Many of you have probably been exposed to my "largish" LEGO-ized version of Serenity from Joss Whedon's "Firefly" television show. It's a few years old now - and frankly, due to be reworked. In particular, my LEGO hobby addiction has escalated quite a bit since then - I've picked up new building styles and techniques - and I have more parts on hand.

But those factors alone weren't enough to get me to start on this project. No...it took bribery of a level I'd never before encountered.

Enter Beth and Mike.

Mike, a fellow Browncoat, emailed me just after Christmas in 2006, including the comment "If you are trying to build other items from the serenity show and movie, I have about 2 UPS truck loads of pieces I would help you build with..."

Turns out this was no idle comment. Mike has a LEGO collection that makes mine look tiny - and his wife, Beth, was encouraging him to "share the wealth". These two generous souls decided to help supply me with the parts I needed to make Serenity 3 (and 4!) possible. Yes, someone had finally offered to send me LEGO bricks for free, just to see what I'd do with them. In particular, Mike mentioned that he had some Yellow parts I had been lusting after....

Do you know what these are?

If you guessed "Trans-Yellow Panel 10 x 10 x 12 Quarter Dome (Corner for 10 x 6 x 11)" then you're as big of a LEGO geek as I am. If you knew that these particular panels were only issued by LEGO in one set, EVER, back in the year 1988...and only one per set...in the Blacktron Intercept Base... well, you have my sympathies.

What's my point? Well, grasshopper, let me put those four quarter domes together for you.

Mmmm. A thing of beauty, isn't it?

Still not sure why I care? Well, take a look at this shot of the Firefly drive from my first version of Serenity and tell me what's wrong with it, compared to the screen cap next to it.

That's right. I am filled with shame. The panels I had to use for that version were ORANGE.

BUT NO LONGER! These new four yellow panels are to be the foundation of a new Reasonably Clever version of Serenity! One with better colors, better detailing, and...wait for it...

...INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN.

Serenity I isn't going anywhere - this new version will be built from scratch - and DOCUMENTED as she's built. I expect this to be an ongoing process - and perhaps even a collaborative one. With Mike and Beth onboard I shouldn't be hurting for parts - but I'm always ready to learn a new LEGO building trick, style or technique. With that in mind, I've set up a new area in the forums to talk about this project as it happens. I'll be documenting the build here as we go along, but the "as it happens stuff" will live over there.

So. This is the beginning. Hope you stay around for the whole ride!