Posts by Daniel

This terrifying mech will whip you into a frenzy of fear

Insects and arachnids are a constant source of inspiration for builders of LEGO mecha, and it is easy to understand why. Between the exoskeletons, the many-jointed limbs, and the way that many of them scuttle and scurry, there is something magical and also terrifying about them. This upright mecha by builder [VB] is inspired by one of the scarier arachnids I can think of, the whip spider.

Whip Spider - Plague Mech: Phi

Not only do the extremely long arms with menacing claws closely resemble its real-life inspiration, but the builder has included some actual whips as part of the mech’s hip section. I also love the use of printed fan tiles for eyes.

This sinister cephalopod has 8 arms to kill you with

What would be more frightening than a man in a scuba suit wielding a knife? How about a cephalopod, capable of swinging 8 knives, in cybernetic hands. This delightfully strange agent of chaos by Djokson uses a number of car tire elements, including inside out tires at the base of each arm to create the look of an aquatic commando with a twist. This creature requires a suit to infiltrate out of the water locales. The arms, made from dinosaur neck parts end in prosthetic appendages capable of all manner of sinister shenanigans.

Agent 8

Characters from Splatoon 2 make a big splat

Video games are a major source of inspiration for a number of LEGO builders, and while many focus on shooter games, some prefer titles that are more light-hearted. This trio of characters built by LEGO 7 manages to celebrate both by showcasing a team of characters from Splatoon 2, a colorful game available for the Nintendo Switch. Splatoon is a squad-based shooter that uses paint instead of more lethal ammunition.

Splatoon

Not only has LEGO 7 captured the distinct paint drip style for the characters’ hair and clothes, but each one is armed with a different paint-spewing arsenal. Each character stands on their own pillar, splattered in paint using a number of newer tiles to create some awesome coverage. These pillars are even covered with greebly details and stickers, enhancing each model’s overall appearance.

Whale watching without getting wet

Creating organic natural shapes using plastic bricks is not a simple thing, and making those shapes fit together into something simple and beautiful is truly an art form. Despite being monochromatic, this sculpture of a Humpback whale by Anthony Séjourné does an amazing job of capturing the majestic grace of one of the world’s largest marine mammals. I especially liked the use of so many hollow studs to represent barnacles. And the fluke is quite nice as well (that’s the whale’s tail, for those less well versed in whale biology).

Lego HumpBack Whale - atana studio

Patrolling A-wings that would look at home in Blue Squadron

Often referred to as the fastest ship in the rebel fleet, the A-wing is definitely one of the sleekest one-man fighters to soar through that galaxy far, far away. While there have been several official sets from LEGO over the years, the attention to detail that LEGO fan creators put into models of this iconic ship never ceases to amaze me. Take this pair of A-wings by Maelven, for example. The narrow gap down the middle of the nose and inset tiles do wonders in capturing the look of its on-screen inspiration.

A-Wings Patroling

I also love the random patches of light gray and other colors that help make the fighters look a bit worn and patched. The smoothly angled sides are also well-executed. One more detail I almost missed is the blue tooth element just behind the canopy, which is spot on when compared to the A-wing model from the film.

AT-RT nimbly navigated across the floor of a sinkhole on Utapau

It’s a good thing that clone troopers are genetically enhanced because there is no way an average Stormtrooper could pilot an AT-RT so smoothly over slippery rocks. This fun scene by Inthert combines a well-designed AT-RT, perfectly scaled for a minifig, with some nicely sculpted rock-work.

AT-RT On Utapau

Lond Daer, the Númenorean shipyard in Middle Earth

There have been many great LEGO creations from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchise over the years, including a recent epic collaboration which we were proud to feature here on TBB. The other ages mentioned in the book, however, tend to be overlooked. Well, there is a new collaborative project underway and Barthezz Brick has built an amazing model of the Númenórean ship-building port of Lond Daer.

Lond Daer - by Barthezz Brick

This model has so many details worth mentioning, including some very nicely built arrow slits in the tall tower in the back, which starts with a fairly common technique using cheese slopes but repeats the pattern in an interesting way. The buildings on the right also show a neat architectural design for the arched windows made from loosely connected plates, and this minifig neck bracket to attach tiles on top. Click to see more of Lond Daer

Entire Ace squadron from Star Wars: Resistance in LEGO

Each new installment of the Star Wars franchise typically comes with a fleet of new spaceships large and small to allow ace pilots to show off their skills and fight for peace and justice in a galaxy far, far away. The new animated series Star Wars: Resistance is no exception. The story takes place shortly before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and follow the adventures of a pilot recently recruited from the New Republic into the titular group of freedom fighters. LEGO fan creator Mansur Soeleman has brought a group of fighters known as Ace Squadron to stunningly detailed life.

The Fireball and the Aces of Star Wars: Resistance

When compared to the on-screen source material, Mansur’s meticulous attention to detail is too good to be contained in a single photo, so read on to see each fighter of the squadron in detail.

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This chunky mech is more than just brute force

This bulky mech by Zane Houston is called a brawler, and it could not match its name any better. From the large wheels built into the legs to massive shoulder and hip joints, this is one heavy mech. However, this is more than a simple brute of a model, as there are plenty of details worth mentioning. In particular, the mech has several pistons and other mechanisms that ground it in practical construction. Throughout the model, the builder has also added simple repeating details like cheese slopes in the thighs, and canisters in the forearms.

Kuiper Belt Brawler

In addition to some fantastic angled structures that would look quite at home in any massive LEGO spaceship, the color blocking is also well-executed. However, I think my favorite detail would have to be the 2×2 round bricks with grooves tucked into several joints, playing off of the more noticeable gears.

What will you do with your AI multi-purpose shell?

March is nearly at an end, and that means the end of another fun month-long building challenge known as Marchikoma, where LEGO fans build tributes to the semi-autonomous spider bots from the Manga/anime franchise Ghost in the Shell. When I saw this entry by Oscar Cederwall (o0ger) I was blown away. Not only does the model capture the aesthetic of the source material in a unique but instantly recognizable way, there are some great part usages to call out.

Personal AI Multi-Purpose Shell

The ice skates make perfect details on the feet, and the microphones used as the primary eyes are spot-on! Also, check out the hands made from Hero Factory minifig arms. But one of my favorite parts is used as the top of the head: it’s a Bionicle armor element that was used on the legs of the Star Wars constraction figure of the Range trooper from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Microscale LEGO model of Lion Rock overlooking Hong Kong

Many cities throughout the world have at least one natural locale which presents a postcard-perfect view of that city. Hong Kong is no exception, as seen in this microscale model of the city by Twilight Yellow which features Lion Rock, a hilly area just North of downtown Hong Kong. The city is filled with modern architecture and pastel colors, which come to life in this scene. The repetition of simple shapes along with a choice selection of grills and tiles and plenty of green spaces captures the clean and colorful spirit of Hong Kong.

Lion Rock(獅子山) is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also an important symbol of the spirit of struggle among the Hong Kong citizen.

LEGO V-19 Torrent from Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Every installment of the Star Wars movie franchise has brought a plethora of new spaceships and other vehicles which continue to inspire LEGO builders around the world. In addition to the movies, the six seasons of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series also introduced many more. One of the more distinctive fighters to emerge was the v-19 Torrent. This LEGO creation by Thomas Jenkins shows off some of the features of this highly maneuverable 1 man fighter.

V-19 Torrent-flight

Inspired by the F4U Corsair, the V-19 Torrent was designed for vertical landing and take-off, with the folded wings allowing more fighters to fit in the hanger of the Venator class star destroyers used by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. Thomas has very skillfully recreated the clean angles using a number of angled slopes and Technic lift arms.

V-19 Torrent-landing