I’ve forgotten the number of hours I spent playing Skyrim, so when I saw Proudspire Manor by soccersnyderi it was like I was back in Solitude with a sword in my hand and a pack full of loot. This LEGO model of the game location was built as a commissioned model for one of the actual game designers, since Isaac had already built Sigurd’s Store and the Holt Windmill. Besides being very recognizable, it also features fantastic roof work, textured stone walls, and a brilliant slanted roof.
We’ve recently featured a sci-fi diorama sporting some nice portals, but this diorama by I Scream Clone places portals in a very different theme indeed. Both of these were built for a loosely connected collaborative project named “Portals” presented during the Sydney Brick Show. The builder brings an oldschool castle diorama to the table, with some very good structures, but mostly simple landscaping that helps the portals stand out even better. I wonder, are these dioramas really connected…
Often LEGO creations are simplified, cartoony versions of what they represent, with some details skipped for a better overall effect. Hardly so in this medieval construction site by Jonas Kramm. There are more realistic details here than I could count, but I should point out the wooden supports and the amazing stone brick construction. Most importantly, the scene feels real. The composition and minifig action really make you feel like you are back in time.
This little stone troll build by Simon NH is a great showcase of mixing old and new elements together. The old grey elements really help sell the ancient nature of the creature, while the new parts such as the curved 1×1 tiles provide the necessary shaping. I’m especially fond of the nose and chin sections, which have been shaped with a beard and hair piece.
With a minimalist microscale style, Andrew JN to evokes the worn road to Golgotha, where the Christ trod at the start of the Easter story. Andrew uses earth tones to sculpt the narrow way of this normally sleepy Jewish town. The tiny villagers and distinct Roman soldiers consist of only 3 or 4 elements each, but there’s no mistaking the angry mob surrounding a brown cross.
It’s a bit strange when a LEGO creation is sturdier than the subject it represents. Such is the case with this weathered hut by Grant Davis, which looks like a bunch of bricks were thrown together without proper connections and then collapsed immediately after being photographed.
That is most definetely not the case, as Grant shows in his very informative video, where he even turns the build upside-down — and it remains intact! The ground texture and colours should also be pointed out, as the builder achieves a very realistic effect by using closely related colours in natural looking patterns.
German LEGO builder markus19840420 has made this towering keep for the Imperium der Steine “Nine kingdoms” roleplaying game, and the keep has some very interesting characteristics — it combines old and new castle building styles very fluently. The classic building techniques include somewhat simple rockwork based on slopes, with square towers and clean wall designs, broken up with architectural detailing and some texture. On the other hand it uses many modern pieces and colours, so it looks fresh and new. I should point out the intriguing geological structure on which the fortress is built, which adds an element of mystery to Markus’ creation.
I’ve seen a lot of LEGO medieval houses, but I can’t remember ever seeing one with feet. Builder Jaapxaap says he’s been there and done that as he unveils his second building with legs (his first moving mansion even had a beard). Is this the concept of mobile homes back in the olde times?
Run farmer, run! A fearsome LEGO hill giant lumbers his way along the cobbled path, doubtless “Fe, Fi, Fo”-ing under his breath. David Zambito‘s giant has an excellent face (cleverly built around a backward Teddy bear), an impressive chin, and crazy wiry hair. The shoulder pauldron, the chains with skull motif, that cow under the arm — all of it creates a great overall look. Special mention should be made of the dark red kilt and those matching boots with their straps of LEGO string.
If “LEGO Sandpunk” wasn’t a thing before, it totally is now thanks to this wonderful desert city scene from sweetsha. Windmills abound amidst the Middle-Eastern architecture, and there’s a nice sense of activity with the bustle of minifigs around market stalls. However, it’s the huge clock that dominates the townscape, creating an eerie collision between mysticism and technology. The whole thing is reminiscent of Stargate, but the transformation of the gate into a clock is a masterstroke, turning this into something all its own.
My only niggle with the model is the relatively plain studs-up base, which might have benefited from some added texture — pebbles, boulders, maybe a couple of plants. However, that’s a minor criticism of an otherwise well-built and interesting diorama. Check out this wider view to get the full effect of this creative build (and don’t miss the smart use of hot-air balloon pieces to create the onion dome on the foreground building on the left).
Get a sneak peek into the latest trends in Goblin decor right here! Logs, tentacles, and lengths of chain are all the rage this season — and no fortress wall is complete without a culvert gate spewing a stream of lava. Kingdomviewbricks keeps us all up to date on Orcish design in this fantastic LEGO scene. The bubbling river of hot death is a nice touch, but don’t miss the mix of old and new grey sloped bricks to create the barren landscaping of the base.
This week we headed up to our great neighbor to the north to track down Tim Schwalfenberg. Tim lives in Canada, is 21 years old and is currently studying Materials Engineering at his local university. He also likes to publicly smash his LEGO builds too, but more about that later.
TBB: Hi Tim! Can you tell us a little about yourself and your relationship with the Brick?
Tim: Sure! I have found LEGO to be a great creative outlet when I need a break from all my calculus or physics courses. While I’ve been building almost as long as I can remember, it wasn’t until my first year of university that I started to look at LEGO with the intention of making anything beyond the rainbow-warrior spaceships of my earlier years. Through a combination of some inspiring creations I stumbled upon through MOCpages and finding myself with too much free time on my hands, I decided that to try out this LEGO thing more seriously. Thousands of pieces and hundreds of creations later the LEGO hobby has become an incredibly important part of my life. The itch to build has become a constant companion that is easily rewarded by long hours tinkering away on a table-scrap covered table.