Category Archives: Models

This is what we’re all about. We scour the web for the best custom LEGO models to share with you. From castles and spaceships to planes, trains, and automobiles, you’ll find the best LEGO creations from builders all over the world right here on The Brothers Brick.

Finally, a baby-safe missile launcher!

As kids growing up in the 70s and 80s can attest, when it comes to lawn darts and easy bake ovens it only takes one dumb kid to ruin a good thing for the rest of us. Maybe it was all the lead paint we ingested? Whatever the reason, we just can’t have nice things anymore! Thankfully, famed LEGO aficionado Angus MacLane has found a solution to our problem. It’s an amazing Classic Space rocket launcher that transforms into a giant baby mech. What part of that don’t you understand? Since the baby is a rocket launcher, I’m pretty sure that should pass the muster of even the most litigious parents. Probably. It definitely passes muster for what we consider to be totally amazeballs.

Angus provided a graphic illustrating how the rocket launcher transforms into the adorable little tike. Once you’ve looked that over, be sure to check out our Classic Space archives to see what us kids of the 70s and 80s were into when we weren’t eating lead paint.

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A LEGO cottage in candy colors

With some of the most inventive LEGO part usage I’ve seen in a while, Daniel Cloward has assembled quite the bright-colored cottage. His ingenious roof technique utilizes a lattice of rounded tiles held within the clips of this part. Add that to the paintbrushes as door hinges, hot dogs in the round window frame, and minifig headwear as rocks on the front lawn, and the build is bursting at the seams with exquisite part usage. But the cherry on this NPU cake has got to be the inclusion of Clikits in the cobbled walls of the structure.

The lifeblood of LEGO building

On the heels of his blue-based LEGO build, Casey McCoy goes from a creation lamenting death to one that surges forth with life. A brown figure, back overgrown with shrubbery, ponders a butterfly underneath a beautiful, verdant archway. The path before this figure drops off in a cascade of greenery, a wonderous building technique utilizing nets underneath the sea of studs. You can catch a better peek at the underling technique where it’s also used on top of the arch as well. This lattice of 1×1 plates is bounded by a verge of innovative flower designs, relying heavily on the five-pointed eggshell/crown piece. Even the gorgeous white railing falls away at the edge of the scene, the pattern decaying more and more as it approaches the void.

In the running for the Bio-Cup, literally

Some people record themselves while exercising so they can check their form. But LEGO builder and TBB-regular Eero Okkonen thinks it’s better to mind meld with your cyber avatar before heading out for a jog instead. In a bit of Bio-Cup mastery, these figures each display such astounding comprehension of the human form. The large-size avatar features beautiful angles, and not only those achieved by the use of the flexible tubing. For instance, the articulation in the feet is a work of art, differentiating the flex of each shoe to accurately match a runner’s gait. But the normal-size runner is no slouch, employing an interesting technique to sculpt and pose the arms at right angles.

Digging up the Doosan DL420

If this were a LEGO Technic set, I’d see it, think it’s impressive, then probably move on to buy something else. But in the very capable hands of Michał Skorupka, he can use System brick on something that would normally be Technic and make it quite exciting indeed. This rugged Doosan DL420 Wheel Loader is about the most interesting thing I’ve seen all week and I’ve seen a major social media platform pretty much implode. It doesn’t hurt that I’m (ahem) digging the orange and dark gray color scheme. The amount of detail Michał can achieve with his creations is awe-inspiring. See for yourselves in our Michał Skorupka archives.

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In my tower of solitude

Just look at this lovely new LEGO creation by Thomas van Urk. The shapes and textures here; I’m almost lost for words. The slopes and tiles along that very interesting red roof are masterfully sculpted. A lesser builder would have just spired the roof and called it good but Thomas taunts us with first a spire, then an onion dome, and back into a spire. I frankly can’t even fathom how he did that! The Tudor-style detailing is not entirely uncommon in LEGO. The medium most certainly works well in that style but there are parts of the Tudor detailing that, like the red spire I can’t fathom. Thomas calls this The Princess Tower and I’d happily be a princess for a day if it means hanging out in this fantastic world for a while.

Even the gray stone part of the tower utilizes both new gray and some sun-faded old gray. I recall in 2004 when LEGO changed their gray bricks there were starchy, rigid LEGO fans who vowed to leave the hobby forever. I imagine either they eventually warmed up to the new color shades or indeed remained in 2004 with their flip-phones and AOL email addresses.

A tremendous LEGO castle fresh from Canada’s BRICKSPO

The Saskatchewan LEGO Users Group (or SLUG) enjoyed their annual BRICKSPO this past weekend, and builder Taylor whipped up quite the fortified creation for the show. The Emerald Keep is a citadel of epic proportions, sporting light gray walls and sand green roofs. The builder doesn’t shy away from angled walls either, creating interesting and unique angles throughout the construction. I also like the wooden door to the left side of the structure, no doubt concealing a boat launch of some kind. It’s a great feature, and one that doesn’t make it into every castle creation. But I’m sure you’d like to see some more details, right? Well read on, my friend!

Like I said, read on!

A LEGO Boxcar built for Bessie

While normally a red caboose would mark the end of the train, Mike Sinclair is back at the L-gauge, this time with a glorious cattle car. Working with a single color, Mike lets the bricks’ native texture do the work of breaking up the creation. Perfectly positioned tiles mimic the wooden slats on the side of the car, with black trim providing the hardware. And the scene around this heifer hauler is just as spectacular as the main subject. Track ballast dappled with light gray 1×1 round plates and a perfectly-crafted stopblock set the scene admirably.

Chasing shadows at Jurassic Park

As an artist, I love a good graphic and bold logo. My close-enough namesake Gino Lohse has built a Jurassic Park logo in LEGO (say that ten times fast!) but with a twist. The dino (strangley not pronounced like Gino or Lino) is chasing down some people who are also in dark silhuette. I love the bold black against red; and the yellow outline is a fabulous touch. Gino makes this look simple but a round logo can’t be easy. One question though; is it wrong that I’m rooting for the T-Rex? While you’re mulling that over check out our Jurassic Park archives to see all the coolest dino-related sets and fan-made creations in the interwebs.

A ruin in four LEGO colors

LEGO builder Pan Noda has a stellar record when it comes to color use. Not too long ago, I raved about this monotonal marvel that spilled forth from their mind. And while this creation goes a bit more subterranean than their previous work, it’s still a powerful bit of art composed of cobbled walls, hanging vines, and still water. Even though the palette here only uses four colors of brick (light gray, green, tan, and transparent light blue), their brilliant use of light transforms the scene into a symphony of shades. The uneven textures on the walls create pockets of shadow and reflective surfaces that bring the whole thing to life! Plus, it’s giving me the sudden urge to hunt for jungle temples in Minecraft….

How to build your dragon: the three-part LEGO story

I’m not going to pretend that I’m an expert on the How to Train Your Dragon-verse. Nor am I able to say that I’ve ever seen one of the movies in the series. But I do know LEGO, and I know a great collaboration when I see one. Builders Josh (lego_monkey), Nick (gecko_builds), and Charlie (choopyjups) have come together to tell the tale of Toothless and Hiccup in this delightful three-part team-up.

Dig into this trio of creations below!

Charcuterie is like Lunchables for grownups

When I first moved to the West Coast, I learned about the joys of a charcuterie board. It can be impromptu, served with an array of cheese, crackers, meats, bread, and fruits. Extra awesome kudos points are added if there is also wine involved. This pretty much became my all-time favorite meal and I wondered how I was deprived of this classy goodness for like thirty years. That’s why I was particularly thrilled to see this yummy LEGO cheese platter buit by Cecilie Fritzvold. The grapes look especially tasty. I’ve learned just now that writing a TBB article for such a delicious-looking creation while also on an empty stomach is a bit counterproductive. Time to raid the fridge! While I do that, please check out other mouth-watering food creations by other builders with a pinache for culinary delights.