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.

Neptune Discovery Lab returns after a hiatus!

It’s always great to see an old theme revived by creative builders, as Abi Yoga Pratama has done to a Neptune Discovery Lab theme set 6195, utilising parts that were released way back in 1995. A new futuristic explorer vehicle reimagined for today emerges, with sleek lines and a modern look. I really love the two front door frames being used as the sturdy-looking front for the cockpit. These elements are one of a kind and not ever used in any other set.

Tucked at the back, and enclosed within the build are two sub-carriers that could be launch pods for perimeter roaming! Little touches that engage in not only form but function in playability.

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All aboard the Hogwarts Express for an adventure and friendship of a lifetime!

The Hogwarts Express is where it all began — where a young boy met strangers that became the best of friends and spun an industry that’s larger than life. It’s no wonder that Stephan Niehoff and his two daughters put special effort into recreating a beloved representation of an iconic element from their favourite franchise. Lifting elements from the LEGO set 4841, but improving it to give rough edges a more rounded curve and adding delightful details such as the handles of the carriages and a revamped undercarriage, all make this build a worthy representation of what could be a proper train set for a Harry Potter fan to truly appreciate.

The transformation does not end superficially on the outside, but the carriages inside get a more appropriate facelift to the delight of our Harry and Hermione minifigure passengers!

Thomas Hendricks versatile repulsor engine

I love a build with a good backstory. BobDeQuatre has created a story of a family of three speeder racers, starting with Thomas Hendricks building a prototype repulsor engine in his workshop. Making good use of stickered bricks and complete with a raised drafting area with chalkboard and designing table, Thomas’s workshop looks great.

Take a peek under the hood as we explore three generations of racers using variations of this amazing marvel of modern machinery.

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LEGO looks great, even when it’s garbage

Life is a mess. Look anywhere and you’re sure to see clutter, trash, and other signs of waste. This is a fact builders can easily forget when aiming to create a lifelike scene, but it’s certainly not the case with this pile of garbage by David Guedes:

If you’ve ever been down an alley of any major city on the planet, then this is going to be a familiar scene. The busted toilet, piles of cardboard boxes, newspapers and other assorted trash capture a common though rarely highlighted aspect of the inner city. It’s this attention to detail which can really bring a LEGO city scene to life. Heck, I’d go so far as to say this garbage looks rather attractive. The real stuff, well, not so much.

Snub-nosed speeder leaves behind nothing but dust

This wonderfully compact and cleverly built speeder by W. Navarre demonstrates small size doesn’t necessarily mean small details. Though I have to admit I’m not entirely sure what it means (if anything), the Chinese touch is a pretty interesting and unique take on the typical Star Wars-esque speeders we see. And I’d be remiss not to mention the great looking tree or the remnants of a boot on the skeleton’s foot. The use of a Nexo Knight armor piece to construct the speeder’s front end is hands-down the best detail.

The Internet gives bird-th to the strangest things

The “Trash Doves” sticker set is a strange phenomenon that erupted across Facebook quite suddenly as a meme during the week of Valentines Day, starting in Thailand and soon spreading across the globe. In Thailand ‘nok’ is the word for “bird” – and is supposedly also associated with unrequited love. And now it has been transposed into brick form thanks to Wen Yeh Ng. I’m still perplexed by all this, so I’m not going to try to figure it out; I’ll just wait for the next one to come along and bewilder me!

Being stomped on every day is the life of a Goomba

In 1985, when Super Mario Bros was all the rage, the very first enemy that approached Mario was Goomba. To this date, the fate of a Goomba has been to be stomped on again and again, for eternity. The Goomba that Cecile Fritzvold crafted is an evolution over the years, where a set of reverse fangs were introduced to give it a more menacing look for a baddie in the game. No game is complete without the Question Block, which only leaves me wondering, I’ve yet to see a decent Mario built with bricks in a long while… anyone up for the challenge?

Inspiring Gothic cathedral worthy of our reverence

While this particular cathedral is not actually based on a real building, Swedish builder O Wingård was inspired by some of the world’s most beautiful Gothic architecture. He mentions Notre Dame in Paris, Kölner Dom in Cologne, and Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden. There are so many details to enjoy, but I have to highlight some of those key Gothic characteristics: the flying buttresses (seen in the centre-right of the photo), the lancet arches, and those impressive spires that give vertical emphasis.

Taking a closer look at the main entrance allows a great view of the stained glass rose window and all the many and varied bricks that depict the intricate details of this grand building. The steps lead up to the ground floor lancet arches, cleverly constructed using a series of bar holder with handle parts.

This is not just a façade, as the build is a 360 degree creation that is beautifully detailed, irrespective of the angle from which it is viewed. There are more photos on the builder’s Flickr album, and even a video tour of the cathedral.

Owning a supercar is now affordable – if you can’t buy it, just build it

There are some things money can’t buy, and this Italian supercar is one of those. The Lamborghini Centenario had a run of just 40 units worldwide, and they’ve all been snapped up. But that doesn’t stop any of us owning one in brick form, provided we have skills like Ryan Link. Accurately built and featuring a removable engine block, petrol heads of any age can swoosh this version around and still have a couple million dollars in the bank.

Are mermaids fish, mammals, or amphibians?

Not long ago YOS Lego introduced us to LEGO versions of our favourite sisters from Frozen, and we were all wondering if they had had too much of a fright or too many energy drinks with those wide eyed expressions! And now apparently Ariel the Little Mermaid seems to have consumed the same concoction. Aside from their wide eyed expressions, which do play well to capture a strange emotion, these builds of Ariel and her alternate human form are a delight for their details and proportions. The brick layering techniques used here bring out the best highlights of Ariel’s signature red hair.

Pretending I’m a superman

This LEGO skateboard by French builder Jimmy Fortel reminds me of my middle school days of skating and playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. The detailing in the trucks and the bends in the nose and tail look realistic, and the skull deck graphic ties the whole build together visually.

TBB cover photo: March 2017

This month’s cover photo is this smart yellow and black triple-axle trailer truck by builder MiniGray!. As well as being highly detailed, this model’s cab can house multiple LEGO minifigs and has working a tilt mechanism that reveals the engine below. Check out the Flickr album for more shots.

Want to see your own LEGO creation featured across TBB social media for a month? Then read the submission guidelines and send us your photo today. Photos that do not meet the submission guidelines will not be considered, and will be removed from the group.

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