Posts by Norm Harper

Slay Bells Ring…

Let me be upfront: The Nightmare Before Christmas isn’t my cup of tea. But I respect it. And there’s no denying it’s captured the hearts of fans across the world. And, I have to admit, I find this Jack Skellington sleigh by Kalais to be a delightful blend of Halloween and Christmas aesthetics. The giant bone runners, the mausoleum-like back structure, the jack-o-lanterns lighting the way. Is it based off of something from the movie? I don’t remember. And it doesn’t matter. The charm of it all has scared the Scrooge right out of me.

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These robots are ready to rock

Earlier this year, we introduced you to Bullseye, a literal drum machine. But Steve ‘Rubblemaker‘ Marsh was in the process of crafting an entire technological trio, and they have finally arrived! Queen Bou-D-1CA is the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist. She’s shredding like no human can, thanks to two fretting arms. And no doubt when she’s really wailing, that head of chains whips around in a dramatic show.

Meanwhile, the band’s bassit Gusoku the Low plays so fast that his instrument only needs two strings. Look at the way those articulate fingers can spread out. Bonus, Steve says the bass build really works, and it’s possible to get some notes out of it. That would be a great way to produce some music for set 21328.

We’re shell-ebrating some NPU

Over the years, we’ve seen builders use all kinds of non-standard LEGO products; brick separators, the sprues that various minifigure accessories come attached to, even empty stick sheets. But Trevor Pearson-Jones is breaking new ground by using this actual LEGO box to create a, well…a box turtle. Trevor has captured the spirit of the LEGO Freestyle sets by crafting a delightfully mismatched creature that still retains plenty of detailed anatomy that calls to mind the real thing. And, just like a real turtle, we’re pretty sure this one can hide in its shell. We just wonder how much disassembly is required to get him in there.

A massive meanie with multiple modes

If you’re a fan of LEGO and Transformers, then it’s almost inconceivable you wouldn’t know who Alex Jones is. His portfolio includes brick-built Autobots and Decepticons who turn into cars, trucks, planes, beasts, and some that even combine together! But for all he’s accomplished, Alex still had one building challenge he hadn’t faced – the Decepticon ninja warrior Sixshot, capable of transforming into six different modes!

Click here to have a closeup look a the dirty half-dozen.

A vintage villain with a vile visage

If you’ve ever seen a clip package of old, cheesy sci-fi films, you’ve probably glanced an image of the Ro-Man character from 1953’s Robot Monster. A gorilla suit with a helmet on top was all it took to captivate the audience back then. Or, at least, the filmmakers hoped that was all it took. And maybe they were right. In the 1980s, MTV aired the film and it stuck with a lot of us. Which is how we ended up with this wonderful rendition of the creature by SPARKART! The brick-built gorilla body topped with the cauldron piece from the DREAMZzz line brings Ro-Man perfectly to life. In fact, it might even be more realistic than the original.

Whet your whistle on this backwater planet

Obviously, we’re all still reeling from the official reveal of the new LEGO Star Wars 75419 Death Star. So, while we’ve all got Star Wars on the brain, what better time could there be to travel on down to Mos Eisley for a cold glass of blue milk? Don’t know how to get to Mos Eisley? No problem. Sentinel_Brix can be our tour guide, starting with this fantastic diorama scene. Why, this sandy city has got it all, from salvaged scrap for sale to unscrupulous scoundrels and bounty hunters who’ll stop at nothing to… You know what? I’m starting to think maybe we were safer on the Death Star. Let’s get outta here.

Part Brickheadz. Part Minifigure. All LEGO

Back in 1987, RoboCop imagined the future of law enforcement with a protagonist who was part man, part machine. Now, GolPlaysWithLego pays homage to that film with a build that comes off like a cybernetic fusion of Brickheadz build and minifigure. Which is to say, it retains that chibi charm in a rounded and slightly more anatomically accurate form. There’s even a touch of poseablity in the arms. Why, I think this could be something that spawns a whole new subline. I’d buy that for a dollar! Or, more likely, a cost of ten cents per piece.

Beware the tides of marsh

It’s Frogust, and this build by Áron Gerencsér is paying double tribute to frogs and to the man August is named for. I give you, Frogustust, the founder of the Frogan Empire. He’s looking every bit the ancient king in his bright red sash and laurel wreath. Okay, okay. I know the Ides of March is a Julius Caeser thing, not Augustus. But cut me slack. I doubt this guy’s going to make it through March without croaking.

This micro Maul is a miniature masterpiece

Way back in 2001, LEGO released set 10018, a nearly 2000 piece bust of Star Wars baddie Darth Maul. While that set was definitely impressive, it was mostly just bricks and plates stacked together to sculpt an almost pixelated version of the Sith Lord. To demonstrate just how far LEGO construction has come since then, Byldan has constructed a microscale Maul that’s cleaner and smoother and made with about ten percent of the pieces. Maul’s trademark black and red visage is rendered here with a clever combination of minifigure body parts and utensils. Some of the construction may not be entirely legal, but no one expects the Sith to follow the rules.

Robo-ducky, you’re the one

Here at The Brothers Brick, we’ve seen mechs of every imaginable shape and size. But few of them pack the whimsical punch of this giant robotic duck by Cody Avery. I love how the model seamlessly blends heavy industrial design with cartoonish touches. For instance, those feet look like they should be stamping out parts in some sort of super advanced car factory, but they come at the end of the spring wrapped legs. And while I would wager that most of the bricks used in the build are shades of gray, there’s just enough red, yellow, and blue that the robot feels vibrant and colorful.

Maybe the real treasure is the ships we built along the way

Stefan Eeckman had been amassing light nougat parts with the intent of building a replica of the Inferno, the pirate ship from the 80s classic The Goonies. But, when the time came to start construction alongside Legostone, inspiration struck. What started as a replica became something new and even more impressive. With new details like extra gun ports and modified masting, this version of the Inferno is the result of two friends going on an expected journey…which makes it a more fitting Goonies homage, in my opinion.

Tickets to the Gun Show

Mobile Suit Gundam is one of those pop culture things I’ve absorbed only through osmosis. Which is to say, I’ve never seen an episode (It does come in episodes, right? Or is it a comic?) but I know a Gundam when I see one. But this creation by builder Qian Yj has me thinking maybe I should finally sit down with the show. Because anything that inspires someone to craft a mech this massive has got to have some merit.