simply bricking it makes excellent use of a proper old-school LEGO element in this microscale church model. That tree piece dates from the late-60s, and coupled with imaginative parts usage for the church’s knave and gable-end, it all makes for a lovely little scene.
This model originally started off as a new Secret Weapon of the Luftwaffe — the latest in a series of LEGO models I’ve been building for years. However, it was one of those creations which took quite a different turn as the build progressed, and ended up quite definitely a ground vehicle — bizarre seeing as it started out as a chunky dieselpunk helicopter! Sometimes things not proceeding as planned can be frustrating, but in this case I was quite happy with the result. Besides, I figured the Wehrmacht probably deserved to have some secret weapons of its own…
I couldn’t resist having a play around after the model photography was complete. Turns out the blueprints for this mechanical marvel fell into Allied hands at the end of the war…
They’re not really red, nor strictly pandas. But what these little cat-bear-fox-racoons are is totally adorable. And this LEGO version by German builder Felix Jaensch captures that in spades. The beautifully curled up tail and body are constructed using simple bricks, which somehow convey a sense of furriness, while more complex parts and techniques are employed to provide detail and expression to the creature’s face. OMG SO MUCH CUTENESS! ಥ‿ಥ
W. Navarre has fun with some red plates and tiles. The result is an incredibly smart yet utterly simple fly swatter. Some may say that this build isn’t practical, but I will disagree. Of course you can swat a fly with it–but probably only one.
We all know what Swedish houses look inside like (thank you, Ikea), but what about the exterior? Emil Lidé hones his microscale building skills with this lovely traditional Swedish cottage. We’ve already seen these brilliant trees in his previous set of sketches, however this house steals the show. Actually, there’s not much to describe besides the particular Scandinavian style, which the diorama is full of. And some huge boulders in the garden complete this land property especially well!
When people ask my why I build with LEGO, I often say sifting through a brick bin is my version of raking the Zen garden. Jonas Obermaier must understand something of the “LEGO building as meditation” feeling to have put together such a beautiful little Buddhist shrine.
The shrine itself, nestled in against the rock, is nicely-done. But it’s the bunting strung from the tree which does it for me — a lovely touch which elevate this simple model into something special.
This adorable vignette by Cecilie Fritzvold first made me laugh. Then, I looked at the local forecast for tonight and burst into tears. Although, this is a perfect way to build a car without actually building one. Finally, nobody is arguing whether it should be 5 or 6 studs wide! Oh, and just wait for this guy’s face when he finds out this is not his car!
jsnyder002 takes a trip East for his latest LEGO creation — a series of minarets and domed towers strewn across a rocky island chain. The architecture has a wonderful Middle-Eastern flavor, without being the stereotypical desert scene these kind of “Oriental fantasy” settings often take. I really like the two-tone rocks of the islands — it gives the impression the ocean around these outcrops might sometimes get quite rough.
There’s a nice sense of activity and bustle with the minifigs moving around the towers and docks. And don’t miss the intricate brickwork used to lend texture to the town’s walls, bridges and steps…
This nifty little spacecraft by Ted Andes bears the Classic Space emblem, but the aesthetic has taken a turn for the modern. It’s a cool mashup, and I’m particularly drawn to the way the old logo looks on a large, smooth swath of grey wing. This fighter also makes good use of a number of oft-overlooked large Bionicle pieces to create an aggressive look.
If you need a break from fighting Dementors, you can always retreat to the cozy respite of Hagrid’s hut. Wookieewarrior crafts this iconic building from Harry Potter using tiles and plates to simulate the detailed texture of a cobblestone wall. The landscape is quite sophisticated as well, featuring four shades of green and parts we don’t see often such as tan levers used for grass.
One of the best aspects of the LEGO Friends theme has been the selection of lovely coloured parts supplied for creative builders. Brick Art has used this colourful palate to his advantage in a diorama entitled Best Friends on vacation. This is no camping holiday, as Brick Art has supplied the friends with a fancy restaurant, a sun trap cove to build sandcastles, an ice cream cafe, plus some pony trekking and surf lessons for the energetic ladies. This diorama represents some of the best features of the Friends range in terms of colours, accessories, animals and special bricks. I love the gold ingots stacked up to form the roof of the large central building at the rear.
The pink gates from the Friends stables look great as the restaurant’s pink awnings, while this angled view allows the steep curved stone wall to be admired. There is plenty of action going on and lots of nice little details to be explored.
Most of the LEGO castles we’ve featured here on The Brothers Brick lately have started to all look the same — messy rockwork, roofs akilter, and plant life that looks like it’s going to strangle you if you look at it wrong. Greek LEGO builder Giorgos Solomonidis has gone a different direction, placing a pair of Viking boat hulls atop his gatehouse as its roof, and embellishing the wall with studs-out paneling rather than just messy brickwork. The windows built from hinge bricks are a particularly nice touch.
