Category Archives: Feature

The Brothers Brick is not just about showcasing the best fan builds and bringing you the latest LEGO News, we also love to investigate, interview and discuss! These featured articles are all interesting articles that you can look back and enjoy reading.

LEGO Monkie Kid 80023 Monkie Kid’s Team Dronecopter [Review]

The Monkie Kid theme has another wave of sets that, like the previous wave, are full of colorful vehicles and cartoonish accessories like jet-packs with huge engines. And this time, there’s a brand new batch of baddies, based on cyber-spiders. One of the biggest sets in this wave has a little bit of everything, from fold-out playsets for both sides, mecha-spiders, a massive quad-copter for Sandy, and a jet-powered cat carrier for Mo the cat. We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in. 80023 Monkie Kid’s Team Dronecopter comes with 1462 pieces and is available now for US $149.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £119.99

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.

Read on for the full review

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LEGO reveals 712215 Brick Stick adhesive for semi-permanent LEGO displays [April Fools]

Today LEGO revealed what is sure to be a controversial product, LEGO Solutions 712215 Brick Stick. The first in a new line of products called LEGO Solutions, it is a semi-permanent adhesive to secure LEGO bricks in their final built form. While we at TBB believe LEGO has always been about creativity and being able to build and rebuild, since the introduction of the 18+ Adults range, LEGO has been targeting a different audience with complex builds designed primarily as display pieces. The Brick Stick glue (let’s call it what it is) seems to be a key part of this, which LEGO says will allow fans to ensure their display models will be in pristine shape for years. Unlike the caustic glue used in outdoor models at LEGOLAND, the company says the new Brick Stick glue is safe for ingestion, non-permanent, and can be removed by soaking the pieces in water for about 30 minutes. The Brick Stick glue will come in a box of two 40ml applicator bottles, available starting May 1 as a Gift With Purchase with qualifying purchases of 18+ sets over US $149.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £119.99 from LEGO.com and in LEGO stores.

We had a brief chance to talk with LEGO Solutions Lead Designer Arne Lauridsen, who says that “We are aware that the core adult fan community has some reluctance about using an adhesive, since it doesn’t fit with the traditional way to use LEGO bricks. However, our research shows that there’s a significant market for this product among casual adult fans who only want to build a set once and then display it. I can’t wait to use it myself on some of my favourite sets that I do not intend to take apart, like the Darth Vader Helmet.”

Click to read the official press release

Top 5 LEGO excavator sets that could save the world economy right now [Feature]

With the global travel restrictions imposed worldwide right now, many of us are missing airplanes and trains more than ever. But instead of cherishing the day we can all enjoy international flights again, the whole world found itself discussing a completely different means of transportation — container ships. The poor giant, 1,300-foot-long ‘Ever Given’ with about 20,000 containers aboard, is stuck in the middle of the Suez Canal in Egypt.

It seems that there’s no force in this world capable of freeing the vessel, but here enters the tiny hero — the brave little excavator. Looking at the heartbreaking pictures, we can’t help thinking of sending help to the place of the accident. Thankfully, throughout the years, LEGO has released many awesome excavator models, which, we are sure, could solve the problem in no time. Let’s dig into archives and assemble the rescue team of LEGO construction machines to save the world.

Click here to see our top picks…

LEGO BrickHeadz 40466 Panda and cubs [Review]

The BrickHeadz theme has continued to branch out over the years to bring us everything from heroes and villains of the Marvel and DC universe to holiday characters, and most recently, a new sub-theme Pets. Today we’re taking a look at what I hope to see many more of, wild animal parents and their babies, LEGO BrickHeadz 40466 the Panda, and two cubs. The 249 piece set retails for US$19.99 | CAN $24.99 | UK £17.99

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.

Read the full review

Spotlight on Mel Caddick, LEGO designer of the 40450 Amelia Earhart Tribute [Feature]

Melody Caddick or better known in the community as Mel Caddick is a prominent LEGO designer who has worked on or designed creations for a number of sought-after Gift Promotions issued with LEGO purchases. The demand for the Gift-With-Promotions not only has its allure of being a scarcity and something which cannot be purchased off the shelves but also for the unique one-off design concepts and themes that do not need to fit within the current design themes of any given LEGO set in production.

Click to read the full interview

LEGO BrickHeadz 40441 Pets Shorthair cat and Kitten [Review]

LEGO recently introduced a new sub-theme to the BrickHeadz line, Pets, and so far, there have been 4 sets released… A German Shepherd and puppy, A budgie and chick, and a pair of goldfish. Today we’re taking a look at the shorthair cat (number 120) and kitten (121), and they are available on lego.com and LEGO retail stores for $14.99 US (CAN $19.99 | UK £13.49),

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.

Read the full review

LEGO BrickHeadz Pets 40440 German Shepherd and Puppy [Review]

If you are a pet owner and a LEGO fan, you might have attempted to build a BrickHeadz style version of your pet using parts from the LEGO Go Brick Me set, hoping that one day, LEGO might come out with official sets. Well, your wait is over… especially if you happen to be the owner of a German Shepherd. LEGO recently released a new sub-theme of BrickHeadz called Pets, and LEGO BrickHeadz Pets 40440 German Shepherd and puppy is the first in the series, with the adult dog being number 118 in the BrickHeadz lineup and the puppy being number 119. With 247 pieces, the set retails for US $14.99 | CAN $19.99 | UK £13.49 and is available now.

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 to read the full, hands-on review

The little roadster that could

Anyone even remotely familiar with hot rodding knows that the quintessential dream project is the ’32 Ford roadster. They’re always a favorite at car shows and Ian Ying pretty much reached hot rodding nirvana with this LEGO version. I can assure you, they didn’t look like this off the assembly line but with a bit of imagination and elbow grease, customizers back in the day would turn their Grandpa’s jalopies into these hot little roadsters. The classic black with red trim, whitewalls and flames is the pinnacle of perfection. Copious chrome and gold doesn’t hurt matters, either. Ian is proving to be an automotive LEGO-building legend with a penchant for shiny bling. Click in the blue link there to see what I mean.

This stunning DeLorean takes us Back to the Future

One thing we never get tired of here at The Brothers Brick is LEGO versions of the DeLorean from Back to the Future. Yep, it’s pretty much the formula for success around here. Let’s see, the rules are clean photography, good build techniques and DeLoreans from BTTF. Also it doesn’t hurt to mention The Mandalorian or The Child. Alex Jones (no relation to the chemtrails turning frogs gay conspiracy guy) has followed all our rules of success and that is why he’s a frequent flyer here. I love the details, the gull-wing doors, the greebly bits around the back that makes time travel stuff happen. The complex angles are recreated masterfully using some pretty advanced build techniques. Even Marty’s hover-board is represented nicely!

Oh, the Mandalorian DeLorean. Now that’s a great idea! Somebody get on the horn with Disney and Universal Amblin Entertainment and make that happen!

The day the LEGO brick was born – January 28, 1958 [Feature]

The 28th of January marks the birthday of LEGO — the day when various designs of the brick were submitted to the Patent and Trademark office, and celebrated today as International LEGO Day. The story of the LEGO brick has been told many a time, often glossed over and missing the exact point of discovery. It was only on July 8th, 2020 on Godtfred Kirk Christiansen’s birthday that we finally got some insight into how it all came together. An article was written by Mads Klougart Jakobsen, LEGO’s Manager, Internal Communications, which was only circulated internally for LEGO employees, but was eventually shared with the public LEGO fan community.

Click to dive into the history of the brick

Castro Theatre, the heart of Eureka Valley

One of my favorite things about San Francisco is its architecture. Though shops have closed and the streets are nearly empty, some of the city’s most vibrant buildings still stand. Just off Market Street, you’ll find the Castro Theatre, whose majesty has been translated into LEGO by Jonathan Lopes. Since 1922, the Castro Theatre has hosted everything from queer cinema to silent film festivals at the center of San Francisco’s vibrant arts scene and historic LGBTQ+ district. Like in Jonathan’s model, you can’t miss its iconic neon signage and stunning Spanish-Baroque facade.

Click here for an in-depth look at the Castro Theatre!

LEGO Designers reveals secrets and inspiration behind the 31111 Cyber Drone 3-in-1 Creator set [Feature & Interview]

One of many the things that that shapes the culture and cult-like following in LEGO is its unique bits of passion that’s imbued in every design made regardless of how small or large they may be. LEGO Designer George Gilliatt shared and Graphic Designer Matthew James Parsons recently shared insights (via Twitter) on their work and inspiration behind the LEGO 3-in-1 Cyber Drone Creator set ( US $9.99 | CAN $13.99 | UK £8.99)

Click to discover the inspiration and secrets