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.

Star Wasps: The Empire Stings Back

A quick Google search reveals that over the last decade the Brothers Brick team has featured at least a couple of brick-built wasps and dozens of impressive space hangars. But have we ever shared wasps inside a space hangar? Thanks to the latest sci-fi work by incredibly talented Sheo., now we have. We have no clue where these giant wasps came from and how they became a popular mean of interplanetary cargo transportation, but we are sure you can spot a ton of excellent building solutions in the picture below. The futuristic cargo crane is my favorite part of the build; just look at those adorable wheels!

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.

Who is a good cyber-boy?

In the wake of global automation, robots are replacing humans in many jobs in factories, offices, and even in space. However, there is at least one thing robots will never be able to replace — man’s best friends, dogs. But even dogs have to keep us with technology push, so Red designs a K-9 multi-purpose unit of the future. He wonderfully captures the dog’s shape using medium-sized Technic panels from Star Wars buildable figures, while a bold choice of pieces in silver is what makes the build special. You’d better think twice before patting this boy!

Your behavior, Jyn Erso, is continually unexpected.

There’s an orthodoxy — often passing over into toxicity — within Star Wars fandom that states that The Empire Strikes Back is the best Star Wars movie of all time, and that anything produced after 1983 is inherently and automatically lesser. I am the rare heretic whose favorite Star Wars movie is not part of the nine-movie Skywalker Saga. While certainly not perfect, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story took the story in a completely new direction while filling in one of the most mysterious gaps in the canon. Luca captures an incredibly poignant moments in the movie, when Jyn and Cassian must abandon K-2SO as they climb the interior of the data vault with the stolen Death Star plans.

The builder focuses the viewer’s attention on the two characters, but the scene is replete with wonderful detail. The round vault doorway and tunnel extends forward, further focusing attention on the minifigs, while in the background repetition provides the texture of the racks of data tapes. Scenes like this show that a great LEGO creation doesn’t need to be a 10,000-piece diorama anymore than a great Star Wars movie has to star a space wizard with a laser sword.

Worn-out but wonderful

Here’s one of those creations which prompts initial “That’s not LEGO” comments, followed by clicking to zoom-in and check out the details in an attempt to figure out how the builder worked their magic. What grabs the attention in Ralf Langer‘s medieval buildings are the weathering effects — this pair of ramshackle structures are a masterclass in making a LEGO model look worn and tatty and old. There’s not a straight line in sight in those walls, or the wonderful base, and the variety of colours used for wood and plaster creates a patina of realistic age and decay. Interesting parts choices give texture and depth to the buildings, and the finishing touch is that splash of contrasting colour offered by the tree blossom.

These two buildings were hidden away in Ralf’s astonishing LEGO medieval town we covered previously. However, Ralf’s tweaked and refreshed them both, and it’s great to get a closer look at such impressive architectural work.

Live the Parisian life on the Boulevard des Lumières

It’s always a beautiful day on the Boulevard des Lumières, an extremely impressive first time LEGO build by LepraLegoMocs. The builder was influenced by the Haussmann style of architecture which can be see in many parts of Paris and exemplifies what many of us think of as the “Parisian Style”. The angled corners of the building creates an elegant feeling and make for a beautiful roof shape featuring dormer windows. I really love the window treatments which are simple but very effective with repetition. The use of white and brown on the lower floor creates a nice contrast and keeps the whole building from being one big expanse of tan. The addition of the rounded poster display on the corner really adds to the Parisian flavor of the entire piece.

Keep reading to see the detailed interior

Your doom approaches (slowly)

They say bad news travels fast, but you’re the enemy of this battle turtle by Jayfa, then your bad day might take a while to arrive. This little four-legged LEGO mech is delightfully tank-like, just like its real-life armored inspiration, but unlike fleshy reptiles it’s got a big artillery piece letting it lob shells instead of just hiding in one. The ring of inverted 1×2 slopes (likely attached to a piece of flex tubing) is something we don’t often see on mechs, but gives this cold beast a great organic curvature. And of course, I have to mention the Bionicle shoulder plate for the head, which looks almost made for the purpose.

This LEGO hair will give you whiplash

TBB regular Letranger Absurde is a master character sculptor, and this latest model of a cocktail waitress just gives us one more reason why we love their work. Letranger says the hair was the inspiration for this build, and it works oh-so-perfectly. Made of dozens of curled minifigure whips, the server’s tangled hair brings her to life. There are some other gems of inspiration though: the purple bows from the Friends line make a fantastic highlight to the dress, but it’s the use of minifigure neck ruffles for the frilled edges of her gloves that really take the cake for me.

The fifth horseman of the Apocalypse?

I’m usually sad when quality animated shows reach their end. And sadness is an emotion often associated with Bojack Horseman. That show covered some pretty important topics like depression and addiction and is generally regarded as one of the best television series from the 2010s. Sure, the show may be ending, but not everything has to be a downer. Iain Heath brings us a LEGO version of Bojack who’s every bit as charismatic as his animated counterpart.

It’s the subtle craftsmanship that won me over on this build. 1×1 bricks with Technic holes serve multiple uses, providing a good SNOT connection on Bojack’s nose and implying a camera on his phone. The arms are posed at interesting angles, and even his shoes are stand-out mini-builds. And, of course, the head is a study in creative slopes and tiling.

This Bojack isn’t a one-trick-pony, either. A quick rebuild of the eyes using headlight bricks and printed 1×1 round tiles gives Bojack an additional range of expression.

Maybe it’s just me, but he still looks kinda depressed. Oh well. At least that’s series-accurate.

Build your own LEGO BD-1 from the video game Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order [Instructions]

From the release of Star Wars Episode 9: The Rise Of Skywalker to the premiere of the first live-action TV series, The Mandalorian, on the Disney+ streaming service, Star Wars fans have a lot to be excited about. For video gamers, there was one more event that made 2019 the year of Star Wars, and that was the highly anticipated Jedi: Fallen Order, which put players in the role of a Jedi Padawan in hiding since the tragedy of Order 66. But one of the best new characters introduced is the pet-sized BD-1. The adorable little companion droid who helps the player with health stims, slicing Imperial tech, and scanning ancient ruins for valuable data. Now you can build your own LEGO BD-1 with instructions by hachiroku24. Unfortunately, you will need to collect a lot of extra parts to unlock all the customization color schemes from the game.

LEGO Spider tank is out to ruin your day – Pew pew

In case you are wondering what is more terrifying than a spider big enough to step on you in the middle of the night, how about one that is also just as likely to pulverize you with its fists or punch a soda can-sized hole in your gut with its energy blaster thing. I’m talking about this imposing LEGO walking tank by Tino Poutiainen, which is appropriately named Mastadon.

The walking arsenal looks surprisingly nimble, and it can also call in some redundant reinforcements with its communication array, just to show off.

A cottage among the leaves

LEGO is an art form. It requires precision placement of elements, meticulous thought, endless creativity, and a bold sense of the possibilities. Sure, you can build like a four-year-old, placing stuff willy-nilly and using any old color you please. You can also color on walls like a four-year-old, but that doesn’t take away from the frescoes of Raphael or Michelangelo. A build like this one by Marcel V. illustrates my point. There is a balance of composition, the cohesion of form, careful use of colors, and especially crisp photography. This is no child’s toy anymore.

This is not the first time I have written about a treehouse by Marcel, but this one has glorious limbs and even more glorious little rooms. The cheese slope roof looks great, and if you look close, every potted plant is constructed and attached differently. Don’t miss the book as a little roof over the door, too. My favorite detail might be the small table at the base of the tree, built of a combination of sorcery and twigs. The little pebbles arranged so carefully, stalks of grass, and even the soldiers posed loose give the build a much larger feel while still exhibiting a mastery of brick composition. After all, LEGO is an art form.

TBB cover photo for February 2020: Taking in the sights

From the incredible detail to the creative forced perspective execution, this build from collaborative team Grant Davis, Eli Willsea, and Micah Beideman, does not disappoint. With every glance, you’ll notice something new (oooh, look at that AC unit and that awning made of 1×1 cones), which is one of the many reasons we chose it for our February cover photo. Read our original article to see how this trio used LEGO to bring a painting to life.

Want to see your own LEGO creation featured across TBB social media for a month? Then read the submission guidelines and submit your photo today. Photos that do not meet the submission guidelines will not be considered, and will be removed from the group.

Keep up with The Brothers Brick by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter or Pinterest. And for extra goodies, follow us on Instagram, Flickr, or subscribe to us on YouTube.