About Lino

Lino is an artist, humorist, and occasional responsible adult. He is the co-founder of a challenge-based LEGO car club called LUGNuts which boasts over 1100 members worldwide. He proposed automotive building challenges every month for ten years (120 challenges!) which he and the other members built accordingly. LUGNuts has retired its challenges on its 10th anniversary but still remains a cornerstone for LEGO automotive builders. Between his artistic work and LEGO builds, Lino has been published in several books, including Beautiful LEGO, Beautiful LEGO: Dark, and Beautiful LEGO: Wild. He lives in Washington with his girlfriend and dogs.

Posts by Lino

31 ways to stay warm and cozy with LEGO and #BuildToGive

It’s nice to know that the LEGO community are such kind-hearted people. Take our friend Deborah Higdon, for example. This frosty-themed pair of mittens alone would have warranted a feature this time of year but she’ll build a unique pair every day in December. This one happens to be day sixteen. The kind-hearted part is this is for the Build to Give charity; build something with the heart theme, post to social media with the buildtogive hashtag and LEGO will give sets to children in hospitals, care homes and other disadvantaged situations. The holidays can be a rough time of the year for some folks and it’s nice to see Deborah and others become a part of something so special.

I couldn’t pick just one favorite so here is a very dimensional pair wrapped up in a bow.

And finally here’s another that’s sort of abstract, like a mitten snow angel pressed into the snow. You too can join in on the festivities. Simply build something with the heart theme and use the hashtag on all your socials. Like so: #buildtogive. Be sure to check in with Deborah every day this month to see what other warm and fuzzy sentiments she has in store and use the hashtag to see what other talented builders around the globe are doing with their entries.

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Behold 24 days of Galidor! You’re welcome?

Back in 2002, Pluto Nash flopped hard in theaters and The Segway was supposed to change our lives as we knew it. LEGO also had a major misstep with the short-lived Galador line with most folks citing it as a departure from what the LEGO experience should be. This makes it all the more hilarious as Will Hafner has an advent calendar of sorts sure to squig you out big time. He promises 24 days of Galidor (or Glinchmas) and I’m here for it. Some entries of note so far include this meat-head-alien sure to have you questioning your life choices.

Next on the slab is the unsettling Spider-Man playing a violin. Or Man-Spider? Why is his spider half flesh-colored? Does this mean he’s only wearing a suit top? Does the spider web come out where you’d think it would? This creation proposes questions that are probably best left unanswered.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t upset your good sensibilities once more with this -um- reptilian abomination in a onesie. Is it just learning to crawl? Is it cold-blooded like a prosthetic leg? Does it want to eat your face? I’m going to wager that the answers to all three questions and more are a resounding yes. It’s still early in December yet. There’s plenty more days before Christmas to vomit in our mouths just a little, so be sure to check in with Will every day for more Galidor shenanigans!

Year of the Horse comes galloping along

We’re coming up on The Year of the Horse according to the Chinese New Year and LEGO builders around the globe are celebrating with their own equestrian creations. Sakiya Watanabe AKA N.A.B.E_mocs graces us with this majestic horse reared up on hind legs.

As if on a similar stride, DeRa gallops in with a fully posable horse; it even has the same coloration and similar build techniques. I like how it is delicately balanced on a stand only two studs wide. Both have me looking forward to a confidence-building 2026. And also Chinese New Year 2026 sets, which should be whinnying in soon.

Your lumbering chariot awaits, milord

For some, their mode of transportation might be a ’92 Nissan Stanza or even a city bus for those who can’t afford the elegance and luxury that only a ’92 Stanza can provide. But for those living in the LEGO fantasy realm created by Greenarj only a triceratops with twisty horns will do. Both human-ish merchant and beast of burden are expertly crafted and brimming with personality. Greenarj tells us that traveling across the vast steppes connecting Twin Capitals is an arduous task, rife with personal danger. In such rugged terrain, I imagine an armored dino would be the best mode of transportation and protection around. It would be a safe, dependable steed right up until a ’92 Stanza backfires, sending the beast careening at breakneck speed into unfathomable doom.

Building a community: An outsider’s guide to the history of NoVVember [Feature]

The team here at The Brothers Brick, like many of the builders we feature, live and breathe blocks and have been stewing in LEGO lore for so long that we’re more minifigure than man. But we recognize that not all of our readers are as fluent in the insider jargon and history of this hobby. With you in mind, I’ve prepared an outsider’s guide to help you understand an annual event with deep roots in these parts: NoVVember. This story showcases the importance of community, it speaks about a tragedy, and how we still honor age-old traditions.

You may have seen recent NoVVember entries such as this one but what does it all mean? And why the heck do y’all spell it that way, anyway? The double V in NoVVember stands for Vic Viper. This recent pair by Bradk918 perfectly demonstrates what a Vic Viper is; denoted by two wings or prongs that extend forward of a centralized cockpit and flares out at the rear of the craft and a central stabilizer fin. The style and term was taken from the Gradius video game series.

Creative examples from the community

Now that we’ve established the rather rigid rules that constitutes what a Vic Viper is, how does a builder go about being creative while still following the overall shape and guidelines? Last year, LEGO phenom Maxx Davidson prescribed the medicine-themed Sick Viper complete with syringes, pill pack wings and a central cockpit reminiscent of a two-color pill capsule. It’s good for whatever ails you.

Continue reading →

From a heavy cement mixer spawns a lighter-than-air airship

In the skilled hands of LEGO extraordinaire Vincent Gachod a rugged Tipper Drum combined with some odd science bits to create an insect-like airship. The end result is like a fanciful blue beetle. He most certainly has a knack for figuring out how to use parts the rest of us don’t know what to do with. Based on these parts, he also has a knack for picking up rare sets: the science bits can only be found in four rare sets while the cement mixer resides in only one.

Raging Raijin rises with thunderous applause

With a strike of lightning and an impressive thunder clap, Sakiya Watanabe (N.A.B.E_mocs) takes on Raijin, the Japanese God of Thunder in LEGO. With windblown hair and a dynamic pose, this creation has motion, even when sitting still; like I can almost see this beast-god blowing across the stormy sky as he beats the taiko drums that surround him.

Where would Raijin be without his windy counterpart Fujin? Well, thankfully Sakiya has already thought of that. You may recognize Fujin as we featured him back in August. Here they are posed together in all their Mongolian-fleet-destroying mythic demon glory. As fearsome and destructive as these two are when paired together, they also bring much needed rain and prosperity.

Award-winning Canadian LEGO artist breaks the ice with a stunning 152,000 piece polar icebreaker [Feature]

Canadian LEGO artist Paul Hetherington probably needs no introduction. But in case you’ve been buried under the ice since the Truman administration like Captain America, Paul has just launched his largest commission yet; a 152,000 piece Seaspan Canadian Polar Icebreaker complete with a fully detailed interior. Designed with the help of LEGO Certified Professional Robin Sather of Brickville DesignWorks, this ship measures 11 feet long and 2 feet wide. Paul tells us the real Seaspan hasn’t been launched yet so this model will do more than help to visualize the real polar icebreaker currently under construction— it will help inspire future shipbuilders.

Not only has Paul built the ship, but he has included detailed landscaping, including the ice and ocean floor. Here is an aft view of the ship and its surrounding ice. The helodeck and helicopter are all very nice touches. This shot makes it clear that the interior is lit up as well.

Dive deeper into this record-breaking, icebreaking build

A hot-rodding blast from the past builds a heavy duty blast from the past

When a well-known builder becomes a LEGO designer, we can usually expect a decrease in their personal output. This can be because designing LEGO sets for a living can scratch that creative urge, or they may be contractually obligated to keep a low profile. Whatever the reason, it’s a real thrill to see designer Adam Grabowski bring back his hot-rodding retro persona, Misterzumbi, even if just briefly. This time, he tackles the hard-working and reliable Ford C-Series of trucks. I presume the red stake truck is the C-900, while its stubbier white counterpart is the C-600, which, in my opinion, is like a bulldog; so ugly it’s cute. He tells us that the newish round corner brick was the inspiration to give the C-series a go. Having the C-600 on my own to-do list for a while, it was the round corner shape, or lack thereof, that factored into my not building the vehicle just yet. Now that it’s here, thanks, Adam, for showing us the way!

“Misterzumbi” was one of the very first builders to be featured on The Brothers Brick. Here’s our first post from Adam from over 20 years ago!

The 1:15 scale Octan Peterbilt 389 en route to Brick World, Netherlands

Few LEGO builders can master big rig trucks the way Dennis Glaasker can. No, seriously, I’ve tried to go down this road before and when you see one of Dennis’ gleaming creations in your rearview you just pull over and let the big man through, good buddy! Then salute the master as it passes by. He tells us it’s been about a year since he last posted anything but he clearly has not missed the mark, even after a break. Octan is a fictional super corporation first introduced by LEGO in 1992. As it turns out, it is one of the most ubiquitous fake brands in the world with an instantly recognizable color scheme and logo. Once again invited to the prestigious LEGO World event in the Netherlands, Dennis wanted to bring along something with LEGO recognizability. He modernized the typical Octan color scheme; white stayed white, green shifted to lime green and red became chrome. A custom Octan sticker adorns the tanker nicely.

Bottoms up, we’re getting brickfaced!

I’m pretty sure I’ll be inviting TBB’s own Visual Assets Specialist, Kimberly Giffen to my next siorée. Not only can she edit photos like a dream but she has proven to be one creative mixologist that has shaken things up with a LEGO twist. A rainy weekend, which tracks here in the Pacific Northwest, has inspired her to build a colorful tropical drink. Is it a Blue Lagoon or a Blue Hawaiian? It doesn’t matter as both tastes like plastic and will likely chip your teeth. But it will still look great in your hand while you pontificate with party guests over whether Martin Denny or Les Baxter is the better Exotica Lounge musician. Bottoms up, sailor!

A roundup of the most frightening LEGO Lovecraftian horrors on the internet [Feature]

If you are not into Lovecraftian horrors beyond description, then congratulations, you are likely a fine, well-adjusted, upstanding individual. Here’s a puppy for you! Seriously, you’re probably better off for it. But, if you’re like me (and you know who you are), you are attuned to an entirely different wavelength. One that resides in the shadows. So, for you, with it being spooky season and all, I took it upon myself to bring the mood down and showcase some of the creepiest LEGO Lovecraftian horrors we’ve had the displeasure of summoning. So dim the lights, pour yourself a Moscow Ghoul, and settle in for some existential dread and unspeakable terrors.

We’ll let Shannon Sproule set the mood here with a rather atmospheric piece he calls Meeting by the statue, slurp, slurp, slurp. Already we have more questions than answers and we’ve just gotten started. Esoteric cultists, weird monsters and cosmic horror is going to be a recurring theme here. Shannon surely embodies all of the above with this creation.

Lovecraftian mythos is chock full of hideous malevolent deities called Outer Gods; later renamed as The Great Old Ones by August Derleth and other literary scholars after Lovecraft’s death in 1937. They are generally located in deep space outside of our solar system or even from beyond our known dimensions. Some are specific to the Cthulhu Mythos but others, such as this offering by one of our favorite monster builders Nathan Don sort of fits the description for what an Outer God should be. With four arms, four eyes not necessarily on the face and the ubiquitous tentacles, you have yourselves the makings of true Outer God nightmare fuel.

You know I’ve saved the biggest and scariest for last so be sure to click if you dare!