Help! How do I build a Lego mirror ball (in 9 days)??

LostInTranslation · September 2012

I need help!!

For a MOC I'm building to showcase @savage_steel's custom minifigs at the GWLS next weekend I really need to build a mirror ball (you know, those silver sparkly disco ball thingys) and I'm stuck as to how to make it look spherical and not humungous. Also, as it's for next weekend I kind of need it not to use any really specialist parts because I don't really have much time to order from Bricklink.

Any thoughts?? Please?!?

CCC · September 2012

What scale is it on? Minifig scale or bigger?

LostInTranslation · September 2012

Sorry, should've said. It's minifig scale.

CCC · September 2012

I think it will be difficult to build one on that scale without being too cubic. So you may need to go a non-purist route. How about silver spray painting the globe (61287pb001 and 002) from PoC Captains Cabin, and using it upside-down? I'm sure everyone has at least one of those in their collection. This is about double the diameter of a minifig head, so about the right scale. Alternatively, if you have clear ones, you could either paint the inside, or scrunch up foil and put it inside to give the pixelated surface. Again, non-purist I'm afraid.

LostInTranslation · September 2012

Thanks for that.
Bit of additional info: it is for a model of the Strictly Come Dancing studio (the men in the forum all groan) and so while the studio is on minifig scale the mirror ball could be a bit larger as it is intended to go above the gantry as a sort of centrepiece.

andhe · September 2012

@Lostintranslation there's this piece, which I'm sure is something spacey, but I can't for the life of me find/or remember what set it's in.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dragon55/4170954509/

plasmodium · September 2012

This is kinda hard to explain, but if you took a 1x1 brick that has a stud on every side (http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/4733), and attached a round, flat, 1x1 (http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/4073) to each side (and the top), and on top of each of those, a small 'saucer' piece, (http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/4740) I think you could get a quite convincing and much more Lego-looking 'globe'...

That, or there is the piece on the back of this: http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=6463-1

andhe · September 2012

Another bricklink mystery, as to when I searched 'chrome gold' that part didn't come up. Go figure.

http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=371&colorID=21

(Thanks @plasmodium).

MinifigsMe · September 2012

@lostintranslation. We could go non purist, since the minifigs themselves are custom. I have silver spray paint so I could do a selection of round parts for you. Though the 1 x 1 studs all round with 2x2 dishes surrounding it might work?

MinifigsMe · September 2012

ooo or the 'rock' piece sprayed or left trans blue or grey might work? http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=30342c01

CCC · September 2012

If the scale is not such an issue, how about two of these ...

http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?colorID=22&itemID=371

Four studs is equivalent to about human head and shoulders, which is why I didn't suggest it earlier. You just need to find a way to join them together, depending on whether you want to be purist or not.

CCC · September 2012

I've just realised it's linked to above, but in gold.

leemcg · September 2012

What about a boulder (sprayed)? - more likely to be in your collection already, and easy to attach a lifting ring to the top to hang it.

Sure it's a bit uneven, but might look okay sprayed silver.

LostInTranslation · September 2012

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I will rummage through my collection and see if I have any of those parts handy and try them out.
Could you please bring the silver spray paint to Steam @savage_steel?

Si_UKNZ · September 2012

another idea you could start with one of these:
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=75937

and clip 8 of these around it with trans 1x1 rounds on them
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2555

then add a steering wheel top and bottom and clip more on there.

guess it might be more of a 'light ball' but still might be pretty cool.

andyscouse · September 2012

Use the chandalier idea from GE ...

Martin · September 2012

Exactly how big do you want it to be? Lowell spheres are very convincing but only work well from about 5 studs across.

caperberry · September 2012

Si's post reminded me I did this - http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/7949070270/in/photostream - what he suggests sounds similar to the one on the right? The octagonal bar comes in a dull silver...

MinifigsMe · September 2012

Luce - another option, I have some pearl gold minifig heads, any good? will bring the spray though. it comes out like a pearly silver rather than chrome.
So excited for this btw!

Help! How do I build a Lego mirror ball (in 9 days)??

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