Why Porsche 911, and why now? Mike Psiaki explains
Posted by Huw,
In Blocks magazine Issue 77, Design Master Mike Psiaki takes readers into the process behind fine-tuning 10295 Porsche 911. He explains why it’s white, reveals how he decided to include the Turbo and the Targa and points out his favourite design choice in the set.
There wasn’t room for everything in the magazine feature though, so here’s an exclusive section from the interview that had to be cut for space. In it, Mike explains how the design team decided to tackle the Porsche 911.
Design Master Mike Psiaki sits in the Creator Expert team – the branding may have been removed from the boxes, but many of the 18+ models being released this year are still internally referred to by the old label. Ever since 10248 Ferrari F40, Mike has been making incredible model cars using LEGO bricks – but how does he, and the team, decide what vehicle to do next?
‘It's about getting it in at the right time, we want to have a good variety in our portfolio at any one time,’ he says. ‘To a car enthusiast, a Ford Mustang and a Porsche 911 are very, very different vehicles, but from a very general consumer perspective we see those as being too similar – both are performance cars – so we want to distance them. It was the same when we wanted to put some distance between the Aston Martin and the Ghostbusters car, as those are both movie IP vehicles.’
What’s going on in other themes has to be taken into account too. ‘Especially with Technic, because they're doing a similar thing to us in that they are a large, detailed models of cars. We wanted to make sure that our Porsche wasn't too close. The latest one was the racing one [42096], the RSR, in 2019, so we wanted to have a little bit of distance – I would have liked to do it even sooner.’
Consumer preferences dictated that the model would be the Targa and the Turbo. ‘The first concept model was just based on a first generation 911. We've noticed the sweet spot is early 1960s to late 1970s, maybe even into the 1980s a little bit. Those are the ones that people really connect with, there's a lot more nostalgia for those than say late 1980s, early 1990s. Things move with time, so it'll constantly be changing.
‘Plus with Technic doing more modern Porches, we knew we wanted to do something more retro,’ he adds.
To hear more about Mike’s work on 10295 Porsche 911, check out Blocks Issue 77 or set up a subscription and get these inside stories delivered to your door every month.
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23 comments on this article
Huh, never knew that they released sets in that way!
Probably fully make use of license to make profit again.
His Creator Expert line designs are simply stunning. Wonderful builds and great looking models on display. I was not happy with the Aston Martin at first, but after building it, it grew on me. And with the addition of steering in his more recent cars, it makes his designs even more wonderful.
I hope that he gives us more Movie based cars because the Ecto-1 is simply breathtaking. Bought two of those, just to make a non-Ghostbusters model.
I'm dying to see what he would do with a Back To The Future Delorean...
I like that you can build at least 2 models with this set, but really you should be able to recreate every Porsche made since 1963 (since all Porsches look alike)....
This set could easily be a 33:1 set :)
"You often hear the complaint that all current 911s look pretty much the same. And if you ask critics such as Jeremy Clarkson, host of Amazon’s “Grand Tour” show, he’ll tell you that all Porsche 911s since the model’s debut in 1963 look identical."
@kkoster79 said:
"I like that you can build at least 2 models with this set, but really you should be able to recreate every Porsche made since 1963 (since all Porsches look alike)....
This set could easily be a 33:1 set :)
"You often hear the complaint that all current 911s look pretty much the same. And if you ask critics such as Jeremy Clarkson, host of Amazon’s “Grand Tour” show, he’ll tell you that all Porsche 911s since the model’s debut in 1963 look identical.""
I should hit report, not reply lol
It's easy to make fun of, if you're not a Porsche fan, or have eyes, but every generation of 911 is so different. Yes, they try and keep the silhouette, as it is iconic, it's why it still remains to this day. The technology advancements in each are less apparent to see of course of what is going on inside
as we all know Clarkson is a buffoon anyway and just hates Porsche, just in the same way I hate M Benz and their appalling reliability and Quashais and Jukes, as they are driven and owned by morons :)
This
I cannot wait to build mine, and look forward to more in future, a Delorean is top of the list mind!
@colay said:
"I should hit report, not reply lol
It's easy to make fun of, if you're not a Porsche fan, or have eyes, but every generation of 911 is so different. Yes, they try and keep the silhouette, as it is iconic, it's why it still remains to this day. The technology advancements in each are less apparent to see of course of what is going on inside"
That makes perfect sense for Porsche to be releasing cars that are - visually - more or less identical. They have the opportunity to use new materials, improve the performance, the efficiency, add driver comforts, etc.
But that doesn't translate to models. Strip out all of the guts and construction of the cars that the manufacturer iterates on, and all you are left with is the way it looks. And that's why it feels like we've got too many sets that are too similar.
Yes, the Creator takes a different approach to the Technics, it clearly addresses an audience that wouldn't get one of the Technics sets (especially the bigger / more expensive one). But having the Technics sets, I just can't get excited about another variation.
@lee1980 said:
"I cannot wait to build mine, and look forward to more in future, a Delorean is top of the list mind!"
A DeLorean would be fantastic. The IDEAS set that came out a few years ago left a lot to be desired. I understand the challenges that come with developing a set in that scale, but the Ecto-1 that came out shortly thereafter was amazing at that scale. A Creator Expert scale DeLorean would sell really well. Although I love the Ecto-1 and the DeLorean from BttF, I think the DeLorean is more icon.
If they had fewer color-matching issues lately this could've looked fabulous in lime green
@Snaz said:
"If they had fewer color-matching issues lately this could've looked fabulous in lime green"
Yeah, lime green is horrible with the color matching issues. I have also noticed that dark red is pretty bad as well. My UCS A-Wing has really bad color matching issues with the dark red, and at this point, I don't know which one is the correct shade.
Not a huge car guy, but I do love the look of the car and this model. That being said, I'll never buy it simply because it's white. How boring can you get?
@Daniel8 said:
" @Zoniax said:
"Not a huge car guy, but I do love the look of the car and this model. That being said, I'll never buy it simply because it's white. How boring can you get?"
What's wrong with white? It's the most recognizable Porsche color..."
Oh, I don't know. It's painfully boring? I don't understand why anybody wants anything White. Cars, walls in your house, clothes even. No imagination , no life.
@kkoster79 said:
"And if you ask critics such as Jeremy Clarkson, host of Amazon’s “Grand Tour” show, he’ll tell you that all Porsche 911s since the model’s debut in 1963 look identical.""
We all know he says this only to annoy" the Hamster" who loves Porsche. ;-)
@Daniel8 said:
" @Zoniax said:
"Not a huge car guy, but I do love the look of the car and this model. That being said, I'll never buy it simply because it's white. How boring can you get?"
What's wrong with white? It's the most recognizable Porsche color..."
Strongly disagree - Grand Prix White is up there but I'd say Guards Red is the most recognizable Porsche color. It's been offered on the 911 pretty much continuously since 1974 as well as on many other Porsche models. I don't think any other shade is as prolific.
If they did a Lambo in this scale (maybe something a bit more retro like the Diablo seen in Cannonball Run) I would buy it in a heartbeat.
@kkoster79 said:
"I like that you can build at least 2 models with this set, but really you should be able to recreate every Porsche made since 1963 (since all Porsches look alike)....
This set could easily be a 33:1 set :)"
Mine is arriving today, and I plan to make it into a widebody hardtop without the wing or the turbo. If I add a little ducktail it could pass as a Carrera RS.
They do all look very alike, but not exactly. There are so many options!
@Rare_White_Ape said:
" @kkoster79 said:
"I like that you can build at least 2 models with this set, but really you should be able to recreate every Porsche made since 1963 (since all Porsches look alike)....
This set could easily be a 33:1 set :)"
Mine is arriving today, and I plan to make it into a widebody hardtop without the wing or the turbo. If I add a little ducktail it could pass as a Carrera RS.
They do all look very alike, but not exactly. There are so many options!"
Thanks for understanding my humor. I wasn't knocking Porsche, although they are just a really nice Volkswagen. :) And I like that you are already thinking outside the box...
@kkoster79 said:
"Thanks for understanding my humor. I wasn't knocking Porsche, although they are just a really nice Volkswagen. :) And I like that you are already thinking outside the box..."
People get too defensive sometimes!
And the 911 has so many variations and options for people to do what they want. Unlike Ferrari, Porsche embraces people putting their personal touches into their cars, no matter how tacky. That is something I want to capture in my Lego build of the car. Just like Lego itself, it's all about customisation if you want it.
Targa is more appealing to me. If I managed to get one I may even build a Targa Turbo, wouldn't that be something...
@Legorides said:
"His Creator Expert line designs are simply stunning. Wonderful builds and great looking models on display. I was not happy with the Aston Martin at first, but after building it, it grew on me. And with the addition of steering in his more recent cars, it makes his designs even more wonderful.
I hope that he gives us more Movie based cars because the Ecto-1 is simply breathtaking. Bought two of those, just to make a non-Ghostbusters model.
I'm dying to see what he would do with a Back To The Future Delorean..."
They have the liscensing for the Delorean, so my guess would be that they will release a large one. My hope if for a Speed Champions scale Aston Martin.
I would like to see a Porsche 928 Creator model, but unlikely to happen with the 911 out.
I'm not sure why some have the idea that 'Creator Expert' has been replaced. It still exists, not only internally, but externally as a theme in the printed catalogue and on lego.com. It's only a very strange few that fetishize 18+ as a theme, rather than the insignificant age rating that it actually is!
The problem with white is that some pieces turn yellow with time if they’re exposed to sunlight, which a display model like this will.