The Brothers Brick

With Valentine’s Day approaching, the lovely Miss Klementina Kos has announced a contest for all you guys to express love through bricks. If you can build a creation that’ll win the hearts of a panel of female AFOL judges, you’ll be rewarded with a complete set of series 3 minifigs. You can check out the contest details on Flickr or MOCpages.

I’ve been a fan of rally racing for quite a long time (hence my love for my WRX). One interesting rally is the Dakar rally, much of which takes place across open desert. Many vehicles are custom built for these races, and Ralph S. (Mad Physicist) has captured the feeling of one excellently

かわいいレゴずき (“I Love Cute LEGO”) has their annual roundup of New Year greetings from Japanese LEGO builders up on the blog, replete with adorable bunnies to honor the Year of the Rabbit.

But most unique of all this year’s New Year creations is this set of osechi cuisine by mumu from the resident builders at かわいいレゴずき:

I always thought osechi food was a bit of an acquired taste, but I’ve said the same thing about traditional American holiday food. (In both cases, it doesn’t help that my choices are further limited by being a vegetarian from birth.) Whether you appreciate the source of inspiration or not, the LEGO version is a lovely evocation of a uniquely Japanese tradition.

Happy 2011, LEGO fans of the world! Scientists, please provide a status update on your abject failure to give us flying cars and personal robots. We are, after all, living in The Future…

Home of LEGO Star Wars Days for the last several years, it’s only natural that LEGOLAND California should get a section of Miniland dedicated to Star Wars. That’s finally happening this March, as announced this morning. From Bricks to Bothans was there today covering the press event, and has all the details and photos, including the ever-awesome Mr. Gary McIntire (with Miniland tauntaun and Han Solo).

Read the full coverage and press release on FBTB.

Check out this mecha by The Magic Tuba Pixie over on flickr.  This thing has some great functional looking greebles, especially along the back.  It certainly looks like there are pistons and stuff that help this thing move.  Add in the posability of this thing, and you’ve got a great creation.

There’s much more to this Juggernaut than meets the eye. Max Yang (Artifex Creation) built this Turbo Tank with remote-controlled driving and steering, along with other RC mechanisms such as clip-fed guns and missiles. It’s even outfitted with custom-designed flashing lights. You can see all these features in the Youtube video below.

Thanks for the tip Masked Builder!

Photographing a low-contrast LEGO creation in low light seems like a recipe for disaster, but Brandon Bannerman (Catsy) manages to pull it off in this top-down shot titled “Long Way Down”:

The photograph itself rewards closer examination, and be sure to click through for the backstory.

From the “Wait, what?” department, LEGO has just re-released the 2004 set 10152 Maersk Sealand Container Ship as the 2011 set 10155 Maersk Container Ship.

The new version has two more pieces and the sticker/decal says “Maersk Line” instead of “Maersk Sealand,” but the set appears to be otherwise identical. 10155 Maersk Container Ship costs $120 (compare to the original at $75 seven years ago) and is available from the LEGO Shop online now.

And the first entry out of the gate for the Jolly Roger Contest over at Forbidden Cove is a simply gorgeous rendition of the Flying Dutchman–barnacles and all. Rod Gillies delights us all with a ship that looks like it was rather eat me than sail me somewhere.

Like many of Peer Kreuger’s (mahjqa) vehicles, they function in real life. His latest Stilzkin Indrik Arctic Vehicle is no different, having the ability to haul a load through real snow. Check out the video below and visit the Flickr set for pictures of the chassis.

My latest creation is a picture puzzle called Ravel. You are a postman trying to escape from a bizarre world in which you have no idea how you got there. Click on the picture for the riddle on how to solve the puzzle. It’s inspired by a childrens book called It’s for You and the flash game Looming.

Just a reminder to those in Australia that Brickvention 2011 will be held in under two weeks so if you’re planning to register as a full participant best get in quick. The public day requires no registration but for an AFOL I strongly recommend being there for all days.

Full details can be found on TBB or at the Brickvention website but the short of it is as follows:

• Dates: 14-16 January (14-15 full participants only, 16 public day)
• Venue: Melbourne Town Hall, corner of Swanston and Collins Streets Melbourne Victoria.
• Cost: Full attendance – $50 for Full registration (over 15), $25 for under 15 registration, Public day – $6 Adults, $3 Children, $15 Family (2 Adults, 2 Children)

This year will be the fifth event and my third and I’ve had a great time each time. I highly advise all Aussie fans and especially those in and around Melbourne to come along.

And taking advantage of bloggers privilege I’ve included a preview shot of a collaborative layout between Mike Pianta (scruffulous) and me. If you come along on Friday you might even get to see me crying at the damage done by the Qantas baggage handlers.

For LEGO fans in and around Hong Kong Brick Adventure 2011 is coming very soon to City University. See below for the press release and thanks to John Ho (IcedPlusCoffee) for sending it to me.

Bricks Adventure 2011 is coming to Town

LEGO have been bringing people in the city up with fun and creativity in constructing their own characters, houses, castles, and even city. Bricks Adventure is a city-wide bricks showcase of the year, presented by the War & Adventure Games Society of City University of Hong Kong (CityU), jointly organized by Legend Bricks. Bricks Adventure now comes to its second annual exhibition and will bring you to a miniature of virtual and reality world, showing the varieties of bricks and great imagination of creators.

The main theme of this year Bricks Adventure is “CITY”, different Japanese-style architecture will all come into view. Beside, theme such as “PIRATE” is the first show in the Hong Kong. All minifigures of pirates are in proportion.

Date: 12th – 21st January 2011
Time: 10:30am – 8:30pm (Opening: 12th January 2011, Time: 11am to 5:30pm)
Venue: Multi-Purpose-Room A&B,
4/F, Amenities Building,
City University of Hong Kong,
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

We think, we build and we share. Bricks Adventure is sharing thoughts and ideas while exchanging more of them through tours and other interactions. Educational and group tours guided by creators of Bricks Adventure 2011 will give you a glance of LEGO creation. Reservation needs to be made on a first-come-first-serve basis. Groups from kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, institutions, organizations are all welcomed to register for guided tours.

Bricks Adventure 2011 and guided tours are free to all. We look forward to seeing you in Bricks Adventure 2011.

For more details, please visit Bricks Adventure 2011 official website, Flickr Page or Facebook Page.

For enquires and reservation, please contact: (852)61082889 (Elaine Yim), (852)60191189 (John Ho)
Email: elaine@legendbricks.com