“The End” clearly isn’t the end of fantastic LEGO creations in this post-apocalyptic build by SweStar. Using more than 50 round tiles as roadway, dozens of clear slopes and a random assortment of brick debris, SweStar is able to pull of the look of mankind’s dreary future. I found the use of slopes as broken windows to be very insightful and realistic. The red truck frame also stuck out due to it being one of the oldest LEGO accessories in this build, a literal relic from another time.
Many prefer the safety, practicality and reliability of a Toyota while driving to work. Others find that the versatile design and all-wheel drive of a Subaru speaks to their rugged sensibilities while exploring the great outdoors. Some, with greater means, may enjoy the sense of dignified luxury that a Lexus can provide. Chris Perron’s Gyrobike, on the other hand, is none of these.
Because when your name is Buzzsaw and you’re sporting a post-apocalyptic mohawk, you ain’t got time for dignified luxury, Jack! You’re all about rippin’ the road and raisin’ hell! Based on the wild concept designs of artist Calum Alexander Watt, this beast, like the Subaru, is also all-wheel drive. Meaning…it is all wheel and not much else. Can it pick up the kiddos from school? Sorry, rugrats, get your own damn ride! Can it get groceries at the local supermarket? Heck no! This Gyrobike is designed for crushing groceries! And heads, probably.
Spaceships are gray, tractors are green, but this is the coolest space tractor I’ve ever seen. When it comes to colonizing the universe, it takes more than just guns and gunships. There is work to be done and to get the job done, you need to bring the right tools. This wonderfully detailed harvester by Onkel Ton combines farming equipment with space exploration and the finished product would fit right into your favorite science fiction story.
I love the use of stickers from the interior of the Millennium Falcon. One of my favorite techniques used in this industrial vehicle is the use of several stacked wedge plates of varying lengths to create vents along the top and the front of the cab. Also, the multiple wheels on a delicate suspension give the harvester the versatility to conquer rugged terrain.
Since 1982, He-Man and Skeletor have been entwined in an epic planetary battle for some reason. In the TV series The Toys That Made Us, the He-Man episode explains that even the designers at Mattel admitted their idea was light on plot. Also, controlled substances may have been involved. After all, these are the designers who came up with characters like Fisto, Stinkor and Snout Spout. Still, their Masters of the Universe line was a raging success and sparked the imaginations of kids in the 80s and more than a few adults now. One such adult is Eric Druon, who has captured He-Man and Skeletor’s likeness nicely as LEGO BrickHeadz. By the power of Grayskull, I have the power…to be adorable!
Steampunk is always a favorite subject for many LEGO fan creators, allowing builders to combine Victorian-era architecture with science fiction to build fantastical worlds with their own rules. This residential workshop for a family of watchmakers by Andreas Lenander features some nice architectural details, like the windows, which make use of white flower elements between round bricks. The white tooth part is great both as part of the window and as an accent in the divider between floors, which was common in Victorian residential buildings. And don’t miss the unicorn horn used as a door handle. Also, bonus points for using Dumbledore’s beard and hair for the whimsical proprietor on the roof.
With Avengers: Endgame now in theatres, many fans have been looking back to the roots of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before watching the latest installment. As his own tribute to the first movie in the series, Patrick B. built a memorable scene from 2008’s Iron Man, the first movie in the MCU. Here you see the cave in Afghanistan where Tony Stark built the first Iron Man suit with the help of Ho Yinsen.
The cave is littered with various pieces of technology, storage, and trash, all created using interesting parts combinations, or printed and stickered elements. The backdrop is constructed appropriately grittily, with the mixed brick and plate simulating a ramshackle wall and magic wands, droid arms, carrot stems, and whips pushing through as tree roots, making the structure look a bit unstable. The half-built Mark 1 Iron Man suit is a real gem; take a look and see what pieces you can see used in unconventional ways as different aspects of the suit of armour.
If you are like me, you’re probably thinking the world could use more LEGO creations inspired by The Lord of the Rings. Am I right? Who is with me on this? As it turns out, Cole Blood (who, in my opinion, has the coolest name in the history of the world) has answered all our prayers with this stunning piece he calls “First Appearance of the Ringwraiths”. Having no physical form, the wraiths are cleverly depicted as hellish black apparitions that seem to seep into the landscape. The orc heads on pikes, the toadstools, and the small flowing stream create excellent visual cues throughout. Stay tuned, because this is merely one piece of a larger Second Age collaborative series we’ve been covering that Cole is participating in with his equally talented friends. I will eagerly wait, right after heading over to the registry to change my name to Rex Awesome or something.
See Mars the scenic way! Take a ride in Guido Brandis‘ fabulous All-Terrain Mobile Laboratory Rover. Its big fat wheels will stop you sinking into the dust, and its large solar panels should provide more than enough power for your journey plus any little experiments you might want to complete on the way. For a one-colour model, this manages to have remarkable visual impact, and that’s down to the density of the detail applied to every surface. This thing is greeble-tastic, with functional-looking elements applied everywhere — piping, antennae, comms dishes, and paneling. The presentation of the model is also excellent (nice work on the shadows in particular), making the vehicle look properly embedded in its environment. I’d love to hit Valles Marineris in this bad boy–those Martians, they see me rollin’ and they be hatin’.
This guitar can definitely bring on some sweet rhythms. Builder Letranger Absurde built this LEGO replica of a Collings AT-16 guitar for a LEGO club contest, and I have to say I just want to grab it out of the picture and play it. Look closely, and you can see the tuning pegs are created by spoon elements. I really dig the gaps in the guitar box, as well as the crutch element at the bottom for extra detail. Strum on, Letranger!
One look at GunnBuilding‘s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and you’ll be transported back to your childhood toot sweet! Many of us hold fond memories of the 1968 movie version (the Child Catcher notwithstanding) about a wacky inventor and his fantastic flying car. A bit of trivia for you: The original novel was written by Ian Fleming. Fleming is probably best known as the creator of James Bond, the owner of another iconic car, the Aston Martin DB5.
Almost all of Chitty’s details are represented here including the red spoked wheels, silver dash and boat-like passenger area. I love the inclusion of the old time bulb horn made from a potion bottle and of course, the red and yellow wings cleverly created from folded minifigure capes. It even includes a minifig version of the car’s fictional inventor, Caractacus Potts. The only things missing are the wing propellers and the front and back fins which GunnBuilding plans to add in the future. His original plan was to create the fins using minifig flippers, but since they don’t come in a red and yellow striped version, he is still searching for another solution. But even without them, this car is still perfect for flying away to Hushabye Mountain in style.
Here’s a building challenge for you: Build an image of Paris with LEGO bricks. What would you include in your version? The Eiffel tower? Or maybe the famous Louvre? And how about a small french bakery? There are so many icons of the capital of France to choose from, but Markus Rollbühler nail this challenge in the most elegant way. His Parisian corner has nothing to do with sightseeing or monuments, but its every little detail says Bonjour! It takes some time to spy all the awesome elements of the diorama, but my number one pick is Citroën 2CV, ça c’est magnifique!
We love progress. Our cities, our monuments, even our parking lots are all built for the betterment of mankind. But no matter how far we progress, how tall we make our buildings or how shiny a monument may be, one fact will always remain true. Someday Mother Nature will reclaim what was once hers. Builder Emil Lidé illustrates this notion with this creation he calls “Breaking Through”. No stranger to building beautiful flora and fauna, he clearly has a deep respect for nature. We’ve highlighted his Yin and Yang Panda House before and while this piece is less extravagant, its message conveys strength and endurance. It is important to remember that the balance between mankind and nature is precarious. Every skyscraper began with a plan and every mighty oak began as a humble acorn. I have never rooted for a plant to win more than this little guy here.
