Meet a member: gman13579
Posted by Huw,
Today we are talking to US Naval Officer Garrett Gourley aka gman13579 who's in Maryland, USA
What is your first LEGO memory?
When I was young, maybe 6 or 7, I was obsessed with trains. I grew up watching and loving Thomas the Tank Engine. So one set I can remember building was the 4560 Railway Express. I had a blast pretending to be the conductor and loading and unloading the two mini cars that came with the set into the cargo carrier.
I was also given multiple extra track sets and for the next 8 years I'd run a train around the Christmas tree during the holidays. I would run in under the tree, under the couch, through the living room, making sure to get in the way of everything for at least a month out of each year. I can also remember loving the Johnny Lightning Adventure and Rock Raiders sets!
Did you have a dark age and if so what caused you to emerge from it?
Hard to say really. I've always loved LEGO and stayed pretty knowledgeable about new themes and sets over the years. Some years I have only purchased a few sets because I wasn't a huge fan of some themes and some years I could buy 30 sets. I have recently been very busy with my MOCs, other major hobbies, and work, so I am purchasing LEGO sets but not building them. I am now running into a major problem of space to build AND to store un-built sets. Also, LEGO is just coming out with too many sets for my wallet to handle!
Which set or theme has been most influential upon you, as a LEGO fan?
Would have to say Star Wars, Harry Potter, Architecture, and Creator Expert. I know, I know, that's quite a lot. I have a problem liking too many for sure. But out of my entire collection I have most of the original Harry Potter sets having grown up with Harry Potter since the age of 11. I'm really looking forward to owning 71043 Hogwarts Castle someday soon!
The largest part of my collection is Star Wars. When Episode I came out I was obsessed. I have always had an overactive imagination so with LEGO AND Star Wars I was hooked. It led me to really enjoy building my imagination.
What are you building right now?
Well, I haven't built many physical LEGO sets recently, I do still have 75252 Imperial Star Destroyer sitting in the box and just purchased 10266 NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander, so maybe I'll start building one of those!
Primarily I'm working on quite a few digital builds that take up most of my time. I recently just finished building a trophy figure scale International Space Station and a mini scale Apple Mac Pro and XDR Monitor. But I am still actively working on my Watchmen Brickheadz series on my iBrickheadz Instagram account. So always building in some capacity!
How do you store your LEGO?
If you'd ask my wife this question she'd say "wherever he can find space", which she isn't wrong about.
I have most of my collection broken down and bagged into individual sets still at my parents home in about 10 plastic storage bins. While in my present apartment we have 3 or 4 bins full and a few storage areas filled. Some boxes are just left out in the open hoping to be built or find a good storage space. But once I get some space I'm looking to build an area in my studio for all my bricks to be sorted and sets displayed.
Do you build MOCs? If, so what?
Ahh yes, I love building MOCs. I remember my first MOC was a truck with tank tracks that had a laser and secondary vehicle in it at 10 years old. Now I am building up a few Instagram accounts focused on MOCs.
My primary account is iBrickheadz where I design custom pop culture and movie characters into Brickheadz. I initially hated Brickheadz and thought they were just copying Funkpops but they grew on me and it gave me a change to be creative in a small form factor with movies and tv characters I loved.
I've built Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Spider-man Into the Spider-verse, Marvel's Endgame, and many more. I've branched out to do commissioned work also making characters that other people really want to see.
My other Instagram account, LEGO__Stud, is newer and will be posting all my old and new MOCs that are not Brickheadz. Some like the Biltmore Mansion, trophy scale UCS International Space Station, mini winter village, and many more!
What is your favourite part?
There are so many to chose from! I really enjoy building in mini/micro scale, so I'd have to say plate 36840 1x1, W/ 1.5 PLATE 1X1, UPWARDS. it just gives a lot of versatility to give more detail at different angles and when building at a small scale, all angles matter!
What theme would you like LEGO to produce?
I'd really love to see a Star Trek or Pokemon series. They have just a great following and would be awesome to have as small battle packs, scenes, and UCS sets. And with so many different story lines it's easy to make more sets over the years! I've always just been a big nerd and these are easy choices ha.
Any parts you'd like to see made?
I like to build in small scale so details are important. I'd love to see a 1x1 grill piece be made to give that extra detail when it's hard to fit a 1x2 grill that can't connect to anything.
Do you have a presence on Instagram, YouTube or elsewhere?
As I talked about in my MOC section, I have two main Instagram accounts, iBrickheadz and LEGO__Stud. I've had a few others over the years but got it down to two!
I am also starting up a Podcast Channel dedicated to LEGO news, discussions, and builder/designer interviews. The Podcast is called LEGO Stud and will be online here in the next few weeks! I'm very nervous/excited about it.
I also have my youtube channel, Garrett Gourley, where I will be doing some of MOCs!
What is the availability of LEGO like where you live?
I live 10 minutes from my local mall in Annapolis with a LEGO Store. The staff there is great! Most of the time I just go in to talk with them about LEGO news and ideas.
Do you have any interests or hobbies other than LEGO?
I have far too many hobbies. I and a huge tech nerd specifically Apple. I like to repair and fix up old iPhones, iPods, Macs, etc. I like to ski, wood work, tv and movie watcher/critic, baker, hiker, atv rider, and motorcycle rider. Honestly there is probably more but I can't think of them all right now. If you talk to my wife she'd probably list at least a handful more.
How long have you been visiting Brickset?
I joined in 2010. It was the perfect site to keep track of all my sets and get to see the latest news each day. It's part of my daily routine to check in.
What's your favourite/most used feature of the site?
I enjoy the news reel, getting to see the latest from the site, new sets, new rumours, interviews, and break down builds.
Are you a member of a LUG? Which ones?
I am not at this moment. I have tried to find a few but need to put more energy into finding one in Maryland.
Have you been to a LEGO event?
I have been to a few. The last one I went to was BrickUniverse in Augusta, GA. It was only my second convention but had a good time getting to know the designers.
My first and favourite convention was BrickFair in Virigina. My wife and I were here looking at apartments and wanted to stop in and see it. I was blown away, it was massive! I was in heaven, I had never seen so many AFOLs in one place! I still have hope that I will be able to go this year and possibly showcase some of my builds.
Thanks Garrett!
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12 comments on this article
Shouldn't "Meet the member" be a weekly feature?
@mafon2 said:
"Shouldn't "Meet the member" be a weekly feature?"
Oh please no, I love reading a new article everyday!
I don't think set 560 Town House is the correct reference, considering its description in the text and his (presumed) age category.
Apart from that: wow, very talented and versatile MOC'er! I don't collect Brickheadz, but that General Grievous looks marvelous!
Thanks @gman13579!
@Elcascador said:
"I don't think set 560 Town House is the correct reference, considering its description in the text and his (presumed) age category.
Apart from that: wow, very talented and versatile MOC'er! I don't collect Brickheadz, but that General Grievous looks marvelous! "
So it should read 4560 Express Train set, must have just missed that number somehow! Still set the train up whenever I can.
^ Thanks, corrected.
@mafon2 said:
"Shouldn't "Meet the member" be a weekly feature?"
No. Everyone else likes them. If you don't you can hide them https://brickset.com/profile/newspreferences .
Thanks @gman13579 ( Your lady in the picture is very beautiful ! )
And I like reading ' Meet a member ' everyday!
That general grievous is just a whole other level of epic.
Nice to see another Marylander on here!
Wow, very impressive MOCs Garret!!
I was sceptical about the Brickheadz, too. But aftre the Doc and Marty set I'm more open to the idea. Great MOCs by the way, I loved the palace.
@gman13579 : I used to live super close to the Annapolis Lego store too, and would go there all the time! If they still work there, tell Vince and Marty Colby says hi :P