These Bone Troopers by Karf Oohlu look like George Lucas decided to put his Stormtroopers into a scary movie. These unique-looking LEGO soldiers use a few common elements to replace the arms and legs of a typical minifigure — giving them more realistic proportions. The only thing we’re missing is a skeletal version of Darth Vader to complete this new screenplay. I’d gladly pay money to LEGO if they had such a spin-off theme — Spooky Knights anyone?
Both my father and my grandfather were train drivers, so you could say trains are in my blood. When I saw this incredibly accurate classic steam engine by Britishbricks, I just had to share it. In Great Western Railway dark green, this beauty is very reminiscent of the classic British engines from the 1950s and 60s. There are so many things to enjoy about this beauty: check out the tip of the pirate hook and black sausage front buffer, along with the LEGO rubber bands as ribs around the boiler. From the working wheel assembly and Power Functions all the way to the tail of the coal tender, this spectacular replica has steamed its way into my heart.
Builder Jared Chan has a superpower of taking large things and miniaturising them in LEGO. This set of vintage items looks like it’s been plucked right from a sitting room somewhere. I can’t decide on which is my favourite of them all; there’s more than one that really screams out to me. I’m torn between that the gramophone or that beautifully sculptured desk. Which is your favourite?
Fifty-nine years ago today on January 28, 1958, at 1:58pm, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen submitted a patent application for a tiny toy building block, which was approved six month later. Little did Godtfred know that his “highly sophisticated inter-locking brick system” would take the world by storm, and lead to LEGO becoming the largest toy company on the globe, selling products in more than 140 countries.
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Coffee giant Starbucks announced this week that it is adding Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, executive chairman of the LEGO Brand Group, to its board of directors. Knudstorp is generally credited with turning around LEGO during a difficult time for the global company over a decade ago.
Engine Company 10 and Ladder Company 10 of the New York Fire Department were among the first units to respond to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Located across the street from the World Trade Center, its firefighters rushed to rescue survivors during those first few terrible and confusing moments. By the end of the day, several of the station’s firefighters were dead and many others wounded. Builder sponki25 memorializes these brave men and women in LEGO form with this recreation of a truck from Engine Company 10:
There’s a lot to appreciate in this model besides its significance to one of the United State’s darkest days. The accurately detailed pump panel and the shaping of the canopy are particular highlights here. The stickers do a nice job of bringing the model to life, though the side yellow and white stripping could have been done just as well with LEGO plates. That aside, this is a wonderful model and does well to remember those who gave their lives saving others.
The Brothers Brick publishes so many stories that we’re giving you the best of LEGO news and reviews. This is our Weekly Brick Report for the last week of January 2017.
TBB NEWS: New LEGO! Fake LEGO! Cheap LEGO! What a week to be alive.
TBB INSTRUCTIONS & INTERVIWS: We have some cool things to build and techniques to learn from two incredible builders.
OTHER NEWS: There was a massive amount of LEGO news from other places around the web this week. Here are a few items we noticed and thought you might enjoy.
Building anything tiny out of LEGO is always a joy — especially when you’re able to use parts creatively as something other than what they were designed for. Cole Blaq‘s hoverbike, which is modified heavily from a bike frame, has a few things that stand out. One is that jetpack that seems to be mounted at the back of the rider, but what really tickles my fancy are the telescopic fork tubes that utilise paint roller handles. Bring your own helmet if you’re up for a fast ride… no license needed where there are no roads built for it.
2017 is the year of the Rooster in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The Rooster is one of 12 animals represented in the Chinese Zodiac calendar, but what is less known is that besides the Zodiac’s 12 rotation cycle, there is also an elemental cycle of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood — and this year is Fire.
Creator ZiO Chao brings us an exquisite LEGO version of the Fire Rooster. What’s unique about this brick-built rooster is the terrific shaping that gives volume to the bird, not only in its breast and wings, but also its feathered tail.
The last cycle of the Fire Rooster was 1957 and the next won’t be until 2077. The five elements, also known as Wu Xing, are used in many other practices such as geomancy (Feng Shui), astrology, and even traditional medicinal practices to describe synergy and affinity between the other phenomena.
With magnificent ornate furniture, and perhaps the lushest LEGO carpet you’ve ever seen, this boudoir by simply bricking it is ready for royalty. Amazing parts-usages abound, from the minifigure stretchers used for the folding screen to the basketball net as the lampshade. How many more clever bits can you spot in this creation?
The original name of this creation is “Osterode Rathaus”, which means town hall, not “building containing rodents” as some might assume at first. Multilingual puns aside, this is some quality architectural work. There are many buildings like this one in town centres in my country, so I can confirm from first-hand experience that this creation is very accurate. The builder, Przemysław Czarnik, has filled this build with great textures and details, and I’m especially impressed by the simple yet effective roof.
At first glance, this mech resembles the baddie Enforcement Droid from Robocop. Take another look, though, because this mech transforms into a cruiser-shaped vehicle mode. Robocop isn’t going to stand a chance if you ask me. Builder Havoc shapes both alternate modes with bulk and strength giving it a weighty armoured feel, especially considering almost the entire model except the canopy is a single color.
