Pierre E Fieschi has been producing some rather fantastic small sci-fi trucks the last few days. As per Pierre’s usual M.O. despite these models’ tiny stature they are brimming with superb details and clever parts usage.
Category Archives: LEGO
Into the Aether
At the risk of pigeonholing myself as the guy who only blogs mecha, check out the latest build from the reclusive but always delightful Jas Nagra (J5N)
Few people build chunky shapes as elegantly as Jas, with a fluidity of style that gives a vaguely alien vibe to many of his mecha. Of particular note in this build are the deceptively boxy-yet-complex radar packages on the left shoulder and the Zarki-influenced cannon on the right.
The Dark Lord and His Ring of Power
Looking more like a movie still than a traditional brick sculpture, I had to look twice at this beautiful image by David Hensel (Legonardo Davidy) to be sure that it was, in fact, completely LEGO. Making wonderful use of his fantastic building skills and some great forced perspective techniques, this is one of David’s best models so far.
Eco-house of the future
Architecture isn’t usually a theme I build in, but I do appreciate when it’s done well. TBB newcomer Adam Hollings (Night Hawk_) has built a really nifty Eco friendly house:
It’s an example of a very nice and clean build, and looks almost too simple… until you take a closer look. There is some really nice detailed styling he accomplished by building studs out creating some nice vertical lines. But the really cool part are the windows. Using levers to hold glass is nothing new, but using technic axles to frame the windows? Now that’s a new trick I have to remember.
Seventy-five LUGNuts challenges, can you believe it?
More than six years ago, Lino Martins (Lino M) and Nathan Proudlove (Proudlove) started a flickr group for LEGO car lovers called LUGNuts. Over the years they’ve managed to draw in many of the best-known car builders in the online LEGO community. They’ve also enlisted the help of Tim Inman (Rabidnovaracer), Peter Blackert (Lego911) and myself as moderators. I’m pretty sure that many LEGO-related flickr groups fizzle in far less than six years, but LUGNuts is still going strong. The vast majority of cars blogged here are built by LUGNuts members (and not just because I look at the group’s photo pool for things to blog). The group is kept interesting by the monthly LUGNuts challenges. For these, members build something according to a particular theme, which is usually thought out by Lino. He also gives the challenges a snazzy name. We usually don’t pick winners and there are no prizes; the fun is all about participating, being creative and building a vehicle that you perhaps wouldn’t ordinarily build. Here are the challenges and some of the vehicles built for them last year.
- ‘Mad Motor Skills’: Harley Davidson by Bricksonwheels
- ‘Toyota Tacoma Time’: Toyota Tacoma by Rolic
- ‘Behind the iron curtain’: Fiat 125P Kombi by Raphy
- ‘May the Force be with you’: Naboo carfighter by NKubate
- ‘A Baker’s dozen’: Claas Harvester by Lego911
- ‘Summer of 69’: Mustang GT350 by Aaden H
- ‘Redo and redemption’: VW Dragbus by Lino M
- ‘Super 70’s Sensation!’: Unimog by Nolnet
- ‘LUGNuts Sixth Anniversary ‘: Green Goblin truck by Rabidnovaracer
- ‘Take it to the next level’: Brütal Legend Deuce by Proudlove
- ‘Diorama-rama’: Hamm road roller by Mad physicist
- ‘Freakin’ Balls-Out Sweet 75th LUGNuts Challenge Extravaganza!’: ?
We’re now running the 75th challenge, can you believe it? Lino has imaginatively called it the Freakin’ Balls-Out Sweet LUGNuts 75th Challenge Extravaganza!. This one is special. Every participant builds a car assigned to them by one of the other members and there are prizes for the best three builds (judged by the admins/ moderators). To add some extra fun, there are also prizes for the best three suggestions. If you’re into LEGO cars and ever wanted to build for a LUGNuts challenge, now would be the time to do it! The challenge runs until the end of the month.
Lego Falkor the Luck Dragon is a Never Ending Joy.
Like many people in my generation, I loved The Never Ending Story in my youth. Just looking at this build by Carl Merriam (Carlmerriam) brings a smile to my face.
A Pelican unrelated to Halo
Thomas W Sylon-tw brings us an aircraft befitting the name Pelican. The fat belly of this beast evokes the cavernous beak of the avian namesake, and is perfect for a cargo hauler. Long time readers may recall that I too, have used this name for a Cato craft.
Name aside, this is a cool plane. The fat belly is an interesting and unusual shape. The color blocking is excellent, and the emblem looks great, popping on a field of blue. The engines bring a nice level of detail and grit to balance the smooth simplicity of the fuselage.
Three Bears family portrait.
Barney Main (SlyOwl) takes a page from the classic fairy tales: Goldilocks and the Three Bears with this fantastic family portrait. There’s lots of great details in this build and some clever techniques but sometimes the simplest parts are the best. Barney changes the angles on the hotdog eyebrows just slightly enough to give each bear their own unique expression.
Lego Star Wars 75018 JEK-14’s Stealth Starfighter [Review]
75018 JEK-14’s Stealth Starfighter is one of the sets from the 2013 summer release of Lego Star Wars sets. It contains 550 pieces and retails for $69.99, which you can buy from the Amazon.
Here is my summary of the highlights of the set, which are elaborated in the review video below.
Pros:
- Wing-folding mechanism with simulated hydraulics
- 4 unique minifigs
Cons:
- High price per piece ratio
- Average overall selection of parts
This is a decently-designed Star Wars ship that suits well for display or swooshing. The wing folding mechanism is a highlight, but the rest of the play features are typical of a starfighter. I do not recommend this set for its parts due to the high price per piece ratio. Amazon currently has the set for 20% off, which is how much I would like to see this set priced at to begin with.
Dr. Loveless’s mechanical spider from Wild Wild West built in Lego
The steampunk spider from Wild Wild West is arguably the most memorable part of an otherwise forgettable movie. Leave it to none other than Imagine Rigney to render it in Lego to add to his collection of gigantic Lego creatures. Check out more photos in the builder’s Flickr set.
It depends on who’s behind the counter
A while ago, Nick Sweetman (MinifigNick) built a vignette of a butcher’s shop…
…Two years later, he revisits the idea after obtaining some custom pig heads.
Don’t miss the minifig anatomy poster featured in the vignette!
The Copperhead concept is one crazy crotch rocket
The Copperhead concept motorcycle by Lino Martins (Lino M) looks as though it is getting ready to kill. Lino himself call it his first steampunk creation, but I’m not so sure I agree. Yes, he has used copper and rust-coloured elements in the build, but it looks too futuristic and at the same time too plausible to be steampunk in my book.
I’m reminded of something else entirely. I used to watch the American Chopper TV-show, before I got fed up with all the drama, but I admire the artistry in the way they shaped metal to follow the particular theme of their builds. To me the Copperhead looks like the end result of American Chopper paying tribute to H.R. Giger.