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.

The Mini Mandalorian

The third episode of The Mandalorian drops on Disney+ today, and we’re already seeing some fun LEGO Star Wars creations inspired by the new live action series. The Mandalorian is on the hunt in this fantastic BrickHeadz creation made by Greyson — once he’s set on bringing in your bounty, there’s nowhere to hide.

Greyson did an excellent job recreating the titular character in a miniaturized state, using flat pieces and sharp angles to bring out the same intimidating look that we’ve seen on screen. I thought it was great to see both the Mandalorian’s rifle on his back and his blaster pistol on his hip, small details that I’m glad weren’t left out.

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The most helpful farm insect

What is your favorite farm animal? Cows and horses are great, but what about scorpions? Forget those venomous insects and meet advanced CLAAS telehandlers designed for all types of work around the farm. Michał Skorupka built a very nice-looking copy of CLAAS Scorpion 756. Although the LEGO version of the model is very compact, it carries a full set of Power Function motors enabling driving, steering using both axles, and a fully functional telescopic arm.

What I love the most about farm vehicles like this one is their ability to be easily equipped with dozens of custom devices. Michał uses a very simple locking mechanism allowing to replace an attachment in no time.

To enjoy the model in action, make sure to check out a video covering all of its functions.

My eyes are up here!

Builder Fedde Barendrecht is hellbent on building complete weirdness and I am hellbent on cracking jokes about it. It’s what the nature shows call a symbiotic relationship between two diverse species who are mutually benefiting one another. Like many of us on Friday nights, this creature is a “Beligerant Beholder”. What is he/she belligerently beholding, you may ask? Well, I’m glad you did. Has this ever happened to you? After a third snap of the fingers you’re suddenly embarrassed to finally hear “hey, my eyes are up here, honey!” I am guilty as charged but who could help it? With eight legs, two dangly arms, a couple of tusks, two centralized protuberances of unknown purpose and what might be an epaulet comb-over there is just so much to stare at. Couple this with the fact that this creature’s eyes are atop four stalks and you have all the makings of an awkward conversation indeed.

Please tell me why, do we build castles in the sky?

Because they’re cool. Or at least they are when they’re as well put-together as this floating LEGO castle by Andrew JN. The floating rock, with its foliage and tumbling waterfall, is a nice piece of building, but it’s the fortification which attracts all the attention. The colour scheme is wonderful, tan with patches of light grey, and a smattering of dark blue elements providing a pleasing contrast. The texture in the walls is smartly-done — overall it’s smooth and easy on the eye, but has just enough detail to make it look realistic (although what does “realistic” mean when we’re talking about a fantastical floating castle?!) The tan is a bold choice, unusual in LEGO Castle creations, but it pays off here — giving the model more than a little whiff of madcap Bavarian “fantasy fortress”, undoubtedly a good thing in my book.

Prehistoric palaeontology pieced perfectly with plastic

I have no idea how accurate these are but Damian Thomas pulled a great feat of replicating the shape and structure of a few prehistoric monster skulls using LEGO Technic parts in white. What we have are the skulls of a Dilophosaurus, a Triceratops and a Tyrannosaurus Rex in the respective order below. They’re all so good I can’t decide which is my favourite. If you’re lovin’ all things prehistoric and composed of calcium goodness, the closest official set of an arrangement of bones from LEGO is the recent 21320 Dinosaur Fossils Ideas set.

A Technic gunmetal Ford GT is cocked and loaded

Builder Lachlan Cameron has replicated the 2019 Ford GT quite nicely with Technic bits in an understated gunmetal gray. Much of its complex shaping is achieved through considerable build skill and liberal use of flex tubing cased in Technic pin connectors along the roofline and hood details, while the same treatment is achieved with 1×3 liftarms along the front fenders. I’m a fan of sports cars with an understated primary color scheme but a flashy secondary color (in this case tertiary color in red)…Well, it’s just enough flash to let us know it means serious business.

The real thing is loaded with six cylinders in the chamber, seemingly a underwhelming number for such an aggressive beast. With this in mind, you may be tempted to race this car in your Monte Carlo but doing so would be akin to bringing a knife to a gunfight, which so many action spy movies attest is a bad idea. It can crank 647 horsepower out of those six bullets with a top speed of 216 mph. Lock, stock and barrel, this is one fast projectile indeed!

Freedom is the right of all sentient beings

The leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime, is known for motivating the troops with a good speech, and this model by hachiroku24 is striking the perfect pose to deliver. While this Optimus may not actually transform into his truck form, the builder did manage to capture many of the details that make this instantly recognizable, from the blocky red and blue limbs to those windshield pectorals.

Optimus is a popular subject for LEGO builders, so be sure to check out all the other amazing LEGO Optimus Prime models we’ve featured.

Green is the new black

When Lloyd Garmadon gets tired of flying his green mech dragon all over Ninjago City, he can simply drop by the local chop shop and get it re-built into this sweet LEGO mech, by Max Kunz, complete with a Gatling gun for a hand! This mech looks both nimble and stylish with gold details throughout. The jaw of the mech dragon makes a unique detail in front, reminiscent of the alien mech from District 9.

Three wheels are better than two

For most of us, tricycles were what we rode as kids, before we graduated to big-kid bicycles. Two wheels were cooler, faster, and just all-around better than three. And we all know how awkward it is to be the third wheel on a date; two wheels are always preferable in relationships and transportation (four wheels are fine, too; both double dates and cars can be lots of fun). After seeing this build by Michael Kanemoto, however, I am thinking that perhaps I threw away that third wheel too soon. That beefy back tire looks like it can get some serious traction, ready to rip up the surface of some alien planet in the quest for more speed, akin to a souped up Polaris Slingshot on steroids.

The frame is made of clips and bars, creating a technical-looking structure that is light and sturdy. Technic panels are placed on the outside to give it clean lines and a definite space-y vibe. I love the greebling of the underside of the cockpit area, including the old classic space flashlight and the ski. The massive transparent light blue canopy adds flair, comprised of several different elements that work well together. The trans-light blue is picked up in the hubcaps of that enormous drive wheel, explicitly in the knob at the center and hinted at by the layered printed dishes stolen from General Grievous and Isla Nublar visitors. I just hope those big wheels keep on turning, carrying the driver home to see his kin.

LEGO’s saviours rise once again

Originally hitting store shelves in Europe in 2000, and then rolled out to North America in 2001, the LEGO Bionicle theme played a key role in hauling the company out of its financial woes of the late 1990s and helped to build the foundation of the all-conquering toy company LEGO has become. Aaron Newman pays tribute to the original lineup of figures released under the theme, but he’s done it with a twist — these are all built with classic System bricks. The six Toa Knight figures are nicely done, immediately recognisable to anyone with even a passing acquaintance with the originals. Kopaka, the Toa of Ice, was always my favourite, and I love how Aaron has captured his iconic mask. The presentation of the models is spot-on too, well-photographed and then just a touch of special effects to give a hint of the elemental powers at play.

A collectible alternative for those on a tight budget

It’s common knowledge that LEGO bricks aren’t the most inexpensive things in the world. We love them, obviously, but they’re something you have to do a bit of planning to afford. What then do you do when LEGO introduces something very cool like a giant wooden minifigure with a high-end price tag? Maybe you’re lucky enough to find room in your budget for one of your own. Or, maybe, you look for other creative solutions. Ryanzilbn found a great way to enjoy things while still keeping a little cash in their pocket.

This minifigure-scaled-minifigure (There’s a concept for you!) has the signature tan body and yellow hands of its wooden counterpart. The brick-built packaging closely matches the released version, with bright colors, a recessed collection of bricks, and even a representation of the informational booklet.

I may have to try building a copy of this creation for myself. It’s either that, or hope that Santa is really generous this year.

I am Plastic Man! ...err, I mean...I am Iron Man!

It’s fair to say that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has had its share of ups and downs over the years. To many, 2010’s Iron Man 2 is one of the lower points. Personally, I think it’s just fine, and there are some standout moments that make it special. In particular, I loved the inclusion of the comic-book classic “Suitcase Armor” of the Mark 5. I had thought that the “reality” of the MCU would keep Tony Stark from ever having a portable version of his armor, and being proven wrong tasted sweet indeed. Imagine my delight, then, when Brickatecture moc industries revealed their amazing, wearable, and 1:1 scale helmet from the Mk 5.

Made from around 1,500 elements, it took nearly two years of design tweaks to bring this beauty to life. The combination of wedges and plates gives an appropriately angular feel to the red sections, while the face plate makes use of curved slopes to smooth things out where necessary.

If you’re interested in more super-heroic wearable LEGO, be sure to check out Brickatecture’s Atom suit. If we ever get a DC/Marvel crossover event, an Atom/Iron Man mash-up seems likely!