Posts by Adam Jacobs

A Swedish take on Blacktron

Some say that IKEA is for grownups what LEGO is for kids. I say, why not have both? Builder Kalais seems to think so too.

In probably the first example I’ve ever seen, Kalais used the new IKEA BYGGLEK storage boxes for a very modern-style Blacktron base. As far as getting the Blacktron look, this creation succeeds. From the laser-lime windows to the black and white accent bricks, you know this base belongs to the infamous space-faring evildoers the second you look at it. I especially like the power generator made from large wheels. Very clever!

The one downside about the BYGGLEK storage bins is that they don’t connect as regular LEGO bricks do. If you stare hard enough at the space base, you can see that the boxes are sitting on top of each other instead of locking in like normal bricks. Kalais has made up for that by using black bricks in places to give the illusion of the base being one solid tower.

This is a fantastic example of what you can do with non-traditional pieces like the BYGGLEK storage boxes. I hope to see more people become inspired by Kalais’ creation!

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Danger in the Shadows

From the early days of the Empire comes Hugo‘s LEGO creation of what truly can be described as “dark times.” Here, two Imperial clone troopers patrol a run-down street while dangers lurk in the shadows. This whole creation looks dirty, and that’s probably just the way Hugo wanted it. From the different shades of grey, brown and tan, the colors flow together to show the grit of the Star Wars universe, as well as the same colors that are shoved into the crevices of the building. Each brick looks like it naturally exists there. I also really like the use of red capes as the awnings on the walls. That’s a technique we don’t see often enough.

The best part about this build is that it fills me with questions: what will happen next? Will the dark Duro figure get the jump on the troopers? Or will the Imperial assassin on the upper level strike first?

Blast through the blockade with the Crimson Raptor!

If you’re a galactic outlaw in need of the ultimate blockade buster, look no further than Darth Bjorn’s Crimson Raptor.

Racing out of the Outer Rim, this modified YT-1144 Corellian transport is an incredible build. Darth Bjorn nailed the Star Wars cargo ship look while putting heavy amounts of his flair to it. In particular, I admire the communication equipment placed on the hull as a cluster of antennae instead of a single radar dish.

The interior of the Crimson Raptor is just as impressive. The main corridor connects the cargo bay to the highly-detailed engine room and other locations, all on a scale that is fully playable with LEGO figures. That right there might be my favorite aspect of this creation: it’s not just a shelf model. I could pick this up an swoosh it around the room without fear of it falling apart.

A new take on a classic Star Wars troop transport

For the Rebellion! Arriving just in time to save the day is the Rebel Transport, as seen in this LEGO creation by Thomas Jenkins. If you know your Rebel starships, you’d see many similarities between this ship and the U-wing, made famous by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Jenkins’ ship features shortened wings and a pair fewer engines from the normal U-wing, but also sports a rear wing connector and a bubble turret.

Another detail I didn’t notice until my third look-through of this build is that the main body of the ship can slide forwards and backward within the wingspan. I’m honestly not sure what the purpose of this feature is, but frankly, I don’t care because it looks so dang cool.

With several soldiers loaded onboard and a speeder bike prepped to launch, this Rebel Transport is ready to deploy anywhere the Alliance sends it.

Star Wars Republic Gunship inbound!

In the most chaotic battles of the Clone Wars, soldiers for the Republic knew victory was imminent when they could hear the overhead rumbling of gunships flying through the sky. Just looking at this fantastic LEGO model built by Spencer Hubert makes me, too, cheer for the Republic.

First seen in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, this gunship was a staple of the Grand Army of the Republic. Hubert’s model here continues the traditional red and white paint scheme of most of the gunships seen in that movie, as well as the wing-mounted bubble turrets and front ball turrets.

What’s new about this version are the fully closing doors instead of a side turret. These doors allowed pilots to fly their gunships through the void of space so carrier ships wouldn’t have to get too close to the battlefield.

I always find it useful to reuse printed bricks from sets that I don’t have built anymore. Hubert has done that by utilizing the large printed sloped bricks from the original Obi-wan Kenobi Jedi Starfighter set as detail on the back of the gunship wings. Very clever!

Ironclad, reporting for duty!

Before the battleship sailed the seven seas, before the dreadnought instilled terror across the globe, there was the ironclad. Creator Sunder_59 is a shipbuilder in his own right, having a history of both starship and naval vessel construction in his roster. His most recent digital build is the ironclad, father of all metal warships.

Every little detail is impressive. From the billowing of the sails to the curvature of the ship’s hull, the wood deck paneling to the various gun mounts, it’s all here. Everything was taken into account, even right down to the bronze propeller.

We hope to see more historical builds from Sunder_59 soon. Share your favorite part of this creation below!

Forward, Troopers! Your Empire Needs You!

The Battle of Mimban was one of the greatest cinematic scenes from Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ever since we saw mudtroopers and stormtroopers slogging it out in the trenches, builders such as h2brick have dutifully recreated the chaos on both a large and small scale.

First off, let’s give h2brick credit for the bright explosions happening in this diorama. Fire is a detail hard to capture with bricks, but he’s managed to make it look like the mudtrooper nearest to the explosion is definitely convinced that it’s real. Adding to the detail are the layers of mud and rock that make up Mimban’s tumultuous surface. The nougat and brown blend well, as do the dark tan bricks oozing onto the grey concrete, making it look like the mud is encroaching on the Imperial camp.

Speaking of which, I love that h2brick included a scout trooper checking a hologram map. It’s the tiny things about this build that make it so fun to look at and want to build myself. For example, his design for the supply containers stamped with the Imperial insignia would be really simple to replicate. My only question is, what could be under the grating that the scout trooper is standing on? A forgotten wookiee, perhaps?

Don’t LOL at this VTOL

M:Tron was a classic space line of LEGO sets back in the day, best recognized by the red color scheme on its vehicles. Though the line ended decades ago, builder Blake Foster resurrects this spacecraft in true M:Tron fashion.

This Heavy VTOL, which stands for Vertical Take Off and Landing, is a masterpiece in imagination. Blake Foster ingeniously combined bricks that you usually don’t see together, using large rounded red bricks with harsh green fluorescent wings jutting out. His explanation for this creative decision was that the M:Tron Corporation secretly implemented stolen alien technology into their vehicle.

I can’t get enough of the tiny details, like the power plant work around the gun or the vents on engines. See the magnetic drop pods on the bottom of the VTOL? What a great idea! The vehicle can easily transfer cargo at a moment’s notice. Perhaps it would make a great addition to his M:Tron magnet factory.

Build your office at home

With most of the corporate world working from home these days, it’s easy to miss the cubicle life. You can reminisce about the good old days with this LEGO creation from Tiago Catarino.

I love the curved desk and the drawers next to the chair. Minimalist is the word that comes to mind in describing how Tiago was able to cram in so many details with so much subtlety. I can’t help but smile at the crooked sticky note. One thing is for sure, when I get out of quarantine and continue working on a scale model of my office, this cubicle is certainly going to be there.

If you’d like to build your own office cubicle, Tiago has provided us the instructions on his YouTube channel.

Star Wars action in the Senate ambush

No plan goes perfectly, especially if you were planning on ambushing several Galactic Republic senators. In this highly detailed build by Hypolite Bricks, you can see the bounty hunters swing into action as they pounce on the fleeing senators.

This isn’t the first time Hypolite Bricks has been featured on The Brothers Brick. His Star Wars creations, such as the Republic Gunship, are packed with excitement and life, placing you into the scene and watching it play out before your eyes. Here, the use of many textures on the tower make this seem like a scene taken right out of a Clone Wars episode. The clear bricks are put into great effect in making it seem like the bounty hunter and probe droids are flying. You can almost hear the jetpack roar and the speeder accelerate in its escape.

Building ships with bricks

Ahoy there! The Peregrinus Shipyard is looking for boat builders to assemble seafaring vessels. Chief among these builders is Gabriel Thomson, the maker of this fantastic creation.

The shipyard is built on one thing: detail. From the roof design to the water depth, everything about the Peregrinus Shipyard is extremely eye-pleasing. I’m especially impressed by the brickwork in the walls of the drydocks. Click to see more of the shipyards

Starhawk Battleship, ready for duty

Builder Andrew of CRCT Productions gives us one of the lesser-known hero ships of the Star Wars galaxy, the Starhawk-class Battleship. A creation of the New Republic in the final days of the Empire after the events of The Return of the Jedi, the Starhawk was a smorgasbord of cannibalized Star Destroyers and other warships. Three of them fought valiantly in the Battle of Jakku, taking down a Super Star Destroyer with its powerful tractor beam cannons on the nose.

This build is incredible. For having little source material, Andrew did a fantastic job at getting all the known details into his Starhawk. The yellow and blue markings are a nice touch, breaking away from the Imperial grey seen on nearly all the large warships in the Star Wars films. Other features include the smooth surfaces, neat angles and attention to the smallest of details, which give this LEGO creation the illusion that it might not be LEGO at all: it might be the real deal, an actual Starhawk.