• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Movie-era LCARS reference for Legos

J

Jake Conhale

Ensign
Red Shirt
Not sure if this goes here, or in the Trek Tech section or in Fan Art, please forgive if incorrect.

Hello, I was curious if there were any good references for the green/blue LCARS from TFF/TUC/Gen/etc. I've designed and built a Lego movie-era bridge set and even made an animated film using it (posted in the Fan Art section).

The problem is that the consoles are just flat black bricks and they just look so darn empty, so I'm looking to fill them with computer graphics but not entirely sure what to put there. Looking for a good reference to either make my own or..., well, I don't even know if it'd be possible to print the actual graphics from stills in small enough resolution to cut and paste onto the bricks.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
This probably is more suited to Fan Art.

A number of static movie-era display backings were put up for auction. The photos aren't always high-res, but they're good reference (and you probably don't need that much clean-up if you're printing them to the size of a lego brick). The term-of-art to google is "translight." Here are a few examples I found quickly: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/star-trek-vi-undiscovered-country-1823747566 http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/item.pl?i=1779,6984 http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/item.pl?i=6147

I know there was one backing auctioned off that had a bunch of the circle-displays on it, but I can't find it at the moment.

You'll also find plenty of images, discussion, and probably more links to reference material in Donny's Enterprise-A CG Interiors thread.
 
Thanks. I've also seen some images sourced from The Art of Star Trek on Ex Astris Scientia. My concern is that the graphics just won't compress well and will become just darn incomprehensible at that scale and likely need to be recreated in simple formats.
 
I'd make really simplified versions out of them. So a few round shapes, rectangular shapes and change the colours a bit. 2x2 and 1x1 tiles for the round ones and 1x2 tiles for the rectangular screens. That way you can mix & match, IF you have enough space for that of course...

[EDIT] If you look at these prints, you'll see that you can get a fair amount of detail on such a small surface. I think you'll be fine:

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32841897360.html
 
Last edited:
^ My first instinct would be to simplify the layouts as well. Not necessarily out of any concern for details being lost in print, but because I think they would better fit the Lego world and aesthetic. Here's what I mean:

xCaaEPg.jpg
 
Exactly! That graphic on the right would work perfectly! I'd split the two sides to a 2x2 and a 1x2, with maybe the rectangular buttons changed to round so that it doesn't matter if you place the tile horizontally or vertically. I think I can mock up a concept once I get home and look how it looks in Stud.io.
 
Last edited:
BorgMan said:
Works like a charm:

xEbm4e6.png

Just realised I omited the digits under the round screen, but that's a simple fix. The Ice Planet computer is there as reference what regular 1x2 screens look like.
Click to expand...
That's some nice work right there. I still like the Ice planet computer too :D
 
Delighted to see Lego here. I am a long time Lego Space community member, and one of the co-creators of the Lego Moonbase Standard which allows space-loving Lego builders to connect their moonbase builds together at conventions and such.

Lately I've worked on modular dioramas, and my Star Trek one got written up in a Lego magazine. It's currently on my artstation at https://www.artstation.com/paulbhartzog

The rest of my Lego works are on my Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulbhartzog/

Thanks for demonstrating that you can make custom tiles in Stud.io ! I didn't know that was possible. I also have wanted worked on Star Trek bridges etc., and I have always wanted to make some stickers (LCARS of many kinds) to go with them, but I have never been able to figure out how. (Would love some help or advice on that)

If there is interest in making and sharing sticker ideas, I'd be happy to help if I can.
 
The easiest way would be to take a blank stickersheet and print the desired graphics onto them, then cut them out. As I have demonstrated, the best modular way would be to spread LCARS interfaces among 1x2 and 2x2 tiles. When space is tight, sure, creating a 2x3 graphic is doable too. 2x4 isn't as interesting as using 2 x 2x2...
 
Right, but you would
* have to have appropriate graphics (size, shape, resolution)
* have to know how to use Pshop or something to resize them to the same size as the lego tile
* have to know what kind of sticker sheet to put them on
* have to have access to a printer

I have none of these things :-)
 
Well, the first two I can help you with ;-) The latter two, well, there's bound to be a printing shop somewhere in the neighbourhood right? I know of at least one in mine that offers to print on sticker.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Dukhat
The Lost Era starships thread
2 3
Replies
42
Views
5K
Dukhat
Dukhat
V
TOS-era 3D printable deckplan project
Replies
9
Views
2K
Jim Botaitis
Jim Botaitis
Starscape
Contest: ENTER March 2025 Art Challenge - Suggest Your Themes!
Replies
2
Views
537
Starscape
Starscape
Starscape
Contest: ENTER January 2025 Art Challenge - Suggest Your Themes!
Replies
4
Views
991
Starscape
Starscape
Starscape
Contest: ENTER April 2025 Art Challenge - Suggest Your Themes!
Replies
2
Views
768
Starscape
Starscape
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top