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

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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

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.

A Schwimmwagen The Central Scrutinizer would approve of

LEGO builder Martin Spunkt presents a satisfying amphibious Volkswagen Schwimmwagen. It’s rugged features, heightened stance and oars assures us that this little beast can do some serious off-off-off roading right into the water. It’s a far better ride to haul band equipment around than the ’54 with a mashed-up door. He situates the vehicle in a grungy garage setting; a white zone, so to speak, which I presume is for loading and unloading only. My question: Is Martin even aware of the Frank Zappa reference staring us right in the face? Sound off in the comments if you’re in the know.

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.

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!