STAINED GLASS WINDOW

 MEET THE MAKER: THE BUILDER BEHIND THE VISION, INTERVIEW BY GIORGIO D'ALBANO

53rd episode:  MIRKO SOPPELSA a.k.a. STAR BRICKS Mirko Soppelsa

Where are you from and what did you study?

My name is Mirko Soppelsa, and I'm thrilled about this opportunity! I was born and raised in Italy, and I'm currently fortunate to live in Veneto, on the slopes of the majestic Dolomites.

My education began with a diploma in Industrial Engineering, which provided me with a solid technical foundation. Over the years, however, I've cultivated my true passion, specializing in various Masters in 2D and 3D graphics. My curiosity didn't stop there: as a passionate enthusiast, I've delved deeper into the world of photography with specific masterclasses in product photography and macro photography. This combination of skills allows me to tackle creative challenges with a 360-degree perspective

What do you do for a living now?

I currently work in an Engineering and Architecture firm, where I focus primarily on structural design. My primary focus is applying these skills to conservative restoration and building rehabilitation, sectors where attention to detail and respect for heritage are essential.

I manage projects from start to finish, following them with dedication from the preliminary design phase to the final construction phase. This requires a 360-degree approach that encompasses project engineering from every perspective: graphically, focusing on visual rendering and modeling; technically, ensuring feasibility and regulatory compliance; and financially, optimizing resources.

In short, my profession allows me to combine technical rigor and creative vision, helping to breathe new life into historic buildings and develop innovative solutions for the built environment

What inspired you to become a LEGO builder?

My story with LEGO is a longstanding passion, born in the late 1970s. I fondly remember when, at just 4 or 5 years old, the first bricks my parents gave me opened up a world of possibilities. I would spend entire afternoons on the carpet at home, immersed in those pieces, giving shape to every idea that popped into my head

For me, LEGO has always been, first and foremost a powerful tool for unleashing my imagination. I've always believed that true fun lies precisely in designing and building freely. The beauty of this passion lies in overcoming the challenges you set yourself: the more ambitious the goal, the greater the satisfaction and enjoyment you feel in seeing your work come to fruition. It's a process that stimulates creativity, problem-solving, and personal gratification

Where do you find inspiration for your creations?

My source of inspiration is clear and powerful: the Star Wars universe, for which I have a deep reverence. So far, all my creations have been dedicated to this iconic saga.

Inspiration primarily comes from films I've seen on the big screen, from which I draw ideas for the subjects I want to represent. For the rest of my reference material, I rely on online research, exploring sketches, drawings, photographs, and videos. One method I find extremely useful is purchasing scale models or action figures: they allow me to precisely study dimensions and proportions, ensuring a high level of detail and accuracy in my creations

What is your favorite LEGO build among those you've made so far?

This is a really difficult question, because each of my MOCs (My Own Creations), has a story and unique characteristics! When it comes to technical aspects, I tend to say that my latest creation is always the most advanced. This is because it encompasses all the experiences and new solutions learned from previous projects, representing a constant improvement in my construction skills.

However, when it comes to aesthetic impact and personal preference, my latest creation, Z-Project (version A), clearly stands out. It features the Scout Trooper riding the Speeder-bike: an image that is not only iconic for Star Wars fans, but also boasts an exceptionally harmonious color scheme. This combination of iconicity and visual impact makes it my favorite creation to date

What has been the most complex challenge you've faced as a LEGO builder?

Without a doubt, the MOC that challenged me the most was AR-Project. The goal was ambitious: to create a 1:6 scale AT-RT with a Scout Trooper aboard. The complexity lay in the vehicle's intrinsic design, characterized by two relatively slender "legs" that must support a rather bulky and heavy body. My top priority was to avoid the use of external pedestals. I wanted the structure to maintain perfect balance, being as slim as possible without compromising its strength.

This triggered a delicate and in-depth design phase, which required the use of mixed LEGO-TECHNIC techniques and, above all, a meticulous study of the masses and centers of gravity of the bodies. The goal was to ensure that the entire structure could stand independently and in perfect balance. This phase was followed by an equally crucial testing phase, lasting eight months, dedicated to assessing any failure or "relaxation" of the load-bearing elements over time.

This experience was a true lesson in engineering and patience, culminating in the satisfaction of having overcome a highly demanding technical challenge

Do you have a favorite technique or a special method you use when building?

I don't have a single favorite technique, because for me, each MOC is a new challenge that I touch with an approach based on experimentation and the search for simple and "legal" solutions (in the sense of respecting LEGO rules). I don't like to get stuck on a specific method; I believe the real fun lies in trying new ways to replicate an object's form and essence as faithfully and intelligently as possible.

More than a particular technique, my constructions are defined by two aspects that I consider absolutely fundamental: the level of detail and solidity. Detail is something I focus on a lot and it clearly evolves with the scale of the MOC. I love exploring it to make each of my creations unique and recognizable. Solidity, on the other hand, is crucial not only during the construction process but also to ensure the piece is manageable and long-lasting. This balance between ingenuity, attention to detail, and robustness is what defines my building style

What themes or subjects do you most enjoy exploring in your creations?

In my first MOCs, I focused on faithfully replicating iconic vehicles of the Resistance and the Empire. The goal was to capture and reproduce with the utmost precision the correct proportions and minute details of these vehicles. Later, I felt the desire to tackle a more "fluid" and dynamic challenge. So I began to dedicate myself to creating MOCs that included physical figures, characters and droids. This step allowed me to explore a new level of complexity: body posture. Thanks to this research, I was able to create much more "alive" and expressive creations, capable of telling a story through movement and interaction

What is the biggest or most ambitious project you’ve ever completed?

In terms of size and piece count, the largest project I've completed so far is undoubtedly the TR-Project, consisting of nearly 6,000 bricks. It was a massive undertaking that required considerable planning and dedication.

From a technical standpoint, however, the most challenging project was the AR-Project, my MOC of the AT-RT walker. Given its slender shape, significant weight, and the need to keep it perfectly balanced without external supports, it was a true test of ingenuity. After an initial pre-sizing phase to fine-tune the overall balance, I conducted extensive stability tests to ensure its long-term stability. It took me about 12 months of meticulous work to arrive at the final version.

This project represented a unique opportunity to push my construction and engineering skills with LEGO bricks to the limit

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become an expert LEGO builder?

For anyone wishing to embark on the journey to becoming an expert builder, the key ingredient is, without a doubt, Passion. LEGO bricks are an extraordinary tool, capable of unleashing the innate creativity within each of us, transforming the most imaginative ideas into tangible reality.

However, to raise one's level and achieve excellence, other qualities are essential: extensive dedication, a keen sense of observation, and iron-clad perseverance. It's crucial to push one's mind beyond apparent limits, facing challenges with the full knowledge that, in the LEGO world, anything is buildable. With the right combination of curiosity, commitment, and the ability to persevere in the face of obstacles, one can push the boundaries of one's imagination and create increasingly complex and surprising creations

Link Personal Website: https://www.starbricks.net/

Link Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirko.soppelsa/?hl=it

Link flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/151456928@N08/albums/