Built for the TV show 'James May's Toy Stories', a lifesize LEGO house constructed at Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey. I took the below pictures on a build day I attended to help with construction.
About this creation
This was being constructed just down the road from me so I thought I'd sign up to help. James' TV series takes iconic toys and creates something epic out of them. As well as the house pictured here the show has made a Meccano bridge over a canal, the longest Scalextric track in the world (also just down the road at the Brooklands historic race track) and the longest Hornby railway. James May's Toy Stories will be aired around Christmas-time 2009 on the BBC.
Building tables: Hundreds of people turned up (a lot of them TopGear 'fans' who were absolutely insane, proudly showing me pictures on their mobiles of the back of Richard Hammond's head) to help with the build at Denbies Wine Estate. The bit I was in was probably a garden centre the rest of the year, so people will no doubt be finding bricks in their plants for years to come. I even thought about going back and scrounging for leftovers, not that I'm sad an wanted to 'save' the lost bricks or anything...
Completed bricks made from Lego, er, bricks: This is what we were building, giant bricks which the house would be assembled from. A bit different from my usual large scale vehicles! I spoke to James (briefly) about how I thought he was going to get wet if it rained - as we all know Lego isn't water-proof (well none of my Lego ships ever floated anyway!) - I later found out my prediction of a moist May came to fruition when he used the shower; the water ended up in his kitchen!
Free-build tables: 3 million bricks to build what you liked for the house. Before moving on to making the bricks for the walls I had a go here, but it was actually not as good as it looks; the bricks were all the same (e.g. all the red bricks were 2x2s, all the white 2x4s etc) so it was difficult to build anything decent. Most of the items in the house look like they were made to order at a later date. The contents of the house are brilliant, and also look very 'Lego-y' using very basic bricks - great inspiration for future MOCs! There are some links below which will take you to detailed shots of the house interior.
James' bed: The finished bedroom complete with Mr. May. He seemed a bit bored at the building day (although maybe he's always like that!) - the novelty of 3 million Lego bricks soon wares off! He was also constantly harassed by TopGear fans (not car or Lego fans mind, just fans of the TopGear 'brand'), which kinda made me think how shallow the whole celebrity culture is; I'm quite glad I didn't ask for his autograph or anything.
I hope you've enjoyed looking at the pictures of James' house. I was just one of many pairs of hands used for the monkey work, but it was great to be part of such an inspiring project. The house has now been dismantled as they needed Ģ50,000 to keep it. However, the bricks have been shipped to Legoland for use in challenges there. If you go you could be playing with bricks which were part of James' bed, shower or toilet in a previous life.
Links:
-The main and last photos were not taken by me and can be found on the TopGear website.
-Check out the flickr gallery for pictures of the build process here.
-And finally, check out Kevin Cooper's page here on MOCpages. He built some of the items which ended up inside the house, including the amazing Transformers centerpiece.
James May's Toy Stories will air in December 2009. Cameras were present throughout the building but I think I escaped getting filmed (I'll find out when I watch the show!). I won't be able to see the parts I built, but it's cool to know they're in there somewhere...
Thanks for viewing and Happy Building
Ape Fight
Comments
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January 24, 2013 |
I saw this on Lego.com a few years back! It was incredible, though I am angry with the dude that stole the lego cat. :( Also it's dumb that it had to be demolished because of the vineyard where it was... I look on it and it is still AMAZING! |
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January 15, 2012 |
Wow! I wonder if any other MOCpagers worked on it? Great work! |
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I like it |
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October 31, 2011 |
I knew very well abut this project, but hadnīt realized that you participated in it. Cool!
A lot can be said in pro and contra about this project, but the only thing that matters is that you can say that YOU WERE THERE when it happened. Congratz! |
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Oliver King September 9, 2011 |
love it i would love to be there |
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June 4, 2011 |
Amazing! I saw this show. Well done for contributing! I would have loved to have been part of this pojuct. Could you commenton my Custom Truck please :) |
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I was there as well! You may find this boasting but I was filmed and practially fullscene in the clips at the start and later on :D No jokes it was really fun there as well, I hope someone does something like this again I also briefly talked to James May |
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I love Top Gear! Intresting post - you learn something everyday! |
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I made it |
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March 19, 2011 |
Quoting Lego Builder
Did you see Captain Slow??
Yes, briefly spoke to him |
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I like it |
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March 6, 2011 |
Did you see Captain Slow?? |
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I like it |
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Ed Adlam February 5, 2011 |
NICE HOUSE! Is this your creation.~ED |
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I made it |
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February 5, 2011 |
Quoting Ed Adlam
NICE HOUSE! Is this your creation.~ED
Hi Ed. Not really, although a very small part of it is. Take a quick look in the description and it explains all about why it was built, and the parts I, and many other people, built to help with its construction : ) This could be the biggest MOC in history?! |
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November 20, 2010 |
Good to see this in BBA. As for the guy below saying James ruined Top Gear, I'm with Ape on that one.. |
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November 10, 2010 |
I would've loved to have been there, must have been a great experiance!
Please check out one of my latest creations if you want: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/235249 |
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August 28, 2010 |
Quoting Alex Guilbaud
he ruined top gear
I think he's one of the few goods things left about Top Gear - the whole show is an unfunny joke now - I wish he was allowed to do some intelligent reviews like he used to be |
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May 30, 2010 |
I heard about this, cool to hear you were there; I would have loved to come along to a day like that if I had the opportunity. |
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May 7, 2010 |
I think there should be more lego community projects, it would really help generate new interest in lego
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March 3, 2010 |
Woah. All that is made up by LEGOs? Wow. Very awesome. |
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I like it |
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February 15, 2010 |
I loved this on TV. Nice one. |
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January 7, 2010 |
Thanks for sharing your experience!~H |
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January 3, 2010 |
i saw that thing on the tv, he broke a lot of things! but anyway, exellent work to all of the builders! |
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I like it |
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January 1, 2010 |
Just as much as i wouldnt have wanted to go, I still wish i went... Happy new year. |
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December 31, 2009 |
Coolios!!!! |
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I like it |
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October 26, 2009 |
awsome its on james mays toy stories on 27th of october on BBC2 at 8'o'clock it is with things like the world longest hornby track!!!!
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October 4, 2009 |
WOOOOOW!!!!! AMAZING!!!!! |
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October 3, 2009 |
You know you're a die-hard fan of LEGO when.... |
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Crazy, nice, funny, insane, I love it !! |
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I like it |
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October 1, 2009 |
That is awesome that you were a part of that! Thanks for the inside scoop! What an excellent way to waste some time LMAO |
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October 1, 2009 |
how EPIC can you get? this guy head the call! PURE AWESOMENESS! |
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I made it |
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October 1, 2009 |
Quoting Josh Barron
You may have the pics', but I helped build it! (Don't bother asking I'm in England). There A LOT more Lego enthusiasts in England than I thought...
I built parts of the house too, hence the pics |
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October 1, 2009 |
This is just pure amazing. Or, PURE AWESOMENESS! |
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October 1, 2009 |
You may have the pics', but I helped build it! (Don't bother asking I'm in England). There A LOT more Lego enthusiasts in England than I thought... |
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October 1, 2009 |
very interesting information, thanks for sharing this with us, but it's really sad to know that they had to take it down after this huge effort they put in it, any way you're so lucky man to be a part of this, even if it's a little part, I'm MILLIONS miles away from any LEGO event ever made :( thanks again man >>> peace.. Firas |
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October 1, 2009 |
Thanks Ape for posting this here. Realy awsome and at the same time funny things in there. For instance, those lights in foilet, looks like there've been working some professional designers or engeniers. Shelves, Chairs, everything out of lego... fantastic..!!! |
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October 1, 2009 |
I wish I had the 50,000 pounds to deliver this great masterpiece to my house. It really stinks that the Lego company wouldn't save it because they weren't asked to construct it. It would have made them a lot of money for admission. I KNOW I WOULD! Anyway it is sad that it is gone, but I will never forget it. I wish I could have visited it- too late.
I was wondering when someone would bring up James May's Lego house. Nice work on the research. -Anthony |
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