Posts by Adam Jacobs

Showdown with the Mandalorian

Do not self destruct! This diorama featuring the climactic battle from Chapter 1 of The Mandalorian deserves never to be taken apart. “Outpost on Arvala-7” is built by none other than KevFett2011 — one of the most accomplished LEGO builders in the world, who has returned with this stunning model of The Mandalorian and IG-11 closing in on their bounty.

In a way, this build is incredibly simple: There are only four colors used in the hut, well and landscape. Deciding what color palette to use in a highly-detailed scene can be frustrating, but here KevFett utilizes the saying “less is more”.

Another aspect of the build that I like is the roughness of everything. There are hardly any smooth surfaces, which makes sense on a harsh desert world like Arvala-7. Slopes, studs, and angular pieces help illustrate the idea that the pair of bounty hunters are not welcome here, and that they’ll have to fight their way to their goal.

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A bridge too far

The most important part of an Imperial Star Destroyer is the bridge. Thus, any LEGO build of it deserves incredible detail, which is exactly what JS_Ninjnerd has done here.

This highly-detailed model includes the essentials for what we’ve seen in the Star Wars movies. Triangular windows and the crew pits are immediately eye-catching, but upon closer inspection you can see the computer panels, angled sloped pieces, and color consistency that give this build a clean, smooth Imperial look.

Another aspect that I like is the amount of Imperial personnel in the display: nine crew members and officers, three stormtroopers and Lord Vader. Any scene featuring the might and technological prowess of the Empire would need to include figures like these.

New LEGO Star Wars Mandalorian Battle Pack to hit stores late December [News]

German toy seller JB Spielwaren has released images of the new 75267 Mandalorian Battle Pack, slated to be in stores starting December 26. The set is based off of characters from The Mandalorian series currently airing on Disney+.

75267 Mandalorian Battle Pack | 102 pcs | US $14.99 | CAN $1 | UK 12.99

The new battle pack comes with four unique Mandalorian warriors, a speeder and a small hideout. Resurfacing in this set is the Balutar-class swoop, an updated version of the same speeder that was featured in the 7914 Mandalorian Battle Pack set.

The set follows the announcements of 10 more LEGO Star Wars sets in 2020. Check them out, along with the rest of the 2020 sets, and then get a closer look at the new battle pack below.

Click here to see more pictures of the set…

A new take on the most classic Star Wars ship

Remember the scene in The LEGO Movie when Batman says he doesn’t know where to get a hyperdrive, and then he freaks out when the Millennium Falcon suddenly shows up out of nowhere? That’s how I felt when GolPlaysWithLego‘s gorgeous model flew across my screen.

See more photos of this amazing LEGO Millennium Falcon

The Mini Mandalorian

The third episode of The Mandalorian drops on Disney+ today, and we’re already seeing some fun LEGO Star Wars creations inspired by the new live action series. The Mandalorian is on the hunt in this fantastic BrickHeadz creation made by Greyson — once he’s set on bringing in your bounty, there’s nowhere to hide.

Greyson did an excellent job recreating the titular character in a miniaturized state, using flat pieces and sharp angles to bring out the same intimidating look that we’ve seen on screen. I thought it was great to see both the Mandalorian’s rifle on his back and his blaster pistol on his hip, small details that I’m glad weren’t left out.

The Gates Await

If you’re going to build a castle, you’re going to have some guarded gates to go with it. That’s exactly what builder JS_Ninjnerd did with this fantastic medieval creation. First off, we need a round of applause for the incredible amount of landscaping this build has. Look at the tiny details in the rocks and grass! The variety of sloping bricks used to achieve such level of attention reflects JS_Ninjnerd’s LEGO building skills. Certainly, no stone was left unturned.

The castle itself is a marvel of plastic engineering. Personally, I can’t stand having gaps in between my walled bricks, but here they’re pulled off perfectly. The distressing on the castle is equally expert. The sand-green bricks add age to the towers, helping establish the narrative that they’ve been guarding the entrance to the kingdom for centuries.

Also age-impressive is the tree on the far left of the display. This tree is shedding its leaves as it enters into the Fall season. I love the colors and how they reflect actual color changes in real trees. The leaves on the ground are a nice touch as well, continuing to bring as much realism as possible into this creation.

Thomas the Walking Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine has had enough of Sir Topham Hatt’s rule over the Island of Sodor, and builder Dvd showcases a well-beloved children’s hero that has literally gone off the rails.

This is absolutely terrifying, and would be the stuff of nightmares if it weren’t for the genius of how it’s put together. The builder utilized some of the smallest LEGO bricks stacked sideways to create the number “1” and the red border on Thomas’ sides. The finger joints on Thomas’ hands are also well built, allowing for this unhinged steam engine to rip up rails and potentially throw train cars.

The level of detail work on the legs and on the back of the body imply a specific mechanical look, as though for all these years the little blue engine we watched on TV had been hiding four limbs within his innocent body. If Dvd can make Thomas look this scary, I can’t imagine with what he would do with a bigger engine like Gordon or Henry.

Rebel against the blockade in the Rebel Blockade Runner

Are you a smuggler tired of being boarded by an Imperial cruiser? Or an Imperial politician with sympathies to the Rebellion? Or maybe you’re a starship captain looking for something that packs a punch? If you said yes to any of these questions, you need a Rebel Blockade Runner, particularly the one seen here designed by Ben Cossy.

Created to emulate the white and blue paint scheme of the CR90s from Star Wars: Rebels rather than the Tantive IV from A New Hope, everything seen here is as gorgeous as it looked on screen. This Rebel Blockade Runner incorporates the best of microscale design. I love the cockpit part of the ship by the way it fits exactly how an actual CR90 would look. The gun turrets on top, bottom and sides show that this isn’t a ship to mess with, and the use of the mechanical claw piece increases the playability of the guns.

I think the best part of this design is the smoothness of it all. Perfect angles and curves, as well as detailed hardpoints when screen accuracy is needed. I’m not sure how Ben created the angled port and starboard sections of the ship, but they look fantastic. Any Rebel commander looking to bust through an Imperial blockade would want something that looks this good.

The Great War takes to the skies

This beast of a bomber is ready to spread its message of triumphant destruction among all those who oppose it. I love this digital dieselpunk design by Cagerrin, which is one of her many alternative history creations. The white and dark blue color scheme give the impression that this aircraft isn’t trying to hide. Its gold trim and eagle wings tell a tale of majesty, a symbol of the empire it flies for.

As far as aircraft made out of bricks go, this model is extremely well built. The wings are so smooth, with minimal studs exposed to give it a truly wooden appearance. Breaking from the vintage airplane norm, the engines utilize reverse propellers, pushing the lumbering bomber through the sky instead of pulling it along. The windows of the bomb bay is also another testament to Cagerrin’s sharp attention to detail. Even the barrels of the gun turrets have a World War I machine gun vibe.

Jedi found

After a decade of seeking solace and peace, the silence is broken by the sound of blaster fire and lightsaber slashing. The Empire has found another Jedi fugitive. Created by Hypolite Bricks, this apocalyptic Star Wars display features what might have been a scene from the upcoming Jedi: Fallen Order video game.

The level of detail here is incredible. The tree growing out of the gunship cockpit is genius, truly giving the image that the fugitive has been in hiding at this location for many years. Adding to that image is the disassembled gun turret and cloth covers, as well as the growing maize. The small green hut reminds me of Luke Skywalker’s hut on Ahch-To.

I hope we see more creations like this, since this is what Star Wars is all about: dirty, grubby, worn, and full of meaning. Hypolite Bricks’ Gunship Hideout is the definition of what a LEGO Star Wars diorama should be.

The Shrieking Shack is still screaming

Even though Halloween has ended, this Shrieking Shack will frighten any young witch or wizard no matter what day of the year it is. Created by builder Thorsten Bonsch, the Shrieking Shack was a notable location in the novel Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Thorsten is magnificent at capturing the demented style of the Shack as it was depicted in the movie version of the book, making the diamond-shaped framing the stuff of nightmares for any architect.

Looking past the building itself, you can view the equally impressive snowdrifts on the roofing, shingles and grounds surrounding the Shack. It’s clear that the setting of this build is in winter. However, you can bet that no one would want to get inside to stay warm. Perhaps freezing to death would be a less frightening alternative to the horrors that allegedly dwelt within.

We’ve covered several of Thorsten’s LEGO creations on our site before, so be sure to check them out too.

A fully operational Star Wars display

Now, witness the awesomeness that is the creation of Rui Miguel Anacleto. Taking inspiration from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, this build is a display of the climactic Battle of Endor, where the Rebel Alliance faced off against the Empire in a do-or-die attempt to destroy a second planet killer.

I can’t help but fawn over the cinematic experience contained in this build. From the Alliance’s Medical Frigate battling Star Destroyers to the Executor crashing into the Death Star, nearly every scene is here. Even Luke, Lando and Wedge flying away from the Death Star is visible, with an excellent use of flame pieces to simulate internal explosions.