From Junk to Luck: The Birth of Luck-E the Mandarin

Jeremy Ramos
Jan 30, 2025
2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Watch the build process for Luck-E the Mandarin

About the Artwork

My very first build project began with a simple challenge: create a robot using recycled materials. No rules, no expectations—just whatever could be salvaged from what most people throw away.

At the time, I had spent plenty of hours watching scratchbuilding and kitbashing creators like Gameyy Builds and Bill Making Stuff, admiring their creativity from a distance. Still, I never seriously considered making my own builds—until I stumbled across a few tutorial videos by Andy Mecha. Those videos made the process feel approachable, even achievable. So I decided to try.

I went into the project with zero expectations. I asked a few friends if they would donate their recycled items—lids, containers, odds and ends. The reactions were exactly what you’d expect when you tell someone you want their trash to build a robot. Confusion, laughter, and more than a few raised eyebrows.

With no expectations came no clear direction. The build process was completely organic, shaped only by the tools and materials I had on hand. I experimented freely, letting the materials suggest their own purpose. Eventually, a small robot form began to take shape—its body made from a mandarin fruit cup.

That’s when the project unexpectedly shifted. My friends who were confused about this idea now thought the robot was really cool. A friend suggested I auction the piece as a fundraiser for those affected by the LA County wildfires. Suddenly, this wasn’t just an experiment anymore. If someone was going to handle or own this piece, it needed to be sturdy, finished, and thoughtfully constructed. For the first time, the project had a real purpose.

As the build progressed, I realized how lucky I had been. The piece was turning out far better than I had imagined. Around the same time, it was Lunar New Year, a holiday where mandarins are symbols of luck and prosperity. The connection felt too perfect to ignore.

And that’s how Luck-E the Mandarin was born.

What started as a pile of recycled junk became something meaningful—an artwork, a character, and the beginning of a larger creative journey. Luck-E wasn’t just my first build; it was proof that discarded materials, when seen differently, can tell stories worth sharing.

The full diorama build video and story narration are scheduled to be released in March 2026.