“Do we need the monkey?”

In 1981, one movie dominated the box office and launched an enduring and often imitated franchise. That film of course was Raiders of the Lost Ark. Even LEGO got in on the imitation game, though they waited until 1998 to introduce us to Johnny Thunder (AKA Sam Grant or Joe Freemann, depending on where you grew up.) LEGO builder adotnamedstud expertly brings this memorable “Indy-flick” moment to life, using detailed textures, effective vignette-style worldbuilding, and by taking full advantage of all the printed tile elements exclusive to LEGO set 10359 Fountain Garden.

"Do we need the monkey?"

Small but impactful choices throughout the build really add up, such as the weathering on the door, a well balanced color palette, and little callouts to other moments in the movie, like Marion’s frying pan. LEGO “Director” Minifigure (unofficially Steven Spielberg!) would approve.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Jurassic World Rebirth 76973 Raptor & Titanosaurus Tracking Mission – Biggest. Dino. Ever. [Review]

In Jurassic World Rebirth, scientists require DNA from the largest and most lethal dinosaurs on a secret research island run amok. For sheer size, the Titanosaurus is arguably the biggest there ever was, and it’s the star of the second biggest LEGO set in the Rebirth line. LEGO Jurassic World Rebirth 76973 Raptor & Titanosaurus Tracking Mission contains one enormous sauropod, a raptor, two vehicles, three minifigs, a campsite, and an abandoned gas station, built from 582 pieces. The set releases on June 1 and can be pre-ordered now for US $109.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99. Does bigger mean better when it comes to dino DNA? Join us as we track down the answers in our review.

 

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click here to read our full review!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Holy Week collaboration is a testament to creativity and faith

From Byzantine icons to Michelangelo murals to swords-and-sandals epics, the New Testament gospels have been a source of artistic inspiration for nearly 2000 years. During the lead up to Easter, RebelLUG members Kevin Wanner, Eli Willsea, Chris Roberts, and James Libby collaborated on a series of 8 builds corresponding with Holy Week. Regardless of one’s faith, the series is an inspiring use of LEGO as a storytelling medium and a showcase of amazing talent in the community.

Kevin contributes the first entry, an immersive scene that depicts Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, the origins of Palm Sunday.

The Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday) 3
Read on for the full holy week collaboration

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

We’re feeling a bit of déjà blue

TBB regular Andreas Lenander transports us to another time and place with this “revamp” of his LEGO Falcon chapel model from last year. The chapel design in this medieval scene remains largely unchanged from the original except for the new blue hues in the roof, but Andreas took an entirely different approach to the setting and landscaping this time around. The autumnal leaf and feather elements in the twisted tree look like they were made for each other, and the circular base with a mixture of inlaid curved slope elements elevates the entire build (literally and figuratively).

The chapel

You can learn more about Andreas’ building process on his YouTube channel, including how the base’s construction was “an unbelievable pain”. An experienced builder he may be, but apparently he has never stepped on a LEGO piece.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Battle Chaser forged in brick

While I am unfamiliar with the source material of the Battle Chasers comic, I do recognize an epic character design brought off the page into life…or brick. LEGO Designer Wes Talbott has done exactly that with his build of the character Calibretto. And in the process, it seems Wes has managed to use every new slope, wedge, and tile that exists. This build could also fit in perfectly in the LEGO Nexo Knights theme.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Jurassic World 76972 Raptor Off-Road Escape and 76975 T. rex River Escape – Jurassic Classics [Review]

Every new Jurassic movie adds at least one new dino species or hybrid, and this summer’s Jurassic World: Rebirth looks to be no exception. But the franchise also loves bringing back the original MVPs – T.Rex and Velociraptor – who, like Godzilla, have become the heroes as much as monsters. Each of these legends gets its own set in LEGO’s line of Rebirth sets in the form of 76972 Raptor Off-Road Escape and 76975 T. rex River Escape. The sets contain 286 and 199 pieces, respectively, and will be available on June 1. You can pre-order now for  US $39.99 | CAN $44.99 | UK £29.99 (Raptor) and US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £44.99 (T.Rex). 32 years after Spielberg and co turned them into stars, does this dino duo still shine?

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click here to read our full review!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Factions may merge in the LEGO Star Wars Factions extended universe

There are LEGO vignettes that tell a story, and then there are LEGO vignettes that put you in the room. darth_bjorn puts you in the room of Rothana Heavy Engineering. The clean reflective floor, the dark red leaves, the gray mixed in with the dark bluish-gray pieces, the large windows right out of Star Wars designs…that all pull you straight into this intense scene where an alliance is being struck. At this point, I’m probably required to sign the business deal being negotiated, but we’ll see how it plays out.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Let’s roll up some advanced Dungeons and Dragons LEGO characters [Minifig Monday]

Last year LEGO released a minifigure I never would have expected in a thousand years – a mindflayer paired with an intellect devourer. Dungeons and Dragons turned out to be the perfect license to deliver fantasy and medieval accessories to an underserved audience. While it’s uncertain if LEGO will release any other D&D sets in the future, the creative minifig building community isn’t slowing down in rolling up new charcters. Let’s have a look at some recent highlights!

What started as a group of friends and actors livestreaming their D&D campaigns became a media empire for Critical Role, culminating in the animated series The Legend of Vox Machina. Fantasy minifig artisan Thorgrihm pays tribute to the show with his take on the cast.

ASortaOkayBuilder was also inspired by D&D in other media and made a minifig tribute to the Not Another D&D Podcast. This Steel Hawk Fighter is called Zudrick of the Murder and is equipped with an oversized anime sword for over-the-top stabbing.

Roll for initiative and venture onward for more D&D minifig designs

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Andromeda Asteroid Mining Rig – I’ve expanded my microscale space frontier

I’m continuing to expand my microscale space universe. Last time I checked in with a lunar launch diorama, as my home-brew theme shot into deep space from the moon. Now the Interplanetary Expedition Alliance, or I.E.A., has set up a large mining facility out in the asteroid belt.

The facility consists of a large space station as the hub, and two captured asteroids being mined for their mineral wealth.

Click to read the rest of the article

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Jurassic World Rebirth 76976 Spinosaurus & Quetzalcoatlus Air Mission – Paging Johnny Thunder [Review]

Three years after Jurassic World: Dominion closed the book on two generations of scientists and park staff, the franchise is back with a new cast, a new director (Rogue One‘s Gareth Edwards), and, most importantly, a new island full of deadly dinosaurs to escape from in Jurassic World: Rebirth. In advance of the film’s debut this July, LEGO is releasing 6 sets, with the biggest of them all being LEGO Jurassic World Rebirth 76976 Spinosaurus & Quetzalcoatlus Air Mission. The playset packs in two large dinosaur figures, four minifigs, two vehicles, and a substantial ruin that doubles as a dino nest and brings big Adventurers energy. It also sports the biggest pricetag yet for a Jurassic playset. This epic Air Mission is available on June 1 and can be pre-ordered now for US $159.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £139.99. Is it worth a braving a detour to InGen’s lost island to pick it up? Let us be your guide.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click here to read our full review!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Star Wars 40765 Kamino Training Facility Gift with Purchase: Train in Vain? [Review]

Star Wars Day (May the 4th) is always a fun day for LEGO Star Wars fans. As well as the usual festivities, it often coincides with the launch of several new sets in the theme – and a new Gift with Purchase (GWP). This year, we’re visiting the cloners on Kamino with 40765 Kamino Training Facility. With 190 pieces, you’ll need to spend US $160 | CAN $210 | UK £145 on Star Wars products between May 1st and May 5th to get it added to your shopping cart. Luckily there are loads of ways to do that with new sets: helmets from the prequels and sequels, the galaxy’s most violent astromech droid, or to get it all in one go, the UCS Slave I. If you’re on the fence about getting it, read our review to see if it will sway your opinion!

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Commence training programme here!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Avacyn has flying, vigilance, and protection from brick separators

Back when I played Magic, the Gathering, I was more of a green or black player, but I lost more than a few games to angel-themed white decks with their ability to cancel incoming damage. For his latest character creation, Eero Okkonen translates Magic’s seraphic hero Avacyn from the plane of Innistrad into brick form, and the results are divine. The wings are substantial but somehow look light, balanced on the angel’s back. Avacyn’s bust is cleverly shaped from a pair of bigfig arms. The lance head with macaroni tubes is perfect. Showing that even a master is always learning, Eero shares that the angled pattern around the hip area was created using the grid-breaking techniques shared on New Elementary last month in this essential article.

Avacyn, the Guardian Angel

Craving more Magic characters? alex_mocs creates another white hero with this haunting Elesh Norn model.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.