Bigger isn’t always better, and this micro machine by František Hajdekr is living proof. I’m always impressed with the amount of detail builders are able get into builds at this scale. The inverted 1×2 plate on the side looks just like grill on the real thing. Follow this simple instructions video and this miniature bulldozer could be clearing away small piles of rubble on your desk too.
Bored with dull city dioramas where everything is awesome? Professional South Korean LEGO-building quartet OliveSeon knows how to ring the changes on the major LEGO city airport hub. How about a massive superhero battle? They’ve done some impressive work recreating one of the biggest screen brawls of the previous year, from Captain America: Civil War. And don’t be surprised: those planes and little yellow service cars are actually from official LEGO City sets, and they look simply perfect in this diorama.
What’s particularly awesome about this scene is the main airport building. I bet that perfectly planned and executed interior would make you forget there’s a battle going outside on the runway! Bonus points awarded for an extremely smart use of the tram from LEGO set 60097 City Square, which here is turned into an inter-terminal train.
And if you like this airport, also check out the incredible LEGO airport we covered in November.
The Sneetches and Other Stories is one of Dr. Seuss’ most meaningful books, touching upon the themes of tolerance, elitism and discrimination. The first story in the collection describes the Sneetches, a group of yellow creatures who find themselves swindled by a businessman named Sylvester McMonkey McBean. Kyle Keller has brought a classic scene from the story to life in LEGO bricks:
Some of the Sneetches have green stars on their bellies and discriminate against those who don’t. Realizing this, McBean creates a Star-On Machine and allows star-less Sneetches to buy their own. The star-bellied Sneetches no longer feel special, until McBean presents his Star-Off Machine. But McBean allows recently starred Sneetches through his machine as well until…
Coincidentally, TBB’s own Iain Heath also just shared his cleverly-built star-bellied sneetch:
I won’t spoil the ending, but needless to say everyone learns a valuable lesson:
We’ve seen the Caped Crusader get out of many tight spots when battling his enemies. But maybe this time he might actually meet his demise at the hands of the menacing Killer Croc in this LEGO diorama by Cid Hsiao. Towering over the fallen Dark Knight, the reptilian menace stands on a crushed pavement that has been shattered by his forceful weight.
Every part of this scene conveys a real sense of action in motion. I love the rock formation and imprint left in the pavement where Batman lays, where we assume he has just been hauled. The Bat-Cycle lying in pieces and that broken pavement at the feet of Killer Croc are simply perfect. The star of the show is however Killer Croc himself. Dressed in prison garb and broken shackles, the build is cleverly constructed using simple joints, giving an organic feel to the beast.
Actually, for all I know, it might be chaotic neutral. But whatever its alignment, Micah Beideman‘s tentacled monster, with its numerous chaoticly distributed red eyes, sure is scary. The gaping mouth appears to use Ninjago dragon jaw pieces as teeth. And the use of inverted tires throughout the model creates a very organic effect. In my opinion though, the microscale ship both helps and detracts from the build; it adds a sense of scale, but at the same time disrupts the illusion of movement, as it seems overly calm considering that a monster of colossal proportions is rising from the water just beside it. I sure am glad these things are not real. I hope.
Overwatch continues to inspire LEGO builders with the hit game’s fun and varied heroes. Let’s rally up a few more characters to add to a lineup of great LEGO Overwatch builds, like these great characters from Tim Schwalfenberg, Simon Liu, or my own D.Va’s Light Gun. First up, from Dead Frog inc., is Bastion in his partial camouflage from the animated short “The Last Bastion.” The color choices on his robotic death machine and the overgrowth are great.
Next up, from Piggy Brother, is Reaper. The builder has constructed several other heroes from the game, and his Reaper is one of my top favorites from him. The mask, dual hellfire shotguns, and shotgun shell belt are standout details to me here.
Finally (from yours truly) is the time-jumping mascot of Overwatch, Tracer. Her build started with the idea of arranging two translucent orange half-circular tiles in an hourglass shape to create her goggles. One of the most challenging parts of the build for me was finding a technique that would look good as the lacing on her leggings. I thought the undersides of the various 1×1 brick types used structurally was a good solution.
The galaxy’s favorite space-slug gangster, Jabba the Hutt, is one of Star Wars’ more recognizable aliens. Jabba is cold and cruel, but still enjoys the finer points of life on the harsh world of Tatooine.
Robert Lundmark has captured the slimy villain with great attention to detail. The contouring and coloring of Jabba’s massive form is impressive, the base is clean and sharp, the subtly angled face is ingenious, but it’s the eyes that catch my attention most of all. It’s a small detail like that that can really turn a build from a pile of bricks into a living character.
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 first week of 2017 (and the new year is off to a great start).
TBB NEWS: Holy moly, Batman, there was an avalanche of news this week. From the unveiling of Boost at CES to sending a plane to the South Pole, we have all you need to know right here, including the winners of TBB’s Builder and Creation of the year!
REVIEWS & INSTRUCTIONS: TBB had its hands full creating mascot instructions and reviewing a new set from Star Wars: Rogue One.
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Cartoon Network shows like Ed, Edd ‘n’ Eddy, The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter’s Laboratory were a huge part of my childhood. GolPlaysWithLego induces nostalgia for the former with a LEGO version of the genius Dexter himself. I like his expression of disdain shown through both the shaping of his glasses, and the use of a thin minifigure sword as his mouth.
The shapes attainable with LEGO bricks appear endless. Jens Ohrndorf‘s perfect mini replica of a rhinoceros proves that with clever part usage anything is possible. The parts used for it’s haunches, flank, dip in the back, legs and rump gives the impression they belong to a real Rhino. The rhino by itself is wonderful but a little set dressing in the form of a bird, tree and mound of earth really complete the scene.
Clean lines, simplicity in design, and elegant execution have become trademarks of Heikki Mattila‘s work. His previously featured high-rise bedroom, enticing sauna, cool sitting room and toasty fire place use LEGO bricks to visualize the creature comforts of stylish city living. However, his latest build breaks away from the serenity of the city, in favor of a more pastoral setting:
What remains constant is his portrayal of elegance and beauty in everyday living. The clean lines, pebbled path and grassy meadow give this little build a very dainty look. The only thought that keeps me in anticipation perhaps is what lies behind that door? But maybe some things are best left to the imagination.
Castle builders often depict Medieval living as a quaint and pleasant affair – lovely little farms situated upon rolling hills, castles tucked into deep forests, villagers frolicking about unencumbered by the socioeconomic factors of the 21st Century… Who wouldn’t want to live there? Perhaps this was the case for those living in the countryside, but for the residents of large Medieval cities life was decidedly darker and cruel. Jacob Nion does a fine job recreating the dreariness of Medieval urban life with his newest creation, The Black Knight’s Inn.
One has to appreciate the atmosphere in this scene. The crumbling stonework, leaning buildings and restrained color palette combine into a rather austere beauty. By building the foreground higher than everything else, the builder creates a unique sense of dimension and depth to his work. This design choice makes the scene look larger than it actually is; the angle of the buildings creates a sense that this street continues on forever.
Before you get the wrong idea, it should be noted the red snake is in fact a tail belonging to one of the rodent-faced residents who live here. There are plenty of dangers lurking in the darkest alleys of a Medieval city, but fortunately butt-biting snakes are not one of them!