Posts by Theo Spencer

Let the bricks do the heavy lifting

Is there a word for second-hand nostalgia? The reason I ask is that, although I never grew up with any of the ‘classic’ LEGO space theme, I’ve always been attracted (hah!) to the magnetic M-Tron theme. Unfortunately the closest I’ve come to owning any of the sets is a pair of Collectible Minifigures from Series 26. But the beauty of LEGO bricks is that you can live vicariously through them! So when I put together a hardsuit and exo-suit (inspired by Devid VII‘s recent construction worker, incidentally), M-Tron seemed a perfect fit. They are the heavy-lifting space faction, after all! All they need now is some magnets…

M-Tron Power Lifters

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.

Telling tales of medieval bravery, one LEGO diorama at a time

While castles (and particularly some LEGO castles) are often impressive in isolation, it’s easy to forget that in the mediaeval age, they were often just a part of a larger settlement. Over on Flickr, Baptiste (lebrickoleur) has provided us with a reminder of that fact. And in some style, too! It’s quite a sizeable build, but the section of castle wall we’re presented with is indicative of a much bigger structure than what we see here. The details such as the walkways or wooden coverings demonstrate an acute knowledge of fortress architecture!

La seigneurie de Lauzon

That know-how is evident within the garrison, too, as you can see from this rear shot. This build is entirely modular; Baptiste has been building it in sections, each one corresponding to a chapter in an overarching story. It starts in the small wooden hut in the corner, and finishes in the banquet hall within the castle walls. It’s a fascinating way to go about the build! You can examine all 10 sections on Baptiste’s photostream, and if you speak French, you can read the story too. Magnifique!

La seigneurie de Lauzon

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.

Take a small trip to this Studio Ghibli-inspired diorama

In the LEGO hobby, some builders like to be able to build everything and anything; but some pick a specialist subject and stick to it, forever improving their craft. It’s fair to say that Jeff Friesen falls into the latter category, with his superb microscale cities and landscapes. But what sets Jeff apart is the variety he is capable of capturing within that niche! We’ve seen everything from his steampunk cities to Viking villages, and now we have a Studio Ghibli-inspired diorama to feast our eyes on. This one was actually rebuilt from a 20×20 stud footprint to a 24×24 base before being called finished. Ever the perfectionist, Jeff!

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.

More of a Bulbasaur kinda guy

Want to start a heated debate among people of a certain age? Ask them what the best first-generation Pokémon starter is. Some will choose Charmander; personally, I say Squirtle. But judging by his adorable LEGO model, Nick Jensen is more of a Bulbasaur kind of guy! This build is a deceptively small one; I have to keep looking at the parts used in that wonderfully crafted face to remind myself of its true size. The Pokéball base is a nice touch too. It’s so well done, that I would almost consider swapping my allegiance to the grass-type starter team… Almost. (Psst, Nick – do Squirtle next!)

Bulbasaur #001

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.

New October 2024 LEGO sets now available: Star Wars, Fortnite, Wednesday and more [News]

October is here, which means LEGO fans can expect two annual traditions among this month’s list of new releases: Holiday sets and a showstopper Star Wars collector’s item. This year, in addition to expanding the North Pole village with LEGO Icons 10339 Santa’s Post Office, LEGO offers the modern Botanical touch for your winter decor, while Star Wars fans can hitch a ride on LEGO Star Wars 75397 UCS Jabba’s Sail Barge, along with a gift-with-purchase fit for a Jedi. Also debuting this month are sets based on the video game phenomenon Fortnite, hit Netflix show Wednesday, and the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked. For full details on these and other October sets, head to LEGO’s website (US | CAN | UK).

Take a closer look at the October wave of sets here

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.

Fly as fast as a... duck?

Yes, you read that title right: there is an outright world speed record held by a mallard, and one that’s unlikely to ever be beaten. Now that’s not quite what LEGO train master Joe Bloomfield has built here – but it’s very close. This is an A4 Pacific class steam engine, built by the London and North Eastern Railway in the 1930s (and now Joe in the 2020s). It’s a fine model, albeit not one for the purists! The vast majority is of course made from our favourite plastic bricks, but a handful of third-party elements add some crucial details. So too do the custom decals, which identify this engine as 60009 Union of South Africa. Coming back to that speed record, the A4s were – and are – the fastest steam locomotives ever built. And the holder of that 126mph record? Not Union of South Africa, but its class-mate, 4468 Mallard!

British Rail Class A4

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.

Convene the Covenant and start the Great Journey

A bunch of spaceships and speeders, driven by aliens, and all decked out in purple? This can only be a LEGO rendition of the erstwhile villains of the Halo series, crafted by the aptly-named Heretic Creations. The range of parts available in purple is not as limited as it once was, but the curves of the Covenant craft can still be very tricky to replicate. They’re admirably done here, though – especially the Phantom (that’s the big dropship on the left). Just as impressive is the way the aliens themselves are made. The feathers on the Hunters’ back are great, as are the helmets for the Engineer’s shell. But it’s the High Prophets of Mercy, Truth and Regret that really draw the eye with their gold headdresses!

The Great Journey has begun

As you might expect, Heretic Creations have plenty more Halo creations in their photostream – but you can also take your own Great Journey through our Halo archives to find even more.

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.

Robot dogs are man(agement)’s best friend

They say that the dog is man’s best friend, right? So here’s a question, prompted by Devid VII‘s excellent LEGO hardsuit-and-robot combo. Do robot dogs still count as being your best friend? Surely there’s no reason why not. Even if it’s your colleague? Well, that might depend on its purpose. With a hardsuit such as this it’s fairly obvious: it makes lifting stuff easier, travelling faster, and gives a bit of extra protection. But what is this dog here for? Quality control? Worse still, could it be this guy’s manager? Don’t get me wrong, I have a good relationship with my superiors. But I’m not sure I’d be taking them for walks or playing fetch with them…

YWBS - Yellow Work Bunny Suit and TaKo

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.

LEGO Star Wars 40755 Imperial Dropship vs Rebel Scout Speeder: the battle packs are back! [Review]

We’ve mentioned it a few times already this year, but 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of LEGO’s Star Wars line. Everything from Ultimate Collector Series sets to promotional items has been marking the occasion. The last hurrah in 2024 celebrates an important aspect of the Star Wars theme, and a mainstay since their introduction in 2007: battle packs! 40755 Imperial Dropship vs Rebel Scout Speeder combines two classic battle packs, and re-imagines them in a 383-piece set that will retail for US $39.99 | CAN $54.99 | UK £34.99. It even comes with an exclusive minifigure!

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.

Let’s see if this battle pack can recapture the old magic…

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.

LEGO Icons Botanical Collection 10340 Wreath – deck the halls with boughs of plastic [Review]

Christmas is coming soon. Yes, yes, I know, we haven’t even had the autumn equinox, let alone Halloween. But in the world of retail, things are starting to ramp up. It’s no different at LEGO, who are releasing two festive additions to the Botanical Collection line. The more obviously festive of the two (in the Western world, anyway) is LEGO Icons 10340 Wreath, a 1,194-piece set that you can pre-order now for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99. Alternatively, it may also be available through third-party resellers such as Amazon or eBay. It will hit shelves from October 1st, but will you want to deck your halls with it come the holiday season? Read on to see what we make of it.

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.

Let’s wrestle with the build of the wreath below!

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.

LEGO Star Wars 40730 Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber: Return of the GWP [Review]

Nothing quite says Star Wars like a lightsaber, does it? Many a happy childhood has been had waving around anything from sticks to plastic replicas and making humming noises. While many film props have seen official LEGO sets (think the helmet series), lightsaber replicas have been restricted to Gift-with-purchase (GWP) slots. 40730 Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber is set to be the third such promotion, with availability from October 3rd through to October 10th. To qualify for it, you’ll need to spend a hefty US $499.99 | CAN $649.99 | UK £429.99 on 75397 Jabba’s Sail Barge. Read our review to find out if it’s a weapon worthy of the Jedi, or if it should be consigned to the Pit of Carkoon…

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.

Continue reading

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.

LEGO Star Wars 75397 UCS Jabba’s Sail Barge: Time to set sail, or wait for set sale? [Review]

The LEGO Star Wars line is no stranger to big, expensive sets. Since the second edition of the UCS Millenium Falcon in 2017, we’ve averaged one $500+ set every other year, ranging from the minifigure-scale 75313 AT-AT and 75331 Razor Crest to Star Destroyers both Imperial (75252) and Republic (75367). In 2024, we are being graced with another – and for once, it’s not overwhelmingly grey! 75397 Jabba’s Sail Barge is the latest entry to the Ultimate Collector Series line, and a minifigure-scale one, at that. With 3,942 pieces, it will retail for US $499.99 | CAN $649.99 | UK £429.99, and may also be found at third-party retailers like Amazon or eBay. This LEGO Sail Barge will start crossing the Dune Sea from October 3rd for LEGO Insiders, while journeys for everyone else start from October 6th. Jabba has invited you on board as a guest of honour; should you join him?

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.

Read on to see how our cruise aboard the Khetanna went!

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.