Yearly Archives: 2020

A staple device for most

Although our world has become increasingly paperless in many ways, especially during our current situation, the stapler is still an office, home office, or desk staple – pun intended! Builder and Instagrammer lionbricks_ showcases a wonderful yet simple LEGO model of the mechanical device.

Very simple elements are used in this build – plates, tiles, 1×2 jumpers, slopes, and a 1×2 modified plate with door rail. My favorite part of this build is the bucket handles lying next to the main model – these are cleverly used to depict staples. Now, if only this stapler was red instead of yellow, it could’ve been a hilarious reference to the coveted stapler from the film Office Space. But, hey, I still do enjoy simple models drawn from the simple things in life.

The original creator, 0937 Superfan, had built a very similar stapler in 2012. It’s always important to give credit to builds and inspiration, of course this could be a coincidence, but we’re happy to present both staplers. Thanks for reaching out and “have you seen my stapler?”

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What a load of hot air

There are a lot of things up in the air right now, and one of the nicest is this Fiesta Balloon by Pete Strege. Excellent shaping combines with bright colors to really let your imagination soar. From a design standpoint, I like the exposed studs in the balloon itself. Translated to a real-world aircraft, those patterns would make an excellent LEGO print on a full-scale envelope. If you look closely, there’s a happy family in the basket, too. I love cheerful details like that.

Fiesta Balloon
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Holden all the cards

LEGO builder Lachlan Cameron has been making a name for himself with a stream of truly magnificent Technic cars. Many of them are adorned with custom chromed parts, as this 1977 Holden Torana A9X is, fitted with copper-colored rims that originally hailed from the Bugatti Chiron and a smattering of other shiny bits for the bumpers and exhaust.

Holden Torana A9X with gold Chrome Bugatti rims by Bubul chrome ????

This car is fully motorized with PowerFunctions and still has a full interior and engine. There’s a lot of excellent shaping work that goes into the general shaping of this Australian sports sedan, particularly the flared fenders.

Holden Torana A9X with gold Chrome Bugatti rims by Bubul chrome ????

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TBB Cover Photo for November 2020: A Cozy Cabin Awaits

One of my favorite annual activities is heading to the mountain where my fam stays at an A-Frame in the snow, so this A-Frame build from, Norton74, immediately brings thoughts of winter and fun.

A-Frame Cabin

Where it gets good, and one of my favorite things about Norton74’s builds, is looking at all the details scattered throughout. These details tell the story of this cabin and really bring the build to life, further reminding me of our A-Frame vacay. Take a look at that log pile and saw, cookie rounds for log ends is a smooth move. Seriously, look at those logs. Other notable features that bring me to the mountain include the jagged roof, the abundance of wildlife, and the little doodads scattered here and there.

Now I need to see the inside of this cabin….is it February yet?

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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.

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for November 7, 2020

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 first week of November 2020.

The Ecto-1 materializes in a new form and we’ve got our hands on the steering wheel! Keep reading our Brick Report to get all the details.


TBB NEWS: This week we saw the announcement of 5 new Chinese culture inspired LEGO and DUPLO sets, reviewed the new 2,300 piece Ghostbusters Ecto-1 model and more!


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:

  • LEGO’s Holliday 2020 Ad, LEGO YouTube – LEGO’s new 2020 holiday ad is a charming ode to creativity and inclusivity.
  • Open Source LEGO Controller, Hackaday – Mechanical and manufacturing engineer Tyler Collins has created an open source Lego controller called Evlōno One.
  • LEGO Star Wars Christmas Special Trailer, Star Wars YouTube – “The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special” has launched and reunites Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewie, Rose and the droids for a joyous feast on Life Day.

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.

The Toyota Stacker does the heavy lifting so you don’t have to

For those undecided whether or not you want to see any more cool LEGO creations today, don’t worry, I just made that decision for you. André Pinto does all the heavy lifting with this stunning Toyota forklift. I would have been impressed enough with the lift’s many controls and overall look but André goes above and beyond with a simple yet detailed environment including a safety sign and fire extinguisher. While the builder doesn’t state this model actually works, it looks as if it can be rigged with power functions. Upon closer inspection, I can see that the shifter knob is an eight ball. Nice touch, André! We’ve been smitten by his detailed work before. This is probably the best thing I’ve seen all day and I’ve seen a small dog startled by her own farts.

TOYOTA STACKER

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Moon racers fight to the finish

Have you ever seen podracing in 1/6th of normal gravity? Thanks to builder Rubblemaker, now you can! In real LEGO high definition!
Podracing on the Moon

With a silent roar, four engines take off through the Sea of Tranquility, blowing up dust clouds visible from Earth. What you can only see up close, however, is the excellent detail work on each podracer. For example, look at the way each Blacktron engine is a sandwich of filters and fins, expertly crafted using flat brick pieces. Also, check out the dirt being blown up behind each pod; it definitely gives you the idea that these pods are flying along the lunar surface!

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.

The tiniest Bantha you ever did see

How many pieces does it take to build a great LEGO creation? Not a lot if you’ve got a great imagination and a little bit of skill. This tiny vignette by Dan Ko of a Bantha on the sands of Tatooine consists of only around 20 pieces, but it’s perfect. The brown minifigure hair forms the furry body of the poor Bantha tied up as bait, which is a scene that may look familiar to fans of The Mandalorian. The tauntaun horns stand-in for the pack animal’s giant curved horns and a black wand serves as the hitching post.

Bantha

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LEGO reveals new Chinese New Year, Monkie Kid and DUPLO sets inspired by the Chinese culture [News]

Four new sets were announced today by LEGO at the 3rd China International Import Exhibition. Two of the new sets belong to the Chinese New Year theme, another one is the new Monkie Kid product, while the last one is a DUPLO set. According to the press release, all the new products were inspired by and celebrate classic Chinese culture and legends. Prices, piece count, and availability are yet to be announced.

80107 Spring Lantern Festival

80107 Spring Lantern Festival recreates the magical atmosphere of the festival which marks the end of the lunar new year celebrations. It features a brick-built Chinese garden with moon gates, pavilion, pond and bridge, a special ox lantern illuminated by a LEGO light brick as well as other must-have items during the festival like a rabbit lantern and a Tang Yuan rice ball.

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LEGO 77905 Marvel Black Widow Taskmaster’s Ambush now available on LEGO Online Store (US Only) [News]

The planned Marvel Black Widow San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive that was previously listed on Amazon (US) is now listed on LEGO Online store in the US only. These are expected to move very quickly with the exclusivity of the release.

Click to have a closer look at the box art and build

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.

Shopping in simpler times

These days when we go to the store, we’re typically faced with thousands of products. But back in the pioneer days – in the “Wild West” – sometimes only bulk essentials sat on shelves. Typically grocers lived in the same building as their store, and people paid in trades more often than cash. This LEGO trading post by Thomas Gion pays homage to that history. I’m a particular fan of the well, which is executed with a really authentic look, and even “pumps” when you spin the windmill.

Old West Trading Post

The little building is fully furnished on the inside with period furniture and wares from that time.

Old West Trading Post

This trading post is part of a series of western-style buildings, one of which we recently featured.

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It’s like a hermit crab but way scarier

A hermit crab moves into an empty seashell (and occasionally manmade discarded debris) and uses it to protect itself. This new LEGO creation by Andrew Steele is a Protoweapon XV-2 “WYRM”. It’s a worm-based organism that uses the empty husks and remains as protection and binds itself together using a sticky glue.

Protoweapon XV-2 "WYRM" A worm based organism that uses the empty husks and remains as protection and binds itself together using a sticky glue.

Andrew is quite good at making LEGO seem lifelike and organic. Check out his archives. I can assure you, you will not be disappointed. But before you do, take a closer look at this WYRM and try to sleep well tonight.

Protoweapon XV-2 "WYRM" A worm based organism that uses the empty husks and remains as protection and binds itself together using a sticky glue.

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.