There have been so many stories of people in the so-called “autism spectrum” who have become news celebrities for even the briefest of moments, because they did something awe-inspiring and remarkable with their unique talents. Usually these feats happen by means of their extraordinary attention to details, and resolute patience.
It would explain the achievement of Brynjar Karl Bigisson, a 15-year-old from Reykjavik, Iceland diagnosed with Autism. He just gave other big-scale model LEGO builders a run for their money by designing and constructing a LEGO model of RMS Titanic, the famed ocean liner that sunk in 1912 after hitting an iceberg.
Brynjar’s dream project came about due to two factors in his childhood: being introduced to LEGO when he was 5, and an ocean fishing trip with his grandfather Ludvik Ogmundsson which fired up his fascination for ships. Eventually his special attributes spurred him to study the Titanic to minute detail.
Using 56,000 bricks and building elements, Brynjar created what is believed to be the largest scale replica of the Titanic in LEGO yet. Measuring 26 feet in length and 5 feet in height, there’s just no contest, even for the 5-meter Millennium Falcon once displayed at Melbourne’s LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.
The dimensions for the LEGO Titanic built by Brynjar were so that it would be scale-accurate to the size of regular LEGO minifigures that could be positioned on it. Calculating the level of scaling to achieve the right proportions was no problem for this Icelandic wunderkind. Labor took him beyond 700 hours total, though he had help from grandpa Ludvik and his proud mother Bjarney Ludviksdottir. Family members donated to help him buy all the LEGO bricks required to finish.
Following its first public reveal, Brynjar’s LEGO Titanic model was shipped to America (in three pieces to reassemble later) and has been put in display at the Titanic Museum Attraction of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It will remain on exhibit there all through December of 2019.
