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)

Terror in Tabletown contest [News]

The last couple of months of the year really are the “contest season” in the LEGO fan community. Klocki is trying out a Contests page to capture many of the contests going on at the moment. We’ll try to feature as many as we can get to, but I’m not making any promises. ;-)

Andrew “Doctor Sinister” Summersgill from Tabletown.co.uk is hosting “Terror in Tabletown”, with a couple really cool categories.

With prizes from UK BrickArms reseller Minifigforlife.com, the two categories are “Best Use of LEGO Elements” and “Most Novel Use of BrickArms Weapons.”

Most of us limit our use of BrickArms to their “intended” use as minifig accessories, so that second category has my interest piqued.

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.

Urban Combat Anti-Armour Unit 7

Scotty Whitesell has been adding to his collection of motorcycle bodies since we featured his Spinnenartiges Tier several months ago:

The rounded “thorax” and large forward cannon are excellent design choices.

(Via TFOL.)

Obi-wan Kenobi’s trophy room

Dave Lartigue (Dave Ex Machina), writes:

While looking for the bathroom in Ben Kenobi’s home, Luke accidentally wanders into Ben’s trophy room.

Can you spot all the references in Dave’s vignette?

NoVVember starts early when it’s Vic Viper month

Two-pronged starfighters are my favorite sort. NoVVember is already off to a good start with lots of great entries in the Vic Viper pool.

Let’s get this roundup started with Ronin VV by Fredo Houben (Fredoichi):

I can’t stop staring at the nose on Kuzma’s Mother, a chunky entry by Horace Cheng (Squinty Eyes):

Lukas goes skinnier with Soleil L4 Atmospheric:

Check out the Vic Vipers pool on Flickr.

Minifig-scale Alien Chestburster by pirie1

The Fine Clonier Haunted Halloween Custom Minifig Contest has resulted in some great minifigs, including all of Jamie Spencer’s spooky figs.

One of my favorites so far, though, is this custom Chestburster (from Alien) by pirie1:

Alien and Predator minifigs by Legohaulic

Tyler Clites goes theatrical with his latest batch of minifigs, inspired by the Predator and Alien movies.

Notice the minifig hands Tyler used for the Predator’s mouth:

Portal 0937 interviews Michael Jasper

Michael Jasper is easily one of my favorite builders. His many minuscule creations simultaneously inspire and annoy. (“Genius! So simple! Why didn’t I think of that?!”)

Portuguese LEGO fan community Portal 0937 has posted a great interview with the artist many LEGO fans know mainly by his Brickshelf user name — “mijasper“.

LEGO elements, in particular those small and special ones, can be used in many ways – you just have to look at them as what they could be.

Head on over to Portal 0937 to read the full interview with Michael Jasper.

(Via LegOficina dos Baixinhos.)

2009 LEGO City sets include a farm with cows [News]

Castle fans aching for 10193 Medieval Market Village aren’t the only LEGO fans who will be getting more civilian sets (and cows!) in 2009.

7637 has two cows, along with a big tractor, small tractor, and barn:

7635 includes a six-wide SUV with trailer and a brown horse:

8401 appears to be the first minifig and accessory pack for Town/City in many years:

See more (including all the new construction sets) on Eurobricks, Brickset, Brickshelf, or Flickr.

2009 LEGO Power Miners box art [News]

UPDATE: The brand-new 2009 LEGO Power Miners sets are now available from the LEGO Shop online.

It’s a news bonanza today! Next up, the first high-resolution photos of LEGO Power Miners.

My favorite is the as-yet-unnamed 8961:

This image of 8960 shows off the new minifigs, rock monster, and dynamite:

Smalls sets are always nice for figs, like 8956:

See more on Eurobricks, Brickset, Brickshelf, or Flickr.

2009 LEGO Indiana Jones box art for 7682 and 7683 (Flying Wing!) [News]

Well, with pictures of the 2009 LEGO sets up on Brickshelf, Brickset, Eurobricks, How Many Studs to LEGOLAND?, Flickr, and… — you get the idea — I think the genie’s out of the bottle.

There’s so much stuff, we’ll split this into several posts. Let’s get started with LEGO Indiana Jones.

From Raiders of the Lost Ark, 7683 Fight on the Flying Wing:

From Temple of Doom, 7682 Shanghai Chase:

More box art photos from 2009 LEGO sets to come…

Living in a tree with Tânia

One of my favorite contests every year (though I have yet to enter myself) is the Classic-Castle Mini-Castle Contest, full of teeny tiny medieval towns and, well, lots of castles, of course. ;)

The “Living Tree” by Tânia Baixinhos reminds me of something from a Miyazaki movie or a Final Fantasy game:

Check out the Brickshelf gallery for details like the lake, fields, villagers, and all the little houses in the branches of the tree.

GO MINIMAN GO Photo Contest ends October 31

Okay, Brothers Brick readers, our GO MINIMAN GO Photo Contest ends in less than a week, on October 31!

Ricardo Silva (evildead from Klocki) has submitted “Go Miniman Panic Go!” — in which “science-fiction turns into reality”:

Things go downhill for the minifigs in Rupi‘s second entry:

Thanks for all the great entries so far, everyone!

Reminder: Don’t forget to let us know you’ve entered, and be sure to include what category your entry is for. ;-)