Yearly Archives: 2019

LEGO reveals new set from Netflix’s Stranger Things: 75810 The Upside Down [News]

Things are getting stranger. LEGO has revealed a brand new large and unique set 75810 The Upside Down based on Netflix’s original series Stranger Things. The set features the main Byers’ home from the series complete with 1980 Chevrolet Blazer, along with the darker reverse “Upside-Down” dimension beneath it.

The set comes with 2,287 pieces and eight minifigures including Eleven, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Joyce Byers, Chief Jim Hopper and the Demogorgon. The set is available starting tomorrow for LEGO VIPs for US $199.99 | CAN $269.99 | UK £179.99 with general availability beginning June 1st. (We’ve already gotten a hands-on look at this stunner of a set, so make sure to check out our review too.)

Click to get a closer look at The Upside Down

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Hands-on with LEGO’s new 2,300-piece Stranger Things set, 75810 The Upside Down [Review]

Netflix’s sci-fi-horror-adventure series Stranger Things has been riding the wave of 80s childhood nostalgia for two seasons, making it a smash hit for the streaming platform. With the third season dropping July 4, LEGO is rolling out a massive new set to kick off its licensing partnership. Just officially announced today, 75810 The Upside Down includes one of the key locations in the series, the Byers’ home. It’s got a twist, though, with the creepy “Upside-Down” alternate dimension mirrored below it. Trees serve as pillars so the house can be displayed with either world on top. The set features 2,287 pieces and will retail for US $199.99 | CAN $269.99 | UK £179.99. It is on sale beginning tomorrow for LEGO VIP members, with a full release coming June 1.

The set includes eight minifigures, the mirrored house, Chief Hopper’s Blazer, and a small display stand for some of the minifigures. The scenes in the set span seasons 1 and 2, so there may be a few very mild spoilers. Let’s dig in and see how LEGO accomplished an upside-down house in the first-ever Stranger Things set.

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Voyaging across great incomprehensible nothingness alone

Their similar goals of provoking thought in the beholder is why science fiction and abstract art often go hand in hand, and this applies to LEGO as well as other media. The freedom to create something new also makes it easier to send a new message. Ralf Langer has taken this freedom to create a mysterious scene of a discovery on an alien planet. What lies beyond the door? Is it a symbol of creation of new life or the inevitable change in an already existing one?

No matter the meaning, the creation is impressive in a completely technical view as well. To less experienced builders it may seem like a few simple surfaces broken up by random and inherently meaningless technical textures we like to call “greebling”, but there is much more to it. Ralf is a master of textures as he proves here with grids of minifig stud shooter triggers. The main point of this build is composition though. Ralf has joined seemingly simple parts into something that looks full, but not cluttered. My personal favourite part is the mysterious gate, with a unique texture made using LEGO treads.

Take me back to Classic Space

Adult builders of a certain age hold a special place in our hearts for what we call “Classic Space.” With the Apollo missions fresh in the history books and with Star Trek, Buck Rogers, and Star Wars capturing our imaginations, LEGO hit a sweet spot with their space theme from about 1973 to 1987. For many, they were likely among our first LEGO sets and the fond nostalgia for the theme remain with us forever. Guido Brandis captures this feeling nicely with his LL-942 Star Fire II. There are rules to the “Classic Space” look; blue and light gray are used in nearly equal measure while trans-yellow is for windscreens. Red, used very sparingly, is usually reserved only for rover rims but is utilized here as the pilot’s uniform. Modern elements not available to us in the ’70s and ’80s create a perfect synergy between the old and the new. Even its “LL” designation stands for “Legoland” and was used in the original sets. This sure takes me back!

From the dark Matrix

I’m always fascinated by how skilled LEGO builders can create interesting backgrounds for their models using simple pieces. Builder why.not? has made this awesome cyberpunk scene of a figure staring down a robotic eye, but then filled out the background to truly make the scene immersive. One wall cleverly uses the holes in Technic plates to make a Matrix-like cascade of lights, while the other uses minifigure stands and turntable bases to create an interesting texture. And finally, the presentation with careful lighting is as important to this creation as the build itself, and it all comes together marvelously.

Ask LEGO anything: We’re talking to LEGO, and we want your help! [News]

Next week The Brothers Brick will be in Billund, Denmark at LEGO’s headquarters to talk with LEGO about how the company interacts with the fan community. That’s not all we’ll be doing though, as we’ll also have an opportunity to sit down with a handful of LEGO designers to pick their brains about your favorite themes. We want to give our readers a chance to get in on the action, so if you’ve got a burning question about one of these themes, you can fill out our form to submit your question. Just remember, LEGO designers can never talk about unannounced future products or plans, so there’s no point asking “will LEGO ever make Monorail again?” or “what sets are planned for next summer?”

LEGO BrickHeadz 40367 Lady Liberty officially revealed [News]

LEGO is going all-in on the Statue of Liberty lately, having just released a huge new Architecture set of the famous American landmark last year and featuring a post-apocalyptic version in The LEGO Movie 2, with the huge accompanying Apocalypseburg set headlining the movie tie-ins. Now the emblem of freedom is getting another LEGO makeover with a BrickHeadz set, 40367 Lady Liberty. There’s no word yet on when the set will be released, but it’s a good bet it will be June 1 to have it out in stores well ahead of American Independence Day on July 4. The set has 153 pieces, and will likely retail for $9.99 USD.

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Awesome minifig-scale Bubble Ship from Oblivion

No matter what you might have thought of the 2013 sci-fi film Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise, you can admit it featured some sweet tech. From the electric motorbike, to the huge water hoovers, to that giant upside-down pyramid, the film’s visuals were stunning. One of the most iconic vehicles was the super-maneuverable light plane which was quickly nicknamed the Bubble Ship. This stunning model by Riskjockey captures the stark, delicate visual aesthetic from the film, including swiveling landing gear. I love the smooth engine pods and the clever use of the new gyro-sphere and hatch from the Jurassic World theme for the cockpit.

Another nice part use is the large triangular panels used to create the geometric symmetry of the fuselage of the ship.

This is not the first version of the Bubble Ship–or even the second–that has been featured here on TBB over the years since the movie’s release in 2013.

A serene forest scene and a mighty steam engine

This scene of a steam train traveling through a forest by Allan Corbeil does so many things skillfully. Everything is executed wonderfully, but the centerpiece of the little diorama is clearly the steam engine in the middle. The train is perfect. My favourite aspects are the cloud of steam spewing forth from its chimney and the ingenious use of a Clikits ring on the front. While I love the train, it’s dwarfed by the magnificent beauty of nature that’s been recreated here.

The variety of vegetation–from tall coniferous and deciduous trees to the dense and varied underbrush–coupled with the pond make the whole scene seem real. The forest is so well done that I can almost smell the trees and hear water trickling. Maybe I might hear that train roaring down the tracks too. Be sure to check out Allan’s other pictures to get the same feeling I have, as well as spot a couple Easter eggs he included as surprises.

There was a time when TVs did not have remote controls

TVs without remote controls meant that you had to walk to the TV to change channels. And sometimes you were the voice-activated remote controls–a direct order given by Mum or Dad to ‘change the channels’. Johan Alexanderson transports us back in time with his memories of yesteryears and the unboxing of the new family TV with a nice effect of foam peanuts spilling out. While the TV has the center of attraction, there’s also the box of distraction. What’s not to love about the giant cardboard box that came with it? The box and all those foam peanuts were also a form of entertainment. Fun fact–the cardboard box was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2005, not long after LEGO was inducted in 1998. Long live LEGO, the TV and the cardboard box!

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for May 12, 2019 [News]

In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best of LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the second week of May 2019.

LEGO teased a new product line coming in 2020. Keep reading our Brick Report for a closer look.

TBB NEWS, REVIEWS AND INSTRUCTIONS: The product reveals keep coming with a whole new range of set revealed along with more from Harry Potter.

LEGO Hidden Side Augmented Reality Theme sets revealed – Some of the sets with incorporated augmented reality have been revealed and will be available in August later this year.
Two new LEGO Harry Potter sets are revealed featuring scenes from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – A graveyard and flying carriage steal the scene with two new sets.
Instructions to build Giant Man from Marvel – Is Ant Man too small for your tastes? Learn how to build your own LEGO version with these instructions by Hachiroku24.
Review of LEGO Wild West Saloon set from Bricklink’s AFOL Designer Program – Step back in time and saddle up! We take a look at an early copy of the Wild West Saloon designed by Jonas Kramm for BrickLink’s AFOL Designer Program, and it does not disappoint.

OTHER NEWS: There were quite a few other interesting LEGO news articles from around the web this week. Here are the best of the rest:

Full-size LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron on display at the LEGO House, LEGO House – The car is built from more than one million LEGO Technic elements – completely unglued – and will be on display through June 10.
LEGO is hiring a Confidentiality Director to deal with leaks, LEGO – LEGO is getting serious about product leaks and is looking for someone to lead their confidentiality task force.
Nine Product Ideas Qualify for the First 2019 LEGO Ideas Review, LEGO Ideas – Take a look at the sets that achieved 10,000 votes and might become a LEGO set.
Child finds $40,000 of meth inside second-hand LEGO box, CNN – Three Georgia women stopped at a consignment shop in South Carolina and ended up purchasing a LEGO Creator box, only to discover it was filled with three pounds of methamphetamine.
For the Ultimate Custom Backsplash, Use Lego, Architectural Digest – This build-able DIY kitchen renovation idea is for the young at heart.
LEGO Trolls are coming in 2020, LEGO Twitter – A new product line-up is coming next year that might fill the gap that LEGO Elves left when it was cancelled.

It’s all glitter and happiness. ???? ???? #DreamWorksTrollsWorldTour coming 2020! @Trolls pic.twitter.com/oiiaSTVLD4

— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) May 8, 2019

More than a clock and candlestick

It’s more than an average rose, and they’re more than household items. The loveable duo of Lumiere and Cogsworth are a couple of the most beloved characters in the classic Disney universe. They’ve been recreated in LEGO many times, but this build by Stfn is not to be lost in the crowd. At this scale, the little details matter most. Using a green rifle for the rose stem and a wooden half-barrel with a weapon barrel and Technic wheel for the decorative table base are clever touches. Better yet is the dual purpose of the hinge plates in Cogsworth. Not only do they create the right body shape, but the two-tone color scheme also creates a lovely pattern that suits the character perfectly.

If you like the classic Disney movie, check out this build of Belle and Gaston. Or maybe marvel at the wonders of an award-winning replica of the castle library.