I haven’t had time to do anything other than work on Project Swapfig recently. You might have heard there were numerous teething problems with the launch, and even now I’ve discovered some things that don’t work how they should, but I’m still on it. All the while, life goes on – I really wish I had at least two other people on staff.

There were just a few things I wanted to put out, mainly to let people know that SilentMode.tv isn’t dead:

• In just under two weeks Project Swapfig has attracted almost 200 members; over twice the number of people who supported the Kickstarter project.
• I’m also working on a complete redesign of SilentMode.tv, as the current design feels very flaky (even though it’s responsive). The new version will have a couple more sections, including a library of the few MOCs I was able to design and build.
• Because of the increased workload, I won’t be able to get to the LEGO store grand opening in Leeds this weekend – but hopefully someone will be kind enough to grab me their minifigure set on Sunday.
• I may or may not review the Friends Series 2 Collectible Animal sets that came out a couple of weeks ago; I’ve not bought them yet but I’ve seen a few pictures and reviews online, and from the outset they look like a step down from the first series.

Thanks very much for the continued viewership!

The post A Quick Update from the Studio appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

I’d imagined the moment for the last couple of months, and I really wish I could say it was a smooth process and a momentous occasion… but owing to web hosting issues and some schoolboy coding errors, I found myself spending near to three days at the computer trying to fix things – all the while getting piled on.
But just this afternoon it looked like the last of the major issues plaguing the site have been resolved, and now people can go about trading their minifigures. A big shout out to the two or three more helpful issue reporters during the process.

Naturally I’m on the site, under the username Drew, so go and have a look at what I have to trade… and if you’re after anything send me a trade offer. I’ve gotten myself just over two boxes’ worth of S10 minifigures, but sadly no Mr Gold for me.

The next few days are going to be spent making sure any loose ends are tied up, but I will also be looking to get back to earning money. Let me clarify for those who didn’t want to support the Kickstarter project: I was not getting paid nearly the entire time I developed Project Swapfig.

The post Project Swapfig is LIVE! appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

I’ve been thinking about this moment for quite a while, wondering what I’d be saying at this point… but between the advertising and the continued work on Project Swapfig, I’m guess I’m too exhausted. Too exhausted to be excited about the new Friends sets, rumoured to be out as soon as in May, and even for the upcoming sightings of S10 Collectible Minifigures.

No doubt we’ll start seeing numerous naysayers and “experts-for-a-post” popping up all over, just dying to give their uninvited insight into why this Kickstarter project didn’t reach its target. They always do.

I’ll be covering my suspicions in a future series of posts, along with my experiences with running the Kickstarter project. But probably the most politically correct speculation I have is that, unlike projects such as Pigs vs. Cows and CONTACT 1 – both having done spectacularly well and now focusing on stretch goals – Project Swapfig itself isn’t a tangible product. Something like this may have worked better during the dotcom boom, but now I guess most people have more faith in something they can hold in their hands. I don’t blame them; so would I!

However, it’s important to remember the positives. Yes, there won’t be any initial funding to give Project Swapfig a decent start, but the Kickstarter project has generated something that money can’t buy: interest from other people. (I’m not interested in the kind of interest money can buy.) It’s likely that most people hadn’t heard of it before the crowdfunding started, and now anybody who’s anybody in the online LEGO community knows about it – thanks to a lot of help from other AFOLs.

Over 100 user accounts were created on the demo site; that’s already significant minifigure trading action. Imagine how many more will use the site as more figures get added and more people start talking about it.

55% may still mean failure (Kickstarter is all-or-nothing funding), but for a relative nobody it’s a huge achievement. I’m extremely glad the project had any backing at all, and I’m pleased that there wasn’t a single day when there were no pledges (though there were two cancellations and one reduction).

So everybody “wins” from the Kickstarter project not reaching its target:

• the naysayers win because there won’t be any funding, which was their intention;
• the people who supported the project (either by backing or spreading the word) win because the site will be launched anyway;
• I win because I’ve gained a whole bunch of humbling experience. Who knows how I would have acted if the project had exceeded the target?

In closing, again I want to say a huge thank you to everybody who got behind this project and showed their support: especially Brickset, Brick Fanatics, Beyond the Brick, The Brothers Brick and all the other sites that featured it.

From here on in, all roads lead to Project Swapfig’s official launch on May 1st, at swapfig.com.

The post Kickstarter Failed, But Everybody Wins appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

Anyway, this post is about my first ever SilentMode.tv sanctioned competition: up for grabs is one of a very limited number of Black Swapfigures (pictured below) to be produced.

Render of a Black Swapfigure, as none have been made yet.

So how can you win one of these very limited Swapfigures? Well exactly as the title of this post suggests, you can win one by “primping” the Project Swapfig logo.

Visit the Flickr page that the logo pictured above links to, where you can download the full-size image as well as a vector version. The idea is that you can do whatever you want to the logo, being as creative as you like – along the same lines as the variations of the Google logo for specific events. Once you’re done, send me a link to the picture you’ve created.
The “best” design, as chosen by me, will win the Black Swapfigure when the very limited set is produced. Be warned that, unlike with some other competitions, the winner will not necessarily be the one that uses the most effects, or is the most aesthetically pleasing. My decision on who the winner is will be final.

You have until May 3rd to answer the challenge, and you can see the entries to this little competition by visiting the dedicated gallery page.

The post COMPETITION: P[r]imp My Logo! appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

A lot of recent exposure has been thanks to people putting in a good word for me, and such was this interview with Beyond The Brick: a podcast for fans of LEGO, usually featuring interviews with talented FOLs. They’ve interviewed some very talented people in the past, so go check out their YouTube channel for their many videos.

This was my first time doing any kind of video interview, and I think I did okay. Just a shame I forgot the name of the museum where STEAM was held, but it is in Swindon after all..! 

Once again a shout out to Beyond The Brick for hosting the interview, and everyone else who made it possible.

The post SilentMode’s Beyond The Brick interview appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

There are only eight days left to back the Kickstarter project, so if you haven’t already please show your support! Even if you only have a pound to spare, or someone you can recommend the project to, that would be awesome.

The post Demo of Project Swapfig now up appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

Anyone interested in customisation, whether of minifigures, tiles, bricks or anything else, may be interested in this clever use of LEGO parts, if they don’t know about it already. This is a decal application tool, created by The Cooper Works, for applying decal stickers to elements.

The main aim of using this is to be able to apply decals without having to worry about air bubbles or smudges, which can completely kill your work. It looks like it’s mainly for applying decals to tiles, but can probably be adapted for use with bricks and minifigures.

As well as being able to download instructions for the decal tool, The Cooper Works also sells a couple of military-themed decal sheets in their shop. Go check it out!

The post The Cooper Works’ Decal Tool appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

We’ve heard of many legendary matchups: Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja, Alien vs. Predator, Robocop vs. The Terminator, Plants vs. Zombies etc. – and now Pigs vs. Cows!
That combination probably came from the same place as Graduates and Gorillas, but I like it. It also happens to be the official theme of BrickCon 2013, held later this year in Seattle.

Guy Himber – an award-winning LEGO builder – has taken this theme to the extreme, by designing and creating minifigure heads for both pigs and cows. You’ll see on the Kickstarter page that there’s already examples of the pig and cow heads on minifigure bodies, as well as the design process involved in creating them.
As things stand, there are four head designs: two for the pigs and two for the cows, as regular and “battle-damaged” varieties. A genius move is that there are two sets of heads for each design: one regular-sized and one that can fit inside space helmets.

As well as being able to get yourself a basic set of heads (each pig and cow design in the two sizes, and a cat warrior head, for a grand total of nine heads), you can also get your hands on early prototypes, and a completely awesome, exclusively designed BrickArms crate, which really sets this project apart. I haven’t gotten hold of one yet, but BrickArms crates (released not so long ago) are hot. Let’s not forget about the potential stretch goals of zombie heads, for the many apocalypse/horror fans.

One thing’s for sure: this project ain’t playing around. Pigs vs. Cows is very close to reaching its target, so help push it over the edge by showing it your support.

The post Pigs vs. Cows Kickstarter project appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

One interesting thing I came across was a post on Kotaku, entitled “The Case Of The Disappearing Kickstarter”, which addresses the very real problem of project owners managing to reach their targets but not delivering anything: no rewards, no finished product, nothing.

When adding that into the equation, it’s understandable why some people may not want to contribute to a Kickstarter project – and it gives weight to my opinion that social status (how trustworthy the project owner is) is a significant factor in gaining support.
Especially given the fact that other people involved in the LEGO community, whether members of a forum or a seller on [some site where people can set up shops], have been involved in deliberately ripping people off, I felt it was important to stress:

Project Swapfig is genuine, and I fully intend to make sure there’s a finished site – regardless of whether the target is reached or not – and to have all the rewards produced and sent if it is.

Too many people know who I am and where I live for me to effectively rip anybody off! but ripping people off has never been my intention.

Of course, if you’re unaware of what Project Swapfig is or why it’s potentially so great, go take a look at the Kickstarter project itself. Then help yourself to one of the many rewards, tell everybody you know about it and promote it heavily.

Thank you to my six backers and everybody who has spread the word so far. By this time next week I want to have reached that coveted 100% milestone!

The post Kickstarter Scare Story from the Past appeared first on SilentMode.tv.

This is the final version of the video accompanying the Kickstarter project, which took a total of two weeks to produce. I did all the filming, audio recording, effects and editing, and it took just about everything I had to get it done in a timely manner.

The minifigures shown in the video are real, and the printed torsos were provided by Minifig For Life. At the moment I own the only ones in existence, but you can get hold of some if you contribute to the Kickstarter project. Either way, please show your support.

The post The Project Swapfig Video appeared first on SilentMode.tv.