World’s Smallest Empire Strikes Back LEGO MOC

Hello, Stephen here. With the 45th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, I wanted to make a LEGO MOC (My Own Creation) for our local ‘comic con’. I also wanted to have more of the fan experience as last year I took my LEGO battle robots but they were unrelated to film, comics, or anime (just fun). My LUG (LEGO User Group) was planning a large Hoth battle scene, but I build with Technic (not bricks) so I had nothing for the Hoth battle scene.

Then I learned about the “ice cream maker” prop in The Empire Strike Back and I knew I had my build.  I would attempt the world’s smallest movie MOC.

Step One:

Procure a real Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker that was used as a full sized prop in the movie as an inspiration for my LEGO MOC.  Facebook Marketplace and $15 dollars later - done step one.

Step Two:

To build the MOC I pulled out my white Technic pieces and few LEGO Systems (stud) pieces so I could figure out the best way to represent an ice cream maker.  My first thought was a pail, but LEGO has never released the pail in white.  Tried various one stud round shapes until I found a white half bushing.  The cross in the bushing would simulate the vent holes in the top of the ice cream maker.  Three tiny pieces of Technic later - I had the world’s smallest movie MOC.

Step Three:

Displaying the MOC would require some way to showcase such a small object.  And people needed to know “Why an ice cream maker?” So I mounted it on Technic Panel Plate with the following explanation.

World’s Smallest LEGO Movie MOC

The Camtono (Ice Cream Maker) was carried by an ‘extra’ in The Empire Strikes Back. (1 hour, 47 min, 50 seconds into the movie.) Willrow Hood was taking computer drives to avoid them falling into Imperial hands during the evacuation of Cloud City. He carried them in a Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker.

Willrow Hood - Source: https://gizmodo.com/the-mystery-of-star-wars-legend-willrow-hood-has-finall-1835693713