Strange Models

It was a fairly simple project, really – at least for the Enfield Model Shop.

“We decided, let’s blow up some of the elements, so they’re just elements from the set,” said Jeff Rushby, the Senior Model Builder who designed the models for the Stranger Things events at the NYC Flatiron and London Leicester Square LEGO Brand Retail Stores.  

A walkie talkie and the Barb poster from 75810 Stranger Things The Upside Down were blown up 24 times their normal size (as LEGO elements) and built in bricks. The famous waffles were blown up 25 times.  Since the events were happening at the same time, the team had to build two of everything: two waffles, two walkie-talkies, and two Barb missing posters. This took a team of three builders working with Jeff as the designer.

It all started pretty quickly – the project details were decided in early May, and the team finished everything in time for the events May 15th.

The NYC store event also included a mural of the famous Stranger Things wall.

Renderings of the models

“The Barb poster was probably the coolest one, and the most challenging,” Jeff says. “In the set, it’s a decal, so a lot of it had to be hand-done, you had to turn some bricks sideways to get the letters right.”

It was also two-sided, with the poster appearing upside down and a little roughed up on the back side.

“The mosaic took about 150 hours to design and build– that one is pretty cool because we strung lights over it,” Jeff explains. Due to its size, some wood was used on the back of it – although only bricks were used in the other models for the event.

A rendering of the whole project – with children for scale

Of course with a mosaic that large, the question remains, how do you get it from the model shop in Enfield, CT to NYC?

Transportation of models created by the model shop varies depending on what they are – sometimes models are shipped in pieces, sometimes crates are constructed as “cradles” so large models can be laid down.

“This mosaic was most likely shipped stacked one panel on top of the other and reassembled at the event space,” Jeff says. “The props would have been wrapped in bubble wrap or foam and put in boxes, as they were small enough to do that with. It all went out on one large pallet.”

So what happens to the models now that the event is over? They don’t get to come home quite yet.

“The plan was to use them here and there for other events – I’m sure they’ll travel again,” Jeff explains.

“I think it’s super cool we have a Stranger Things set,” Jeff admits.  “I hope this is successful and we do something even bigger.”

75810 Stranger Things The Upside Down is available for purchase from the LEGO Shop.