It’s funny, show me a Lamborghini or a Ferrari and I barely notice. But show me some classic American muscle and my heart goes pitter-patter. Luckily Thomas Gion knows just the thing to get on my radar (and I suspect others as well) with this LEGO 1973 Buick Gran Sport.The sloped rear, the pointed grille and bumper and especially the tilted pillar encompasses the look and feel of the car nicely. The classic five-spoke rims and the minifigg driver are just icing on this souped-up cake.
At a time when chaos seems to be the order of the day, builder Jaap Bijl reminds us that we can still find moments of serenity if we only look for them. At first glance I thought this was a real photo but upon closer inspection it proves to be an incredible work of LEGO art. Just looking at it gives me a sense of peace and calm. The first thing I noticed was the lovely sideways built water in sand green and olive green. The lily pads and plants with a few yellow flowers peeking out and an adorable yellow duck are a perfect accent. The surrounding landscaping is a nice mix of textures and colors that bring focus to the central cherry blossom tree. To provide detail on the bridge, the builder has utilized Technic bushings and axle connectors that appear to be strung like beads onto a flexible tube. The small temple is full of detail and has a roof that utilizes a similar construction method to the bridge. I love the cleverly built Buddha statue with his large belly created by a simple 2×2 round tile. Add in a few animals and a solitary minifigure to complete the picture and you have a model that transports you to an entirely different world where quiet contemplation reigns.
Monkeys can be a public nuisance in places like India, the Caribbean, and even in Singapore.These particular monkeys however are on a mission and they’ve taken the art of robbing markets to a whole ‘nother level! Kev.the.Builder presents a LEGO scene where a monkey scout sits in the trees and reports every movement to the commander. Another monkey perches atop the stall, waiting for the order to strike. The monkey commander leads the mission, methodically planning a infallible raid sequence. Every mission has its adversities, but the result is always the same: the monkeys get the bananas! Even without the monkeys, this would be an engaging scene with great colors and textures. The Mediterranean tile roof, the thatched awning, even the caged chickens are all fantastic details. Is it wrong that I’m rooting for the monkeys?
If you’re a hockey fan, you should be pretty excited to learn that hockey will continue to be a very popular sport in the future. With this striking model of a High-tech hockey player by JakTheMad the sport gets some impressive upgrades, including a jetpack for body checks, and some serious skate feet, made with the weighted ring from a Ninjago Spinner base.
If you’ve watched Black Mirror or the recent War of the Worlds series on Amazon Prime, then you probably have the same healthy fear of robot dogs that I do. But if this 4-legged bot by Red Spacecat is on our side, I just might change my mind. The military bot is armed to the teeth with a large top-mounted gun, and with those padded feet, you won’t hear it coming.
One of my favorite things to come out of the 1980s was the vast array of giant Japanese robots. From Voltron to the Shogun Warriors, each mammoth mech seemed to be more impressive than the last. Similarly, Marco De Bon‘s LEGO tributes to these Super Robots also seem to just get better and better. Today we look at their recreation of Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3. I’m not super familiar with this show, but after watching a YouTube clip, I’m sold on the concept. Clocking in at am impressive 340 mm tall, Marco has managed to pack the model with clean lines, vivid details, and even multiple vehicle modes!
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As we learned on the first US season of LEGO Masters earlier this year, LEGO creations are best when they tell a story that is easily understood. Keith Reed has been setting up a story through his series of apocalyptic modular buildings, and the plot has become very clear with his latest scene. Here you see a family trying to escape their own impending doom, their car broken down, taking refuge in the back of a Nuka Cola truck.
They figured they’d be safe there for the night, but unbeknownst to them, they’d almost made it to the shelter. Turns out they didn’t make it. Whatever they were running from caught up with them that night, and they died right there, baby in arms.
Earlier this year, back when we could still gather in groups, this model was on display at Bricks Cascade. Keith was standing proudly beside his creation engaging with the public. A twelve year old kid came up and described the scene to his dad. Keith was floored at how well the intended story came across — I thought he might cry.
First introduced in Europe in 2013, the Alfa Romeo 4C was rolled out in North America the following year — the Italian manufacturer’s first foray into the US production car market in the 21st century. As you’d expect for an Alfa, the car is a stylish beast, with smooth curves and that distinctive plunging V-bonnet which always make me think of an eagle’s beak. And as you’d expect from a LEGO car from Noah L, his brick-built version is a smart recreation of the original’s lines, put together in a remarkably tight 15-stud wide footprint.
I’m always thoroughly impressed with the level of detail Noah manages to cram into his cars, whilst still keeping the exterior lines smooth and clean. Even better, his models usually boast opening doors and bonnets or boots, and this vehicle is no exception. Check out the detailed interior…
“It doesn’t look like anything to me…” The stock response of the hosts from TV show Westworld is absolutely not applicable here. Mitch Phillips‘ LEGO rendition of a host being put together is immediately recognizable — the striking Vitruvian Man and the surrounding printing technology provide one of the show’s iconic images, familiar even to non-fans. But a closer look reveals some excellent building techniques on display as well as a fine capture of the overall feel. The robotic printing arm is well put together from a selection of Technic parts, and the half-formed host is a mass of different pieces, brilliantly conveying the idea of synthetic musculature. The lines on the torso, in particular, are excellent — check out those abs! The presentation of the model is spot-on too, with dramatic lighting creating a real sense of scale — this looms in the image, much larger in the eye than it is in real life.
These days you could do a lot worse than spending some time listening to a soothing voice and being creative. If ever there was an icon for that sort of thing, it would have to be Bob Ross. Julius von Brunk has created a LEGO version of the master painter that is just as inspiring and every bit as clever. From the metallic silver of the lightsaber hilt in the paintbrush to the mixture of tiles and various styles of 1×1 round plates as paint, the use of parts in Bob’s tools are as inspiring as the techniques in the artist himself. The use of a 3L bar and tan clip for the mustache made me smile. And did you spot the engine covers in Bob’s hair?
As charismatic as Bob is, though, he really needs somewhere to work. Julius has that covered, too, with a brick-built easel, paint selection, and canvas. That canvas is currently blank, but that’s by design.
We’ve featured several of Julius’ other creations in the past. Maybe you’ll find one of them equally inspiring as Bob, here.
Star Wars’ used-universe aesthetic is a trove of inspiration for minifig diorama builders like Aubrey Breelan to mine, skilled world-builders who can populate layouts with all manner of diverse ne’er-do-wells and wannabe heroes. We recently saw Coruscant’s underbelly on Level 1313, and now we’re plunked down onto a bustling street on an unnamed outpost world.
Troopers from the Empire and Rebellion are in close proximity with normal folk, and just as Rogue One showed us on the cusp of A New Hope a violent clash feels like it could break out at any moment. Everyone here is sure to have a story, and the builder invites you to take a closer look at the motley array of characters eking out a living.
You may already know that the Aztecs (along with several other ancient civilizations) believed in human sacrifice. The thought of removing someone’s still-beating heart sounds pretty grizzly indeed. But these guys truly believed the world would end if they didn’t pay the gods, and evidence suggests many people saw it as an honor! Now, you may think the priests that carried out the sacrifice, like this rendered LEGO recreation by Steven Howard, were evil. But they had a pretty tough life. They had loads of official responsibilities, including being peacekeepers, teachers, doctors, mathematicians, and astronomers. They also had to advise the king, be fluent in the ancient languages, memorize all chants and prayers, perform regular rituals, take confession, and prove their worth by hunting dangerous animals. All this while also regularly fasting.
It’s probably fair to say some priests were a little psycho, and I bet many were terrifying. It takes a very complicated mind to be and do all those things. So perhaps this build isn’t far off the mark. I particularly like the scowl, and those mysterious, dark, and brooding eyes made with helmets. The colorful headdress and costume are instantly recognizable. I also like how the old skulls and more recent lantern elements were used on the knees and belt.
Very recently, we featured another, very different, set of builds from Steven. Take a look at these three epic mechs!