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

Go tell it to the crocodile-riding tribe

Sometimes intergalactic news is so good you have to visit other planets to tell the crocodile-riding tribes about it. What exactly this good news is, LEGO builder Oliver Barrell did not specify but the news delivery system seems to be a sweet spaceship based on a Pterosaur. That’s pretty much the mode of transport I’d pick. It demonstrates the awkward wings-folded gait the Pterosaur likely had when not in the air. Oliver tells us there is no Photoshop trickery here; the model is real, precariously balanced, and fragile. I mean, just look at that ragged, trailing edge of the wings- and the cockpit! That’s brilliant stuff, right there.

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You will be assimilated

What do you make of this new LEGO creation by Jarek Książczyk? Is it merely a neat piece of abstract art or is there something more sinister afoot? Is it an infected cell? The fungus responsible for jock itch? Maybe it’s a sentient planet from another dimension? Perhaps some unnamable Lovecraftian horror? Commenters on Jarek’s flickr page have lots of theories stewing with no confirmation from the builder. A common notion among the comments is it’s both beautiful and unsettling. If you look close, there are some amazing textures created; my favorite detail just might be the black tendrils extending just beyond the frame. What I imagine this to be is some sort of Invasion of the Body Snatchers situation going on; by the time you’ve admired its shape, you will have already been taken over and replicated for reasons known only to alien space plants. What do you think it is?

What can brown do for you?

In a LEGO world of castles and Millenium Falcons, it takes something like this for me to really take notice. I mean, come on, look how fun this is! In Jack McKeen’s own words; “Meet Rhonda Yun in her ‘82 Chevy Gamma Series Campervan. Rhonda is a staff columnist and travel blogger for the Arcturus Tribune. Avid Browntron Enthusiast, she is a do it yourselfer who enjoys long walks along the Arrakis dunes, drinking Klingons under the table, and teaching gundarks yoga.” Maybe it’s just the Schlitz talking but I’m smitten with Rhonda and her Browntron ship. It’s pretty much the Gen-X color scheme and looks like a puffy jacket I had in elementary school.

Giving credit where credit is due, Jack tells us the Browntron inspiration comes from the inimitable Angus MacLane. Here’s another builder Matthew Sklar delivering the goods with some more Browntron fun.

Keeping the space classic, then and now

LEGO builder Monty Matte gave himself a challenge with some simple rules. On the left, he tickles our nostalgia bone with a layout straight out of a Classic Space set from the 1970’s. To the right, the same theme but using an array of modern parts and techniques. Each sits on a 16×16 plate while between them resides some sort of time portal linking the two worlds. Together, you have an interesting composition that highlights progression in LEGO history and offers what looks like some fun playability. The minifigure on the right appears to be an adult building an environment that reflects his childhood. This holds a sweet spot in the hearts of any grown-ass adult with a LEGO room- so basically, everyone in my contact list.

Darker, you want it? Killed the flame, we did.

At first glance, this may look like an average Dagobah scene- but what’s average about Dagobah, really? Upon closer inspection, though, LEGO builder extraordinaire Louis of Nutwood presents a darker side of Dagobah. The first clue that something is amiss is the sunken TIE-Fighter panel implying that Luke may have arrived in the Imperial craft, instead of an X-Wing. Luke’s red lightsaber is another clue as well as his black outfit, which he technically doesn’t don until the third movie. So instead of going into the tree of trippy hallucinations and seeing his own face after lobbing off Darth Vader’s head, what abomination does he see in this Dark Side Dagobah? Maybe it’s an eternally yammering Jar-Jar Binks. Or perhaps C-3PO, except with a thick New Jersey accent begging the question, “do you even lift, bro?”

I’m well aware that the overlap of the Venn diagram of Star Wars fans who get my Leonard Cohen reference in the title is quite narrow, but for the three of you — you’re my kind of people.

A face only a Sullustan could love

Some Star Wars creature designs are admittedly cool. Others, like the Aqualish, leaves us asking- is that a butt for a mouth? When I first saw Nien Nunb in Return of the Jedi, I told anyone who would listen- That looks like a [redacted by editing staff] on a [redacted by editing staff]! I was in junior high so I’m pretty sure that utterance got me suspended from school. LEGO phenom Oscar Cederwall is clearly a fan; in fact, he tells us this odd Sullustan was one of only a few Star Wars action figures he had as a kid. I have to give props for the neat build techniques at play here. Everything from his mouse-y eyes to his -uh- fleshy jowel flaps are spot on. He also piloted the Millenium Falcon alongside Lando so he garners some cool points there. But, Oscar, if you haven’t already, check out the episode of the Venture Bros. when The Order of the Triad conjure up Nien Nunb and calls him an abomination. It’s quality entertainment!

The next LEGO geographic mosaic set revealed: 42025 Map of Greenland [April Fool’s!]

LEGO has offered a sneak peak of their upcoming mosaic set: 42025 Map of Greenland. Following the success of the 31203 World Map mosaic set from 2021, LEGO seeks to launch other geographic map mosaic sets starting with the sovereign nation of Greenland, which is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. The Map of Greenland set consists of 5422 pieces and measures 53 cm long 74cm high (20.86in x 29.13 in) and will be available from LEGO.com and LEGO Stores globally from June 1, 2025, priced at US $149.99 | CAN $249.99 | UK £129.99. There is no word yet as to when this set will be available globally at other retailers but The LEGO Group anticipates that this set will be of particular interest in the American market segment.

LEGO debuts Creator 1-of-3 line with upscaled Classic Space Minifig spread over three sets [April Fool’s!]

Acknowledging that the size and complexity of sets has become overwhelming for many builders, LEGO announced today the Creator 1-of-3 line that promises to let fans build at their own pace. The first wave features a scaled-up Classic Space Minifigure serialized over 3 separate sets. Together the sets contain an intimidating 694 pieces, but don’t sweat it! With the 1-of-3 line, the model is split into more manageable stand-alone kits with modest piece counts designed to lower anxiety. LEGO Creator 1-of-3 40125 Classic Space Torso, the largest of the wave, consists of an up-scaled Minifigure torso containing 274 parts and features the iconic Classic Space logo and posable arms and hands. Set 40126 Classic Space Legs trails its torso counterpart with 231 pieces and features movable legs, while set 40127 Classic Space Head rounds out the trio with 189 pieces, comprising of a blue helmet and the iconic smiling yellow Minifigure face. While it’s possible to collect them all to build a fully posable up-scaled Minifigure that stands 10 inches tall (25.5 cm), there’s no pressure to do so. Each section makes a wonderful display piece on its own. We can expect all these sets to hit store shelves on May 15th. Read on for info and pictures for each specific set.

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Return of the Return of the Jedi movie poster- in LEGO

They don’t make movie posters the way they used to. Star Wars and cinema fans of a certain age may have fond memories for Drew Struzan’s hand-painted works of art depicting our favorite characters in breathtaking action sequences. LEGO Jedi Master Builders Les Foutch team up to bring the nostalgic feels to life with their rendition of the original Return of the Jedi poster. The side-by-side composition highlights their talent for the brick. Leia, Wicket the Ewok, Lando, Han, and Luke are all brick-built and nicely replicated within the composition. Darth Vader, flanked by TIE Fighters and X-Wings looms large and blended into the dark background; behind him resides the Death Star under construction. My favorite detail is the large four or five piece Jabba figure familiar to those of us who may own the Jabba’s Palace set. It gives us a feel for how large the poster actually is.

Submerse yourself in a journey of discovery

I’ve been fascinated with the lost island nation of Atlantis since I’ve seen depictions of it painted on the covers of lurid pulpy paperbacks when I was a kid. LEGO builder bartsbrickworks just might be attuned to my same watery wavelength as evidenced by this neat steampunk submersible. Dark green and gold give this streamlined submarine just the right look. If I’m not mistaken, the webbed fin is the sailfin from the Baby Dimetrodon set from 2001. That takes me back to a time when, while technically an adult, the fascination for Atlantis (and dinosaurs) had never left me. I suppose an adult with an entire LEGO room and no kids in sight may still garner a love for all things adventurous. Thanks for the fond memories, Bart!

Welcome to the pawn parade

What are the advantages to being a pawn on a chessboard? Well, you’ll have a lot of friends who look just like you. According to this LEGO creation by Care Creations you can also play dress-up when you win a game and celebrate with a nice parade. These creative pawns have even disguised themselves as other chess pieces; we have a knight, a rook, a bishop and a queen. There is even a pawn painting his friend white to infiltrate the other team. Now that I think about it, this clever cosplay plan could be the reason for their victory. Check and mate!

Discover a new life, a new beginning

A LEGO builder we’ve admired for a long time has been going through some stuff lately. There’s been a bit of a name change, a bit of a gender change but on display is the same amazing talent we’ve always marveled. Introducing Jente Bijl, a happier builder who is emerging from dark times and this appears to be her debut LEGO creation since living as a woman. It’s called “Inner Me” and what a lovely build it is! The topsy-turvy buildings are all attached and are chock full of clever build techniques. They feature the colors of the transgender flag and also mimics a curvy female shape. It represents a new life, a new beginning for Jente, and she most assuredly has our love and support. We look forward whatever else she has in store for us.

About Lino

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