Yearly Archives: 2020

TBB’s next recruiting effort for Contributors & Social Media Manager focuses on diversity, inclusion & representation [News]

Although The Brothers Brick has always been committed to diversity and inclusion in both the LEGO builders we feature and our own team members, ranging from the builders in Asia that we specifically featured on Pan-Pacific Bricks or our longstanding commitment to including LGBTQ+ staff on our team, we know that we can do better. During our interview with Ekow Nimako last month, we recommitted to ensuring that our own team better represents the real diversity of the LEGO community we’re a part of. The specific roles we’re looking to fill from members of the community are Contributor (Writer) and Social Media Manager.

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LEGO 75551 Minions: Brick-built Minions and their Lair [Review]

We’ll have to wait until July 2021 to see Minions: The Rise of Gru in theaters, but in the meantime we can at least play with the LEGO sets. We’ve already taken a hard look at 75549 Minions: Unstoppable Bike Chase and found a lot of problems there. But what about the other currently available offering? 75551 Minions: Brick-build Minions and their Lair retails for US $49.99 | CAN $69.99 | UK £44.99 and spans 876 pieces including three Minion minifigures. That sounds pretty good on the surface…but is it? Let’s find out!

Click to read the full hands-on review

LEGO Brick Sketches featuring Star Wars and DC Comics portraits now available [News]

LEGO’s new Brick Sketches product line featuring brick-built portraits of popular characters is now available. The first four sets in the lineup include BB-8, a First Order Stormtrooper, Batman and The Joker.

The 2D portraits are the next collectible LEGO product line following BrickHeadz and are the work of recently hired LEGO designer Chris McVeigh who created the Brick Sketch concept several years ago (read our interview with him about how Brick Sketches became an actual LEGO product).

Take a look at the Brick Sketches sets available now.

Junk speeders are what we need in a galaxy far far away

I’m a fan of the realm of possibilities in the Star Wars galaxy and especially for vehicles that could have been taken a page out of the storylines. This Junk Speeder by Thomas Jenkins gives that vibes of a single-engine mashup of what a scavenger or thrifty junkyard dealer would have up for sale or trade. For a moment, I would think this would be a perfect transport for Ewoks if they decided to venture outside of their forest dwellings. What makes this a sturdy build are likely the technic parts and pins integrated across its wingspan.

Check out Thomas’s other features that we’ve covered from a galaxy far far away.

Bring some bling to your brick: custom chrome Ferrari F12

During my research for our review of the new LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián, I found myself reading about Ferrari’s infamous pickiness regarding the customization owners can do to their cars. But LEGO builder Lachlan Cameron has designed a beautiful Technic Ferrari F12 and then customized it in a way that I think even Ferrari would approve–a luscious cherry chrome paint job supplied by Bubul Chrome.

Click to see the interior of the Ferrari F12

LEGO 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System is a buildable NES console complete with Super Mario Bros. [News]

LEGO and Nintendo have partnered to reveal 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System, a buildable NES console and a retro CRT “tube” TV that comes with a Super Mario Bro. cartridge and a scrolling level reminiscent of World 1-1. The instant nostalgia trip is made up of 2,646 pieces and even comes with an 8-bit Mario.

The NES will be sold exclusively by LEGO through the end of 2020 then expand to other retailers starting in 2021. The set will sell for US $229.99 | CAN $299.99 | UK £209.99 beginning August 1st, the same day that the other new LEGO Super Mario sets become available for purchase.

(Edit: LEGO originally listed the purchase price of US $199.99 online and in its press release and then updated the online price to US $299.99 and then updated it again to US $229.99. We have received confirmation from LEGO that US $229.99 will be the final price.)

Take a closer look at the LEGO Nintendo NES

A Helicarrier you can carry in your pocket

Ever since I missed out on 2015’s 76042 SHIELD Helicarrier I’ve been looking for a cost-effective way to add one to my collection. I’m still putting aside bits of my LEGO budget, but Didier Burtin has found a better way: A custom microscale marvel. The shape is instantly recognizable: inverted turntable tops make great turbines, and the angled flight decks are right on. Light grey ingots make for great surface details, and a variety of tiles fill in the gaps. The only thing missing is a teeny-tiny Nick Fury. Of course, at this scale maybe there’s a speck of dust on the model that’s meant to be him.

Didier hasn’t shared any instructions, but if you’re looking for a step-by-step guide for a similar model, check out this 2017 version by Wayne de Beer.

Beauty that burns from within

At first glance, I’m not even sure how this was all put together, but this candelabra sculpture by builder Sergei Rahkmaninoff is definitely one of the most unique designs of LEGO creation that I’ve seen in a while. It’s made almost entirely of silver elements, which is a very limited palette, but you wouldn’t know that from looking at this beautifully delicate sculpture. And those eyes–oh those eyes–are created so wonderfully with a single 1×2 tile with two minifigure hands clipped to it. It’s not a technique that would typically be considered as a means to create a face, but it instantly lends character to this flowing figure. I also love that while the flames would have been easily represented by a ready-made LEGO flame element, the choice to have it brick-built is certainly the right one here fitting the theme of being extremely creative in bringing something unique to life.

Thieves steal Fairy Bricks delivery van and LEGO sets donated to kids in hospitals [News]

Over the weekend, Fairy Bricks’ headquarters was broken into and robbed of their delivery van and a significant amount of the LEGO sets they donate to kids in hospitals. Fairy Bricks is a charity organization that frequently partners with LEGO to organize fundraising events, mosaic-builds, and hospital donations to children in need.

Build your own LEGO Miniland Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman characters [Instructions]

You can now determine the fate of the World’s Finest, aka Trinity, aka the three most popular characters in the DC Universe — Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman — by building them as LEGO Miniland characters using these video instructions created by Tiago Catarino in a collaboration together with Pedro Sequeira.

That 2×2 corner wedge plate used for Superman’s insignia has always reminded me of the Man of Steel, and I’m glad someone else sees that too! Up up and away!

All aboard at Dunedin Railway Station

During my two trips to New Zealand for work, I never left the North Island, and the beautiful cities and countryside of the South Island have eluded me, so I’m always grateful when I get to travel somewhere new via LEGO bricks. Peter Dennison lives in the lovely city of Dunedin, and has spent the past 5 years building a huge diorama featuring the historic railway station on Anzac Square.

See more of this iconic New Zealand train station

The talented IG-11. Assassin, Bounty Hunter or Nurse Droid, take your pick

Move over R2-D2, I have a new favourite droid in the Star Wars galaxy now. If you haven’t already watched Season 1 of The Mandalorian, what are you waiting for? Don’t come back here till you’re done, ok? The IG-11 is full of surprises and I could swear that the only reason I needed the Kleenex to wipe that tear off my eye was because of a dusty home and nothing else, really indeed! Build better bricks captured the best of IG-11 with a mixed bag of almost LEGO odd parts like ingots and barrels, just like how the actual IG-11 seems to be made up of random bits of metal.