Hello! This is my first Instructable, so bear with me xD. Ok, This is my completely custom UNSC Pillar of Autumn, from the video game series Halo. More specifically, from Reach. I'm not going to do a complete brick-by-brick, cuz that would take forever, But I'm going to break it down into its 5 modular parts, and then some. If you have questions or can't see clearly a step, drop a comment and I'll try to help. I also plan to create a LDraw file of the ship I could email, which would provide step-by-step. This program is similar to LDD, but with allthe bricks possible. it's cool, check it out.

http://ldraw.org/

The final model measures 21 inches long and 8 inches wide!

Ok! Forward Unto Dawn! Wait...wrong ship. Let's Go!

Step 1: Reference!

OK, since we'll be making the Reach version of the PoA, we need some in-game reference pics. The firefight map "Holdout" is a good one to check out in the theater, seeing as the PoA is sitting in the background. You can't fly completely around it, but you an get a pretty good view, especially of the engines. I also used these reference pics, and then in-game of the engines. I want to make this perfectly clear before we go on, I did not make this 100% game accurate, I took some creative liberty while making this, mostly to make sure it stayed together, which it does. Barely. But I'll expain how to fix it in the next step!

Step 2: Materials!

For this build you will need:

1. Legos!

Ok so I'm not entirely sure of every single piece, so study the pictures carefully and ask questions! Also, I didn't have all the necessary parts in the correct colors, but this should be mostly all dark gray pieces. I'll point out later what should be other colors.

2. Super Glue*!

Remember how I said this barely holds together? This Pillar of Autumn is pretty fragile. That's because it's almost completely hollow, and the internal supports don't connect entirely. I'll explain better later, but if you don't super glue this bad girl together, she has to stand balanced on her engines against a wall, not horizontally the way she's meant to fly.

*Note: PLEASE double check all the pieces are correct before you glue them together. This will be slightly complex, requiring some building, taking apart, then rebuilding**. Once again I can make this clear later. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INCORRECTLY STUCK LEGOS. So emphasis on checking and double checking. Be careful!

**Note: Any parts that require a hinge to attach them, DO NOT GLUE THE PANELS UNTIL THE VERY END. You can glue all the parts together within the panel, but keep it able to detach from the main build. Otherwise it'll be harder to assemble the entire ship.

Step 3: The Bridge

This is most likely the easiest part of the whole ship. Now when I built this I ran out of the wedges, but the first picture is how it should look, minus the color.

I also removed a 2x2 smooth light gray tile from the 2x4 plates on the side for another build, but you should add those to it.

For connecting those pieces, see picture 3 above. Note that on the "top" (towards the gray wedge, there are black bricks, those should be wedges. The black above the side-studded bricks should be bricks.

Step 4: The Forward Hull

This part gets a little more complicated. Any smooth tiles should remain light gray, and any studded tile is dark gray. This goes for the entire ship. The grille plates also can be light gray, or black, or even dark gray, whatever looks best to you.

Picture 2 is the front part of this piece, and connects to the bridge, but don't do it yet! resist the temptation! Build each module before combining all of them. Trust me. It's easier.

Picture 3 is the rear, where it connects to the next part.

Picture 4 demonstrates how the interior supports don't quite connect fully. PLEASE make sure this is the correct length by adding the side plates so they connect properly BEFORE you glue, then glue and attach, making sure it's still the correct length while the glue is still wet.

Step 5: The...Next Part.

Ok so I really don't know what this part is. But it looks cool, and it's there. Maybe it's the Rear Forward Hull. But that's confusing. Looks like a robot head. Call it the next part. This is where things start to hollow out.

In this case, the dark gray smooth tiles should remain dark gray, not light.

You have to make sure the pins will fit in the holes later on for the final assembly, which requires just a very slight disconnect of parts. To make sure they line up correctly, get a flat plate and put 3 2x2 tiles with technic pins sticking in the middle (See Main Hull). Position them like shown in the Main Hull step (2 right next to each other, the 3rd 5 studs down, centered.) Slightly separate the bricks of the Next Part until the pins go in the holes perfectly and the tiles themselves don't get unattached.

Step 6: The Main Hull

This is where the fun begins. Actually from here on out it becomes more difficult. And bigger.

Ok make sure you check all the images for notes, because it's easier to explain on the picture.

Basically:

#2 Front.

#3 Back.

#4-9 Interior Support

#10 Weird Foot Things

#11 UNSC logo!

#12 GUNS!!!

Ok so I realized I didn't take a picture of the top and bottom panels. See picture #13-14 to explain.

Step 7: The Engine Assembly.

This part is biggest of the whole ship. Ready? Let's dive in.

#2 Front

#3 Attaching

#4 ENGINES! :O

#5 Side/Corner Panels

#6 The Actual Side Panels

#7 Interior Struts

#8 Angled Panels

#9-10 Wedging the Hinges

Step 8: Final Assembly - Attach Main Hull

First off, sorry for the sideways images, I didn't catch it in time. xD

Ok! So first off, position the Engine Assembly on it's engines as shown. Remove the side panels and position the Main Hull plates that we made sure were on the outside onto the studs we made sure were one stud higher than the rest. Make sure the tops are aligned correctly. See pictures for details.

Press down firmly to attach the two modules together. If you aren't gluing, please be careful as this is where it's likely to shatter on you.

You may now reattach and glue the panels of these two modules.

Step 9: Final Assembly - Attach

This step is a little tricky, as the pins don't quite fit the holes unless you line it up perfectly. Just be careful when gluing.

Step 10: Final Assembly - Attach Forward Hull

This is fairly simple, and also seems flimsy if you aren't gluing, but it works. Line up the studs as shown in the picture, as you don't want this module perfectly centered.

Step 11: Final Assembly - Attach Bridge

Once again very easy. It's basically made to only fit one way.

Now you may glue down any other panels you haven't yet.

Step 12: Done!

You now have your very own Lego Pillar of Autumn! Congratulations and thanks for sticking with me through this instructable! Here's some pictures of the final product in action.