Monthly Archives: January 2013

The best of Count Blockula: Sesame Street

We’re going to hold off posting new LEGO models this weekend as we celebrate the life of Mike Crowley, who passed away on Tuesday in Boston. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy selections from Mike’s prolific and brilliant LEGO output.

Mike’s Sesame Street diorama doesn’t just feature really wonderful, brick-built renditions of the iconic Jim Henson characters. The backdrop is also full of interesting techniques, like the bricks on the green building.

According to my original blog post about this, Mike built this back in February 2006.

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Rest in peace, Mike Crowley

Mike Crowley passed away yesterday. He was my friend.

Mike leaves a legacy behind in the LEGO community. So many of us were blessed with his friendship and presence, and his absence due to illness in recent years has been noted. He was such a big personality with such a passionate, caring heart. This world is a little dimmer without him in it.

His activities with NELUG notwithstanding, Mike was a prolific and brilliant builder. His flickr stream is filled with such innovative uses for parts that showed such character for what he was trying achieve with anything he tried.

Beyond his building, beyond his artistic talent, Mike is, was, and always will be a friend first and foremost. In looking back, my memories aren’t always of the incredible things he built. My memories are of laughter until our sides hurt; of feather-boas and tiaras. Of a harrowing van-trip through downtown Portland accompanied by Lonely Island’s “I’m On a Boat.” My memories are of Chinese food, and the EMP. Of “confessions” at T.S. McHughs over nachos. Of late nights at LEGO fan conventions (which many attendees will tell you flat out that the brick is nice, but the friends are better).

My memories are of late night talks, of LEGO and music, movies and TV, of life and relationships. Of finding a way to make everything so bright when it should have been dark.

Mike made such an impact in my life, and the lives of others. All of us here at The Brothers Brick knew and admired him as a person and as a builder. He’ll be sorely missed.

I invite you to share your own stories and memories of Mike in the comments.

You can also read Mike’s obituary, along with details about funeral arrangements and donations, on the funeral home’s website.

Like a Boss contest results

The Like a Boss contest sponsored by The Brothers Brick to build a video game boss recently concluded with some spectacular entries. The winners received their share of a $500 prize pool donated by our blog. Check out who won and see all the entries on Flickr.

First place: zane_houston‘s Mecha Bowser

Second place: 2 Much Caffeine‘s Ganondorf

Third place: cmaddison‘s Quick Man

Thanks to everyone who participated and congrats to all the winners!

Microscale Helm’s Deep

This miniature Helm’s Deep from Tolkien’s The Two Towers is impressive in its level of detail. George G has captured the towering might of this mountain stronghold, and it looks ready to be defended until dawn. All it needs now is a retinue of Rohirrim to guard its walls, and a few ten-thousands of miniature orcs to assault it. Hmm, now it makes me want to go watch the films again…

6395 goes GARC

Andrew Lee (onosendai2600) took the classic Town racing set 6395 and applied a liberal amount of GARC to it. The result is the most delicious group of space raceships I have ever laid eyes on.

Andrew built 4 very distinctive and unique ships to represent the different cars from the set. Each one is awesome in it’s own right, and I am finding it very hard to pick my favourite. But I am going to have to choose the blue one, if for no other reason than it has an Ice Planet 2002 tile.

You simply have to browse through the full photoset to see all the brilliant details of each ship!

Robby the Robot

Eric Druon (baronsat) has created a wonderful rendition of Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet. The use of the inside-out tires for the legs and arms works so well…and the greebly details are wonderful too!

Pete Reid’s hardsuit hits 10K on LEGO CUUSOO [News]

Last time we highlighted the awesome hardsuit designed by Peter Reid, his LEGO CUUSOO project had just over 6,500 supporters and we were rooting for it to hit 10,000 for the Fall Review Cycle starting last September 3rd. It’s taken a little while longer, but I’m overjoyed to see this highly original, truly creative project hit 10K!

This just happened today, so no official comment from LEGO yet, and based on what we’ve seen over the last several months, it’ll probably be quite a while before we learn whether we’ll all be able to buy a copy of Pete’s suit (well into the next review cycle), but congratulations to Pete for this important first step!

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes video game announced [News]

Marvel and LEGO have just announced another video game from TT Games, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes. The game will feature an original storyline and is due out this autumn.

Here’s the official post from Marvel.com:

Marvel super heroes are assembling for an action-packed, brick-smashing good time! Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The LEGO Group and Marvel Entertainment announced today that “LEGO Marvel Super Heroes” will be available beginning Fall 2013 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii U system and Windows PC, as well as the Nintendo DS handheld system, Nintendo 3DS handheld system and PlayStation Vita handheld entertainment system. “LEGO Marvel Super Heroes” is the first installment in the highly successful LEGO videogame franchise to feature famous Marvel characters.

“LEGO Marvel Super Heroes,” coming Fall 2013

“LEGO Marvel Super Heroes” complements the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes construction toy collection, which brings the characters, vehicles and action of Marvel’s renowned universe to the world of LEGO build-and-play adventure. There are currently eight iconic scenes from the X-Men, Iron Man and Spider-Man franchises available and more construction sets tied to the new “Iron Man 3” feature film will launch later this spring.

“LEGO Marvel Super Heroes” offers an original storyline in which Nick Fury calls upon Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Wolverine and other heroes spanning the Marvel Universe to save Earth from such threats as the vengeance of Loki and the hunger of Galactus, Devourer of the Worlds. LEGO and Marvel fans will enjoy classic LEGO videogame adventure and humor, while playing as their favorite Marvel characters.

“We’re very excited to bring a myriad of classic Marvel characters to life in LEGO form for some fun, family-friendly gameplay in ‘LEGO Marvel Super Heroes,’” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games Publishing. “Players will brave the ultimate mission to save the world as they explore famous landmarks in LEGO New York and take the adventure beyond Earth to iconic locations in the Marvel Universe.”

“Fans of both LEGO and Marvel have wanted this game for years, and we’re addressing that demand with more Marvel Universe characters than ever in a console game,” said TQ Jefferson, Vice President, Games Production, Marvel Entertainment. “If you’re a fan of Spider-Man, the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy or scores of other Marvel characters, this is the game for you.”

In “LEGO Marvel Super Heroes,” players will unlock more than 100 characters from across the Marvel Universe, including fan favorites like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wolverine, Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Deadpool, Loki and Galactus! The game will pack in a plethora of super-cool character abilities, combat-like action sequences, epic battle scenes, puzzle-solving and a unique story told with playful LEGO humor.

“LEGO Marvel Super Heroes” is being developed by TT Games and will be published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. For more information, please visit http://videogames.lego.com/en-us/lego-marvel-super-heroes.

10937 Arkham Asylum Breakout [Review]

Here is a review of 10197 Arkham Asylum Breakout where I talk about the parts and the model while highlighting some interesting building techniques. In summary, while there are only a few new pieces in this set, it is well-designed and features noteworthy techniques such as the stained glass window, sliding jail doors and more.

LEGO Mindstorms EV3 unveiled [News]

The next generation of LEGO Mindstorms was just revealed and is scheduled for release this summer. You can read about the new features on TechnicBRICKs or in the official press release on Engadget. The retail value is $349.99(USD), €349.99(EUR) and $399.99(CAD).

LEGO Mindstorms EV3

Brickvention 2013 – 19th-20th Jan – Public Tickets available

I’ve been rather less active in promoting Brickvention (Australia’s premier LEGO convention) this year, entirely because I’m rather sad to not be going this time around. But I would be terribly remiss if I didn’t remind all our Melbourne readers that it’s coming soon (19th and 20th January 2013 to be precise) and you need to book your tickets ASAP. In my experience each year gets bigger and better and since the last one was super fun I’ve absolutely no doubt this one will be even more excellent.

Sadly exhibitor and convention tickets are sold out so if you’re not already booked in you must go as a visitor. And I cannot stress enough that you need to book your tickets in advance and that the event has entirely sold out each recent year.

Brickvention is Australia’s premier LEGO® fan convention

Brickvention is an Australian based convention for LEGO® fans. It is a two-day event that brings together LEGO fans of all ages from all over Australia to view original and unusual creations built by Australian modelers and collectors. So if you love LEGO, come along and view the amazing creations and models made out of LEGO.

The event features a huge collection of LEGO models including trains, castles, pirate ships, Star Wars™, space ships, planes, buildings, sculptures and many more. There will also be competitions, face painting and LEGO sets and merchandise for sale.

The next Brickvention will be held over the weekend of 19th and 20th January 2013 at The Royal Exhibition Building, Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria, where anyone can come along and view the amazing creations made out of LEGO.

LEGO fans of all ages are welcome on the Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am – 5:30pm.

The Jeep, But Smaller

It has been fun being your weekend DJ here on TBB so the other brothers and sisters can have some well deserved time off. I’ll catch you next weekend for more blog action, but here is one more model to finish off the night. Nick Barrett, also known as TechnicNick, brings us a rugged Willies MB Jeep complete with a Fabuland shovel to dig you out of any troubles on your fabulous adventure.