STAINED GLASS WINDOW

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

50th episode:  PINO FRACCALVIERI a.k.a. NINJA

Where are you from and what did you study?

Hi, I live in northwest Italy, in the province of Turin, and to be honest, I studied far too little. I tried to get a high school diploma in accounting, specializing in programming, but I couldn't finish. My job at the family business demanded it, so I stopped studying

What do you do, what job do you do now?

My father's company closed its doors twenty-five years ago, leaving me without a diploma or a job. Luckily, after it closed, I only had a three-month layoff before being hired by a company that offers a variety of services, including the production and installation of awnings, as well as the sale of recreational, home, and garden products. It's essentially a mix between Viridea without the plants and BricoOK without the carpentry. I've been working there for over 25 years

What inspired you to become a LEGO builder?

Nine years ago, our first LEGO set arrived in our home. That day, my five-year-old daughter wasn't feeling well. My wife, returning from shopping, decided to buy her a small set from the FRIENDS series. It was a really cheap little box, the kind that cost around 10 euros. My daughter asked me to assemble it for her because she had a fever. Over the next few days, we played with it together, and then, seeing her interest, I decided to buy her more small sets, so she got some for her birthday and Christmas. At the time, I didn't know the world of AFOLs and exhibitions existed. I found an ad on Facebook for an exhibition at the sports hall in Turin, organized by the Arsludica store. We decided to go and admire the works on display. It was there that I began to think like an AFOL, seeing those dioramas created with the pure imagination of builders and not just simple sets thrown on a table. At that moment, I understood that there was more to the sets than just the dioramas. I started researching online and discovered software that could be used to try designing something. I found sites where I could buy the pieces separately to make my fantasies come true, and that's how the seed of a builder began to sprout. The first projects were all created for my daughter's play, but after a while I realized I was having a blast and wanted to design something for myself, too

Where do you get inspiration for your creations?

While designing for my daughter, one thing became clear to me immediately. Creating MOCs is expensive, especially if you design them first and then want to buy the parts online or from physical retailers to make them. When you're designing, you don't realize how much you're about to spend. The first model I created for myself was a modular model on a 32x32 base, arranged on two levels. I never bought the parts to build it, as it would have cost me €1,800. Yet I desperately wanted to build something of my own to exhibit at some fair, and it was becoming frustrating, and I couldn't understand how others could spend all that money on their dioramas. So I found a different way to approach creating imaginative works. When you want to create something that doesn't exist, there are no rules, shapes, or models to follow, so in the end, you don't need a mountain of parts, especially specific ones. I started buying bulk by the kilo. This is a much cheaper system for me, but not everyone is able to adapt. When I build, I adapt based on what I have at hand, and so I often adjust the proportions of my work accordingly. If I have enough pieces to make a 22-stud wide roof, I make it that size, but if I'm forced to make it 32 studs wide, then I add a decoration to match the building underneath. So to answer your question, it's the loose material I have at a given moment that inspires me

What is your favorite LEGO work that you have built so far?

Honestly, I've never thought about it. Since I build all sorts of things, like a city with only my own creations, a fantasy diorama, a Japanese one, monster-style dioramas, and even small Wild West pieces, it's impossible for me to tell you which one I prefer. I'm probably inclined to say that the oriental diorama from Revenge of the Dragon is the one they appreciate the most and therefore might also be my favorite, but to tell the truth, I'm very proud of my "ACOL store" created for the Acol Community managed by Nicola Bozzolan and Vincenzo Marchese. Fifty pieces have been made, and I like the thought of knowing that other enthusiasts have wanted to collect one of my works

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

I'll tell you two. The first is to make the hands that support the large pagoda to the right of the oriental diorama. The second is definitely to create a sturdy enough trunk to support the castle in the clouds in my LEGO IDEAS project Jack and the Beanstalk

Do you have a favorite technique or a special method that you use in your constructions?

Absolutely. I really like to highlight the underside of pieces. I find that some of them have a very decorative hidden layer. I never miss an opportunity to replicate this technique, whether it's used on a 2x2 tile with jumpers or on other, much more unique pieces. For example, to understand what I'm talking about, just look at the facade of the giants' castle in Jack and the Beanstalk. Analyze the door and windows, and you'll understand exactly what I mean

What themes or subjects do you like to explore the most in your creations?

I like many things, as I've mentioned before. I started by developing a city, then I built a fantasy-style diorama, and then one inspired by medieval Japan. I like building haunted and abandoned houses, and I like the houses in villages of the old, far west. Now I'm preparing one that will be a mix between medieval and monster-style. It'll be an experiment, and I'm curious to see how it turns out

What is the largest or most ambitious project you have ever made?

Definitely the diorama from "Revenge of the Dragon." It measures approximately four meters by 60 centimeters, and the most impressive pagodas are truly very tall

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

I recommend learning on social media, as I did when I was starting out. I followed various groups, always on the lookout for new techniques and eager to learn. My passion led me from a simple user to a builder, creating the Oh My Brick and The Bricks Box groups on Facebook. There you'll find many posts dedicated to techniques and tutorials, most of which I created myself

Link Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraccalvieri_giuseppe/

Link Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/149704381@N05