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.

Mixels?

One last bit of news from San Diego Comic-Con. LEGO announced a new property in association with Cartoon Network. The IP seems to be about some Pokemon like creatures, one is electric, one is fire and one is earth. There is no further information as of yet regarding this new IP.

Image courtesy of Joe Meno.

However, the most notable aspect of this announcement is the introduction of new elements, in particular, a new system of micro cup and ball joints. The balls seem to be the same scale as previous “tow ball” elements. This new joint system will allow for small scale articulation and give fans the ability to build creatures and characters with a new range of play action. Instead of joints with one direction of bend, these will add twist and rotation into the mix. There is also great potential for creating curves and compound shapes.

UPDATE: Mixels is a jointly produced property between Cartoon Network and The LEGO Group. This property will include animated shorts, a digital gaming experience and a collectible toy line.

Mixels are colorful creatures “that can mix and combine with one another in creative and unpredictable storylines.” Low priced mini sets will launch in three waves in 2014.

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.

The wacky Popcorn Wagon

Those of you who read this blog regularly will have seen tricked out and wacky hot rods by Lino Martins (Lino Martins) before, but few rods are as tricked out, as wacky or as hot as his latest creation: the Popcorn Wagon.

He normally builds his own custom designs, but this is a model of a real-world show rod from the sixties. These things weren’t so much cars (nobody knows whether this one can even drive under its own power); they’re sculptures on wheels. There is something oddly ‘meta’ going on here. Show rods are almost like real-world versions of the sort of vehicles Lino normally builds, which themselves are a kind of sculpture with wheels. Gnarly!

NASA Recovery Drone

I’ve made no secret of the fact that Shannon Sproule at his best is one of my favourite builders. And in his Mars Mission Recovery Drone he is definitely at his best. This LEGO model shows off Shannon’s mastery of beautiful and original designs constructed from primary shapes and blocky colours.

A dark river rushing

Although it’s a little low on color, that’s exactly what works in this diorama by K.Kreations. Both the roofs on the crumbling huts and the complex rock-work of the ravine are masterfully executed.

K. apparently built this for the Legends of Brickdom Global Adventure Challenge.

Curiouser and curiouser... Moko builds Alice and the White Rabbit

Moko claims never to have read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (as it so happens, I’m reading it right now), but that doesn’t stop him from building a wonderfully evocative version of Alice and the White Rabbit based on nothing more than a few image searches on the web.

Moko says that Alice’s hair was especially hard and that he had to rebuild it a couple times. The extra effort has certainly resulted in some naturally flowing hair.

Greetings from Nantou

Next up is a fabulous mosaic by a pair of Taiwanese builders Swar(left) and 娘娘槍(middle) called Swimming Carnival of Sun Moon Lake. The photo comes courtesy of lixia_1982 who has more photos from the recent Train Festival exhibition in Nantou.

Don’t even think about going all Elvis on this model, you unruly hooligans, these guys (and gal) don’t look like they would brook your shenanigans. This post was ripped off from the good folks over at Mosaic Bricks.

“The Cosmic Castaway (yeah)”

It is time for a blast from the past (not literally of course, we only bring you the freshest content here on TBB) courtesy of Awesome-o-saurus and his retro-rocked the Sarthîon Cruiser. It’s good to see that the builder, who has been around for a bit, finally dropped the “not so great” from his moniker. It is time for Lego nerds everywhere to embrace their inner awesomeness without all the annoying qualifiers. Now all Mr. O-saurus needs is an exclamation point after his name to complete the transition from very hungry caterpillar to beautiful butterfly.

What do you want from me in terms of commentary on this one?…it’s a cool pointy rocket.

“My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to say.”

The doctor is in, constant reader and he’s ready to hear your myriad of problems dating back to childhood. Hankyung Ryu (uhank) is the responsible party for this out of left field Bionicle creation which he calls Witchdocter-bot. The righteous headgear drew me in, but I stayed for the fine details like the ribcage and fancy accessories.

Since sharing is caring and the Bionicle Tribe is notorious for their strong bonds of friendship and consumption of Mountain Dew, I’m going to sneak in one more non-System model. The builder is Belarus native Vlad Lisin ([Rhymes_Shelter]), whose work has graced the pages of TBB in the past. Enjoy G’Loona, part of your Sunday serving of Bionicle…which is totally not dead.

Summertime in Italy

As part of an event in Ballabio, North of Milan, the Italian LEGO users group ItLUG held a Creator contest, which was won by Dario Minisini (oirad72) with this lovely cottage.

I’m not sure whether the combination of the shape, the red roof-tiles and the white walls triggered it, but when I saw this picture I was immediately reminded of Italy, even before I knew the back-story. Like many Creator sets, its construction may be relatively straightforward, but the colours, the proportions and level of detail make it work.

Cruise the high seas in luxury with Orion Pax

It is time to beat the heat, constant reader because the stupid sun has had it too good for too long. Inspired by a good friend who runs a dive-center in Thailand, TBB regular Alex Jones (Orion Pax) takes to the high seas with his latest build the Sunreef 100 TDS. The boat looks like something you’d see in a rap video, with scantily clad babes cavorting with gold-chain wearing shot-callers. Alex gives you unprecedented insider access to his build process with an extensive work-in-progress photos and commentary and it’s all available on his website Orion Pax Blog. This isn’t the first time the two pals have teamed up for some aquatic action, check out Alex’s tribute to Thailand’s Similan Islands.

The Ocean’s Just a Step Away

Here’s a lovely use for a mosaic: use it to build a backdrop to your creation. Bluesecrets did exactly this with her latest build for her local LEGO store community window. (The community window is a small dedicated space in LEGO stores for adult fan clubs to exhibit.) This is a great example of using a mosaic for forced perspective to add depth to a diorama.

Nécropole Nationale

The Douaumont Ossuary is a war-memorial containing the remains of French and German soldiers who died on the battlefield during the Battle of Verdun in World War I. The monument is located in Douaumont, France, within the confines of the Verdun battlefield itself. French Builder Cyrille (TheBrickAvenger) shrinks the cemetery down to Microscale for this outstanding rendition. Unfortunately, perhaps the most interesting detail of Douaumont Ossuary was left out, a rotating red and white beacon at the top of the tower called “the lantern of the dead” that shines on the battlefield at night. Maybe Cyrille will tackle the structure in minifig scale some time down the road, and include the lantern. Quel hommage exceptionnel fourni aux soldats tombés au combat de la France, bien fait Cyrille!.

I offer my standard disclaimer / apology for my substandard use of the French language, no disrespect is intended.