Ever since a History of Science class my freshman year of college, I’ve read so many books on the history and discovery of radiation. But nowhere in those pages covering everything from the Curies to Chernobyl did I ever come across a scientist like the one depicted in this LEGO bust by Steven Wayne Howard. With the clever implementation of the Ninjago Spinjitzu canopy, we’re able to see all the nuclear reactors sticking out of this mad scientist’s cranium. An array of creature wings make up his wild facial hair, and his sinister visage is driven home with that skeletal bowtie. And the whole thing sits on a plinth that is, quite frankly, the bomb. The whole thing is downright maniacal, and gives me the chills!
Category Archives: LEGO
The start of a winning legacy (oh, and a LEGO Lancia Stratos)
I’m a simple man: I see a well-made LEGO rally car, I want to extol its virtues online. Today’s instance comes courtesy of alex_bricks, and it’s a doozy. Italian marque Lancia won no fewer than 10 manufacturers’ titles during their time in the World Rally Championship, making them the most successful car builder. (That’s despite not having competed in the sport for 30 years, by the way!) And this is the car that kick-started that trend: the Lancia Stratos. It’s devoid of sponsor stickers, but all the better to enjoy that iconic brick-built Alitalia livery! Much like Alex’s Monaco Grand Prix dioramas, this build is really elevated by putting the car in its natural habitat, although the Stratos was at its most potent on tarmac rallies. Judging by the logs and muddy-looking road, this looks like the RAC Rally (AKA Wales Rally GB) to me. The drivers have done well to keep the car so clean!
Lancia isn’t the only thing here with a winning pedigree. Our Telegram readers voted Alex’s aforementioned Monaco builds ‘Creation of the Week’ not just once, but twice! Be sure to join the channel to cast your vote this week…
LEGO Star Wars 75367 Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser – A gigantic plate sandwich! [Review]
Let’s take a trip back in time. No, we’re not going to head all the way back to 2005 when the Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser first made its appearance on screen in Revenge of the Sith, but it’s close. The year is 2007, and I’ve just begun my junior year of college at the University of Minnesota (Go Gophers!). I go with some friends to IKEA for dorm room accoutrements, and we stop at the Mall of America on the way back. It’s at that mall’s LEGO store that I, irrational college student that I am at the time, purchase 10143 Death Star II. It was epic! I sat in my room watching Episodes I through VI while I assembled the great ball of bricks, feeling my love of the SW Universe course through my fingers and into this mammoth set I could barely afford. To this day, it’s the only LEGO Star Wars UCS set I’ve ever purchased. I thought back on this time quite a bit as I tackled the construction of the latest offering in the Ultimate Collector Series: 75367 Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser. Star Wars certainly has come a long way since then, as has LEGO. You’ll have to read on to uncover my nostalgia-laden build of this new model. Constructed of 5,374 pieces, and available from LEGO stores and their website on October 4 (October 1 for Insiders), 75367 Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser retails for US $649.99 | CAN $849.99 | UK £559.99.
18+ LEGO Super Mario set 71426 Piranha Plant revealed [News]
LEGO’s Super Mario theme collides with the popular botanical line with the reveal of 71426 Piranha Plant. The venerable enemy from the Mario games adds to an 18+ line-up that already includes Bowser, the Question Mark block, and the console on which Mario made his debut, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Piranha plant is considerably smaller than these, clocking in at 540 pieces and 23cm (9″) tall. Consequently it’s also considerably cheaper! From November 6th, 71426 Piranha Plant will be available for US $59.99 | CAN $79.99 | UK £57.99.
Click here to see more Piranha Plant pictures
Dark master and apprentice from Ahsoka strike a LEGO pose
I can guarantee a spoiler-free take on this LEGO version of the antagonists from the new Ahsoka series on Disney+, mostly because I haven’t had time to watch it yet. So forgive me if I don’t yet know the significance of Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati yet, built here by Chi Hsin Wei. The capes on these two are brilliant, using curved slopes and technic panels to convey the proper cloth-like “flow.” Add to that their built-in poseability (made possible through tow ball joints, bars, and clips) and this duo is certainly ready for action! Perhaps we’ll be treated to the duo on the other side of this Force in a future build, and hopefully by then I’ll be all caught up on episodes.
From the annals of Iron Builder comes the Iron Carousel
It seems our contestants over at Iron Builder are wrapping up their competition and LEGO phenom Joe (jnj_bricks) is going out with a bang. They needed to use the golden handcuffs as their seed part and Joe makes great use of them a whopping 73 times!
I’m not sure if my favorite carriage is the frog or the boat. Check out the video to see this magnificent carousel in action and let us know in the comments what your favorite detail is and also let us know how you think this round of Iron Builder will pan out.
Come and explore this epic LEGO Futuron moon base
Classic LEGO space isn’t just limited to blue spaceships with yellow canopies, you know. It may be the longest-lived and most recognizable of the many Space sub-themes, but as LegoMathijs proves, a build can be just as awe-inspiring in the Futuron setting! Futuron was the first Space theme to get its own moniker. It’s also where the iconic 6990 Monorail Transport System is from. So it’s perhaps no surprise to find these familiar monorail tracks in Terra Station Z too.
Causing a ruckus in a LEGO robot Zuckuss
My favourite LEGO theme these days is probably Star Wars, but when I were a nipper that dubious honour went to the mech theme, Exo-Force. Greg Dalink‘s bounty hunter mecha are therefore right up my street. Among others, we’ve had 4-LOM already, but he’s been missing his partner in crime, Zuckuss. Thankfully he is missing no longer! What I love about Greg’s mecha (and there have been a bunch) is how they all have their own individual style, each has something to set it apart. Zuckuss gets a four-legged ride that is a bit more insectoid in nature, and it really suits him. We’d be remiss not to draw attention to that head as well. With curved slopes and a wheel neatly surrounding a CCBS shoulder shell, it’s a real work of art!
Feel the holiday season approaching with the new 10325 Icons Alpine Lodge set [News]
With just over three months till Christmas, LEGO unveils this year’s addition to the prominent Winter village collection – 10325 Icons Alpine Lodge set. Unlike the last year’s 10308 Holiday Main Street, the new lodge will take you away from the busy uptown, straight to a distant rural resort. The new model comes with 1,517 pieces and five minifigures, and will retail for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99.
LEGO Creation of the Week (#36): “FARM” by André Pinto
Every week readers of the The Brothers Brick Telegram channel choose the Creation of the Week: one project that impressed all of us the most. Last week it all came down to a Pokemon versus a farm diorama… and the results are shocking! André Pinto grabs the award with his neat and detailed rural build. What a round!
Meanwhile, the new vote is already on! Join our Telegram channel to follow all the best LEGO creations, latest news, and, of course, vote for your favorites. See you there!
TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for September 17, 2023 [News]
In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the 2nd week of September, 2023.
TBB NEWS AND REVIEWS This was a very exciting week for Star Wars fans as the latest UCS set was announced, The Venator-class Republic Attack Cruiser and it continues the Clone Wars era trend for this year, with the Coruscant Republic gunship announced in August. We also reviewed the only new set for the upcoming Marvel movie, The Marvels. LEGO also revealed 3 new sets for the movie Wish, and I reviewed the new LEGO Ideas set, the Viking Village. And if this batch of news recap leaves you wanting more, be sure to check out our last Brick Report.
- [REVIEW] LEGO Marvel 76232 The Hoopty — This spaceship from the new Marvels movie may leave you wanting more.
- [FEATURE] A peek behind the Wall: building a 200,000-piece LEGO Game of Thrones diorama — We went behind the scenes on an epic build from the Song of Ice and Fire novels.
- [NEWS] LEGO Star Wars 75367 UCS Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser officially revealed online — Another massive Star Wars ship that just may break your display shelf.
- [NEWS] Trio of LEGO Disney sets revealed from upcoming Wish film — The first wave from the new Disney film Wish.
- [REVIEW] LEGO Ideas 21343 Viking Village – Hearty and sturdy, or a real cold fish? — A great set for a reasonable price.
OTHER NEWS Aside from our usual news and reviews over the past 2 weeks, here are a few other stories worth checking out.
- WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT – 100 YEARS OF FAIRYTALES! – [Lego Ideas.com] — Does this challenge have a fairytale ending?.. We certainly think so! We are ready to announce the Fan Vote winner for this challenge and make dreams come true.
- 49 PRODUCT IDEAS QUALIFY FOR THE SECOND 2023 LEGO IDEAS REVIEW – [Lego Ideas.com] — LEGO announces the 49 submissions reaching the 10,000 supporter milestone and qualifying for the Second 2023 Review.
A(nother) vertical LEGO architectural marvel
Recently, we find ourselves writing a lot about Pan Noda‘s LEGO houses. Why? Well, just look at them! The latest edifice to be built is this “Shrine of the Underworld”. If you’re gonna live somewhere as wacky as this, might as well give it a cool name, right? This strikes me as being what high-rise living might have been like in Eastern Asia before skyscrapers took over. Like many of Pan’s buildings, it makes use of a lot of vertical space, and like all of them, has a really unique character. The wall technique is particularly eye-catching here. Presumably making use of the fact two plates isn’t quite equal to one brick in width, it means you get some great weathering on the walls while retaining an authentic wooden-plank look.