Posts by Norm Harper

LEGO 90 Years of Play 40580: Blacktron Cruiser – Classic Space is back in Blacktron [Review]

To celebrate its 90th anniversary, LEGO released some updated versions of classic sets, such as 1978’s Galaxy Explorer. And it looks like the celebration is going to continue into year 91, because for a limited time beginning January 1, 2023, LEGO is offering another classic space update as a gift with qualifying purchases. This time it’s the 6894 Invader set from 1987 that’s getting an update (and a name change), in the form of 40580 Blacktron Cruiser. This 356-piece set will be available free with purchases of about US $190 | CAN $190 | UK £170 or more. Does this set capture the spirit of the original? Is it a fitting companion piece to the 10497 Galaxy Explorer? Let’s blast off and find out.

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

Click to read the full, hands-on review

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The hippest holiday builds we’ve ever seen.

We’ve often praised Dan Ko for his inventive parts usage, but these two Christmas ornaments might just take the cake…or fruitcake, as it were. Starting with a set of legless minifigure hips as faces, Dan has crafted Santa and the traditional Christmas Nutcracker as ornaments suitable for hanging on any LEGO fan’s tree.

Santa’s got minifigure parts working overtime, as a single leg fills in for his beard. And I’m particularly impressed with the small space Dan was able to leave in the Nutcracker to denote his chompers. Make sure to check out more of our coverage of Dan’s impressive builds right here.

Something’s fishy about this holiday scene…

At first glance, this North Pole build by ForlonEmpire is as heartwarming as it is well constructed. A young penguin interrupts Santa’s fishing expedition to offer him a present. Santa himself is teeming with great parts usage, from the big-fig arms getting an upgrade as Santa’s upper arms, to the pair of bucket handles doing double-duty as his belt buckle. And the semi-circle tiles as bows are inspired. But the more you think about it, the more sinister this scene becomes. Why is there a sled full of presents in this remote location? The answer is obvious. Santa has laid-off his elf work force because penguin labor is so much cheaper. This penguin isn’t giving Santa a gift. He’s made the gift in exchange for a fish. Santa’s cornered the market on herring and if the penguins don’t work, they starve! Merry Christmas!

I always frigate what this ship is called...

Chances are you immediately recognize this ship built by Rubblemaker. Odds are equally good you don’t know its name. “EF76 Nebulon-B Escort Frigate” doesn’t stick in the mind like “X-Wing” or “Death Star,” but it has appeared in tons of Star Wars media over the years. It even served as the headquarters of the Rebel Alliance for a time. Rubblemaker’s midi-scale recreation of the ship is a fitting tribute to this often-overlooked piece of sci-fi history. Clocking in at 81cm long, 42cm high, and made from over 2500 pieces, this is actually Rubblemaker’s second attempt at the ship, and possibly the most accurate version ever built.

Beautifully greebled and full of clever angles and elegant slopes, the ship looks amazing photoshopped against the cosmos, but you might want to take in an unedited view to really appreciate all the work that went into the build. Note the in-scale Millennium Falcon docked along the ship’s spine. “Millennium Falcon.” Now that’s a name that stays with you!

It only takes a pair to party properly

Nathan Hake proves that holiday celebrations don’t need to be crowded affairs. This adorable bundled-up penguin and his dancing crustacean friend are celebrating in style all by themselves. The penguin is sporting a one-of-a-kind jacket that’s just his size, with a furred collar, shiny buttons, and big pockets for keeping a few extra fish snacks on hand. The crab doesn’t need a coat to stay warm, as he dances the night away with a turn of the crank on his gift box – hopefully he doesn’t spill his drink.

A real estate opportunity you’ll want to snap up

Love traveling, but hate the act of leaving home? Consider buying a plot on the Wandering Mountain, courtesy of builder Level_Bell. This mobile monolith has an urban center that’s always on the move. With a magnificent castle, scenic waterfalls, and a bustling mining industry, there’s always something to keep you busy. And you never know what you’ll see outside your window, because the surrounding scenery is constantly changing. Whatever direction our ancient tortoise god decides to go in is where you’ll call home. Inquire today because this exciting opportunity is going fast! Well, as fast as a tortoise walks, at any rate…

A winding alleyway hides some shady characters

LEGO creations can transport the viewer to any manner of time and place, and we are willing to go anywhere as long as Sandro Tagliaferri is our tour guide. Sandro put over 400 hours of build time into this trio of old-world structures, and it shows. Each building is distinct, and yet clearly part of a cohesive style. The textured walls and extensively tiled roofs give the whole scene verisimilitude. Clever parts use abounds, like minifigure legs and owls fitting in as ornate woodwork. But the real achievement is the way the grass gives way to a stone tiled path, leading off into dark alleyway. No doubt a weary traveler might be willing to take their chances down that dark passage, but we’re starting to rethink our commitment to following Sandro anywhere. At least, not without a sword at our side…

Sink your teeth into this confectionery castle

Builder Sleepless Night has given a holiday classic a royal makeover with this Gingerbread Castle. At 49 cm tall, this delicious looking structure is sure to sate even the most ravenous sweet tooth. The construction used here would be impressive as just a castle in traditional gray. Take note of the cross shaped window built into the wall, and the entirely brick-built lanterns. But the holiday makeover allows some creative use of color to really make the build pop, like in the curved stripes of colored icing and the peppermint spires. It’s enough to have us craving a whole theme of gingerbread fantasy adventures.

Iron Builder meets Tin Man…

LEGO Monkey took a big swing with his latest Iron Builder entry, crafting an iconic scene from one of the most well-known movies in cinema history. But you can’t argue with the results. The star of this build is the seed part (the 1×5½ cylinder with bar handle), which clumps together beautifully in a recreation of the Emerald City of Oz. But we have to give a Best Supporting award nod to the landscape, particularly the way the green wedges imply a winding hillside that allows the yellow brick road’s forced perspective effect to work so well. And, even though Dorothy and her three traveling companions all have official minifigures, Lego Monkey pulled this scene off without owning any of them. That’s what we call a special effect!

It’s time to knight the knights

LEGO builder gGh0st has crafted a medieval market full of Muppet mayhem. All 12 of the Muppet Collectible Minifigures have traveled into the past for a chaotic romp in the Middle Ages. It might take some time to spot them all, but as your eyes search the scene, you’ll have the joy of taking in all the wonderful build work on the various castles and taverns and such – from the ingots used as bricks, to the drum kit made from food in the market. But maybe avert your eyes when you get to that guillotine…it’s like a kind of torture to have to watch that show.

A cookie worth writing home about.

With housing prices on the rise, Albert Lee invites you to consider the many joys of affordable gingerbread living. Gingerbread offers a variety of benefits; multistory construction, sugar glass windows, and a yard made from icing to help conserve water. Of course, you’re going to be in trouble if it rains. But that’s a risk worth taking in this market.

An inventor with his head in the clouds

Okay Yaramanoglu turns the idea of a floating island upside down with this Inventor’s House in the sky. Constructed on an inverted raised baseplate, this house has an eclectic mix of visible gears and propellors that call to mind LEGO’s old Time Cruiser’s theme. Inside the home is a variety of gadgets and gizmos, work spaces and living quarters. There’s even a basement inside the baseplate. It’s a high-altitude home with attitude.