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.

Not all protocol droids are as nice as C-3PO

Say what you will about the Star Wars buildable LEGO figures: they’re clearly proving to be a source of inspiration for talented MOCers out there. There’s already a protocol droid in LEGO’s official line-up, and Adam Dodge has added another – although one with far more sinister motives! This is a superb rendition of 4-LOM. If you don’t recognise him, let me fill you in: he’s a protocol droid who was able to re-program himself to be a bounty hunter due to a flaw in his coding. And I mean… If I were able to re-write my prime directive, I’d probably pick something a little safer than bounty hunting. Cosying up to people like Darth Vader or Dengar doesn’t exactly scream ‘easy ride’ to me.

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LEGO Mid-century modern house is the definition of design

I am pretty sure this mid-century modern LEGO house by Sarah Beyer may be my entire personality right now. The attention to mid-mod detail doesn’t stop with the house’s design, or with the great exterior features and landscaping. The interior is filled with period-appropriate furniture, all assembled with great building techniques. Sarah calls the house Endeavour, in honor of the British TV series of the same name, which inspired her with insights into 1960s interior design. (If you haven’t watched Endeavour, put it on your watchlist, along with it’s in-universe friends Inspector Morse and Inspector Lewis.)

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“Do we need the monkey?”

In 1981, one movie dominated the box office and launched an enduring and often imitated franchise. That film of course was Raiders of the Lost Ark. Even LEGO got in on the imitation game, though they waited until 1998 to introduce us to Johnny Thunder (AKA Sam Grant or Joe Freemann, depending on where you grew up.) LEGO builder adotnamedstud expertly brings this memorable “Indy-flick” moment to life, using detailed textures, effective vignette-style worldbuilding, and by taking full advantage of all the printed tile elements exclusive to LEGO set 10359 Fountain Garden.

Small but impactful choices throughout the build really add up, such as the weathering on the door, a well balanced color palette, and little callouts to other moments in the movie, like Marion’s frying pan. LEGO “Director” Minifigure (unofficially Steven Spielberg!) would approve.

Holy Week collaboration is a testament to creativity and faith

From Byzantine icons to Michelangelo murals to swords-and-sandals epics, the New Testament gospels have been a source of artistic inspiration for nearly 2000 years. During the lead up to Easter, RebelLUG members Kevin Wanner, Eli Willsea, Chris Roberts, and James Libby collaborated on a series of 8 builds corresponding with Holy Week. Regardless of one’s faith, the series is an inspiring use of LEGO as a storytelling medium and a showcase of amazing talent in the community.

Kevin contributes the first entry, an immersive scene that depicts Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, the origins of Palm Sunday.

Read on for the full holy week collaboration

We’re feeling a bit of déjà blue

TBB regular Andreas Lenander transports us to another time and place with this “revamp” of his LEGO Falcon chapel model from last year. The chapel design in this medieval scene remains largely unchanged from the original except for the new blue hues in the roof, but Andreas took an entirely different approach to the setting and landscaping this time around. The autumnal leaf and feather elements in the twisted tree look like they were made for each other, and the circular base with a mixture of inlaid curved slope elements elevates the entire build (literally and figuratively).

You can learn more about Andreas’ building process on his YouTube channel, including how the base’s construction was “an unbelievable pain”. An experienced builder he may be, but apparently he has never stepped on a LEGO piece.

Battle Chaser forged in brick

While I am unfamiliar with the source material of the Battle Chasers comic, I do recognize an epic character design brought off the page into life…or brick. LEGO Designer Wes Talbott has done exactly that with his build of the character Calibretto. And in the process, it seems Wes has managed to use every new slope, wedge, and tile that exists. This build could also fit in perfectly in the LEGO Nexo Knights theme.

Factions may merge in the LEGO Star Wars Factions extended universe

There are LEGO vignettes that tell a story, and then there are LEGO vignettes that put you in the room. darth_bjorn puts you in the room of Rothana Heavy Engineering. The clean reflective floor, the dark red leaves, the gray mixed in with the dark bluish-gray pieces, the large windows right out of Star Wars designs…that all pull you straight into this intense scene where an alliance is being struck. At this point, I’m probably required to sign the business deal being negotiated, but we’ll see how it plays out.

Andromeda Asteroid Mining Rig – I’ve expanded my microscale space frontier

I’m continuing to expand my microscale space universe. Last time I checked in with a lunar launch diorama, as my home-brew theme shot into deep space from the moon. Now the Interplanetary Expedition Alliance, or I.E.A., has set up a large mining facility out in the asteroid belt.

The facility consists of a large space station as the hub, and two captured asteroids being mined for their mineral wealth.

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LEGO Avacyn has flying, vigilance, and protection from brick separators

Back when I played Magic, the Gathering, I was more of a green or black player, but I lost more than a few games to angel-themed white decks with their ability to cancel incoming damage. For his latest character creation, Eero Okkonen translates Magic’s seraphic hero Avacyn from the plane of Innistrad into brick form, and the results are divine. The wings are substantial but somehow look light, balanced on the angel’s back. Avacyn’s bust is cleverly shaped from a pair of bigfig arms. The lance head with macaroni tubes is perfect. Showing that even a master is always learning, Eero shares that the angled pattern around the hip area was created using the grid-breaking techniques shared on New Elementary last month in this essential article.

Craving more Magic characters? alex_mocs creates another white hero with this haunting Elesh Norn model.

Spaceship + Geometry + LEGO = one fascinating fractal fighter

The Nexo Knights theme introduced quite a few new angled slopes and other geometric parts to LEGO, like the famous “Nexagon“, and the sharp-angled slopes used on the sides of this fighter by Inthert. With its many sharp angles, this 6 pointed starfighter is giving me Black Sun vibes (one of the many crime syndicates from Star Wars legends). The color scheme fits well with Nexo Knights as well, with the gun metal gray and bright color accents on a largely blue livery.

Johnny Thunder’s biggest tomb raid ever

Adventurers was such an amazing theme for any kid (or grown-up) who ever dreamed of seeing far-off lands and solving the mysteries of the ancient past. LEGO Masters champion Mark Erickson is certainly a fan of the theme and picked it for one of his latest 24-hour build challenges. Mark had a blast incorporating as many original parts from the theme as possible, like the printed hieroglyphs, sarcophagus, and of course, the army of minifigures, while also incorporating newer elements and build techniques. The dark orange and dark azure combo definitely wouldn’t have been possible back in 1998, but it’s the perfect color combo for a pharaoh’s haunted tomb and matches the old printings.

The diorama is packed with action from a tomb raid gone horribly wrong as Johnny Thunder and friends unleash a mummy’s curse. All the familiar characters are there, but Mark supplements the crew with minifig companions who look right at home.

If Mark said this was a labor of love built over months, it would still be impressive, but somehow the Master Builder erected this epic wonder in just 24 hours. It must be ancient magic.

LEGO golden arches... do you want fries with that? [Building Techniques]

Few modern brands are more iconic than LEGO, but McDonald’s is certainly one of them. And with so many new LEGO elements coming out over the years, the building techniques used by builders and set designers alike to create unconventional curves and connection points continue to amaze and inspire. Just one look at this model of the golden arches by Aiden.Builds has my mouth watering for a sausage breakfast sandwich or an Oreo McFlurry. The gentle curves of the arches are made with a surprising amount of straight pieces, and the scale of the build is at first glance deceptively small.

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