One More Brick
Building skill: 20/20
Presentation: 19/20
Use of mystery part: 19/20
Total: 58/60

Pepa Quin
Building skill: 20/20
Presentation: 19/20
Use of mystery part: 18/20
Total: 57/60

First of all, let me say that I am a big fan of both builders and their skill and sheer volume of output made the judging of this Iron Builder very challenging .
In my opinion Iron Builder is always about the mystery part, I don't care about Photoshop or big contretemps.

Comments from judge for One More Brick:

For me your use of the part was better !!
A stunning variety of topics are tackled with equal measures of
dexterity and creativity.
There were several builds that really stood out for me. I enjoyed your
"Battle Ready", "Light 'em up", and "Venom of the Red Lotus".
The color of mistery part makes the job a little more difficult. And you did a brilliant work in this case!!

Comments from judge for Pepa Quin:

You are a great builder, I love all your Simpsons buildings!!
But I need to decide one person to win this battle, you did a very nice job especially the first one, the Star War scene it was amazing!!
The "Waveform" my favourite build, perhaps for one small detail I have decided for Tim.

First of all huge congratulations to both of you; you guys turned the phrase quality not quantity into quality AND quantity so easily. An impressive number of entries with an insane variation of styles and scales. And the entertainment level was off the charts.

I have to say, I've found this part to be more annoying than the bitchfork; when the round started I did a little brainstorming and barely found any uses for this. Maybe not as annoying to integrate, but more difficult to find interesting uses for it.

One More Brick

I'm so glad you got the chance to do this round, you've had the opportunity to show what a versatile builder you really are. Compared to Matt, your builds are more overall more polished and clean, just the way I like them.

In terms of presentation, I'm not really swayed by edited backgrounds. Most of the time I find them distracting and I prefer a clean presentation focused on the build; but in many cases they were so well integrated that I didn't mind them or even found them to enhance the overall effect.

As for the part use, just brilliant overall. There were some instances where they felt unnecessary (On Track, Z-24 Striker) or like the SHIP where I've actually had a hard time finding them (but bloody hell, you've built a damn SHIP during an IB round). Also I have to give credit to Matt for the use cufflink and speakers, he was the first to post them.

Highlights:

Battle Ready - This was the highlight of the round for me, a build perfectly focused on the part and something I never would have thought of.
The Belt of Champions - Another fantastic idea, would have made the perfect IB trophy.
Need a Hand? - Despite the late use of part, this is a wonderful sculpt. I just love it.
Light 'em up - Another flawless integration of the part here.
Better Watch Out! - Love that watch band.

Building skill: 20/20
Presentation: 18/20
Use of mystery part: 18/20
Total: 56/60

Pepa Quin

While your builds are not as polished as Tim's overall, the techniques and engineering in some of your builds was mindblowing. I still haven't a clue how you did that Mine Kafon.

The presentation was overall clean and simple, but since I have to choose somehow I'm going to have to nitpick on the smallest and least significant details oterwhise I'd just give you equal scores. I found some of the chosen backgrounds distracting (EXTERMINATE, Mine Kafon) but you also had examples of pure brilliance (Isssss toooo hot). And fallout friday rocks. Period.

In terms of part use, while you didn't have as many moments where I felt the part was redundant as Tim, there weren't so many wow moments for me either as in Tim's case.

Highlights:

Star Wars: A New Hip - I don't even think I need to specify why I love this so much.
The height of fashion - Two parts build, and both of them scream NPU. Simply brilliant.
Isssss toooo hot - Wonderfully composed scene and the part integration is great here.
"The shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing." - Great way to start the show and probably my favorite integration of the part from you.
Diner Table - While not as focused on the part, it's a beatifully crafted scene.

Building skill: 19/20
Presentation: 17/20
Use of mystery part: 17/20
Total: 53/60

What is one of the best things about being an Iron Builder chairman?

Is it the numerous groupies?

Is it the never-ending fame and fortune?

Is it the expensive International shipping bills?

Is it all the free beer?

NO! It is the fact that you are never asked to attempt the difficult task of being a JUDGE for a concluded Iron Builder battle. Well, all of this has changed. ( I miss the free beer.....)

Knowing that this most recent round between Pepa and One More was proving to being a very close and challenging round to place judgement upon, Chairman Zhang asked yours truly to step up and put on the Judge's powdered white wig.

My robes are on and I am ready to work.

Judging IB takes me back to MY days as a competitor/builder. It kept me remembering that struggle between running with a great idea yet not letting the Mystery Ingredient get too lost or feeling too much like an afterthought greeble to a MOC that could stand alone just fine without a Barbell clicked on to it for cake frosting. Such a hard balance to try and maintain during the short 30 days of pressure and frenzy.

As always, let me start by thanking our builders for giving so generously of their time and skill and entertaining us so well this past month. I salute you!

Here Goes!

It goes without saying that both of our competitors have shown exceptional building skill and creativity, so I won't spend too much time bathing them both in well-deserved praise. I shall attempt to focus on the three key principles of the Iron Builder battle:

Building skill, Presentation and Use of the mystery part.

Some of our competitor's MOCs are exceptional as creations, but didn't really focus on the mystery part ( i.e. the part feels more like a post-build greeble and not really a necessary part of the MOC's spirit). Some of the builds are smaller and perhaps less developed and polished given the time restrictions, but still are exceptional ideas given that things need to be built quickly - so we won't hold their size against them either.

For each builder I chose the FIVE builds that I thought best reflected the 3 points of the competition's sprit and spoke to me and my ABS heart the loudest.

I shall base my judgement upon my fav five builds from both our Iron Builder and his competitor.

Pepa top five

1. Star Wars : A New Hip

For me one of the most important ( and sometimes overlooked ) quality of a repeated Iron Builder is their ability to take an idea, no matter how ridiculous, and turn it into GOLD! The idea of Leia's SILVER 'Princess BunHead' hairstyle would have been enough for me, but to then to further extend this idea to a full vig AND include OLD Man Solo made this one of my fav build's from Pepa. NO OTHER part could have made them buns! The secret ingredient is so integral and everything else about it makes it one of the most immediately Blog-worthy builds of the contest. Just genius. So much fantastic from a silly little barbell - probably my favorite build of the competition.

2. The Doof Wagon

OK, ok.. I haven't seen the new Mad Max movie yet! So SUE me! But I instantly recognized this vehicle from the commercials and previews. The proportions and greebly goodness feel so right and the secret ingredient fits right into the post-apocalypse styling of the Wagon. The added depth of the various minifigs and little details really made me love this car.

3. Exterminate

Another great example where you would be hard pressed to build this MOC without the secret ingredient. The part so perfectly fits the masterfully built Dalek and as a bonus this beautiful presentation makes this one a prime example of masterful execution and form.

4. Guzzolene

You know a better way to make a flexible gas can spout? I certainly don't! A simple form perfectly done. ( I will always wonder if he stuck a paper clip or wire in that spout.... all's fair in love and battle ). Plus some cool little trickery to achieve the diagonal patterning on the sides. You can almost smell it.

5. Diner Table - WILD CARD!

To be fair, you could certainly build this MOC without the secret ingredient part. I feel like this is Pepa showing off his skills by making the most beautiful presentation possible for his humble use of the Secret Ingredient condiments. I won't penalize him for this small MOC surrounded by the beautiful "everydiner" as it is an awesome MOC. I was completely won over by the bolts that hold the table to the floor. It brought back so many memories of my days back East. I love this build and if the contest was the inspiration for its creation, then I must pay it appropriate homage for how much I enjoyed seeing it.

The Iron Builder always comes in with an advantage. He has been to the dance before, faced the crowds and already drowned in his own tortured tears in the Colliseum. XXXXXXX

p.s. I really wanted to love Robby ( one of my favorite 'bots ) but the arms were just a bit too much out of proportion to get in my top 5. The Lawn Mover with a guest appearance by Matt made me Laugh out loud! ( to you young kids, that is what 'LOL' means.....). Fallout ROCKs.... Katamari was great but I wish you would have saved him for the very end and maybe had him collect up ALL of your Iron Builder MOCs into a progressively growing ball of IB Awesome!

Pepa Quin
Building skill: 18/20
Presentation: 18/20
Use of mystery part: 18/20
Total: 54/60

One More Brick

1. Battle Ready

WaWaWeeWa! ( I think Borat said that first). This is such a classy and clean MOC that it certainly DOES belong in a museum. That suit of armor! That sword! That..that lil' helmet! So perfect ( though I wish the helmet was a little more in proportion with the armor. But DAMN I like this one! They are perfectly done and the cool red background ties it all together in a classy way.

2. Take Note

At first I thought this was a build from former Iron Builder Legohaulic or Iron Builder Hall of Famer Bruce. The overall clean lines and instantly recognizable utility of the Notebook and it's accessories are just so well done - making the common items at once uncommon and beautiful. The casual and pedestrian feeling lighting make it all feel very REAL from the thumbnail.

3. Light 'em up

A beautifully simple idea and perfect build. It is not 'littered' with the secret ingredient but we get the feeling that some LEGO designer in Bilund created the humble barbell design with this sole purpose in mind. Instantly recognizable to anyone who has held a lighter in their hand it makes me think of Chairman Zhang 'smoking in the boy's room' with Motley Crue or holding it aloft at one of their concerts.

4. Venom of the Red Lotus

Does the picture frame around the painting make the Mona Lisa all the more better? Eh.... probably not. But in the case of this hanging prisoner the atmosphere and feeling make what could have been a throwaway MOC something really special. The mood and colors almost make you feel the pain of the poor smelly manacled prisoner trapped in his terrible dungeon. The barbells are used to an uncommonly perfect effect in this application.

5. -Coruscant - WILD CARD!

I have always loved micro builds since I first saw Shannondonia back in 2008 (www.brothers-brick.com/2008/06/16/shannonia-the-beautiful/ ) . Could you have replaced the Secret Ingredient in this MOC with some other part? Maybe. But it is so nicely put together and presented it just feels right. It reminds me of 2MuchCaffeine's most awesome SW mini scenes but taken to the next level of scale and sense of perspective. The final image could have been the background for a movie poster. Really sweet.

p.s. I LOVE when builders "double-dip" MOCs for multiple contests and collabs!

p.s.s. I really like the Crescent Wrench, I wish it could have been integrated into something a little more 'MORE'. And the belt is most excellent too!

One More Brick
Building skill: 18/20
Presentation: 17/20
Use of mystery part: 17/20
Total: 52/60

So in the end I cast my vote for PepaQuinn!

Good luck to you both!