About Andrew Becraft (TBB Editor-in-Chief)

Andrew Becraft is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Brothers Brick. He's been building with LEGO for more than 40 years, and writing about LEGO here on TBB since 2005. He's also the co-author, together with TBB Senior Editor Chris Malloy, of the DK book Ultimate LEGO Star Wars. Andrew is an active member of the online LEGO community, as well as his local LEGO users group, SEALUG. Andrew is also a regular attendee of BrickCon, where he organizes a collaborative display for readers of The Brothes Brick nearly every year. You can check out Andrew's own LEGO creations on Flickr. Read Andrew's non-LEGO writing on his personal blog, Andrew-Becraft.com. Andrew lives in Seattle with his wife and dogs, and by day leads software design and planning teams.

Posts by Andrew Becraft (TBB Editor-in-Chief)

Handsome masonry heralds the end of the 10182 era

The latest 10182 Café Corner building from L.G. Orlando (lgorlando) arrives just as the set that inspired it all begins to come and go, hearkening the end of the set’s availability.

L.G.’s brickwork under the porch is excellent, and little details like the round 1×1 plates in the window frames break up the plane of the wall.

It’s been nearly two and a half years since LEGO released Café Corner, inspiring thousands of LEGO builders to try LEGO Town creations — many of us for the first time. Though we all know that LEGO sets aren’t available indefinitely, it’s hard to imagine this inspirational set being gone forever.

See more photos of L.G.’s Brickstone Manor on MOCpages.

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.

Where do LEGO creations go when you take them apart?

Randall Munroe’s xkcd webcomic uses LEGO to ask a rather profound question.

LEGO Nakagin Capsule Tower captures the Metabolist spirit

A new builder going by SPACE, TIME, & REALITY has posted a microscale version of the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo.

The technique used for the round capsule windows is excellent, while the mix of light and dark windows adds interest.

Via twee affect.

Latest BrickForge items include printed military headgear, saw, cleaver [News]

BrickForge has just released a huge new batch of minifig accessories, starting with headgear printed to add realism to the helmets and berets. The new medium-blue helmets are printed with “UN” and the dark green berets are printed with a military badge

Other new items include:

See photos of all the new items in the BrickForge Store.

The Carl Sagan deep space exploration vessel dwarfs its own builders

It seems both inevitable and appropriate that humankind will name a spacegoing vehicle after astronomer and author Carl Sagan. We’ve also come to expect excellence from the collaborations between Ed Diment and Ralph Savelsberg.

The Carl Sagan certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Describing it as a “near-future deep space exploration ship” inspired by Ralph’s microscale John Archibald Wheeler, the builders stand behind their work and give us a sense of its immense scale:

As much as I appreciate the sleek starfighters and heavily armed starships we feature here so often, it’s refreshing to see builders taking both a more realistic and peaceful direction with a large LEGO spaceship.

Stilzkin Igniz rolls across the landscape

This tracked transport by Peer Kreuger (mahjqa) incorporates a Power Functions motor to journey straight over boulders and trees — well, at least very large pebbles and tall grass blades.

I’m especially impressed with the treads. Built from individual Technic elements, they don’t just use the LEGO treads that come in sets.

Naturally, there’s a video of this articulated beast in action:

Odin’s magical spear

Dean Hofmeyer (Unique Name) teased us with a work-in-progress picture way back in July, but the wait for his Gungnir Interceptor was well worth it.

To quote Chris Malloy‘s comment, “Gorgeous integration of anime-esque styling, advanced techniques, and classic colours. The windscreen is particularly note-worthy.” Well said.

Instructions for the LEGO Rock Band bus now available

With LEGO Rock Band now shipping from both Amazon.com and the LEGO Shop, you may want to build some of the things you’re seeing in the game, starting with the band’s bus. You can download a PDF of the instructions from LEGO.com now.

Via FBTB.

Lino’s 1960 Chevy Apache will carry inland surfers to the dunes

It’s hard to believe that LUGNuts is already two years old, but the group of LEGO car builders celebrated its second anniversary in October. For the anniversary challenge, LUGNuts co-founder Lino Martins built a 1960 Chevrolet Apache.

The truck is great — with diamond patterns on the interior and a great gas can — but the backdrop is just as interesting. I love the cow’s skull and vulture.

Click the picture to read Lino’s full write-up about his inspiration, and see his roundup of all the entries on the LUGNuts blog.

When is a “Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical” just a “clippy bit”?

LEGO Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical With shared resources like Bricklink and Peeron, LEGO fans active on the Web today use fairly standard terminology for referring to individual LEGO elements. Whether you’re describing a building technique or drafting, shared language is a key to communication.

An interesting article by Giles Turnbull has been making the rounds among LEGO fans on the ‘net this past week. The article surveys four families who play with LEGO and how they talk about LEGO. In the absence of externally driven standards, it’s interesting to see how these families have developed their own LEGO language.

Read the full article, A Common Nomenclature for Lego Families, on The Morning News.

Three-score barrels of powder below / To prove old England’s overthrow

Even though today is Guy Fawkes Day, I do not recommend burning this CubeDude effigy built by Paul Lee (polywen):

LEGO does, after all, give off a rather acrid smell when burnt…

Of pink nosicles and very high B.E.F.

Naneto has conveniently titled this pair of adorable rodents Cute Overload.

These little guys are naneto’s entries in the 1st LusOlympics, a LEGO contest hosted by two Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) LEGO fan communities, Comunidade 0937 and LUG Brasil.

Via The Living Brick.