Over the last year, generative AI images based on LEGO prompts have unleashed countless colorful images of jungles, ruins, and temples that lack the grace of a designer’s hand but sometimes hint at what could be built. It was images like those that prompted Syrdarian to build a jungle temple in real bricks, complete with the bright colors and flowing water that’s so appealing. I’m impressed by how well the mix of tan, peach, and orange shades blends together, and how two shades of azure blue works better than one. The scene suggests the play of light and shadow. The stonework is nicely accented by subtle details, like the wooden scaffolding and a lone duck peeking out from the corner. Syrdarian’s model makes a good case that while AI slop will never replace the work of a master builder, it can still inspire.
Posts by Jake Forbes
Duel of the Fates: Tim Goddard and Bousker face off in latest Iron Builder battle
The Iron Builder competition pits two creators from the LEGO community against each other to make amazing models that must incorporate a surprise “seed part.” Like in the show Iron Chef, creators are judged both on their overall creativity and on how they showcase the signature “ingredient.” For Season 7 round 5, which starts this week, the contenders for the Iron Builder crown are Bousker and Tim Goddard. The seed part is Airplane Door in White, a tricky part indeed.
Tim is a TBB legend whose stellar Star Wars creations have made him one of our most featured builders for well over a decade (not that we’re taking sides!). The first builder to create a model, Tim kicks off the competition with a sporty little spacecraft that wouldn’t seem out of place in the expanded Star Wars universe, with the seed part used four times to house the engines.
Bousker is also a Star Wars builder and has been quite active in LEGO competitions in recent years, continually impressing us with innovative parts usage and incredible use of perspective and immerisve photography. Bousker steps into the game with a perfectly staged shoe store scene that features at least 30 uses of the door by my count. There are so many clever techniques on display, from high heels and sandles where the seed piece makes up the majority of the model, to the ingenious pair of Converse All Stars with the doors sunken into the brown shelf so that only a strip appears for the rubber sole.
We’ll be back to cover the results of this latest battle, but for now be sure to follow the Iron Builders instagram to see the builds as they come in, complete with the playful and pun-filled trash-talking that the event is known for.
Sylon’s sky-fi aircraft is just plane awesome
Here at Brothers Brick we have a soft spot for both vintage vehicles and sleek spacehips, so when a custom sky-fi model comes across our radar, we have to cover it. Thomas Weigelt is no stranger to flying craft that fuse retro and futuristic elements, and their latest creation might be my favorite craft the builder has yet made. First, it’s a seaplane, which brings to mind the dogfights and adventure of Porco Rosso and Tail Spin. Second, it’s a biplane, with curved wings that evoke a dragonfly. And finally, it packs a monster piston engine that you can practically hear firing up.
Thomas’s color blocking is phenomenal, with dark blue detailing, a complementary stripe of orange, and a pop of lime green on the propeller. The piston design uses wheels topped with ice skates and packs big muscle car energy. And the propeller blades are made from Uruk-hai swords, an inspired choice of part. When I see a build like this, I want to know more about the pilot. Was it a hero like Porco Rosso, a pirate like Don Karnage?
Killer Gaming minifigs from Bloodborne, Assassin’s Creed, and beyond [Minifig Monday]
LEGO and video games are overlapping more and more, with partnerships with big players like Fortnite, Minecraft, Mario Kart, and even Horizon taking up a growing share of LEGO releases. Of course, no amount of official sets can keep up with all the games being released on PC and consoles. Fortunately, there are plenty of amazing builders making custom versions of game characters we love.
Kamil Karpiński is a builder we’ve spotlighted several times for his bolstered figs that integrate brick anatomy with minifig heads. For this tribute to From Software’s cult classic Bloodborne, the builder sticks with classic minifig parts and perfectly captures the Victorian horror aesthetic of the game. The rubber band wrapped around the sawtooth blade and the extra buckles on the arm really sell it.
beyondb0nes also found inspiration in Bloodborne with this minifig take on Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower.
Free play enabled. No need to insert another coin to continue!
“You shall not pass on the right!”
LEGO’s recent wave of Soapbox Derby 2-packs offers a wacky twist on racing with everything from hot dogs to hospital beds speeding for the win. Jarret (Wilderland Builds) rolls in with a pop-culture pairing where it’s impossible to pick a favorite. Do I go with Gandalf and his gas-guzzling Gwaihir, or Link and his N64 horsepower rumble pak wagon? I think the Hero of Time wins by a nose, thanks to that wonderfully nostalgic controller design.
Lose yourself in this immersive tribute to Attack on Titan made from just 100 LEGO pieces
Anime doesn’t get more visceral than Attack on Titan, where all that stands in the way of annihilation at the hands of fleshy giants is the brave Survey Corps, zipping around on wires like steampunk Spider-men. Builder nu_montag thrusts you right into the action with this immersive LEGO scene. You can feel the weight of the Colossal Titan’s sinewy gaze thanks to the dynamic perspective. Even more amazing, this shot contains just 100 LEGO elements!
Read on to survey how the scene was done with just 100 pieces
Andor’s TIE Avenger debuts in LEGO in fan build
You should be watching Andor for the incredible writing and performances that bring the Star Wars universe to life with unmatched texture and nuance. But if you’re reading on a LEGO site, chances are you’re also scanning every scene for new ships and droids to inspire future MOCs or sets to anticipate next May the Fourth. Andor season 2 delivers on both cinema craft and spacecraft in its opening minutes with an incredible TIE Fighter heist, and I know I wasn’t alone in seeing that ship and saying, “that will make an incredible LEGO set!” Builder Michał Kozłowski, aka Edge of Bricks, was inspired by the first shots of the TIE Avenger in the Andor trailer and set to work making a remarkably screen-accurate version from 1,088 parts.
Originally appearing in the PC game Star Wars: TIE Fighter, the TIE Avenger is a cousin to the TIE Interceptor. A quality over quantity shift from the standard TIE strategy, the Avenger is equipped with heavier armor plating, a robust armament, and a hyperdrive. Michał’s model captures the wing-mounted missiles, but it is missing the heavy laser beneath the cockpit and the rotary cannons to the sides, which we didn’t get a clear look at until the first episode premiered this week. No doubt Michał will correct this, and in the meantime, it’s a remarkable likeness on a quick turnaround
See more pics of this top-secret Imperial fighter
Maxx’s Moomin is here to melt your heart
The Moomins, created by Finnish/Swedish author Tove Jansson, are timeless characters long cherished in Scandinavia, Japan, and increasingly the world, thanks to new printings of the amazing storybooks and comics, merchandise, movies, and even a new video game. One medium that Moomin hasn’t conquered yet is LEGO, but Maxx Davidson corrects this oversight. Moomin, ever the awkward romantic, is a perfect subject for Maxx’s whimsical style of building. I would love to see Jansonn’s characters come to LEGO so that I can admire them as I drink from one of my many Moomin mugs. If the residents of Moominvalley continue to grow in recognition, maybe they’ll eventually make it through the Ideas or Icons lines. Until then, I’ll hold Maxx’s model in my heart.
LEGO Jurassic World Rebirth 76974 Brick-Built Mosasaurus Boat Mission – A bold return to basics [Review]
LEGO sets based on the Jurassic films have a notoriously high price-to-piece ratio thanks to the large molded dinosaur figures. This has never been more true than the current wave of Jurassic World Rebirth sets, which offer incredible play paired with big price increases. One set in the line bucks the trend – 76974 Brick-Built Mosasaurus Boat Mission. With a retail price of US $59.99 | CAN $79.99 | UK £54.99 for 858 pieces, the set promises something that other sets leave wanting: value. But is this brick-built behemoth a model of excellence, or is it dead in the water? Let’s find out!
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Click here to read our full review!
This Week in LEGO Bricks: From Asgard to Isengard [Feature]
While scouring the LEGO world for essential creations and news for this week’s video, ABrickDreamer noticed a pattern – lots of builds inspired by transportation, from cyberpunk trucks to majestic camels. He also rounds up the latest models in the Rogue Olympics competition from many of our favorite builders. And if you’ve ever wondered what a 36,000 piece model of Isengard would look like, that’s here too. It’s another amazing week in LEGO bricks!
LEGO Jurassic World Rebirth 76970 Baby Dinosaur Dolores: Aquilops – Cretaceous cutie
The plot of Jurassic World: Rebirth hinges on tracking down genetic samples from the biggest dinosaurs deemed too dangerous for the original Jurassic Park. It also introduces the Aquilops, a plant-eating ceratopsian roughly the size of a housecat. And it’s a baby! Alongside the line of action playsets, LEGO will help you build your own baby Aquilops from 339 pieces. Available on June 1 for US $27.99 | CAN $29.99 | UK £19.99, 76970 Baby Dinosaur Dolores: Aquilops is the most affordable set in the latest Jurassic collection. It follows in the tiny dino footsteps of Baby Bumpy: Ankylosaur, a set we found to be a true delight for a great price. How does Dolores measure up as a buildable baby dino friend?
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Check out our review of Baby Bumpy below!
LEGO Jurassic World Rebirth 76973 Raptor & Titanosaurus Tracking Mission – Biggest. Dino. Ever. [Review]
In Jurassic World Rebirth, scientists require DNA from the largest and most lethal dinosaurs on a secret research island run amok. For sheer size, the Titanosaurus is arguably the biggest there ever was, and it’s the star of the second biggest LEGO set in the Rebirth line. LEGO Jurassic World Rebirth 76973 Raptor & Titanosaurus Tracking Mission contains one enormous sauropod, a raptor, two vehicles, three minifigs, a campsite, and an abandoned gas station, built from 582 pieces. The set releases on June 1 and can be pre-ordered now for US $109.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99. Does bigger mean better when it comes to dino DNA? Join us as we track down the answers in our review.
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Click here to read our full review!