Love is a lot of things to a lot of people. To First Order Lego, it’s apparently a sword stabbing a metal arm clutching a white heart bursting with foliage. The artist declines to explain the meaning of the creation, instead inviting the viewer to take what they might from it. It’s the sort of thing that invites both inspection and introspection, letting you ponder the meaning of love even as you examine the clever parts usage. The dripping white elements in particular add a sense of motion and life to the piece. So is hope on display, or does the art reveal a more cynical view of love? That’s up to you.
Posts by Ryan Kunz
This Conviction Crusader will show its enemies who’s boss
“Constructed around a massive particle cannon and also equipped with ion guns and anti-fighter turrets, these destroyers decisively end space fleet battles with overwhelming force.” Victor K‘s description of his Conviction Crusader lets us know how menacing the ship is, but the description stops short of describing how cool the ship looks. There’s no “up” anywhere, with plates and bricks being stacked in all directions. The bulky, angular engines face one way, while the main lines of the hull are perpendicular. The result is a craft that looks right at home in space, where “up” and “down” are mere suggestions.
LEGO Steampunk “Swallow” takes to the skies!
“L’hirondelle,” a mighty LEGO creation by Gus (aka Faëbricks), is the fastest vessel in the Royal Navy. Its name is French for “The Swallow,” a bird known for its ability to feed mid-flight, so what better name for an airship in search of prey? Mighty wind turbines and a streamlined hull (love the hidden rowboats giving it the curved shape) work with the elongated balloon to keep the airship aloft and stalking the skies. Its crew are hard at work, having repurposed Fremen stillsuit masks as breathing apparatuses in the thin air. I also love the cannon on the gear swivel, ready to unleash hell in any lateral direction. There’s also that wicked-looking blade at the prow, ready to poke holes in anybody who comes too close. All in all, it’s not an airship I’d want to mess with.
High score: nostalgia achievement unlocked!
As someone who grew up in days of yore, David Zambito‘s “Time Out” arcade is a feast of nostalgia, one that conjures up phantom smells of mediocre pizza and pubescent excitement. I don’t even know where to begin. Look at that radical retro carpet, cleverly rendered with a bunch of multicolored SNOT cheese wedges and plates (probably sticky with the residue of countless spilled drinks). The games are instantly recognizable. Counterclockwise from the left, I see Dance Dance Revolution, Pac-Man, that claw thingy that always deceives you into thinking you can actually pick up a stuffed animal, air hockey, Skee-Ball, and pinball (with little cow horns as the ball flippers!). The assortment of prizes is just as great, with the top-shelf prizes including some Wolverine claws and a Ninja Turtle shell. The good stuff always seemed to go for approximately 5,000,000 tickets each, so if you want those claws you’d best start gaming.
Brickmaster and commander
For someone who grew up with the old Pirates LEGO theme, it’s always gratifying to see the theme’s evolution at the hands of able builders. Case in point: “Redcoat Navy Brigantine” by Evancelt Lego. The Imperial Navy sets sail in a slick, stylish vessel that pays homage to the original theme while really hoisting the yardarm a few notches in terms of detail and accuracy. This incarnation of the pirates’ nemesis has a distinctly Napoleonic feel. The deck hums with activity while bayonet-wielding marines stand at the ready. I love those brick-built furled sails, which are almost indistinguishable from cloth, and the trans blue and white tiles standing in for a serene sea. Is the Navy on the trail of pirates, or do they have another mission in mind?
You only get one shot (to take in this scene)
“The crunch of snow beneath my boots betrayed my presence with every step. The forest, a solemn witness to my journey, contoured the world with branches heavy under the weight of winter.” Even without those words, it’s amazing how much of a story the simple but beautiful LEGO build tells. “Prey,” by Louis Nutwood, transports you to a single moment as a solitary hunter stalks a rabbit half-hidden in the snow. Gazing at this build, the world goes still until all you can hear is the sound of your own heartbeat in your ears as you take aim. Will the shaft fly true? Or will the hunter go hungry?
Settle into some snowy steampunk serenity
We’ve all been there: you’ve had a busy year fighting sky pirates in your steam-powered dirigible and now you just want to kick back and enjoy some holiday cheer in peace. Thankfully, “Snowbound Serenity” by Isaac Snyder has just the steampunk-friendly winter retreat for you. At first glance, the retrofuturistic aspects of the cabin are subtle, playing second fiddle to icy landscape and inviting exterior of the cabin. Blue and green cheese tiles make for great angled siding, with gentle slopes of snow piling up on the ground next to the icy lake.
Stepping inside, however, is where it becomes clear this is no ordinary cabin. A steam-power boiler keeps the fire going. Pipes spread warmth throughout the house, weaving through pearl-gold accents. A few relics from our steampunk hero’s adventures adorn the walls. Our wily adventurer himself sips hot cocoa and helps himself to a cinnamon roll while his beloved pets look on. I love this build because it brings to life several fantasies at once—both the call of adventure and the allure of a cozy winter night.
A captivating cathedral’s fantastic façade
Prepare to be transported to the heart of Gothic architecture thanks to Kit Nugent‘s stunning LEGO “St Bley’s Cathedral.” With its towering spires, intricate rose windows, and stately arches, the model captures the grandeur and reverence of a twelfth- or thirteenth-century cathedral.
The rose window is a true highlight. We’ve seen printed stained glass on sets like 21601 Notre-Dame de Paris, but here the brick-built version (crafted with handcuff elements and minifig action stands) mimics the complexity of stained glass and immediately draws the viewer’s eye. The rest of the build is no less arresting, though. From vaulted arches to the narrow, soaring spires, every detail emphasizes the verticality and elegance of the Gothic style. The monochromatic grey palette enhances the build’s realism, with carefully layered textures adding depth and dimension without the need for color. Small touches, like statuesque figures nestled in niches (each one slightly different!) and decorative elements on the spires, finish off the build. Altogether, it does what cathedrals are meant to do: invoke reverence and awe.
Fall in love with this beatiful autumnal temple and waterfall
Journey back in time to Edo-era Japan with this spellbinding “Pagoda by the Lake” by felix-workshop. The part that looms largest, of course, is the majestic multi-tiered temple, with its striking red coloring and the artful curves of its pagoda roofs (inspired by the real-life Seiganto-ji temple and nearby falls). Such roofing has always been a challenge to achieve with standard LEGO bricks, at least until 21060 Himeji Castle and 10315 Tranquil Garden gave us a new upturned roof piece. However, given the minifig scale, felix-workshop opts for a more complicated—and more rewarding—technique to achieve the slopes of the roof, stacking and curving rows of rounded plates. Don’t let the artistry on display distract you from all that’s going on, however—can you spot fishermen fishing, merchants traveling, assassins planning their attack, a Buddhist monk, and a happy couple drinking tea?
Bet you can hear this picture in your head
Everyone’s favorite cantina band (and apparent one-hit wonder) Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes gets a jazzy replay in “Cantina Quartet” by Jonah. The DNA of the set that inspired it (21334 Jazz Quartet) is clear, but Jonah makes it something new by paying close attention to the individual instruments (which real fans—or at least those who took time to look stuff up on Wookieepedia—will know to be the bandfill, kloo horn, Dorenian beshniquel, and Ommni box). Despite having basically one good song, the Modal Nodes really know how to wail.
Steam on!
“In a world of floating islands, Elias . . . knew every lever, every pipe, and every sound it made. But his eyes often wandered atop the workshop, where his air balloon stood, waiting to lift off.” That’s how Gus (aka Faëbricks) begins the tale surrounding this tall vignette called “Sogno di Volare,” and personally, he had me at “floating islands.” The model has clear industrial, steampunk vibes from the brick foundation to the moored airship—and speaking of that airship, how cute is that thing? It’s a compact, one-seater model perfect for gallivanting around those floating islands.
As Gus continues: “One day, he promised himself, he’d set his balloon free, leaving the steam and noise behind, and float into the wide, open sky.” Here’s hoping our little engineer gets his chance.
There’s no Hyde-ing the good and evil here
The respected Dr. Henry Jekyll and his monstrous alter ego Mr. Edward Hyde roam the streets in this slick and sinister build by Kamil Karpińsky. The titular characters from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story turned Halloween icons are a study in contrast: Jekyll is dressed to the nines in a bowtie, waistcoat, top hat, and long coat, with a gentleman’s cane as an affectation. Mr. Hyde, on the other hand, makes good use of Gothmog’s head from 10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dur for a fearsome, demonic visage. His enlarged shoulders strain at the remnants of Jekyll’s coat, while his feet have split his trousers open, exposing his impressive brick-built musculature. The rest of the build is fairly minimalist, but we can see the infamous potion spilling onto the street.