If you’re going to put a LEGO display together featuring the Flash, you’re going to want make sure he looks super-speedy. But that’s also true of Sonic, Anakin Skywalker, Speedy Gonzales and many other minifigures – so here are some tips on making minifigures look fast.
With the release of The Flash in theatres, you might be looking for a minifigure of its super-fast titular hero to add to your city display. The Scarlet Speedster himself would look even better with a little speed on display – but how do you show this with the Man of Steel, or even the Blue Blur? The best speedster, after all, is a moving speedster, and despite the limitations in posing a LEGO minifigure, dynamism is important.
With photo editing software, it’s easier to make minifigures move fast digitally compared to when they are on display. You may think buying multiple copies of a minifigure doing different things in a row could work, but it’s not particularly effective in portraying speed. Having your fast minifigures run loose on your display can be challenging, though it doesn’t have to be. Below are three quick ideas on how you can turn your minifigures into moving figures, which can also be applied to vehicles and larger, moulded characters.
Flaming footsteps or a trail of fire
Think of a character like The Flash. How hot must the ground be beneath him after he’s had a jog? His every footstep exudes energy and power, which builds up a lot of friction on pavement and earth. It’s as simple as adding 1×1 transparent orange plates in a short trail behind him, though you can take it further than that if you’d like.
The nice thing about LEGO ‘energy effect’ pieces is they can be used in more than one way. In a display where Superman flies and breaks the sound barrier, try a small trail of energy behind him in transparent-blue. You can find these in sets like 76181 Batmobile: The Penguin Chase in abundance and choose the type of effect to your liking. You could even add a small white cloud behind him for a comic-like effect.
Build-a-Blur
Characters like Sonic the Hedgehog create energy around them when they move, leaving a blur behind them in their wake. For a bright blue character like Sonic, you may choose to use transparent bricks, though solid bricks can be easier for creating obvious visual artifacts. When it comes to choosing a blur for your minifigure, it all comes down to trial and error – that’s because different displays have different lighting and visibility.
It’s as simple as adding a long strip of bricks two studs wide behind the figure, at the same height and using the same colours. For Sonic, you could stack blue bricks with red and white plates for the shoes, then add more behind and slowly reduce the blur in size. As with the fire pieces, it can be as complicated as you’d like it to be. If there’s a car in the speedster’s path, try adding a longer trail of ‘blurs’ going over or around the car for direction.
Upgrade your LEGO hobby! If you take out a subscription to Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine, you’ll get each issue first and at a discount, plus other perks including a free digital subscription and the chance to win LEGO prizes every month.
Match the surroundings
If you have an appetite for destruction, you’ll like this next one. Knocked over streetlamps, leaning highway signs – the LEGO world is your oyster. The sheer kinetic energy from running is enough to shake or even destroy parts of your LEGO city. On top of the blur and flaming footsteps ideas, you can add sparks of energy knocking objects over. Here’s how you can do it.
Light posts can be launched and supported by trans-clear bricks, while cars can be damaged and shifted out of the way. Fire hydrants can burst and shoot jets of water. The same ‘energy blasts’ included in the Batmobile: Penguin Chase can be used to add watery effects. Whether you choose to destroy your city or not, adding some slight wear from fast movements can quickly turn your display into something special.