Monthly Archives: October 2012

Epic LEGO Batcave brings Batman’s secret lair to life

First unveiled at Emerald City Comicon earlier this year, I’ve been itching to blog this gorgeous Batcave by Carlyle Livingston II and Wayne Hussey for nearly six months. Batman’s headquarters is built from over 20,000 parts, took more than 800 hours over twelve weeks to build, and weighs more than 100 pounds. The entire cave is beautifully lit up with lights.

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Carlyle & Wayne’s Batcave includes four motors to operate a variety of features — the turntable for the Batmobile, a rotating costume/weapons selection wall, and the Batplane’s lift.

These detail shots show off some of the wonderful lighting effects and underground landscaping integrated into the Batcave.

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This photo of Carlyle & Wayne with their masterpiece gives you a good sense of the scale of this massive structure. Wayne looks justifiably pleased with himself.

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Here’s what Wayne & Carlyle have to say about their build:

This project marks the first collaborative build between Carlyle and Wayne, with several more queued for future development. The features of this build include the Cave itself with what we think is the most “cave-ish” cave ever constructed. Added to that we have an operating turntable for the Batmobile, a moving costume/weapons selection wall and the BatPlane Lift. Surrounding all of this is the remarkable lighting effects that bring our BatCave to life.

Check out Carlyle’s photoset on Flickr for lots more pictures, including work-in-progress pics that show how the builders put the Batcave together.

First images of new 2013 LEGO sets

Mark Larson uploaded pictures of 2013 sets from Ninjago, City, Hero Factory, and The Hobbit. See them all on Mark’s Flickr.

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There’s dark red leaves in one of the Hobbit sets!

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The Cranky Cave Troll – new LOTR short from BrotherhoodWorkshop

The guys over at BrotherhoodWorkshop are at it again, with another hilarious stop-motion Lord of the Rings video. This time, we learn a little bit more of the story behind the very angry cave troll who storms into Balin’s Tomb in the Mines of Moria.

Via my lovely wife.

Support Mike Doyle’s Odan Project on Kickstarter

Mike Doyle, known for his decayed Victorian houses, launched a Kickstarter project to fund his next creation. For your support, Mike is offering framable prints of the finished creation along with actual brick-built details from the model.

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Ice Age: The Meltdown

I enjoyed the water texture in Blake Baer‘s Ice Age creation, but a closer look revealed that the “Ice Age” logo was made out of Lego as well! See more photos on MOCpages.

Ice Age: The Meltdown

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This needs no description. By Lord Pappadhum

Sports Illustrated Galactic - 2512 Swimsut Issue

Fear the reaper

As people upload their BrickCon photos and pics of the LEGO models they waited to premier in person at the con, we’ll be highlighting the ones that caught our eye.

The only thing more impressive than Blair Amos‘s mustache at BrickCon this weekend was his mecha. His “Reaper” multiped mech incorporates a truly unique canopy. Blair says the canopy is a “windshield from inside [an] airplane cockpit — the first piece of the whole build. [It] has three oddly placed stud-size holes where the screws go in.” Nice!

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Podcast interview with Sean and Steph Mayo

The Lego podcast Beyond the Brick (previously A Look at Lego) interviewed Siercon and Coral in their latest episode. We’ve featured several of their recent creations on the blog such as Invert Island and The Faerie Forest, and now you can hear directly from the builders about these creations and more.

LEGO Batman 10937 Arkham Asylum Breakout unveiled at BrickCon [News]

Earlier today at BrickCon 2012 here in Seattle, LEGO unveiled 10937 Arkham Asylum. The set includes 1,351 1,619 pieces, will cost $160, and is due out in January 2013.

UPDATE: 10937 Arkham Asylum Breakout is now available!

10937 Arkham Asylum
Here’s the full press release:

10937 Batman™ – Arkham Asylum Breakout

Ages 14+. 1,351 pieces.
US $159.99 CA $209.99 DE 159.99€ UK 129.99 £ DK 1399.00 DKK

The villains have broken out of Arkham Asylum and must be stopped!
Sound the alarm! The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy and Scarecrow have escaped from Arkham Asylum with the help of Dr. Harleen Quinzel. These villains are about to wreak havoc in the streets of Gotham City! Help Caped Crusaders Batman™ and Robin swoop into action and put those good-for-nothing criminals back where they belong! Chase after the security van as it breaks through the gothic gates! Then throw each villain back behind bars in 8 highly detailed rooms. Includes 8 minifigures: Batman™, Robin, The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Scarecrow and a guard, all with assorted weapons or accessories

  • Includes 8 minifigures: Batman™, Robin, The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Scarecrow and a guard, all with assorted weapons
  • Features Arkham Asylum, security gate, gothic décor, moss, vines and ice elements
  • Vehicles include security van
  • Security van features opening back doors, removable roof and stretcher
  • Arkham Asylum features opening cell doors, special Poison Ivy cell with transparent doors, the Mr. Freeze icy tower room, the Dr. Harleen Quinzel office and changing room, medical treatment room and security reception area
  • Security gate features opening double doors and security camera
  • Weapons include Batarang and kendo stick
  • Recapture the villains!
  • Break through the gate with the security van!
  • Open all of the cell doors and let the villains out!
  • Unleash The Joker from his cage restraints in the security van!
  • Arkham Asylum measures over 12″ (32cm) high, 13″ (34cm) wide and 5″ (14cm) deep
  • Security van measures over 2″ (7cm) high, 5″ (13cm) long and 2″ (6cm) wide
  • Security gate measures over 5″ (12cm) high and 9″ (24cm) wide

Chris took a shot of the new wing piece you can see behind the angels:

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The Big Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Book – another excellent LEGO book

It must be the season for Unofficial LEGO books, as hot on the heels of The Big Unofficial LEGO Adventure Book comes The Big Unofficial Lego Builder’s Book: Build Your Own City (auf Deutsch) by the talented Joe Klang (-derjoe-) and Oliver Albrecht (*Olly*). The book includes some beautiful cars and micro-city designs, along with instructions to help you build them (eg.).

Build your own city (low res) Cover

Art Deco Batman

Bruce Lowell‘s art deco depiction of the Dark Knight is a beautifully composed artwork of the brick. If you like it, also check out the other art deco batman creation by Dave Kaleta.

The Silent Guardian - 3D Batman Mosaic

Lego Halo 4 Battle Rifle

With Halo 4 on the horizon, Nick Jensen is gearing up for battle with his latest life-sized LEGO Halo weapon: the BR85HB SR Battle Rifle. I’m pretty sure Nick has made just about all the UNSC weapons out of Lego by now. What’s next, the Rocket Launcher or Spartan Laser?

Halo 4 BR85HB SR Battle Rifle