About Elspeth De Montes

Elspeth De Montes is Scottish but lives in North Yorkshire with her partner and twins. She is a LEGO Builder not a collector of sets, which in theory should make the hobby less expensive (ahem!) but monochrome collections can be pricey. You can see more of Elspeth's work on her blog or website and Flickr. Elspeth is also a bike lover; mountain bike, fixie, road bike, tri-bike (n+1=number of bikes I need).

Posts by Elspeth De Montes

Lara Croft lives dangerously in this amazing, animated Tomb Raider LEGO diorama [Video]

With the original Tomb Raider video game released back in 1996 and yet another movie this year, it’s clear that there’s a lot of mileage in the Lara Croft story. The mix of adventure, exotic locations and history also makes Tomb Raider great inspiration for LEGO creations. Kevin Wanner has created a Tomb Raider diorama that has some powered features — a cascading waterfall and a perilously angled B-25 that moves as Lara Croft crosses. The negative space lettering is nicely constructed and there’s a lot of character built into the overgrown crash site.

CLick to see close-ups and a video of the moving features

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Free LEGO Easter Bunny Hut Promo and Double VIP points [News]

LEGO Shop@Home store has two concurrent promotions running at the moment, with both Double VIP points and a free gift with purchases over US$35/£35. The free gift with purchase is set 5005249 Easter Bunny Hut and you can read our detailed Easter Bunny promo review if you want to know more about this set.

The Easter Bunny Hut offer is valid at US LEGO Shop@Home and LEGO Stores from March 16 through 11:59pm EST, March 31, 2018 or while supplies last only. In the UK the dates are slightly different from 5th March to 2nd April 2018, or while stocks last.

Double VIP points offer is valid 16th – 30th March 2018 in LEGO® Stores, via shop.LEGO.com or orders over the phone and is available in the US, UK and across Europe over the same period.

Assemble your own Fåctötum, a robot from IMEA [Instructions]

There is a certain Swedish style to these instructions for your own Fåctötum, a robot from IMEA (Intergalactic Manufactory of Electronics and Automata). Luigi Priori has definitely found inspiration by eating a few Swedish meatballs and assembling some flat-pack home furniture. While the instructions are for a cute little robot, half the fun of this build is enjoying the time and energy Luigi has put into designing the instructions themselves.

You will require a few minifigure tools and a friend to help you to carry the box of parts — this is a two-minifigure lift.

Build your own little LEGO robot with step-by-step instructions

LEGO Marvel Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition 76105 [Review]

After seeing some in-person views of the Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition at New York Toy Fair last month, like many of you we were keen to get our hands on 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition as soon as possible. The set, based on Iron Man’s Hulkbuster armor seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, includes 1,363 pieces and an exclusive Iron Man minifigure. It’s priced at US $119.99 / CA $149.99 / DE 129.99€ / UK £119.99 / DK 1199DKK.

Read the full review

Greyscale villa is anything but monotone

I’m not sure if Bernopi is an architect or not, but his LEGO villa certainly looks like it was designed by one. With a greyscale colour scheme, clean lines and a hint of International Style, this is my kind of house. I love the tilted roofs that add interest to the box-like style of construction and the main stairs are enticingly simple in appearance. The only LEGO colours used are Black, White, Medium Stone Grey and Dark Stone Grey but the different textures and angles ensure that this creation is aesthetically intriguing and attractive.

I imagine this to be a home with minimalistic interior that is easy to keep tidy. We will have to use our imagaintion as there are no interior images just the views through the window.

Advertising the derelict remnants of a city street

Broken windows, damaged buildings, garbage on the street and infrastructure destroyed are some of the tell-tale signs of a post-apocolyptic world. There’s ample of opportunity to see some post-apocolyptic decay in this fantastic diorama by W. Navarre that centres around a couple of office buildings in what used to be part of a city and descends into an underground world of “every man for himself.” The Chima game card works surprisingly well as an advertising sign, and the collapsed sign with the Nike logo has seen better days. I particularly like the subterranean part of the build; it’s like an underground car park that has been repurposed, and there’s plenty of pipes, wires and drains to catch your eye.

There’s a lot to admire in this closer view of the rear portion teased in the image above. Click to see an edited version full of special effects

LEGO monorail returns...in microscale

LEGO’s infamous monorail system has been the source of many questions about it’s potential return over the years. In fact, when I spoke with ex-CEO Bali Padda last year he said one of the most common questions he faced from fans was “when will LEGO bring back the monorail?“. While the monorail system is increasingly expensive to buy on the secondary market, Julius von Brunk has created a microscale version that is both easier on the wallet and adorable. The introduction of curved tiles has made this type of build cleaner and perhaps a little easier, but there’s a lot to admire in this instantly recognisable mini version.

All the key locations are present in huge Ninjago diorama

There a lot going on in this huge Ninjago diorama. At 145×95 studs in size and made up of more than 11 separate sections and locations, it’s no suprise it took about six months to complete. The build is a collaboration between brother and sister, Robert4168/Garmadon and Kai NRG/Geneva, with the right and left side being t by each sibling respectively. The diorama stays true to the essence of the Ninjago theme with plenty of character in the buidings that include Temple of Airjitzu, Birchwood Forest, Sensei Wu’s tea shop and Dareth’s Mojo Dojo .

Click to see detailed views of the different buildings

LEGO Avengers: Infinity War set now available with exclusive promotions [News]

Six LEGO sets based on this summer’s upcoming mega-blockbuster Marvel’s Avengers Infinity War are now available in stores and at LEGO online. There are exclusive promos available 3-4th March, including Marvel Artwork and The Guardian’s Ship polybag (30525), which are detailed below. Each Marvel’s Avengers Infinity War set comes with it’s own unique Infinity Gem, so if you want them for Thanos’ gauntlet, you’ll have to collect them all.

US Shop@Home

76108 Sanctum Sanctorum Showdown – $99.99 USD – 1,004 pieces
76107 Thanos: Ultimate Battle – $69.99 USD – 674 pieces
76103 Corvus Glaive Thresher Attack – $39.99 USD – 416 pieces
76104 The Hulkbuster Smash-Up – $29.99 USD – 375 pieces
76102 Thor’s Weapon Quest – $19.99 USD – 223 pieces
76101 Outrider Dropship Attack – $14.99 USD – 124 pieces

UK Shop@Home

76108 Sanctum Sanctorum Showdown – £89.99 – 1,004 pieces
76107 Thanos: Ultimate Battle – £69.99 – 674 pieces
76103 Corvus Glaive Thresher Attack – £34.99 – 416 pieces
76104 The Hulkbuster Smash-Up – £29.99 – 375 pieces
76102 Thor’s Weapon Quest – £19.99 – 223 pieces
76101 Outrider Dropship Attack – £11.99 – 124 pieces

As the sets are based upon an upcoming movie, be aware that there are potential spoilers in the box art pictured below the jump. Click here to see each of the Avengers: Infinity War sets

LEGO 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition now available with exclusive promotions [News]

After seeing some in-person views of the Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition at New York Toy Fair last month, 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition is now available from LEGO Shop@Home and in LEGO stores, along with some exclusive promotions only available on 3rd – 4th March. The set, based on Iron Man’s Hulkbuster armor seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, includes 1,363 pieces and an exclusive Iron Man minifigure,priced at US $119.99 / CA $149.99 / DE 129.99€ / UK £119.99 / DK 1199DKK.

UK Shop@Home 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition £119.99

US Shop@Home 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition US$119.99

Click here to see the Avengers: Infinity War promotions available 3-4th March 18

An atmospheric moonlight cruise in unknown waters

The first word that comes to mind when describing this LEGO swamp scene is atmospheric. Markus Rollbühler has clearly been affected by the dark and damp Danish winter and channelled those dark thoughts when creating this scene The cinematic style is very well done, there are some really fantastic effects – rippling water surface, fog, huge depth of field and the soft lighting. The scene shows some intrepid explorers paddling towards an orc settlement consisting of houses set on high stilts, it makes for a very eerie setting.

Taking a closer, clearer look at the Orc’s stilt houses reveals some fantastic details. The side panels are made from tracks and the hose stilts look suitably risky as an engineering feat. I love the simplicity of using the curled minifigure whips as a way to hang the lanterns, it’s very effective.

Click here to see a closer view of the swamp monsters

Microscale LEGO Hogwarts paints the scene for Harry Potter movies

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is probably one of the most famous schools thanks to J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series of novels and subsequent movies. Joshua Wray has captured the school and it’s surroundings in LEGO and there’s a lot of detail in this fantastic microscale creation. While not everyone will sanction such a thing, I did notice that Joshua has been busy painting some of his LEGO pieces! Look carefully and you will notice a few coloured parts that do not exist in LEGO’s current parts list.

See more of this lovely miniature LEGO Hogwarts