Photos: Crowning the newest Lego master

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  • Weighing bricks

    Weighing bricks

    On Tuesday, finalists in Legoland California's contest for a master model builder went head-to-head to build a model they thought would fit in at the theme park.

    Before the "build-off," contestants chose their bricks from dozens upon dozens of bins. Then, a Legoland store employee (pictured) weighed their selections.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Face models and eggs

    Face models and eggs

    For their two skill tests, competitors were tasked with building models of faces and eggs. Legoland master model builders then collected the results and placed them in a room for later examination.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Hanif Payandeh

    Hanif Payandeh

    Master model builder finalist Hanif Payandeh, 24, examines the Lego egg he created during the second skill test in Carlsbad, Calif.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Gary McIntire

    Gary McIntire

    At the start of the main build-off on Tuesday, finalist Gary McIntire, a 25-year-old construction professional from Highland, Utah, pours his bricks out onto his table in preparation for some serious building.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Jason Poland

    Jason Poland

    Jason Poland, a recent college graduate from Houston, grabbed first place in the master model builder competition. Here, Poland gets started on his winning fire-breathing snowman.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Poland through mouth of shark

    Poland through mouth of shark

    Poland, as viewed through the mouth of a Lego shark at Legoland California. Poland beat out 22 other finalists from around the country to become the newest master builder at the theme park.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Choosing more bricks

    Choosing more bricks

    Throughout the main competition, finalists continually got to grab more bricks from a table covered with tubs.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Working on cop

    Working on cop

    Clay Hervey, who finished second, works on his model of a police officer. Hervey, a graphic design student, hails from Mesquite, Texas.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Dragon almost done

    Dragon almost done

    The crowd favorite, a dragon, is pictured in its almost-finished form during the final round of the master model builder competition.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Winning model

    Winning model

    Winner Poland's model of a snowman breathing fire.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Judges inspecting

    Judges inspecting

    While inspecting the finalists' models, the three judges got in close to peer inside one builder's pirate cave.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Poland reacts

    Poland reacts

    Poland reacts after the announcement that he'd won the national master model builder competition.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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On the second day of Legoland's contest to find a master model builder, a winner emerges.

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Weighing bricks

On Tuesday, finalists in Legoland California's contest for a master model builder went head-to-head to build a model they thought would fit in at the theme park.

Before the "build-off," contestants chose their bricks from dozens upon dozens of bins. Then, a Legoland store employee (pictured) weighed their selections.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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