Tim Goddard (roguebantha_1138) recently won a Brickish Association contest to build a scene that included only one type of Collectible Minifigure. We love Tim’s microscale creations, but it’s also nice to see him flexing his (apparently quite strong) minifig-scale muscles, too.
FBTB’s 2011 Podracer Challenge drew about 50 entries for podracers that feature a non-Star Wars theme. You can see all the podracers in detail in the first voting phase of the contest.
The talented group of LEGO fans in Hong Kong have put together a large exhibit organized by and hosted in Cityplaza from April 15 – May 2. There are 3 sections of the display. The first features a panel of storyboards detailing development of the LEGO Company. The second is a display of 2,000 figures and large figure sculptures spanning over 30 years of minifig history.
The third and most exciting section is a display of 17 famous world landmarks and icons such as the Grand Palace in Thailand by Vincent Cheung, a pyramid from Egypt by ArzLan, the Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Russia by Schneider Cheung, and Tiananmen in China by Andy Hung. Some early pictures taken by Joey Kwok have been uploaded on Flickr. I’ll update this post as more pictures of the event show up.
LEGO M4 Sherman tanks are the single most popular tank to build, so it’s nice to see a builder break out of that mold and reproduce in LEGO a less popular but more interesting tank design. PhiMa does this with the tank that preceded the Sherman, the M3 Grant.
Three reasons I think the Sherman is so popular are because 1) They were the most common tanks by the end of World War II, 2) The convention is to build them in gray (standing in for olive drab) and gray is a fairly common color in LEGO, and 3) The structure above the chassis is fairly straightforward (though the curves are hard to get right in LEGO). In contrast, M3 Grants were used widely by British forces in North Africa, requiring tan instead of gray/olive, and they’re a lot more complex — especially with those two turrets — above the treads.
But PhiMa’s version isn’t just about the pretty exterior; he’s built significant playability features into the model, including a full interior and detailed engine.
This microscale helium transport rover by Robert H. (Robiwan_Kenobi) has so many neat details to point out. For starters, there’s the spherical container modules made from ball turrets, the suspension springs made from ray guns, the command module made from a helmet visor, and the joints on the mecha made from half of a universal joint. Everything is integrated beautifully into this small but quality-oriented model.
So far, our auctions have raised over FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS! Thanks so much to everyone who has donated creations, and everyone who has bid on them!
There are half a dozen auctions ending in the next twelve hours, and a few more the next day. I’ll also be adding some new stuff this weekend, so keep an eye out for more MOCs, and some LEGO Cuusoo! Here are some of the auctions ending soon:
Once again, here’s the link to all of the on-going auctions to help the Red Cross in their efforts to help the victims of the earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan and the Pacific Rim.
As much as we enjoy them, I suspect we’re all used to seeing microscale modular buildings at this point. But a micro version of 10188 Death Star? Well done, Brickbuilder0937!
Brickbuilder0937 further miniaturizes the mini TIE Fighter, and includes every little scene from the official set — detention block, trash compactor, throne room, and more. But my favorite feature is the little extra star on the end of the Death Star laser. Adorable!
Bricks by the Bay and the steampunk Nova Albion exhibition happened at the same time and the same place last month, so Iain Heath (Ochre Jelly) and Guy Himber (V&A Steamworks) took advantage of this massive convergence of geekiness to dress for the occasion. Naturally, Iain followed that up with LEGO versions of himself and the inimitable Mr. Himber.
Bravo, sirs, bravo.
Making mecha with oodles of character is definitely one of RongYiren’s strong points. His Couple of Squares are no exception but take a slightly more convential robot shape to his typical work. The posing, little details and excellent colour use really make these polygons shine.
I’m not entirely sure what to make of this mech by Wyrk Wyze, but it certainly caught my attention. The lime-green detailing on the mouth (?) pops wonderfully, while the little white flowers add interest to the vines encircling the limbs and torso.
LEGO.com revealed the first photo of an upcoming large-scale LEGO Star Wars set earlier today, 10221 Super Star Destroyer — presumably Darth Vader’s flagship Executor.
The piece count and price are still unknown, but the set appears to come with an Imperial Officer and Darth Vader, alongside three bounty hunters — Dengar, IG-88, and Bossk. The minifigs amuse me considering that the micro Star Destroyer next to the SSD is to scale…
Via FBTB, Brickset, and the Web in general.
As much as I like to see more Asian elements within the available palette of LEGO elements, and as addicted as I am to the collectible minifigs, I can’t say I’m thrilled with the hair piece used for both (both?!) the sumo wrestler and geisha. Nevertheless, I can’t help but love anything that springs from the brilliantly bricking fingers of Michael Jasper.
Via twee affect, which has a nice discussion of the various interesting techniques that Michael inevitably applies to his LEGO creations.