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

LEGO Creator 3-in-1 31168 Medieval Horse Knight Castle: A kingdom of versatility [Review]

With 1371 pieces, 31168 Medieval Horse Knight Castle is the flagship of the Creator 3-in-1 line this year. Packed with play features in any configuration, and sporting a new Castle Faction – the Horse Knights – there’s a lot to enjoy. But how does it stack up compared to castles of yore? Let’s put this latest LEGO castle through its paces before it’s debut on August 1st, when you can bring it home for $129.99, US $149.99 CA, £109.99 UK.

The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Read the full review

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Bricks of questionable character: We chat with internet phenom, Iain Heath [Interview]

We sat with LEGO meme factory, Iain Heath, who immediately revokes my Gen-X card, schools us on the not-so-subtle art of going viral, and tells us what it’s like to hobnob with celebrities. Hilarity ensued! Grab yourself a good beverage and a bag of popcorn and join us as we lift the hood and try to figure out what makes him tick. Hint: I’m pretty sure it’s London Dry Gin and Jägermeister.

TBB (Lino) Thanks for being with us, Iain. I’ve known you for many years as an artist who engages in several mediums including video making, painting, and LEGO. No matter the medium, you have been consistently irreverent and funny as all get-out. Our readers likely know you by the formidable name of Ochre Jelly (I had to google what that was). How did you choose this name and is the Ochre persona different from Iain, or are they one and the same?

IH: The name comes from a monster in D&D. Lino, as a fellow Gen X-er, I can’t believe you did not already know this, but also not have its stats memorized. For shame… I think the only fitting punishment here is to confiscate your vinyl copy of Sports by Huey Lewis and the News. Bro, do you even D20?!

IH: The name is less of a persona and more a mask to hide behind, as I think many of us online prefer to do. Some people are comfortable putting their own identity and persona front and center of their art, especially creators who make a living from it, or posting daily, or want to use their personality as part of their brand (I’m looking at YOU Lego Masters contestants!). But in my experience you are more likely to just run into people’s prejudices that way (which in my case usually means age-ism, as I am older than Cthulhu). I’d prefer to be seen as a Lego Banksy, using my art to anonymously poke fun at the world, rather than “some old dude with too much free time on his hands”. Not to say that I don’t sometimes step in front of the camera for the sake of The Bit.

Click here for more not-to-be-missed hijinks from Iain!

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Our top 10 favorite LEGO creations of 2025 thus far [Feature]

We’re a bit more than halfway through the year so far and we’ve seen some amazing LEGO creations from talented builders around the globe. Normally, we’d highlight a top ten list at the end of the year and we still will. But let’s take the time to scope out what our prospects are thus far based on views and see if they remain at the top of the heap once we celebrate the new year with fireworks, champagne, kazoos and whatnot. In no particular order, here’s what we have so far.

Speaking of celebrations, LEGO fenom DeRa has two reasons to celebrate as they’ve hit our list twice. First up is this impressive RX-78-2 Gundam in all it’s primary colored glory. This formidable Gundam blasted onto the scene in January and the year and the LEGO Gundam world hasn’t been the same since.

LEGO RX-78-2 Gundam

Celebrate with more of the best LEGO creations

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LEGO luggage: All packed and ready for the early 90’s

What were you doing in the early 90s? If you said marveling over the collapse of the Soviet Union to the tune of Smells Like Teen Spirit, you’d be correct. Also, if you happened to have been a LEGO maniac at the time, M-Tron probably rocked your world with all it’s magnetic red and black glory. Chris Yu packs up and takes us back to a simpler time with his newest edition to his line of Classic Space-theme luggage. As usual, Chris’s luggage doubles as a secret base and this one is brimming with vehicular goodies. The M-Tron logo is ace!

Space Box No. 7 - M:Tron BOX

He makes it clear that this is bag 7 and even renders our research easy by providing an image of all his space-base luggage since 2017.

Space Box No. 7 - M:Tron BOX

Be sure to click the video to see this fabulous luggage become the best piece of M-Tron gear this side of the Information Superhighway!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

The Ridgeback Racer is ready to launch!

LEGO phenom David Roberts has mastered the art of building oddball little spaceships, each with baffling complex shapes and striking color schemes. That this Ridgeback, for example. The adjustable stand makes it clear you can launch this ship in a bevy of angles from straight up over the moon to right through your neighbor’s window.

Ridgeback - Ready to Launch

The craft is hard to define from just one angle but this rear view image makes it clear it’s sort of a three-pronged shuttlecock. (Tee hee!) The engine and greebling is pretty sweet.

Ridgeback - Ready to Launch

This short video of the builder disassembling this model is way more captivating than I thought it would be. Hidden deep within the ship’s core is a cockpit. Or should I say -shuttlecockpit? Sorry, I’ll just see myself out. In the meantime, watch the video and check out our David Roberts archives.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Bio-Cup 2025: The stuff dreams and nightmares are made of [Feature]

You may recall our recently featured Tooth Fairy and the brilliant Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep LEGO creations. It’s all part of this year’s Bio-Cup in the theme of Dreams. I liked them so much, I wanted to conjure up a few more entries here. So wake up, shake the dreams from your hair and gather round while I help bring these creations to the forefront of your waking mind. Starting with a doozie, sometimes dreams make your skin crawl and you’d rather just tear yourself out of them. That’s the vibe I get with loafbuilds and their newest creation called Sleepless Cathedral of Flesh and Dream.

Sleepless Cathedral of Flesh and Dream

TBB’s own Jake Forbes takes inspiration from Slumberland and tells us that There is no surer way to reach Slumberland than atop a Slumberland Dreamwalker, a living bed with legs that bend like Eldritch snakes to cross the nightmare wastes.

Slumberland Dreamwalker

Delve deeper into the dreamworld of Biocup 2025

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Rock Raiders vs. Power Miners: Digging up the dirt on LEGO’s subterranean themes [Feature]

In 1999 we partied like it was-well, 1999- and also we were introduced to the LEGO Rock Raiders. In 2009, The Black Eyed Peas seemed unstoppable and we were all digging another subterranean LEGO theme called Power Miners. One featured chrome drill bits and a rugged, utilitarian brown and teal color scheme, while the other was all about heavy machinery in a lime green and orange livery. This article will take a deep dive into both themes and will showcase some of the best official LEGO sets and creations from builders around the globe. So sit back, mix yourself a Mudslide (on the rocks, of course) and enjoy this dynamite blast from the past.

Join us as we dish out the dirt on LEGO’s rockiest themes

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A touch of old-world class with the Citroen B14

It’s easy to take Krzysztof Pusz’s LEGO Citroen B14 at face value. With its old-world charm and understated elegance, this classic European vehicle would have warranted a feature even if it were merely on a plain background. It’s our preferred photographic presentation, after all. But the location and photography elevates this car to something of a more breathtaking status. Krysztof tells us the photo was taken at the courtyard of the Brzeg Castle in Poland. The light colored tan and white stonework of the building contrast nicely against the dark blue and black of the classic Citroen. The tan wheels that match the background is an elegant touch indeed.

Citroen B14

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

M.E.R.P.-ing around all the M.E.R.P. long day

If you recall the Smurfs cartoon, they used “Smurf” as a noun and a verb and it was pretty much a replacement for any word you wanted it to be. For example: I smurfed my way onto the dance floor, I’ve been smurfing the internet for an hour now and go smurf yourself. I’m pretty sure LEGO builder Thomas Harding just invented a new noun and verb-M.E.R.P., which stands for- well, you can read if for yourself in the photo. It’s short, rugged, reliable and capable of traversing all kinds of terrain. I just want to M.E.R.P. around all day with those two adorable little space people. Maybe we can be M.E.R.P. pals, listen to cool M.E.R.P-ing music and leave a steaming pile of M.E.R.P. on the boss’ desk. Have I taken this pun too far? Sorry, I’ll just M.E.R.P. myself out, then.

M.E.R.P. Rover

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Extermin8 with extreme prejudice

You see just one of these buggers crawling across your kitchen counter and you know there are hundreds more in hiding. Who can relate? That was my college dorm room experience. It was a bummer because I’m pretty sure I signed up to have only one roommate, not hundreds getting into all my stuff. Thankfully LEGO phenom Dicken Liu comes to the rescue with a can of insecticide. The dead roach, with it’s broken leg and fishing rod antennae, is a clever touch. It serves as a reminder that getting on top of a roach infestation can be icky business. Cockroaches don’t even seem to appreciate alternative rock, although I specifically stated on my roommate application that alt rock was my jam.

Insecticide

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Take this stunning LEGO Blade Runner 2049 concept Spinner for a spin

Sometimes you’re just in the mood to watch 163 minutes of brooding intensity, existential dread, and wondering if your friends are replicants. GolPlaysWithLego can surely attest to this as evidenced by this impressive LEGO concept LAPD Spinner from Blade Runner 2049. Its hard angles and utilitarian feel bring scenery to mind of rainy, dark cityscapes, quirky characters, and talking; lots and lots of talking, with occasional bouts of fast action and stunning scenery. A Spinner this slick deserves a closer look. And if you’re inspired to make a 2049 spinner of your own, we also include free instructions for Gol’s compact take on the iconic vehicle.

LAPD SPINNER LEGO MOC

Click to see things you people wouldn’t believe before they’re lost in time like tears in the rain

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It’s time to bring back the UCS Star Wars Tantive IV

I was just telling anyone who would listen (friends, neighbors, courtroom judge) that it’s been awhile since LEGO produced a (wicked huge) UCS Tantive IV. Then LEGO Star Wars builder Mr. Idler comes along and fills the Tantive IV-shaped hole in our hearts with this amazing new creation. He nails the odd 11-engined corvette with perfect shaping and some rather clever build techniques. We all love Minifigures and I applaud LEGO for including them in their 2009 and 2019 sets but they’re rather improperly-scaled when posed next to the ship. Mr. Idler takes care of that with Leia, C-3PO and R2-D2 microfigures that seem just about the right size for this model.

Tantive IV UCS MOC

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