Category Archives: LEGO

You’d probably expect a lot of the posts on a LEGO website like The Brothers Brick to be about LEGO, and you’d be right. If you’re browsing this page, you might want to consider narrowing what you’re looking for by checking out categories like “Space” and “Castle.” We’re sure there’s something here that’ll fascinate and amaze you.

The changing seasons in LEGO microscale

Normally there are only four seasons each year, but Emil Lidé has created a series of six microscale landscapes to capture all the changing colours found in nature throughout the year. Each of the six scenes depicts a trio of trees and ground foliage using the LEGO colour palate to full effect, especially those vibrant autumnal tones.

Emil’s trees are fantastic of course – he kindly shared his methods for constructing LEGO trees earlier this month. Interestingly, Emil tells us that the initial starting point for these was this cool technique for a base by o0ger, and the circular bases are a great way to keep each scene compact and contained. My own favourite is definitely late autumn.

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ALERT! Unidentified alien spacecraft approaching!

We get so used to bulky LEGO spaceships, often with realistically muted color palettes, that it can be hard to know what to make of something wholly and totally different. A Plastic Infinity has posted a bright green alien spaceship, with “propulsive flagellum” and claws for weapons. The repeated circular shapes and black spikes give the craft an insectoid feeling, tapping into our darkest fears.

The builder has also created a small group of escort ships that match the design of the mothership. I really don’t want to know what that forward probe does…

A figure study in gray

Great builds don’t need to be large, or complicated. Sometimes sticking with simple connections, good photography, and good composition can do amazing things. This pensive character comes from Milan Sekiz. Our gray friend has a grey bird, cleverly using robot arms and wings. The whole spindly scene uses mostly axle connections, and the result is quite fascinating – and beautiful.

1970’s era Scania LBS 141

We’ve featured numerous Scania trucks over the years, including a British Stobart lorry, 142 wrecker, LT146 dump truck, and more. As ubiquitous on European roads as Peterbilts are in North America, Scania trucks continue to be a popular subject for LEGO builders. Dennis Bosman, whose dump truck I just linked to, has posted a gorgeous LBS 141 from the 70’s, with a clean white color scheme and fantastic details on both the cab and chassis. One of our European readers or contributors will have to explain what the deal is with the terrified puppets strapped to the roof rack…

EDIT: Well-informed readers across the Atlantic from the author have pointed out that the red minifig represents the popular mascot “Tiels Flipje,” while the white minifig is the iconic Michelin Man.

LEGO reveals largest Modular Building yet, 10255 Assembly Square, to celebrate the line’s 10th anniversary [News]

It’s been 10 years since 10182 Cafe Corner released in 2006, and LEGO is celebrating in a big way by revealing the largest Modular Building yet, 10255 Assembly Square. LEGO has gone all-out with this set, fitting in two highly detailed buildings separated by an alley.

With 4,002 pieces, the three-story buildings are packed with detail, housing a bakery, florist’s shop, coffee shop, music store, dentist’s office, photo studio, dance studio, apartment, and a rooftop terrace. As fans of the line have come to expect, clever designs abound, with lots of great architectural details and unusual parts used in ingenious ways, including several brand-new pieces, such as 2×2 and 4×4 quarter circle tiles. See if you can spot Thor’s hammer or the Technic excavator buckets.

The set will retail for $279.99 USD, and will be available Jan. 1, 2017. (LEGO has told us that unlike many other large exclusive sets, there will not be VIP early access for this set.) Check out all the images and read the full press release below.

10255 Assembly Square fits alongside 10251 Brick Bank and 10264 Detective’s Office, the other two Modular Buildings currently available.

Click through to see all the photos of 10255 Assembly Square

LEGO Ideas 21307 Caterham Seven 620R [Review]

Back in March, LEGO announced that the next LEGO Ideas set would be 21307 Caterham Seven 620R, designed by Carl Greatrix. Just released this month, we’re pleased to bring our readers a full hands-on review.

This is quite a lovely set with some great parts — both brand new molds and recolored existing parts. Read our full review, but we think you’ll like this set as much as we do.

Click through to read the full review of the LEGO Caterham Seven

Archimedes: Long-Range Cruiser

When preparing for a long-range mission in deep space, it is essential to have the best ship for the journey. That includes space for crew, supplies, and a lovely color scheme. This eye-catching ship by scottadges has all the right greebles. The color scheme works very well, and really helps all the detail work pop. It manages to be detailed, yet not busy, which is a delicate balance.

When LEGO meets Lite Brite

This pixilated classic space logo by Jonathan Gale is one of the most impressive LEGO creations I have seen in a long time. If you look closely, you’ll see that his build is made up of thousands of LEGO lightsaber blades (5520 of them to be exact). There is an LED light behind the blades, giving the translucent pieces a glowing effect.

Jonathan said he was inspired to try this building technique after a LUG meeting where he realized that 25 LEGO lightsaber blades fit perfectly into a 2×2 stud square. This build took over 10 hours to complete and, according to the builder, came with a constant and serious risk of collapse. I can’t even imagine the amount of patience it took Jonathan to complete this beast.

ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Lupus

LEGO mecha builder Caleb L. has celebrated the new season of Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans by posting this lanky Gundam with a big sword and curvy horns.

The mecha is fully poseable, prepared to whack all comers with the aforementioned big giant sword.

I’m always fascinated by the underlying frames that LEGO mecha builders design as the skeletons for their big stompy robots. Caleb’s frame uses lots of clip connections with pneumatic T’s, and a ton of studs-out bricks (“Travis” bricks, headlight bricks, and so on) to affix the mecha’s skin.

At home in space on a spinning Stanford torus

The Stanford torus was a design concept for a permanent space habitat for 10,000 residents proposed at Stanford University during the summer of 1975. Though not the only idea for a ring-shaped space station that would provide gravity to inhabitants, it’s one of the designs that received significant research from NASA. MSP! has created a microscale LEGO version, complete with buildings and landscaping on the ring’s interior. Mounted on an unobtrusive stand, this would look fantastic on any astronaut’s desk.

Kaneda’s bike from Akira in LEGO

Korean builder Haeundaddy has designed and built probably the best LEGO version of Shotaro Kaneda’s bike from Akira that I have seen. This larger scale bike is shapely, detailed and full of the smooth lines that characterise this famous red bike. The specially designed base is a nice touch as a model of this calibre needs something a little special to rest upon.

The details are fantastic, from the sports seat to the handlebar area, and Haeundaddy has taken the time to capture his work with some excellent photography.

Click through to see more of this excellent anime bike

Creations for Charity 2016 sales starts now

You can now visit Creations for Charity’s online store to purchase a custom creation to support donating LEGO sets to underprivileged children. The fundraiser runs until the end of November and anyone can donate a LEGO creation to the store. Learn more at creationsforcharity.org.