Stay current on the latest news and information about LEGO, from sales & deals to new set announcements. We also cover LEGO events and conventions all over the world.
The folks over at Merlin’s Beard are hosting a tournament and you can get in on the fun! For some time now they have been fighting among themselves in what have come to be called “The Brawls”. Think LEGO Castle Fight Club. Now they are holding the first Lands of Roawia Rival’s Tournament and the contestants have been chosen from the ranks of the Brawlers.
“But how can I get involved since I’m not one of the Brawlers?”, you ask. Good question. You can follow the tournament by filling out their March-Madness-style bracket and posting it on their forums. The winner of the bracket challenge will win their choice of two prizes. If you want to get involved in the Brawling and perhaps be in the next Tournament, you can sign up for that as well!
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
Builders, get building – because it’s time to get your Con on!
BrickCon starts October 2nd in Seattle. This is the longest running LEGO convention in the US, and also the ancestral home of The Brothers Brick. If you haven’t done so already, register before September 18th to secure your goody bag and avoid paying the late registration fee of $100. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. As well as all the usual fun and games, this year’s BrickCon includes a couple of special attractions that we’d like to draw your attention to…
Invasion!
The overarching theme of this year’s convention is “Invasion!“. Builders from different specialties are encouraged to collaborate to create mash-ups of traditionally separate themes. Aliens crash-landing in medieval times? Dragons roaming through World War II Europe? Pirates sailing down main street? The more anachronistic the better!
ChronoCon 10,000 BC
The Brothers Brick is also sponsoring a collaborative display (in the same vein as our Zombie Apocafest, Big in Japan, and Numereji displays from previous years). This year the theme is time travel. Imagine if time travelers held conventions, and this one was being hosted by the stone age (…yes, a stone age that features dinosaurs!). Our previous post explains everything in detail, and there’s also a Flickr group for inspiration and help. But essentially you just need to build something to add to the display – we’ll work out the rest. There’ll be swag for participants, and of course trophies for the best contributions.
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
There is a new hangout for Medieval-Minded among us! Merlin’s Beard was started earlier this year and it is doing quite well. If you are at all interested in the ‘Castle’ genre, historical or fantastical, you really should check it out. There is a lot going on over there, from challenges and tournaments to convention-planning and role play. The Lands of Roawia Roleplay (formerly Lands of Classic-Castle) is hosted there, along with the infamous Rival Brawls. If you want to hang out with friends, new and old, stop in, put your feet up and knock back a few cold ones with the folks at Merlin’s Beard!
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
In response to my calling out of Tommy Williamson, from BrickNerd, he is streaming a live build followed by his response to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. It’s starts at 12 noon PST, so check it out, along with the latest new Bricknerd episode!
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
Whether on our Facebook page, Twitter, or requests to each of our contributors individually, I’d guess that fully 99% of the LEGO Ideas projects we’re asked to throw our weight behind are not original ideas born of the project owner’s own imagination, built in LEGO with their own talent and skill. This is why we, along with many of our readers, were so excited about the LEGO Ideas Exo Suit — it’s a truly original design by a talented LEGO builder. We’d like to see more ideas like that succeed.
I’ve always said that Jon Hall is one of my favorite builders, and I’m happy to see that he’s posted one of his stellar sky-fi planes to LEGO Ideas.
The project already has over a thousand votes, which means it’s gaining a bit of momentum. Join me in supporting this great original idea and see if we can get it to 10,000 supporters.
(Thanks for making sure we saw this project, Curtis!)
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
As everyone who hasn’t been living under a rock knows, there is something about ALS and Ice Buckets making the rounds of the Internet. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is raising funds and increasing awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease, as it is sometimes known. I have had two family members succumb to ALS so today I took part in the challenge and I’m calling on my fellow LEGO enthusiasts to do the same! Specifically I’m calling out Tommy Williamson of BrickNerd, Guy Himber of Crazybricks and Sean Mayo who is just plain cool. Get your ice on!
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
If you’re planning on attending BrickCon 2014 in a couple of months, why not lead a panel discussion or share some knowledge? BrickCon is looking for presentations and speakers.
Details below…
BrickCon still has slots open for presentations. Please submit your proposals to Thomas Garrison [tws AT morfydd DOT net] as soon as possible.
Most BrickCon sessions default to “classroom”-type slots for of up to 50 minutes in rooms that can accommodate up to forty people, but time, room configuration, and space are flexible—just let us know. Computers with projectors are available in all session rooms (please see more below).
For preparation and scheduling reasons, all proposals must be received andcomplete by September 7. This includes PowerPoint-type slides, which must be transmitted to our A/V department by that date. Outside computers or slides/pictures not previously sent to the A/V department will not be permitted. Sooner is better!
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
Pictures of the upcoming minifigure-scale minecraft sets have surfaced on a UK toy website. No word yet on the release date or MSRP. The Cave (21113) Venture into The Cave on a dangerous quest for vital resources! Wield the iron pickaxe to dig and battle against hostile zombie and spider mobs. Blast out valuable ores and minerals with the TNT and combine the flowing water and lava to create precious obsidian! When youre done battling and mining, restore your energy levels with the chest of bread. Proceed with caution! Rebuild the set for more LEGO Minecraft creations! Includes 2 minifigures with assorted accessories: Steve and a zombie, plus a spider. The Farm (21114) Yield renewable resources with The Farm! You’ll need food to survive, so fence in the livestock and channel the flowing water to nurture the crops. Harvest pumpkins, wheat, sugar cane and carrots. Use the crafting table to create a pumpkin helmet or jack-o-lantern. But watch out for the skeleton with his bow and arrow after nightfall! Rebuild the set for more LEGO Minecraft creations or combine with 21115 The First Night and other sets in the series for an even bigger Minecraft adventure! Includes a Steve minifigure with an accessory, plus a skeleton, cow and a sheep.
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
There isn’t a whole lot we can add to all the outpouring of love and grief over the last couple of days in the wake of the actor Robin Williams’ death. His humor and creativity remain inspiring to many of us, and the LEGO building community began showing their appreciation almost immediately.
Dave Shaddix created this beautiful and haunting mosaic in just two days.
Meanwhile, InbBlotPhoto posted this group of minifigs inspired by Robin Williams’ many memorable roles.
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
It should come as no surprise at all to long-time readers that the new LEGO Ideas Research Institute has been on my list since the day it was confirmed as a set, if not before. I’m all for more gender-equality in my minifig world, and love seeing sets with female figs.
I picked up this set as well as the 21109 Exo Suit while I was on vacation, and admittedly I’ve been waiting to get a chance to break in and build it. Great way to spend the first day back from vacation, I wager.
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
One of the unfortunate side effects of being an “old timer” in the LEGO community is the increasing list of people you have met, or would have liked to meet, who have passed away. It is thus with regret that I share the news that Heiner Berg, one of the big figures in the German AFOL community, is with us no more. I believe I met Heiner only once in 2007, but I knew his name from my early days on LUGNET. He was one of the first LEGO Ambassadors, which indicates the esteem he was held in Germany.
I will pass over to Holger Matthes (HoMa), another “old timer”, and someone who knew Heiner well to share their thoughts.
Lately he concentrated on rare colors for roofs and he knew all the existing slope elements in fancy colors and came up with a really colorful and detailed layout to present his trains and other building.
Rest in peace Heiner!
If you remember Heiner, please feel free to write down your memories below. For those of you who feel more comfortable writing in German, 1000Steine have a memorial thread.
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
While Josh, Caylin, Ian, and I were all off having a little TBB BBQ last night (thus the delay, sorry readers), 10245 Santa’s Workshop was unveiled at Bricks by the Bay in California.
Designed by Marcos Bessa (another pug lover, by the way), Santa’s Workshop includes 883 pieces and 6 minifigs, and will retail for $70 in the US. The set features the workshop itself, Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, a sleigh with brick-built reindeer, and toy-making machinery. 10245 Santa’s Workshop will be out this October.
See more photos in our Flickr photoset. Here’s the full press release from LEGO:
10245 Santa’s Workshop
Ages 12+ | 883 Pieces
US $69.99 – CA $89.99 – AU $119.99 – DE 69.99€ – UK £59.99 – DK 649.00 DKK *Euro pricing varies by country. Please visit shop.LEGO.com for regional pricing.
Have festive family fun building Santa’s Workshop!
Enjoy the magic of Christmas with Santa’s Workshop, a festive addition to the LEGO® Winter Village Series! Gather your family around the Christmas tree to build this enchanting winter wonderland. Help the elves make the toys, feed the reindeer and help Santa load up his magical sleigh. Santa’s wife has baked cookies and the clock tower shows it’s nearly time for Santa to deliver the presents—all at the most wonderful time of the year! Includes 6 minifigures: Santa with red gift sack, Mrs. Claus with cookie tray and 4 elves with pointy ears and hats.
The enchanting LEGO® Creator Santa’s Workshop model is full of festive magic and includes a beautiful sleigh, reindeer and a Christmas tree.
Includes 6 minifigures: Santa with red gift sack, Mrs. Claus with cookie tray and 4 elves with pointy ears and hats
Features beautiful sleigh with red and gold detail and dark green padding, 4 reindeer and a baby reindeer, building with detailed interior, clock tower and Christmas tree
Building features stained glass window and Christmas lights on roof
Accessories include: 4 wrapped presents in assorted sizes and 4 toys including a blue classic spaceship, yellow car and a pink wand
Also includes North Pole sign, Santa’s Workshop sign and a summer holiday picture of Santa and his wife
Gather everyone around the Christmas tree!
Help Santa take off in his sleigh!
Family dual-building experience: includes separate brick sets with instructions for adults and children aged 8 and over
Santa’s Workshop measures over 6” (16cm) high, 3” (8cm) deep and 9” (24cm) wide
Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning
October 2014 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone
The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.
