Through a combination of LEGO slopes, curves, and wedge plates, Joey Klusnick provides a stunning piece of farm machinery. In brilliant John Deere green, this tractor is full of tiny details that make it exceptional. The intricate side-view mirrors, the stripe of yellow along its nose, and the mudguard on the back tires are made of jumper plates all are perfect touches bringing this build to life. Now, all it needs is a brick-built field to plow, or a trailer full of LEGO hay to haul around.
I cannot get enough of the beautiful LEGO stonework on this Black Falcon castle by Michał Kozłowski. The long, slender slopes reaching up from its walls and forming the battlements atop them add such height to this construction. Those expertly textured and colored walls reach up to two dark, sleek roofs capping a duo of spires. It almost completely distracts from the enemy horde trudging through the vegetation on the ground below. Festooned with birch trees, this plot is where our invaders have set up a ladder to breach the walls.
Thankfully, this fortress is armed with a heavy duty ballista to take out any enemies that make it over the bulwark. I think this design is top notch, and definitely my favorite part of the build.
It’s been over a year since the official LEGO Ideas vote revealed that Ray the Castaway by Daditwins would be a future gift with purchase. And now, at long last, we can get our hands on the final set (LEGO Ideas 40566: Ray the Castaway) from October 1st – 13th with qualifying purchases of US $120 | CAN TBD | UK £120 from LEGO stores or LEGO Shop Online. Clocking in at 239 pieces, is this GWP something everyone will need to pick up, or will it be “cast away” as inferior? Read on for my full review to find out.
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with a copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Click for the full review below
While this section of downtown by EMazingbrix has definitely seen better days, it certainly can’t have seen better LEGO part usage! I’m absolutely in love with the front door of that apartment building, utilizing a 1×1 bracket for a hinge plate, and a white rubber band to frame the window. The steps leading down from the door are fantastic, as are all the textures on the buildings walls and roof. And the blotches of moss along the sidewalk and structures provide an excellent run-down feel. But my favorite bit of this build has got to be the roof of the repair shop, with its latticed slopes poking out the top. The shop sports a clean finish compared to its neighbor thanks to some superb use of sloped bricks laid on their sides.
It’s that time of year again! LEGO has revealed this year’s set in the ever-expanding Winter Village line that’s now part of the Icons theme: 10308 Holiday Main Street. Consisting of two buildings, the obligatory Christmas tree, a trolley, and a trolley stop, this yuletide construction is brimming with all the hustle and bustle of a wintertime downtown. And at 1,514 pieces, this is the largest Winter Village set to date. For those looking to start the holidays early, this addition to the Winter Village theme will go on sale at LEGO stores starting on October 3 for VIP members, with general availability on Oct. 7. The set will be available for VIPs starting on October 3rd, and retails for US $99.99 | CAN $99.99 | UK £89.99
More pictures and LEGO’s press release below
I can almost hear the high-pitched battle cries of this LEGO Ewok trio as it charges into battle! Created by Martin Harris, Wicket and friends look like they’re ready to take down any AT-ST they come across on Endor. The character design here is just grand, with loads of texture on the face and torso. I especially like the use of clips to hold on the Ewoks’ ear tiles at just the right angle. And the weapon-crafting here is adept as well, especially the axe wielded by the figure on the left. It’s perfectly-scaled and totally looks like something that would be improvised amid the forest from a bygone battle. But my favorite bit of part usage has got to the use of this complex slope on the tree trunks in the background. It’s one of those parts that I constantly try to find a use for, but it’s always too big and bulky to fit anywhere. Thank goodness Martin’s here to show me how it’s done!
I may have gone cross-eyed trying to follow the lines on this house built by Pan Noda. With its atypical architecture, I’m picking up some serious Burrow vibes from the Harry Potter franchise. The color choices here are perfect, featuring white with brown trim. But it’s those subtle patches of tan, and the occasional chip or crack in the walls that give the structure a weathered look without taking anything away from its crisscrossing vectors. And I adore the unusual choice of pine tree design in the house’s front yard. The straight lines of needles on each bough take me deeper into the Google DeepDream that is this construction. And overall, it’s oddly satisfying!
Modeled after the Trilobate arrowhead, builder Rubblemaker provides a speedy LEGO starfighter made for quick trips across the cosmos. It’s not everyday that you see Bionicle parts interspersed on a space creation, but the builder navigates it well, using the Rahkshi legs to great effect around the cockpit. And the shaping of the rear engine with toothed wheels and gears feels right at home here. But overall, while I understand the ancient inspiration for this build, my mind is instead taken back to 1998 and the Aquazone faction Stingrays. With a high concentration of dark gray, highlights in red, and wing curves reminiscent of a squid’s body, I feel like this fighter would be at home in the stars or the sea.
I’m pretty sure that Jaroslaw Walter knew that I was starting a diet today, and that the last thing I needed to see was a delicious, melty LEGO Italian sandwich on ciabatta bread. I know it’s made of plastic. I know those juicy sun-dried tomatoes are actually minifig fireman helmets. And I know that the ooey-gooey cheese is accumulating on the parchment paper in pools made of 3×3 and 4×4 radar dishes. And, yes, I know the paper-thin slices of Parma ham are ingeniously made of plastic dragon wings
In case you haven’t heard, BrickCon 2022 is only two and a half weeks away. That’s only 16 days left to get things in order for the Seattle area’s biggest LEGO shindig! And if you’re anything like me, you’re knee-deep in 8×8 plates and minifig utensils finishing things up. But while you’re making sure your Technic technique is perfect, your castles are adequately crenellated, and your ever-growing brick badge is properly fortified, please remember that TBB is hosting its own collaboration at the con: MOCing Memories. Any build that pays homage to LEGO sets of the past (or pieces thereof) is welcome. That’s regardless of scale, regardless of theme, and regardless of era.
“But Kyle,” you say, “there’s only 380 hours left for stacking bricks on top of plates on top of slopes before I put my beautiful masterpiece on display! How can I get something new done in time?” Well, here’s an example of something small that would fit right into MOCing Memories, based on 6190 Shark’s Crystal Cave from 1997. And as a bit of further motivation for you, this may be one of the trophies up for grabs in the theme. Hope to see you and your builds there!
Builder Aido Kessler wants the future of LEGO today with the brick of their dreams, as submitted to New Elementary’s Make a Wishbrick contest. While the idea presented, a headlight brick minus its foot, is something that’s been on my wish list for longer than I can remember, that’s actually not my favorite part of this build. In an effort to zhuzh up the design, Aido added a living quarters inside a technologically advanced brick. The vignette very much feels like a LEGO-themed take on The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster, my favorite bit of science-fiction. I love the clean interior juxtaposed with the technological textures on the exterior, and the subtle hints of trans-light blue really drive home the space-age look. Now will our hero continue to inhabit his little brick-built cube, or will he break free with his new part and let his creativity run wild?
Welcome to the microscale marvel that is the LEGO village of Valendiell, created by the brilliant Peter Ilmrud. First things first, we need to address the gigantic tree at the center of this build, which towers over the village, the lighthouse, and even the neighboring castle. I like the natural shape created by the foliage, setting it apart from the minute vegetation scattered around it. Under its massive boughs, we have a darling castle design, utilizing these technic pins as turrets. It’s an ingenious bit of parts usage, but nothing compared to the outstanding implementation of the brown minifig epaulettes on the airship and the small boat. And I’m only scratching the surface of all the great secrets hidden in Valendiell. See what else you can spot below.
