I love a good microscale LEGO creation, and this model by flambo14 delivers in a big way. There’s a pretty well established trend in the LEGO community where builders challenge themselves (and each other) to create original vehicles and environments inspired by a specific minifigure, but this may well be the first environment built to suit a LEGO Construction Figure. The scene, taken from the latest Marvel Studios summer blockbuster, depicts the celestial being Galactus at his most down to earth, yet somehow simultaneously with his head in the clouds. Flambo14 places an unaltered Galactus model from LEGO set #76316 in a custom cityscape that much better reflects the celestial giant’s true size than the set’s accompanying minifigures suggest. Smart use of textures and a limited and contrasting color palette make this mini metropolis marvelous.
Posts by Steve Barker
No man is an island, but some secret hideouts are
German builder Gerrit Gottschalk’s latest LEGO creation titled Ronin’s Refuge depicts the struggles of a solitary life, in another time and on another continent. In feudal Japan, a “ronin” was a masterless samurai who had either lost their lord through death, disgrace, or had left their service. The term is often literally translated to “drifter”, making Gerrit’s choice of a watery location for this reclusive warrior’s hideout almost poetic. A muted colour palette draws the viewer’s eye, revealing some clever parts usage (minifigure skirt as a dish, and chain links as an architectural element? – “ii desu ne!“)
This is just one of the many 2025 Summer Joust builds featured here on The Brothers Brick. The online contest closes on August 1st and there are some striking entries, so put the final touches on your castle-themed works in progress and join the fray!
A humble scene delivers an epic sense of time and place
When it comes to an eye for detail there are few LEGO builders that measure up to Gerrit Gottschalk, who seems to consistently and effortlessly achieve the outcomes I always hope (and sometimes struggle) to include in my creations. This scene, titled Signs of Ageing, is superbly balanced and packed with texture and great parts usage. I love the look of those brown weed pieces with their stems buried deep in the blocky terrain. And the rooftop TV antenna and fur collar element used as a bird nest are amazing details. Another highlight is the very tidy little wheelie bin build, though it’s also giving me an ick-factor since where I live any black and orange refuse bin is going to be full of stuff you really don’t want to run afoul of!
A LEGO blacksmith shop that’s tongs of fun
This blacksmith shop by LEGO builder kofi beautifully achieves a lifelike tumble-down esthetic in what I’m sure is a rock-solid build. In fact, I’m fairly confident that the only loose parts or “gravity connections” in this scene are the sacks, the blade resting on the anvil, and perhaps one of the coins, but even purists on this matter will surely appreciate the added effect of these set dressings. Kofi’s use of light grey LEGO elements in only the stony path and the forge’s rockwork walls and chimney lends history to this scene, leaving the impression that this structure was built from stone quarried from the very spot it stands. Capped with that striking and weathered tile roof, this can only be the creation of a LEGO fan worthy of Iron Builder status.
Top marks for this bottom-feeder
From the depths of the imagination of LEGO builder Olle Moquist comes an aquatic ambulatory ecosystem that includes LEGO elements as diverse and obscure as the sea life itself.
Olle shares that some of their favourite creative corals “ended up being scrapped as they didn’t quite fit the palette”. I find this very relatable. I know from personal experience that sometimes during the creative process it can be hard to let go of a component (character, scene, phrase, LEGO part usage…?) that is precious to you as the creator but is no longer serving the creation itself.
Olle adds being “quite happy with the bioluminescent coral and the one with the mohawk hair”, both of which you can see in this view, but those who want to take a deeper dive will find dinosaur heads, “giant sausages“, and those janky little fender parts introduced in the short-lived Tiny Turbos theme all put to excellent use.
If this lovely build and all its clever parts usage is the result of creative compromise, I look forward to seeing what Olle has in store for us next!
Take me home, country roads
No stranger to The Brothers Brick, Andrew Tate showcases this terrific LEGO build of an old-timey truck with a vignette that is the very picture of rural life. While I don’t believe this is meant to be any specific make or model, Andrew’s use of the 2×6 train windscreen element is an absolutely perfect choice for capturing the character of a truck of this vintage. For me, the whole scene is reminiscent of the nostalgic mid-century pre-war “when and where is this exactly?” idealized look of a Studio Ghibli film, and I’m really digging it. I’d love to get a behind the scenes look at a couple areas of this build, especially the supports of those beautifully spaced fence pickets, and those lovely wheel hubs.
High fantasy? Or mere child’s play...
What at first glance may appear to be a LEGO creation with an identity crisis is builder Nate Chiles way of reminding us that a little imagination goes a long way. This 2-in-one LEGO creation “tells the story of that imagination that we all had (or have) by showing kids playing (on the left) and the stories imagination turns that play into (on the right).”
It’s a very relatable message, beautifully illustrated. The themes, shapes, and proportions of the two scenes mirror one another perfectly, and I love the way the clouds surrounding the tower suggest an impassible floor-is-lava -type scenario being played out in these young adventurers’ minds.
Carter Baldwin’s Shield Booster mech is an (Exo-)Force to recon with
The year was 2006. The inception of the Ninjago theme was still five years distant, LEGO set numbers had 4 digits, and the Exo-Force theme debuted as LEGO’s first foray into the already vast arena of anime-inspired mecha models. TBB Alum Carter Baldwin pays tribute to the too-short-lived theme with this dazzling LEGO mech inspired by set 8106 Aero Booster. Carter drew the color scheme and overall shape from the original set, but “changed the mission profile to a ground-based heavy shield mech” – a choice which I heartily applaud. I absolutely love how the curve of those transparent leaf parts suggests a larger spherical shield being projected that remains invisible until hit.
![[EXO] Shield Booster](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54491309041_39a82e92fa_b.jpg)
It’s a remarkable build, but also an incredibly dynamic scene. From the kinetic action and sheer mass of the mech captured in the pose, to the debris flying out from underfoot, to the way that multi-barreled cannon is slung under the right arm – being readied to swing around and return fire at an unseen assailant. Truly inspired work!
Start your day the LEGO way
As any experienced LEGO builder will tell you, the inspiration for an original creation can come from just about anywhere… Looking at LEGO element in a new way. Seeing a LEGO part in the shape of an everyday object. Or perhaps just from the imagery suggested by a single word. Built as an entry to the 2025 Rogue Olympics, this creation, titled Charred, is Marion Weintraut’s answer to the theme “Temperature.” Just looking at this creation, I can practically smell the burnt toast. Or maybe I’m just having a seizure.
Feast your eyes on the Minifigure shovel used as the toaster’s control lever, or better yet the Baggage Tag lending its unmistakable shape to those delicious-looking cutting boards… A delicious part (usage) of this complete breakfast!
“Do we need the monkey?”
In 1981, one movie dominated the box office and launched an enduring and often imitated franchise. That film of course was Raiders of the Lost Ark. Even LEGO got in on the imitation game, though they waited until 1998 to introduce us to Johnny Thunder (AKA Sam Grant or Joe Freemann, depending on where you grew up.) LEGO builder adotnamedstud expertly brings this memorable “Indy-flick” moment to life, using detailed textures, effective vignette-style worldbuilding, and by taking full advantage of all the printed tile elements exclusive to LEGO set 10359 Fountain Garden.
Small but impactful choices throughout the build really add up, such as the weathering on the door, a well balanced color palette, and little callouts to other moments in the movie, like Marion’s frying pan. LEGO “Director” Minifigure (unofficially Steven Spielberg!) would approve.
We’re feeling a bit of déjà blue
TBB regular Andreas Lenander transports us to another time and place with this “revamp” of his LEGO Falcon chapel model from last year. The chapel design in this medieval scene remains largely unchanged from the original except for the new blue hues in the roof, but Andreas took an entirely different approach to the setting and landscaping this time around. The autumnal leaf and feather elements in the twisted tree look like they were made for each other, and the circular base with a mixture of inlaid curved slope elements elevates the entire build (literally and figuratively).
You can learn more about Andreas’ building process on his YouTube channel, including how the base’s construction was “an unbelievable pain”. An experienced builder he may be, but apparently he has never stepped on a LEGO piece.
Epic wrap battles of history
Marvel’s nocturnal crime fighter Moon Knight draws on Egyptian history and lore in much the same way that Marvel’s Thor does from Norse mythology. Meaning, very loosely and with little reverence or concern for accuracy. This remarkable LEGO build by PriXard is highly faithful to the source material though, beautifully capturing the outcast god Khonshu as depicted in the 2022 mini-series. PriXard achieves a wonderful eye-catching texture for Khonshu’s wraps throughout the model, using pretty much every white LEGO element I can think of that represents fabric except seemingly for the Moon Knight’s own signature hood element found in the Marvel Studios Series 2 Collectible Minifigures.
A browse through PriXard’s other creations reveals a builder who doesn’t shy away from adding custom cloth elements for wings, capes and the like as needed. They share that this creation is “not completely finished”, adding they “wanted to add more cloth, (though) don’t want to cover the details on the arms.” Understandably, as I think this detail deserves to be seen. Maybe we can convince PriXard to let this dusty deity rest peacefully as is…