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‘Most Complex Lego Machine Ever Built’: See This 152,455-Piece Rolls-Royce Jet Engine

Jul. 12, 2012 7:53am

The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine is composed of 160 different engine components. It’s this engine that helps propel Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. Imagine how complex such a machine must be.

Now imagine building a half-scale replica of it — out of Legos. It took a team at Bright Bricks 152,455 Lego bricks, weighing 677 pounds and measuring 6.5 feet long to accomplish this feat, according to Gizmodo.

Rolls Royce Shows Off Half Scale Lego Replica of Its Trent 1000 Engine That Powers Boeings Dreamliner

(Photo via Wired)

Rolls Royce Shows Off Half Scale Lego Replica of Its Trent 1000 Engine That Powers Boeings Dreamliner

(Photo via Wired)

Rolls Royce Shows Off Half Scale Lego Replica of Its Trent 1000 Engine That Powers Boeings Dreamliner

(Photo via Wired)

The team sponsored by Rolls-Royce along with graduates and apprentices presented their creation — only a fraction of the actual engine weighing 1.25 tons — at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom. Watch the machine in action at the show:

Wired reports Rolls-Royce Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stein saying the replica is “as realistic as possible” and that the company hopes “this representation of our technology will help to enthuse and inspire the potential scientists and engineers of the future about the career opportunities they could pursue.”

CNN reports another Roll- Royce representative saying of the project “some people clearly have a lot of time on their hands.”

Wired explains the model created is a “cutaway” of the actual engine to show the inner workings. It shows the fan blades, compressor blades and compression section in “plastic brick detail.” Gizmodo describes it as the “most complex Lego machine ever built.”

Watch this speedy representation of the engine being built:

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Comments (53)

1 2
  • nappy
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:10pm

    GE _could_ have built one of these but they would have had to take parts form their assembly lines.

    Report this comment

    nappy  
    • Gumbercules
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:44am

      If we keep exporting jobs to Mexico/China, soon all our planes will be made out of legos.

      Report this comment

      Gumbercules  
    • Yeah_Buddy
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:24pm

      I heard the new Chevy Volt will be offered in a special Lego edition. One benefit is once it catches fire, you can easily mold it back to its original form.

      Report this comment

      Yeah_Buddy  
    • itcagw
      Posted on July 14, 2012 at 6:47pm

      Then the Legos will be made in China.

      Report this comment

      itcagw  
  • 1WhoQuestions
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:59am

    Simply amazing.

    Oh, the things you can build out of Legos. One of the most artistic creations was the Lego Tower Bridge, model 10214. Still would love to get the Lego Ultimate Collector Series edition of the Millenium Falcon, model 10179. Another work of art, IMO.

    Yes, I am a fan. Yes, I am close to a middle age adult. And no, I don’t have nearly enough nor anywhere close to what others have.

    http://www.eurobricks.com and http://www.fbtb.net are a couple of the many websites out there where adult fans of Legos can share their collections and creations.

    Create something today. :)

    Report this comment

    1WhoQuestions  
    • Master_and_Commander
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:18pm

      I’m a huge Lego fan too, and proud of it :) Lego fans unite haha

      Report this comment

      Master_and_Commander  
    • JediKnight
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:54pm

      We (as in my son and I) just finished the Lego Ultimate Collection Star Destroyer not to long ago. I had it sitting in the garage for several years. We’ve gotten him into Lego’s and I thought to myself “Why not bring that out.” I did most of the work (it is pretty big) but he loves putting his mini figs on the side of it.

      We’re planning on getting him more sets and plain buckets of Lego’s for his birthday and for Christmas.

      Report this comment

      JediKnight  
    • ChewyBees
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:28pm

      Saw the M.F. on Amazon a couple of months ago for 2 grand (used I believe). I wish I would have bought 5 when they came out and never opened them.

      Report this comment

      ChewyBees  
  • RedManBlueState
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:30am

    So, when will it be on the shelf at Toys R Us?

    Report this comment

    RedManBlueState  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:15am

    A team of white males? What? No female tokens, how sexist. No federally mandated minorities? Outrageous.

    Report this comment

    teddrunk  
  • KnuckleDraggingNeanderthal
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:04am

    Legos Rock! Man, the things I could have built 40 years ago as a kid with all those specialized shapes! And lets here it for Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, and Playschool 2×4 Wooden Blocks!

    Report this comment

    KnuckleDraggingNeanderthal  
  • Centurian
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:59am

    For those who are complaining about how this was a waste of time and money: I have to ask a simple question: what is the purpose of marketing and advertising?

    Answer: To get the brand name and/or company name into the memories of the masses.

    How many people who read the article ALSO watched at least one video?

    We all now know that Rolls-Royce built the engine for Boeing’s newest jet. This means that although some on here may complain about money being wasted, I would argue differently. Rolls-Royce succeeded because you remembered their name.

    Report this comment

    Centurian  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:39pm

      I don’t think anyone’s necessarily complaining as much as saying (as the Rolls Royce employee said it) “some people clearly have a lot of time on their hands.”

      If this is how Rolls wants to employ people, that’s fine with me. It’s their money.

      Now, if it’s found out that our government subsidized it, then there’s a problem.

      Report this comment

      @leftfighter  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:58am

    I remember when it would of been American kids and an American engine built from Leggos. How far we have fallen.

    Report this comment

    teddrunk  
    • John655
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:31am

      So right, they’d have built an Pratt & Whitney Engine. P&W engines put GE engines to shame. After all who wants an engine built by the same people that build our refrigerators and washers that only work for 10 yrs then die.

      Report this comment

      John655  
    • SZ939
      Posted on July 15, 2012 at 12:14pm

      Sorry John655, During the time I worked as a Subcontractor at GE Aircraft Engine in Evendale, I spoke with a number of Fighter Pilots who PREFERRED the GE Engines to the Pratt Whitney ones in their F-16 and F-15 Fighter Jets. One pilot was the first to survive a multiple Re-Light event in his F-16 because he knew he had a GE Engine in his plane. The Pratt Whitney Engines had a problem with EXPLODING if they attempted to re-light the engine after a flameout. His F-16 experienced 2 compressor stalls during advanced maneuvers and he successfully re-ignited the engine TWICE and landed his multi-million dollar aircraft safely instead of punching out and leaving the aircraft to be destroyed over a populated area.

      Report this comment

      SZ939  
  • VRW Conspirator
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:50am

    sorry…this is AWESOME….especially if the engine is functional…meaning that it can move and all the parts behave as they would in a real jet turbine…this is a GREAT way to let children see how things work and how they are built…the BEST Lego kits on the market are of engines, planes, boats, cars, and such that actually MOVE…a Lego pirate ship is good, castle and dragon are cool, aliens sell big, but what do they teach as the child plays…?? even as a mental exercise…this is AWESOME!!
    granted…some of you would classify me with these guys… “a nerd”.. OOOHHH…really..why..because they are smarter than you, had a higher GPA, work as an engineer, scientists, mathematician, didn’t play FOOTBALL?
    I was all county in Cross County and Track, in one of the top 5 counties in my state, played Soccer for 9 years, and STILL graduated 13th in my class..and went to UCLA as a Theoretical Physicist….i have students now that would LOVE to do their labs like this…they would LEARN massive amounts of information, especially is coupled with the correct instruction and background questioning…
    get out of your high school mindset and realize that America is now tied for 9th in Math and Science Education in the world!! with 5 other countries…that means 14 nations are better or as good as we are in fields we have pioneered for a CENTURY!!
    Fine…call them NERDS..but you work for THEM!! SUCK IT!!

    Report this comment

    VRW Conspirator  
  • RamonPreston
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:48am

    Would they build me a reliable car? On SS I can’t afford a new one and our car is killing me with repairs. I live in a rural area and a car is not an option; it is a necessity.

    Report this comment

    RamonPreston  
  • got243kids
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:44am

    Well done on a fantastic display of modeling and engineering. My son has built functioning 4, 5 and 6 speed transmissions and then built the car around it, just one of many of his Lego endeavors.

    This product (Lego) requires imagination and fuels creative license, attributes destroyed by television and the geniuses at the Department of Education. For those of you who fail to see the beauty; you’ve insulted the creative members of the next generation of critical thinkers who are diligently pursuing activities outside of jaded perspectives and the chains of compulsory education.

    Report this comment

    got243kids  
  • silverstacker
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:29am

    It always makes me a little sad to see Lego glued together. Seems like such a waste. An impressive build though.

    Report this comment

    silverstacker  
  • schroeder123
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:26am

    Oh for Pete Sake !

    Report this comment

    schroeder123  
  • DrunkGOP_Hack
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:11am

    “CNN reports another Roll- Royce representative saying of the project “some people clearly have a lot of time on their hands.”

    Yeah I suppose the could be sitting on their hands collecting a check for not working or not being productive.

    Brilliant.

    Report this comment

    DrunkGOP_Hack  
    • RamonPreston
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:52am

      So they collect a paycheck for playing. Every job I had involved a boss whipping me to be more productive. “We encourage you to better yourself” does NOT mean find a better job; it means make more parts.

      Report this comment

      RamonPreston  
  • KeystoneState
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:56am

    “Lambda Lambda Lambda”

    Report this comment

    KeystoneState  
  • Wyratt
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:29am

    We’re gunna be in the Hudson..

    Report this comment

    Wyratt  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:09am

    Obama stimulus money……….it created three temporary jobs.

    Report this comment

    Detroit paperboy  
  • lfoa
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:57am

    Great as an Object Oriented Programming brain excercise.

    Report this comment

    lfoa  
  • K Harlan
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:52am

    Lighten up, guys! As a guy that could never make anything cool from Legos, I’m impressed – anyway, I didn’t pay their salaries, and frankly it’s pretty effective marketing. This story will be worldwide today.
    A buddy of mine in Ohio made an electric guitar from Legos (just the body) just to see if he could. It plays great and now he’s working on a second one. And, yes, he’s been laid off.

    Report this comment

    K Harlan  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:41am

    Add your comments

    Report this comment

    scrapadapolis  
    • RRFlyer
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:22am

      So the guy touches it in the end and 152,455 leg go pieces come tumbling to the ground.

      Report this comment

      RRFlyer  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:38am

    Ok now that we were paid thousands of dollars to play with legos,how about we see if tinker toys and lincoln logs interact with an erector set.who funded this?and fire them!!

    Report this comment

    scrapadapolis  
  • huey6367
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:29am

    Someone needs a girlfriend or a reason to leave the house/office.

    Report this comment

    huey6367  
  • THXll38
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:25am

    Is there anything you can’t make from Legos, besides a girlfriend?

    Report this comment

    THXll38  
  • snapperman
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:23am

    No grass to watch growing?

    Report this comment

    snapperman  
    • jaylew
      Posted on July 15, 2012 at 5:40pm

      I hear you dude……and at age 57 I am too old to be part of the real Lego Fan Club….my 2 boys had them growing up but that was before these more intricate kits or exhibits were popular.

      I do not know your age….and I am with you on the paint watching thing and concept……but I think you would agree with me…..that nothing in the toy world or the artsy-f*rtsy quasi toy world…NOTHING ever invented was as wretched or awful as the “Etch-A-Sketch”……the only toy on earth that deliberately tried to make the human mind….which even at a young age is able to see the world in 3-D and in color…..the only toy ever that dumbed the human user down to a 2 dimensional grayscale left and right knobbed stab at artistic creation. The Etch-A-Sketch…..perhaps the most unimaginative toy ever invented. Worse even than a stick and a rock…..a Toy invented no doubt…by a French Liberal…for use among French Liberal Toddlers and French Liberal pre-adolescents……..simply to make the French liberal minds later in life…..seem so smart…so witty and so cutting edge. Standing in a Food Stamp line is less painful than trying to use an Etch-A-
      Sketch for any purpose.
      Legos blow the plastic red Etch-A-Sketch away in every aspect of analysis.

      Report this comment

      jaylew  
  • OniKaze
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:17am

    I do contract work for rolls-royce from time to time… My job ends me up in one of their local facilities a few times a year, and I completely agree with the anonymous source form above saying “they have too much time on their hands…”

    They do.. Most of the 20 to 30 people I interact with there only do about 2 hours of actual work during an 8-10 hour shift.. I have never seen so many people being paid so much do to so little…. The only other person I can think of that gets paid a lot of money to do nothing is Obama, who tends to do nothing, and then point the finger at others and blame them for his own ineptitude… At least when the lazy union folks at Rolls ARE working for those 2 hours.. They do some good work… Unlike our vacationer-in-chief who NEVER does anything good….

    Report this comment

    OniKaze  
    • Nervous Investor
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:03am

      … true thing !

      Report this comment

      Nervous Investor  
    • RamonPreston
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:43am

      At least you said “good.” He has done lots of things “bad.” The destruction of the Constitution, healthcare tax, loss of our freedoms and the implementation of the NWO. I see on Newsmax today that he has granted himself the power to seize the Internet. Won’t be long before we won’t be able to speak our minds about him.

      Report this comment

      RamonPreston  
  • JohnGaltCalling
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:16am

    Brilliant

    Report this comment

    JohnGaltCalling  
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