I’m an oldest sibling, so when we played video games growing up, I usually enjoyed Player One privileges. That is, until my siblings got better at the games than I did, and so I would get demoted to being a mere Player Two. I’m not sure which of these two LEGO ships that Brad K has built is which – I think tradition dictates that blue is one and red is two? Either way I don’t think I’d be disappointed with either in this case! There’s very little studs-up building in the ships themselves; it seems to almost all be sideways. In fact the bases seem like the only studs that are the right way up. But they’re a lovely touch too! Which one are you choosing?
Posts by Theo Spencer
Bridge the gap between original and sequel trilogies with this detailed Star Wars diorama
I said it in my review of LEGO’s microscale Home One, and I’ll say it again: one of my favourite Star Wars sets is 7754 Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser. Every now and then I’m reminded of it, and this time it’s swbuilds‘ turn to do so. As you might have guessed, this builder specialises in highly detailed Star Wars builds, with a bridge of one of the Mon Cala species’ flagship cruisers. But not (necessarily) Home One! Even though we can spot Admiral Ackbar, Leia, Nien Nunb and Lando Calrissian all gathered around the table, swbuilds states that this is layout draws more from the sequel trilogy than their original appearance in Return of the Jedi. Either way: we love it!
Not all protocol droids are as nice as C-3PO
Say what you will about the Star Wars buildable LEGO figures: they’re clearly proving to be a source of inspiration for talented MOCers out there. There’s already a protocol droid in LEGO’s official line-up, and Adam Dodge has added another – although one with far more sinister motives! This is a superb rendition of 4-LOM. If you don’t recognise him, let me fill you in: he’s a protocol droid who was able to re-program himself to be a bounty hunter due to a flaw in his coding. And I mean… If I were able to re-write my prime directive, I’d probably pick something a little safer than bounty hunting. Cosying up to people like Darth Vader or Dengar doesn’t exactly scream ‘easy ride’ to me.
LEGO Art breaks free from the frame with 31216 Keith Haring – Dancing Figures [News]
Keith Haring is one of those artists whose work you will almost certainly recognise, but not necessarily know by name. Initially, he was a street artist, painting walls in a style that became instantly identifiable. Next month, you can adorn your walls with his work too – but you won’t need any spray paint! 31216 Keith Haring – Dancing Figures is the latest work to enter the LEGO Art gallery. 1,773 pieces make up the quintet of figures, which appear to be based on the posthumous The Dance (1992) lithograph, itself based on Untitled (Dance) created in 1987. With an RRP of US $119.99 | CAN $149.99 | UK £104.99, 31216 Keith Haring – Dancing Figures will hit shelves and walls this May 15th.
Dance on down the jump to see more pictures!
LEGO Star Wars 40765 Kamino Training Facility Gift with Purchase: Train in Vain? [Review]
Star Wars Day (May the 4th) is always a fun day for LEGO Star Wars fans. As well as the usual festivities, it often coincides with the launch of several new sets in the theme – and a new Gift with Purchase (GWP). This year, we’re visiting the cloners on Kamino with 40765 Kamino Training Facility. With 190 pieces, you’ll need to spend US $160 | CAN $210 | UK £145 on Star Wars products between May 1st and May 5th to get it added to your shopping cart. Luckily there are loads of ways to do that with new sets: helmets from the prequels and sequels, the galaxy’s most violent astromech droid, or to get it all in one go, the UCS Slave I. If you’re on the fence about getting it, read our review to see if it will sway your opinion!
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.
Commence training programme here!
Buildable LEGO K-2SO revealed at Star Wars Celebration Japan [News]
Over in Japan, the biennial Star Wars Celebration convention gets underway this weekend. As part of this celebration of the galaxy far, far away, LEGO has revealed the next set in their unofficial sub-theme of buildable droids. And in timely manner too! With season 2 of Andor a matter of days away, the next set in this line will be LEGO Star Wars 75434 K-2SO Security Droid. Consisting of 845 pieces, this LEGO model of the most sarcastic droid since C-3PO will retail for US $89.99 | CAN $119.99 | UK £79.99 when it debuts this August 1st.
Check out more pictures after the jump!
LEGO Star Wars 75409 Jango Fett’s Starship: The Starship Who Shall Not Be Named [Review]
I don’t know if they have heirlooms in Star Wars, but if they do, the Slave I is surely one of the bounty-hunting Fett family’s. It made its first appearance in the Empire Strikes Back as Boba Fett’s ship, but Attack of the Clones revealed that it had once belonged to his father, Jango, albeit in a different paint scheme. The former has made up the bulk of the ship’s LEGO appearances, including a much-loved Ultimate Collector Series edition released in 2015. Ten years on, it’s the Episode II version that is getting the same treatment, in the form of 75409 Jango Fett’s Firespray-Class Starship, containing 2,970 pieces. Release is slated for this Star Wars day (May 4th), with a retail price of US $299.99 | CAN $379.99 | UK £259.99. Is it worth a detour to Kamino? Strap in, let’s 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 here to read our full review!
LEGO builders join forces for some greebley goodness
Do you know what greebling is? I’ll tell you: it’s a mish-mash of tiny mechanical details that serve little-to-no purpose other than making something look suitably futuristic. It’s a favourite technique of LEGO sci-fi builders, particularly in Star Wars-adjacent or -inspired builds. And these mechanical mounts from Red Impala and Zakarion are masterclasses in the technique! First, we have K-Drak and his steed Zeet, as built by Red Impala. You may have seen his work before – he’s a frequent fixture in our Minifigure Monday round-ups. The figure here is suitably attired, which, together with its ostrich-looking mount, really drives home the fact these guys live in the desert.
As for Zak, he made Oros and Gazelle here – and this thing seems to be made almost entirely of greebles! I’m a sucker for sand-red, so that’s what I’m drawn to here. Of course it would be a sand-based colour, being a desert mount. It also appears to draw inspiration from birds like ostriches or emus, but it’s interesting to see how two different builders can take the concept in wildly different directions!
A good dog, a not-so-good vegetable, and some great LEGO word-play
I don’t really know why broccoli gets so much shade. Its cousin cauliflower would be more deserving: it doesn’t really taste of anything, it’s easy to overcook and it disintegrates when you try and eat it. I much prefer LEGO pun-meister Maxx Davidson‘s take on it. Cauliflower? No, collie-flower! This adorable collie looks delighted to be sporting a sunflower on its head. I love the inquisitive nature of those tooth-element ears. What a good dog. And I will begrudgingly admit that the brick-built vegetable next to it is very nicely done, too. I still wouldn’t eat it though.
It’s turtles all the way down – until you reach the elephants
“Through the fathomless deeps of space swims this LEGO star turtle Great A’Tuin, bearing on its back the four single-mould elephants who carry on their shoulders the mass of a microscale Discworld. A tiny sun and moon spin around them, on a complicated orbit to induce seasons, so probably nowhere else in the multiverse is it sometimes necessary for an elephant to cock a leg to allow the sun to go past. Exactly why this should be may never be known. Possibly the Creator – that being Jan Woźnica – of this build got bored with all the usual business of nice parts use, AFOLs and studs-not-on-top building, and decided to have a bit of fun for once.”
Of course, the above is paraphrased from the late, great Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novel Wyrd Sisters. If you like Discworld as much as I do, be sure to take a look at more related builds in our archives!
Red Bull Racing mech gives you leeegs!
Zane Houston is something of a LEGO mech expert (a mechspert, if you will. You won’t? OK, fair enough). So after getting his hands on a couple of LEGO’s new Speed Champions F1 cars, the only natural conclusion was an epic racing mech! The long, spindly legs just ooze speed, and the wheels at the base are a nice touch. Zane has made deft use of the myriad printed and stickered pieces as well. Some replicate their original function – the rear wing elements, for instance – while others, like the nose cone, find a use in some futuristic-looking shaping. It doesn’t feel right to call something like this a walker – a runner feels much more appropriate!
A first-CLAAS future forestry machine
It’s surely only a matter of time before we get walkers everywhere, right? Not the militarised type that you might be familiar with from other LEGO sci-fi builds. I’m talking about the more day-to-day tasks that they would be helpful with – like logging. David Roberts knows what I mean. He’s given us a neat brick-built vision of the future of forestry. Despite its clear futuristic tech, there’s plenty here for us mere present-dwellers to latch on to. There’s the Claas livery, of course, but that arm is also inspired by real-life manipulators (and is a great likeness for them, too). The shaping of the machine is also reminiscent of some modern heavy machinery. You know, apart from the legs.