For this year’s Rogue Olympics, Pohaturon has come up with quite the eye-catching LEGO ethernet cable. And clocking in at only 16 pieces, it’s quite the tiny blue marvel! The whole build centers around this light brick from the Exo-Force era, normally used to generate a red beam. But in this case, its shape is perfect for the standard RJ45 connector. The partially-connected 1×2 plate sitting on top if it is the perfect touch.
LEGO builder Sarah Beyer definitely has a style when it comes to house design. And every time, without fail, I’m left agape staring at yet another architectural wonder, one more take on her core modern look. This beachside house is gorgeous with its brown, black, and medium nougat coloration. I feel like I can make out every slat of wood in this build, thanks to some great tile and plate work. The beams sticking out over the patios are fantastic, especially when paired with the simplistic modern windows trimmed in black. And the landscaping is divine, especially the small irregularly-shaped pool to the right. It’s a difficult design to create in bricks, much less have it feel at home in a build full of right angles. But Sarah pulls it off quite well! Be sure to check out all the details inside and out on her Flickr page.
It’s fascinating the stories that can be told with nothing more than a little LEGO scene. Abe Fortier (Hypolite Bricks) tosses us into a not-so-distant future with this dystopian look at life in a cyberpunk construction. The decay of the concrete is superb, especially when coupled with the small vegetation breaking through the cracks. The details in the general clutter on the street are wonderful, including the pair of arcade games and the duo of vending machines next to the stairs. But most of all, I love the androids Abe has created here. They use some printed 1×1 tiles to convey such expressive feelings. It reminds me of some TV-faced robos from pop culture like Prince Robot IV from Saga or Mr. House’s security force from Fallout: New Vegas. More than anything else in the creation, they really bring the dystopia home for me!
I just love it when LEGO is used to give us a glimpse of Middle-earth, like Shaun Sheepa‘s Rider of Rohan here. The Riddermark is a vast domain, and to traverse it the people take to the saddle. In the build you get a glimpse of these plains in the grassland beneath the horse’s hooves. Speaking of the horse, it’s not very often I see brick-built ones. There is some nice parts usage at play here. Of particular note is the shaping of the horse’s face, and those angled hollow studs with bar for the rear hooves. This is a very thin part of the horse’s anatomy, and those parts are perfect for it! I think now I need to go watch The Lord of the Rings to see the riders at work.
I’m pretty sure we’re contractually obligated to feature LEGO creations from The Mandalorian every once in a while. I think it staves off a Mythosaur rampage or something. Thankfully, the aptly-named KevFett2011 is consistently willing to oblige us. This time we’re taken to Madalore where our hero needs to atone for taking off his helmet too many times during all the mushy scenes. Seems from now on we ain’t seeing Din Djarin’s beautiful, beautiful face anymore unless you tune in to that other channel where he’s fighting mushroom people. I’m digging Kev’s rugged Mandalore trinitite-strewn terrain and the added third foot on R5-D4 is a nice touch. I never get tired of seeing Mando’s hot-rodded N-1, either. Do you love The Mandalorian as much as we do? Then click the little blue link for more Mando goodness. This is the way.
Oregonian LEGO builder Jason Ruff hits us in the nostalgic feels and takes us to a simpler, more innocent time before mortgage payments and restraining orders. He’s built the Cascade Fighter Mk II (Mk I allegedly lost in the ether) in a lovely Classic Space motif. It’s part manta ray, part F-14 Tomcat, and all Classic Space goodness. I particularly like the curved leading edge of the wings as well as the smaller stabilizing wings up front. The missiles are also charming but then again I’d say that about all missiles. If you like Classic Space as much as we do, then please check out our archives in which you can dork out about Classic Space ad nauseam. Which explains all the restraining orders, then.
It may sound like something Robin would exclaim, but this great flying turtle by Markus Rollbühler is delightfully whimsical instead. Markus notes that the whole LEGO build clocks in at just 96 pieces, though I spy some elements in there that are quite uncommon, like the dinosaur head that’s the turtle’s head….except backwards! All the gear piled haphazardly atop the turtle’s saddle completes the feeling of a wandering magician.
TBB regular Andreas Lenander takes us to a desert port of commerce, and while it’s a lovely LEGO scene at first glance, the details bear close examination. There are obvious points of excellence like the stonework that just has the right amount of weathering or the gently curving hull of the trading vessel, but I’ve got my eye on those beautiful palm trees, which might be the best LEGO palms I’ve ever seen. And of course, let’s not leave out that beautiful blue domed roof on the tower made with tails.
LEGO builder Ted Andes brings us a more upbeat take on the dystopian cyberpunk future with a gorgeous sculpture he calls the Shrine of the Cyber Tree. The tree is made of stacked Vahki head elements from Bionicle, and their angular lines and matte finish creates a striking use for that rarely used piece. The sculpture is surrounded by a simple but elegant stone garden wall, which has great details like one broken egg post cap.
Master LEGO figure builder Matt Goldberg has constructed this sinister-looking Paladin L. S. Kobra and now we’re all a bit squigged-out by it. He tells us this serpent is the Bannerreptile of the Konda Kingdom, champion of the battlefield, and belligerent master to his squire. I’ve been all three of those things in the past, which landed me a trip to the HR office. All I can say is it was a different time back in 2016. Office politics were different, so that’s why I’m a school administrator now. Obviously. Anyway, click the little blue link to check out why we think Matt Goldberg would rule the office battlefield.
This LEGO space station from OA KD is giving off some very 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes, don’t you think? It’s a delightful mix of greebles in a ring that gives this station its name. At first glance it looks like there are LEDs used to light it up, but that’s actually down to the clever lighting. The light just out of shot is reflecting off the transparent bricks in the station (and in the trails of the nearest spaceship), passing very convincingly for a nearby star. I think it’s this that gives it that Kubrick sci-fi flavour. That and the masterful construction, of course!
Whenever a LEGO set hits the shelves with new parts or recolours, you can be sure that Thomas Jenkins will make short work of them! The idea behind this whale was to show off the black Technic panels in last year’s Porsche Formula E car. These parts have of course been great for Technic builders, but they pop up almost as often in creature creations like this one. Thomas hasn’t contented himself with making great use of these pieces though. Take a look at the mouth (or baleen, to be specific). This is a cloth piece from 75113 Rey. Two awesome parts uses in one awesome build? Now that’s just showing off!
