Yearly Archives: 2019

One fancy bike for a fancy rider

It looks like the classic chopper is never going out of style, as demonstrated by this futuristic looking bike with swooping handlebars by Eero Okkonen. I love the way that the wings on the rider’s boots are picked up as a detail on the back of the bike. One missable detail is the red bumper part used to support the rider as he’s leaning into those sharp turns.

I don’t know about you, but I am also getting a definite Akira vibe with those big red angled parts at the front and back of the bike. And speaking of red parts, the macaroni pipes give those boots quite the look.

If you like this model, be sure to check out some other creations by Eero recently featured here on TBB.

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Stop the traitor on Takodana

When recreating a movie scene, a LEGO creation done right will make you feel like you’re in the scene yourself. That’s exactly what Carter Witz has done with his Dual on Takodana. Star Wars fans will remember the moment when FN-2199 (nicknamed TR-8R by the fans) confronts Finn in the remains of Maz Kanata’s castle.

The mix of different dark grey pieces recall the look of the castle, both before it was destroyed – as seen in the structures left standing – and after. The destroyed stone of the castle is highlighted by fallen trees, bent metal, and small fires dotting the scene. One of the fires even features a trans-orange snake element to give it a unique shape. In addition to looking cool, there are even play features with the figures weapons clashing and rubble exploding.

Parts for 2019 offer a new twist on an old robot

Here’s an adorable figure seemingly pulled right out of the Jetson’s. This happy-looking LEGO robot was created by Sven Franic and featured by our friends at New Elementary. For me, the highlight of the build is the pair of axles with rotation clip used for the bot’s hands. These new pieces appear in the 2019 Ninjago sets and work wonderfully. You can almost hear a mechanical voice spouting off something along the lines of, “My photo-receptors selected these white organic growths for you!”

The little gray engine that could

Trains are complicated machines, especially steam-powered locomotives, which are a blend of smooth metal curves and a myriad of moving parts. Capturing this magical combination of sleek and mechanical details at a small scale can come down to a single part choice, and Niklas Rosén has really done it with his micro-model built around this Technic spring-loaded shooter. The curved lines along the side are reminiscent of riveted sections on the boiler. Meanwhile, the creation is finished off with a pair of driving wheels represented by hubcaps from the Speed Champions theme, and the smaller wheels are represented by printed 1×1 round tiles.

A binge-worthy adventure in the clouds

You can binge-watch your favorite shows on Nexflix, or any other streaming service, all while skipping the intro. Because…who needs that nonsense, right? Or you can tune in to Markus Ronge’s flickr page for his faux “Netbrix” series entitled “Full Steam,” which revolves around a pleasure cruise turned catastrophic. The Royal Brixton Fire Brigade has rescued most of the passengers, including the Queen herself, but two remain unaccounted for. Will they be rescued in time? Airships and adventure abounds in this imaginative LEGO-built drama!

No matter which panel you click on, you are treated with intricate settings and stunning photography. My favorite is this one featuring the Queen losing her otherwise dignified composure at the sight of Van de Maersk. The microscale model ship on the desk to the right is also a nice touch.

I am caught up all the way through Season 1, Episode 10. I suggest you do the same so that we can talk about it around the water cooler at work. We have featured other models from the series, including Maersk Pier and the ill-fated Skytanic.

LEGO 80103 Dragon Boat Race officially revealed with 15 minifigures, available May 1st [News]

Adding to the flood of new LEGO sets announced for this upcoming this summer, LEGO has officially revealed the highly anticipated 80103 Dragon Boat Race. The set will be the third Asian-themed exclusive set launched this year following the two Lunar New Year sets, 80101 Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner and 80102 Dragon Dance. The Dragon Boat Race set features two racing dragon boats, 15 minifigures and a viewing dock. The set will retail for SGD84.90 (around $65 USD) beginning May 1st.

While the previous two exclusive sets were very difficult to obtain in other parts of the world, LEGO announced earlier this week that regional exclusive sets like this one would have broader availability in LEGO retail stores worldwide and the LEGO Shop Online a few months after they launch. According to that information, 80103 Dragon Boat Race should have worldwide availability in several months, though we will post updates as we learn more.

Click to get a closer look at the exclusive Dragon Boat race set

More LEGO Friends Summer 2019 sets revealed featuring an ocean of new cute animals, a lighthouse and more [News]

We revealed the first half of the upcoming LEGO Friends Summer 2019 wave yesterday, and today we have four more upcoming Friends sets showcasing an ocean theme packed with new animals like seahorses, baby turtles, fish and even a narwhal. Standouts sets in the Friends Ocean wave include a lighthouse, lifeboat and and a seabed floor full of life.

The sets were revealed by Dutch retailer MisterBricks. As with some of the other recently revealed sets, we don’t have the exact release date for these, but we are able to provide approximate US prices thanks to the Euro prices listed by the retailer.

Don’t miss the rest of the LEGO summer 2019 sets reveals, and be sure to check out the new Toy Story 4, Spider-Man, and The LEGO Movie 2 sets that just went sale a few days ago:

LEGO Architecture
LEGO Batman
LEGO City
LEGO City Space
LEGO Creator
LEGO Friends
LEGO Friends Ocean
LEGO Harry Potter
LEGO Jurassic World
LEGO Ninjago
LEGO Star Wars

Click to check out more images of the new Friends ocean-themed sets

Blacktron returns with the Lucky Wolf

When it comes to collecting vintage LEGO Space subthemes, Blacktron I has a strong following. LEGO’s first intergalactic villain faction has been reborn in the form of Spaceruner’s Lucky Wolf, clad in the classic Blacktron I colors of black, yellow, and trans red. One source of inspiration was set 6894 Invader, released in 1987. They have even gone so far as to create their own robot. By utilizing both vintage and modern parts, the end-result is a model that’s out of this world.

If you love Blacktron I, you might also enjoy this Blacktronesque laser mining vehicle we featured on April 16th.

LEGO Star Wars gift with purchase for May the Fourth revealed as 40333 Battle of Hoth [News]

LEGO has revealed one of the upcoming promotions for Star Wars May the Fourth weekend as the frosty 40333 Battle of Hoth. The small LEGO Star Wars 20th Anniversary set comes with 195 pieces and a printed anniversary tile. The set will be available for free with Star Wars purchases of $75 US / £75 UK from May 3-6. Other May the Fourth offers depend on location and could include double VIP points on Star Wars sets, certain sets on sale, a poster and a small polybag set as an additional gift with purchase.

40333 Battle of Hoth is the second exclusive/promotional set to receive the anniversary logo following 75227 Darth Vader Bust, though this one will be more widely available. The set features a unique brick-built platform and micro-versions of an AT-AT Walker, Snowspeeder, and Rebel shield generator.

Click to get a closer look at the Battle of Hoth

LEGO Harry Potter Summer 2019 partial wave revealed including Hogwarts Clock Tower, Hagrid’s Hut and more [News]

Three sets from the LEGO Harry Potter Summer 2019 wave have been revealed by Amazon.it, continuing the excitement about the upcoming Wizarding World sets. The sets include the Hogwarts Clock Tower, Hagrid’s Hut, and the Forbidden Forest. Standout features include a brilliant stag patronus, minifigures in Yule Ball outfits and the Hippogriff Buckbeak.

We expect more LEGO Harry Potter sets to be revealed soon. We don’t have piece counts or price estimates yet, but we will update this article as we learn more. [EDIT: Full pictures, prices and availability can be found in our follow-up article.]

Don’t miss the rest of the LEGO summer 2019 sets reveals, and be sure to check out the new Toy Story 4, Spider-Man, and The LEGO Movie 2 sets that just went sale a few days ago:

Click to get a close up look at the new LEGO Harry Potter sets

Idyllic Imperial island fortress

The evergreen popularity of the LEGO Pirates theme has seen many a pirate’s hideaway constructed, but we’ve not often seen as impressive an Imperial fortress as this beauty from Greg Dlx. The fort is beautifully detailed, with grey accents around the windows providing some lovely texture against the white walls. The domed roofs for the towers add an unusual design feature which creates a sense of the exotic, a feeling enhanced by the dense jungle foliage which surrounds the buildings. There’s a couple of different techniques used for trees, and I love that their leaves play host to a colony of parrots.

Look closely and you’ll spot the killer detail in this scene — the half-plate height increase between the dark and light sand along the shore. It’s a tiny difference, but it adds immensely to the feel of wave-washed sands — an example of the attention to detail you see in the best LEGO creations.

Building “Brick” Obama

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has become a BrickHeadz character, complete with a stately looking LEGO rendition of the Oval Office. Irish builder jarekwally built this display for a local LEGO event called Brick Obama, named after the Barack Obama Plaza shopping center where the event was held. Why is there a shopping center in Ireland named after Obama? As it turns out, the former president’s great-great-grandfather once lived in the Irish village of Moneygall. I learned something new!

Have a closer look at this brick-built Oval Office.