Posts by Ryan Kunz

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?

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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.

Hi-ho, pinkie!

Not since the Mandalorian mounted a blurrg have we seen a lone gunslinger ride such an unusual steed across the plains. Terra Ender has been creating a different, amusing scene each day in October, and today’s build raises a few questions. Who is the cowboy peering down at the distant landscape below from his lofty perch? Does he have a fear of heights? And of course, where on earth (or beyond) did he get that awesome pink bifurcated-tailed lizard thing?

The neighborhood is looking a little dead these days

We’ve all had weird neighbors, but chances are the people next door to you aren’t literal corpses with glowing red eyes. That’s the dilemma facing our nameless heroine in the pink puffy coat in this devilishly funny build by Ryan Wolf. It’s a simple build where most of the appeal comes from the inherent dark comedy of the subject matter, but that skull-baby’s stroller is adorable. I might almost say it’s. . . to die for.

Honk if you like big trucks with lots of detail

Semi, eighteen-wheeler, tractor-trailer, lorry—whatever you happen to call this mighty machine in your locale, Dennis Glaasker‘s Peterbuilt 389 Custom (at 1:13 scale) stands out. This isn’t the first Peterbilt Dennis (AKA Bricksonwheels) has built, but this chrome-plated titan differs from previous models in its smooth curves and angles and retro-style colors. Dennis also veered away from 24×43 wheels and added some modern rims. The truck also features some souped-up detail, which you can glimpse in the inner workings of the exposed engine. The chrome finish on the metallic parts is impressive, but the truck as a whole really shines.

A big model of a small world

Can a build be big and small at the same time? Builder Paul Hetherington has the answer, creating an expansive representation of the Disney parks’ most earworm-generating ride. “It’s A Small World” takes us on a boat tour of memorable locales around the globe. One of the cleverest aspects of the build is the use of minidolls from the LEGO Friends line to serve as the ride’s iconic puppets, setting them apart physically from the standard minifigs taking the tour. Apart from that, the famous landmarks from each country are instantly identifiable: we see features from Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, and France and ending with Greece, India, Japan, China, and Easter Island. It’s a very detailed world, after all!

How’s this for etiquette and protocol?

It may be against C-3PO’s programming to impersonate a deity, but he doesn’t seem to have any qualms about hopping in a giant mech suit and dispensing some righteous justice. Greg Dalinkeiwicz, already an expert at creating LEGO mechs for other memorable Star Wars characters, brings everyone’s favorite whiny droid back for some vengeance. C-3PO’s battle mech is gloriously detailed, with plenty of wires and pistons running between gold pieces from the Chima and Ninjago product lines to form the threatening exterior. But this is still Endor, home of the Ewoks, so C-3PO’s new ride isn’t all metal. An owl roosts on the mech’s shoulder, a flower blooms on the head, and it wields a mighty wooden spear. If the Empire couldn’t fend off a bunch of teddy bears with sharp rocks the first time around, they’re pretty dead now.