Markus “Rolli” Rollbühler is a force of nature in the LEGO world. Having made the transition from AFOL to professional set designer in 2016, Markus remains a community icon, generously giving back to and creating alongside a global community of builders. Some of his “hobby” roles, even as he designs sets (like my all-time favorite set Ninjago City Gardens), include organizing epic collabs with the amazing Rogue Bricks LUG, contributing to BrickNerd with Contest Roundups and other community spotlights, co-hosting the Iron Builder competition, offering set design commentary on BrickSet, and providing brick-built trophies for the Brickscalibur competition.

At last week’s Brickworld Chicago convention, some of the builders who have gotten to know “Rolli” over the years paid tribute to the legend with mouse-themed MOCs in reference to the tiny animal that has come to symbolize the big-hearted builder.

Kit Nugent recreates a Tom and Jerry gif with some wonderful parts usage for the popped kernels and mouse ears. Kit remembers the first time they encountered Iron Builder challenges with the crazy amounts of oddball parts – and not long after Kit would go on to compete in the competition as well!

Geneva Durand is another Iron Builder alum as well as a BrickNerd contributor like Markus. She teams with Isaiah Durand for this whimsical take on the Pied Piper fable which, aside from the mise, also takes inspiration from Rolli’s castle and character desgins.

Cecilie Fritzvold co-hosts the Iron Builder competitions and builds alongside Markus as a member of RogueBricks. Her tribute is a brilliant reversal of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with single wizened turtle becoming sensei to a quartet of ooze-mutated rodents.

Starting next month, Steven Howard (Ghalad) will be building in Billund alongside Markus as he joins the latest wave of AFOL builders who have been enlisted as LEGO set designers. We highlighted Steven’s Pirate bust last week, but here’s a bonus pic of the mouse hiding behind the pirate’s hat.

These creations from some of the builders who know Rolli best are a touching tribute to a community stalwart who does so much to nurture talent and imagination in the hobby. Thank you, Rolli!