Yearly Archives: 2016

Artificial Intelligence will make the world efficient and set you free

The short independent film Keloid depicts a very different world from the one we know. In the film, society has come to rely on an intricate network of artificial intelligence devices designed to bring efficacy and then control. Devid VII has recreated the Militech Weapons Platfom and accompanying drones from the film in LEGO.

Devid’s weapons platform is a fantastic combination of menacing robotic features, weaponry and the intimidating sense that ‘Big Brother’ is watching. I particularly love the use of Mixels joints at the ‘ankle’ as it looks cool, adds function and also accurately reflects the film.

This second view uses depth of field nicely to focus on the impassive drones in front of the weapons platform. The use of minifigure parts mixed with brick heads is perfect to mimic the film’s drones who have big metallic blank faces and eyes that never really look at anything.

With sci-fi, artificial intelligence, a 1984-esque oppressive future and LEGO, Devid has served me a perfect cocktail …cheers!

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.

18,000+ piece LEGO Fortress of Solitude shames all other vacation homes

Sometimes one just needs to fly away from all the hustle and bustle of a city constantly in danger — and sometimes an artist decides to step out of their comfort zone for the challenge, and in the process, produce amazing results. That was the intent behind JanetVanD‘s latest build: the famous “Fortress of Solitude” from the 1978 film Superman. In stark contrast to Janet’s previous creation, the equally gorgeous Her Majesty’s Theater, with its detailed interior, this build focuses largely on the natural icy exterior while the famous crystal-pyramid structure that makes up the fortress itself gleams in the background–but nonetheless commands absolute attention.

Superman’s vacation home took Janet 160 hours to complete and required 18,684 pieces in total. All of which were put to good use creating a realistic landscape that really sells the necessary ‘solitude’ requirement. No doubt only a person with the fortitude of Superman would choose such as place as this to have some uninterrupted downtime.

If you want to dive deeper into Janet’s latest and arguably coolest (pun intended) creation, check out more images of the Fortress of Solitude at Janet’s DeviantArt gallery.

The cutest LEGO Star Wars base you ever will see

Boba-1980 wanted a way to show off his LEGO Star Wars Microfighter X-Wing, Millennium Falcon, and TIE Interceptor, so he built this scene of a Rebel base under attack. The whole model has a great chibi vibe, perfectly blending minifigs and microscale just like the official microfighter sets.

LEGO Speed Champions 75874 Chevrolet Camaro Drag Race [Review]

If the 2016 Ford Mustang that I reviewed introduces American muscle to LEGO’s Speed Champions party, then 75874 Chevrolet Camaro Drag Race turns the music up and gets things rolling. It features a 1969 Camaro facing off against its 2016 counterpart for a drag race. The set has 445 pieces including three minifigs, and will be available in March for $29.99 USD. Thanks to LEGO for sending us this copy for an early review.

Click to read the full review

Rock across the galaxy in The Astrosurfer with The Highway Stars

Every colorful rock band needs a colorful ride in which to clatter from gig to gig. There are few bands more colorful than this group of space rockers (though I miss my favorite green space man, who must have been relegated to be a roadie), imagined by the eccentric mind of Julius von Brunk, and Julius has built The Highway Stars an appropriately garish purple space jalopy.

While the band certainly provides an entertaining distraction, the real star here is their space car, The Astrosurfer, which has a detailed interior and even a brick-built engine under the hood.

Check out lots more groovy photos in Julius’ photoset on Flickr.

1930s Fire Truck is ready for your parade

You’ve been there, I’m sure — on the sidelines, snacking on your candy tossed from other floats. Then here they come: The classic cars of days gone by. All beautiful, to be sure, but who doesn’t love when the old fire trucks come out of retirement, fire up their diesels, and head down main street in their bright red glory? Tim Schwalfenberg has captured this beautiful moment rather spectacularly. The classic hood shaping, the wood grates and that delightful ladder all make this an instantly recognizable build.

LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures TV trailer released [News]

Over the weekend, TBB brought you photographs and videos of the newly unveiled 2016 LEGO Star Wars sets at Toy Fair New York. The new sets included a few sets and figures from the brand new Disney XD animated series LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures which is set in an era between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

The trailer for the new series has begun circulating online and gives further details about the Freemakers, a family of three sibling scavengers who collect damaged ships and parts from across the Galaxy, turning the old parts into new ships — called “uglies” in Star Wars lore.

The three siblings, Kordi, Zander, and Rowan, become involved in an epic battle of good vs evil when youngest brother Rowan discovers part of a light saber forged entirely of Kyber Crystals.

Folklore tells of a Jedi Master who forged the Kyber Saber, a lighsaber made entirely of Kyber Crystals. When it proved to be too powerful, the Jedi Master shattered it, and scattered the crystals throughout the galaxy, to keep the power out of evil’s hands. With help from their droid Roger and a ‘shero’ named Naare, the siblings begin a quest across the galaxy to retrieve the Kyber Crystals before the Emperor does.

Click through to find out everything we know so far about LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures

Like a chameleon

I would like you all to appreciate the fact that I did not make a Culture Club reference in the title for this absolutely adorable pair of chameleons, brought to us by Joseph Z. This little pair of color-changing cuteness are nestled in the forest, amongst the green, chowin’ down on what looks like quite the tasty insect snack.

As clever as the chameleons are, I would love to get a better peek at that purple flower below!

A heavy mech for when the job absolutely, positively must get done

This ultra-heavy mech from Benjamin Cheh Ming Hann is just bristling with armor and weaponry. A minifig is concealed deep within the beast, and my favorite detail are the two miniature arms protruding below the body to allow the mech to handle more human-sized objects.

Look at me still talking when there’s science to be done

Some say LEGO is art, but others say it’s a science. This brick-built microscope from Josiah N. lends credence to the latter supposition. So start doing some LEGO science!

Wondering what a LEGO microscope could possibly show you? Well, Josiah’s got us covered there too, with a view through his microscope of a human cell. It’s incredible seeing the mitochondria in such detail.

The big LEGO book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales

Markus Rollbühler opens up a new page on LEGO building by presenting Grimm’s Fairy Tales in book form. We’ve seen literature depicted in LEGO through an artistic representation of a book before, but I here I particularly love Markus’ use of the pages forming gnarled tree silhouettes to add depth to the scenes. Markus says that there are references to six of the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales depicted here: see if you can spot them all.

Captain Kittypool! No, just Kittypool.

If you even think about bringing government, baby sitters, bedtimes, frowny faces, bushy mustaches, or negativity of any kind into her town then she’s gonna do to your face what Limp Bizkit did to music in the late 90s! Grantmasters, continuing in his quest to find new and exciting uses for that Belville shoe, created this adorable mash-up of everyone’s favorite brick-built pony-cat and the foul-mouthed antihero that’s currently tearing up the box office. Cotton-candy coated chimichangas anyone?