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.

Massive brick with a sick secret!

Large-scale LEGO bricks have been done many times in the past but this gigantic brick by Tommy Frost takes it to a whole new height. At a 22x scale, Tommy was able to achieve a high level of detail, going as far as adding the raised LEGO logo on the top stud and even the small slit below the side stud. This particular brick is referred to as a headlight brick (or sometimes Erling brick) and is one of the earliest elements that enables sideways building, called SNOT (studs not on top) building. A wonderful graffiti-style art on the side gives a hint as to the secret that this large brick holds.

Removing the LEGO logo on top reveals that this SNOT brick doubles as a tissue box! A wonderful play on words and a fantastic model! Check out more views below.
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You should totally Google Googie if you haven’t already

You may not know the word but you know it when you see it; an optimistic, retro-futuristic feel with upswept roofs, curvilinear, geometric shapes, and bold use of glass, steel, and neon. If it reminds you of The Jetsons, then that’s Googie! Famed LEGO artist Paul Hetherington creates the look nicely with this far-out poster depicting a retro-fab Googie eatery aptly named Comet Cafe. They boast that they have charbroiled steaks so you know that it’s going to be good! The standalone cafe would be impressive enough but Paul has integrated it into a 3-D poster. Just behind the cafe, there are hints of an entire Atomic/Space Age world complete with a hotel, a gas station, and apartments similar to what I lived in when I was single. Lest you forget the funny moniker that encompasses this type of design, Paul has built the word Googie in a funky retro-fabulous font.

This view takes us to street level where we get to hang out with everyone from this neighborhood. Like, cool Daddy-O! Be sure to click the little blue link to find out why we think Paul is one of the hippest cats around!

Parading a parachute in the park

Sometimes, all it takes is one LEGO element to spark an entire creation into life. Ted Andes provides us with a brilliant example of this, with a charming scene of a walk in the park that was borne of a desire to use the orange parachute in a creation. Said parachute finds a new purpose as the dog-walker’s dress, but that is not where the clever parts use stops! Dark red wing pieces are used for her hair, and a slew of minifigure whips are used as a very convincing low fence. Also of note is the butterfly, which is made of, er, a butterfly piece – albeit one intended for use on minifigures. Ted certainly manages to make using such unusual pieces look like a walk in the park!

Now that is a serious bunker-buster

If you are going to war, I can think of no better soldier to have on your side than this mighty war machine by Stephan Gofers. The overall structure reminds me of Bertie the pipebomb bot, but on a much more intimidating scale. Not only is it packing some serious firepower, but in a pinch, it could probably stomp your little pillbox bunker flat with one foot. Aside from the behemoth bot, the truck in the background, as well as the vegetation are all very nicely detailed.

From the desert comes an awesome build

The Book of Boba Fett gave us plenty of memorable moments, especially when it tied in with other Star Wars properties. The event that generated the most buzz was almost certainly Cad Bane making his long-awaited live-action debut, an event which has been immortalized in LEGO by Steven Howard. The shaping is great and every little detail has been captured, from the bandolier and wrist pads to Bane’s menacing red eyes. His perfectly poised fingers are represented by saucepans, albeit in a colour that only exists in the digital realm. Despite its digital format, the creation still manages to look dynamic – look at how his overcoat billows in the gentle Tatooine breeze!

The corner bookstore on Modular Street

If you’re in search of some excellent LEGO literature, then head on down to this corner bookshop modular by Flickr user thilo.schoen. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this build reminds me of my many shopping trips through downtown Minneapolis in college. The façade of the building makes excellent use of depth. The insets of the arches, the windows set a half-stud in from the wall, and the grooved sand green bricks help break up the monotony of those repeated patterns. I love the detailing on the fire escape, displaying some strong work with bars and clips. But my favorite detail in the build has got to be the lampposts. Such a simple design, and yet it feels unique, and especially fitting given the style of the bookstore in the background.

The builder also provides some shots of the interior, showcasing the details of the bookstore, art gallery, apartment, and rooftop garden. The use of the art gallery’s logo on the interior and exterior is a great touch.

The Witcher and the anything-but-the-kitchen-sink-tree

The Witcher has been the subject of quite a lot of LEGO creations lately. When you take a closer look at this creation by Peter Revan, you can surely understand why. Peter took inspiration from the Witcher books rather than from the game or the series. That’s why Geralt might look a little bit different than what you are used to.

For the base of this creation Peteru used ball joint connections which help with all of the odd angles. I like how he used the flower stalks to keep the leaf plates in their places without actually connecting them to a stud. The tree in this creation is truly something else. Peter calls this technique Just-take-and-use-everything-you-have-under-your-hand. And it sure looks like that is exactly what he did. We can see wings, wigs, droid arms, flex tubing, steering wheels, technic parts, skeleton legs, and plenty more odd parts used in the tree trunk. If LEGO would have produced the kitchen sink in grey, it might even have been incorporated. Peter hopes to create more Witcher-themed creations in the future and so do we.

LEGO Wall-E blasts his way into our hearts

For a movie with very little dialog in the first half, the Disney movie Wall-E had a great story and even greater characters. In this scene by Martin Gebert the love-sick little garbage mashing robot with a heart of gold makes a romantic attempt to get back to Eve using a fire extinguisher for propulsion. The cloud element first seen in the LEGO Monkie Kid theme is the perfect part for the foamy burst. Combined with the lumpy ice cream pieces, they connect to larger clouds made with a variety of radar dishes and other rounded elements. Chromed dishes give Wall-E his wide-eyed expression.

Discovery in the crystal caves

LEGO caves have been done before but not quite like this one from Jake Hansen. His use of various blues and greens for the water is great! All the lovely angles of the various rock columns give this a very interesting organic feel. The pops of color with the red and pink crystal formations liven up the darkness of the cave. You might even spot some pink frogs lurking in the shadows! Jake went all out using the red windscreen Iron Builder seed part for this last build of the round.

When a Ringwraith comes knocking

The next LEGO build from Thorsten Bonsch in this The Lord of the Rings vignette series is here! Hamfast Gamgee, the father of the hero Samwise Gamgee, receives a peculiar traveler. Frodo and Pippin learn of this event shortly after their own frightful encounter with a Ringwraith. Sam tells the tale of his gaffer’s visitor and the feeling of dread his father felt. Here, Thorsten paints the scene with greater detail than Sam in his own telling. Check out that thatch work on the roof of the hobbit home! The layering of grille tiles gives the roof a wonderful straw-like texture. Minifigure hands and droid arms stand in for disheveled bits of straw sticking out at the ends. This is a delight to see rendered in LEGO, as some thatch work can look too tidy without it. Another example of great texture layering is the plates and tiles making up the brickwork in the house’s structure. Also, be sure to check out that wheelbarrow!

Continuing in the tradition established in the previous builds in the series, this vignette depicts the moment from the The Fellowship of the Ring book. The movie version does this scene with Farmer Maggot. In fact, Hamfast is only in the extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring film. Here, Hamfast gets his due! Personally, I’m really enjoying this series, as the books often get overshadowed by the movies in artwork depictions. Can’t wait to see what’s next in this ongoing vignette series!

This LEGO Fallout vault is (nuclear) powered

This is one ghoulishly good Fallout Vault 111 build by MasterBuilderKTC. I will fully admit that I’m far more of a LEGO builder than a video gamer. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I’ve always enjoyed tangible hobbies moreso than virtual ones. One of my biggest exceptions to this rule, however, is the Fallout franchise. The detailing on the cog-like door is exquisite, adding depth to a construction achieving some already tricky angles. I love the inclusion of the abandoned mineshaft above the vault entrance. And the four yellow braces coming in from the walls add to the overly-armored feel, making it clear Vault-Tec didn’t scrimp on defenses! Still, we should probably see if we can get that door open for a closer look…

That’s right, MasterBuilderKTC has motorized this vault door, complete with lights and appropriate audio! In the second-half of the video, you can see the opening from the interior and all the details the builder hid inside. The system to open the vault looks like something straight out of the Wasteland. Railings and details on the interior walls are all spot-on, and I absolutely love the design on the inside of the door. That spiral of parts is worth its weight in caps!

The Adventure of Brick-Link

A courageous hero through many adventures, this legendary Nintendo character has been brick-ified by builder Sybricks with only 101 pieces. This Brick-Link is fantastically detailed, from Master Sword and Shield to iconic green tunic and swoopy haircut. Typical Miniland figure-building techniques get turned on their head with the molding of Link’s hair, hat, and face (those pointy ears are clever). Bulky building in the arms partnered with clever color blocking gives the effect of Link’s puffy tunic and white undershirt. Inventive parts usage helped the builder recreate the Tri-force on Link’s shield along with the hilt and blade of the sword.

Given the parts limit, Sy couldn’t build the entire figure as he wanted. I hope he explores the theme again though so Link can really kick some butt one day. Until then, he can hang with Stuck Chuck from Kid Cosmic.