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.

Crafting a Lifestyle That Aligns with Your Core Values

The modern lifestyle is a vibrant tapestry woven from various threads including technology, wellness, fashion, and travel. Each element plays a pivotal role in shaping our daily experiences and personal growth. As we navigate through this dynamic landscape, staying informed and inspired is key. For a deeper dive into how these trends are influencing contemporary life and culture, check out insights from leading thinkers and lifestyle experts at The New York Times.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain and finding joy in the midst of life’s challenges.”
Vivian Greene

Technological advancements are particularly impactful, reshaping how we manage our health, interact with our environments, and make travel and style decisions. This constant evolution encourages us to adapt and thrive in a world where change is the only constant. By integrating innovative tools and apps into our routines, we can enhance efficiency and enjoyment in every aspect of life.

Blog Excerpts

Wellness is more than just a trend; it’s a lifestyle essential that encompasses physical health, mental well-being, and emotional balance. Incorporating regular physical activity, mindful meditation, and balanced nutrition into our routines can significantly improve quality of life. As we become more attuned to our bodies’ needs, we also learn to value moments of rest and recovery, essential for long-term health.

Travel complements this focus on wellness by offering new perspectives and rejuvenating our spirits. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or an extended exploration of distant cultures, travel broadens our horizons and provides invaluable experiences that enrich our understanding of the world and ourselves.

A Balanced Approach to Wellness

Insights into daily wellness and effective home decor strategies are shared to enhance everyday living and create nurturing spaces.
Updates on the latest lifestyle trends provide readers with the knowledge to stay stylish and informed in an ever-evolving world.
Comprehensive self-care routines tailored for busy individuals offer ways to maintain health and happiness amidst hectic schedules.

Practical yet stylish solutions are essential for everyday wear, allowing us to look good while being comfortable, whether at work, at home, or on the move.

Embracing sustainability in our fashion habits means prioritizing materials and processes that minimize environmental impact, supporting brands that are committed to ethical practices.
Using style as a form of personal and artistic expression allows us to showcase our unique identities and values through our clothing and accessories, making each outfit a reflection of our personal story.

Style is another crucial aspect of modern lifestyles, providing not just a means of self-expression but also an opportunity to make intentional choices about consumption and impact. Today’s savvy individuals look for styles that align with their values—sustainability, quality, and versatility are increasingly prioritized over fleeting trends. This shift is evident in the growing popularity of capsule wardrobes and ethically produced garments.

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.

Ogle this Oogway

Ozzie Joss Woodyard / Jayfa is ringing in the new year with the venerated sage kung fu master Oogway from the Kung Fu Panda film and TV franchise. Joss’ usual knack for character work shines brightly here as he recreates the tranquil master of the Jade Palace. This guy looks like he could teach a clumsy panda a thing or two! I love the use of the dragon wing cloth as Oogway’s tunic, and well-placed studs on the exposed sand green skin evoke the textured tortoise legs of the original character model from the movie.

Like what you see? There’s more Kung Fu Panda action to be found in our archives with this sculpted scene from the movie and excellent recreations of Masters Tigress and Crane.

Hook, line, and A-frame

True story: back in college, my friends and I had a running joke about my evil twin Lyle. We certainly had more in common than the Nordic fisherman Lyle in this LEGO construction by Carter Witz. The rich brown wood, dark green leaves, and deep blue water stand in stark contrast to all the snow in this scene. I love the scattered patches of white amid the fir branches and on top of the house, as well as the rime-covered plants poking up out of the wintry blanket. But my favorite part has to be Carter’s expert use of the gaps between plates and tiles on the A-frame. We’re able to make out every board used to construct its roof, walls, and door as a result. It’s an expert technique that provides an amount of reality to this plastic scene.

Electric scooters and fantasy figures

I normally applaud new LEGO parts, but this did not go for the electric scooter part introduced a couple of years ago in the friends theme, that was later used in the LEGO city theme. Maybe it’s because I am not a fan of electric scooters. Who knows. Duncan Lindbo however has proved me wrong. In their latest creation the electric scooter part is used multiple times to represent the insect-like feet of a tank. The part I dread so much, looks amazing and really is, what makes this creation so special. What also is special is that we get friends figs from a different range of themes. We get Noctura from Elves sporting pants and a cap, Namaari form Raya and the dragon in her official form and a third fig composed of regular Friends parts sporting a The LEGO Movie hairdo. It is fun to see how these two fantasy figures fit the Sci Fi theme so well.

I’m not sure what this robot is, but I have never known a world without it

Lysander Chau has taken my breath away with this digital rendition of a Macross VF1J Max. I confess to not knowing a ton about the source material this robot hails from, but that doesn’t stop it from being an icon of my childhood. A confusing web of 1980s imports and copyright law put this robot (and others like him) everywhere back in the day – from the The Transformers toy line to knock-offs in Radio Shack and everywhere in-between.

Here’s what I do know: This piloted mech can transform from cool looking space-age robot into a modern-style fighter jet, and it can even form a sort of weird minotaur-like GERWALK mode. And Lysander has captured all that functionality and included all the various armor and jump jet add-ons that give the jet mode its distinctive look. And, really, when it looks this cool, does anything else matter?

Time to bring back New Wave and parachute pants? We think so!

If you have the sudden urge to don a yellow vinyl jumpsuit and some eyeliner and listen to Devo, Gary Numan, or A Flock of Seagulls it may have something to do with this new LEGO creation by Duncan Lindbo. It’s called Synthwave Sunset and with its bold lines, bright colors, and computer grid graphics it most certainly has an 80s synth-wave feel. It nearly resembles the Suncoast Video logo or something from the Outrun video game. Whatever the inspiration, Duncan really captures the 80s vibe nicely. By the way, the three aforementioned New Wave bands are still producing work in the modern age so maybe it’s time to bring back parachute pants. While you’re mulling that over, check out what else Duncan Lindbo has been up to lately.

Jumping puddles in Classic Space

Do they have puddles in space? I sure hope so, because that looks to be right where this little puddle jumper of a spaceship belongs. LEGO builder Inthert needed a tiny spacecraft to fill out a larger diorama by Simonmocs, and thus the Classic Space Cargo Jumper was born. What I love most about this vessel is that it eschews the typical spaceship design and goes for a split canopy with VTOL-like engines.

And of course, we have to see it in situ with Simonmocs gorgeous spaceport diorama, too, where you can see the little spaceship being serviced.

Joss rings in the new year with a roar

On the final day, in the final throes of 2022, LEGO builder Joss Woodyard presents The Cloud Beast. While most of us would like to leave 2022 in the rearview mirror, it might be good to reflect back on the amazing techniques this build encompasses. I love the use of the cloth sails as well as the stance, colors, and tail of this build loosely based on the Chinese Guardian Lion or “Foo Dog”. The expression is great too. But the star of the show here is a detail I would have missed if Joss didn’t point it out himself. His favorite detail is the LEGO plant sprue used as the lips. It is next-level building like this that makes Joss Woodyard one of our favorite all-time builders. Please check out his other creatures; you won’t be disappointed.

Prepare thyself to be school’d, mediaeval style!

You know what we don’t see a lot of in LEGO castles? Monks and monasteries. Which, given their importance in the Western medieval world, is a shame, even if knights and castles are more exciting. Thankfully Ben Smith is on hand to scratch that scholarly itch. Ben is clearly a learned man when it comes to wall texturing. There’s a huge variety of tiled parts on show in the weathered walls, giving it a mix between graceful architecture and the reality of what time does to buildings. I like how the bust above the doorway makes use of a forestman’s hat (a part closely associated with LEGO castle folklore, of course) in grey, as a shield. Very meta.

A castle as classic as can be

The Black Falcons have proven to be the most popular of the 80s LEGO castle factions, but despite having a few small castles, one thing they never got was a proper large castle of their own. Enter Steven Erickson with a redux of the iconic 6074 Black Falcon’s Fortress from 1986, a set so beloved that LEGO re-released it in 2001. Steven’s version is a significant upgrade from the original 404-piece set, bringing the tiny fortress up to a respectable size and adorning it with modern techniques while still retaining the old-school feel.

A dark ocean on an alien world

Builder Ralf Langer has a particular knack for making LEGO bricks feel like fluids. Whether it’s a mind-blowingly impressive curve or a serene tide pool, Ralf always seems to turn the bricks into liquid in his hands. And he’s done it again with this build representing the aftermath of a distant war on an alien landscape. Ralf has made excellent use of reflections so that the rubble of a futuristic vehicle sinks beneath the dark waters with no visible seams. It’s an effect so realistic that it makes my thalassophobia kick in.

Look at this terrifying LEGO deer. Or, on second thought, don’t

A lot has changed since the Black Falcons first appeared in LEGO canon. There have been a lot of new parts introduced, and minifigures have become a lot more expressive. Both are ably demonstrated by Ids de Jong here. The terrified faces combined with those helmets give a definite Monty Python “run away! run away!” vibe. And they’re right to be bricking it: Ids has created something rather unsettling called a Hirska. No big deal, just an all-seeing, oversized deer that apparently doesn’t take kindly to being looked at the wrong way. Or being looked at at all, for that matter. You know what, why don’t we all admire the quaint tree and rockwork instead? I don’t fancy adding ‘running scared from a deer demi-God’ to my personal repertoire of facial expressions any time soon…