Nick Trotta might not be the most prolific builder, but every one of his works is a masterpiece of color, geometry, and innovative use of LEGO elements. For style and technique, Nick sets the gold standard for LEGO spaceship design. Nick’s latest craft is the R-104 Metal Heart, a ship inspired by the classic R-Type shoot-em-up video games, characterized by the massive wave cannon and many fins for maneuverability. Clocking in at 4,021 pieces, the ship is one of Nick’s most elaborate builds to date.
The best LEGO ships take advantage of slopes and SNOT (short for “studs not on top”) parts to create shapes and angles that are plausible as aerospace engineering while keeping that “swooshable” fun form factor of a kid’s favorite toy. In Nick’s build, every seam enhances the ship’s smooth lines. Modules connect in ways that defy logic. To see how Nick pulled off this slick exterior, you really have to see the ship from the inside. Thankfully the builder provides a detailed video of the build process.
Perhaps my favorite feature of the Metal Heart is the engine design, a brilliant mix of expressive style and hard math. The nearly round shape is actually based on a heptagon, a seven-sided polygon. As Nick explains, the unusual geometry of the engines impacts the rest of the model, such as the angle of the fins.
A cross section shows how Nick achieved this lovely form, with a big assist from rounded D-SNOT plate 3386, a part used 239 times in the model!
In addition to the video, Nick also shares digital files and a parts list on the Galactic Plastics site. (No instructions, but a generous gift to those looking to learn from a master!)
Be sure to check out more of Nick Trotta’s LEGO creations featured here over the years. And if you’re in Australia, Nick will be displaying the Metal Heart at Brickvention Melbourne on January 18 and 19, 2025.
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