Posts by Daniel

LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog 76996: Knuckles’ Guardian Mech [Review]

The new LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog theme (launched earlier this year) has the potential to give Mario a run for his money when it comes to video game-inspired LEGO sets. With lots of unique molded minifigures and brightly-colored scenes and vehicles, fans of the franchise have a lot to get excited about. Knuckles’ Guardian Mech joins the line-up in January. The set features a mech for Knuckles, including his iconic pointed boxing gloves, as well as another character: Rouge. The latter is a bat-girl with a fancy flier intent on stealing the giant green gem that Knuckles is defending. LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog 76996: Knuckles’ Guardian Mech comes with 276 pieces, and will be available on January 1st from the LEGO website for US $34.99 | CAN $44.99 | UK £29.99

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.

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LEGO Creator 31148: Retro Roller Skate [REVIEW]

The LEGO Creator 3-in-1 theme has expanded their focus from play sets to include a variety of display sets in recent years. And it looks like 2024 is going to continue this trend with a recently announced wave of Creator sets. Joining the Adidas shoe in the footwear department is the retro roller skate. Riding the recent wave of nostalgia, generation X’ers get ready to jump in to the disco roller-rink with this latest entry. LEGO Creator 11348: Retro Roller Skate includes 342 pieces and will be available starting January 1st for US $29.99 | CAN $39.99 | UK £24.99

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.

.Read on for our full review

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for December 16, 2023 [News]

In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the 2nd week of December 2023.

TBB NEWS AND REVIEWS As we approach the end of another great year in LEGO news and reviews we saw announcements from the Botanical and LEGO Ideas themes. We also reviewed the first Creator set from 2024’s revised Space theme. As we prepare our usual batch of end-of-the-year features, we also posted a form for you to tell us your favorite LEGO moments of 2023.


OTHER NEWS In case you missed our daily breakdown of LEGO Advent calendars, here’s what TBB contributors had to say about them. Potential SPOILERS ahead!!

Click through to read more LEGO news from around the world

LEGO Creator 31152: Space Astronaut is out of this world [REVIEW]

Ever since the launch (pun intended) of the LEGO Ideas Saturn V set, there have been several NASA-inspired sets over the years that have captured the imagination of space enthusiasts of all ages, from the lunar lander to the shuttle Discovery. LEGO is adding a buildable astronaut to this line-up of display-worthy sets. LEGO Creator 31152: Space Astronaut comes with 647 pieces and will be available on January 1st for US $54.99 | CAN $69.99 | UK £44.99

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.

Read on for our full review

LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog 76995: Shadow’s Escape [REVIEW]

While many people recognize Sonic from video games, and even from a fairly awful movie or two, there are lots of great characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, including Shadow, who, according to Wikipedia, is an artificial creation, and an occasional antihero of the franchise. The set features a glass holding cell where Shadow is created/captured, a small duck in a rhino-shaped vehicle, and a chopper. LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog 76995: Shadow’s Escape includes 196 parts and will be available on December 1st for US $19.99 | CAN $24.99 | UK £18.99

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.

Read on for our full review

This LEGO plant eats flies like you for breakfast

Since LEGO launched their Botanical theme, we have seen a number of models inspired by the lineup of realistic-looking plants in LEGO form. This American Pitcher plant by moptoptrev is a well-done recreation of this predatory plant that lures insects into a deep bell-shape lined with sweet-smelling fluid that then traps the poor helpless bug. And if you have wings, flying won’t save you as the lid drops into place to seal your fate.

American Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia)

This LEGO temple to the Minotaur is no bull

While this Minoan temple may seem simple at first glance, there is quite a lot going on in this scene by BrickiboT. Inspired by the architecture of archaeological sites like the Minoan palace at Knossos on Crete, the angled pattern along the roof is made from carefully arranged sideways plates and brackets. A small noodle bowl acts as the perfect accent. The plates and rounded plates in two colors, along with a variety of textured bricks gives the front of the temple a weathered look.

Rogue Odyssey-Minoan Temple

The rocky landscape, dotted with plants and vines is a good blend of straight and curved slopes, and even the small beach is filled with details, like the group of hermit crabs, and the head of an elephant disguised as a rock. The angled sides of the small boat are attached with handlebars fit into the undersides of rounded plates with holes. Well done!

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A hungry LEGO caterpillar with a can-do attitude

If you thought a LEGO watering can wasn’t much use outside of setting a scene in a garden, you have not seen an Iron Builder competition. In the contest, an unusual seed part is used in each build, to challenge the builder to think creatively. gGh0st does not disappoint with this caterpillar, whose many segments use the watering can in lime to great effect. The spout makes the perfect leg, clinging to the branch. But I do wonder what this would look like from any other angle…

Caterpillar

The galaxy’s favorite droid gets a serious upgrade

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, R2-D2 discovered there was more to life than plotting courses through hyperspace. Greg Dalink tells a story with this fun mech built to fit R2-D2. Using credits saved up over years of loyal service, the galaxy’s most loved astro-mech commissioned an expert droid-smith to fashion a mighty mech, so he could join the rebellion and wreak havoc. And make sure to check out all of Greg’s mecha tributes to the Star Wars universe that we’ve featured on TBB!

"R2-D2, be reasonable about this!!!"

This LEGO bonsai tree is in good hands

LEGO plants are much easier to take care of, only needing a light dusting now and again. But this scene by Duncan Lindbo could mean the end of the accidental death of thousands of houseplants every year. This walking robot bonsai tree pot can care for the tree, water it, and make sure it always has the perfect spot of sunlight. The multi-jointed legs even have decorative gold details, and of course, LEGO frogs. And be sure to check out more of Duncan’s excellent work we’ve featured on TBB.

TR-33 Auto-Bonsai

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for November 11, 2023 [News]

In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the 2nd week of November, 2023.


TBB NEWS AND REVIEWS The biggest news this week was the announcement of the eagerly anticipated LEGO Marvel Avenger’s Tower, which is the largest Marvel set so far, with an astounding 31 characters in minifigure form, as well as two other sizes. The newly revealed set is also the tallest Marvel set, beating out 76178 Daily Bugle. Aside from that, we also got our first look at some 2024 sets from Monkie Kid, Friends, and the new Lunar New Year festival sets, celebrating the Year of the Dragon.

OTHER NEWS After being down for several days due to a ransomware attack, the aftermarket LEGO retailer Bricklink is back up and running. Customers of the site will likely be prompted to update their password on their next visit.

LEGO Super Mario 71426: Piranha Plant [REVIEW]

The LEGO Super Mario theme has produced many fun and playable sets since it premiered in 2020. Fans of the theme have lots of options to choose from, including LEGO Super Mario 71411 The Mighty Bowser set and several play scenes inspired by the video game. And now, one of the franchise’s most popular enemies, the dreaded piranha plant, joins the lineup. LEGO Super Mario 71426 Piranha Plant comes with 540 pieces and will be available on November 6th for US $59.99 | CAN $79.99 | UK £57.99

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.

Read on for our full review