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.

I always frigate what this ship is called...

Chances are you immediately recognize this ship built by Rubblemaker. Odds are equally good you don’t know its name. “EF76 Nebulon-B Escort Frigate” doesn’t stick in the mind like “X-Wing” or “Death Star,” but it has appeared in tons of Star Wars media over the years. It even served as the headquarters of the Rebel Alliance for a time. Rubblemaker’s midi-scale recreation of the ship is a fitting tribute to this often-overlooked piece of sci-fi history. Clocking in at 81cm long, 42cm high, and made from over 2500 pieces, this is actually Rubblemaker’s second attempt at the ship, and possibly the most accurate version ever built.

Beautifully greebled and full of clever angles and elegant slopes, the ship looks amazing photoshopped against the cosmos, but you might want to take in an unedited view to really appreciate all the work that went into the build. Note the in-scale Millennium Falcon docked along the ship’s spine. “Millennium Falcon.” Now that’s a name that stays with you!

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 small-scale crane for mammoth tasks

A fair few of the Dutch builders that I occasionally hang out with are very much into building heavy-duty trucks and construction equipment, such as cranes or mining excavators. And they tend to like to build them BIG. I’ve dabbled a bit in the genre, but I’ve always been somewhat the odd one out in our little group, mainly building smaller models. And I’ve gone progressively smaller: in recent years more and more of my models are scaled for minifigures. I rarely have the time or patience to build really big things. I am also running out of space to display large models.

If you take a big crane and build it to a small scale, you still end up with a fairly substantial model, though. Case in point: my Liebherr LTM-1350 mobile crane, as operated by the Dutch company Mammoet (Mammoth). Despite its relatively small scale, there is just enough room for some functionality. For instance, the crane’s outriggers and boom can extend and it has working steering on five of its six axles. When fully extended, its boom reaches a height of close to a metre (about three feet). Furthermore, cranes like this may be mobile, but they do require a fleet of support vehicles. This includes a separate truck to carry its counter-weights. The crane’s crew also tends to have a small “pool car” to drive around. If the crane is in transit, an escort van usually accompanies the convoy. The small scale meant I could build all of them.

When I have too much holiday eggnog I get Krampus

Sure I love Christmas as much as anyone else. But sometimes you want a more traditional holiday and show up with a birch rod, scare the bejesus out of misbehaving kids, and stuff them in a wicker basket. Who’s with me on this? Am I right? Anyone? No? Anyway, I’m sure renowned LEGO builder Corvus Auriac knows what I mean as evidenced by this creepy Krampus figure of Alpine folklore. I like the crazed eyes, the snow globe in his hand, and the serpent peeking from beneath his robe. What’s in the bag, Krampus? It’s probably best not to ask too many questions but the teddy bear and the red stains tell me someone won’t be getting that Peppa Pig toy train they wanted. The builder says that this is a render but can be achieved using real LEGO bricks. If your sentiments veer on the dark side, (you know who you are) then check out our Corvus Auriac archives.

Peaceful snowy campfire

I like how LEGO is a vessel for one’s creativity. You can escape into a world designed by your own imagination. Sometimes, however, it is also nice to just go with the seasons. This creation by Louis of Nutwood matches my current surroundings quite well. Although the Netherlands is not covered in snow, it sure is really cold. Louis created a snowy landscape complete with snow covered pine trees and a minifigure trying to keep warm near a cosy campfire. Although the base of this build consists of mostly dark grey and white pieces, there is a thin line of dark tan between the both of them. This small detail makes the scene look more realistic. You can almost hear the fire crackle and the wind rustle through the trees. After seeing this peaceful scene I am ready for a white winter myself.

I don’t mean to pry, but are you separated?

It’s fun when a bit of meta humor slips into a LEGO build. For those in the know, though, the Vic Veparator by Joey Klusnick provides more than just “a bit.” The twin orange forks of this Vic Viper style craft are oversized brick-built Brick Separators. (You can see a LEGO-issued one in use as the tail fin, if you’re not already aware of them.) The orange color is nicely offset by the yellow accents. I like the use of railings and brace elements here – the Technic bushings and macaroni brick echo the single-element shapes really well. But the best part? When Joey gets tired of this build, all the tools needed to disassemble it will be right at hand.

This isn’t the first great creation we’ve featured that use brick separators as a key element, and hopefully it won’t be the last. In the meantime, check our archives for more take-apart goodness!

A deep dive in the Star Wars universe

We’ve all watched Star Wars, in the prequels we’re introduced to Kamino. Here, Eyrezer answers the question of just what lies below the rain soaked Kamino’s waves in LEGO form.

Eyrezer has presented us with a colourful representation of what lies below Tipoca city; a wonderful contrast to the grey nondescript cities that featured in Episode 2. Theres some great subtle detail to be found, the use of sword pieces as seaweed is a great addition to this scene and did anyone else find the Kaminoan?

And sorry Qui-Gon, not a bigger fish in site…

Holidays in a galaxy far, far away are closer to home than you think

The other day, I saw someone ask where the best location in Star Wars would be for a holiday. Personally I think Naboo is the best answer, and having seen Abe Fortier‘s LEGO slice of Naboo, I’m even more sure of that fact. For one thing, there’s no-one here! Jokes aside, the lack of minifigures was a deliberate choice by Abe, and while that can make large creations like this look empty, it pays off here as it gives the architecture room to breathe. Civilisation and nature co-exist nicely, the latter serving a dual purpose in the build. The vegetation creeping up the walls helps to break things up and provide visual interest, as does some excellent texturing and weathering. There’s also just enough Star Wars clutter to drive home that this is Naboo, and not somewhere here on Earth. Mind you Naboo is based on locations such as Seville, in Spain, and Lake Como in Italy… Maybe we can go on holiday there after all!

It only takes a pair to party properly

Nathan Hake proves that holiday celebrations don’t need to be crowded affairs. This adorable bundled-up penguin and his dancing crustacean friend are celebrating in style all by themselves. The penguin is sporting a one-of-a-kind jacket that’s just his size, with a furred collar, shiny buttons, and big pockets for keeping a few extra fish snacks on hand. The crab doesn’t need a coat to stay warm, as he dances the night away with a turn of the crank on his gift box – hopefully he doesn’t spill his drink.

A sure hit of a spaceship

It’s so hard to pick a favourite LEGO spaceship designer, since there are so many awesome ones out there. If I had to though, you can be damn sure Nick Trotta would be on the shortlist. His spacecraft simply never miss. Appropriately, this latest ship’s namesake – Astraea – is the Greek Goddess of precision, among other things. There’s so much to love about this ship I don’t know where to start! Nick’s trademark mastery of angles is on display in the boosters, wings and scaffolding around the cockpit. Speaking of which, this is a unique design featuring opposed windscreens, whose smooth round lines are a great focal point among all the sharp angles elsewhere. And the colours! Sometimes less is more with colour, but the judicious use of it here makes this model detailed without being cluttered – a fine balance. And a fine creation it is too!

If you like this (and come on, who wouldn’t?) you’ll love everything else we’ve featured from Nick.

I got sidequested for a minute

We all get sidetracked every once and a while. Eli Willsea however didn’t get sidetracked, they got sidequested in their latest LEGO creation. Sometimes the side quests in games are better than the quest itself. If this is the case, shouldn’t you just take your time and enjoy the side quest? I sure think so. I also think we should enjoy the use of the combination of the LEGO candle and the axle connector hub. Those parts look like they were meant for each other. Another thing to appreciate is the fact that everything in this shot is LEGO. Even the brightly coloured orange background is brick built.

A big city on a peaceful island in microscale

What I love about LEGO microscale builds is how it can shift how we see the smallest of LEGO parts. Joe (jnj_bricks) brings this build to life for this year’s Brickscalibur contest in the Medieval Micro category. The city does feel alive with movement from the waterfalls and the vibrant greenery throughout the cityscape. Taking a look at the staircases, they have nice usage of the grooved brick piece at an angle for the stairs. There’s also some nice usage of the 1×1 horizontal clip piece in the buildings and their details. Stacked, the part offers some cool textures to the walls of the leftmost building. My favorite parts usage, though, comes from the battle droid legs for some fine arcing details. You can spot them on the highest spire and the causeway behind the winged minifig statue. There are many more details, so take your time exploring the build. Can you spot the Woody hat?

An imposing silhouette of a Jurassic figure

I’m mightily impressed with the prehistoric power communicated in this simplistic Apatosaurus sculpture by Ken Ito. Composed solely of grayscale LEGO, the dino showcases so many different ways to express a curved surface in the blocky form. The simplest example of this is curved slope bricks and arches, tools made exactly for the job of natural shapes. But we also see stepped plates and tiles along the lizard’s back and curves made of hinges along the neck and tail of the beast. Even the wedge plates along the back legs of the ‘saur, when combined with the knee bend, form a great curve leading into the rear of the beast. The backlit photo only further highlights all the great angles Ken has achieved.