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 essence of art and science

Whether you need to draw something, do complicated calculations or even study some microscopic structure, Isaac Snyder has you covered. Built for a LUG display in the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, his assortment of items connected to art, technology, science and maths includes a compass, a calculator, some pens and more. My favourite is the calculator, particularly the use of a dark nougat 1×2 tile as the “=” button. Most people would use a brighter colour in its place, although this one does have a lovely retro aesthetic to it. I do wish though, that the whole collection was built to 1:1 scale, as the smaller microscope, while looking good and accurate, simply does not fit.

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LEGO Charizard, I choose you!

Builder Lisqr may have an addiction even more hazardous than the hit Pokémon Go mobile game… He’s got an itch to build ‘em all. Today’s he’s got the handsome looking Charizard which is a draconic, bipedal Pokémon. The build is pretty much spot on in terms of color scheme and signature tail perpetually in flames. Quick, grab your LEGO Pokeball and capture it!

Your favourite band is now playing at Hardy Nilsson Arena

You will not find Hardy Nilsson Arena in real life as this building comes directly from the creative mind of Nybohov Creation Ltd. Hardy Nilsson is a retired Swedish ice hockey player and coach, and this fantastic microscale arena has been named after him. The shaping of the building is both unusual and eye-catching. Both the curvaceous walls and wavy corners of the roof are beautifully designed. The colour scheme gives a 70s retro feel that I love. How easy would this arena be to spot in a busy city?

As with all microscale scenes, the ingenuity of parts use is often found in the small details. The builder demonstrates a lovely array of microscale flora in the landscape with at least four different types of tree. The billboard lights made from telephone handsets look perfect, while the microscale traffic in the streets surrounding the arena really set the scene.

Party girls don’t get hurt

As the craze for building custom Brickheadz continues to work its way inexorably through every corner of popular culture, a few gems are popping up. Here Johnnie “Brick” Xavier has recreated young dancer Maddie Ziegler as she appeared in the 2014 music video for Sia’s breakout hit Chandelier.

The unconventional style of the Australian singer required an unconventional video, and this visceral performance by then the 11-year old Zielger delivered: 1.5 billion views later it is now one of YouTube’s most watched videos. While sticking to the Brickheadz pattern, Johnnie’s LEGO rendition is immediately recognizable, helped by the addition of a prop and pose lifted perfectly from the video itself. All that’s missing is a Brickheadz version of Sia herself – her back turned toward us, naturally.

Rise of the (plastic) Terminators

This pair of cybernetic limbs by Mitsuru Nikaido will certainly ring a bell with any familiar with the Terminator franchise, in which Miles Dyson reverse engineers technology from parts of a T-800 and sets the future on a path to doomsday and destruction.

I build, therefore I am

Petr Guz reconsiders his life of an adult fan of LEGO in the most creative way — through a brilliant diorama full of philosophical context. Describing his work, the builder focuses attention on three peculiar pictures on the walls behind his self-portrait. Each picture depicts his life as it could have looked if he hadn’t picked up LEGO as a hobby years ago. Of course, Petr clarifies his life now isn’t deprived of sports, traveling or programming, yet it’s so hard for him to imagine it complete without his favorite pastime.

My favorite part of the build is a couple of creations lying around. A micro-castle on the top of the drawer is Petr’s citadel from last September, while a huge white moth on the table to the right of the figure was featured here just a couple of weeks ago.

There’s nothing like that in the fossil record

This scene by Didier Burtin reminds me of the hit 1990 monster movie Tremors starting Kevin Bacon. It features a worm-like monster of unknown origin that terrifies folks in a desert town. It slithers underground and feels the vibrations on the surface to detect – and then rise to devour – its next victim. So, if there’s no fossil history of these gargantuan man-eating snakes, I can only deduce they must be of an alien origin.

Don’t play the saxophone – let it play you

A little photo editing has been used to great effect in this bustling scene by legomeee, making the saxophonist stand out against the washed out surroundings. It creates the feeling that the busker is bringing vibrancy and color to an otherwise drab and dour market scene. The builder has chosen the perfect expression for the musician’s face as he plays his sax, and the motion blur of the people in the foreground helps complete the illusion of a lively flea market.

Invasion of the BB-8’s

Out with the Brickheadz and in with the BB-8’s? Apparently everything can be BB-8-ified, from other Star Wars characters, to DC or Marvel superheroes, and even the Sanrio franchise! I’m impressed by the way Handoko Setyawan has taken a simple spherical shape, and with clever interchange of colors and perhaps a distinguishing feature or two, transformed it into a range of familiar characters.

Two of my favourite spherical charms are those spikes of Darth Maul and Hello Kitty’s ribbon bow. Check out his Flickr album for a closer look at the rest of this ball-tastic invasion! And if you think you’re up to creating your own BB-8 inspired build, Handoko’s even provided an instruction guide to help you build one.

Click here to see closeups

It’s a dog’s life with Droopy

Today we have not one, but two versions of the cartoon character Droopy created by American animator Frederick Bean “Tex” Avery. Droopy was created in 1943 during the Golden Age of American Animation, and was known for being a rather lethargic, slow character with a monotone voice and deadpan humour. The first LEGO version of this character is by Jimmy Fortel. With those hanging jowls, drooping eyelids, and characteristic paunch, there’s no doubt about the name of this dog.

74louloute has not just stopped at Droopy, but included LEGO versions of the Wolf and the Red Hot Riding Hood. This second build is a smaller-scale version of Droopy, with good use of the droopy eye 2×2 tile and some nice shaping around the muzzle. I had to smile at Wolf’s classic ‘eye on stalks’ pose when he spots Red Hot Riding Hood — those red helmets are certainly protecting her assets!

The Ministry’s Floo Network makes commuting easy for Arthur Weasley

There’s nothing great about morning commutes, but they might a bit more tolerable if you have access to the Floo Network, like Ron Weasley’s father, Arthur. He uses it daily to commute to the Ministry, and this fantastic LEGO vignette of Arthur stepping out of the Network by Eero Okkonen is perfect.

The green flames licking Arthur’s legs are actually Duplo grass elements, a piece we’ve been seeing a lot of lately, as it’s the mandatory element in the latest round of Iron Builder. Yesterday we featured a lovely sitting room using the element, and we’ve previously seen it as a flying carpet, a hut’s roof, a cyborg dinosaur, and a very clever medical device.

Relaxing in the green room

OK, so this LEGO green room may not be the waiting area for celebrities, but chances are it’s also a lot homier. This modest den accentuated with emerald tapestries is yet another of Jonas Kramm‘s fantastic uses for the Duplo grass element. Look closely, and you’ll spy the unwieldy element in two distinct applications, but don’t miss all the other wonderful details while you’re searching, from the bearskin rug to the agave plant made of alligator tails.

Jonas built this lovely den for the Iron Builder contest, where he continues to make excellent work of the Duplo seed element, having previously used it as a flying carpet and the roof of whimsical huts.