Posts by Norm Harper

Set your sights on this stained-glass sculpture

It must have been divine inspiration. A stained-glass window at church set Mr Youm to considering what the image would look like in 3D, and the resulting build isn’t quite like anything we’ve ever seen before. Copious amounts of black tubing and bars have been shaped into an outline holding a heavnly host of transparent LEGO elements together, creating an angel who looks for all the world like a stained-glass come to live. It’s incredible enough that the silhouette of the angle was achieved, but when you dig in on the details – the natural bend of the fingers, the individual toes – it’s something that can only be called a miracle.

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We were dragon our feet on this Vic Viper

We just did a big breakdown on the history of NoVVember, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some Vic Vipers worthy of our attention to cover. Take this Ninjago themed ship from seb71. The dragon heads used to make the trademark front prongs work in large part thanks to plenty of organic curves in the hull and rear of the craft. And the red wings give the perfect pop of color to the golden spaceship. Another great example of how vast the Vic Viper variety is.

The best desserts have layers

Face it, whether it’s a multi-tiered cake, a slice of tiramisu, or something as simple as an Oreo cookie, nothing makes a sweet treat more craveable than layers of complimentary flavor. And Andreas Leander has a knack for crafting MOCs with a multiple tier element. Putting all that together results in the most delicious looking tiny kingdom we’ve ever seen. Those cookies seem to hover like magic as the delectable chocolate falls stream down from the peppermint castle. Someone get me a spoon and a glass of milk. I’m going in!

No bones about it, this dragon is impressive

Thimdur T has a self-described passion for LEGO and dragons. Take a look at their portfolio, and you’ll see dozens of brick-built winged beasts in all shapes and sizes. So, we can’t imagine anyone better to give us a lesson on dragon anatomy. Behold the skeletal form of the Griefbringer. Now, Griefbringer is a dragon from the Ninjago canon who was once represented in an official set (71721), but Thimdur’s take is leaner, meaner, and cleaner.

This museum worthy creation is a sturdy, fully articulated example of what lies beneath the scales and muscles of your typical flying lizards. Although, I guess your typical dragons don’t have a magic green orb in their rib cage animating them.

1 eye, 6 arms, and an eternity of imprisonment

Deep underground, a strange visitor from the sky is being held captive. This is Osdonn the Eternal, who is being slowly bled by his prisoners in strange rituals. But Osdonn’s chains are about to come loose (in fact, they’re push button operated) and he’ll rise up in anger, deploy his massive horns and take his revenge…

This is the story crafted by Mattia Careddu in a wonderful build that blends storytelling, creature creation, and play functions. The image of the chained Osdonn would be a solid enough build. The pillars and the base that hold Osdonn give a perfect sense of place and scale, and Osdonn himself is a marvel of clever technique. But when you factor in Osdonn’s horns and the chains popping free, it becomes something I don’t just want to admire from afar. I want it in my hands. I want to make monster noises and gobble up the villagers. In short, I want to play with it.

Get up-close and personal with this these Blacktron bruisers

Conventional wisdom would suggest that when you’re engaged in a dog fight in space, you want to keep your distance and let your laser guns do your enemy in. But Steve Marsh isn’t worried about convention. He’s begun a series of Blacktron ships that are built for combat, without using guns. The first is the SnubBuzzard, a brutal-looking battering ram of a ship that busts through its targets with ease.

The second is the Buzzsaw and, well, I probably don’t need to tell you how it attacks. It can be a challenge to bring new life to old concepts, and the idea of weaponless combat ships is an inspired approach. The resulting ships look swooshable and exactly like something I would have eaten up as a child. And, the best part is, when Blacktron reduces a Space Police cruiser to bits, you get to rebuilt it!

Are you a fan of Seve “Rubblemaker” Marsh’s distinctive spaceship designs? We’ll be back in a few days with an in-depth interview with this LEGO Space legend.

Hawkins, are you ready to rock?

We’re still a few days away from the premiere of Stranger Things season 5, but it seems like the WSQK van is already everywhere. I’ve seen it on t-shirts, in toy aisles, it has an upcoming Transformers Crossover figure…and most impressively it’s the subject of a new build by Alex Jones. While we haven’t seen the mobile radio station in action on TV, yet, there’s already plenty of merch out there to judge by. So, it’s safe to say that Alex has delivered a stunning take. Not only is this model packed with plenty of playset-style features, like opening doors, but Alex recreated the van’s wild paint job almost entirely through bricks. Even the eagle shaped lightning bolts on the side.

Even more impressive? He built it twice, and gave it a dark and dreary redeco for scenes in the Upside Down.

A cozy cabin creation to get you through the cold.

We’re always glad when the heat of the summer gives away to autumn…but it isn’t long before the cold and the rain has us longing for springtime. Thankfully, Carter Witz comes to the rescue with their fantastic knack for natural landscapes. This cozy yellow cabin scene puts in just the right mood and reminds us sunshine will come again. The cabin’s realistic paneling and rough stone walkways are expertly constructed. And we love how Carter can take almost any piece cast in a shade of green and make it look like a natural plant.

Mogwai care is not for the faint of heart

I’m old enough to remember a time when Gremlins was one of the more obscure franchises of the 1980s. But nowadays the film is finally getting its due, with official LEGO releases, an animated series, and a third film announced. So, let’s use this fantastic rendition of Gizmo by Calin as an excuse to review the rules, as it seems you’re more likely than ever to encounter a mogwai. Rule number one, never get them wet. Although, I think Calin might have done that already, as those little buds on the plate look like they might be the trademark fuzzballs that result in more mogwai…

Rule number 2, no bright lights. And I’m not sure how Calin got this great pic without bright light. And, most importantly, never, ever, ever feed them after midnight. Although, if your mogwai’s jaw is made from a pie, I’m not sure how can avoid it. I think Calin better be ready to secure his home against a gremlin attack. Good luck.

Am I wobbling because of the ocean…or the beer?

Daniel Church just took us on a cruise across the ocean of the future. But now it’s time to relax with a nautical adventure that’s a little more my speed. Daniel’s latest build, the Tug Pub, is a floating watering hole that’s full of charm. Oh, to be one of those patrons enjoying a pint in the salty sea air. And the clever use of white pieces laid out on a plain blue backdrop creates one of my favorite LEGO waterscapes I’ve seen in a long time.

“Live fast, die young, and leave behind a LEGO corpse, that’s what I always say.”

It seems like Bender has been capturing the imagination of LEGO builders ever since Futurama debuted at the turn of the century. In addition to being a fan favorite character, something about his monochrome, almost human frame makes him a very appealing challenge. And this rendition of Bender by Nick Jensen has to be one of my favorites. The use of the angled 1L bars really capture the character’s fluid movement.

Don’t forget to take a look back at the past of Futurama builds in our archives.

We’re wowed by this wonderful wizard

There are few builders that can create dynamic characters from LEGO like Trevor Pearson-Jones. The shapes and expressions he creates can feel almost magical. Case in point, this wizard conjuring up a giant, flaming 2×2 LEGO brick.

Coming in close on the wizard, I have to marvel at how few pieces actually make up the fleshy bits of the wizard’s face while still communicating a full character. Of course, those pieces get a boost from the large amount of sculpted facial hair and, surprisingly, some dental work.

And that magic brick uses various transparent plate colors to such awesome effect, I think I’d be afraid to touch it if I saw it in real life, lest I burn my finger.