Posts by Norm Harper

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.

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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.

A shockingly good Transformer

With the new Transformers Soundwave set officially out in the world, it’s time to pay tribute to the other wave-monikered Decepticon from Season 1, Shockwave; brought to brilliant life by Ben Cossy. This evil Decepticon, who turns into a ray gun and was tasked with guarding the base back on Cybertron, was never as popular as his cassette player teammate. But I don’t think that bothered him. Shockwave is a cold, calculating type, driven by logic. And, logically, a vocoder-voiced dude with a zoo in his chest is just cooler. That said, Shockwave isn’t without his charm and Ben has captured it all, from the distinct cyclopean visage to the laser gun in place of a left hand. If only there was some way to shove a jaguar inside his chest.

A haunting still life to make you ponder

If you’re like me, you’ve always considered LEGO creations to be works of art, and this build by FS Leinad is a perfect example. This still life is a wonderful visualization of life’s impermanence, with a skull set amongst blooming flowers, and the contrast of the two candles at different stages. And it isn’t just the composition, but the technique that I admire. The melting wax made from a minifigure beard and wisp of black smoke made from droid arms are lovely touches. I hope I live long enough to get this good at building.

A Fender to remember

It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen Robots, the 2005 animated film about…well, robots. As my memory has been impacted by the years, I couldn’t tell you much about the plot, but I’d still recognize those character designs anywhere. And Maxx Davidson has brilliantly brought Fender Pinwheeler to life with this build that’s full of charm. Maxx has perfectly captured the expressiveness of the character with lots of well-constructed joints and great details like the different sized eyes capped off by the sausages for eyebrows. Why, I can practically hear Robin Williams’ voice coming out of it…or, at least, I would be able to if I could remember any of the dialogue…

Who says LEGO bricks have to connect?

As Melchar the Mage looks deeply into his scrying pool, you’ll want to stare closer at this scene by Joel Short. That’s because the most eye-catching elements of this scene don’t use bricks that connect in the usual way. The floor is made of cheese slopes turned on their sides and crammed together to create a flawless impression of stone. And the srcying pool itself is largely just some arches, likewise sideways and tucked in on each other. A simple, but magical effect.

A build with real horsepower

You can practically hear the hoof beats emanating from this amazing build by Jan Woźnica. Jan has captured a sense of speed and power in a surprisingly compact, minifigure-scaled steed. The horse’s organic shapes, and even the posing of its mid-gallop legs, are perfectly recreated with just a few pieces that a lot of builders would consider table scrap. Why, there’s even a pair of brick-built legs for the minifigure rider astride the animal, adding to the realism of the scene. Giddy up!