The company sends you all the materials needed to construct the AT-AT, but can't promise protection from the rebel snowspeeders lurking nearby. It costs 55 Yuan, which is only $8, but that doesn't include postage obviously. [GeekCook via WalYou]

The dinghy was made by Michael Johansson for an exhibition in Malmö, Sweden. Unfortunately, it's not a real plastic model: "Everything is painted in a unifying plastic layer to resemble the surface of a model kit. The real boat is transformed into a model of itself, and its original purpose has given way to something else."

Oh, Michael, you trickster. You totally got me there. Still, I want one for xmas. [Michael Johansson via Neatorama]

Student Kyle Buckner made this 3/4 scale model out of wood, with real working hinges and everything, and hand-drew the Dock, icons, keyboard, trackpad, and even the little Philips screws on with a pencil. It also features a magnetically-attached "screen" that has a pull-tab underneath. When pulled, the tab shows a very cool film strip drawing with illustrations of the wonders of Mac. Check out the gallery below for more shots. [Kyle Buckner, thanks Kyle!]

But can a hulking robot be a model?

Even though the HRP-4C packs 42 motors, at just over 5 feet tall and 95 pounds in weight, she's still thin enough to guilt teenage girls everywhere into puking up their lunches. And the manga-inspired face, with a tiny nose and large eyes, should keep the plastic surgery market afloat in even the most dire economic climate.

Unlike modern models, however, the HRP-4C walks down the runway with constantly bent knees and it fully capable of smiling.

In case you are looking for an HRP-4C of your own, a similar model will cost you $3 million. Otherwise, you can check her out again during the Tokyo fashion show on March 23rd. [Straights Times via Engadget and Getty Images]

If a box is held in front of its screen, the German-only (for now) Digital Box will scan the bar code and present an animated model of the completed set on its screen. Apparently it uses the same tech used by camera phones to scan bar codes and present product data, but obviously much better because the result is always a 3D Lego model. [DVICE]

[Corvette Blogger via Jalopnik via DVICE]

To death I say! Jason, I'm ready. [Flickr via Neatorama]

The very next thing I did was set to tearing it apart to see how it worked. Once I had it apart, I decided to add some additional LED running lights and some interior lights as well. In all I have about 18 hours into this project and I am pleased with the results. Needless to say Pete Jr is certainly excited about it too.

If the cockpit wasn't out of proportion, this would have been a perfect model for the movie. [Peter Clute]

The Emirates A380 model has been placed at the Heathrow Airport roundabout previously known as the Concorde Roundabout—because it had a replica of that plane. It's not made of Lego bricks, but given the fact that it is bigger than my apartment, I won't mind living in one. [Emirates]

Matt's achieved such precision in such a short time of working on this project, I can't help but wonder about it. Look at that robotic femur—it's just polystyrene, but surely this is step one on the road to metal-cutting self-replicating robots? The thought of one of these, armed with that eerie-sounding cutting tool, advancing across the floor towards me is a real heebie-jeebie inducer...

Just kidding, of course. As long as it doesn't choose to remodel anyone's face with that Dremel cutter, it's a pretty cool project. [Project page via Robosavvy —Thanks Limor]

DUN DUN DUN! [Surface Blog]

The completed ship is 231 studs long (that's almost 73 inches, for us non-Lego-geeks), 41 studs wide and weighs about 30 pounds. It's packed with attention to detail that has to be seen to be believed, down to different antenna sizes dotted around the tower and complex engine-plumbing. Mark's decision to avoid too many exposed studs must have added considerably to both the expense and building time, but has resulted in something that looks almost like a prop from a Lucas' set.

Whether you think "dedication to hobby" or "Lego nutcase in action," you've got to admit its pretty awesome. Now, who on Earth would think of taking on a project like that? [Lego Invisible Hand via Brothers Brick]

You can even build and operate an electric train, windmill, solar cooker, solar hot water tank, hygrometer, electric motor, power hoist and sail car. And let's not forget that action figures need to eat. You can take care of their needs by planting watercress, preparing sauerkraut, and making chewing gum. All in all you can conduct 70 experiments and 20 building projects with the Power House kit —all of which are outlined in the included 90 page instruction manual. Available for $149.95. [Product Page via EcoGeek]

At $199.95 it's a bargain, and you could even use it for Christmas too—just throw a Santa suit on him. Dry ice not included. [Hammacher]

This 24-inch high tornado demonstration model includes seven experiments you can perform with it, and then you can make up some of your own involving Barbie dolls and so forth. Wonder if this thing is really noisy—might be fun to have one running on the desktop 24/7. Office looks like a tornado hit it? Here's your excuse. – Charlie White

Product Page [Ward's Natural Science, via Sci Fi Tech]