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 worm turns- terror, beauty, and reincarnation in LEGO

The twisting mass of teeth and bone called Yamikamikusari is the incarnation of a portable shrine that governs reincarnation. This incredible LEGO model also represents a reincarnation of sorts for its creator, Pan Noda, a builder of immense talent and steady reinvention. Pan seems to have found a new muse in the shape of the DUPLO ball tube, featured here in red and used in two other amazing builds late last year. It’s such an un-LEGO piece, curved and studless, defying connection to a bigger build. But Pan manages to tame the tubes, finding the perfect way to nest rings of 2×1 round plates inside to turn an innocent preschool toy into a nightmarish maw. Pan’s shrine construction is also beautiful, incorporating chains, nets, and Modulex elements to create a structure that seems carved from wood, not built of blocks.

With such talent and imagination, it’s no wonder Pan Noda made our shortlist for Builder of the Year.

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Knight bricks and chill

This crisp mountain scene by LEGO builder Nicholas Goodman is a lesson in atmosphere. The visuals are engaging – strong and clean, conveying depth and detail with terrific balance in both color and texture (studded and smooth) – but also evoke the other senses. As my eye is drawn in, I can practically smell the frozen air and hear the slushy hoof-thumps. The scene itself is deceptively simple, leaving much room for imaginative interpretation. Will the “Guardian of the Pass” and his faithful companion warmly welcome this traveler? Has he come with the thaw to relieve their solitary duty? Or is this chilling moment a prelude to mounting conflict between two nations…

Salem’s most haunted house in LEGO

Did someone say spooky LEGO haunted house? Where are those Hidden Side kids when you need them? Builder Jeff Chapman is back with another stunning recreation of a Salem landmark shrouded in ghost stories. This time it’s the Joshua Ward house, built in 1784 in the brick federal style. What makes it noteworthy is less the architecture (which is lovely with all that dark red!) but it’s haunted legacy, as the mansion was built on the site where a zealous sheriff had his home and makeshift witch prison during the infamous witch trials.

As we’ve come to expect from Jeff, the presentation is impeccable, with the building resting on a dynamic patch of terrain littered with fall leaves from that amazing tree. The climbing vines are especially effective, incorporating snakes and claws amongst the leaves. While the brick red walls are uniform in color, Jeff packs in detail, from the great keystone arches over the windows to the added weathering on the chimneys. Jeff guides you through the build process and tells the full haunted history on his always-entertaining Spooky Brixx channel.

A beautiful bird and a praise-worthy pun

As much as we like coming up with witty comments about the LEGO builds we feature on TBB, sometimes, the original title says it all. A tip of the hat to Mike Sinclair, who has conjured up a superb ornithological pun to go with this creation: “No Egrets.” But even referring to it just as a great blue heron – which bird this depicts – would have been accurate enough. It’s immediately recognisable as a heron, the blue plumage is wonderfully textured, and it does indeed look great! Impressively, the heron’s full weight is balanced on just one leg and a reed towards the back. Together the reeds, water, and a hidden dragonfly elevate this build from a brilliant bird to a terrific tableau of nature. Bravo, Mike!

Revisiting Life on Mars at Orion Station

Back in 2001, LEGO released a wonderful Space subtheme called Life on Mars. It featured a colony of Martians along with some Terran space exploration vehicles, and plenty of mechs. Builder Ben Brickson sends us back to the red planet with this glorious space station based on the original theme. Sporting the sand purple coloration of 7317 Aero Tube Hangar and a brilliant dark orange planetary surface dotted with trans-pink ferns, this build very much feels like a worthy modern take.

A pirate’s life for SM-33

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew just aired its final chapter, bringing to a close one of the most consistently fun adventures to come from a galaxy far, far away. While LEGO supported the show with one deluxe set, 75374 The Onyx Cinder, it has one major omission – there’s no SM-33! The scene-stealing droid with a space rodent living in its empty eye socket might not remember no At-Attin, but he’s loyal to his cap’n. Tim Goddard remedies this omission with a pop-eyed droid that perfectly captures SM-33’s hunch and swagger. A minifig pen works great as a peg leg, and the sliced rubber eyes are brilliant.

SM-33 is another treasure from the master of LEGO droids, like this Imperial medley. Why not delve into our Tim Goddard archives and see why he’s one of our favorite Star Wars LEGO builders in this or any galaxy.

Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger.

Few bands have an iconic look that can rival electronic duo Daft Punk. And builder Dylan Mievis
captures that look perfectly in LEGO with this pair of instantly-recognizable helmets. The techniques here may seem simple, but these are some really tricky forms to achieve in proper proportion, and Dylan handles them like a pro.

Hardsuits: the only hobby more expensive than LEGO

Some sci-fi builds would have us believe that future militaries are full of mechanized robots mass-produced by corporations. And looking at LEGO builder Devid VII‘s grey hardsuit here, you might be forgiven for thinking that’s where this machine comes from. But the forced-perspective backdrop and accessories in the foreground tell an altogether different story. This is no military production line! It’s just a hands-on young man tinkering away in his workshop. He just happens to build hardsuits in his spare time. Think Big Hero 6, but… Er, less cuddly.

Disney’s Three Musketeers: all for fun and fun for all!

A mouse musketeer? Surely there’s a word for that. 21 years ago Mickey, Donald, and Goofy enlisted in Pete’s royal guard to defend Princess Minnie and France in a madcap retelling of The Three Musketeers. Bas van Houwelingen recreates the ensemble (sans Goofy – he overslept!) in LEGO in a tribute full of early aughts cartoon energy. Bas starts with minifig heads for Mickey and friends, but finds creative builds for the bodies. Donald’s oar feet are aces. Brick-built villain Pete strikes a dynamic pose. Forget saving the princess, the real treasure here is Pluto, a pretty rare version from the first Disney sets back in 2000. It’s a delightful ensemble that shows how much creative potential there is even in a molded character head.

2025 goal? Gains like this Colossal Titan!

We’ve seen some amazing Attack on Titan LEGO creations in the years since the hit anime took off, but this latest take of the Colossal Titan from builder Sakiya Watanabe is hands down the most… sinewy? Amazing parts usage for the muscles is on full display, such as what I believe are Hero Factory fists wrapped in rubber bands for the abs, crowbars for the trapezius, and oh so many tails for the pecs. Bruh is totally ripped. Must be all the protein in Survey Corps soldiers.

Craving more anime builds? We also loved the builder’s amazing LEGO Angel from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Micro Miyazaki: Teto and Porco Rosso in LEGO

While there might not be any official LEGO sets based on Studio Ghibli films (yet?), the fantastical worlds of Hayao Miyazaki continue to inspire builders witch creations big and small. Today we’re presenting a couple of builds on the small side, like something Arriety might build. First up is a tiny Teto, the fox-squirrel from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, built from around 20 elements from mini character maestro Qin. The mix of parts is ingenious, especially a pair of minidoll belt bags for the face and head.

Next up is a tiny flying ace from a builder known for his larger character builds, Eero Okkonen. This pipsqueak Porco Rosso with a tan binocular nose fits nicely into the cockpit of the Savoia S-21. Eero offers a detailed look at the plane and writes about why Porco Rosso is his favorite film over at Cyclopic Bricks.

Which Miyazaki film is your favorite? Why not have a look at our Miyazaki archive for inspiration!

A cracking build of Wallace & Gromit’s Austin A35

Wallace and Gromit have tried many business ventures over their storied career. Whether the job calls for trapping rabbits, doling out dough, or wrangling smart gnomes, their trusty Austin A35 van always delivers. Isaac Wilder is something of a madcap genius in his own right, only instead of cracking inventions, Isaac’s specialty is uncannily-accurate vintage cars in LEGO. Here Isaac recreates Wallace’s iconic ride, decked out with decals from the ~~evil~~ inventor’s latest venture from Vengeance Most Foul. Isaac’s attention to detail is admirable, going so far as to offset the wings by half a stud to match the subtle bulge of the original. Isaac pairs the car with a brick-built take on Norbot, the chipper AI-powered garden gnome who definitely couldn’t be hacked for nefarious purposes.