Yearly Archives: 2022

LEGO is soft on space travel

Don’t adjust your screens; that is not a LEGO minifigure someone left in a microwave to see what would happen. You’re looking at a Ted Andes creation of an up-sized remote control space rover built for a plush Lenny. Despite being a seasoned writer for The Brothers Brick, I didn’t know these LEGO plushies were a thing until like two minutes ago. I’m apparently the wrong demographic, but they’ve been all the rage with youngins for a few years now. Look, I never said I was attuned to what the kiddos are into; I don’t even know what kind of bourbon they like. Anyway, while you’re trying to figure out how a TBB volunteer can be given the pink slip, check out these other works by Ted Andes whom, it turns out, is a master at making unusual parts seem pretty cool.

Don’t tell anyone but if I had a plushie Lenny I’d probably give him an occasional squeeze for good luck.

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Send me a robot angel right now

Descending from the heavens comes this holy mech, created by Ronin Bricks. The small machine features sharp pointed wings and wields a spear with a circular quarter piece representing its curved blade. The head is formed of a rounded plate with a small tile representing the visor of the robot. The use of bars and clips provides the mech with a fantastic range of articulation. Nozzle pieces have been cleverly used for the feet, providing the mech with the ability to bend its feet. The build comes complete with a stand, perfect for posing this creation in some dramatic aerial poses.

What kid hasn’t dreamed of conquering other worlds?

Nikita Nikolsky takes us for a play date on an alien planet with this creative build. An extraterrestrial child dreams of interstellar conquest as he plays out his flying saucer toy attacking the sand castle he built. Despite his murderous intentions, there’s tons to love about this alien, from his expressive face to the use of the lime elements as sporty beach wear. I’m not looking forward to having to one day bow before him after he’s conquered Earth. But, at the same time, it’s gonna be like, “I’m proud of you, kid. You made it.”

LEGO Harry Potter 76401 Hogwarts Courtyard: Sirius’s Rescue [Review]

Continuing our reviews of the summery 2022 Harry Potter sets which are now available, today we take a quick look at the second-smallest set in the wave: 76401 Hogwarts Courtyard: Sirius’s Rescue. This set is in many ways a modern version of 4753 Sirius Black’s Escape, featuring Harry, Sirius, Buckbeak, and more. Is it worth picking up? The set, featuring 3 minifigures and 345 pieces, is available now for US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £44.99.

This set is based on a license The LEGO Group has with the Warner Brothers films, not J.K. Rowling directly. The transphobic views expressed by Rowling do not reflect the values of The Brothers Brick or, indeed, those of The LEGO Group. The magical world Rowling created, in which many who felt a bit different could see themselves, meant a great deal to so many people, including those that Rowling now demeans. TBB affirms each individual LEGO fan’s choice to claim a piece of the world for themselves, or to reject it entirely.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Read the full review

A warrior swamped in adventure

Builder Peter Ilmrud presents a legend in the making with this beautiful, and dangerous, LEGO swamp. Green. That’s the word at the forefront of describing this build, broken up by the tan interspersed throughout. It’s a bright and bold choice and works wonderfully here for this swamp teeming with life. And even with the green dominating, it’s quite nuanced in the variety used. Everything is distinct in its own right, allowing the scene to shine with all its poisonous might. There are two small things I appreciate in this build–one is the bird watching the scene below, and the other is a paint palette. Can you find it? Here’s a hint: it’s a big leaf for a short plant.

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An elegant weapon from a more civilised age (namely, 1999)

There are plenty of life-size LEGO lightsabers out there (including LEGO’s own promos), both from the Star Wars films and builders creating their own. Dicken Liu has taken inspiration from an altogether different source for their 1:1-scale brick-built laser sword hilt, however. This LEGO lightsaber is a model of, well, a LEGO lightsaber! I suppose that technically makes it 12:1 scale. This minifigure accessory has been virtually unchanged since the Star Wars line made its debut 23 years ago. Here its form is very faithfully recreated, making good use of the myriad round and curved slopes in the LEGO parts catalogue. Interestingly I think virtually all of the external parts you see here didn’t exist back in 1999, when we got the first Star Wars sets!

The external shape is not the only interesting thing here, though…

A LEGO 1964 Chevy Impala that offers a very low ride

Every once in a while, I’ve come across a LEGO build that’s well outside my normal genre of building, but is so impressive that I have to sit up and take notice. And this 1964 Chevy Impala Lowrider by Tony Bovkoon is exactly that type of build. The lines on this auto are so clean and crisp. All the angles on the ornate grille are perfect. And the zebra-print interior feels like the perfect added detail. I can only imagine the hours that were poured into the overall design. I especially like the use of the dragon symbol parts behind the backseat.

More of this impressive Impala below

Feast your eyes upon this castle from a classic Studio Ghibli film

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is a Studio Ghibli film which is often overlooked, so it’s great to see this fantastic build of the main structure in the film by Sandro Damiano. Created in microscale, the castle rests upon a beautifully formed lake with different shades of colour placed underneath transparent blue tiles, representing the variety of depths in the water. A long walkway links the castle to a clock tower which is placed upon a crumbling wall. The castle has been lovingly built with accurate tall blue spires and roofing details. Headlight pieces are heavily featured across the castle, portraying large windows.

Round the back you can really get a sense of how the castle is built upon a rocky surface with the use of dark grey bricks. There are also some clever uses of parts, such as the ends of grille pieces as tiny windows, and some of the arches are represented by rounded plates with bar handles. It’s a fantastic build that really captures the sense of awe and mystery surrounding the castle.

LEGO Ideas 21334: Jazz Quartet – Dig these crazy sounds, Daddy-O [Review]

Back in April of 2020 we featured a creation by builder Hsinwei Chi (LEGO7): A group of very hip musicians. Great stuff…and apparently LEGO (and the wider fan community) agreed. Thanks to a successful campaign via the Ideas program, this ensemble is about to hit the shelves as LEGO Ideas 21334: Jazz Quartet. Featuring a combo made of a pianist, bassist, trumpeter and drummer, this 1606 piece set will be available for VIP members starting June 28th (and July 1st for everyone) for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99. Take an early seat in the front row and see if this riff appeals to you!

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

A sound investigation awaits

The Kingpig runs this city

Spider-Ham had better beware, because Sandro Quattrini has given Wilson Fisk a suitably suidae upgrade. Inspired by the idea of a minifigure basket as a pig snout, this character grew to an immense size during construction. So much so that he can use a Dots bracelet as a belt!

Elemental forces converge in this kaiju of nature

The forces of Nature bloom forth from this epic LEGO kaiju by T. Jenson. I can imagine the scene of its emergence, the mountain it slumbers beneath crumbling away to reveal this beauty. First off, the color palette is bright and coordinates well together. Nothing distracts from the other elements, each leading the eye to the next. T. Jenson makes wonderful decisions with the Bionicle pieces for this Bio-Cup, kaiju category build. They coax some phenomenal curves from the parts, lending themselves well to the foliage. The luxurious mane gives way to the flowering spine and tail. The use of a tan gear for teeth is a lovely touch to an already great head design. Like any kaiju, I prefer to enjoy its beauty and majesty from a safe distance.

LEGO Harry Potter 76402 Hogwarts: Dumbledore’s Office [Review]

The 2022 summer Harry Potter sets are now available for purchase, so let’s take a look at the next one on our review list. In the 76389 Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets from January, LEGO included smaller versions of locations that have already appeared in the modular Hogwarts series. In 76402 Hogwarts: Dumbledore’s Office, we see a more detailed version of a location that has appeared in smaller renditions since 2018. Is it worth the dedicated attention? How does it fit into the modular Hogwarts collection? Let’s dive in and take a look at this set, featuring 6 minifigures and 654 pieces, which is available now for US $79.99 | CAN $109.99 | UK £69.99.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Read the full review