KW_Vauban captured the Geonosian Petranaki Arena scene from Attack of the Clones rather well with LEGO bricks. The builder’s use of dark orange bricks on detailed and accurately constructed Geonosian architecture was a smart choice. In particular, I like the construction of the main gate with the CIS overlook above.
Dozens of Geonosians line the arena, while Battle Droids and Jedi fight below.
Click to see more of the Geonosian Arena
Last week we brought you instructions on how to build a terrifically cute GONK droid, and this week we’re excited about the brand new trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, so we’re revisiting the Star Wars universe for one of the more unusual ships. Although only seen in a few quick shots in The Empire Strikes Back, the little Storm IV Twin-Pod “Cloud Car” struck a chord with fans, including LEGO builder hachiroku24, who’s built an awesome minifigure-scale version. LEGO produced a single minifigure-scale set of the tiny two-seater craft back in 2002, but not only was it the wrong color, it wasn’t particularly detailed. This version is much improved, adding cool details like the engine intake between the pods and smoother curves.
Best yet, the builder also gives us instructions for it in this handy video walkthrough, so you can build your own Bespin security ship.
The Imperial forces from Star Wars sure do know how to have fun when they’re off-screen not fighting the rebels. At least that’s what Star Wars fan Handoko Setyawan imagined by taking the design of 10196 LEGO Creator Carousel, recoloring it, making a few mods, and throwing in some Micro Fighters to create what he calls the Imperial Carousel.
According to Handoko, the original design of LEGO’s carousel had to be structurally enhanced to accommodate the heavier Micro Fighter vehicles, which also required some tweaking. I love the various replacement motifs (such as the Storm Trooper helmets) as well as the muted Imperial grey theme.
The build really stands out once you see it running, as shown in the video below:
Unfortunately, Madrid now suffers from too much light pollution to be a good spot for observing the stars and planets. The Real Observatorio de Madrid remains the seat of the Spanish National Astronomical Observatory and houses historic scientific equipment, including a 25-foot reflecting telescope from the 18th Century. Víctor M. Nouvilas has built a fantastic LEGO version of the Observatory in the style of LEGO’s own Architecture theme. Victor has captured the neoclassical style of the building with its clean lines and, in particular, the dramatic columns of the main entrance and the circular temple-like dome on top.
I haven’t read Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams but this massive LEGO creation by Caleb Schilling makes me think that I need to pick up a copy of the book right now. I mean, nobody would build a 5 1/2 foot tall LEGO creation based on a book that wasn’t worth reading, right?
According to Caleb, this LEGO creation weighs 80 pounds and separates into multiple sections. I can’t get over the sheer size of this thing. And it’s not just impressive because it’s huge, it’s also incredibly detailed! Each layer has a unique feel. The base features nicely-done brick-built versions of the first two book covers. I love the rockwork on the first subterranean layer and the creepy tan layer (called the “Pore”), and the train, and the underground city… ugh. I’ve got to read this book.
For more photos of Caleb’s incredible creation, check out Flickr and for those visiting Brickworld Chicago this year, you’ll be able to see this behemoth in person!
Tigers have the reputation for being fearsome beasts at the best of times, but turn a tiger into a mecha tiger with some hidden weaponry and you have created a whole new level of danger. Christian Lintan has created a mecha tiger that almost looks like a statue with only white LEGO parts used. The crouching stance is spot on, a pose that can be recognised in domestic felines as well as their bigger cousins. Powerful legs, robust torso and a muscular neck are all nicely defined by a mix of curved slopes and wedges.
And if those sharp claws and bared teeth are not enough to frighten off any would-be attacker, the deployment of this tiger’s cannon should do the trick.
Last year Chris McVeigh kicked it old-school with a superbly recreated retro computer desk that made us nostalgic for floppy disks. And since reboots, remixes, and reinvention are all the rage these days, I’m inclined to forgive Chris for creating a remix of his own model. Besides, unlike certain unnamed failed reboots of recent decades, he has improved on an already excellent idea. The highlight for me is the inclusion of my all time favorite computer – the Amiga 500 – complete with joystick, floppy, and disk caddy.
Chris has also captured a standard blue office chair perfectly with some very cool techniques. And the desk makes my inner grumpy old man think “they don’t make things like they used to”. It even includes working drawers! I also love the inclusion of a trusty calculator and cassette tape. All that is missing is a pencil for rewinding the damn thing …ok, maybe some things are better now than they used to be.
As his final entry for a building contest run by German fan site Imperium Der Steine, builder Ben Tritschler has crafted something extraordinary: a working Rogue One themed pinball machine! It features elements from many scenes in the movie, such as Jedha, Darth Vader’s castle on Mustafar,
the Battle of Scarif and the final Star Destroyer “ballet”.
In some ways the choice of a pinball machine makes perfect sense; these were everywhere right before the original Star Wars movie A New Hope came out (since video games were still relatively new back then) and Rogue One takes place shortly before the events of A New Hope.
Ben demonstrates the play features of his machine in the video above. With it’s working plunger and flippers, this thing looks like more fun than bulls-eyeing womp rats in a T-16 (whoops, wrong movie). Just keep your fingers moving, or the balls will be slipping past you faster than star systems through Tarkin’s fingers (ok, I’ll stop now).
Limbo is an indie video game about a young boy wandering in an intimidating forest, that was first released in 2011. Since then the game has been praised for its unique atmosphere made up of visuals, sound, and gameplay. German builder grubaluk has managed to balance these three fundamental components as perfectly as in the game — not with code, but with LEGO bricks.
The best thing about this work’s presentation is that only one picture is needed. The boy, the grass in the foreground, and spooky trees in the background look exactly as in the game. You really do have to double-check each piece just to make sure that the whole build is a small masterpiece somewhere between a children’s toy and an iconic story of a child.
Gial Ackbar is the Rebellion’s most famous admiral. Or as builder Djokson says, he’s the “screaming fish man from that one space movie”. Large aquatic eyes lend Ackbar an innate adorableness, and this version by does a fantastic job of rendering Ackbar’s stupified expression with the help of an upturned Hero Factory mask for the long forehead. I also love the simplicity of the uniform, which perfectly distils the Rebel coat using just a few elements.
Disney’s 1928 short Steamboat Willie is considered to be the first appearance of Mickey Mouse, and now Dick Cheung brings us this lovely – and completely monochromatic – representation of the famous 89-year-old mouse in the current LEGO Brickheadz style.
Mickey is seen with his hands on the ship’s wheel as he appears in the opening roll of almost every Disney production these days. I do like the accommodating base as a decorative piece; I could almost imagine it on top of a mantelpiece or a work desk as a nice memorabilia of the good ol’ days of animation.
Who doesn’t love a good book? Brother Steven appears to enjoy a healthy tome or two as he has created these lovely brick-bound beauties for the ABS Builder Challenge. Featuring a trilogy of tempting treatises, Steven has chosen my three favorite LEGO colors to represent these classy antique publications. I love the hints of gold laid into the spines of the hardbacks to indicate high-quality binding and printing. Simple idea, perfectly executed, very effective and ingenious.
