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.

Surely this water flea just wants a hug

Mitsuru Nikaido has created this enlarged version of a Daphnia pulex which is a type of water flea. The odd-looking outstretched arms are actually antennae used by the creature to move through the water. Actuator parts form sections of the antennae providing the model with a mechanical aesthetic which is also emphasized by the use of wires and tubes across the build. There is also some great curvature at the stomach, with angled plates creating interesting segmented areas throughout the model. It’s hard to imagine that the real-life animal is tiny compared to this intrinsically detailed creation.

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 long, long time ago in Modesto, California a legend was born

I’ll admit a great deal of our bread and butter comes from LEGO Star Wars creations or sets. Or so they tell me. No one handed me any actual bread or butter but I hear it somehow greases the wheels of how this whole The Brothers Brick shindig works and it’s because y’all love Star Wars so much. It all started with George Lucas who inspired two or three generations while also creating Jar-Jar Binks and Watto. No one is perfect. This LEGO bust by Jannis Mavrostomos is pretty perfect, however. The resemblance to the legendary filmmaker is uncanny. The nose, ears, lips, glasses, even the checkered shirt and collar make use of some nifty parts and build techniques. A quick perusal through our archives proves Jannis is an up-and-coming builder we should be on the lookout for.

Microscale Tales of the Space Age in LEGO

Humanity didn’t make it to space all at once. Like a ladder to the stars, our journey to the moon and beyond took many small steps. Each necessary part of the adventure, the good and bad, helped our species step out into the cosmos. Celebrating this era of discovery, builder Jan Woznica brings us a series of builds that are truly works of art. Each model evokes elements of exploration underlining our adventures in our solar neighborhood. Clever parts usage and pleasing color gradients give each of these a satisfying appeal worthy of displaying. Let’s take a closer look while you debate which would look best in your office or home.

Continue reading →

This Gringotts has a Niffler problem

I love, love, love the big LEGO 75978 Diagon Alley. It got me through the first part of the pandemic. I do however have to admit that there is a big void in this set created by the missing Gringotts bank. The predecessor 10217 Diagon Alley did come with a Gringotts bank, but this one is of a much smaller scale compared to the buildings of the newer set. Stefan Johansson solved this problem for us. They created a larger-than-life Gringotts bank complete with a white marble facade, imposing columns, bronze doors, a track with little carts, underground vaults, and of course a dragon to protect all that gold. This build is ginormous. For the white facade, Stefan used a lot of white plates, instead of bricks, to create different patterns in the wall. You can hardly notice this from afar but this build is worthy of a quick zoom. There are a few parts that deserve a quick mention. The use of the hemisphere is quite clever. I’ll have to dig through my collection to see if I own it in that colour. Using the party hat in gold as a lightning rod is a very nice little touch that I might have to reuse at some point. This creation is filled with details and action features like the tracks. The carts actually work and the Goblins are just waiting to take you to your personal vault. Overall I love this build but I wouldn’t deposit my money there. It looks like they have a serious Niffler problem!

Excuse me sir, but there is a croissant in your mustache

Scratch that, the croissant is the mustache! This stout warrior by Dan Ko makes great use of a few specialty parts like the French pastry, as well as spider webs used for a tangled web of hair that also reminds me of The Witcher‘s main character. There are also several of the new angled pipes with stud elements used for hands, and to hold the helmet’s horns… well, horn. Finally, a folded net draped across the shoulders is a nice touch.

Let your inner child explore the galaxy in this Neo-Classic Space pod

If you’re a LEGO fan of a certain age, it’s impossible not to love a sci-fi vehicle built in blue and gray. That old school color combo will transport you back to the 80s as effectively as a slingshot around the sun. The Galaxy Explorer Ground Station is no exception to this rule. Sure, its round shape and detailed greebling might set it apart from the simpler sets of yesteryear, but there’s no denying where LEGO builder The Brick Artisan draws his inspiration from. This one-man landing pod not only looks great, but it’s also packed with all the play features our inner children are looking for, like a spinning radar dish and opening door. Remove the roof, and you’ll find lots of cool computer details. It’s everything a young (or old) explorer needs on a hostile and unexplored alien planet.

See you, Stratomaxx Cowboy

With the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop just over the horizon, it’s nice to see builds inspired by the show. The unique ships of the Bebop universe are iconic and it’s easy to see echoes of the Swordfish in this design. Builder Nicolas van Grootveld used an aftermarket chromed windscreen to create this big-nosed fighter called the Stratomaxx Acer. Let’s take a look at the schematics.

Continue reading →

This incredible LEGO Star Wars build shows the temple on Yavin 4 after the war

The great temple on Yavin-4 was a Rebel Alliance headquarters early in their fight against the Empire. It even served as the main staging base for the assault on the original Death Star. But, once that massive space station was destroyed, the Rebels were forced to evacuate Yavin-4 and establish bases elsewhere in the galaxy. So, what happens to a rebel base after a hasty retreat? Markus Aspacher spent a year constructing an answer in LEGO for us.

Click here to explore the temple on Yavin-4 after the war.

Need a mech for desert combat? This one is more than ready

Moko has created this fantastic mech in a tan colour scheme, perfectly suited for blending in with desert terrain. The build has a stocky appearance suggesting this machine is heavily armoured and can take a beating. Some of the most interesting details can be found in the design for the dust covers over the joints. At first glance, it doesn’t even look like any recognizable LEGO piece but they are actually made of the lower half of ninja mask pieces stacked on top of each other.

Equipped with a rifle, missile launcher, and a heavy cannon, the mech has the ability to do some serious damage on the battlefield.

There is also a video that demonstrates some of the building techniques which Moko has used to create this impressive machine. Another cool feature that can be seen in the video is the use of coffee cups as missile pods.

You can check out more of our articles on fascinating mech builds, here.

Is it wrong that I’m rooting for The Lizard?

It is my opinion that LEGO has a difficult time making Spider-Man sets exciting. Don’t get me wrong, I love Spider-Man. He has all of the weirdest and coolest villains ever. But their current Spider-Man lineup, even their massive Daily Bugle set didn’t stir much interest for me. However, if this creation by hachiroku92 were a set, I’d plunk down top dollar for it. I don’t know, there’s just something about it. I love the toxic sludge, the fact that it takes place in a sewer scores points with me and it is a nice cozy diorama that would look good on any shelf. But the star of the show would have to be this builder’s interpretation of The Lizard. Wow! Just…wow! I’m seeing a Jurassic Park Dino head, the lab coat is amazing and those claws are the stuff of nightmares.

A giant AT-AT footprint is the last thing you want to find in the snow.

Scout patrol on Hoth is one of the hardest jobs in the Rebel Alliance. When the weather is at its worst, a probe droid could be floating just a few feet away from your face and you’d never know it. The thick snow and the howling wind hides so much from your senses. “An AT-AT will be easy to spot,” you tell yourself. You let your guard down. Until you’re looking down at its footprint and wondering if the mechanical behemoth is standing over you right now…

To celebrate the release of the 75313 UCS AT-AT, Anthony has created a diorama of a lone Rebel Scout making a chilling discovery. In addition to crafting a realistically rough and rocky landscape, Anthony’s taken care to show how the weight of an AT-AT pushes the foot down into the snow and left an imprint through layers of rock on the planet surface. It really gives an impression of just how massive and imposing the AT-AT is. Anthony’s promising that some more Hoth builds are coming up soon from him. While you wait, make sure and check out some of Anthony’s other Star Wars themed dioramas.

Tankducken is more dangerous than deep-fat frying

With the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner in the US, it’s time for a quick PSA about deep-fat frying your turkey. If you fill the fryer with too much oil, or don’t make sure your turkey is entirely thawed and dried, you could be working with a recipe for disaster. But that’s not the most dangerous fowl-related thing we’ve encountered. No, that has to be the Tankducken by Michael Kautzer. This massive meal is a twist on the culinary “Turducken” concept – a duck stuffed into a chicken stuffed into a turkey. Yes, inside this single-tread, carrot-firing war machine are two feathered pilots.

Continue reading →