We don’t often get a large-scale LEGO creation from Geng Lei, but when a new model drops, it’s always an event. Geng’s Yu Xin Pavilion is approximately 2 feet deep, 3 feet wide, and 4.5 feet tall built from a bright yet harmonious mix of colors. The fantastical take on classical Chinese architecture includes flying eaves, paifang gates, and whimsical dragon detailing. A build this epic deserves a closer look!
Take a closer look at Geng’s colossal creation
Alternate Builds have been having a moment. Between Dicken Liu’s facehugger and the Sigularity of everything either remixing into our out of a Millenniun Falcon courtesy of this guy, what used to be a small niche of the AFOL world is spawning new viral stories every day. Not long ago, Heagh B. Vane shared a MOC of Treebeard made entirely from the ports of 10281 Bonsai Tree. Thousands of builders grabbed the instructions, including LEGO photographer Chris Cosmos. That’s when the magic happened. All this spring Chris has been staging photographs with curious wildlife, for example, patiently waiting for a cardinal to pluck a seed from Darth Vader’s minifig grip. Using Vane’s instructions, Chris assembled Treebeard and set the Ent out to engage with the local wildlife. And look who showed up to sample some of Pippin’s Lembas bread!
Vane’s Treebeard instructions are available on rebrickable should you be curious about trying this alternate build yourself. Merry, Pippen, and squirrel not included.
Where did Batman get his wonderful toys? He made them himself. The same can be said of Luke Horwath, who not only assembles expressive animals in bricks (that dog is eerily lifelike!) but also brings a makers’ ingenuity to the hobby, combining LEGO with mechanical engineering to construct a working LEGO Batman pinball machine and a lifesize LEGO claw machine. But just as Batman counts on his Bat-family, Luke is teaming with his mother, Anne, for the new season of LEGO Masters. (Sadly, there’s no Air Bud loophole on the show and dogs are not allowed to compete.)
Luke’s Pinball machine is a remarkable build, and one that I wish I could have tested in person. I wonder if he’ll get to show off that mechanical know-how on the show?
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.
What is art? For the LEGO Group, as with critics, art is hard to pin down. What started as mostly pop culture mosaics has grown to include LEGO-fied replicas of famous gallery works to a mural of the Milky Way Galaxy to… a relief of a Tiger head? LEGO Art 31217 The Fauna Collection: Tiger is the second set in the fauna subtheme after 2024’s Macaw Parrots. Designed to either hang on the wall or sit on a countertop with the built-in stand, the set also incorporates a dash of Botanicals. Containing 744 elements, LEGO Art 31217 The Fauna Collection: Tiger roars in on June 1 for US $64.99 | CAN $79.99 | UK £54.99. But is this tiger grrreat?! Join us for a short review and stay to for some spicy thoughts on LEGO labels.
The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Read our short review and bonus commentary after the fold
Some builders have a problem with sand, how it’s coarse and irritating and gets everywhere. Not Joe Cherwink. Sandy settings are this builder’s LEGO oasis, from the mummy-cursed sandstorms of the Sahara, to the majestic Shai-Hulud. Joe is joined by fellow pop culture aficionado Anthony in the new season of LEGO Masters where, hopefully, the studio is stocked with plenty of brick yellow pieces.
Joe also has a knack for motorizing his creations, like this Just Deserts medley that is packed to the sandy gills with nerdy desert tributes. Comb through it yourself or let the builder walk you through all of the references.
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.
Justin (bradyjoynerbricks) covers the LEGO community with joy and an eye for inclusivity. The motto #BuildKindess sums it up perfectly. Justin is also a big musical fan, creating tributes to favorite musicals like Wicked or this habitat stack celebrating Luisa from Encanto.
Justin’s builds aren’t just delightful, but they remind us to have compassion towards others and towards ourselves.
Justin will be joined by their friend John in LEGO Masters Season 5 where they can spread their joyful message to an even larger audience.
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.
Corey and Rebecca Maxfield travel the world together, sigfigs and kids in tow, but in between voyages they find time for original creations. Corey’s tribute to Singing in the Rain certainly puts a smile on my face as the brick-built figure sings a happy refrain. The travelling couple’s next stop? LEGO Masters Season 5.
Just the other day Theo asked about the role that LEGO plays in peoples travels. No doubt Corey and Rebecca have plenty of stories to share about that playful combination!
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.
Niki has been working her way through the Harry Potter series with cinematic dioramas built in LEGO. My favorite is this twisty recreation from the first film with Ron trapped by the Devil’s Snare plant. The scale of the vines as they stretch across the enormous cobblestone floor makes for a striking contrast of chaos and ordered angles. For her next journey, Niki leans on a bond stronger than those forged at Hogwarts – the bond of sisterhood! – as she enters LEGO Masters Season 5 with her sister Brittain. As Dumbledore always says, may the odds be ever in your favor.
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.
Have you ever tried following the instructions for an iconic LEGO set, only subbing in colors from your own collection? It’s a fun way to experience an iconic build while expressing your own artistic voice (and thanks to LEGO making instructions free to download, you can save money too!) That’s just what Marcella did with this alternate take on the Birch Books modular apartment unit. Marcella’s bright colors bring a funky San Francisco vibe and pair perfectly with the new artist resident. Marcella and her best friend Krista are bringing that free spirit to the new season of LEGO Masters. Best of luck, you two!
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.
Minifigure fans are in for a treat when LEGO Ideas 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine arrives this June. LEGO pulled out all the stops in celebrating popular themes from the past, including Fabuland, Paradisa, Pirate, Classic Space, and of course, Castle. Even the set’s fan designer gets the minifig treatment! The set contains 16 minifigures in total, some of which are duplicates, but I doubt many will mind as they’re the ones fans could vote on and are likely to be the most popular figures: Classic spacemen in teal and gold, and perhaps most excitingly, two new Castle Factions – Kraken and Griffon factions. Of course you’re not just getting 16 figures with the set. Most of the 1,343 parts go towards the fully-functional retro vending machine in cherry red. It’s a very fancy Kraken Knight delivery device that no doubt many LEGO fans will have fun filling with custom gachapon prizes. LEGO Icons 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine will be available early to LEGO Insiders on June 1 and to everyone else from June 6 for US $179.99 | CAN $219.99 | UK £149.99.
Read on for the full gallery of pictures and details on this amazing retro set
Nick Micheels (aka LobsterThermador) sent many a Twilight fan swooning with his Cullen House MOC that became an official LEGO Ideas set earlier this year. The builder shows that he’s as nimble as Edward, switching from minifig to miniland-scale with ease. He brought that versatility when to the cast of LEGO Masters Season 5, alongside his sister Kyndall.
Worried that Nick’s mostly-bloodless vampire builds mean his builds lack bite? Yeah, right. Nick has a wicked sense of humor in his LEGO subjects.
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.
Ben Grayson has been featured a few times on The Brothers Brick, but this week the builder is taking brick brotherhood to another level as he joins LEGO Masters season 5 alongside his brother Michael. Ben completed this pre-show piece as a color challenge, contrasting yellowish green foliage with lavender moss. We’re big fans of floating rocks around here, and Ben makes this motif soar on a small footprint with excellent verticality and crisscrossing vines as a dynamic flourish. Ben pairs the build with a little narrative. Fisherman Bjorn Clidestine is journeying far from home, an old man alone into the Aether on a desperate mission to help his starving village. Good luck, Bjorn, and good luck to the brothers Grayson!
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.