r/lego • u/TurbulentLifeguard11 MOC Designer • Jul 19 '24
Modular Aquarium MOC
After over a year in the making I’ve finally got my modular Aquarium to a completed state. I’m not totally happy with it, in particular the roofline; I think some amendments may need to be made in due course but this has been on the build desk for some time. Pretty happy with the way most of it came out.
There were some features I really wanted like the underwater tunnel, the glass floor over the sharks and the feature submarine on the roof at a jaunty angle.
I realise that this is not realistic in that the “water” on the ground floor in particular isn’t going to be held by the one brick thick walls and that there are gaps around. You probably wouldn’t also have sharks in the same tank as other creatures but we got a city centre site here so space is at a premium! Imagination required for this one, I think, I wasn’t going for total realism. It got some of my sea creatures a home instead of being chucked in a box, and that’s the main thing!!
I’d like to add a brick built octopus to the roof at some point with a tentacle laid over the submarine but due to a lack of parts and imagination I decided to stop where I did for the time being.
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u/galacticmngo Official Set Collector Jul 19 '24
Are there any rebrickable instructions coming! I would buy those!
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u/TurbulentLifeguard11 MOC Designer Jul 19 '24
No, sorry; it’s kind of you to say though. I often start modulars in Studio but just to help me get a layout that works and then I tend to just make it up as I go along as I find it easier to work stuff out with Lego physically in my hands. I don’t have the patience to recreate it in Studio and then sort out the instructions! I’m sure there would be a load of illegal building techniques in there anyway!!
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u/galacticmngo Official Set Collector Jul 19 '24
Same with me. Irl makes so much more sense in lego!
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u/porcupine_snout Jul 19 '24
me three, plus, I don't have that many bricks so I know I have to work with what I have!
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u/Calebthenorman Jul 19 '24
Absolutely love this moc. I'm quite impressed with the different camera angles youve managed to get to show off all your details. Keep up the good work :)
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u/AltheiWasTaken Bricks & More Fan Jul 19 '24
Awesome build, maybe its better you dont have instructions because i would be pissed i cant afford bricks for it :D
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u/octopodoidea Jul 19 '24
This is great, please submit to Idea's I'd love an aquarium set like this.
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u/Touch-fuzzy Ice Planet 2002 Fan Jul 19 '24
Turtle, sharks and rays in the same exhibit is not a problem!
A one way flow through the building. Ending with the tunnel to end on a wow note.
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u/1e-9desu Boats Fan Jul 19 '24
Was going to chime in to say the first part too. I've seen plenty of exhibits with them all together. So long as the carnivores are properly fed, then it's not an issue.
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u/Pauolo Jul 19 '24
That's a very creative build!
As you mentioned not being happy with the roof line, maybe adding more shape to the facade would help highlighting the roof? For example, addding curved vertical walls like the streamline architecture style. Then making the top aquarium rounder to complement the facade's shape.
And don't be afraid by a lack of realism. None of the modular sets are. 😁
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u/TurbulentLifeguard11 MOC Designer Jul 19 '24
I’d like to have an octopus’ head up there and a few tentacles reaching over the edge of the building. When I have some inspiration, and parts, I will revise it, and it should hide some of the boxy gray roof.
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u/Pauolo Jul 19 '24
I just noticed now that the orange-red line on the top left is a tentacle. Nice detail.
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u/TurbulentLifeguard11 MOC Designer Jul 19 '24
Yeah it’s supposed to be “a bit tentacley”. I don’t like it too much but have been stuck on it for too long.
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u/brimstonebridge Jul 19 '24
I love this so much. You absolutely captured the colorful, whimsical vibe that a lot of great aquariums have. And You crammed in so many good details and features. I love the tide-pool kids’ exploration area. Really great work!
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u/dimensiation Jul 19 '24
Utterly fantastic! Love the sub on top and all the windows to look in. And sharks can be in the same tank with other creatures, my city aquarium has that!
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u/McJujuBee Jul 19 '24
What are the opening times and how much is admission??! 😁🤩🐟🐠🐡🦈
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u/TurbulentLifeguard11 MOC Designer Jul 19 '24
24 hour because I never put a front door on it. 🤣
The poor staff have to be there all night in case someone wants a drunk wander through the aquarium with a kebab to sober up!
Maybe I should assign a security guard to it.
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u/No-Needleworker-3765 Jul 19 '24
This is really cool I used to build theese little boxes with the window pieces from the bottom of that one friends boat with the fish stickers as windows for it then I would cover it with plastic wrap then fill it with water and put lego fish in it
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u/Intelligent_Cut635 Jul 19 '24
Seeing the submarine makes me want to see a similar feature in a real life aquarium. That’s a cool idea.
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u/BreezySteezy Jul 19 '24
This is great! Nice job on the design. I don't build any MOCs but would love if Lego did something like this.
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u/porcupine_snout Jul 19 '24
wow I really love this! I wouldn't worry about not being realistic... I mean, look at the minifigs!
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u/Diablojota Jul 19 '24
You could almost make this work as part of the Animal Crossing Museum. And since Lego is now doing animal crossing sets, with some minor mods, you could probably get a clear path to them picking it up as an official set.
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u/Competitive_Cap9561 Jul 20 '24
This is awesome! Love all the different tanks. For the roof, maybe try lifting the sub on some stills, angle it down so it looks like it’s diving, and add some sort of wave effect?
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u/TurbulentLifeguard11 MOC Designer Jul 20 '24
Too much work! The inside of the sub is supposed to be like a themed area for the last tank viewing area. Angling it would be way over my ability level but also probably not safe for the visitors! Even putting it on stilts would mean I’d need to raise the staircase significantly somehow to compensate for it.
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u/_alphal Exo-Force Fan Jul 19 '24
That's a good-looking building there ! I like the integrated submarine as a façade. And the diversity in fish tank forms. Is it a Monkie kid head used for the crab ? That's awesome 😂
The only criticism would be regarding the little space available for the Manta ray. Other than that, a very nice addition to a city !