Posts by Theo Spencer

LEGO Icons 10361 Holiday Express Train: all I want for Christmas is... 3D printed LEGO? [Review]

Isn’t it weird how trains and Christmas seem to have such a close association? Whether that’s down to unwrapping a train set on the big day, or Santa Claus becoming a railway magnate to help distribute presents, we couldn’t say. Either way – festive trains have also been a regular feature of LEGO’s product lineup over the years, including two at minifigure scale. This October 4th, you’ll be able to add a third engine to the Winter Village train shed, for the princely sum of US $129.99 | CAN $149.99 | UK £109.99. In some ways, it’s the same old story – but at the same time, there are big changes afoot among this set’s 956 pieces. Got your tickets ready? We’re travelling first class on the TBB Review Special of 10361 Holiday Express Train!

LEGO Icons 10361 Holiday Express Train | 956 Pieces | Available October 4 | US $129.99 | CAN $149.99 | UK £109.99

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

All aboard to read our full review!

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LEGO Star Wars 75413 Republic Juggernaut: what’s all the fuss about, then? [Review & Analysis]

Better late than never, right? We’ve done reviews on almost all of the sets in LEGO’s Star Wars summer range. But astute readers may have noticed one set missing, one that’s caused quite the stir in the community: 75413 Republic Juggernaut. It has 813 pieces, and includes 8 minifigures, including the long-awaited Galactic Marines and Commander Bacara. But it’s had something of a frosty reception so far, largely down to its price of US $159.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £139.99. So, finally, let’s take a look at it ourselves, and crunch some numbers to see if said reception is justified!

LEGO Star Wars 75413 Republic Juggernaut | 813 Pieces | Available Now | US $159.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £139.99

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Beauty is in the eye of the brick-holder

The last time we featured some LEGO artwork by Jarek Książczyk, it prompted all sorts of questions. He recently built two more, in what we’re told is definitely not becoming a series. The only question I’m prompted to ask is – why not?! They’re beautiful! We start off with a piece simply titled ‘Watchers’. This is actually a remake, of sorts; the first time Jarek built those little fellows, they were photographed on their own. This is the realisation of his full vision, and that brick-built sunset looks glorious!

Watchers

However, we’re told that it was a real pain in the backside to work with! The parts for both the piece above and ‘The Last Piece’, below, are held in by only friction, gravity and the black frame. I really like the use of the Minecraft ‘eye’ plate for the skyscraper windows here.

The Last Piece

In fact, that focal point in the middle kind of looks like an eye too. Combined with the Watchers and the first piece entitled ‘Come and See’, is sight the common thread that links all these pieces? That’s my interpretation, anyway. What do you see in these three LEGO paintings? Tell us in the comments!

Abstract Thoughts

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Gremlins’ beloved mogwai is back in bricks! LEGO Ideas 21361 Gizmo revealed for October 1 – [News]

LEGO has been on something of a Gen X nostalgia kick lately. We’ve had sets from TransformersJaws, and now, we have a throwback to a comedy-horror classic from the ’80s. It’s thanks to the Ideas line this time – specifically, the ‘If We Could Turn Back Time’ building challenge. Fan designer Terauma took the grand prize with their model of Gizmo from the iconic ’80s flick Gremlins. As a reward, it got turned into an official set! 21361 Gizmo contains 1,125 pieces, and when it launches on October 1, it will retail for US $109.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99.

There are more pictures and info after the jump – although there’s no word on when you should feed it…

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DeRa struts like a peacock showing off its tail feathers

Japanese LEGO builder DeRa has been absolutely killing it lately. We’ve barely just stopped waxing lyrical about that tiger, and the brick-built menagerie is already expanding. And in some style! The proud peacock couldn’t be more different to an apex predator like the tiger, but this one is still built to the same sky-high standard.

LEGO Peacock

Iteration is the name of the game here: what better way to create intricate feathered patterns than with multiples of interesting parts? Crocodile jaws on the neck; a superb combination of Technic gears and ‘boat’ tiles for the tail feathers; and – my personal favourite – an abundance of buildable figure heads from the much-maligned Rise of Domo Eternals set to add some really tiny details at the base of the tail.

DeRa already made onto our Creation of the Year shortlist in 2024; can they go one better in 2025? Have a look through their other featured builds and see for yourself!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Three little birds, but not the Bob Marley variety

They say good things come in threes. That’s certainly true in the gaming sphere; look closely and you’ll see things pop up in threes all the time, from boss phases to collectible trinkets. And, as Cecilie Fritzvold‘s LEGO birds remind us, the world of Pokémon is no different! There are plenty of legendary or mythical ‘mons that make up a trio. Heck, for a time, the games themselves came in sets of three: Diamond-Pearl-Platinum, Gold-Silver-Crystal, etc. Cecilie is taking us back to the Red-Blue-Yellow era, though, and indeed we’re starting with red!

Moltres - Team Valor

The three legendary birds didn’t have any bearing on the names of the games they appeared in – it’s purely coincidence that they’re the same colour. (And anyway, pedants will be aware that the original Japanese releases were Red and Green, not Red and Blue.) Moltres, the fire bird, is of course red. It follows that the icy Articuno is therefore mostly blue. Check out that awesome use of a vintage LEGO watch strap for the tail!

Articuno - Team Mystic

I’m sure some of you will be shouting at the screen that the games weren’t originally a trio; Pokemon Yellow only came along two years later. But it completes the set nicely, and means I can keep the tenuous link going with the coolest of the three birds: Zapdos. According to Cecilie, you shouldn’t touch this one. Not because it has the Static hidden ability (as of the 6th Generation of games) – it’s quite fragile apparently. But no less pretty a build for it!

Zapdos - Team Instinct

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Look past the spook, and you’ll see some terrifyingly good LEGO techniques

The thing about finding great LEGO creations to share on the internet is that sometimes, you do see some really disturbing things. And no, I’m not talking about the price tags in stores. In this instance, it’s Oliver Barrell‘s entry into the Summer Joust building contest. It gives me, frankly, the heebiest of jeebies. I guess that’s rather the point, to be fair. But it does risk distracting me from some rather neat building techniques, be they the forced-perspective house in the back, or the ingenious use of a 1×2 current-carrying brick. Am I grateful I’ve seen this LEGO build? I suppose I have to be. I don’t want that… Thing coming after me if I admit I’m not!

Something in the forest

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A LEGO builder earns their stripes by re-visiting a fan favourite

Last year, we featured a terrific LEGO tiger from DeRa that was so good it made onto our Creation of the Year shortlist. As it turns out, that was just the latest iteration of a design that DeRa has been gradually improving over the years. Now, we have another update to investigate! In some ways the changes are subtle. The overall shaping is just as good, and its excellent posability has been retained. But the devil is in the detail, and that’s where this big cat truly shines.

LEGO Tiger

Click here to see what upgrades DeRa has made to their feline phenomenon

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

A sled dog for the modern era

They say that dogs are humankind’s best friend. That rings true in several walks of life, and among the elderly, they can be a vital source of companionship. But as Sigmund Haugland‘s LEGO vignette proves, they’re just as useful in times of emergency! All it takes is a little ingenuity- and I’m not just talking about those forced perspective portraits. A defective stairlift is no match for a fishing pole and a doggy treat!

Out of order

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Is this temple big and close, or small and far away, or just built at microscale?

I love LEGO builds that mess with your sense of scale. Mattia Careddu is the latest to discombobulate me with a mysterious, watery fantasy world. Clearly that temple in the middle is massive: there are rocks floating around – literally – with waterfalls coming out of them. But hang on, those birds look like ibises, making excellent use as they do of some dinosaur tail elements. And I recognise those leaf elements too, which means this build isn’t actually that big. But then you see the steps up the side of the temple… Wait, how big are those birds?! And that’s to say nothing of the great big serpent tree deity thing that looks ready to devour the lot. Whoever’s on that little boat sure is brave going wherever here is.

Paradise Lost

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The Porsche 911 of LEGO van builders

There was once a time (I’m told) that vans were strictly for businesses and tradesmen. The humble VW Transporter changed that and made them cool leisure vehicles; now, the Transporter and its variants are a near-ubiquitous presence on European roads. LEGO car builder Sam Andreas even went as far as calling this 1979 T3 “the Porsche 911 of vans”. Now I know there is some VW lineage to Porsche, but I can’t say I’m seeing it – much as I love Sam’s two-tone brown livery here. Then again, I’ve never owned either vehicle. So what do I know? I’m pretty sure you’re not getting a rubber dinghy in the back of a 911 though. So score one for the T3!

The Porsche 911 of Vans - 1979 VW T3 Transporter

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

This LEGO market square makes up part of a massive modular medieval metropolis – with over 14,500 pieces!

The last couple of LEGO builds we’ve featured from Sandro Damiano have all been just small parts of a greater whole. Slowly but surely, Sandro is building up an enormous modular castle world. It’s a rapidly-growing settlement! This is already the 5th segment, and number 6 is apparently on its way too. What’s impressive – aside from the modularity – is how all the sections stand as great models in their own right. The latest addition is a medieval market village. This portion is well over 100 studs long! And that means there’s plenty to explore…

Medieval market square

Click here to take a tour around the market!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.