Posts by Ryan Wood

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for October 21, 2018 [News]

In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best of LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the third week of October 2018.

TBB NEWS & FEATURES: The latest LEGO Ideas set has been revealed (and we reviewed it), plus the Microscale Magic contest winners revealed!


TBB REVIEWS & INSTRUCTIONS: Just announced and already reviewed: We’ve got the pop-up book “Once Upon a Brick” set, plus a review of Overwatch’s Omnic Bastion!


Creations for Charity store now open!

See the rest of this week’s LEGO news

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Who drove it best? Lamborghini Aventador or Toyota Prius

A couple of really high quality LEGO car models rolled across our monitors this week so I thought we’d take the opportunity to feature both models, hailing from very different economic classes but from a pair of equally talented creators. On the affordable-by-the-common-man end of the spectrum, we have hachiroku24‘s Toyota Prius model topping out around USD$24,000. And he’s provided a handy parts guide and instructional video.

Lego Toyota Prius MOC

Breaking the bank at the other end of the scale is Jonathan Elliot‘s high class USD$400,000 Lamborghini Aventador.

Lamborghini Aventador

I genuinely appreciate when iconic shapes are accomplished with creative parts use, and both these cars fit that qualification. Both builders are masters of their craft, consistently perfecting minifig scale automobiles. My absolute favorite new(er) piece use here is the front bumper of the start white Aventador achieved with mirrored Wedge 2×1 with stud notch Left and Right. It’s such a distinctive shape at such a small scale. The utilitarian grey Prius’ curved frame is brought about with flex cable and the Bar Holder with Handle

And if you like these cars as much as we do, make sure to check out hachiroku’s chill, easy-to-follow VW Bus building instructions from last week and Jonathan’s trio of classic cars shared earlier this summer.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

The best Battlestar Galactica built out of LEGO bricks

All of this has happened before and will happen again – While there have been many worthy builders to attempt both the classic, modern, and “inspired-by” incarnations of the famed sci-fi vessel Battlestar Galactica at a variety of scales the latest iteration is a wondrous thing of beauty. Brandon Griffith‘s labor of love is 47 inches (1.2 meters) long and took almost 300 hours to build. It debuted this past weekend at BrickCon 2018 in Seattle.

Battlestar Galactica BSG-75

Battlestar Galactica BSG-75

Fire up your FTL drive and click through for more photos

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Discover the secrets of the Aslanic Temple

Swedish model builder Jonas “Gideon” Wide is known around these parts for his highly detailed, highly dynamic LEGO cityscapes. His latest creation, a shrine to the Order of Aslan, might be based in a fictional world but the details in and around the building make it feel incredibly real.

Aslanic Temple in Barqa

This creation is well worth scrutinizing. I found tidbits to love all over the place, like the worker applying fresh plaster to the outside of the building, and the best use of the Imperial pilot helmet I’ve seen this side of a Star Wars advent calendar!

Aslanic Temple in Barqa

Aslanic Temple in Barqa

If this feels similar to some of Jonas’ previous work, you’d be correct. We’ve featured his Streets of Barqa and siege workshop model and this new Temple is in the same fictional city.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for October 7, 2018 [News]

In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best of LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the first week of October 2018.

TBB NEWS & FEATURES: New LEGO Ideas sets, a never-been-done Star Wars locale, Overwatch teases and MORE in this week’s News Roundup


OTHER NEWS: There were a few other interesting LEGO news articles from around the (spider)web this week. Here are the best of the rest:
Check out the other LEGO news of the week

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Microscale tribute to the Tale of the Three Brothers

Prolific model builder Aaron Newman is back with another foray into the (LEGO) Wizarding World.

The Tale of the Three (Little) Brothers

This microscale scene is itself an homage to builder Aaron’s own minifigure scale Tale of the Three Brothers from back in April of this year. The pieces Aaron’s chosen to replicate his own work in a smaller scale are spot-on: bullwhips replacing flex tubing, statuettes replacing minifigures, and perhaps the funniest and most appropriate detail is the microscale Elderwand represented by a minifig-scale wand now grasped by the formerly-larger-than-life figure of Death.

I suppose the only question I’m left with is whether Aaron will attempt this scene in yet another scale in the future?

This LEGO model was built as an entry for TBB’s Microscale Magic contest. Coverage on TBB of an entry will not be taken into consideration during judging, and will have no effect on its ability to win, either positively or negatively.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Maintenance mech may move minifig materials

It’s a delight to be in a position where we can watch certain builds (and builders) evolve over time and improve on past designs. Today’s example is from Devid VII who has tinkered with his LEGO Ideas Exo Suit-inspired mini mech.

Mini Exo Suit II

This “maintenance mode” rendition follows Mini Exo-Suit 1 which Devid unveiled back in January. You can compare the variants by checking out our previous coverage of Mini Exo Suit 1, but I also want to zoom in on a couple of points specifically to show how the model has been refined and upgraded over the earlier model. Many studs have been covered up generally across the model, but the chest has seen the most refinement. Take a look at versions 1 and 2 here:

You could say it’s splitting hairs, but I appreciate that even a piece or two can make a difference in the final appearance of a model.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Build your own LEGO Jehuty from Zone of the Enders [Instructions]

Prominent video game-inspired LEGO builder Marius Herrmann from Germany is back with another remarkable brick bot, this time in collaboration with developer/publisher Konami. Say hello to Jehuty, a mechanical Orbital Frame suit piloted by the protagonists of the Zone of the Enders video game saga.

Jehuty (from "Zone of the Enders: 2nd Runner")

There is an amazing amount of articulation to be found across multiple joints and accessories. Newer parts like the bar w/ round plate hollow stud make an appearance in the wingtips and hands, and some larger, sleek “constraction” pieces in key positions on the arms and inner thighs provide a nice contrast to the more piece-intensive torso and limbs.

For comparison, here’s some art of the original Jehuty:

This model comes with the added bonus of instructions and a parts list and you can see a timelapse video of the build as well!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Take another look at this Space Police 6986 box art

In the past we’ve covered 1:1 scale reproductions of boardgame boxes, computer monitors, even LEGO’s earliest wooden toys. Some builders have even set up display cases to show off original sets with some basic background mockups. What you’ve probably never seen is a lovingly recreated diorama of original box art made out of LEGO. Builder Renaud Petit has transported us back to 1989 when this Space Police set was originally produced.

6986

Check out the original box art on Brickset:

Although this particular set was outside my age range, I still have nostalgic feelings for the dated old themes’ box art that featured landscaping, sunsets, and laser fields. We’d love to see this as a series: I have some recommendations. Shoot, even the recent 71043 Hogwarts Castle would look fetching with a detailed LEGO backdrop of that beautiful box!

If you have an appetite for more 1:1 scale LEGO models take a look through our tagged archives!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

A LEGO Stormbreaker fit for an Asgardian king

Riley Scott fancies himself the “Tony Stark of LEGO”. However, his latest creation positions him to take the title of Dwarf King currently held by the lonely Eitri.

Lego Stormbreaker

I think we’re past the point of spoiler warnings with Avengers: Infinity War already in its home video phase, so I’m just going to jump right into how perfectly this model recreates Stormbreaker after its unique birth. In the movie, the freshly-cast hammer and axe sections fall out of the mold, and with both Thor and Eitri unable to help complete the weapon angsty teen Groot finally jumps into action by grabbing the separate pieces and intertwining them with wooden tendrils. Compare the LEGO model to its completed appearance in Infinity War below: the contrast of the metal look against the more organic stacked round LEGO bricks and plates is stellar.

One more shot of the strongest weapon in Asgardian history, one we saw deal some major damage to Thanos in the climax of the film. Sadly, Thor should have gone for his head.

Lego Stormbreaker

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

TEEN TITANS (LE)GO!

Although I’m up to date with all the movies in DC’s cinematic “Extended Universe” it’s not the part of their media empire I’m most familiar with. Instead, I get to blame my kids for every episode of Cartoon Network’s “Teen Titans GO!” that I’ve had to suffer through (and then eventually succumb to). It is unapologetic in its juvenile humor and will break down your will to resist and then begins to hammer home with clever gags, running jokes, and surprise DC comic character cameos.

Which brings me to this humongous LEGO scene from builder Living Rave in Canada. The cacophony of the show is perfectly encapsulated in this diorama that features the iconic Titans Tower just offshore from Jump City, which is appropriately under attack from every direction.

"Teen Titans GO!" title screen intro.

The elaborate build is enhanced with the addition of official characters thanks to the waves of minifigures released with LEGO Dimensions and the LEGO Batman Movie Collectible Minifigures series. I also love the giant brick-built TTG logo in the background. There’s even a brick-built version of their strongest enemy, the demonic Trigon, who also happens to be heroine Raven’s father.

Raven faces off with Trigon!!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Come see this Victorian city block, love

Welcome back to The Brothers Brick, Łukasz Libuszewski, and thank YOU for welcoming us back into your magical miniature world. This time Łukasz has plunged us straight back into the Victorian era with a modular-style street mashup that would fit right at home with LEGO’s own Creator Expert series…if it time traveled about 150 years.

Victorian Street

There are details here for even expert-level builders to appreciate. Look at how the repetitive use of common clips, rails, and minifig utensils add dimension around window and door frames; there are very few flat surfaces to be found. The most mind-blowing parts usage for me was the side by side white modified 1×2 tile w/ handles used in the middle building’s windows.

What also really impressed me when checking out this model is that Łukasz drew his envisioned city block back in May before bringing the model to the real world for us to enjoy.

corner building

Łukasz has been featured on TBB a handful of times, notably for his gorgeous cars and modular-style work. A particular favorite of mine was his city Bike Shop.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.