We’ve featured a gorgeously curved Porsche 935/78 by Malte Dorowski here before, but Malte is a talented car builder whose LEGO models extend well beyond that one iconic German automaker. That said, I have a soft spot for Porsches, so here’s another great one — the new 911 GT3 RSR.
Also, lime is always awesome, and this Porsche looks like it could talk.
When the book arrived from No Starch Press back in October (yes, I’m that backlogged), I was pleasantly surprised at how hefty it was — an unexpected contrast to the paperback Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide.
John & Joe provide a solid overview of the LEGO hobby, from Bionicle and Technic to SYSTEM and Mindstorms, with sections dedicated to ApocaLEGO (including an appearance by Zombie Apocafest 2008), Steampunk, LEGO graffiti, and more. You’ll see a lot of the iconic LEGO creations that made the rounds of the ‘net a few years back — Henry Lim’s MC Escher LEGO, Sean Kenney’s Yankee Stadium, big LEGO battleships, the “No Real Than You Are” minifig, Hannes Tscharmer’s Jawa sandcrawler, and more.
As long-time LEGO fans and readers of this blog might infer themselves, the lists in that last paragraph support the justified critiques Nannan had about the book in his own mini-review.
Many of the featured models are the ones that merely happened to go viral on the web, not necessarily what we might consider “the best” of a particular genre. And with the exception of the sandcrawler (posted this past June, just a few months before the book’s release), nearly all of the LEGO creations in the book date to 2009 or earlier.
It’s also odd to see Brickshelf and LUGNET featured as two of the primary websites under “LEGO on the Web.” Yes, Brickshelf and LUGNET. In 2011. (And yes, TBB does make the list under “LEGO Fan Resources” later in the book.)
But I’m willing to forgive all these flaws in the face of lead times for printed books and the daunting task of making a niche subject like ours much more widely appealing. It was really lovely to see The Cult of LEGO on the Seattle Times’ front-page banner and included in Powell’s Books Black Friday deals as I shopped in Portland after Thanksgiving with my mom.
And for me, it’s those local, personal connections to the book that make it a must-have — seeing pictures from BrickCon, reading profiles of my friends, and thinking back to fun times with Lewis & Clark on the Pacific Coast (the late, great Mr. Pugsly even makes an appearance).
Despite all the pretty photos, John & Joe manage to weave a thread of humanity throughout The Cult of LEGO, so that in reading it you can step into this tight-knit yet simultaneously open-armed world of builders and bloggers, brick artists and LEGO engineers.
Whether you’re a casual LEGO fan or a hardcore builder, The Cult of LEGO has a lot to offer. The book isn’t so much about the unattributed pictures of viral LEGO models you’ve been sent a hundred times by relatives and coworkers as it is the diversity of real people and the community behind them.
My verdict: Find room on your LEGO shelf for The Cult of LEGO
This wonderful vintage plane has been recreated by Nick Dean (aka -NickD-). The Boeing 314 is one of the beautiful airplanes from an era when flying still had a romantic flair, and the world was shrinking due to the incoming rapidity of long-distance travel. Nick’s model is of a specific Boeing 314, the “Yankee Clipper” which flew for Pan-Am starting in 1939.
Tim Goddard’s (aka Rogue Bantha) horse sculpture really shows just how organic a shape can be achieved with bricks. The gorgeous posing and deft sculpting of the equine form lend the statue great beauty and elegance.
Since it’s been so long since I’ve blogged anything I’m cutting myself some picture quality slack and putting this one up here on the blog. I’ve been jealous of those with the time to play this, from all accounts excellent, game.
It’s been a very long while since Brian Kescenovitz (mondayn00dle) has brought us one of his dieselpunk mecha but it’s definitely been worth the wait. His “Badger” Combat Walker features some very, very nice part use and lots of delightful plausible details like pistons and armour plating.
Karwik is no stranger to two-wheel creations but I think these latest scooters are some of his cutest. The use of the hollow 1×2 slope brick is the cleverness that makes these work.
Until today I was unfamiliar with the LEGO mecha made by G P (gdido2k10), but I hope to remedy this soon by checking out his back catalogue. His GN-008 Seravee Gundam is a highly impressive creation and great rendition of the original.
LEGO Certified Professional Duncan Titmarsh of Bright Bricks (who was also involved in building James May’s LEGO house) recently led a project to create what is likely the world’s tallest LEGO Christmas tree at London’s St. Pancras train station.
Standing 38 feet (12 m) tall and built from 600,000 bricks, you can see the tree in person on the lower concourse at St. Pancras through January 2.
Thanks to all the readers who sent us links about this.
Update: Lots more pictures on The Verge.
Black Friday 2011 is here, which means the LEGO Shop online is having a bunch of deals to get your holiday shopping started.
Here’s what you get, November 25-28:
All of the following sets are 25% off (plus a few other Duplo, Belville, LEGO Games, and other non-System sets):
I know we blog a lot of aurore&aube‘s dinosaurs. But that’s because they’re so good and so well photographed. Enjoy carnotaurus.
Another entry into Classic-Castle’s Colossal Castle Contest IX, Knight Eklund shows us something serene and beautiful with this lonely tomb on a hill.
You can see more photos in his photostream, and the entry gallery on flickr.
