seen them such as the new IJ narrow gauge track, package of L-scale flex track, gold minifig and gold brick key-chain, the hexagon combine piece (as apposed to a "hayer", or the better know baler) and the new"ish" brick built ferry boat set. As well, she showed off her latest Lego conquest, the Lego Zippo.

Moc and Tell: Many (but not all) mocs of this evening that were shown were primarily from the 62 brick challenge (see previous posts for explanation).

Pictures of this challenge have been used with permission from Jef.
Jenn brought in a perfectly scaled 2 by 4 brick in blue,
Janey brought in a not so perfectly scaled 2 by 2 brick in red,
Micro train set, a Micro Red Rocket, and a "sign"
that said "WHACKALUG" (which later was turned into WHACKOLUG),

Iain brought in a tiny working rcx'd robot arm.

Jef made a butterfly knife.
Special note: Jef was clearly sabotaged by Jenn and posted his design the day after, Chris "forgot" his at home, I'm sure we will never see that one.

More pics and vid here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/janeyredbrick/sets/72157622070819628/

Awesome job Whackoluggers!!!

As well, Carol brought along few of her charming vignettes featuring minifigs, and Iain brought a slick mechanical solution gadget that Chris could not stop fondling, Jeff brought along an awesome WIP of a lighthouse. Chris brought along his never ending campaign to GLUG us, Dave like usual, brought along his charm, and well Jason, brought along his MOCkingly cruel critiques of all things Janey built, but did make it up to me later that night by gracing me with his presence way into the night (whoah eh?) and ridding me of the last Lime Ricky.

Thanks to all that came out, awesome jobs on the builds!

Build Challenge: Jeff presented us with a new challenge.... The Soccer Net Challenge.... Basically, you need to come up with something interesting to do with the following piece...

... and he was generous enough to share 4 of them with each and any member that was interested.

Please note, I am not an official "secretary", expect mistakes, unintentional omissions and plenty of my own commentary, but please, if there are glaring errors let me know, so I can correct them.

Thanks,
Janey Red Brick.

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

2009-07-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

Time: 7:00 - 11:00
Location: Whale and Ale Pub
Street: 1120 Victoria Street North
City: Kitchener, On.

Quasi Minutes...

In Attendance: (7) Janey Red Brick, Jenn Wagner, Mike Sheils, John Bradey, Jeff Van Winden, Jef Theysmeyer, and Chris Magno.

News: We discussed Lego sales/stores in Ontario, (Bricklink, Lasting Toys, and the Toy building zone) as well as Canadian exchange relating to Lego products and shipping relating to Lego Products. As well as future plans for WHaCKaLuG (example - Train show and Hobby show in Nov), new Lego products (Carousel, Fire Station).

We gave cheers to Jenn becoming a Lego Ambassador, we also gave cheers to her son Quinn, who won a Lego Building Challenge. We also discussed other Lego groups, their rules, or lack there of, bylaws, and legacies. We gave cheers for something else, which sadly has escaped me now.

As well as many other non Lego discussions, many not safe for work (or kids - at least the ones started by Janey) .
Hey, what happens in the WHaCKaLuG, stays in the WHaCKaLuG.

Show and Tell: Jef shared some older catalogs and then instigated a brick challenge for our next meeting (see details below).

Moc and Tell: Jon shared his stone house diorama crammed with amazing details, Jef shared his pneumatic artificial hand complete with various gestures, and Janey shared a partially semi-working prototype of her non-pneumatic hand.

Build Challenge: Thanks to a suggestion from Jef, we are going to go forward with a small building challenge next meeting.

During dinner he mentioned how he had read how many bricks there were per person had they been equally divided out instead of how we hoard them all... (which after research we found was actually 62). I quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego ... “The Lego company estimates that in the course of five decades it has sold some 400 billion Lego blocks. Annual production of Lego bricks averages approximately 20 billion per year, or about 600 pieces per second. To put this in context, if all the Lego bricks ever produced were to be divided equally among a world population of six billion, each person would have 62 Lego bricks.”
... and he went on to say that it would be cool to actually to a build with that exact amount of bricks as a challenge, and we couldnt agree more!

So here is your warning!!! We are encouraging all to bring a moc that includes EXACTLY 62 pieces. Should be fun. Cant wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Sunday, June 28th 2009

2009-06-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Our inaugural meeting...

Date: Sunday, June 28th 2009
Time: 7pm
Location: Whale and Ale Pub
City: Kitchener, On.

In Attendance: (5) Janey Red Brick, Jenn Wagner, Jef Theysmeyer, John Bradey, and deborah h-b (all the way from Ottawa)

News: Meet and greet (aka- everyone gave a brief history on their own interest in Lego). We talked briefly about goals for the groups. We discussed storing lego, our collections, mutual places to receive Lego news and gossip (Lugnet, Bricklink, Flickr, Brickshelf etc) and various people we know in the hobby.

Show and Tell: Jenn showed some of Tommy Armstrong's printing on bricks and Janey shared a few Japanese released Lego gear items (photo frame, photo magnets) the 50 year brick book and the relatively new release of the Lego RV Camper set.

Moc and Tell: deborah shared a one of her architectural facades, Janey shared her Silver Brick Diner and Jef shared his Technic four wheeler with full suspension.

The Birth of WHaCKaLuG

2009-05-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

During May, after a few posts, emails, and a private meeting between Jenn Wagner (The Brick Chick) and Janey Gunning (Red Brick) at a local coffee house (Tims on Ediburgh and Woodlawn in Guelph).... we decided that a new Lug, to serve our local needs was totally in order.

On June 2nd, I posted the following note on Lugnet, (Jenn posted to Bricklink, and shortly after we made a facebook group. )

Hey there Ontarians!

You read it right, join me in cheering for the birth of WHaCKaLuG. Its real, its alive and its ready to play.

Jenn The-Brick-Chick and I, Janey "Red Brick" are combining forces and tag
teaming this new LUG and are "desperately seeking" AFOLS in Ontario to join us.
WHaCKaLuG is an AFOL club encompassing fans from (but not limited to) Waterloo,
Hamilton, Cambridge, Kitchener, London and Guelph area of Ontario. We welcome
anyone who is in driving distance of our meetings to please feel free to come.
We have no membership fees, and intend to meet once per month.

Our inaugural meeting is set!

Date: 7PM on Sunday June 28th
Place: Whale and Ale Pub @ 1120 Victoria Street North, Kitchener.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=whale+and+ale+pub+kitchener&sll=43.536198,-80.252037&sspn=0.006984,0.017788&ie=UTF8&ll=43.495834,-80.449448&spn=0.055913,0.142307&z=13&iwloc=A&iwd=1&cid=8825454999449107170

I am going to follow up this post with a bit more info particularly for
newcomers, please stay tuned.

Jenn will be posting WHaCKaLuG updates and news on the Bricklink forums, and I
will be posting updates here on Lugnet, or you can join us on our Facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=93768665685&ref=ts If you have
any questions, please feel free to email me.

If you will be in the area please plan to attend, the more the merrier and both
Jenn & I would love to meet you!

Sincerely,
Janey "Red Brick"